|
A Woofer in Tweeters Clothing | 
| Artist: Sparks
Label: Rhino Encore
Category: Music
List Price: £7.99
Buy New: £4.47
You Save: £3.52 (44%)
New (21) Used (2) from £3.94
Rating:  4 reviews
Sales Rank: 32444
Media: Audio CD
Discs: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 5.6 x 5 x 0.5
UPC: 081227990503
EAN: 0081227990503
ASIN: B001BS4RF4
Release Date: August 4, 2008
Shipping: Eligible for Super Saver Shipping
Availability: Usually dispatched within 24 hours
|
| Tracks:
| • | Girl from Germany | | • | Beaver O' Lindy | | • | Nothing Is Sacred | | • | Here Comes Bob | | • | Moon Over Kentucky | | • | Do-Re-Mi | | • | Angus Desire | | • | Underground | | • | The Louvre | | • | Batteries Not Included | | • | Whippings and Apologies |
|
| Similar Items:
|
| Customer Reviews:
 Weirder than most September 2, 2006
7 out of 7 found this review helpful
After the success of "Kimono my House" followed so quickly by "Propaganda", strange tales surfaced in the then music press of two previous Sparks LPs which had had no singles action and had not caused a ripple amongst my then 12 and 13 year old pals. Being totally caught by Ron's stationary dancing at the keyboard and Russell's manic dancing everywhere I ordered a copy of each of these hitherto unrecognised wonders.
The first album, "Sparks" is not the subject of this review, but it was not what I had expected. Slower, less electric, less "pop". Odd. Intensely catchy, but odd.
Then I put on "Woofer". I HATED it.
Two years later, I played it again (I was 17 by now and the Sex Pistols were happening). Why did I remember this album so bleakly? Was it the very monotone, one chord feel of "Girl from Germany"? Was it the pure perversity of "Angus Desire"? Was it the utterly silly rock of "Do - Re - Mi"? I could not bring to mind what had made me, aged 15, dislike this so intensely, as it now sounded defiantly weird, flying against as much of pop music and cool as it possibly could. Seriously, I now think that this album is one of the absolute masterpieces of Ron & Russ' long and interesting (and weird) career. More musical and less repetitive than "Li'l Beethoven", less widescreen than "Hello Young Lovers", but as far away from the mainstream as either of the two most recent albums.
This is a wonderful record. Not immediate, but it grows on you. Still one of my favourites more than 30 years on.
Please buy it.
Good Early Sparks August 30, 2006
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
I wasn't sure whether three or four stars was appropriate, but since this is Sparks after all, I'll err in their favor.
While many of the songs are great on this album ("Girl From Germany" and "Here Comes Bob" are the standouts), most of them are merely good. (The same can be said of their first album). Ron Mael had the 'weird' part of the equation, but not the 'hooky' or 'poppy' side. Russel wasn't singing in a faux-british accent (though he does do a faux-German!) quite as much as he would on their first two albums for Island.
But this is an album to own. If you like Sparks' Island stuff, this isn't too far removed. (Much closer than the stuff on their Todd Rundgren-produced debut). My only real 'complaint' with this edition is that it could have included the original guitar-version of "I Like Girls", a song that later ended up on Big Beat. (You can hear the original version I speak of on Rhino's 2CD Sparks Compilation, "Profile: The Ultimate Sparks Collection."
This is a great album! February 4, 2006
4 out of 4 found this review helpful
Their 2nd album contains a number of absolute gems and only avoids getting 5 stars because the new releases are even better. All the usual subjects are covered, you know - racially intolerant parents, bestiality, consumer rage, flagellation, immortality and a view of a certain art gallery through the eyes of one of the exhibits, while Here Comes Bob precedes the film, Crash, by some 30 years. It also contains the kind of chamber accompaniment they would return to in their work with Tony Visconti. Plenty of crunchy guitar bits and thundering drums and it will seem weird playing the atmospheric Moon Over Kentucky (where lunar abuse prompts Russell to suggest our nearest neighbour "leave this mooring and seek some new rendezvous" followed by some absolutely heavenly singing) without having to turn the disc over afterwards. Batteries Not Included reflects every child's frustration before consumer law was changed and shows a lyrical interest in catch-phrases that would reappear in 2002's "Your Call Is Very Important to Us, Please Hold". The only "ordinary" song on here is Earl Mankey's "Underground", where heavy sets lurk and jazz-folk-rock fusion appeals to the teens. All this and The Sound of Music! Produced by the Electric Prunes' James Lowe. Buy it while you can before it disappears again. Nothing, no nothing, is sacred anymore!!
 From early beginings January 11, 2006
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
I bought the original import version soon after I heard "Kimomo My House". It was their second album but be warned it is not in the same style although it is easy listening for the most part.
The style seems, on the whole, to be basic pop without many of the clever lyrics which they use in most of their later songs
Girl From Germany is my favourite, Simple Ballet, Underground and Here Comes Bob are a complete mix of song styles but there are some songs which could easily have been left out-for example Do Re Mi is a fast rocky version of the Sound Of Music which doesn't really suit, nor does Whippings and Apologies. Batteries Not Included show the batteries were running out on this one (it only lasts a few seconds).
If you like Sparks you will not be dissapointed but there are much better albums of theirs out there.
|
|
|
|
| |
