Reviews (page 2 of 8)
I will not include the bonus tracks from the 21st Century Edition reissue in this review. Alright, I've listened to Sparks here and there, including the big single off this record, "This Town Ain't Big Enough for Both of Us". Brothers Ron and Russell Mael have been writing and composing rather quirky and eccentric art pop for over five decades now, having broken through to the mainstream with Kimono My House. Compared to their first two records, this one is where Ron is established as the primary songwriter. As such, there's a marriage of complex lyrics with a more pop-oriented glam rock sound, characterized by Russell's affluent falsetto and Ron's bright RMI keyboard tones. With Muff Winwood's simple yet punchy production, this album kicks ass. Every track on here is excellent, including the Western standoff of "This Town Ain't Big Enough for Both of Us", the kooky waltz of "Falling in Love with Myself Again", Adrian Fisher's wailing guitar licks over the failed suicide pact on "Here in Heaven", the bright melodies juxtaposed with the marked dread on "Thank God It's Not Christmas", the cheeky story of not being able to communicate with a partner on "Hasta Mañana, Monsieur", and the surprisingly poignant cautionary tale of taking advantage of one's genius on "Talent Is an Asset". Even the album closer, "Equator", is this surrealist ballad with horn-esque keyboard glitz, as the narrator laments being unable to find his date along Earth's equator. While that song does go on for a tad longer than it needed to, I still had a good time with it. I ain't got much else to say, as Kimono My House is such a bona fide glam rock record. Sparks would continue to innovate and switch styles, garnering such influence on a wide array of musicians, justifiably so.
Such a weird time to be human. Lots of drug, sex, Black Power. Women’s Liberation, war, death. I know, I was there, a witness to my parent’s transformation… from upstanding, flag waving, PTA citizens to bra burning, bell-bottom wearing hippies acting as if they missed their childhood. This is the kind of odd music I’d suffer through, moms and dads cackle in glee, passing joints and cheap wine amongst their hairy clan at youth gatherings. Infidelity and addiction inevitably followed, broken homes were unapologetically common. Fuck the 70’s and this shit music.
1st listen felt it was quirky, but mostly just list fodder. 2nd & 3rd, every started to really open up to me. This album is pretty fun.
A fun bop
Started strong but wears off its welcome very quickly
Cuando escuche ese disco hace tanto me parecio el dsico mas falopa del mundo, ahora no tanto, los gritos ponjas son geniales.
First Listen; 3; Fun, quirky, punchy, terse, pop glam rock. Feels like these songs are running up and down and all over the place. Very emotive performance. More than other music, the guitars seem to mirror the vocals, which really puts them all over the place. Reminds me of of Montreal, and to a lesser degree, some of MGMT. Favorite Track: Amateur Hour
I heard lots about Sparks, about their remarkable consistency across their 5 decade career, about their knack for reinvention, about how they were the only sibling duo in rock with a healthy relationship (the Davies, Gallaghers, Fogertys, and more say hi.) What really drew me in to this album was the whip-smart songwriting mixed with the pop sensibilities. This is art pop in the truest sense of the word, the kind that sacrifices neither and meets perfectly in the middle. It's at once manic and joyous, and so many of the songs make you want to dress up in something absolutely ridiculous and strut about in public. The extroversion of this record is palpable in that way. On the album side, the tracks are sequenced incredibly well, meaning the album never loses any momentum throughout its brisk 36 minutes. It's no wonder this was their commercial breakthrough (in the UK anyway; these 2 were always more popular there despite originally being from L.A.) Of course, their success in the UK means this is a very British sounding album, right down to singer Russel Mael's theatrical vocal performances, which try to emulate a variety of British accents. Of course, the most significant influence for Kimono My House was glam rock, and their labelmates at the time, Roxy Music, is probably the most important one. I like to think of this album as an American answer to Roxy: less drab, more brash and outgoing, more sure of itself, and more genuinely enamoured with the artifice of glam rock. The artifice is plenty visible on the remarkably anonymous cover art, which features neither the Mael brothers nor any writing to indicate what album this is. The cover art is instantly recognizable to me and it does a great job communicating the mania and seemingly mismatched elements that make up the album (fun fact: the woman on the right provided the spoken Japanese heard on David Bowie's "It's No Game Pt.1" off Scary Monsters.) More than any other trait, I think what really sells this album is the one-of-a-kind songwriting of the Mael brothers: just about every song includes some kind of hook that makes it instantly memorable, yet there's always a little twist to it, whether it's an unusual phrasing to make the lyrics fit the meter or a sudden shift in instrumentation. In short, a listener could never mistake these songs as anybody else's. That, to me, is the hardest of all the hurdles to overcome in music, and this album clears it with relative ease. Definitely something to check out if you like the artsy side of pop rock and wondered what American glam's logical conclusion would sound like. Key Tracks: This Town Ain't Big Enough for the Both of Us, Falling in Love with Myself Again, Hasta Manana Monsieur, In My Family
What the fuck was that…
Me parece pésimo este álbum, una onda a David Bowie tremenda.
Trop bizarre pour moi. Les bouts rock restent intéressants.
Ass
I'm not sure why I never got into Sparks back in the 80's. I'd heard a few songs here and there on the radio, but never whole albums. They're pretty cool. This stuff would fit in great with bands like Devo, Missing Persons and the B-52's. Very quirky, fun music.
This is wacky and zany. I like it.
Len Houmous’ famous kimono once sold for a whopping £750 at auction. 4.0 3/13 Falling In Love With Myself Again
interesting? very cocteau twins esque
I wasn't familiar with The Sparks, but I knew a few of their songs, like “This Town Ain't Big Enough For The Both Of Us.” Their “Kimono My House” is basically the David Bowie album I’ve been waiting for since the start of this project (the six Bowie albums released so far haven’t quite been it): affected, virtuosic, offbeat, yet without completely losing its grip - and self-deprecating humor helps with that. All of this is built on a foundation of great songs that, depending on the arrangements and instrumentation, work just as well in a variety theater as they do in a stadium. That’s how glam rock is done!
only very slightly more tolerable than Abba
Never heard of this before, but didn’t like it. Those squeaky vocals I really couldn’t stand.
A little bit of sparks goes a long way. I’d happily listen to a couple of songs but a whole album is a bit much.
Music version of a trifle. A load of stuff put together that somehow works, You certainly wouldn't want it every day But it is enjoyable.
Production sounds futuristic - or was just stolen by indie alternative artists in the 2000s - however that's where my enjoyment of this ended.
First time hearing this band. This glam rock sound reminds me of the Last Dinner Party. Wonder if they were inspired by Sparks.
Didn't enjoy. It all sounded the same, and it wasn't very good.
I don't really understand who this was made for. It has a few decent songs but certainly none that I am going to come back to. Kind of felt like a rock opera, and I don't like rock operas.
Me, having heard and loved This Town Ain't Big Enough for the Both of Us before: oh hell yeah I love these bitches! Me, listening to this album: wait, those are dudes? HELL YEAH DRAG BITCHES! I adored this. Exactly my taste.
An old friend. The first cassette I ever bought. Frequently played until Carole borrowed it, never to return it. This is labelled as Glam Rock. But Glam isn't a consistent musical genre (category for our American cousins). But then how can you categorise (sic) Sparks? My particular favourite is Equator. Equator, equator equator equaaaa-tor!
I love the way everything resonates together in my ear. And the vocals is a cherry on top. Prettiest album cover btw.
Like weird Queen. I appreciate the musicianship but the constant key and tempo changes and erratic nature of the arrangements meant I couldn’t settle into this at all, I was on edge the whole time.
women kinda peak but oh wait it’s dude so less peak. still gud
I enjoyed this until i didnt. Front load the hits, nice jangly art rock. Unfortunately, like most art rock it eventually disappears up its own arse and this was no exception.
Yeah - interesting
I like my glam to have a sprinkling of falsetto throughout, but an album made up of it entirely becomes grating quote fast. Overall I'm glad the glam bands I really like took the best bits from this album, but left the rest back where it belongs. 2.5* Rounded down to 2*
Innovative, forward thinking, glamourous, and delightfully eccentric. This album is probably as important for new wave as Arcade Fire's Funeral was for 2010s indie. Despite how influential this album is though for pop music in the 80s, it is still a really unique and fun listen that holds up very well, in part because of the musical talent on display and partially because of how charmingly weird the lyrics are. Incredible album. Also, this isn't even my favourite Sparks album, but you wouldn't be able to tell that from my review, this is the calibre of act we are talking about here.
I 100% see how this was influential to a lot of the artists I love, that doesnt mean I particularly enjoyed this. This truly does feel like a case of 'Sparks learned to walk so ______________ could run.' And once again the riduculous 5 star rating system rears its ugly head. 2 stars would imply this is bad, 3 stars would imply its good. It is neither. 2.5
Brilliant musical/prog rock album with heavy Queen influence. 4.5/5
Not my cup of tea. That being said tho, this one really grew on me. If someone told me this was a 5, I wouldn’t be able to argue with them. I was turned off by the sound at first but it really grew on me as the album went on.
Urm probably would like to give it 4. First so f was the strongest, pretty iconic. Rest is good..pretty enjoyable album.
Really enjoyed - much better than expected - some really good tracks
- This is fun... definitely an experience and predicts a lot of art rock that comes later - I really appreciate that this album is 1974. Really enjoying the new wave feel of it and the randomness throughout. - This is closer to what I wish Queen had been - theatrical, but more tempered or something. - I like the instrumentation and how there's always a melodic pop base that keeps forward momentum and never really gets you stuck. Some fun baselines and guitar riffs, throughout. These songs could really drag out if they wanted, but they kept them short and sweet and the album is better for it. - I like the album and sound, but it's a lot all at once, so that restraint is really appreciated and increases the chances that I'll relisten (I did add it to my collection). - I wish I could understand the lyrics better because I keep reading that they're great.
seen this record in stores and i'm glad i didn't buy it Would I listen again: no Deserves to be on this list: weird enough to say yes 2.7
Glam rock and art pop built from theatrical piano, flamboyant guitars, playful arrangements, and eccentric vocals feels like attending a stage play where every actor is determined to steal the scene. While it might be percieved as witty, unpredictable, and constantly bursting with personality, for me its relentless theatricality is more exhausting than entertaining. The album's sharp sense of humor and offbeat lyricism make it memorable, even when its eccentricity overshadows the songs themselves.
This was just pure fun. Funky, weird, and had me dancing in my seat, which is all I really want in an album. I don’t know the full music landscape of the 1970s, but this felt like a big swing, which I always admire.
Albums like this are why this list exists. I had never heard of this album or band before today, and I was completely blown away. It is a completely unique yet highly enjoyable listen which is the most difficult feat in music.
I feel like this would be very enjoyable on acid, but since I’m not enjoyment was more limited.
Some decent instrumentation, terrible vocals.
I’ve only heard this once before and enjoyed it more the second time. There is a lot to like - the overall sound is similar to a lot of the ‘70s rock I enjoy. I think this belongs in a lower tier than similar glam rock like Bowie/Roxy Music/Eno, though, because while the band sounds great, the songwriting is not. After a couple listens, there aren’t any memorable choruses and each song tends to sound like the previous. Maybe a few more listens will change my perspective. 3.5/5
I honestly don't know how to describe this music. Some Queen vibes, Jefferson Airplane, maybe even The Cars? "Hasta Mañana, Monsieur" was sneaky good. But then you have songs like "Equator" that make me want to throw my headphones across the room. I dunno, I could see this growing on me, so I'm gonna be nice and ignore that one (or two?) awful song.
Banger vibe, banger sanger, interessante og kule!
This sounds like music made by a dude with a pencil thin mustashe. Not my cup of tea.
Very Nice 70s Glam. I was very surprised that I liked it.
Had never heard of them before. Pretty solid - fun album.
It's aight. Some glam rock
This was pretty interesting stuff - never heard Sparks before.
No standouts
The instrumentation is good , but the singer has a weird vibe. Too theatrical, I guess. Catchy songs though.
I had never heard of them and now that I have I'm surprised they aren't more well known. Certainly you can hear the glam, and a hint of ABBA, but I would have guessed they were more contemporary than the 70s! Definitely ahead of their time.
They might be time travelers. Outstanding
Such a cool weirdo glam rock album. Thanks the needle drop amoeba video for introducing me to this group years back. A true indieheada darling pick
What a unique record. I'm getting elements of Queen (in that it's very theatrical at times), and also Blondie (in that I'm hearing some early punk sounds, plus the female vocals). But it also has other elements that are uniquely it's own that I can't quite put my finger on. I really like it though, you can tell they had a vision and went for it especially during a time when nothing else that I know of was sounding like this.
Vette plaat. Mooie mix ook van allerlei artiesten die ik vandaag de dag best veel luister. Lees niet vaak iets over Sparks, maar deze plaat zal voor velen een inspiratie zijn geweest. Vleugje Björk, beetje Kate Bush en Bowie is nooit ver weg. Last Dinner Party heeft vast veel naar deze plaat geluisterd. 8/10 Highlights Amateur Hour
Pretty enjoyable.
nicht nervig aber nichts was mir gefällt. 2 sterne
Not enjoying. Seems repetitive. Feels like circus music.
They scared me when I was a kid But this is fucking fantastic. I was reading something about this album a while back and decided to listen to it, but didn’t immediately get it and forgot all about it. Second time listening thanks to this app and I’m hooked. It’s so good; every song is upbeat and fun and smart. Favourite track: Thank god it’s not Christmas
Very fun and eccentric glam rock / art pop album. Loved the falsetto and kind of theatrical vocals, which are the main responsible of making the album so outlandish, and I also liked the very creative instrumentation, as expected from something coming from theses genres, that companies really well the vocals. Both of them make the album very charming, with no real slow spot, so basically every song has a very happy and positive sound, specially the first two songs which are the most contagiously cheerful ones. I'd say that from that point, the album loses a bit of its spark, (no pun intended), with the rest of the songs not being as infectious, but still great in their own way with their own original ideas, like the use of Waltz rhythms in "Falling In Love With Myself Again" and the ironically Christmas sounding "Thank God It's Not Christmas". Very cool album. I wish it was even more extravagant in some spots, but still very unique and enjoyable.
Never heard of them before but enjoyed
Some of the guitar solos here are absolutely fierce! It's odd, nerdy, sometimes feels like Mothers of Invention, and wonderful!
Quirky band, I have soft spot for the sparks
It's alright for an album to have the same sound throughout, but it needs to be a better sound than this.
This is really not my kind of music. I can see why someone else would like it, but it's not for me.
++: This Town Ain't Big Enough for Both of Us, Here in Heaven, Complaints, In My Family +: Amateur Hour, Hasta Mañana, Monsieur, Talent Is an Asset, Equator +-: Falling in Love with Myself Again, Thank God It's Not Christmas 7,2/10
Sometimes I listen to something on here and am just blown away and say, yeah this album needs to be on here. This is one of those times.
I had never heard of this band before and this album honestly blew me away. Pure fun with so much energy, creativity, and catchy hooks and melodies.
Somehow I'd never heard Sparks before. I like this. What am I getting myself into? Things are growing complex.
Wow. I like it a lot. How have I never heard it before? Better late than never. This s album 641 for me, and I have now found 3 albums i was unaware of and want to hear again.
whoa, I loved this!
There are some bands that produce great singles and some bands that produce a great album or two. Then there are bands like Sparks that don't necessarily do either, but do produce a fascinating discography. Kimono My House is largely given the credit as the best Sparks album and This Town Ain't Big Enough For Both of Us is their most high profile single (in the UK anyway. I think it may be When Do I Get To Sing My Way in Germany). But neither album nor single give much of a clue as to what the wider Sparks story will be nor do they act as much of a gateway. An album or two later, they will ditch the band and re-establish the central working unit of two brothers making their own peculiar music. They will never sound exactly like this again. And what they sound like here - per the reviews of the time, per their support slots and their own admission - is Queen. Without the guitar architecture of Brian May, of course. And Russell isn't the vocalist that Freddie Mercury was, although he does sing damn high. But the faintly glam baroque is there. The bouncing keys of Killer Queen are apparent. And that standard of glam rock - a solid, working man's club rhythm section dolled up in glitter for Top of the Pops. However, it is the differences between the two bands that explain their trajectories. We've already listened to two Queen albums and I've had the same complaints about both. Thankfully, there is no empty camp on Kimono My House (which is a surprise given the title is an orientalist pun on a Rosemary Clooney hit). There is no pastiche, unless one considers the whole thing a pastiche of glam rock. Where Queen is always playing with imitation, Sparks plays with idiosyncrasy. Queen, as I've oft bemoaned, gesture towards wit, whereas the Maels get bogged down in their own personal, sometimes gnomic humour. Mercury's wit is always borrowed and universal, the Maels' humour is particular, certainly not for everybody. The definition, I think, of a cult prospect. Thus, we will see Queen continue on and perfect their corporate mission to get their three-volume singles collection in every home. Whereas Sparks will enter very few homes, but, when they do, it is often with their full discography. People get it or they don't. The kicker comes with Queen's abysmal 1984 festive hit, Thank God It's Christmas, written with presumably no memory that ten years earlier their support act played Thank God It's Not Christmas every night - a stronger sentiment from Sparks and a song that is more casually successful in executing the Cole Porter patter style than Freddie Mercury ever achieved. Sparks hadn't disappeared into obscurity, but into their place: somewhere over there doing their own particular thing. Perhaps the most apt comparison, then, is with They Might Be Giants. In Ron Mael and John Linnell, the bands have a pleasing pop melodicist whose lyrical dip into absurd and obtuse humour can obscure the depth of their thinking. But Kimono My House is no more Flood than it is Sheer Heart Attack. It is stylistically too uniform. It runs too long - it should stop after Equator. And some of the takes fill a bit outdated. Not that you will find a better Sparks album in their catalogue. You will find different Sparks albums. And you will find examples of the same thing that you like in Kimono My House, if you like anything about Kimono My House. 3 This is dreadful stuff. There are some amusing lyrics but the band are depressing; generic glam stodge with plenty of energy but without the slightest hint of character from the guitars or drums. Players with nothing to say. The songs themselves have a stench of music hall (vaudeville I suppose I should say for Americans) about them. There is a certain comedy in a top line so melodically careering and yet so rhythmically stiff that you are compelled to imagine the piano player’s right hand up the singer working his mouth the whole time. It’s only about 5 minutes worth of comedy though and where does that get us to? About halfway through Amateur Hour? Sounds about right. At some point I was gripped by the notion of a glam rock version of When I’m Cleaning Windows. Why did no one do that? There was certainly a market for it. 1.5/5
This is my first listen to Sparks, and while not totally 'my thing', it's hard not to bop and rock along with Sparks' music. There's enough happening to keep the album interesting, and it's all performed well enough to not want to stop listening. I'm kind of surprised Sparks isn't a bigger deal.
This has it all. All the things I do not like: theatrical, wonky and cartoonish. It's an artists artist I would say. They do something the mainstream artists wish they had the balls for. But there is a reason why.
это что-то правда интригующее, особенно первая песня.
Kimono My House was definitely a very interesting listen. This is probably the glam rockiest glam rock album to ever glam rock. It has pretty much all the cheesiness and quirks that you would expect from this genre. There is all the pianos and the saxophones that you would come to expect from glam rock and all the regular rock elements too. The vocals were pretty interesting because at many points they sounded like a woman was singing and i had to remind myself that it was a man singing. While there are some songs that don't work (I'm looking at you, Equator), most of the songs here work alright and while they are cheesy, they were still alright to listen to. It is a weird album but i still think it's more than listenable. Best Song: Complaints Worst Song: Equator
Very whimsical, almost Supertramp like. Favorite track: Amateur Hour
Interesting and strange, but it did drag a little towards the end.
4 stars also valid
This was exactly the weird, out there stuff I never would have found without this list. It's Roxy Music meets Abba!
It sounds fine when you aren't paying attention, but when I actively listened to this I found it incredibly annoying.
Very cool. I went into this blind, never heard of them. They are Japanese women? Idk, but it reminds me of other mid 70s approaches to rock that Queen and Sweet took. It’s just fresh, fun, quirky and theatrical. Could have been 4 stars but nothing jumped out too much at me, but will definitely listen again.
could be used as torture music, esp equator, overall not ''too'' shabby
Hasta Manana, Monsieur and Complaints stand out as quite nice
music is love
Listened sober. The band made a track with gorillaz! First song is upbeat but in a minor key, I fw it, a little experimental Third has a great intro Feels a little art rock/glam rock, words are sometimes underenunciated
Super fun, would listen again.
I was a barbecutie this weekend
I love the idea of "Your favourite band's favourite band", as it feels like listening to Sparks brings you, the fan, just a little bit closer to the tastes of the geniuses. Kimono My House might sound like a novelty record, but underneath that facade is some pretty intricate lyricism and composition, telling stories that are simultaneously surreal and human. These guys might not be to everybody's liking, but I honestly cannot get enough of them. Love the Mael brothers! Favourite track: Talent is an Asset Least favourite track: Barbacutie
Nothing special. Felt Queen influences.
Russell and Ron Mael ✨️invented✨️ poetry and here is proof: 1. Zoo time is she and you time 2. Gonna hang myself from my family tree 3. It's a lot like playing the violin, you cannot start off and be Yehudi Menuhin 4. The mammals are your favorite type and you want her tonight 5. I bring home the bacon and eat it myself, here's to my health 6. I tried to tell you in the night that with a girl like you I could do without guided tours 7. You tried to tell me in the day that your leading exports were textiles and iron ore 8. We are his relatives, and he don't need any non-relatives 9. Take her to Spain and hear her complain 10. You are a khaki-colored bombardier 11. As twenty cannibals have hold of you, they need their protein just like you do 12. Shower, another shower, you got to look your best for her and be clean everywhere
Fav song: This Town Ain’t Big Enough For Both Of Us
This was interesting and different. Not my style so much, but it was a fascinating thing to listen to, especially given that falsetto, wow. Very 80's sounding for being released in '74. Glad I heard it.
Quirky and weird.
This was interesting, a little jarring at first but I ended up being okay with it Playlist add: "Lost and Found"
This Town Ain't Big Enough for Both of Us - 4.5/5 Amateur Hour - 4.5/5 Falling in Love With Myself Again - 4/5 Here in Heaven - 4/5 Thank God It's Not Christmas - 4/5 Hasta Mañana, Monsieur - 4/5 Talent is an Asset - 3.5/5 Complaints - 4/5 In My Family - 3.5/5 Equator - 3/5 Some over-the-top glam rock never hurt anyone, right? The first two tracks hook you in and prepare your for the manic and interesting rest of the album. It gets a bit weaker towards the end but it still remains its same quirky self throughout. Overall: 4/5 Favorites: This Town Ain't Big Enough for Both of Us, Amateur Hour
Fun album, good listen, but 3.5 at best so gonna round down
bit hit and miss but at its best it's up with the heights of Roxy/Bowie
For something that seems so varied, how does it all ultimately sound the same? File under: good at what it does, but that thing ain't really for me.
They are the last of the big glam rock bands I hadn’t heard and hate it’s taken this long. I can see how so many were inspired by this. The first half was flawless and a better than the second half but still pretty great the whole way. The album cover as well is gorgeous. Rating: 4.7
Glam-rock with really interesting melodies and instrumentation, and more on the pop music side of things than other bands of the same genre. I enjoyed it.
Cool.
Excellent album. Would give 4 & a half stars if I could.
It really put a smile on my face when the opening moments of track one came on...
Begin eerste nummer klonk alsof het weer zo’n verplicht nummertje ging worden dit album. Toch maar aangeknald op de fiets… ik weet niet wat het is maar het is kk vet
Good
Alright, quirky but fun
Liked the vibe, weird songs
Sounds like WHO "The Who Sell Out" and I do not like it really
Nice Duo, Peak Glam Rock
I wish I liked this more. It's a fun album! It's unique and a decent listen overall. But there's an element missing. I think if there had been a really good guitar, or a great drummer, or some otherworldly vocals... Something to make it really stand out. I still enjoyed it for what it is, but it needed something else to make it stand out. I liked "Hasta Manana, Monsieur" and "In My Family."
Not really my style
5/10… art pop / glam rock / *1974
Bloody great, I'd never have guessed it was from 1974. it was so much like the last dinner party or similar.
Weird, flamboyant and definitely a vibe if you’re into coke parties
I really like the opening riff to Thank God it's Not Christmas. Was giving me Vampire Weekend vibes (but of course these guys came much earlier ha)
This album is for people who like Bohemian Rhapsody. Which... I don't. I don't HATE it, but I only like it because everyone else likes it. I'll be honest. 3/5
I listened to this like 4 times in a row on the plane but I was half asleep so by the end it was like 1 time awake id say. All the songs do the same thing p much but I dont mind it. upbeat and fun.
Weird
A little too repetitive for my liking, however I was pleasantly surprised how much I enjoyed this. Sounds like an early influence for Devo, and it surprises me that, despite being a duo from LA, theyve only ever seemed to make it big in the UK
Promising start..
horrible. horrible.
Didn’t stand out to me. Not really notable, why is it on the list? Am I missing something?
meh
ABBA had a baby with Queen. And it’s ugly.
Do I like these guys? I'm still not sure after listening to them on and off for maybe 8 months. Do I like the albums? Yes. Does that make sense? I dunno.
It's fun hearing this the day after an Arcade Fire album. Lots of connective tissue there. Sparks was one of the major blind spots I was looking to rectify through this project, and it didn't disappoint. Such a blast.
Esquisito
Bizarre brilliance.
Just not my favorite style. I don't mind some Bowie and other glam rock, but this felt... a little overcooked. Like it tried too hard, maybe? 2.
un album colorido y divertido. los sparks son una banda adelantada a su tiempo aunque claramente se pueden poner como glamrock este album tiene sonidos que no se serian populares hasta una década después. una buena introduccion a la banda de culto que son los sparks
begint natuurlijk met een kanon van een hit... wat volgt is even goed maar zakt stilletjes wat in... toch blijft geheel overeind
It was pretty catchy and glammy. Nothing stood out but I didn't hate it. It sounded like a lot of glam rock bands, like I had heard them before but I don't think I have.
Such a strange record. At times I was amazed and absorbed, and others I was totally turned off. Probably not something I come back to much, but I did bookmark a few tracks.
New-to-me band and album. Kooky, campy, poppy, and almost enjoyable.
I do like some songs by Sparks; I just struggled to stay engaged through a full album
It really hit the right mix of Roxy Music style glam-rock for me, enjoyable throughout.
Never heard of them before this experience. The whole thing works for me. Bit genre melding. Sounds like the Jezabels were heavily influenced by Sparks so maybe in retrospect that influenced my enjoyment of this album. Would totally turn this on again.
Gran descubrimiento!!
Right from the first 5 over the top seconds I knew I was in for a bad day on 1001 albums. I was also absolutely sure it was Brian Eno somehow, or Bowie, as this 1001 list is entirely theirs. I was surprised to find it wasn't. It might as well be, though. The over the top cheese never lets up, so I guess you can give it to them for consistency. 1/5
I’ve always been curious about this band but this was my first time really listening. I appreciate what they’re doing, but the songs didn’t really land for me. A little too Rocky Horror for me.
Not sure I get or like it but I can see how it’s memorable.
This was weird and fun. I like how weird it is. I like the high pitch vocals. Its kind of out there and wild. I had fun with this.
Not for me. I didn't like the vocalist at all. Quirky lyrics and music. They may be clever though. Just couldn't get all the way through the songs because of his voice.
Could take it or leave it.
very cool!
Pleasantly surprised with this. Definitely see it on par with 70s Queen stylistically. I’m convinced this is the only album Foxy Shazam ever listened to. One or two songs keep it from a five for me but definitely would rate it higher than four if I could. Will definitely revisit this group and explore what else they have.
The timeless band who has inspired countless bands. Yet, their biggest hit was not until the 80’s with a former go-go. They are so well known even Paul McCartney parodies them in a video. Despite all of that, I don’t really get this album or band, quite frankly.
Interesting find I’d never have listened to without the project.
A towering achievement in high art glam rock that sounds entirely distinct from anything else produced in the 1970s. The Mael brothers completely rewrite the pop songwriting playbook here, delivering a dizzying display of theatrical vocal acrobatics, rapid fire lyrical wit, and highly eccentric song structures that dart unpredictably between classical grandiosity and driving rock. This album is a stunning, brilliantly bizarre masterwork. It throws breathless tempos, sudden time changes, and a manic, hyper active energy at the listener that rewards every single repeat spin.
Vey much a Jammin album, but nothing really stood out.
Was not familiar with Sparks, but I am glad I do now. I never want to meet them in real life, but if they were playing a festival I would check them out. 3.4
Wow, this one was a pleasant surprise! Full of life and very weird. A little bit Queen, a little bit Bowie… I guess I need to watch this documentary all the reviews are crowing about. 9/10 Outstanding
Crazy fun album, honestly. It's so quirky. I cannot imagine not liking it.
Fun record
why am i not in my city every time i arrive at an album which i have a physical copy of. last time i was at my grandma's when i get ok computer and this time i am in the city where i saw sparks live last year. anyway what an album. bombastically theatrical and glamorous with funny lyrics and melodies that jump around and fling itself in werird ways. absolute cinema. 5/5
3.5/5 Favorite Songs: This Town Ain't Big Enough For The Both Of Us Hasta Manana, Monsieur Complaints
Fabulous, haven't heard this stuff for such a long time.
not for me
came as a surprise ... not disappointed.
This felt a bit like ABBA if they discovered acid. Different, but didn’t really grab me in any way
Disappointed. Had heard a lot about these guys but this left me flat.
Based on a glowing review, I've had a copy for several years now of an Edgar Wright-directed documentary called "The Sparks Brothers", but I still haven't watched it, largely because I can't convince anyone to watch something that they've never heard of, undoubtedly reinforced by the fact that I have only a vague sense that it's about a couple of brothers who were involved in music and then disappeared (or something like that). That's probably why the band name for today's album sounded vaguely familiar, but it was only about halfway through the album (and after reading about the Mael brothers and this album) that I realized this album and that documentary were centered around the same history. I still haven't watched the documentary, but at least now I can sound a little more knowledgeable as I try to con someone into watching it with me. I know the Wikipedia and "1001 Albums" entry make a lot of connections to UK glam rock (and Morrissey's lifelong fandom of this album), but I'll admit that the first thing that came to mind was that this is what Abba should have, and probably wanted to, sound like. (I didn't realize for several tracks that the vocals are in Russell Mael's very impressive falsetto.) There are elements of Queen there too, which definitely gets them more into glam rock territory, and the music and lyrics are much more interesting than Abba, but it still feels like cabaret music. A fun album, and nice to get something entirely new to me; plus I now have a little more context whenever I finally dust off "The Sparks Brothers".
You know those New York Dolls album covers where the band is all glammed up with wigs and makeup? This album is exactly like what I imagined the New York Dolls would sound like based on those covers. It's a little too precious for me.
This is some serious glam pop rock! Way over the top, tight and relentlessly kinetic energy, catchy hooks, soaring guitars, the whole nine yards! I'll be coming back to this one a few times when I need a pick-me-up
2.5
*1974. Glam rock. *This is basically ABBA + B-52s but like the off-brand LA version. *Kinda fun, but a little goes a long way. *Not my vibe, will not be revisiting. RATING - 6.5/10
It's ok, not for me.
Cultural appropriation is wrong.
Worth another listen. Definitely some upbeat, unusual songs.
Unreal. I am absolutely adoring this album and sound. I think I've uncovered a band that is very much my taste that I haven't given any love to before. The falsetto is divine. The lyrics are funny and great. I can't wait to hear more. Funny timing as Sparks are playing in my town next week but I am unable to go. I would've loved the chance to see the live.
This one surprised me.
Love it 👍
No. 190 Pretty cool kind of art rock, starts sounding the same after a little bit though
You kinda need a Sparks album on this list if only to show off this maximalist pop band. I prefer Angst in My Pants, but this is also phenomenal
Dramatic- feels like there Broadway version of pop music. Fans of Queen (which I’m not) will probably love this. Interesting stuff, I feel like I “should” like it, but after a few listens I just don’t. The constant falsetto grates on me, for one thing. But it’s certainly not boring. This is a rare album where I will likely give it three stars but it doesn’t mean “meh”, like most of my three stars. I just can’t get myself to like it enough to give it four.
So good and unexpected! Amazing
I knew of Sparks from the ‘80s, but not this. Got the ‘70s sound.
I'm not sure what this was, but I found an album that I won't be listening to again!
Don't think I needed to listen to this, but it was a-o-fine. It was a vibe at times. Never really got boring, but it wasn't always great.
04/10
Ehhh
This was fun front to back. Loved the vocals and the piano. I can see why they have had such a long career and are still relevant after 50+ years.
Throughout this challenge I've learned to appreciate glam rock little more. This is a interesting album, and interesting music.
Very silly. Very dramatic. Very fun. What the hell, 4
This is crap! A mixture of Dexys M. R. and Electric lights Orchestra. Happy to not play or hear about this anymore
Found it somewhat fun at the start but it got pretty old quickly.
Eh
Quirky and fun.
Dom säger att det är glamrock, men jag tycker det känns modernare, nästan new wave. De bästa låtarna är riktigt bra, men hela plattan håller inte. En trea
Second half is weaker, but my what a fun, energetic album.
Oh look, another art rock/new wave/pop rock something on the list. I belive this is the 123rd such album I absolutely must listen to before I die. Apparently I had a little time today, so I looked them up. That's when I discovered they've influenced the likes of Björk, Duran Duran, Joy Division, Morrissey, and New Order. I respect Björk. The rest could have remained uninspired teenagers who never made an album, and the world would have been a better place.
Another day of wonderful music. This Town is a 70s classic and the whole album is full of quirky art rock.
Todo que ver este álbum. Voces que van muy bien con los instrumentos y tienen un rollo japo
This Town Ain't Big Enough for the Both of Us Amateur Hour
Take Bowie, Rush and Roxy Music and blend with a mountain of cocaine … and you arrive here.
Like a glam rock version of early XTC, these guys bring a great energy and clever wordplay to every song on here. This was my introduction to them and I want to hear more. The band, especially the guitarist, rocks too. None of it should work but all of it does, spectacularly.
Never heard this before. Really great barrage of oddball rock that kind of assaults the senses in a good way. Must have inspired Devo because they're the only other band I've heard with a vaguely similar sound.
another classic album I bought when it came out love it 😀
This is amazing.
Unique and interesting but it's a little too wacky for me
Yoko Ono meets Rocky Horror Picture Show. Very avante garde
70s new wave, glam. Bonkers, theatrical opener. Lively, fun pop. Loads of falsetto and weird synths. Camp.
Que carajo este disco. Me gustó bastante más de lo que esperaba. Un 5/6 puntos.
escuchar este álbum fue como cuando soñé que a willy wonka, britney, mr bean, harry potter y a mi nos perseguían cuatro patovicas.
Your parts I liked but most of it I was indifferent too
There’s a certain level of weird I would go to, and this is beyond that. It’s like Queen mixed with a the B-52’s, only not as good as either. I disliked it from the very first song, which I heard is their most well-known one. That was true. It only got worse from there.
Chinas…
Dope
is this problematic? idk but lowkey a fun album
The whole tone of this was so shrill. Really unpleasant to listen to.
I love Sparks and I grew up on Sparks music on my local radio station but I really do not know this record because Sparks music spans several decades. From what I heard it is great.
Really liked it. Great grasp of song-writing. The operatics are a bit grating.
Grand, flamboyant, fabulous, weird.
Rounding up cause I like their story. Wish I enjoyed the music more.
Goofy
Interesting. Cool. Kinda weird.
sparks ain’t it for me
Sparks are awesome and I will accept no other opinions. Amateur Hour is like the catchiest song ever made.
I listened. It's an album. Somehow I was annoyed by songs yet I couldn't come up with a solid reason why it annoyed me. It wasn't even every song. I was removing weeds from the garden and I would stop and go, what? So yeah I don't get this album at all. Not sure why it's on the list, I want to find a fan and see if they can explain it to me.
Sounds very much like the Cocteau Twins
2 sterne
Ok... Si je dois dire un mot.. WTF ?? C'est quoi cette folie ? Franchement, l'album explose ! Il est vraiment bien travaillé. Déjà, nous avons cet éléphant dans la pièce, le choix de la part de Sparks de faire un album entièrement tourné vers le Japon sortant... Littéralement de nul part est extrêmement surprenant mais vient apporter un punch absolument unique pour du glam rock, mêlant énormément de sonorités différentes entre la guitare électrique qui prend énormément de place, les voix en echo à très haut pitch qui viennent apporter une dimension à la fois très lyrique ou énergiques et vindicatives. De plus, le travail d'égalisation, tant au niveau de la répartition de la place des instruments dans le morceaux que de la contenance de ses sonorités explosives, alternant aussi avec des parties de basses très lourdes et marquées comme sur "Here In Heaven", ou des coupures nettes sur certains morceaux comme "Falling in Love With Myself Again". L'ensemble créer alors une topologie musicale extrêmement singulière à l'album, proposant une approche à mon sens vraiment intéressante du glam rock. Très bon album, vraiment propre
kaulo vaag
This sounds like something Lorelai Gilmore would listen to (derogatory).
Blind album and artist. I feel that this album wants to be a 5 so bad, but there are small pieces of this album that feel like my hair is going against the flow, or like petting a cat in the wrong direction. Can't give it more than a 3 unfortunately but it does sound great.
I'm not gonna be one of those guys that pretended they knew Sparks all along, but I can say for sure I can dig it. They sound like a more interesting Supertramp with fun, clever lyrics and song subjects. Didn't love every song, but there was a lot to like here.
It was good. A little frenetic for my mood yesterday. I'll try listening again someday.
Wow I really enjoyed this. It was silly and fun and there were several songs where I could tell the band was having a blast playing.
This was ok, but not really my thing. A friend recommended I check Sparks out and told me to start with their debut. I did, but wasn’t into it. I preferred this record to their debut, but Sparks still aren’t for me. Far too camp and jolly. This Town… is a banger though.
This isn't my wheelhouse at all but it was a pretty decent listen. It sounds familiar... that generic synth-pop that permeates the 80's definitely owes something to this. That being said, it's one of many I'll prolly never circle back around to.
I like to say weird ages better than cool. That’s why this album feels like it has modern sensibilities. Weird mix of prog rock and new wave. Always switching it up, but always under the same banner.
This is what Queen could have sounded like if they had any taste or style. Strong four stars
Listening session: april 20th, while commuting to internship Listened to before: no Thoughts: so this is not really my thing, I found it a bit too eclectic and noisy for the early morning. I was surprised though to see that this dates back to 1974 as it sounds quite different from everything I’ve heard from that era. Favourite tracks: Amateur Hour & Here In Heaven
Huh, I thought I would like this more. But halfway through I was bored to tears. I just wanted it to end. Maybe I'm getting burn-out from this challenge. But there was nothing that spoke to me in this album. It's... perfectly adequate glam rock.
At first I thought glammed-up zeppelin wasn't so bad. As it continued and the vocal style got on my nerves I am now convinced that is a mistake. Props for the band, the 70's featured some weird vocal styles that aged poorly
I thought I would like this more but it never got going for me….
Already listened to this; banger. 4.5
Not sure what to make of that but it certainly wasn't bad
Not an album I would buy and play relentlessly but I am still glad that Sparks exist and make the music they do. When a track of theirs comes on the radio it is more often than not an upbeat one which puts a smile on your face makes the day that bit brighter. As proved today when I put this album on 5 minutes after waking up. I now feel so joyful. And it’s got nothing to do with the fact that the MIGHTY LEEDS UNITED trounced the scummy MAN UTD at Old Trashford last night. Not much it isn’t! 3/5 14/4/26
What a ride. And it never gets old.
was excited to spend a first listen with the notorious Mael brothers, but i found this to be.....well, i don't know. the complexity and frippery of it all pushed me away more than it drew me in. i liked Amateur Hour quite a bit from the jump, and after a few listens, that's still my favorite track - the rest is so ornate and busy that i can't really make heads or tails of it. i think i like it, think i'll be back to it, but the barrier to entry was a lot higher than i anticipated for a band i feel like anyone with taste adores
This was a weird one. No two songs felt like they had quite the same vibe. I remember thinking one sounded kinda big band-y, another sounded a little more goth-symphonic, things didn't really feel cohesive throughout this album. That goes for the production as well; every instrument felt a little too close to the forefront, which I found a little overstimulating at times. It reminds me of my friend Clover's band in that regard. I enjoyed a lot of the instrumentation, especially the guitars throughout this record. I just wish things were blended a bit more.
A relentless show tune poppy annoyingly chipper group of songs I don't want to hear anymore.
Ei ollut mun juttu. Liian progea mun makuun.
Wtf is this. Its fun but it gets annoying. The lyrics are soooo stupid (In a good way). Atleast its very short. Idk Orange Juice
Another answer to the question, "What album does not belong on this list?"
absolutamente detestable insoportable innescuchable creo a ni lo termine es un espanto las voces agudas los gritos la musca tan al palo y mismas sintomias contetantemete realamente una basura
I found this to be quite fun. At first, the vocals were a bit much, but the over the top singing finally grew on me and I had a great time with it.
Very fun album, kinda reminded me of Kate Bush for some reason, I'm sure there's better comparisons but anyway, my favorites were "Amature Hour" and "Here in Heaven"
This album is really difficult for me. On one hand, there are moments where I think, “wow, that’s a fantastic idea,” but then I feel like it’s quite noisy and heavy. But after thinking it over, I guess it’s closer to a masterpiece than to just noise. 7/10
Ok basically background music nothing stands out
It was interesting, but no need to listen again.
Quirky friggin prog-pop arty glam rock kinda thing. Man, it’s bombastic, weird, and quite theatrical. A good deal of fun. Totally original. Definitely need to spend more time with it, but I think I dig it.
6/10
It is so reminiscent of many other bands that came after and from the same time. Queen, ELO, Talking Heads. I feel like if you were doing a deep diver of influential alternative music, this is a must listen, but instead it is an album of songs that other did slightly different and maybe better and became more popular. Technically give it 2.5 stars.
I love Sparks, and I love this album. Even though on paper it sounds like the kind of pompous pretentious theatre kid nonsense I would hate. This Town is a perfect opener - Amateur Hour, Thank God its Not Christmas. Hasta Mañana, Talent is an asset - all incredible, funny, groovy, perfect little glam rock pop songs. Immediate 5.
I thought this album was pretty mid, super uninteresting and forgettable
Like Kate Bush's annoying little sister after too much Red Bull
Weird artsy glam pop rock? Sure. I've seen this album around, can't say I'm not excited. Having now listened to it, I must say that I was incredibly spot-on. "Weird Artsy Glam Pop Rock." The only way that I could possibly make it more accurate is if I added "Prog" in front of "Pop." "Weird Artsy Glam Prog Pop Rock." Yeah. The falsettos are nice, even if they're not my thing personally, and the songs are VERY good. Very colorful, glammy, layered, and not infrequently revelatory, especially in the case of the opener. My personal problems are just that maybe... it's TOO consistent? Nothing especially stands out, it all sounds the same. Also, I'm just not the biggest fan of this specific strain of music, even if I'll still champion the merit I find in it. Some general standouts are as follows: "This Town Isn't Big Enough..." is a masterful song, as is "Talent Is an Asset" (weird-ass capitalization on that song, by the way). Even when it gets to the end and I can't quite tell every song apart from each other, I still come out of this listen liking it a lot! 8.9/10
It’s giving Supertramp
Well, that was...I don't know what that was. Eccentric! That's what it was. Sometimes it sounded like Queen, sometimes it sounded like Fiona Apple, sometimes it sounded like its own damn thing. Not really my jam in the end, but I'm glad to have heard it and I appreciate the creativity on display. 3.8
This is so wild and fun I honestly kinda like the vibe. Its a good album to play while you're outside working on your car or something
fun album overall i guess. the person singing has a really annoying voice, it sounds like they are doing an impression constantly. all the songs felt very same-y, only songs that stood out to me were Amateur Hour, Equator (though it was very repetitive towards the end) and Lost And Found (very fun lyrics) i might return to these tracks, but not the whole record
Why is this even on the list? It wouldn’t make my top 10,000 There is a lot of much better music out there
So ironically, having never heard of this record before, I found a used reissue at my local record shop saw the cover and decided to test it a bit. Through the first track onto Spotify. And was immediately hooked, listened to it for about 30-40 seconds. Decided I was going to go for it and moved on and put this record in my "BUY" pile. So I thought I was going to be adding to my indie contemporary section of my vinyl collection. I saw 2 Asian women in kimonos on the front. I heard Asian women singing in the first song. I figured I was picking up a lesser-known indie band from, say, 2009, 2010. Remember, this was a reissue, very new looking product. It wasn't until I got home that I noticed that the photos on the back and in the insert were very old photos of an all male band and what I was actually listening to was one of the greatest art rock additions to the seventies. What does album does is remain fun? And interesting, all the way through you never quite know what you're gonna get next. The lyrics are smart and catchy. The melodies go places that you don't quite expect, and overall.It's a great addition to a deep collection.
Fun, pop, weird, sound. Upbeat.
Ok
Meh
nah
Meatroaf.
Heavy 70s glam with super interesting songs and one of the fairiest fairy boys produced by the USA. Fucking love these guys and this is one of their best albums, certainly the most classic. Must-listen #315.
Вы типа реально хотели скрыть от меня этот hidden gem? Вот чтоб он продолжал быть hidden? Вы охринели?!?!? Это щикарный глэм-альбом. Вся первая сторона - золото. Я вообще подумал что это исполняет какая-то женщина-вокалист с закосом (а может и реальным) японским акцентом. В ИТОГЕ Я УЗНАЮ ЧТО ЭТО МУЖЧИНА. я в восторге. обложка шикарная, альбом шикарный.
Wow I actually thought it was an asian lady singing the whole time. 7/10
Super weird but I liked it. It sounded strangely familiar like a combination of a few well known things.
It's glam rock and it has that theatrical style of singing, but it's done pretty well. Reminds me of Queen. The backing music is at times a little prog-rock, like Electric Light Orchestra (similar era - Mr Blue Sky was released 3 years later).
Feels like ABBA covering Queen B-sides. Not bad, it just feels like a joke I'm not quite getting and don't have the energy to figure out.
Japanese house tracks for the win
Leaves the impression of a collaboration between ABBA and Queen that turned into a tug of war over artistic control and the rope broke, with the finished product landing somewhere near the Rocky Horror Picture Show, traveling through time and channeling Chappell Roan. In short, I find it sort of campy, but not necessarily in a bad way. This is one album that definitely sounds exactly like the cover art looks.
Operatic rock, with a little too much flouncy falsetto for my taste. They were definitely challenging the construction of a song.
Hmm, what is this 70s rock? I didn't really like this. I think it's the voice and style of singing. Equator almost gave me a panic attack.
Turns out the 10 most catchy songs of the 70's are all on the same album, what a coincidence! A true monument in the field of oddball pop music.
Off the wall. Sparks always sent it full commit with whatever they did. This Town Ain’t Big Enough For The Both of Us is an insane track and the rest is fun glam. Influential dudes in rock.
Very silly. Very dramatic. Very fun. What the hell, 4
The band that sounds british but isn’t! Super creative, engaging, unique and timeless. I love it
80s lunacy from Track 1 on. Reasonable 80s sound. Not an album I’m going to listen to again. The stuff of background soundtracks.
Nothing remarkable.
Technically probably a 3 but it’s so annoying to listen to
Pretty weird, a LOT of fun. A little to one note but no the later I’m coming back impressed and going up to 5
The lilting melodies used on every song is an effect that should be used sparingly, but Sparks elects to assault my ears for all of the albums runtime with it. About half way through I had to drop the volume to about half what I normally listen at because the entire tone of the album is grating. I hate this and it makes me angry.
I know if I spent more time with this it would grow on me, but I'm not feeling compelled to do so. There's something sinister about this music, something cynical and dark under all the goofiness. It makes me a little uncomfortable.
Really don’t like the singing.
Decent album this tbf
Love the quirkiness of this record. This town ain't big enough is a hell of an opener, and probably the best song on the album, but I enjoyed a lot of this. A sound that reminded me of a cross between Queen and Bowie (after inhaling helium). The vocal range is impressive and lyrics are brilliant. A very good 3.5/5.