132: Sparks - Balls (2000) - More Than a Sex Machine

Sparks insist that there is more to them than meets the eye on “More Than a Sex Machine,” the first single from Balls.

We discuss the song’s bouncy electronic production, sticky melody and unexpected tango-like character, including the intriguing suggestion that it could almost have been sung by Grace Jones. Lyrically, the supposedly irresistible lover has grown tired of being valued only for sex and would quite like someone to notice that he reads books and has a sensitive side.

We also explore its links to earlier Sparks songs such as “Sextown U.S.A.,” “All You Ever Think About Is Sex” and “La Dolce Vita,” the German single releases and elusive club remixes, and why reviewers often identified it as one of the album’s strongest tracks.

Catchy, funny and surprisingly vulnerable, “More Than a Sex Machine” provides a smoother bridge from Gratuitous Sax & Senseless Violins into the more abrasive world of Balls.