Reviews (page 4 of 8)
Surprisingly modern
Love Sparks! This album starts with two back to back bangers, wish the whole album kept up that energy. Still a great album with many more fun songs by band who deserve to be remembered more
Love these weird guys, and they still make original stuff, saw the recent documentary The Sparts Brothers was amazing and admired the music (and the film itself) they made for the film Annette. This album if fun and campy and poppy, real fun.
Super weird and super catchy.
Blij met deze ontdekking!
Great fun. Strong 4*
Great album, although some vocal parts were almost annoying. Still, loved it, listened to it twice instantly.
интересное музло
Weird and eccentric, really glad i listened to it. This town aint big enough is such a cool and loud song. The rest of the album is enjoyable.
It's just great fun.
Would I be crazy to call this a cross between The Beatles and Queen? It even strikes me as a more eccentric version of something that could have come out of the late 2010s indie scene. The synth rock elements have aged extraordinarily well.
Effervescent!
Never heard of this, pleasant surprise. Will I listen to again: 75%
4.5, almost 5. This rocks and is so fun. I’ve heard it a handful of times before and for like 20 years Sparks has been a band that I know I love but hardly know - and I’m really really gonna have to fix that.
a fun kinda chaotic surprise. i enjoyed my time listening
good instrumentation + build up throughout the album would give it a listen again - 4/5
Such a weird band. Really enjoyed it more than I thought I would.
Rocks harder than expected.
Rating: 8/10 Best songs: This town ain’t big enough for both of us, Amateur hour
proto-of montreal. i liked it!
wow, i have no memory of this but apparently i liked seven of these songs on spotify as i was listening to this album at work yesterday? welp. cool album, basically sounded like queen plus david bowie plus jukebox the ghost (and my fiancee said early of Montreal as well). basically just the ultimate mashup of glam and new wave sounds. I'll add some of these to the rotation, good find! favorites: this town ain't big enough for both of us, amateur hour, hasta manana monsieur, talent is an asset, in my family, equator, barbecutie
It's quirky, arty, weird, chaotic, glammy and a whole lot of fun. Enjoyed listening to this album. One of the most unique and original bands out there. Just wish there were more albums from these guys in the book. (In particular, Hello Young Lovers which is fantastic.)
Two dudes bonding over having the same size erections.
Kul!
I never knew just how many songs by Sparks I knew until I saw the documentary. I first heard "This Town Ain't Big Enough For Both Of Us" when Siouxsie and the Banshees covered it. Cool album.
Sparks are incredible and this album is incredible. Tight and ferocious. Truly excellent.
4.0 - Broadway-infused glam rock but unlike Meat Loaf, this sounds campier, more self-aware and more fun. Lots of falsetto vocal lines paired with muscular guitar riffs. Standouts: “This Town…”, “Thank God It’s Not Christmas”, “Equator.”
truly an album you must listen to before you die
Love the energy, bounce, and wit. Good weird. The vocals eventually start to grate a little.
Second time listening to this one. More interesting the second time in. Not just weird but has more layers to it.
Muy peculiares. Parece un musical - cabaret. Y suena un poco chinokimono. Muchos agudos y bajadas de agudos. Venga, un 4 por novedosos.
Top songs: Amateur Hour, Thank God It’s Not Christmas (same, Hasta Manana, Monsieur, Talent Is An Asset, Equator and Lost and Found. I enjoyed all of this. Will definitely come back to it.
that's not a lady, that's a jewish man, baby. it's good. here in heaven, lost and found
Very fun glam rock, good instruments and vocals. 4.5/5 FS: This Town, Hasty Manana, Equator
This is like if Abba and Queen had a baby. 4.3/5
Well we are certainly off to a start... This Town Ain't Big Enough For Both Of Us is a statement piece that sets the stage for what I expect to be an eclectic, prog-pop album. While it is certainly left of center in its composition, I find it well done. The shifting back and forth between the Yes-like guitar / drum / bass sections and the operatic falsetto are entertaining. Also the staccato delivery of the chorus is very interesting. Falling In Love With Myself Again once again features very Yes-flavored breakdowns. I like this song a lot. This album has all the markings of a sneaky 5 so far. Each song is brimming with energy and has creative elements that keep things entertaining. Perhaps I'm just a sucker for meaty bass, but this album gets me. I was having a hard time placing it earlier, but this feels like a much more interesting / effective Supertramp to me. Alright so I wrote that last comment at Hasta Manana, Monsieur. After that point, I feel like the album got a bit more tedious if not repetitive, which softened its overall intrigue. I still think this was a really surprisingly strong album and appreciated the uniqueness backed by solid instrumental work. 4 / 5
You probably only need one Sparks album, but this could be it. The arrangements, the production and the writing are all playful, funny and smart. Some of the classics are here, and I loved ‘Christmas’, which was new to me. I am late to the Sparks party, but I felt very welcome and this was an absolute romp from beginning to end,
Very good - especially for its time!
It’s been a while since I rated an album 4 stars. I already knew and liked the first 2 songs, and although none of the other songs were really that good, I like Sparks in general and I think the album will grow on me in the future.
Such lovable weirdos. Like a way goofier version of Queen. They maintain such a ridiculously high energy level it just puts a smile on my face. Easily their best album.
Imperfect but really cool. the back half definitely started feeling more repetitive, but overall I quite liked this
Sparkly
This was fun. Never heard of them before.
Wacky as fuck glam rock but your favorite band’s favorite band. Sparks’ greatest strength is their utter revelry in their weirdness (that and incredibly precise musicianship).
Sparks always bring such a unique spin to pop and rock music. This is not different. Bringing massive amounts of subtle beauty into each track while still having a little cut to their edge. Cool and crisp just as you’d like. These guys don’t miss.
First two songs start out great! Originally I thought it was not in English. I'm surprised this is from the 70's; it sounds like late 90s early 00s pop with some solid guitar mixed in. The rest of the songs sounds more like rock. Really unique and enjoyable album!
Glam rock/pop that started strong, but somehow lost steam as there is not too much variation between the tracks. Still interesting to hear some kind of proto - New Wave sound from 1974. This Town Ain't Big Enough For The Both Of Us is easily the strongest track. 3.5/5
Just like Roxy Music on the other side of the pond, I never could understand the appeal of this band that also played synth-enhanced glam/glitter rock (at least originally). Maybe Spark's music was too eccentric and complex for me. I sort of doubt this, however: I usually *like* pop rock when it's eccentric and complex... So... That said, this here is the perfect occasion to discover what's so good in this band: the lyrics. Opener "This Town Ain't Big Enough for Both Of Us" is a hilarious opener about a love story turning into a surreal western-like duel, "Amateur Hour" is one the funniest song about sex I've ever heard, with snarly oblique lyrics that get me every time: "It's a lot like playing the violin / You cannot start off to be Yehudi Menuhin / Amateur hour goes on and on / And when you turn pro you know / She tells you so" . Lively "Talent Is An Asset" is about Albert Einstein as a child, with a fun pun on "relative(s)" at some point. And "Up Here In Heaven"'s whole 'what if' concept is a riot (what if Juliet betrayed Romeo at the eleventh hour and chose *not* to die--wouldn't Romeo's heaven in the sky turn into hell?). Fittingly, there's also a *biting* aspect to the music that perfectly illustrates this tale of woe and ironic despair, and it makes this banger going haywire a keeper, both lyrically and musically. Finally, to give one last example of what's so fun in Sparks' lyrics, there's that line in "Hasta Mañana Monsieur": "You mentioned Kant and I was shocked / You know, where I come from / None of the girls have such foul tongues". 🤣 All of those tunes are obvious highlights, but there are other relevant tracks as well: take "Thank God It's Not Christmas" for instance. This one has nice melodies and an effective chorus. "Barbecutie" is pretty fun as well, with its loud bassline and heavy guitar riff on the chorus. And the next track, "Lost and Found" is a cool capper for the whole thing. Odd that those three tracks are rarely the ones that are singled out by fans of this album, at least as far as I can tell. As for the rest of the songs, I can't say that they're bad, but I first need to get more acquainted with the rest of Sparks' very *long* discography to decide if *Kimono My House* can truly become a favorite of mine (which will take a little bit of time). I'm a little wary of Dimery's list when it focuses on "commercial breakthrough" LPs. For the bands or artists that I know well, it often means that truly significant records are left aside, and since I'm only warming up to Sparks now, I don't want to miss something good in that long list of albums... Number of albums left to review: 620 Number of albums from the list I find relevant enough to be mandatory listens: 186 Albums from the list I *might* include in mine later on: 86 (including this one, most probably) Albums from the list I will certainly *not* include in mine (many others are more essential to me): 115
Surprisingly good!
This was weird, but kinda worked for me
Fun upbeat music. Good for working dogs in the morning! I enjoyed it.
omg i like tha sparks
3.75
Upptäckte Sparks på Trazan & Banarne och lyckades spela in några låtar från radion och från någon kompis storebror. Egen avancerad pop som fortfarande håller.
operatic, abstract and dense Bowie/Queen/falsetto-y glam rock. definitely deserves to be on this list. 3.75/5
didn’t finish it but i plan to, fun lil songs and the lead singers voice is silly
1st time I had heard of Sparks... though had heard This Town... before. Not too long, lots of fun.
Har vært nysgjerrig på detta albumet, og må sei da leverte
Although frequent and repeated listening is liable to drive me crazy, I very much enjoyed this album, where pretty much every track has its own distinct and developed sound. A noble addition to the world glam/pop rock.
Tosi mielenkiintoista, vähän Queen tulee mieleen kitarasta joka menee samassa melodiassa laulun kanssa. Ekalla kappaleella kappaleet kuullostaa vähän liian samalta, eikä mikään erityisesti erotu joukosta. Parhaat kappaleet muutenkin on alku päässä. Levy kyllä ansaitsee uuden kuuntelun.
Still need to watch that movie
HL: "Falling in Love With Myself Again", "This Town Ain't Big Enough For the Both of Us", "Here in Heaven", "Amateur Hour", "Thank God It's Not Christmas", "Lost and Found" "Falling in Love..." was a morning alarm for me a few times in 2022, and I've seen the documentary the Sparks Brothers, yet this is the 1st time I've listened to Kimono My House front to back. Super likable album, a 4 for now but maybe a 5 tomorrow. I do think the songs are a little better in the first half, but I can't find any filler. The tongue stays firmly in tongue throughout, which I understand is a Sparks trademark. January 5, 2023
Really weird intro song. Very unconventional and intriguing in many ways. I don't know if i loved it, but I was definitely interested in pulling it apart and trying to better understand it. I like the guitar playing and the structure. The vocals are weird and feel kind of overly theatrical at times but I don't usually dislike that sort of thing. The second track, "Amateur Hour" I really liked. Another weird one but was fun and the melody stuck in my head even after I left the room to get more coffee. "Falling in Love With Myself Again" continued the weird theatrics but I like it! The guitar breaks really caught me off guard and seemingly don't repeat too much so they just kind of come and go and I dig it. "Hasta Manana, Monsieur" has a really great sleezy guitar riff. "Complaints" has some fantastic moments, like the guitar solo along with the short stabbing all-band stops in the middle of the track. The more I listen to this album the more I like it and the more I find that I like how eclectic it is. It's plenty cohesive but still so diverse in the songwriting that each track feels different in a good way. How manic does "Equator" sound? Same with "Barbecutie". The repeating chorus was cool in Equator but it started to get annoying in Barbecutie.
Pretty fun listen good songs.
Boys groove.
Probably my favourite Sparks album, and a whole lot of fun. Highlights are This Town... (obviously), Amateur Hour, and Talent is an Asset. Some of the songs can go on a bit long (looking at you, Equator) but on the whole it's a great record
7/10. Reasonably interesting glam rock
This was an odd one. I kinda didn’t want to like it, but it was upbeat and a little bit fun. So I guess I kinda did end up liking it.
Quirky and fun. Liked it just fine.
The cover made me think this could be weird and wacky, and it is. These guys are glam rock set just a little off-kilter. I really liked it!
Tons of fun songs here, started off okay, got great in the middle, and was good to end. Really liked this
Glam rock
Was dreading this one a few seconds in, but came to regret that early impression pretty quickly. This LP mixes equal parts bombast and whimsy to wild success, managing somehow to take its antiquated vocals and make them sound tastefully retro atop heavy layers of sharp, angular guitar. A real out-of-left-field find that I know for a fact I’ll be returning to!
I have no idea...we know that I like weird, but it has to be good weird. I think this is good weird, but I'm honestly not sure. It's very Queen-esque in some parts. In other parts, it's, um, I don't know. I liked it? I think?
Surprised I wasn't already familiar with this band. I liked it a lot. Shades of Queen and Bowie. Will listen again. 4 stars.
Wacky vibes. Iets tussen Händel, David Bowie en Frank Zappa
This might be my first time listening to a full Sparks album (at least the first one since seeing the Edgar Wright documentary). I think what the doc made click in for me is that (70's era at least) Sparks are like a slightly artier version of poppier Queen. This Town Ain't Big Enough For The Both Of Us is a highlight. Listening to the whole album, I think it reinforces my idea after the documentary that I appreciate Sparks more than I like them (and that is probably because I was hearing all the artists they influenced long before I listened to the originals). Other than Bowie and some T. Rex, for glam adjacent stuff I'm usually more of a song/hit person, and that's kinda seems to be the case here too. Still a good album, and if I do a deeper dive on Sparks, this is probably the right starting point.
Fun, simple glam rock
Quite bonkers, their influence on subsequent bands very evident, and their likeness to contemporaries (esp Roxy Music) also clear. I didn't love it much as I hoped I would, but I will listen again.
Really very odd but pretty good. Like Cardiacs but with the faintest hope of selling a record
Sorta avant-garde jazz rock. Lots of the songs were fun to listen to and stood out from one another without being conventionally structured. Not an album you’d put on often, but definitely one should give a listen. 4/5
Very unique sound. Not sure how to describe...
Fun listening
I guess I like glam. This album is fun and the cover is so cool. Interesting to learn that one of the models was the lead vocalist on the fabulous opening track on Scary Monsters. Some really good lead guitar floated in there. I normally don't go for high pitched male vocalists but this one works.
Interesting album, hadnt heard of the band before
Oh, the whimsy.
Really different album, style and feel of the lyrics of music unique to anything else ever listened too. Really enjoyed and will be an album I will listen to many times again in the future.
Whoa, this album is interesting. Exactly the type of thing I want to encounter on this list. Glam meets art-rock with a dash of prog and avant-garde. This isn't novelty though, the songs are well constructed and catchy.
Absolute madness. Sounds like Art Rock that actually kind of rocks. "Amateur Hour" is a great tune and the whole album has aged remarkably well for something that came out in the mid 70s.
This was an interesting listen for me, since I didn't really like the opening track, despite it being the most well known off the album - the rest of it I ended up really liking. 4
super wacky and fun, no idea how to even classify this!
If Sparks weren’t an influence for Amanda Palmer, I’ll eat a handful of coriander.
Sharp and witty, this is an enjoyable, energetic new wave album full of idiosyncrasies and quirkiness. Is there a higher meaning to the lyrics? Who cares? Just enjoy the ride.
I have not heard something quite like this before!
4.5
Really cool album from a band I've never heard of. Will definitely listen again
Was pleasantly surprised with this one.
Glam rock superstars. Great album.
Like Chris from Family saying Hi ominous monkey, this one sneaks up for a nice surprise. Some pretty good unions of all instruments
One of the more zany releases, but a very fun one. Favourites: "This Town Ain't Big Enough For Both Of Us", "Here In Heaven", "Thank God It's Not Christmas"
I've recently been "introduced" I guess to Sparks and started to become really interested in them. I've some of their tracks in the past and thought they were really fun and exciting. I am loving listening to this album. I can totally see why a lot of famous musicians say this is their favourite album of all time. There's something really different and interesting about the performance and I'd love to watch more videos of their performances. I'm not totally sure how I feel about two white guys passing in sound as a couple of Asian women and I'm not totally sure whether that's what they were doing... I also appreciate that wasn't really known to be an issue in the 70s. I love the voice and the range!! I love the energetic keys and variety of musical elements in each track. I'm dedicated to getting more into listening to this album properly and watching some of the live performances because they are hyped up to be wonderful.
The instrumentals on this album slapped... But vocals ranged from unbearable to OK. Overall had some solid tracks that I can see myself coming back to.
Cool rock album. Kinda kooky, almost reminds me of Tommy by the who with some of the lyrics. Overall though good album with awesome rock instrumentals
I enjoyed this. Really fun, poppy melodies and obviously a real precursor to the fantastic art pop we have today.
Beetje ABBA-vibes, met meer gitaarwerk, en wat minder consistent qua genre. Wel amusante rockmuziek
quirky, upbeat, vibrant and catchy art pop from the early 70s. Didn't expect this one to be as good as it is, but between the constant sonic shifting and the endless catchy melodies it's really grabbed me. Off the wall for now, let alone the 70s
Iznenađujuće dobro i ugodno slušanje, a nikad čuo za njih. VOZAČU AUTOBUSA UBRZAJ KAO I RITAM!
I loved it! It was weird and novel. It was a fun listen.
Very poppy and fun album. Definitely something I could listen to again when I am feeling nostalgic.
awesome album cover and great glam rock sound
Enjoyed this one quite a bit.
Muy peculiares. Parece un musical - cabaret. Y suena un poco chinokimono. Muchos agudos y bajadas de agudos. Venga, un 4 por novedosos.
Geggjuð, tímalaus plata! Þarf að eignast!
I've never heard anything from Sparks, but I do know that there is a recent documentary about the band. It was good to have a chance to hear something from the band. "Amateur Hour" and "Talent Is an Asset" caught my attention, while "Equator" and I did not get along as well. The downside of the album for me was a feeling of repetition within some of the tracks. My curiosity about what else I might hear if I gave this album a second listen rounds my rating up to 4 stars.
Wonderfully camp, Euro electro. Can only imagine what it must have been like hearing this deep in the middle of the prog and glam rock era.
Fun stuff
an excellent album
Fantastically weird quirky pop. Its pop music written by music theatre nerds who listen to Yes.
4/5 Really nice voices and cool album
Never heard of them before - very unique, fun, energetic sound
GOOD
Fantastic album. 9/10
At first, I was like wtf! Then I was like hmmm.. I didn't get it until I got to amateur hour. How have I not heard of these guys? So inventive and ahead of their time. Blending genres like me at a froyo place. Absolutely scrumptious album, but I must say that I won't listen to this around other people. It does grow on you, but some grow faster than others. Those two reasons are what keeps it from five stars. Great album! I'm picking up their great hits after this for sure.
Good and very original.
For some reason this album reminds me of Halloween. It’s also really good. I didn’t enjoy it as much as I feel like I should have for some reason because it’s definitely a weird vibe. It’s very 80s for being from 1974 which is cool. It’s full of bangers that I will have to revisit. Many of the songs on the album are similar which isn’t necessarily a bad thing because there isn’t a song on here that I don’t like but not every track stood out to me. Favorite songs: Amateur Hour, Here in Heaven, Hasta Mañana Monsieur, Equator, Barbecutie, Lost and Found Strong 8/10
enjoyed this, maybe 3.8
Sorprendentemente buenos. Buenos ritmos, melodías y voces. Rock muy setentero.
frizzantino
this town really carries it but good vibes
nice one
Interesting, some good organ vibes
Not heard all of this before but v good.
Álbum ok. Amateur Hour é ótima.
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.
Quirky band, I have soft spot for the sparks
++: 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
Somehow I'd never heard Sparks before. I like this. What am I getting myself into? Things are growing complex.
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.
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
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.
Hasta Manana, Monsieur and Complaints stand out as quite nice
I was a barbecutie this weekend
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.
Fun album, good listen, but 3.5 at best so gonna round down
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.
Cool.
Good
Alright, quirky but fun
Liked the vibe, weird songs
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."
5/10… art pop / glam rock / *1974
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
Promising start..
Didn’t stand out to me. Not really notable, why is it on the list? Am I missing something?
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.
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.
Could take it or leave it.
Interesting find I’d never have listened to without the project.
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
Fun record
3.5/5 Favorite Songs: This Town Ain't Big Enough For The Both Of Us Hasta Manana, Monsieur Complaints
came as a surprise ... not disappointed.
*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
Worth another listen. Definitely some upbeat, unusual songs.
No. 190 Pretty cool kind of art rock, starts sounding the same after a little bit though
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.
I knew of Sparks from the ‘80s, but not this. Got the ‘70s sound.
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.
Ehhh
Throughout this challenge I've learned to appreciate glam rock little more. This is a interesting album, and interesting music.
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
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.
Unique and interesting but it's a little too wacky for me
Yoko Ono meets Rocky Horror Picture Show. Very avante garde
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.
Really liked it. Great grasp of song-writing. The operatics are a bit grating.
Rounding up cause I like their story. Wish I enjoyed the music more.
Interesting. Cool. Kinda weird.
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.
It was good. A little frenetic for my mood yesterday. I'll try listening again someday.
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.
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
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.
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
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"
Ok basically background music nothing stands out
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.
It’s giving Supertramp
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
Fun, pop, weird, sound. Upbeat.
Meatroaf.
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.
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.
Interesting. Mix of ABBA and queen. Didn’t hate it.
This was ok and not ok. Not my style. But I can see how some would enjoy this.
The singer should’ve done an album with Tiny Tim to really annoy the people. Really enjoyed the album. Could easily get a 4 after a few more listens I reckon. 3.5/5
Enjoyable. Irritating at times. Theyve got so many albums i think id enjoy a greatest hits. Id go see em live. This albums ok.
Only ever heard this town ain’t big enough but that wasn’t bad. Enjoyed it catchy little songs
Quite fun, vocals get on your tits after a while. Equator can absolutely get fucked.
Something is irking me vocals wise but I was somewhat jiving with the rest of it
The album was solid, nothing crazy tho
First time hearing it. Was expecting more Frank Zappa/Cheap Trick and what I got was ABBA.
it was intense i feel like my head hurts a bit I liked it it was interesting worth knowing probably not gonna gome back
Ok actually wanna give this like a 7/10. So a 4? I feel like I give everything 3 stars. Lol. But I like this a lot buuuuuut its like …
Idk what I just listened to. Didn't hate it, but likely wouldn't queue it up again.
This was pretty fun and refreshingly different
Art rock has never hit with me—I don’t imagine it ever will.
Quirky and fun with a couple of big singles.
Favorite Track: Complaints
High energy with more than a whiff of campness, glam and squealing guitar. Not my thing. Impressed this is not sounding anything like 50 years old. Better than Queen. But still a 2.6. Give them 5 for their longevity though.
Very transatlantic. Very listenable. Not particularly memorable. Glam rock, if this is even to be regarded as that, just isn’t my thing overall.
I liked it way better when I thought the japanese girls on the cover were the band. Feels less fun now that I know it's some weird german-looking dudes. Barely held on to it's 3 stars. Some pre-deerhoof weirdo rock ibes that I liked but also some Rush-y prog rock and flat out annoying parts that mean I probably won't be going back
Kooky, sounded a bit ahead of its time for me; I had Sparks down as early 80s rather than early 70s.
Never heard of this band. Not for me. I respect it though. Just not for me.
Jake: 7.3/10 This album warmed up for me. Very interesting they’ve been around for so long as i hear lot of genres in their music and I’m sure were peers of David Bowie and the like. Overall not my taste and that’s why the lower rating, but i can see why sparks is given their cred due to their immense creativity and influence Greg: 7.1/10 A fun listen! Never heard of them before but I can hear their influence in a lot of other artists including siouxsie & the banshees, ween, talking heads + more. It did have some theatrical/musical aspects to it that I wasn't a fan of. Not sure if I would revisit this album but am open to checking out more of their work. Annie: 7.5/10 I enjoyed this one! Can’t believe these brothers have been at it since 1968 🤯 explains why I hear a lot of other artists in their music. Russel Maels vocals are phenomenal, however it did get a little repetitive after a while and I’m not sure if I would revisit this album as a whole. Overall a fun listen for me though!
Some eccentric and theatrical music from the early-mid 70s seemed an appropriate continuation from Todd Rundgren. The very famous opening track gets things off to a good start, I can see why people would like this album but it didn’t quite land for me.
I do get it
It was a decent album, I can see that if you’re into this music that this album would stand out in 1974.
Ok
Ok
With the best will in the world I can’t take to this. His voice is an acquired taste and I can’t make out the lyrics others are raving about. It definitely has a campy and fun feel and is much more glam than I was expecting. They are a charismatic duo and I imagine this would be a riot live
Interesting kitsch.
What a strange treat! Fun and operatic ala Queen without the strong presence of Mercury and May. Still very fun and surprising.
Well that was a lovely listen
Bit samey but I didn't hate it I guess
fun but a couple songs got annoying
Interesting. I can see how this would have been quite influential in the 70’s
Feels like a one hit wonder, with one big song up front. So after track one it's a bit too kitsch and one dimensional but having said that it's geberally ok and inoffensive
A really strong album, holding up surprisingly well 52 years later. The switch from US to UK did wonders for their sound.
Wonderfully bonkers, but not quite my cup of tea. Will still give 3 stars though.
Plenty of fun to be had with some good old-fashioned guitar pop, with shades of glam and bubblegum and all the trimmings. Does run out of steam though with the last few tracks outstaying their welcome.
2.5
Starts with the only Sparks song most people, including myself, know and goes lightly downhill from there.
interesting album with good instrumentation. that said i didnt particularly like it but im glad to have heard it
This is fun, but I didnt feel the fun. Not sure if I just want in that type of mood or if it just annoyed me a tiny bit. It should have been more fun that what I got out of this. It rocks and does interesting things. I just ain't got shit. Didn't save anything and probably won't return either. Not what I would think bit its what i got.
very interesting rock album from a band i was completely unfamiliar with, enjoyed it!
Like a diet Queen, a quite good LP
Better than a majority of the 70s crap we have to endure. Musically pretty great, but vocals and lyric delivery are perhaps a little way out for my taste. Not bad though.
This was actually a really pleasant album. I didn’t know what to expect going in but enjoyed it overall.
Fun, silly, light, playful… thank god for subtitles. Feels like I’ve heard it before. Low 3
Interesting album… I think the first song is definitely the strongest and I could see it eating on a movie soundtrack actually. It’s crazy too that this is from 1974 because if you asked when it was from I would have said early-mid 80s. That being said, I really like the instrumental backing but found the vocals a little repetitive for my taste
The album was ok. I didn’t like the first song so that set a bad tone for me but there were some decent songs later on in the album
fands irgendwie sehr cool fav songs: this town ain't big enough for the both of us, lost and found
- really interesting, very theatrical, very before its time -- it sounds like it could have come out of the 90s in some places instrumentally - kind of goofy, interesting melodies, humorous-sounding vocals. Of Montreal came to mind as a modern interpretation of this particular brand of songwriting and composing - probably wouldn't listen again for fun, but I could definitely see this as being someone's absolute jam. something about this project I've noticed is that albums that feel like they're from a different time period than when they were released have appeared quite a bit in this overall list
might have given a 4 but didn’t listen completely
how have i never heard of this this feels iconic, not really my thing tho but 👍
3.3 This chick singing is a dude?
Quite like a bit of Sparks but more as a singles band. This was a pretty fun listen in places but started to grate on me just a little
One of those bands I always want to check out (because they pop up in random places), but never remember to. It was odd, just like I expected. But not weird enough to shy me away from checking them out again
i think sparks has influenced music a lot more than most people realize. that being said, i think this was the same song 13 times in a row
Interesting and poppy
Though the melodies and playing are quite good, the overall sound of this album to me is like coked-out Alvin and the Chipmunks and it’s hard to table a full listen.
Musically, it was quite exciting. Vocally, it was unenjoyable.
I’ve never heard of Sparks. I thought it was a female led band until I was finished and looked at the artist. Enjoyed the album fine, but especially its unique sound.
of Montreal! I spent 40 minutes trying to think of who this guy’s voice sounded like, and then it hit me: of Montreal. Well I don’t like the way the singer from of Montreal sings and I don’t like anything Todd Rundgren has ever been even tangentially involved with, so I was never going to like Sparks. I don’t mind arty pop, but you’ve got to get your proportions right. 80% pop, 20% art is just about on the money. Sparks is like 60% pop, 40% art, and that is way too much art. Spoils the pop. This was not terrible, but I’m never going to listen to it again.
Never heard of this album/group, so had absolutely no idea what to expect. First track was a pleasant surprise; lighthearted, bit silly, energetic, bit of variety and interest. It didn't click until the second track that the vocals were male; I'm taking that as a positive in the sense that it shows range/talent/versatility. It's a shame that the mix makes the lyrics a bit hard to decipher in places, because having looked them up separately, they're quite good. I enjoy a bit of glam rock, and I'm glad this list has exposed me to Sparks. The downside is that I think listening to this whole album in one sitting became quite hard work part way through; it does get quite samey and the vocals start to grate a bit. I was leaning towards a 4 at the start but I think the album as a whole isn't varied enough to justify it, so I'm going to go with a high 3.
Interesting.
Kimono My House is an album overflowing with personality, cleverness, and theatrical flair, but it does not always translate into a consistently enjoyable listen for me. The ideas are bold, the humour is sharp, and the performances are committed, yet the album often feels more impressive in concept than in execution. It is constantly drawing attention to itself, which can be both its strength and its limitation. What holds it at arm’s length for me is how relentless the quirkiness becomes. Song after song leans heavily into arch delivery, sudden shifts, and lyrical wit, leaving very little space to breathe. While individual tracks are undeniably memorable, the constant theatricality can feel exhausting over the course of a full album, as if the music is winking so hard it forgets to relax. By the end, Kimono My House leaves me entertained but not entirely satisfied. I admire its confidence and originality, and I enjoy dipping into it, but I rarely want to sit with it front to back. Three out of five feels fair for an album that is smart, distinctive, and full of character, but one that overwhelms as often as it delights.
Er moest nodig weer wat gekkigheid in elkaar gestoken worden. Inderdaad herken je het als glamrock, maar gewoon niet erg goede glamrock. Aanvankelijk denk je dat die Japanse dames van de hoes staan te zingen, tot je leest dat het gewoon de leadzanger zelve is. Af en toe een staaltje van de kunst van het maken van een opvallende hoes in de lijst opnemen is best geinig, jammer dat die muziek dan weer zo tegenvalt. Met de maffe hoge zangstem doet het vaag aan Queen denken, en er wordt soms ook wel aardig op de gitaar gepingeld, maar er is een reden dat we tegenwoordig weinig meer van dit clubje horen.
Het is ergens wel grappig als je vooraf denkt dat je dit niet kent en als het eerste nummer dan start, dan herken je gelijk zo'n typisch top2000 nummer. Inmiddels is het er wel uitgekukeld, er waren te weinig boomers over die dit er in stemden (totdat het weer onder een of ander tiktok of andersoortig hip medium zit). Maar ik vind dit wel ultieme top2000 nostalgie. Juist voor dit soort nummers is het leuk om die lijst te luisteren, omdat je ze de rest van het jaar eigenlijk niet hoort. Het opent dus met progglamrock. Alles is redelijk bombastisch en de hoge stemmetjes zijn iets zeikerig, maar op zich houden ze het tempo er redelijk in. Het klinkt wat fout allemaal, maar ik vermaak me er toch redelijk mee. Een half uurtje is wel weer genoeg geweest, voor een vergeetbare 3.
I'm generally a big fan of the band but this album doesn't hit me as much as some of the others like "Angst in My Pants" and "No. 1 in Heaven". It's nice seeing them get the recognition they deserve.
Chaotic poppy - cool
A bombastic and theatrical blast of rock, ahead of it's time in '74 i'd wager. Glam-y with plenty of pomp but a sarcasm or bitterness in the lyrics. To me, its crazy that Sparks is an LA group, as they are so UK to me via their music and contemporaries/offspring... Queen, Supertramp, etc etc. Some of it was a bit too high-spirited for me or maybe too much going on for me to lock into a groove but some great songs and playing
It was interesting
нуууу, ожидания были выше, не могу сказать что какая-то песня понравилась больше остальных.
Just quirky and interesting enough to be a cool listening experience. Some of the riffs were surprisingly good. Could make for good road trip time filler. 3.5/5
An interesting discovery and I dig it. Calling it quirky alone does it a disservice given that there are some complex arrangements that are quite theatrical. It’s as if Queen, Siouxsie and the Banshees and They Might Be Giants were all unknowingly invited to the same party hosted by Rodgers and Hammerstein.
A very nice surprise. I guess the easy comparison is Queen? Loved some of those guitar runs with vocals. I could see coming back to this and exploring some more of the catalogue (apparently they’ve been doing this for a while). 3.25
I enjoyed this. A bit baffled to discover it is two dudes. Solid bops, fun lyrics. Enjoyable listen. 3.25/5
Really good, love the energy, kinda queen like which is great. I sometimes don't like its theatrical side though. 3.5/5
5/10
I want so badly to love this album. I love the spirit of it, the creativity, the instrumentation. I bet the theater kids love it. But it just doesn't suck me in the way No. 1 in Heaven does.
This wasn’t bad. Some annoying parts, but overall decent. 3/5
Nothing bad about it, but nothing really great either. Just kind of "ok, so what?"
Well that was unexpected. In a good way. A little bit like Queen meets ABBA. Well, if only two dudes comprised ABBA that is.
Fun.
Decent.
I've never of Sparks but apparently they've been going strong since 1968? Wild. OK, so this album is weird. It doesn't sound like 1974, there's a polish to the recording that I wasn't expecting. I find there's a sameyness to all of the songs.
Fine I guess. It had some interesting parts but at the same time nothing stood out. It even had some noisy parts that I found off putting... and I'm a fan of noise. Just doesn't feel cohesive.
Very bright pitched album, I can hear queen influences. I don't like the singing but some of the guitar is ace.