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Amazon.co.uk Review
Ah, the eternal problem of how to follow up the overnight success. It's often the case that groups change their sound and image to keep up the commercial winning streak once they hit the big time, often at the expense of their original appeal. Sparks, however, are a law unto themselves. Whatever acclaim was brought by Kimono My House appears to have been ignored by the Mael brothers, who instead solidified the style of demented, sinister pop songs that the band pioneered. In this case, Ron Mael's eye for lyrical detail, welded to an off-kilter tune, makes for a unique offering. Who else could write the utterly sincere "Bon Voyage", sung from the viewpoint of the animals that didn't get onto Noah's Ark? Also apparent is an early indication of Sparks' reluctance to be pigeonholed as a guitar band; the opening title track is an acapella offering, while the jazzy flourishes that colour the following album Indiscreet make their appearances on nearly every track. Sure, they still rock out, especially on "At Home, At Work, At Play" and "Something for the Girl with Everything", but the detail beneath the surface shows Sparks' unique gift for the darkly humourous. Highly recommended. --Thom Allott
Amazon.co.uk Review
Ah, the eternal problem of how to follow up the overnight success. It's often the case that groups change their sound and image to keep up the commercial winning streak once they hit the big time, often at the expense of their original appeal. Sparks, however, are a law unto themselves. Whatever acclaim was brought by Kimono My House appears to have been ignored by the Mael brothers, who instead solidified the style of demented, sinister pop songs that the band pioneered. In this case, Ron Mael's eye for lyrical detail, welded to an off-kilter tune, makes for a unique offering. Who else could write the utterly sincere "Bon Voyage", sung from the viewpoint of the animals that didn't get onto Noah's Ark? Also apparent is an early indication of Sparks' reluctance to be pigeonholed as a guitar band; the opening title track is an acapella offering, while the jazzy flourishes that colour the following album Indiscreet make their appearances on nearly every track. Sure, they still rock out, especially on "At Home, At Work, At Play" and "Something for the Girl with Everything", but the detail beneath the surface shows Sparks' unique gift for the darkly humourous. Highly recommended. --Thom Allott
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
14 of 14 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Obviously `Kimono My House' (released the same year as this album) is an accepted classic album, but perhaps this 21st Century Editions reissue programme will remind people there is another classic: `Propaganda.'
The original 11-track album is present and correct, the Mael brothers joined by Dinky Diamond, T White, Ian Hampton, Adrian Fisher, and producer Muff Winwood - like `Kimono' this album fits well alongside the stuff they called glam rock: Aladdin-Bowie, T-Rex, The Sweet, The Rubettes, Roxy Music, Sailor, the Glitter act we don't talk about now etc. Having the pleasure of seeing Sparks on their latest tour, it was notable that after their latest `Hello Young Lovers' (played in its entirety), it was `Propaganda' that got the biggest airing with storming versions of `Achoo', `Something for the Girl with Everything', `Never Turn Your Back on Mother Earth' & `At Home At Work At Play' (...or perhaps I have the wrong song for the start of the encore?).
`Propaganda' is very much a relative of `Kimono', a magnificent blend of pop and pomp, glam and prog...the stuff that Billy Mackenzie later tagged popera maybe? `Propaganda' is one of their classic albums closest to `Kimono' - `Number One in Heaven' (reissue! Expand! Etc!) a far more electronic wonder, while the recent `Lil' Beethoven' and `Hello Young Lovers' are much more modern (& great!). The album is packed full of highlights, but the ones I like the best are the dramatic `At Home....', the hilarious `Don't Leave Me Alone with Her', the euphoric `Something for the Girl with Everything' (which I'd take over `This Town...! & was memorably re-recorded by Sparks & Faith No More on their `Plagiarism' album), and the catchy art rock of `Achoo.' Best of all has to be `Never Turn Your Back on Mother Earth', one of those great singles (see `Outdoor Miner', `Showgirl', `Waterloo Sunset', `William, It Was Really Nothing', `Cry Me a River', `Just Like Honey'...) and a song that has been covered by Martin L Gore (`Counterfeit e.p.) and Billy Mackenzie (`Eurocentric'). & I'm sure that the great West-German electronic outfit Propaganda got their name from here...or Paul Morley picked it or something!!
The repackage is great, as is the budget price - the liner notes are fantastic, littered with photos, notes, lyrics and the like - the cherry on the cake...and can we note `Propaganda' has one of the great album covers too? There are a few bonus tracks - the so-so `Alabamy Right' and the single `Marry Me' - the latter anticipating the material on `Indiscreet' and `Big Beat' (e.g. `England', `Get in the Swing'). & if all that isn't enough there's a seven-minute interview! How could you not have to buy this, take on the Sugababes directive and push the button!!!!
The original 11-track album is present and correct, the Mael brothers joined by Dinky Diamond, T White, Ian Hampton, Adrian Fisher, and producer Muff Winwood - like `Kimono' this album fits well alongside the stuff they called glam rock: Aladdin-Bowie, T-Rex, The Sweet, The Rubettes, Roxy Music, Sailor, the Glitter act we don't talk about now etc. Having the pleasure of seeing Sparks on their latest tour, it was notable that after their latest `Hello Young Lovers' (played in its entirety), it was `Propaganda' that got the biggest airing with storming versions of `Achoo', `Something for the Girl with Everything', `Never Turn Your Back on Mother Earth' & `At Home At Work At Play' (...or perhaps I have the wrong song for the start of the encore?).
`Propaganda' is very much a relative of `Kimono', a magnificent blend of pop and pomp, glam and prog...the stuff that Billy Mackenzie later tagged popera maybe? `Propaganda' is one of their classic albums closest to `Kimono' - `Number One in Heaven' (reissue! Expand! Etc!) a far more electronic wonder, while the recent `Lil' Beethoven' and `Hello Young Lovers' are much more modern (& great!). The album is packed full of highlights, but the ones I like the best are the dramatic `At Home....', the hilarious `Don't Leave Me Alone with Her', the euphoric `Something for the Girl with Everything' (which I'd take over `This Town...! & was memorably re-recorded by Sparks & Faith No More on their `Plagiarism' album), and the catchy art rock of `Achoo.' Best of all has to be `Never Turn Your Back on Mother Earth', one of those great singles (see `Outdoor Miner', `Showgirl', `Waterloo Sunset', `William, It Was Really Nothing', `Cry Me a River', `Just Like Honey'...) and a song that has been covered by Martin L Gore (`Counterfeit e.p.) and Billy Mackenzie (`Eurocentric'). & I'm sure that the great West-German electronic outfit Propaganda got their name from here...or Paul Morley picked it or something!!
The repackage is great, as is the budget price - the liner notes are fantastic, littered with photos, notes, lyrics and the like - the cherry on the cake...and can we note `Propaganda' has one of the great album covers too? There are a few bonus tracks - the so-so `Alabamy Right' and the single `Marry Me' - the latter anticipating the material on `Indiscreet' and `Big Beat' (e.g. `England', `Get in the Swing'). & if all that isn't enough there's a seven-minute interview! How could you not have to buy this, take on the Sugababes directive and push the button!!!!
31 of 33 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
A fantastic album! This is the first Sparks album I bought and it changed my whole view on music on the first listen and even after playing it several times it doesn't tire on me. It is totally original, bold, quirky arty rock that jumps out the stereo. On the first few seconds of the title track/opener I thought 'wow'. This is the lesser known follow up to the legendary 'Kimono My House' (which also has a great opening) and was amazingly released in the same year, 1974. Sparks were, then, extraordinarily creative and prolific and this release is just as good as its predecessor, if not (dare I say it) better. The songs gel together better and there are no duffers on the original album (Sorry, I can't comment on the 2 bonus tracks as I've not got that version but if they're half as good as the ones on Kimono then they're a good listen). The next album, Indescreet, seems lame in comparison as it does not have the 'wow factor'. The singles are the gorgeous 'Never Turn Your Back on Mother Earth' and the operatic 'Something for the Girl with Everything'. Great songs, though not as successful as the singles from Kimono which is why the album's not so well known. When I got the album, I did not know anything about it or Sparks, other than that they were influential on a lot of 80s artists. I guessed that the singles were the operner 'Propoganda/At Home, At Work, At Play' (1 minute Acappella stunner followed by New Wave rock) and the Rocky Horror-like 'Don't leave me alone with her'. These could have been hits. If you write the musical notes down to many songs you'd find that the compositions are almost classical in nature whereas the sound is very rocky -like New Wave music five years ahead of its time - what a combination! The final song on the original album (before the 2 bonus tracks were added)'Bon Voyage' could be from a Gilbert & Sullivan opera! Therefore, like its predecessor, the sound is very 'interesting' and exciting and should appeal to a wide audience who like truly great music. Other great tracks - 'B.C' which just gets faster and faster, the classic title 'Achoo!','Who don't like Kids' which features kids shouting the title in unison, the funny 'Reinforcements'....in fact all the songs are good even if you can't hear all the lyrics clearly (like opera I suppose). The lyric sheet will help as lot of the lyrics are tongue in cheek. To conclude: If you loved 'Kimono My House' then you'll surely love this. Every household should own one.
16 of 17 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
If you only buy one CD this year - get Indiscreet! It's awsome! But after that - get this one - 99% as good! Unfortuneately I'm old enough to remember Sparks the first time around - I loved them then - I adore them now! There are few words good enough to describe how wonderful this CD is - it's a work of art! The opening track, which blends seemlessly into the second, sends shivers down your spine. then you are launched into an hour's journey of what pop is all about - variety, imagination (like few others) and tunes to die for! You will NEVER get tired of listening to this - the only thing worth interupting it for is another brilliant Sparks CD. Puts 'modern' artists to shame! Enjoy!
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Spark Who else ?
Yet another bundle of there brilliance all neatly packaged up into a brillant cd .The amasing writing skills and musical genius of these brothers is a good example of how diverse... Read more
Published 22 months ago by C. Manning
Love it or love it,
there's no more options with this album. A description? Surrealistic Mottown-flavoured glam delirium. Buy this one now, and better before "Kimono my house".
Published on 23 May 2009 by Trebla777
'Bon Voyage' indeed!!!
As great an album as it's predecessor (Kimono ...) undoubtedly is, Propaganda outshines it - and some. Read more
Published on 9 Jun 2008 by UFC Mark
The perfect pop/rock album
I,m not going to go into details on all the tracks........they are ALL brilliant. I think this is a far better album than Kimono My House, which although excellent, has peaks and... Read more
Published on 20 April 2008 by Agent Cooper
The perfect pop/rock album
I,m not going to go into details on all the tracks........they are ALL brilliant. I think this is a far better album than Kimono My House, which although excellent, has peaks and... Read more
Published on 20 April 2008 by Agent Cooper
Brilliant!
Propaganda is one of Sparks's classic albums and still sounds as fresh today as on its first release. Read more
Published on 22 Feb 2008 by alextorres
MInes a Pint
The only currently working band who can be said to possess GENIUS.
One of the highlights of the decade taste forgot and absolutely wonderful.. Read more
One of the highlights of the decade taste forgot and absolutely wonderful.. Read more
Published on 22 Nov 2007 by William Vigar
Sparks Twin Peaks...Part 2
Along with 'Kimono', this album represents the point where the Mael Bros' curiously anglo-centric pop reached its zenith. Read more
Published on 16 Feb 2006 by not_a_real_folkie
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