Sparks - Kimono My House
| Comments: | Essential album as well as my favorite album cover. Brilliant. |
| Artist: | Sparks |
| Rating: | |
| Genres: | Progressive Pop, Zolo |
| Released: | 1974 |
| Type: | Album |
| Label: | Island Records |
| Link: | allsparks.com |
| In Lists: |
Kimono My House is the third album by rock band Sparks. The record was released in May 1974 and is considered to be their commercial breakthrough. It was met with widespread acclaim....
Preceded by the single "This Town Ain't Big Enough for Both of Us", Kimono My House peaked at number 4 in the UK and number 101 in the US. Retrospectively, Kimono My House is considered one of Sparks's best works and one of the best glam rock albums.
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Arguably one of Sparks' best albums, 1974's Kimono My House finds the brothers Mael (Ron wrote most the songs and played keyboards, while Russell was the singing frontman) ingeniously playing their guitar- and keyboard-heavy pop mix on 12 consistently fine tracks. Adding a touch of bubblegum, and even some of Zappa's own song-centric experimentalism to the menu, the Maels spruce up a sleazy Sunset Strip with a bevy of Broadway-worthy performances here: as the band expertly revs up the glam rock-meets-Andrew Lloyd Webber backdrops, Russell sends things into space with his operatic vocals and ever-clever lyrics. And besides two of their breakthrough hits (the English chart-toppers "This Town Ain't Big Enough for Both of Us" and "Amateur Hour"), the album features one of their often-overlooked stunners, "Here in Heaven." Essential. - Stephen Cook for allmusic
Preceded by the single "This Town Ain't Big Enough for Both of Us", Kimono My House peaked at number 4 in the UK and number 101 in the US. Retrospectively, Kimono My House is considered one of Sparks's best works and one of the best glam rock albums.
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Arguably one of Sparks' best albums, 1974's Kimono My House finds the brothers Mael (Ron wrote most the songs and played keyboards, while Russell was the singing frontman) ingeniously playing their guitar- and keyboard-heavy pop mix on 12 consistently fine tracks. Adding a touch of bubblegum, and even some of Zappa's own song-centric experimentalism to the menu, the Maels spruce up a sleazy Sunset Strip with a bevy of Broadway-worthy performances here: as the band expertly revs up the glam rock-meets-Andrew Lloyd Webber backdrops, Russell sends things into space with his operatic vocals and ever-clever lyrics. And besides two of their breakthrough hits (the English chart-toppers "This Town Ain't Big Enough for Both of Us" and "Amateur Hour"), the album features one of their often-overlooked stunners, "Here in Heaven." Essential. - Stephen Cook for allmusic
Editions:
1974
Original Release
Island Records
| ILPS 9272
| Vinyl, LP
| Side A: | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| A1. | This Town Ain't Big Enough for Both of Us | (3:02) | |
| A2. | Amateur Hour | (3:33) | |
| A3. | Falling in Love With Myself Again | (3:03) | |
| A4. | Here in Heaven | (2:46) | |
| A5. | Thank God It's Not Christmas | (5:07) | |
| Side B: | |||
| B1. | Hasta Mañana, Monsieur | (3:43) | |
| B2. | Talent Is an Asset | (3:20) | |
| B3. | Complaints | (2:48) | |
| B4. | In My Family | (3:46) | |
| B5. | Equator | (4:41) | |