Since the early '70s, brothers Ron and Russell Mael — Sparks for all intents and purposes — have run the musical gamut, from overblown, operatic glam-rock to obscure, pseudo-funky new wave (the minor hits "I Predict" and "Cool Places," their uppity duet with Go-Go Jane Wiedlin).

At once epic, playful and a little bit strange, the duo's latest effort perpetuates the brothers' patented geek-chic, though things come across as more introspective and ambient this time around.

From the droning, hypnotic strains of "Bullet Train" (RealAudio excerpt) to the dreamlike stillness of "The Angels," Sparks are still as retro as they wanna be, despite the fact that it's been years since their last major release. In spite of fine production and modern-day studio trickery, things remain as they were for much of the band's '80s output, with sprinkles of house and ambient noise occasionally popping up in smart, Teutonic cuts such as "Aeroflot" (RealAudio excerpt) and the ravishing, Moby-esque "Scheherazade."

Lyrically, as always, Russell Mael shines. "How To Get Your Ass Kicked" (RealAudio excerpt) sardonically volunteers, "I know ... (how to get your ass kicked)," resolving in a final whimper of "... Oh well." On the title track, he sings, "All you need to succeed are balls." Infused with his sardonic wit, the sentiment comes off as humorous, melancholy and perhaps all too accurate.

Alternately excellent, kitschy and lackluster, Balls is an album of stealth experiments that only these boys could attempt.