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Nov. 17th, 2021 02:51 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
between_time_and_42So after I had listened to all of Sparks' albums, I went a-googling and found a project on a site where a few people had reviewed all of them. In their review of Interior Design, one person said that the song "Let's Make Love" was horrible and pretty much unworthy of being a Sparks song. But it was my favorite song on the album... I felt so embarrassed for having that opinion that I lied in my initial post ranking all of Sparks' albums, claiming that my favorite from that album is "So Important" (which is definitely is NOT, but that seemed like the safest choice). But a few days ago I had myself a requisite second listen to Interior Design, and y'know, cheesy as it may be... I still really like "Let's Make Love." It pairs super well with (what I see as) the closing track on their previous album (Pulling Rabbits Out of a Hat), "Kiss Me Quick." Both are somewhat dreamy fantasies sung over cheesy 80's synths, with such lovely main melodies.
My opinion of Interior Design has improved ever so slightly, but I still think it's Sparks' worst album. That, Big Beat, and Plagiarism are the only two albums that I don't consider to be "Sparks" albums. They're fine... but they're not Sparks. Interior Design because of how painfully conventional it is, Plagiarism because it was basically their one and only attempt to cash in (and I actually really like that album, but it's just a bunch of self-covers- not all that interesting a concept), and Big Beat because it sounds like a bunch of kids playing dress-up. I can't quite wrap my head around that album's entire existence. Are they serious about affecting a gritty, hard rock sound, or is it all a put-on? I like it better than Interior Design, though, because the vocal performances are outstanding and I prefer the lyric writing and arrangements on Big Beat. I guess one could ask the same about Sparks' follow-up to Big Beat, Introducing Sparks- surely they're not serious writing all these teenage angst/love songs and done in Beach Boys/Phil Spector style arrangements? But weirdly enough, I get a strong element of sincerity from that album. I feel like it was a heartfelt tribute to those types of bands/that era, and the fact that it flopped genuinely pains me. There's so much care and affection in those songs, tongue in cheek though some of the lyrics may be.
My opinion of Interior Design has improved ever so slightly, but I still think it's Sparks' worst album. That, Big Beat, and Plagiarism are the only two albums that I don't consider to be "Sparks" albums. They're fine... but they're not Sparks. Interior Design because of how painfully conventional it is, Plagiarism because it was basically their one and only attempt to cash in (and I actually really like that album, but it's just a bunch of self-covers- not all that interesting a concept), and Big Beat because it sounds like a bunch of kids playing dress-up. I can't quite wrap my head around that album's entire existence. Are they serious about affecting a gritty, hard rock sound, or is it all a put-on? I like it better than Interior Design, though, because the vocal performances are outstanding and I prefer the lyric writing and arrangements on Big Beat. I guess one could ask the same about Sparks' follow-up to Big Beat, Introducing Sparks- surely they're not serious writing all these teenage angst/love songs and done in Beach Boys/Phil Spector style arrangements? But weirdly enough, I get a strong element of sincerity from that album. I feel like it was a heartfelt tribute to those types of bands/that era, and the fact that it flopped genuinely pains me. There's so much care and affection in those songs, tongue in cheek though some of the lyrics may be.
