SPARKS

uberflash · Groupie Joined: 12 Jan 2002 Posts: 135 Location: Sweden

So, Lil B has been out now for a long time (well in Europe at least). So what do we really think now when we have listen to it for a while?
Lil B is going to get 8/10 from me. So it's not a masterpiece but above average!

Alex Robertson · Posted: Wed Jul 16, 2003 3:07 pm Post subject:

You were right Uberflash...I voted as you predicted...

Ian Beach · Posted: Wed Jul 16, 2003 7:30 pm Post subject:

Biggest flaw - It's too repetitive.
Some good moments messed up? i.e I married myself starting off really nice then falling off the rails when it goes in to that odd bit.

Some great ideas. Interesting moments but not quiet effectively realised.
Some tracks could have been improved imo.

6/10

I'd like to be there when they are writing an album and say yes or no. Although, they would take no notice of my opinion.

PeterE · Posted: Thu Jul 17, 2003 3:58 am Post subject:

for me it is still one of their best ever!
the album is most innovative when it works on repetition!
best track: My Baby` s taking me home

Twinspark · Posted: Fri Jul 18, 2003 8:38 am Post subject:

I agree with you with best track. I really love that song. And for the whole cd: a masterpiece! I love it, I love it, I love it! :D

uberflash · Groupie Joined: 12 Jan 2002 Posts: 135 Location: Sweden

C'mon folks! Submit your votes now! Still a very few people have voted. Surprise that so many voted the option "It's OK, but they have done better".

The two major things that don't make Lil B as a masterpiece is "I Married Myself" and "Ugly Guys". Both songs is lyrically brilliant, but "I married Myself" loses itself when the "diddy things" starts and I'm getting sick of the "whoua-whoua" screaming on "Ugly Guys".

neworion · Posted: Sat Jul 19, 2003 4:20 pm Post subject:

tulla · Newbie Joined: 20 Jul 2003 Posts: 14

YES, indeed. I think this is a very good album.

Favorite songs so far: The Rhythm Thief & How Do I Get To Carnagie Hall, followed by I Married Myself (except the "dubbed" vocal parts in the middle of the song).

Least favorite: Your Call Is Very Important To Us, Please Hold.
I didn't quite like this one, sorry.

neworion

tulla · Newbie Joined: 20 Jul 2003 Posts: 14

Ah, Ok, I'll give it another chance. :)

After all, I haven't listened through the album more than a few times yet, so it's a good chance you're right about that.

haydn60 · Posted: Sun Jul 27, 2003 12:13 pm Post subject:

From the New York Press article:

"We’ve been humbled by other people’s attitudes about how we’re doing. Every time you finish an album, you think it’s the greatest thing ever, and then, over time, you gain some perspective in the context of pop music. This one, we feel differently about."

Not the clearest paragraph, but I think I know what Ron's getting at there. As often as they've changed their minds in the past, I believe them when they say the next album will progress in the direction of Lil'B. Even though I rated LB a masterpiece above, I have faith there is better to come.

(Say, a lot of you hate those dit-dit-dits, huh? Don't you even like them with a xylophone?)

("Your Call..." is the 2nd Sparks tune my girlfriend actually likes. The first was "Let's Get Funky" & she had to be told who it was by.)
_________________
Good Cue Sign
"Making people laugh is the lowest form of humor"
- Michael O'Donoghue

haydn60 · Posted: Tue Jul 29, 2003 11:38 am Post subject:

Whoops. Here's the quote which prompted the post. Russell:

"This whole business of comebacks keeps getting harder and harder. We don’t want to reinvent ourselves again after this. We’re sold on the direction of Lil’ Beethoven. Hopefully, there’s not going to be any reason for a sixth–or whatever it is now–comeback."
_________________
Good Cue Sign
"Making people laugh is the lowest form of humor"
- Michael O'Donoghue

vernon rockville · Newbie Joined: 10 May 2003 Posts: 7

This is an opera or a stage show. The words are secondary (like in opera) to the "scene" and story, as well as the brilliant orchestrations. Listen to Russell's excellent singing without dwelling on the words. Each song has a certain story to tell over the course of elaborate arrangements. Yes, Please Hold is annoying, but I crack up everytime I get a similar telephone recording. Pretend you are hearing Brahms' Requiem. Can't understand the German language, but the singing, harmonies and orchestrations make it gorgeous. This is where Lil' Beethoven shines. It is certainly very, very different from anything else.

Xenophile · Posted: Thu Aug 07, 2003 10:19 pm Post subject:

I vote "Masterpiece." I've listened many, many times. Too many times.,, and I'm not getting tired of it. My three-year-old insists on hearing "The Rhythm Thief" whenever he gets in the car. My wife loves "Ugly Guys With Beautiful Girls," and she hates rock'n roll. Repetitious? They've simply replaced the tired old repetitious drum and bass grooves with repetitious vocal and instrumental phrases. My old music theory professor would call it a "highly motivic compositional technique." It's still rock music, but the Maels have turned it on its head. I find it very seductive, and I'm proud of Ron and Russ for sticking to their values and producing the freshest stuff I've heard in years.
BRAVO!!! BRAVO!!!

sparkette · Posted: Mon Aug 11, 2003 8:37 pm Post subject: Lil B

Of course I love it as it's fresh Sparks. And, I haven't been disappointed by them yet. Well it was shaky in the disco dance days, but they still managed to pull it off with a laugh. The only downfall I see to Lil B is the mix. I believe our brothers Mael are not given the due respect they should get in time and effort still! click, click sigh It's not their fault. Otherwise it's all :D .

Dal · Posted: Sat Sep 27, 2003 10:41 am Post subject:

All of this is really interesting, because I still feel some ambivalence towards LB. Never thought I’d ever say this, but I think this Sparks album is a bit over-rated. That it’s great, of course, goes without saying, but it’s not as innovatory as various critics insist it is . I remember material like this being explored by Godley and Creme in the late ‘70s, and by Sparks’ own standards it’s not as extraordinary as either "Kimono" or "Indiscreet" were for their time. It does seem that some of the greatness attributed to L.B. is due to the appalling quality of the competition.
It would be great if R & R could keep the vision that seems to have inspired L.B.(even if it’s still the purely negative intention of knowing what they want it NOT to be) and put some of the songwriting craftsmanship into the project for which Ron is renowned. This is still a fairly rare commodity in the pop world, as it’s one of the few abilities that computers can’t really provide. And it’s all still there, as tracks like "Irreplaceable" and "The Calm…" demonstrated.
Also, the backing vocals on L.B. prove that Russell’s vocal range is still as wide as ever, so it would be great to hear some of those daring vocal leads that seem to have fizzled out over the last few years, and which were so desperately lacking on "Balls".
So, for the next album, I’d like to hear something that maintains the complete disregard for what’s commercial and "happening" which makes L.B. so brilliant (and which distinguishes all of Sparks’ greatest albums) and more of the superb arrangements that Ron now produces with a re-injection of complexity into the structure of the songs themselves, and an unrestrained vocal performance.
Also, I’d like them to put up a big sign on the studio wall saying "no loops - no narration" in case R&R find themselves tempted to take the soft option at any point.
It does seem churlish to make any complaints about L.B., since it’s leagues ahead of the game in general, but I really believe that Sparks’ greatest album is still to come.

Ian Hampton · Groupie Joined: 13 Sep 2006 Posts: 111 Location: UK

LB is my fave Sparks album! End of my story!

SteveBoyce · Sub-Deity Joined: 17 Jan 2002 Posts: 768

I voted Masterpiece...

Pim Derks · Posted: Wed Jun 20, 2012 3:32 pm Post subject:

Not a masterpiece, but... I never really got into Ugly Girls With Beautiful Guys and What Are All These Bands So Angry About. Still, an amazing album if only for The Rhythm Thief, Suburban Homeboy etc :D

Hello Young Lovers, now THAT is a masterpiece :)

Aled · Power Groupie Joined: 15 Jul 2007 Posts: 432 Location: UK

Definitely a masterpiece. I think it's their finest album. It's great to see a band take such risks for their 19th album when most bands of Sparks' longevity are firmly stuck in a comfort zone. I also think HYL and Exotic are perfect follow ups. As a three album set, I think they surpass the Island trilogy.

My list would go something like this:

1. Lil' Beethoven
2. Exotic Creatures of the Deep
3. Hello Young Lovers
4. Propaganda
5. Indiscreet