Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
THE RIGHT TIME!!!, January 18, 2004
In 1971, when the music industry seemed less ignorant than it does now, Sparks released their first album under the name Halfnelson...not suitable enough for peer groups...the band eventually renamed itself as Sparks. Though the band was hugely ignored by the masses...it created a few cult classics known to all music collectors, such as "A Woofer in Tweeter's Clothing" and "Kimono My House." Horrible critism could not hinder the band from making some its best albums as well as carrying on as a band. Eventually, members of the original line-up would become Concrete Blonde and 77's line-up, Toto. But, after all of the difficult criticism, Sparks still carried on throughout the 80's up to the present (thank God!!!). Many will agree that the band has only grown since its early years. 10 years after the classic album "Woofer in Tweeter's Clothing" has been released, "Angst in my Pants" reveals what the fans have been ranting and raving for after all the years ! A band that is able to fit itself into any category of music at any time! "I Predict" had the critics roaring, while "Mickey Mouse" kept old fans soaring! Time had only shown that a band ahead of its time was with the time. The clever lyrics of the Mael brothers had not ceased to be, but only grown. "The Decline in Fall of Me" is about a mental collapse: "If I had a hammer I would drop it and break it--look at the pieces, Now I have a hobby, I collect frozen pizzas...check out my pizzas." Not only was "Angst in my Pants" an entry into the band's new-wave following, but the highlight of the best of the best of the 80's. Sparks not only refined their past, but created a whole new following, such as myself, with this 82 classic!
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8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
WHO WEARS THE PANTS IN THIS FAMILY?!, October 8, 2005
Who Wears The Pants In This Family?
The lovely couple on this album cover has made perfect musical harmony once again, and it sure looks like they enjoyed their Niagara Falls honeymoon as illustrated in a scintillating photo on the inner sleeve! However, we are not fooled by this deceptive depiction into believing that Russell actually wears the pants in the Mael family. Although he is trying to feign purity and virtue, it is indeed the unshaven Mael order bride who is behind all this madness!
To start off the 80's with their focus back on America, Sparks returned to a rockier, guitar-oriented sound imbued with danceability. They even returned to the five-piece band format, including the Bates Motel band; Les Boheme on bass, Bob Haag on guitar, David Kendrick on drums and James Goodwin on synth. Giorgio Moroder's protégé Mack programmed some minimal, yet punctual synthesizers, giving the album a built-in revved-up engine. In 1982 Angst In My Pants on Atlantic records became Sparks' first U.S. top 100 album. The single "I Predict" garnered significant airplay, especially on the west coast on good old KROQ.
The peculiarly provocative video for "I Predict" was banned by MTV, not for its bizarre sexual content, but for the political incorrectness of Ron's moustache! They were completely off target...nobody was looking at his moustache! We were utterly distracted by all the sexual energy Ron was radiating onstage at the strip club in his corset and feather boa! Despite the M.T.V. (Moustache Too Vulgar) video veto, the single reached #60 in the U.S. charts in March of 1982. The video was finally reinstated - for late night viewing only - on MTV the following summer.
During Sparks' television appearance on NBC's Saturday Night Live (May 15, 1982) Ron recited a lengthy monologue on the rodent species, prefacing the song "Mickey Mouse". The band also performed their new single, the uncanny "I Predict". Ron's now infamous shuffle, then in its infancy, had its monumental TV debut on this show!
Sparks performed "I Predict" (as `Bandstanders' might say, "It has a good beat, but you can't dance to it!) and " Eaten By The Monster of Love" on American Bandstand in September of 1982 - Sparks' third of six appearances on that legendary show. Russell defined the word `angst' to host Dick Clark as, "A German word meaning problems or stress, but in this case, in the pants region."
In Russell's opinion at the time, this was the most `pleasant' Sparks album to listen to. He varied his vocal range throughout, and the tunes were less complex - even catchy. American radio appreciated the album and actually played it! However, there were those who were disappointed in Sparks' return to a full band format, and the gripes would continue when the band would again waver to a more electronic sound. You just can't win!
Sparks toured America throughout the summer of '82. They also supported Rick Springfield on his U.S. tour. Russell sparkled in a glistening sequined suit (the colour varied at each gig). Ron, the mysterious deadpan figure, usually firmly planted behind his keyboards, now began to nurture his inner child which emerged in a scary, full drag strip-tease in the David Lynch directed "I Predict" video (not a pretty sight), in a wedding gown on the album's cover and in several quirky stage routines including a wacky shuffle and tap dance, and a mime to Abbott & Costello's `Who's On First?' routine with a stuffed toy dog (at Hollywood's Whiskey A Go Go). Things were looking up!
The album's opening title track features Russell singing in what might possibly be his lowest register, then bringing it up an octave to stress that even YOU may very well be inadvertently sitting on some angst! After an intro that sounds like a steamship's horn, the melody and instrumentation are simple and sparse, yet beautiful. Who else would write such a happy-go-lucky song about a certain gravity-defying male reflex? The Maels told America's Trouser Press magazine in November, 1982 that Ron came up with the melody at the last minute. Ron plays every instrument on the track except for David Kendrick's drum tape loop. The song was mixed and completed in just one day!
In "I Predict" Russell portrays a pretentious clairvoyant. Sparks had usually been quite accurate in predicting future musical climates and beating everyone to the punch. In this song they seem to have delusional visions of psychic grandeur, but who knows, maybe cold beer and pretzels really do cure cancer! Has anybody ever tried it? The catchy hand-clapping beat and heavy bass drum get your feet tapping in no time. They should play this one in baseball stadiums instead of Queen's "We Will Rock You".
"Sextown U.S.A." is the precursor to "All You Ever Think About is Sex" on the next album. Both songs are about, um...sex, and they concur that sex is fun in a variety of locations. These are Sparks' most straight-forward lyrics and they have received no arguments to date.
The Maels seem somewhat envious of the supposedly sexy sleuth in "Sherlock Holmes". Where did they get the foggy notion that Sherlock impressed women? Hey Ron & Russ, here's a bit of advice; there are a lot of guys out there right now telling their girlfriends, "I can't sing like Russell Mael, I can't write songs like Ron Mael, just pretend I'm Russell Mael, uh oh, uh oh, yeah." So just go with what you've got! You are SPARKS! What could be cooler than that! Just use your old trusty pick-up line, "Kimono my house, mon amour!" Women will surely melt in your arms. There is some sort of synthesized wind instrument sound on this one, impersonating a flute perhaps? Anyway, it's quite effective and the middle eight is pure Sparks!
The Surgeon General could have used "Nicotina" as his mascot. Who wouldn't sympathize with this poor little burnt-out cigarette and quit smoking pronto! She was so cute until the Marlboro man inhaled her. The melody seems to be Russian derived and has some wicked guitar work by Bob Haag.
Mickey and Minnie Mouse and all their pals run rampant in a paradise where animals are people too, in a tribute to Disneyland. The next song is dedicated to the power of the "Moustache" and how it makes a man, commands respect, alienates a certain religious group and (unfortunately) reveals what a man has ingested for lunch. Another upbeat tune to which Ron shaves his off completely in the video. Parenthetically, he grew it back again!
"Instant Weight Loss" becomes `instant weight gain' in case anyone didn't know. It's zoo time once again on "Tarzan And Jane" when Chemistry class degenerates into de-evolution with a tribal drumbeat. It's more fun than a barrel of monkeys!
In "The Decline and Fall of Me" our singer is reduced to a bumbling idiot in an unwarranted tale of low self esteem. The poor guy has even started a collection of frozen pizzas! This song contains the following stunning couplet;
" Where's my mouth, man, this eating is rough on the shirts
Gee, I'm sorry about the thermometer, nurse."
There are very few Sparks songs containing the word `love' and the single, "Eaten By The Monster Of Love" is one of them. It's not really about `love'. It's more about the `monster' with graphic descriptions of what he'll do to you and how to avoid him. A fun party song, if you're going to a strange party. This song, along with the title track was featured on the Valley Girl film soundtrack.
Well, it certainly looks like this marriage will last a lifetime! I wonder who caught the bride's lovely bouquet of daffodils!
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5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Cream of the Crop, April 21, 2004
Most Americans knowledge of Sparks began with mostly 2 CD's "Sparks In Outer Space" and "Angst". Though Sparks music began as far back as 1975 and still even today with "Lil Beethoven" ( which is great by the way"). It was an Orange County Radio Station that open the doors to America and introduced us to this trend setting band. Let's face it. The Mael brothers are ahead of their time. They master the "Sync" beat way before most New Wave and Techno goups were doing their thing. This CD was their most popular "US" CD to date and with good reason. Songs like "Mickey Mouse" " I Predict" " Eaten By the Monster Of Love" " Moustche" and the of course "Angst In My Pants" were and still are party classics. These songs were silly, fun, and filled with satire and irony. But boy did they rock when they were played at that keger frat party back then. Growing up in the 80's. These songs only bring back great memories. What is so shocking is that Sparks only enjoyed major success during these two CD's. With the rise of Glam metal, Rand B pop, and the Michael Jackson craze. Sparks all just disappeared in the US. Though they continued with great success throughout Europe (especially in Germany). But for those who are just getting into Sparks I must warn you. They are contagious. You begin with this CD and you want to buy more and if you get a chance to see them live (when they do RARELY tour the US). Please don't hesitate to see them. They are and still a great underrated gem.This CD will make you feel warm and special and remember.....if a mouse can be special, so can you ( quote from Mickey Mouse).
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