Lil Beethoven
Lil' Beethoven--Sparks' 19th album--is probably the most consummate record the Mael brothers have made since the early days of Amateur Hour and the Hitler facial-hair controversy. (The only possible exception is Number One in Heaven. ) The album couldn't have arrived at a better time. Quite rightly, critics are admiring the eccentric pop nous and massed vocal battalions of quirky Americans Polyphonic Spree, but Sparks sort of did it first. Russel Mael isn't Welsh, but on Lil' Beethoven he sounds like a one-man loony version of the Caerphilly Male Voice Choir performing acerbic Randy Newman songs. Turning its back on the mirror-ball electro-disco of yore ("Auf wiedersehen to the beat, lights out Ibiza" say the valedictory lyrics of "The Rhythm Thief"), Lil' Beethoven wraps-up Sparks' traditionally majestic hysteria in a deliciously neo-classical pomp confection of strings, tinkling harpsichords, booming timpani and Ron Mael's rolling piano lines. However, one electric guitar does manage to evade security and makes a rock & roll nuisance of itself on the comical "Ugly Guys with Beautiful Girls", a song that ought to have the B-52's saying "Hey, isn't that us? " "I Married Myself" ("we're very happy together") is the album's keenest pop moment, but an honorary mention must go to "Suburban Homeboy", a cute Ali G style satire on bourgeois hip-hoppers that sounds like the Royal Artillery concert party from BBC TV's It Ain't Half Hot Mum getting all camp in the NAAFI while playing the tune to "Back Home" by the 1970 England World Cup squad. --Kevin Maidment Binding Audio CD. Artist(s): Sparks. Publisher(s): Universal Music Canada. Label: Universal Music Canada.
| Fabricant: | Universal Music Canada |
| Numéro de la pièce: | 660200212629 |
| Prix le plus bas (CAD): | 131,72 $ |
Caractéristiques du produit |
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| Artist : | Sparks |
| Distributor : | EMI Music Canada |
| Format : | CD |
| Marque : | EMI |
| music_track : | Suburban Homeboy |
