Kimono My House

How does one assess an album by an act as idiosyncratic as Sparks? simple: you listen to Kimono My House, and you conclude that it's great. Job done. Kimono My House is the album that brought the brothers Mael to stardom, and placed them within the glam pantheon. Wonderfully, Sparks has never stopped, and indeed they're enjoying a deserved second flush of critical and commercial success. So how does the album that propelled them to fame affect the listener today? Sparks have one of the most well-developed sense of humour of any band (one aspect of this 1001 album exercise is that it made me realise how important it is for a band to have a sense of humour about them, rather than disappear up their own fundament mewling about how tortured they supposedly are). One must surely delight at the smutty erudition of the lines: You mentioned kant and I was shocked You know, where I come from, none of the girls have such foul tongues The album is festooned with such zingers. The music itself is highly stylised, baroque even, but that's authentically Sparks: Ron and Russell are educated, wry chaps steeped in the history of songwriting, so primitivism would just be an ill-fitting garb for Sparks. Be thankful that Sparks pursue such a singular muse, and that the made a singularly great album as this.

You know how George Costanza said he would drape himself in velvet if it were socially acceptable? This is how I feel about this album. I just want to luxuriate in it all day long. Oh my, yes I'm weird. I have a special fondness for glam-era Mael brothers. Their music is so over the top, exuberant and whimsical. It's the word "dandified" in musical form. Did I also mention it rocks? Of all the band's albums, I think Kimono My House might be my favorite. The quality is consistent throughout and thoroughly entertaining. It’s an album full of fun, campy musical confections, with lush, frolicking arrangements, and a delightful sense of humor. It’s not all for show either; Sparks has real musical chops to back up their showy tendencies. This is an album that’s a pleasure to listen to, on every level. This band loves what they're doing, and it shows. Fave Songs (All songs, from most to least favorite): Falling in Love with Myself Again, Equator, This Town Ain't Big Enough for the Both of Us, Barbecutie, Here in Heaven, Lost and Found, Thank God It's Not Christmas, In My Family, Amateur Hour, Talent is an Asset, Complaints, Hasta Manana Monsieur

This one was incredibly weird for a whole number of reasons (most of which should be pretty obvious if you listen to the album). Another way in how it's weird is how good and interesting and varied the music is under all of the layers of weirdness and showmanship. Most glam rock just tends to be style over substance in my opinion. But these guys manage to do both. Not only does this album sound like it must have been hugely influential for a wide range of new wave, synth pop and rock bands, but it also still sounds really fun and good today on its own merits. I did need a few tracks until I could start to wrap my head around the style and I'm sure it will hit me differently when I listen to it a second time, but I am absolutely going to do just that.

Ah, Sparks. A band where you're aware of how influential they are, and maybe you know a couple of their songs. But then you think about it, or maybe do a bit of research, and suddenly they're everywhere, permeating through western music through the past fifty years. This album is good. Like, really good. But having This Town as the opening track is the icing. Like so many Sparks tracks, it sounds like it could be a novelty record. But it is not. There is lyricism, vocal excellence, tunefulness... It has so much going for it that it's almost impossible to play it down. Let's talk about Russell Mael's vocals. I put the album on while driving, and despite having this song in my life for, well, my whole life, I found myself thinking "Hang on, are Sparks women?". No. Russell Mael just has an absolutely incredible voice. Ron's keyboards are just as good, balancing tune and melody perfectly. I really don't think I can wax effusive about this track enough. The rest of the album doesn't reach the heights of This Town, but in literally any other context they're superb. The brothers Mael are showing off talent by the bucketload, creating a unique sound that endures. On the back of this album selection, I went off and watched The Sparks Brothers documentary, directed by Edgar Wright (my second reference to Wright in my reviews, but this time in an entirely positive way) and was blown away by literally a fifty year ouvre, including of course Johnny Delusional - a track from their 2015 supergroup team up in FFS - which might be one of the best tracks of the 21st century. I'd say listen to this album. Then go off and listen to more Sparks. Excellent.

It's a bad sign when you find yourself checking to see how many songs are left.

When I saw this album I had never heard of last night my first thought was "three star at best", but alas, instead this is probably my favorite album so far. Amazing how an album I've never heard of by a band I've never heard of suddenly becomes one of my favorite things I've listened to in recent memory. Just excellent. The falsetto was a joy to listen to and the energy the album had really scratched that "weird but catchy" itch stuff like Oingo Boingo, Jack Stauber, and even David Bowie hit for me. And the fact this is almost fifty years old makes it all the more impressive.

This sounded like nothing else on the radio in 1974 when I bought this album (they looked like no other band as well). Elements of glam Bowie and Roxy Music, while predating some of the theatricality of Kate Bush. I was all in hook, line and sinker. This is still one of their best. Great melodies (and lots of twists and turns along the way) and very witty lyrics. For me too many highlights to mention, although This Town Isn't Big Enough, Hasta Manana Mousier and Talent Is an Asset are standouts. Loved this in 1974, still do.

“Man, this lead singer sure is talented. I wonder what else she’s done…” *One Google search later* “Huh? She’s a DUDE?!” Funny diatribe aside, this album remains one of the most unique listens you’ll hear pertaining to Glam Rock. Specifically, this album is the product of fusing Glam with its similarly grandiose, posturing cousin: progressive rock. Side B may lose a bit of energy, but played together the whole album’s a real treat. A combination of technically skilled musicianship including rhythmic syncopation and cheeky wordplay about love, loss, and family never fail to crack a smile from even a rock. Sing along if you dare. It’s almost as hard as singing along to Peter Hammil. Standout Songs: “This Town Ain’t Big Enough For Both Of Us” “Amateur Hour” “Here in Heaven” “Hasta Mañana, Monsieur”

Strange and unique, but man was this album full of life and exciting new things. Never having heard Sparks before, this was definitely the hook I needed to check out their other music.

I honestly have no idea what the fuck is going on.

Sparks. The only band that can claim to have been a defining influence on both Queen and the Pet Shop Boys and it not be a ludicrous statement. Since watching Edgar Wright's excellent documentary 'The Sparks Brothers' I've fallen a little bit in love with Russ and Ron Mael. Sparks were my most listened artist on Spotify in 2022. Their innovative, idiosyncratic songs are always unique and often genre creating. I don't love all of their output, but that's the cost of constantly pushing the envelope. When Sparks are good, they are genius and their new music remains fresh, interesting and fun even today, more than half a century after their debut record. This, their 1974 third album, sees Sparks in early career glam rock mode, achieving their objective of being a 'British band'. It opens with their biggest hit, 'This Town Ain’t Big Enough for Both of Us', a rousing powerhouse of a song that tells the tale of a series of ridiculous imagined worst case scenarios. The rest of the album is similarly fun, grandiose and quirky. It includes songs about: -falling in love with your doppelganger; -annoyance at having to spend time with your partner over Christmas because all the bars are shut; -Romeo speaking to Juliette from heaven after she broke their pact; -lusting over a tour guide but not being able to converse due to a language barrier; -Albert Einstein and his overly proud parents; and -going to the equator to meet a date but not being able to find her. The mind of Ron Mael is an extraordinary thing, as is the voice of Russ, who's powerful falsetto characterises the album. Overall, this album is weird, over the top and very, very charming. Rating: 5/5 Playlist track: This Town Ain't Big Enough For Both Of Us Date listened: 12/07/23

Blondie crudites and only on the raw end because I don't think the full new wave repertoire of whizz bangs was available at the time. On this evidence they played a big part in creating them. Glam, camp and archly European in the sense that it made me want to throw on some make up and goose step around the house in a tutu. Like the rest of new wave (though I only have a basic understanding) the formula is that that everything can be a hook.

This try-hard, bad-falsetto, weird-for-the-sake-of-being-weird album full of cut-rate Elton John and Freddie Mercury impressions and discount-bin creeper-ballads for some reason just didn't manage to impress me. It's not even an also-ran with its contemporaries, it's just a bad knock-off.

An incredible, fun, campy, glam rock sound. Nothing else like. Russel's performance is awesome!

This is a whimsical, magical album that filled me with joy. I want to eat ice cream with sprinkles while listening to this.

Production: 13/20 Songwriting: 15/20 Innovation: 16/20 Bangers: 5/20 Emotional response: 16/20 =65 This was belting fun

Music not too bad. Vocals suck more than my shop vac

Annoying

this album is one i was completely fuckign shocked on. I LOVED it, the music, the lyrics, the feel of it, all of it. it marries some of my top bands like The Darkness, Queen, and even a bit of Plastic Bertrand for good measure. i bought this album immediately, and it's easily top 100 albums

I mean it was alright. Very theatrical. Every song sort of felt like an intro that never went anywhere. It’s was like Rush but without the excellent musicality that makes Rush so good.

Ik heb een nieuwe trend gespot in deze lijst: albums die op mijn zenuwen werken. Dit is daar ook weer een mooi voorbeeld van. Het eerste (bekende) nummer is nog wel geinig maar wat er daarna allemaal langskomt....😬

Weird fun vocals awesome guitars. I only knew one track before hearing this “this town ain’t big enough for the both of us” really enjoyed hearing this for the first time

I have listened to this album a couple of times before and liked it a lot. It's fun, it's powerful, it's creative.

Oh my gosh, what a perfect (albeit late) Christmas gift! My significant other got assigned this album a few months ago, and we've both been in love with Sparks every since! I adore Russell's voice, so much so that he's one of my favourite vocalists, and Ron's songwriting is amazing and witty, which really shines through on this record. The instrumentation on this is perfect to me. I'm sad that this doesn't have a higher rating, but I do understand that this might not sound good to some people. To me, however, this is a flawless album. It is banger after banger. It might even be my new favourite album, I love it so much. I'm also sad that Sparks doesn't have any more albums on here, but at least they have this one It's incredibly difficult to pick favourites on this album when every song is so amazing, but I'd say my favourite songs were Hasta Manana, Monsieur, Falling In Love With Myself Again, and Equator.

Perfect and really fucking unique 5/5.

I remember my older cousins owning this and probably playing it for me when I was a kid. I (re)discovered Sparks in 1997 when they teamed up with Faith No More for This Town Ain't Big Enough for Both of Us, the original of which is on this album. While never a die hard fan, I was aware of what and influence their sound has had on so many other artists. Like many others, my passion for Sparks has been increased in the lead up to the Edgar Wright doco (which I am yet to see) This album is one of their best. Uncomfortable in places it straddles a fine line towards being too wierd. It is weirdness done well, which makes this album so good.

I'd heard of Sparks from time to time and with that documentary the past year, I saw the name a lot and yet I never checked them out since I always got the impression they were very art rocky and a band that would be tough to get into. I have to say, if the rest of their catalogue is like this album, I was completely wrong. This was absolutely right in my wheelhouse. The melodies were super catchy and I loved the instrumentation, especially those guitars. I will definitely be looking further into their back catalogue.

I enjoy Sparks’ manic, frantic, over the top glam rock and this is my favorite record of theirs, but they can be a bit much sometimes.

Like a Queen had a breakdown, watched the Rocky horror picture show and wrote some interesting music afterward. Not always to my taste but a unique interesting listen. 3/5

WHOA i love all of these

10/10

this was so awesome <3 felt so creative and fun. catchy as hell. really enjoy this arty/prog/pop rock. felt very 70s. ‘Barbecutie’ COME ON

Holy wow- I had never heard of this band before and I'm so glad they popped up!!! Definitely will listen to them more.

Rollicking good fun, and weird enough to keep my interest the whole time. Fave track - "This Town Ain't Big Enough For The Both of Us" is an absolute tune. I really liked "Equator" on my last couple of listens, but not sure if it might not get irritating with more listens? Or, it could grown on me further, who knows!

enjoyed this one quite a bit, pretty vibey.

Fantastic! Helped me grind out a paper in h2 hours!!

Little compares to the sound of Sparks, mainly due to their constant reinvention. Kimono My House is a fantastic album, perhaps with one of the best openings

Love a bit of glam and enjoyed this madness.

Just some good clean fun from beginning to end. How did this manage to sound so exactly like a 70s album while also sounding unlike anything I've ever heard? Chaotic and melodic and anarchic and fun.

Does it get any more 70's than this? A very ambitious blend of prog, glam and art pop (is art prog a thing?) results in an album that doesn't even sound like it's from earth. It gets a bit too flimsy on the art waltz 'Falling In Love With Myself Again' and 'Talent Is An Asset', but the highlights make this a very enjoyable listen. 'Thank God It's Not Christmas' is one of the greatest titles ever (mostly due a certain Queen song it predated quite a bit), 'Complaints' has some great Supertramp vibes and the catchy 'Equator' lives rent free in my mind, and I don't mind.

Weird as hell but very fun and sonically refreshing

Cool and silly at the same time

There’s a lot to unpack here and I can understand how it’s not for everyone but I appreciate the variety and willingness to try something new

Sparks are pioneers. Excited to see the Sparks Documentary directed by Edgar Wright this year.

Un album correct de la part d'un groupe composé exclusivement de gros débiles.

Word is that this is a big band I should definitely give a shit about, and I don't know what to think! At first I thought it was just completely bonkers, a strange mix of ABBA and like Queen - I don't know! Also, huge plot twist when I found out it wasn't two Japanese women singer and just some bloke. I found some of it quite irritating but it did grow on me. That latter songs were OK. And I guess it was quite fun!

Very theatrical and idiosyncratic. Seems like they inspired a lot of bands to follow.

Kind of like ABBA, but worse?

Cinco. Ascendo aos céus num cocktail de hipérboles, destinado a falhar algures na estação de serviço. São só palavras. São tudo. MotA: Amateur Hour "Zoo time is she and you time"

Not my favorite Sparks album, but still great. Their style is truly unique.

If you haven't already seen the Edgar Wright documentary on Sparks make that your immediate priority. Impossible to overstate their immense diversity influence on tonnes of genres

I've always heard of Sparks and have wanted to listen to their music since they just had a documentary come out about them but never got around to it. This was a good introduction though because I loved this album. It was so unique sounding and energetic and all the songs were catchy. The first two on the album were my favorite though

I liked this WAY more than I was expecting!

Talent is an asset Prefs: TOUT Moins pref: RIEN

De openingstrack is geniaal! Dat sfeertje blijft ook eigenlijk wel gedurende het album!! Voelt eigenlijk als een soundtrack van een pop-musical of zo. *****

holy shit this was great

After hearing about Edgar Wright's movie on Sparks, I kept meaning to check them out and never got to it. Boy, this blew me away in a bizarrely delightful way. Happy to hand out my first 5-star review that isn't to one my tried-and-true classics.

A fucking great album

What an album! Takes me back to 74 when I played this to death. Saw them on tour at the time too, supported by Pilot. Not played it for awhile, but this will be remedied immediately!

This is wonderfully weird, over the top, and so much fun.

Way, way better than I expected it to be. Most glam rock is appearance over substance, but this album showcases both and its weirdness is something that I believe influenced many other artists.

A gem in this book. I fell in love with them partly to do with this album being here.

Loud and bombastic, as much a thrill-ride now than when it was released 49 years ago!

I love this, its weird but great

This album fits perfectly in the upper echelons of the British glam rock scene. Funnily enough, Sparks are American, though at the time had relocated to England. The theatrical and campy nature of this album are undergirded by interesting often highly literate lyrics (it’s not often that you’ll hear Kant name dropped in popular music). I found this album to be so intriguing that I listened to it immediately after finishing it.

This one is just brazy song after song is a classic and that one two intro punch is unfathmobauly good

Every time I hear it I fall more in love with this bizarre and beautiful album. The opening three tracks are possibly the greatest statement of intent in music history. Any one song contains multitudes. When you realise the pushy parent of Talent is an Asset might be Einstein's patent, it's both a great joke, and changes the whole song. I love it.

Wait till you see them perform it live.

"Kimono My House" is the third studio album by American rock band Sparks. Glam rock, art rock, progressive rock, pop rock and avant-pop. Yep, you could probaly throw in a few more too. The band relocated to the UK to record and take advantage of the glam scene. It work as it was their commercial breakthrough hitting #4 in the UK (#101 in the US). Sparks is essentially a duo with founding members and brothers Russell Mael (vocals) and Ron Mael (keyboards). The album was a shift in their sound being more pop and focused and had a new sound with a new band. It is considered one of Sparks' best work and best glam rock albums. The album opens with the first single "This Town Ain't Big Enough for Both of Us." A keyboard sounds like a piano, a glam rock sounding guitar and Russell's falsetto. A great guitar solo (there's a lot of these throughout). The beat changes. The protagonist keeps trying to ask women out but can't. A hypnotic guitar opens "Amateur Hour." A prominent bass comes in. The pace is fast and keeping getting faster. I think about growing up. We're off to a very good start. "Hasta Mañana, Monsieur" comes on hard. Pouncing piano keys. A very Bowie-esque glam guitar in the background. Nice melodies. These lyrics are hilarious; the guy is tangled up with talking to girls and foreign languages. A playful piano and bass open "Talent is an Asset." I think the rhythm section of Cheap Trick must have been here cause it sounds a lot like late 70's Cheap Trick. The album closer "Equator" is sultry with a mellotron sound like a sax. This is jazzy cabaret mixed with rock. Russell in his highest falsetto singing how horrid it is waiting for a girl to show up for a date. An interesting end with cross-criss lyrics/vocals with Russell and a girl. That girl might have been Russell? This album is unique, theatrical, dramatic and very good. Yeah, it's firmly in the glam rock genre but there's elements of cabaret, show tunes, rock, pop and prog. Of course, experimental. The pace is fast and charging. The musicianship is top notch. Everyone. The lyrics are interesting and at times very humorous. I heard Queen, Roxy Music, David Bowie, Cheap Trick and, yes, Rush in their music. I don't know if they influenced and were influenced by...doesn't matter. A high recommendation.

Finally a Sparks album! I was introduced to this band about 12 years ago by ex & took a deep dive a few years after. Sparks sounds like theater nerds who didn't make it in acting but killed it at making quirky music. I didn't realize how influential they were until I watched the Edgar Wright documentary. I was wowed at how many of my favorite bands were influenced by them. This album sounds like the older cousin to Kate Bush's The Dreaming but funnier. It's astounding that the Mael brothers have made decades of music and no two records sound the same. Kimono My House is one of three of my favorite Sparks albums with the big opener, The Town Ain't Big Enough for the Both of Us. It's over the top glam with oddball lyrics...and that voice! I honestly love the entire album with a soft spot for Amateur Hour, Falling In Love With Myself Again & Equator. This album is in my usual rotation along with Angst In My Pants & The Number One Song In Heaven. I absolutely love this band & have seen them live twice. These guys are almost 80 and they're doing world tours with a new album that dropped this spring. This band brings me such joy that I cried at their show. They feel like the dorky older brokers I wish I had. I adore this band & this album.

Easy 5 stars

Kind of Queenesque, I really dig this.

I aspire to be this exuberantly maximalist one day.

Fun album with interesting lyrics

Your favourite band's favourite band! Man Sparks are weird in a good way. This album is just a wild ride all the way through. Sparks really have a knack for good riffs, weird, funny lyrics and reinventing them selves (just listen to "Hello young lovers" or "Little Beethoven" to see where they would go later). "This Town Ain' Big Enough For The Both Of Us" might be their biggest and glammiest hit. "Amateur Hour" is such a teenage song about a very teenage problem. I mean who else would write a song about a suicide pack from the perspective of the only one who went through with it in "Here In Heaven"?! My dad introduced me to the sparks with "Little Beethoven" which is such a weird album and I fell in love with the band. "Kimono in my house" is probably my favorite until their stuff from early 2000s. Was going to give this one a four but the more I think about it, the more I think it deserves (maybe a slightly weak) 5. I really need to watch the Edgar Wright documentary about the Sparks.

The kind of album that gets me rethinking all my previous 5s. This shit slaps so hard!!

perhaps one of my favourite albums. incredibly unique, incorporates my favourite genres, fantastic instrumentals, interesting vocals, and enjoyable all around. not a single complaint. favourite track: i couldn't choose they're all bangers

Fuck yes this was non-stop awesome

Campy, glammy art rock - brilliant album by Sparks. Having first heard them in their more new wave phase in the early 80s, this was a fascinating contrast to the more new wave/synth angle they had in later work. It's interesting chord progressions, quirky melodies, and wacky lyrics -- all very catchy, with solid lead guitar work from Adrian Fisher. So many good songs but Falling In Love With Myself, Thank God it's Not Christmas and Hasta Manana Monsieur are my favorites.

I'm not sure I've ever heard any album with this much energy before. Riding the glam wave but very much in their own way.

What a fun album! I obviously knew This Town, but the whole thing is a treat. It does get a little repetitive and I know I'll need a few more listens to fully unpack everything, but honestly, I'm looking forward to listening to this again. It was a great time. I loved the live track at the end. I'd love to see these guys in concert even now way past their prime.

so cool

Love this music, sounds like Roxy Music from the same time period.

Very unique vocals. Sick riffs on a variety of instruments. This album was very entertaining. I felt the music very deeply.

Absolute classic. Own it on Vinyl and proud to call it the first one I owned.

So fun. A classic

it took well over 800 albums before it finally generated one of my all-time favorite albums, Kimono My House by Sparks I can not recommend this album enough it’s too good to rate, but I guess five stars will have to suffice

Had no idea what to expect and ended up blown away. Did I just hear a glam rock opera? This was awesome. Considered taking off one point for Ron Mael's Hitler mustache, but this album's just too good. You can hear how this band influenced subsequent bands like Queen and Cheap Trick (re: Queen, I think Freddie Mercury even stole some of Russell Mael's moves). Edgar Wright made a movie about the Mael brothers with the tag-line "your favorite band's favorite band." Unlike the Velvet Underground who also influenced a ton of bands, I can actually say I dig this one. Clever music, clever lyrics, outstanding musicianship. Favorite tracks - This Town Ain't Big Enough for the Both of Us ("As 20 cannibals have hold of you, they need their protein just like you" - lol), Amateur Hour (award for best use of "Yehudi Menuhin" in a lyric), Here in Heaven (love the dark humor of a suicide pact between Romeo and Juliet where only Romeo follows through), Thank God It's Not Christmas (a song with this title has no right being so cool)...ah, just put the name of every single song here (and add the lyric "Gonna hang myself from my family tree"). Great album!

Wow - 1974? I would have guessed late 80’s based on the sound. And I would have guessed the singer was a woman, but alas, I was wrong. Oh, my, this is just great. I’m a new-wave fan, and I really, really enjoyed this album. It’s fun, it’s glam, and it’s wild. I just like everything about it.

Lots of great songs on this Sparks album, in particular the album closer Equator. Not as good as later work like No1 in Heaven but still a 5 star album (9/10) obviously

Do a google and find some photos of Sparks. They’re such an interesting band with many unusual photos! I know one song from this album, albeit not very well, and I’m excited to hear everything following it. Let’s listen! Songs I already knew: This Town Ain’t Big Enough For The Both Of Us Favourites: all of it This was a wild ride, and I loved every second of it. It started off with me loving the vocals, and thinking it is a rarity to hear a female fronted prog band. Turns out the singer is simply a guy with a very androgynous voice (perfect for the glam era). The music is super wacky, but never goes too far off the rails to become messy. I’m so glad to have heard this today. It’s one of the best albums I’ve had through this project.

really fun sound! fun and upbeat album to listen to. i enjoyed this one a lot

Fresh, fun, and an amazing vocal range

I love weirdo music

<3

Need to watch the Sparks Brothers documentary now

I give everything 5 but this deserves it

Wow, hadn't heard this one before. I think I love it though. Theatrical and tongue-in-cheek feeling while still being actually really great and not just silly. It's certainly much more interesting than most of the stuff I've never heard of, it gets a tentative 5 for now because I wanna go right back and listen again.

A really enjoyable Glam album, I’m glad I got the opportunity to listen to beyond This Town Ain’t Big Enough. This is absolutely the sort of album that I’m likely to fall in love with on multiple listens, so I’m gonna jump the gun and give it a five on the knowledge that I will definitely be listening again.

another band i hold dear to my heart. these guys have been making music for 50 years!! 50!! can you imagine that? they still make stuff today! an incredibly bonkers and theatrical rock album. it's very demented, it's very over the top, and it's right up my alley. these guy's voices are very operatic and i feel like you don't hear that very often in art rock from this era? it's great. it's giving kimonos with powdered wigs.