Squeezing Out Sparks / Live Sparks

Graham Parker’s 1979 blast of New Wave is one of the genre’s many high points. He digs into the hooks early, with the driving “Discovering Japan” and swaying “Local Girls” providing the kind of choruses you can shout along to. He brings dark bite and vicious guitar to “Passion Is No Ordinary Word” as he takes down cynicism and faked feelings. Live Sparks puts the album on stage, adding a wildly fun, rock ’n’ roll cover of The Jackson 5’s “I Want You Back.”