La La Crutch

Sparkwood | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (November 18, 2000)
• Original Release Date: November 18, 2000
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Sparkwood Music
• ASIN: B00005ARY2
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,227,963 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Intro

2. Ben & Katy

3. Wurly

4. Wonderin' Why

5. Naked Truth

6. Ramie

7. The Shave

8. Music Lane

9. Cockroach Stomp

10. Marianne

11. Trilogy I

12. Trilogy II

13. What In The World

14. Same As Before

15. Weeks Gone By

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Austin band Sparkwood...Talented is an understatement!, April 26, 2011

By 

musiclover - See all my reviews

This review is from: La La Crutch (Audio CD)

Bart Padar is the songwriter and leader of this Austin,
Texas quartet, and he and his mates (with assorted guests
[Whit Williams of COTTON MATHER / John Lefler DASHBOARD CONFESSIONAL]) have
concocted a literate disc that deserves mention in the same breath with
luminaries such as Fountains Of Wayne, Ben Folds Five and The Orange
Peels. The heart of the album is comprised of sunny piano based
compositions. The bonus is that Padar has plenty of tricks up his sleeve,
making this a very well rounded effort.

Take the back-to-back combo on the second half of the disc, "Cockroach
Stomp" and "Marianne". The "Stomp" has a jazzy Middle Eastern motif,
accentuated by Marianne Tatom's guest turn on the clarinet. It's as if Ray
Davies rewrote his "Harry Rag" as a jingle for a pesticide. Hot on the heels
of this jaunty ditty, Sparkwood rocks out, with an 80's styled riffy
powerpopper, "Marianne", who might be a cousin of the Fountains
"Denise". If the megacatchy chorus weren't enough to recommend the
tune, the driving work of the rhythm section (Mike Watson OF DANGEROUS TOYS
on bass and Adam Tyner on drums) commands one to become a slave to the beat.

Padar's music has a consistent melodic drive and he finds many nifty
musical settings. Like the verses of "Wurly", which sound like The
Sneetches getting (relatively) funky. Or the 70's rock drama of "Trilogy I".
And the pokey shuffling rhythm of "Weeks Gone By", which would probably
segue well into the Tom Jones' classic "Delilah". But instead of leading to
the pub singalong of "Delilah", Padar guides the song into an extremely
beautiful coda in the middle, as a wistful, distant lead guitar part fades
into the ether, while a piano softly plays in the background, picking up
momentum and then guiding the song into a fiery guitar solo. Folks, we are
dealing with some major talent here.

And don't let the fact that this is self-released fool you into thinking that
any corners have been cut productionwise. In fact, the songs are
carefully arranged and a bevy of instruments are skillfully mixed together.
My biggest complaint with this disc will illustrate how wonderful it really is.
Sparkwood does the old "hidden bonus cuts" trick. After the 'final' (15th)
track fades, there are a few minutes of nothing, before three more songs
finish the proceedings. No beef with the songs, but as a listener, I'd just
rather that the tracks be sequenced as proper tunes, with info about the
titles, etc. (Thanks for letting me get that off my chest!). Now go get this
disc!
Be sure to check out their other albums, JALOPY POP & KALEIDOSCOPISM

Jalopy Pop
Kaleidoscopism

5.0 out of 5 stars Sparkwood's La La Crutch, March 16, 2001

By 

B - See all my reviews

This review is from: La La Crutch (Audio CD)

Sparkwood run roughshod over The La La Crutch, impressing with Bart Padar's songwriting, great musicianship all around, and a healthy sense of adventure. While Sparkwood explore a number of different sounds and styles here, they manage to bring a consistency to their music that makes for a strong signature sound. Part of the reason for this has to be Padar's vocal - one made for pure pop. It's hard to not believe every word sung on tracks like the soaring Wonderin' Why.

This is clearly a band that will try anything, and their success rate is pretty remarkable. Sparkwood will have you bouncing along with Ben And Katy and Music Lane, will set your spirit soaring on Same As Before, and will even amuse with the maniacal Eastern Europe flavoured Cockroach Stomp. While Padar's piano is pronounced throughout, the guitar hooks are heavy and plentiful as well - most noticeable on the great Marianne.

5.0 out of 5 stars Sparkwood Presents The La La Crutch, March 10, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: La La Crutch (Audio CD)

Bart Padar take a bow! Padar is the songwriter and leader of this Austin, Texas quartet, and he and his mates (with assorted guests) have concocted a literate disc that deserves mention in the same breath with luminaries such as Fountains Of Wayne, Ben Folds Five and The Orange Peels. The heart of the album is comprised of sunny piano based compositions. The bonus is that Padar has plenty of tricks up his sleeve, making this a very well rounded effort.

Take the back-to-back combo on the second half of the disc, "Cockroach Stomp" and "Marianne". The "Stomp" has a jazzy Middle Eastern motif, accentuated by Marianne Tatom's guest turn on the clarinet. It's as if Ray Davies rewrote his "Harry Rag" as a jingle for a pesticide. Hot on the heels of this jaunty ditty, Sparkwoood rocks out, with an 80's styled riffy powerpopper, "Marianne", who might be a cousin of the Fountains "Denise". If the megacatchy chorus weren't enough to recommend the tune, the driving work of the rhythm section (Mike Watson on bass and Adam Tyner on drums) commands one to become a slave to the beat.

Padar's music has a consistent melodic drive and he finds many nifty musical settings. Like the verses of "Wurly", which sound like The Sneetches getting (relatively) funky. Or the 70's rock drama of "Trilogy I". And the pokey shuffling rhythm of "Weeks Gone By", which would probably segue well into the Tom Jones' clasic "Delilah". But instead of leading to the pub singalong of "Delilah", Padar guides the song into an extremely beautiful coda in the middle, as a wistful, distant lead guitar part fades into the ether, while a piano softly plays in the background, picking up momentum and then guiding the song into a fiery guitar solo. Folks, we are dealing with some major talent here.

And don't let the fact that this is self-released fool you into thinking that any corners have been cut productionwise. In fact, the songs are carefully arranged and a bevy of instruments are skillfully mixed together. My biggest complaint with this disc will illustrate how wonderful it really is. Sparkwood does the old "hidden bonus cuts" trick. After the 'final' (15th) track fades, there are a few minutes of nothing, before three more songs finish the proceedings. No beef with the songs, but as a listener, I'd just rather that the tracks be sequenced as proper tunes, with info about the titles, etc. (Thanks for letting me get that off my chest!). Now go get this disc!