- Audio CD (26 Nov 2002)
- Number of Discs: 1
- Format: Limited Edition
- Label: Artful
- ASIN: B000070WRJ
- Other Editions: Audio CD
- Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 246,007 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
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Product Description
Amazon.co.uk Review
Lil' Beethoven--Sparks' 19th album--is probably the most consummate record the Mael brothers have made since the early days of Amateur Hour and the Hitler facial-hair controversy. (The only possible exception is Number One in Heaven.) The album couldn't have arrived at a better time. Quite rightly, critics are admiring the eccentric pop nous and massed vocal battalions of quirky Americans Polyphonic Spree, but Sparks sort of did it first. Russel Mael isn't Welsh, but on Lil' Beethoven he sounds like a one-man loony version of the Caerphilly Male Voice Choir performing acerbic Randy Newman songs.
Turning its back on the mirror-ball electro-disco of yore ("Auf wiedersehen to the beat, lights out Ibiza" say the valedictory lyrics of "The Rhythm Thief"), Lil' Beethoven wraps-up Sparks' traditionally majestic hysteria in a deliciously neo-classical pomp confection of strings, tinkling harpsichords, booming timpani and Ron Mael's rolling piano lines. However, one electric guitar does manage to evade security and makes a rock & roll nuisance of itself on the comical "Ugly Guys with Beautiful Girls", a song that ought to have the B-52's saying "Hey, isn't that us?" "I Married Myself" ("we're very happy together") is the album's keenest pop moment, but an honorary mention must go to "Suburban Homeboy", a cute Ali G style satire on bourgeois hip-hoppers that sounds like the Royal Artillery concert party from BBC TV's It Ain't Half Hot Mum getting all camp in the NAAFI while playing the tune to "Back Home" by the 1970 England World Cup squad. --Kevin Maidment
Product Description
SPARKS Lil Beethoven (2002 UK limited edition 9-track CD album featuring a guest appearance by Faith No Mores Dean Menta. Presented in an exclusive book style pack with a extensive lyric / photo booklet!)
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
I am not a Sparks fan. I have liked the occaisional tune and have appreciated their sense of humour. Imagine my surprise at this album then. Quite simply, you have never heard anything like it, yet it is so catchy. The songs are wonderfully instrumented and lushly produced. The lyrics are repetitive but in such a way that you will be singing them from the first time you hear them till the CD player is worn out. The phrase more is less has never held truer than with the lyrics on this album because although there are few words, the emotions and the sentiments expressed within them are crystal clear and abundant.
Make no mistake, this album is a masterpiece.
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
When Sparks synth and guitar classics received a makeover from non-electrically powered instruments on Plagiarism, it seemed very much a one off, if immensely enjoyable, exercise. Now, five years on,they've revived the idea.
What makes Lil Beethoveen worthwhile and completely original though, is that virtually all the tracks sound like they were specifically written in a dance style, with the repetition of catchy phrases at the core. Russel must sing the title of My Baby's Taking Me Home 100 times, but the song shifts through so many key, instrumental, and vocal changes that it reels you in much more seductively than any mere chorus/verse/chorus composition.
And aside from the odd finale or chorus, there's no guitars, drums or synths on Lil Beethoven - not as we have come to know them on Sparks albums anyway! Instead we get lush orchestrations, some of Ron's most fluid piano, and whole choirs of Russel. It's completely original stuff, but unlike much of the so called experimental music that is interesting to listen to once or twice, Lil Beethoven is remarkably easy on the ear.
And just in case you miss them, the 20 or so pages of lyrics are worth a look too, featuring such pearls as "I married myself, we're very happy together, long long walks on the beach, lovely times."
Once again Sparks prove, as they did on Kimono My House and No.1 In Heaven, that pioneering music doesn't have to be hard work, for the listener at least. Makes you wonder what their contempories are all messing about at.
What makes Lil Beethoveen worthwhile and completely original though, is that virtually all the tracks sound like they were specifically written in a dance style, with the repetition of catchy phrases at the core. Russel must sing the title of My Baby's Taking Me Home 100 times, but the song shifts through so many key, instrumental, and vocal changes that it reels you in much more seductively than any mere chorus/verse/chorus composition.
And aside from the odd finale or chorus, there's no guitars, drums or synths on Lil Beethoven - not as we have come to know them on Sparks albums anyway! Instead we get lush orchestrations, some of Ron's most fluid piano, and whole choirs of Russel. It's completely original stuff, but unlike much of the so called experimental music that is interesting to listen to once or twice, Lil Beethoven is remarkably easy on the ear.
And just in case you miss them, the 20 or so pages of lyrics are worth a look too, featuring such pearls as "I married myself, we're very happy together, long long walks on the beach, lovely times."
Once again Sparks prove, as they did on Kimono My House and No.1 In Heaven, that pioneering music doesn't have to be hard work, for the listener at least. Makes you wonder what their contempories are all messing about at.
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
After having heard this album for the first time my only thought was: FANTASTIC.
"Sparks" again manage to free themselves and their music from any genre, but still "Lil' Beethoven" is pop music at its best.
Using lots of instruments (even guitars for the first time again!) and gambling with their voices "Sparks" created a pop opera. Songs like "the Rhythm Thief", "How do I get to Carnegie Hall" or "Ride 'em Cowboy" catch you with their bombastic opera-like sounds and voices.
And still there's to be found the typical "Sparks" irony. Who else is able to express irony with just a few words, e.g. in the song "You call ist very important to us. Please Hold": Although consisting of mostly two lines it isn't "boring" at all, it's catchy and ironic.
Further on there are songs reminding me of the old "Sparks", telling a story in a song, e.g. "Ugly guys with beautiful girls". This song's a 7 minutes opus just in good old Sparks manner. The final track "Suburban Homeboy" is, on the first listen, the most catchy, maybe the most "commercial" tune, that one can sing along while the first listen.
Personally for me it's hard to decide which song would make a good single. I think this album has to be seen as a complete opus, not just as a combination of single songs.
So go ahead and grab your copy of this wonderful album, turn your CD Player loud and then "Lights out Ibiza" (quote taken from "The Rhythm Thief")
"Sparks" again manage to free themselves and their music from any genre, but still "Lil' Beethoven" is pop music at its best.
Using lots of instruments (even guitars for the first time again!) and gambling with their voices "Sparks" created a pop opera. Songs like "the Rhythm Thief", "How do I get to Carnegie Hall" or "Ride 'em Cowboy" catch you with their bombastic opera-like sounds and voices.
And still there's to be found the typical "Sparks" irony. Who else is able to express irony with just a few words, e.g. in the song "You call ist very important to us. Please Hold": Although consisting of mostly two lines it isn't "boring" at all, it's catchy and ironic.
Further on there are songs reminding me of the old "Sparks", telling a story in a song, e.g. "Ugly guys with beautiful girls". This song's a 7 minutes opus just in good old Sparks manner. The final track "Suburban Homeboy" is, on the first listen, the most catchy, maybe the most "commercial" tune, that one can sing along while the first listen.
Personally for me it's hard to decide which song would make a good single. I think this album has to be seen as a complete opus, not just as a combination of single songs.
So go ahead and grab your copy of this wonderful album, turn your CD Player loud and then "Lights out Ibiza" (quote taken from "The Rhythm Thief")
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Sparks' major return to form...
Sparks could have been argued to rely on their excellent track record, leaning on such key 1970s releases as `Kimono My House', `Propaganda', & `Number One in Heaven' - despite the... Read more
Published on 1 Nov 2006 by Jason Parkes
6 stars,not 5 !
I once was a Sparks fan but by the time they released MUSIC THAT YOU... and INTERIOR DESIGN I must say I gave up :one or two half good songs on each one wasn't enough for... Read more
Published on 29 July 2004
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The deserved re-release of Ron and Russell Maels' brilliant creation should ensure its proper recognition and success. Read more
Published on 8 Jan 2004 by P. Schofield
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This may be just one Sparks album that's part of a discography going back thirty years, but this one really stands out as a album that dares to be itself and nothing else. Read more
Published on 10 Jun 2003 by Paul Holloway
Entertainment in Extremis
It is simply one of the best 2003 albums. It is neither 'elitist' nor 'commercial' but a truly 'popular' album. Read more
Published on 5 Jun 2003 by MR S YARED
Sparks on Sparkling Form
Welcome back Ron & Russ - Spark's 19th album is as innovative and contemporary as anything they've ever done in the past. Read more
Published on 10 Dec 2002 by N. Poingdestre
The finest album Sparks have produced as yet
This certainly deserves to be regarded as a modern classic. Every track has a quite remarkable depth and you become aware of more and more layers with each play. Read more
Published on 4 Dec 2002 by Spark
the maestros are back
True Sparks devotees will not be surprised to hear that Lil' Beethoven is great, I just wish the rest of the world would. Read more
Published on 29 Nov 2002 by Mr H L Snowdon
Pop genius emerging from God knows where
It's hard to believe this is the band I used to stare at on Top Of The Pops when I was ten. It's even harder to believe what went through their heads when they made this record. Read more
Published on 28 Nov 2002 by "marfamac"
Sparks - unusual but genius
No other band, but "Sparks" is able to express so much with a minimum of words.
This album definitely is a masterpiece and cannot be compared to their other albums. Read more
This album definitely is a masterpiece and cannot be compared to their other albums. Read more
Published on 26 Nov 2002
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