Reviews (page 6 of 8)
There is no doubt that this album generates a lot of energy, but it doesn't grab me on first listen. The lyrics are a bit quirky, and the overall feel of the album is a bit strange. I think the entire presentation of the album is intended to be a bit tongue in cheek. It was interesting to read that the Sparks brothers are Americans who moved to the UK where they seemed to fit in better with Glam Rock. Comparing them to other Glam Rock groups of the time they don't quite reach the heights of Bowie, T-Rex, or Roxy Music to me. Vocally the album also lacks a bit. I remember how popular they were back then but taken out of context of the time I don't see as an album that has weathered well. Favorite Songs: This Town, Falling in Love with Myself Again, Hasta Monna Monsieur, Amateur Hour
A wild ride! Theatrical, self-assured, and deeply weird, I can see what the fuss is all about with this band. That said, it's not necessarily landing for me as much as I'd hoped. I think the record starts to lag towards the back end of its runtime. I reserve the right to change my rating in the future because I might just not be in the right mood for this to have a big impact on me. Favourite tracks: This Town Ain't Big Enough for the Both of Us, Falling In Love with Myself Again, Amateur Hour
Genre: Glam rock, art rock, progressive rock, pop rock, avant-pop 1974 Singles: -------------------------------------------- This Town Ain't Big Enough for Both of Us (#2 UK) Amateur Hour (#7 UK) Hasta Mañan, Monsieur Talent Is an Asset Definitely a different sound. Not great, not bad... Once you get used to the style, it gets better. 3.5
Som alla konstaterat gör de sig en otjänst med den jobbiga sången. För låtarna är det verkligen inget fel på. De är tom ganska bra. Och det tycker jag ska belönas.
Solid album. I enjoyed this a lot. It's not something I would normally put on. It was a good listen.
De va chill minns ja
Just couldn't get into this. Didn't like the vocal style.
barbecutie lollol
3.2 cause I like one song.
This is a pretty high-paced, upbeat pop-rock album, and I thought it started out really strong. Both of the first two songs are fun and interesting. I'm not sure if things started to trend down after that or I just got used to their formula, but not a ton stood out to me later in the album. It's definitely not bad and I enjoyed listening to it enough, but there wasn't much that I grasped onto as really standing out. They sound a lot like Queen to me, but without the big moments that wow you on a Queen album. Perfectly good, but nothing more for me. Favorite song: Amateur Hour Other: This Town Ain't Big Enough For Both Of Us, Thank God It's Not Christmas, Hasta Manana Monsieur 12/2/23
where did this album come from?! sparks' kimono my house is peppy and tongue-in-cheek. a song titled "thank god it's not christmas" is rather charming. the high voice, almost falsetto, of the lead singer only adds to the fun vibe. honestly, this album sounds like it couldn't have been released in 1974. i can hear some likeness with their contemporary, roxy music, but i still feel like this album was ahead of its time. and i do admire this album's uniqueness. the usage of castanets in "talent is an asset" stands out. this may be a controversial statement, but i'm heavily reminded of rush with this album. the lead singer's voice is reminiscent of geddy lee, and there is a fair amount of progressive music here, too. i just can't shake the connection!
This is one of the more surprising albums I've had in a while. I was not familiar with Sparks or this album, so I really didn't know what to expect going into it, and to a certain extent, I still don't know what I just heard. This album is campy, it's glam, it's operatic, it's punk, it's new wave, it's avant-garde...it's just a little bit of everything. The vocals are all done in varying degrees of falsetto, which only adds to its obscurity. With songs like "Thank God It's Not Christmas", "Hasta Manana, Monsieur", and "Barbecutie", the songwriting is incredibly self-aware and is in on the joke as far as the album's campy nature. I can see why this album would be polarizing, but I lean in the direction of a thumbs up here. This album was just weird, intriguing, and fun, and Sparks is in on the chaos. This probably lands at like a 3.5 for me!
velipoikaan musiikkia. kesti jonkin aikaa tajuta että ei ollut siskotyttöön... naiselliset miehet... hehheh ei synkkä ääni...synkkä suomalais ääni... pohjolassa syntymään.... synti hääään... tähän maahan pohjoiseen... ja kylmään..... jossa jo esi isät... juovuksissa tottakai.. hakkasivat naiset lapset paskat joivat vain... perinteisen miehen kohtaloon....sai hän tuta noin.... en koskaan osta kirvestää vaaan viiinaaa viai mä juooooon... equator
забавновое
Wow, this was somewhat of an oddball album! Not unpleasant to listen to but felt a bit chaotic at times.
Taken track by track this is so fun and original, and This Town is of course one of the all time great pop songs. Taken altogether over best part of an hour, it’s A Lot.
Bit weird at first but really didn't mind this after a while,
Ok
Not a huge fan; liked a couple of tracks.
I liked this album a lot more than I thought I would. I really wasn’t sure going into the first song. They kind of reminded me of Blondie of The Go Go's. I will check out their albums at some point in the future. Favorite Songs were Falling In Love With Myself Again and Talent Is An Asset. Also worth mentioning is the cover of this album depicts 2 females, so I thought this was a girl band. Upon further research, it’s actually 2 guys. But that didn’t change my opinion of the album.
not bad
I'll probably never listen to this again, but I was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed it.
Different, kind of good. Parts of this album remind me of some Bowie songs, not sure if there's any influence there. Some parts of this were also average, however.
This is a banger, finally something fun.
Sounds like new wave. Not overly melodic or interesting. Worth a listen though I guess
I liked it a lot, but its more like a theater or a musical for me, so i cant give it more than that
This town
The singing was just kind of annoying.
3.5 Ashamed to say I’ve never heard of Sparks. Can clearly see the influence they’ve had on the genre.
Surely pretty interesting 4 3
It's always intersting hearing a good version of an genre you don't really enjoy. Have tried to like Sparks for some time but it just hasn't clicked. 2.5/5
Pretty weird album, but enjoyed the two listens. Unique sound, interesting lyrics.
Not sure how I felt about this if I'm honest. I think it was OK.
Edit: I wanted to seem cool for liking Sparks, but no one reads most of these reviews (although thank you to those who do, it feeds my ego). I enjoyed this album, but it's not worth a 4. I’ve surprisingly not listened to that much Sparks, but I really liked this. It was fun, different, and something I’ll definitely want to listen to again. On first listen, I think “Equator” is my favorite track, but I expect that could change as I listen to the album more. A solidly put together and cohesive album that I quite enjoyed.
If you like a bit of Prog in your Glam, this might be the album for you. A bit like if Boston merged with Roxy Music and started recording songs for carnival funhouses. An interesting starting point, but unfortunately this album seems to have only one gear: frenetic.
Solid
3/5 They weren't the worst but they weren't the best either. It felt like a European band that wanted to be Queen if that makes sense? So repetitive and too experimental for my sentiments.
High-concept album. A lot of falsetto. Quite interesting, but not really my thing
Interesting album but very eclectic
Love the instrumentals, went back and forth on the vocals. I like whatever they are doing with them, it is odd and unique, but sometimes I feel it can get a bit too stage-show for my tastes.
Weird, 3.5 stars.
I don't what I was expecting, but it was a lot better than I was anticipating. Very theatrical sounding with lots going on with interesting unique songs. Promising enough for a repeat listen and maybe explore more from Sparks.
Dit is vrij psychodelic en intens. Ik werd er eigenlijk een beetje kierewiet van.
I was a big Sparks fan in the 70s (I saw them at Coventry Theatre in November 1975) and this was the first album I had of theirs. The two singles are wonderful and there are other flashes of brilliance (Complaints). The whole album brims with likeable eccentricity but it wasn't until they teamed up with Tony Visconti a year later for 'Indiscreet" that they really hit their stride and upped the quality.
At first, the album sounded to me like a crazy Japanese music from some low-grade anime opening. I could barely listen to it. Now I can admit it’s interesting and theatrical. Anyway, I wouldn’t play it often or at least regularly, so it’s 3.
Wild and weird and fun and I loved learning that our very own Susie rahn owns this album and is an OG Sparks fan 3/5
fun? it felt kinda like ABBA
Eh, nothing offensive or to dislike, just didn't like it much either. 3
The wiki entry describes this as glam. Really? It's in a genre all of its own. Completely bonkers, pulling in baroque and early electronica. It sounds like the drugs that were around at the time. The melodies are all there. Kimono is a pop album at heart. I wish Eurovision was still as utterly baffling as this.
It's fun and kinda catchy, and at the same time irritating and gimmicky. Likely not something I will choose to listen to, but it fits a mood that I could get down with sometimes.
Art rock as fuck. I can respect it but... I didn't really enjoy listening to it. That falsetto is crazy though.
I don't know if I didn't get it, but it's annoying. Not the worst thing ever, but far from the base quality of a great part of the albums on the 1001 list
Ladies and gentlemen, performing for you tonight, it's Lady Styx!!! Even though this band is full of men, it's somehow the lady version of Styx. That's just what it sounds like *shrug*. They're growers not showers so it may take you a few listens to settle in and acclimate to the frenetic glam rock assault you're about to experience. Enjoy the show!
Kinda feels like knockoff Queen tbh. It's fun though. The falsetto thing is a bit much for me personally but I can see the appeal.
It's one of Morrissey's favorite albums. And it turns out John Frusciante of the Chili Peppers was strongly influenced by it. We'll call it a wash.
I would love this album if I was a different person. It's spontaneous yet well thought out.
Interesting.....
Whimsical and eccentric, this album has a lot of surprising notes to it. Everything from screeching guitar solos to silly, high pitched vocals, it almost comes off as a musical soundtrack sometimes. Interesting to learn about Sparks and who they've influenced, especially through this album. When I started this album, I thought this wasn't going to be my style at all, but it surprisingly grew on me in a way I didn't expect. Warrants a re-listen
Somehow und between all rock genres but mostly tied to glam-Pop. Sometimes a bit over the top but hey! What‘s glam supposed to be but other the top?!
I respect the hell out of Sparks and what they do. They have a fantastic look, a great sound that really helped shape post punk and indie and their songs are catch af. There is a clarity of vision around the project that really endears me to the brothers Sparks. But I think I'd have to be in a very specific mood that doesn't come about often to actually actively enjoy a Sparks album. There's just far too much falsetto and its just a touch too upbeat pop without letting up once (ironically also one of the reasons I respect it). It would probably speak to me more if they diverge to more repetitive bass heavy post-punk (not that they term existed at the time, but it was getting there) or a bit more Depeche mode esque synth pop. I think what I'm saying is I'd like the to be Krafterk but I'm aware that's a ridiculous opinion so just go ahead and pretend I didn't say anything. Ultimately, I respect it, I don't love it. But I'm so glad Sparks exist in this world.
this album was barbacutie.
Just a week ago the generator gave me John Martyn and I mentioned that it was the most unique sound I had heard in a long time... So, Sparks are the most unique sound that I've heard in a week. There first two songs had me hopeful, but the album lost traction for me as it went on. For a little bit, the Sparks reminded me of Split Enz, but that was maybe for a song or two. The last two songs of the album got me interested again. Overall I liked, but did not love this. It was worth the listen, though.
Glam rock record that was better than I expected. Lots of cool breakdowns and change-ups.
Peculiar for sure - hadn't really listened to Sparks before. Enjoyed it as part of this project, but not sure I'll go back.
Liked it but probably not enough to buy it
Interesting. Don’t know how this always flew under my radar. Feels like Queen meets Cheap Trick. Album art looks like it’s from the 21st century. Not in love with it but happy I know it now
solid, some catchy tunes.
A bit weird - recognized the opening track.
The album was alright. It was catchy at times. I don't think I remember any of the songs. I will round up.
I first heard of Sparks last year when Edgar Wright's documentary came out. The trailer claimed something along the lines of "your favorite band that you've never heard of!" I made a mental note to check them out, but life got in the way, and that mental note got tossed in the mental garbage can. After listening to this album, I can say that I'm glad I didn't go out of my way to listen to Sparks before now. Instrumentally, the album was great. It's crazy to me that this was recorded in the '70's, because it sounds like the new wave music that was coming out in the early '80's. But I just couldn't get past the vocals on this album. I didn't like the falsetto singing at all, and I wish I had something more concrete to say about why I didn't like it, but I just didn't. I understand why this album and Sparks as a whole are so important to music, but it just wasn't for me.
Cool, but not really my thing.
Pretty strange, kind of heard a queen influence but I liked this more than the queen we’ve heard. Altogether pretty down the middle.
Glam Sparksified. The band still hasn't sunk their teeth into me, but Kimono has a decent build and no stand-out features in the wrong direction.
Uplifting pop on the verge of disco. Slightly unhinged. I'm not getting the glam rock, but it does feel ahead of it's 1974 year. Slightly resembles Roxy Music or Supertramp. Ok-ish.
I didn’t love this album. I can easily believe that it was hugely influential, but this vibe has never really gelled with me. It kinda falls into that zone of the Talking Heads where I feel like I should like it
Me hizo acordar a Supertramp. Setentoso, raro pero divertido.
Fun, naturally.
This was such a hard album to rate. At one moment, I'm listening to great 70s rock that compares favorably with early glam rock, Queen, and other parallel influences. The next moment I want to punch a song in the face for its pretentious wankery. I split the difference at 3 stars.
Wild stuff. This album went by in a blur. Sounds like the product of a band equally obsessed with rock, musical theater and music theory. The songs rocket along, always with a lot going on, but there’s a cheerful theatricality that lightens the busy music. I’m not sure I’ve found my way into the music in terms of enjoying it yet but I do respect its madness.
This is weird but not terrible I guess.
This one was pretty far out there. Technically an early iteration of Glam Rock I suppose. And there seem to be a lot of possibly French singing. Either way many of the songs were catchy.
This had some interesting ideas, it was definitely fresh and there were some cool experiments with dissonant sounds. The singer’s voice was really weird but had a definitely charisma to it. but, certainly it’s the kind of thing that makes huge waves in Britain and doesn’t have a ton of appeal elsewhere (peak USA chart position was 101) So, as usual I could’ve done without the part that sounded like carnival music. 6/10
Very odd and not all of it stuck but I appreciate this much more than some generic 70s or 90s album. Equator doesn’t really sound like a word anymore though. 6/10
I really can't say I liked it and there are really way too many bands of this genre on this list, but the lyrics were clever and the songs were inventive so I can't really pan it too much. Still, not putting this one back on any time soon.
kinda weird, i bet they love cabaret
"This Town Ain't Big Enough for the Both of Us" is one of those sensational songs I can never get out of my head. It's crazy in the best sense of the word. The rest of the album drags on, though, even if I do appreciate the artistic statement it sought to make.
I mean, I reallllly wanted to like this. Uptempo, piano, like a more rockin' Abba. But those vocals... by the third song I'd forgotten the cool hooks and energy and just wanted to sing along, alllll-lalalalala-haaAAAAA-yayayayaya... YAH!
Was there a strange trend of English rock bands using Japanese tunes, lyrics and imagery in their music during the '70s to '80s, and did this record start the trend? Between this, Turning Japanese, and Mr. Roboto the similarities are weirdly uncanny. Anyway, this was fun & pretty danceable. There are hints of Queen or The Darkness in the album's campy, glam rock sound. Nothing spectacular, though. Standout tracks are Falling In Love with Myself Again, Thank God It's Not Christmas, and Hasta Manana, Monsieur.
Thought the singer was a Japanese woman, but it's just some guy California! Fooled me, the dude has a very unique voice and he uses it well. I remember liking the first two and last two tracks a lot, but the middle is kind of muddy. I'll probably listen to this again when I'm in the correct mood. Strong 3 out of five.
Recognizable, good energy
3/5. A pretty unique and enjoyable album. Hard to get into at first but found a few new sounds on relistens.
Weird and cool. It was really close to pulling a four, as the songs had an appealing operatic/pop/zappa/abba thing going for them that was continually interesting. Definitely liked This Town and Hasta Manana.
Pretty sure I’ve heard this album before. Definitely like This Town. Kitschy rock pop with cartoon guitars.
Sounds ahead of its time. It could have been a decade later with New Romantics. Love the song titles and humour Cover art 3/5
Cool album with cool sounds, reminds me of Supertramp, but nothing too great. Couple of decent songs.
I had never heard of Sparks until today, so I didn't know what to expect going into this listening session, however I was pleasantly surprised. The singer has a very uniquely high singing voice which reminds me of the band The Darkness, and their music has a similar sound to Supertramp or Talking Heads. I really enjoyed the music, but found the lyrics got buried sometimes below layers of guitar and crash drums. Favourite songs : Hasta Manana Monsieur, Talent is an Asset, Here in Heaven Least favourite songs : Equator, Complaints 3/5
Ok
Catchy pop, unkown to me before now
I can’t handle listening to Sparks every day, or even every week. But I love many of their songs.
Is this new wave? Experimental perhaps? Had to listen to it twice and to some of their later albums. Not my favorite, but certainly has a place.
Surprised me!
It’s a man?
Very David Bowie, Supertramp, Devo vibes. It was fun, but I wouldn’t choose to listen to it again.
Bizarre and pretty fun at times.
Balancing the thin line between hyper-tense and insane, the Mael Brothers delivers a record that is the exact opposite of the B-52’s… Festive and fun in just the right way. While a few of the songs seem to miss the mark, I never feel bored - maybe it’s the excitement and energy in Russell’s falsetto or maybe it’s the playful songwriting. I’m entertained nevertheless. Best: This Town … / Thank God … / Equator Worst: Falling In Love … / Complaints
These guys just have it. They’ve got what it takes to make catchy, quirky, fun art pop songs that are refreshing in their sarcasm and complexity.
Getting strong early Roxy Music vibes on this one and I'm having a hard time assigning stars on a first listen. Definitely going back to listen later because this sounds like something that can become a favorite
Good guitar parts mixed with vocals. Some of the circus and spooky sounding songs weren't my fav but it was pretty good.
Kimono My House is the glammiest of glam rock albums. It's full of quirky lyrics and upbeat tempo and very, very high falsetto (guess it could've been a byproduct of the '70s tight pants too! haha). Overall, it was a decent glam rock album - even if that high falsetto threw me a little to begin with. Best: Equator Worst: In My Family
It started out pretty fun, but it got a bit much by the end. The vocals bothered me throughout the entire album. I considered giving this a 3.5, and maybe I would have if the singing was better.
easy listening
very anime intro / outro esc
Good album
3/5
Dzisiaj bardziej popowe klimaty, ale nadal dosc ciekawie, bo nie tylko cos nowego, ale orginalnie brzmiacego, a to wszystko na Kimono My House, ktory jest trzecim studyjnym krazkiem hamerykanskiej bandy tworzonej przez duet braci Maelow i dodatkowych muzykow, plyta z 74, jak przystalo na artowego/glamowego rocka dosc skroma jesli chodzi o ilosc materialu, bo tylko 36 minut na dziesieciu trakach, sam sklad instrumentalny brzmi dosc typowo, jak kombo drumy, klawisze, bas i gitara, ale do tego dochodzi wokal pana Russella, ktory operuje taka skala wokalna, ze przez pierwsze trzy traki mialem wrazenie, ze slucham wokalistki, a nie chopa co tylko spiewa jak baba w celu podkreslenia ironicznosci utworow, wiec jeden z braci ma niesamowiscie ciekawy glos i potrafi z niego zrobic uzytek dajac energicznie i prawdziwie zywiolowe performensy, bo z tego co widzialem na livowych nagraniach, prawie ze skacze po scenie podczas wystepow, potrafi dynamicznie zmieniac tempo podczas trakow, co daje zespolowi pole do popisu jesli chodzi o instrumentale, bo pomimo tego, ze slychac pisanie pod klawisze, to nie zabieraja one calej sceny, a gitarowo zdarzaja sie ciekawe momenty, jak na thank god its not christmas, co do drugiego brata to gra on na klawiszach i jest glownym teksciarzem bandy odpowiedzialnym rowniez za kompozycje instrumentalne, wiec czuc tutaj, ze bracia rozumieja sie jesli chodzi o to co chca tworzyc, a na tym albumie slychac popowe acz tak wyszukane, ze czlowiek potrzebuje rozczytac sie o co moze tutaj chodzic, bo obok klasycznych lowerowych trakow, choc tutaj z przekasem zawsze, pojawiaja sie nawiazania do literatury, nauki, czy kina, wiec lirycznie miasz masz o wszystkim i niczym, ale zrobiony na modle artystycznego popowania rokowego, wiec tez nie dziwne, ze banda nie zrobila kariery w hameryce, a raczej byla jednym z tych zespolow na ktorych sie poznala europa i tutaj znalazla swoich sluchaczy, ale nadal zaliczylbym ten krazek do jednych z raczej undergroundowych pickow patrzac na ilosc odsluchow spotifajowych czy last fmowych, ale tak czy inaczej sluchalo sie tego przyjemnie, zwlaszcza ze wzgledu na niecodzienny wokal jaki mozna tutaj uslyszec, jedynie Bolanowy kojarzy mi sie z czyms podobnym, ale to i tak jeszcze jest nie to co tutaj, na plejke dodam openingowego this town aint big enough for both of us i amateur hour
I'm usually first in line for strange esoteric music but this one doesn't quite resonate with me. Equator stood out for me, and maybe it needs a few more listens but for now 3 it is.
Interesting to hear where This Town Ain't Big Enough for the Both of Us came from. Very odd album overall, but kind of fun.
Knowingly quirky and not half as weird as it thinks it is - like the kid who wears bowling shoes or reads a book at a party. Best Tracks: This Town Ain't Big Enough For The Both Of Us; Amateur Hour; Thank God It's Not Christmas
I can see how this is great and everything but I just didn't love it.
Genre: Glam Rock 3/5 Kimono My House, one of rock's earliest forays into glam, is an absolute hoot. Our artists, Sparks, take rock 'n roll, fills it full of theatrics and bombast, and shoots it out of a cannon filled with glitter and sparkles. One of the happiest, and frankly cutest, little albums I've listened to in quite some time. The first side, including opening highlights This Town... and Amateur Hour, does a great job of painting a picture of what the rest of the album sounds like. Quirky vocals and lyrics, sometimes spouted in foreign languages, decent pop arrangements, and a vibe that's not been replicated since. The second half of the project is where it all seems to run out of steam. Eqautor is decent, though, and ends the album on a high note. Overall, as much as I enjoyed the first half, it's a 3 for me purely for the fact that its attitude can be a bit much for me at times. Cute, fun, clearly influential (Rocky Horror, T. Rex), just not replayable for me, unfortunately. Good album, though.
áhugavert band
Bemn diferente, não curti tanto mas criativo
This be pretty kooky, I wouldn't have placed this as 1974.
Roses are red, violets are blue, it wasn't that good so, hasta mañana monsieur. Rima je na rubu prihvatljivosti, al ne mogu nis drugo smislit.
Okej album. Ima dobrih stvari poput "This Town Ain't Big Enough for Both of Us, Complaints.." i koja mi se sviđa "Talent is an Asset". Ostatak je okej, ništa previše da me taklo, ali nije loše.
weird and fun, would listen again but not all songs are hits for me
I weirdly remembering reading about and hearing this album a while ago. I actually kind of like it, in a novelty kind of way.
Interesting one. Not really for me. Respect the hustle tho
I didn’t love it
Only ok
Not bad, I was quite surprised
Ja een perfecte drie, zeker van genoten maar niets dat me wegblaast
Okay?
It grew on me throughout the album. Was pretty thrown off at first.
People say they are geniuses, and some say the foundations of synth-pop depend on them, but this is a hard listen.
Starts very hard! It sound very influential, like those NY Dolls, good one although it felt much longer than 40 minutes
meh
Pop-rock con aires japoneses.
Loved it. So glam in parts but some genuinely catchy tunes. Feels like the roots of a lot of modern stuff like Ariel Pink etc too
3, it was decent. Never heard of them and didn't know what to expect based on the album art. A pleasant listen, though not one I'd probably seek out.
Ce n'est vraiment pas mon style. Je comprend qu'ils ont eu un hit, This town aint big enough for both of us, mais le reste de la l'album est pas mal sur la meme lignée. C'est bien produit et les arrangements sont bon, mais encore un fois, vraiment pas un gros facteur de réécoute pour moi. 3*
I’m looking at the lyrics and I still can’t understand what they’re singing. The music is catchy and well done. I hear a lot of later artists in their melodies,m. Overall it’s pretty good but not an album I’ll listen to over and over.
I'm not really in a glam rock kind of mood. this is a fine album.
Monday 30th August 2021 Started on the walk back from Nuffield health and finished while playing Mario kart on a chilled back holiday Monday. Very relevant at the moment due to Edgar wright's documentary on the Sparks brothers and the Adam driver film they've done the score for. I enjoy the anarchy and the fun they put in to their music.
Plays like a strange cross between the Sweet, Queen and a Broadway musical on steroids. Undeniably clever with a sense of fun and insidiously catchy in parts, but after several listens I’m still not not sure if I love this or hate it.
I get where they were going here, but I wasn't having a great time listening to this one. A couple of songs were cool, and I liked the energy, but it was exhausting.
A poppy glam / prog rock album. The lead single and intro is by far my favorite, but all the other songs use experimental techniques that work very well. Love the vocals and symphonic instruments. Each gives off different emotions, like a circus feel in "Falling in Love..." or the horror of "Here in Heaven." Nearly half of the tracks are nothing crazy, but those strange techniques in many of the tracks grab my attention. I love the consistent high energy and fast pace that makes for a lively experience. So what makes this album so special to belong on this list? It was a massive influence to a million bands, such as Morrissey of the Smiths, Depeche Mode, RHCP, and Bjork. To me, this is a decent album, but I'm sure to professional critics or musicians, this is pure gold for inspiration.
Would’ve rated higher but some of the songs got annoying
First song is decent then it's a bit meh
Really enjoyed this ride. I am also now on a mission to find the earliest known use (this is 1974) of the god awfulness indie pop/soulless corporate sales jingle that is the first 30 seconds of “Talent is an Asset.”
Quirky rock album. Sounds like indie prog from the 70s
A bubbly, eccentric, bizzare Glam Rock album from the mid 70s. A few moments get so strange that I found it a touch off putting but generally the album was a ton of fun precisely because of how weird their brand of Glam Rock can get. Strange melodies, bizarre vocals, there is a ton going on here and thats a good thing for 95% of the album.
Huh, bestaat deze muziek ook? 'k was eerst positief, later minder, trois ponts. Eh, geen bruggen maar sterren. Hun laatste album (70-ers zijn het reeds, hulde) vind ik pruimerder.
Last listened on Friday. Don’t remember a great deal from it other than a sense of Great Fun. The 70s really was a mental time for music eh? Seems like you could do anything. And that includes giving albums very bad titles.
pretending to be asian is an American institution on par with the bill of rights Fr tho this shit is weird af, 'baroque falsetto' is a bit much even for me
Sure, got plenty of stuff going for it, but aint my kinda music.
Très sympa cet album de la voix française de Shark, notamment le moment où il échappe à la brigade de Port-Marie suite au match clandestin entre les Bleus de Tag et les Fantomes de la Cité de Ben. Étrange en revanche de ne pas apercevoir RIN sur cet album, qui a pourtant donné sa chance à Shark lors de son concert a Zürich en 2020.
A lot of enjoyable, well written songs, it's almost a 4 but I don't have much of a desire to revisit it
Not bad but not really my thing
I'm totally unfamiliar with this band. Songs are OK, but seem pretty light and inconsequential to me. Good musicians.
Wazig plaatje, waar ik toch wel een beetje door geïntrigeerd was, maar op 3/4 was het wel genoeg.
Good - but not really all my bag
Pop-rock con aires japoneses.
Quite a fun glam rock/art rock album, but nothing really stood out to me. Falsetto vocals are fine, maybe a bit tired by the end of the album. 6/10, best track is 'Here In Heaven'
Funky.
I can grasp the aesthetic of this and certainly see the artistry of it but to be honest I found listening to it kind of exhausting.
Queen but make it manic, maybe throw it into Rocky Horror.
Has some interesting sounds, but wasn't life changing.
bem produzido, mas não é meu estilo favorito
Is Sparks the least of the Big 3 “artier” glam rock acts? Sure, they rock hard and there are some truly catchy tunes bolstered by their deliriously high pitched singing, but not much that truly wows me like “In Every Dreamhome a Heartache” or “Aladdin Sane.”
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.
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 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.
could be used as torture music, esp equator, overall not ''too'' shabby
Nothing special. Felt Queen influences.
Sounds like WHO "The Who Sell Out" and I do not like it really
meh
Esquisito
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.
I do like some songs by Sparks; I just struggled to stay engaged through a full album
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 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.
2.5
It's ok, not for me.
I'm not sure what this was, but I found an album that I won't be listening to again!
04/10
Found it somewhat fun at the start but it got pretty old quickly.
Eh
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.
Your parts I liked but most of it I was indifferent too
The whole tone of this was so shrill. Really unpleasant to listen to.
sparks ain’t it for me
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.
2 sterne
This sounds like something Lorelai Gilmore would listen to (derogatory).
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.
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….
Ei ollut mun juttu. Liian progea mun makuun.
Another answer to the question, "What album does not belong on this list?"
It was interesting, but no need to listen again.
I thought this album was pretty mid, super uninteresting and forgettable
Like Kate Bush's annoying little sister after too much Red Bull
Meh
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.
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
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.
meh 2.5/5
Listen briefly
Strange, but kind of interesting. (2)
This is the second Sparks album on this list I've heard. This one also didn't do much for me. Creative, sure, but feels like the band and producer throwing endless glam rock tropes on the wall, but none of them ever really sticking, making the album feel very uneven. While I don't mind a male falsetto, as I am a big fan of Rush and I enjoy my fair share of Supertramp and The Bee Gees, but Russel Mael's falsetto often comes off as undecipherable, like an adult toddler cooing their way through the whole album, distracting and detracting from the instrumental performances. Favorites: none The only thing I enjoyed about this album was the album cover.
Instead of this godless behaviour how about we get some actual Japanese music on the list? Vocaloids are better than The Beatles and it's not even close
Another album that makes claim to glorious Nippon and then ruins their name
the received the odd Lifetime achievement award and i can see why
Overall not enjoyable lol
A mix of many genres none of which I am likely into - they certainly threw the kitsch-in-sink for this one.
Weird. Odd. Kind of okay for the first couple songs then complete chaotic noise.
This was a weird one, and I'm torn between if it was good weird or bad weird. Definitely avant-garde
Cuando era chico iba a ver obras de comedia musical y las canciones eran una onda así. Está bueno igual pero no lo escucharía
Oh wow a lot of musicians I enjoy like this album. But to me this album sounds like what I think Trout Mask Replica sounds like to normal people (that record I do enjoy)
interesting listen
chale está bien aburrido pero pal año en el que salió pos seguro si era muy novedoso
It sounds fun, but it's actually incredibly boring.
Just not sure. I feel like it might improve with multiple listens. The music is solid in parts. It’s probably just a bit silly I think. Just don’t think I’d go back to it.
It's fun but I can't get into it
I was expecting to like this. Unfortunately, this is just a poppy, somewhat musical theatre-y album that doesn't have any hits and isn't very weird. Don't know why everybody defines this album as being weird. It's not?
Not really a fan
Amateur Hour faz-me lembrar a She's Lost Control dos Joy Division, mas uma versão mais animada. Foi primeira música que me ficou mais no ouvido, talvez pela parecença. No entanto, não é um álbum para mim. Estou dividido entre as 2 e 3 estrelas. Amanhã decido quando for descobrir o novo álbum. Um exemplo que este tipo de música/vocais nao é para mim é a música Equator. Demasiada chata. Em algumas músicas a guitarra salva um bocado o dia com os solos, mas mesmo assim nada de especial.
i don't even really know what this was
I guess I’m not on their level or something idk
I didn’t know what to make of this.
If post-India Beatles and Queen got together to make garbage music you would get this album
j'ai l'impression ils étaient grave trop pressé quand ils ont fait cet album wesh
This is two American dudes?? I was about to review this as MIA for the 70s - two Asian girls Making incomprehensible pop music, but then I looked them up on Wikipedia. Very weird - kinda catchy at times
Celkom sa to dalo...
This was an odd album
جيد
for the moment, im finding it really annoying... i dnf it, its not really my style and it gave my a headache.
I felt like I was listening to a clown at a pretentious child's birthday party hosted by some art snob rich parents who don't really get the whole children thing but are trying their best to work out what children like. It was upbeat and trying to be fun but it was mostly boring. Also I want to give them 1/5 just because of how much pronouncing equator as "eh-COO-AY-tuh" annoyed me.
Chaotic, hectic 2 - a good album but not my thing
Reminds me a lot of supertramp, not a compliment. Just got more tedious the more it went on 2*
It's funny and a bit quirky. While I usually like an experimental approach to rock music, this sounds a bit like it's trying too hard.
Really not for me. Best Song: This town aint big enough for the both of us Rating: 3.5/10 Stars: 2
Unusual music, hints of Abba and Kate Bush. Very 70's sound. Has its place for something different
not for me
29. not bad
I do not love glam rock and this was not an exception.
Hmm... mixed feelings on this one. This was a difficult listen at times. Had some pretty strong theater kid aura that reminded me of Queen (not a big Queen fan) but it wasn't completely unbearable and it had its moments, I just fucking can't... with the zany "berries and cream, berries and cream, I'm a little lad who loves berries and cream!" sound. But then at times it sounded a bit like Suede which was kind of cool? Like alternated between fun and effortless glam rock and exhausting quirky kid that does magic tricks glam rock. Mostly the latter. Hmmm.
I could not really get into this. The fact that some people have this at a 5… what?
I can't get past the singer's voice. The songs are okay but I just don't like his voice.
I wonder if I’d like this more if I’d heard it first when I was younger and my brain was more elastic. I’m impressed with Russell Mael’s vocals. I had to double-check during the opening track that there wasn’t a female guest vocalist. A range and flexibility I respect, but I admit I don’t really like his voice. The instrumentation and songwriting is most compelling when it leans into the rock side of glam rock, like “Thank God It’s Not Christmas”. The ersatz pop stuff here can hit my ears wrong. I didn’t really care for “This Town Ain’t Big Enough For Both Of Us”, this album’s big hit, for that reason. “Talent Is An Asset” almost worked with it chugging bass but the repetitive vocal hooks undid that goodwill.
Good
couple songs I liked but overall not my favorite
Not my style
uhhhhhhhh it was interesting but quite a drag to get through once i expected the vocals, the novelty didn't hold up.
not a fan
I don't know what this album is try to accomplish. But it was weird and boring
Not my thing I think.
Glam x1000. Didn't actually mind this. High 2s
Maybe if I didn't have a slight headache, I'd enjoy the weirdness of this album more
Det finns en bra dokumentär om Sparks. Vet inte om den ligger kvar på SVT play. Se hellre den. För deras musik är inte särskilt rolig. Jag gillar inte sången. I dokumentären framhölls deras fyndiga texter. Mig går det över huvudet på.
3.0/10
This was trying too hard to be fun and ended up being kind of overwrought instead. It really dragged on for me and I couldn't really make heads or tails of the lyrics. The singer has incredible range, I'll grant you, but it's not used to any effect I particularly cared for
Interesting at first, grating after a while
It’s tough when the best song is the first recommended track once the albums actually over … There were moments where this was decent, serviceable at best, but then it’d go right back to being annoying. I can’t tell if I like or absolutely loathe barbecutie …
Overly dramatic and scattered.
Weird 70s
No thanks, too much cheesy 80’s glam stuff going on here
Meh
The best way to describe this (in my opinion) is operetta rock. The high pitch of each song coupled with the repetitive and staccato nature of the songs brought me to believe this is more about the performance than the actual music. It’s hard to keep up with the lyrics in this style but I’m pretty confident this isn’t for me.
struggled to get through this
This town ain’t big enough is wonderfully chaotic and distinctive. The rest of the album descends into more standard glam fare. Loses a full star for having a song called barbecutie.
The similarity to ABBA is inescapable.
I don't understand anyone who would purposefully purchase and listen to this album. Strange proto-glam-punk that was definitely not my jam. A solid number 2. 💩
What the heck did I just listen to?
Pretty generic pop rock, easy listening and nothing of interest. Might have been groundbreaking once but comes across pretty meh now
Mäßig interessant. Eigentlich mehrheitlich nervig.
I just didn't enjoy the experience of listening to this. The instrumentals are fairly inoffensive, but that's the best I can say.
This band greatly benefits from being right after Public Image. Completely forgettable.
Not very enjoyable 2/5
1.5 stars. Piano-led falsetto glam rock. Too sing-songy and lacking catchy hooks or memorable choruses. Seemed like a knockoff impotent version of Queen. How does a track like "Equator" not get left on the cutting floor?
A couple of songs are okay but overall I didn't like it much. 2 stars or D.
musik, inget speciellt..
Kate Bush vibes in the jaunty music and vocals but with none of the charm (not that Kate Bush has much to begin with). Awful listening experience
Oh, this is what Sparks sound like. Like rock opera. Okay.
3/10
Meeehhhhhhhhhh
Love hate relationship with Sparks.
Not the most enjoyable melodies or chords.. they are trying to be creative and different but sorry doesn’t work for me.
Counter culture is definitely the best way to describe this album. Very interesting, sometimes a little grating on the ears, but I still can see some noteworthiness to it. Their studio recordings probably aren’t something I’ll seek out because I thought the live track at the end of the album was the best by far.
It's different.... not good, but it is different.
annoying falsetto voice.
It's like a more unintelligible, bubblegummy version of queen. The songs were repetitive and seemed to have little to say despite how many words were being thrown around. I was coming in optimistic, but left with Dollartree Day at the Races. 2.4/5 - 2/5.