Wondergirl/Fa La Fa Lee/Roger/High C/Fletcher Honorama/Simple Ballet/Slowboat/Biology 2/Saccharin & The War/Big Bands/(No More) Mr Nice Guys
Self titled sole album release from the Mael brothers under this early moniker. In the mid seventies, under their new name Sparks, they would achieve commercial success built around their quirky sound and eccentric stage appearance.
“This has that feel that many debuts do of being in an awkward stage of growth in which the artistic vision has not yet quite reaching reality. That doesn't prevent it from having some really cool tracks here and there, ranging from proto-Blondie keyboard driven numbers to guitar driven glam coolness.”
“Before Sparks became Sparks, they got together with Todd Rundgren to create this debut album issued under the band's old name of Halfnelson. The Mael brothers approach to glam rock is already in evidence, and whilst it doesn't quite hit the distinctive operatic hysteria of Kimono My House it's still a credible entry in the band's discography.”
“The Roxy Music resemblances are evident but n the end Sparks' first outing did not quite make the impact the dense Roxy Music debut had, being less dramatic and more lightweight. This is a little too quirky for my taste, but still an important and influential album.”
“A very good first outing by my favourite eccentric Americans. They got better in the ensuing years, but this is a lovely and very accomplished beginning, produced with verve by Todd Rundgren.”
“I suppose it's comforting to know that the Mael brothers weirdness was something that was a part of them for a very long time. Ever since the very beginning, in fact. Halfnelson lures you in with a copious amount of weirdo falsetto, perverted lyrics and idiosyncratic song structures.”
“Initially, it was all too much - the voice, the shifting song structures, and the lyrics take a fair bit of time to get used to. But each reveals itself in time, and what results is a wholly unique and very enjoyable album. I'd stress that it isn't just weirdness that makes the album special; anyone can do that. It's the attention to detail that makes the whole thing convincing and resonant.”
No comments:
Post a Comment