Search - Sparks :: Woofer in Tweeter's Clothing

AND NOW, ON TO ENGLAND

Kerry Leimer | Makawao, Hawaii United States | 01/26/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

""Woofer" is a perfect example of just how interesting and innovative rock can be, and how utterly uninterested and unresponsive the U.S. listening public is.



Coming after their terrific debut as Halfnelson, on a record that already laid out the "classical" influences that would dominate "Lil' Beethoven" some thirty years later, "Woofer" shows the group in peak form. Bearsville had repackaged the band as Sparks, and released this one-of-a-kind album only to see the market's inability to comprehend this music literally send Sparks flying, in this case to comparative fame and instant acclaim in the U.K, with a real and symbolic bullet. Ah, the things you go through for art.



And as brilliant as the follow-on "Kimono My House" is, "Woofer" turns out to be the one that got lost in the transition. Yet "Woofer" is a front-to-back delight. Great writing and playing, high in style and satire, it remains one of the most definitive releases by the Mael brothers. Here they explore the lingering threat of Nazism, unfulfilled Hillbilly longings, high kultur, the unbridled joy of a sadist finding a masochist and an expression of the deepest, warmest longing for beef ever performed. Not to mention the transvestite fumblings implied by the album's title, a crying game that's all for laughs. Looking back at this nearly forgotten gem, one can only ask, is nothing sacred?



Apparently not. It's way past time you got yourself a copy.



"

Weird and Wonderful

birdbrain4u | 01/26/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"'A Woofer in Tweeter's Clothing' is the album that introduced me to Sparks way way back in the early 70's.

A progressive radio station at the time (WBCN-Boston) played several cuts from this album

( Beaver O'lindy, Whippings and Apologies, Here Comes Bob) on heavy rotation.

I had to find out who they were and everthing I could about them. This is probably one of

Sparks weirder recordings and I'm thrilled it's finally been released on cd.

All the tracks are unique, popish, some are rave-up rock a couple are downright strange. One of my fav cuts is "Beaver O'lindy " with it's rapid drum rolls, crashing guitars

and demented chorus spelling out B-E-A-V -E-R. The song is about a transvestite rock singer.

Another fav is 'Whippings and Apologies which kind of sounds like Alice Cooper meeting

Tommy James and the Shondells. 'Batteries Not Included' is a cute little joke with the title as punchine.

This is an enjoyable sophomore recording from one of America's most unique bands."

Sparks fantastic 2nd album, glad to see it reissued

Thomas Muckinhaupt | Erie, PA United States | 02/14/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Ron and Russell Mael are amazing in the scope of music they have produced since the early 70's. My first encounter with Sparks was the "Kimono My House" album, which I loved from the minute I first bought it. I discovered "Woofer..." a few years later. "The Louvre" is one of the best moments, with wonderful piano from Ron, and "Whipping and Apologies" almost could be considered a precursor to punk with its jagged guitar riffs and Russell's vocals. Nothing quite sounded like this in 1972, and this album is an undiscovered treasure in the Sparks catalog. Also, check out their latest "Hello Young Lovers", one of the best albums of the last year!!"