Mid 1970's legends-Sparks
J. Owens | TEXAS,USA | 02/17/2007
(4 out of 5 stars)
"Propoganda is impressive and a great example of "real" songwriting,although quirky and WAY off-beat. I first saw the Brothers Mael on Don Kirshner's Rock Concert on a Friday night in 1975 and was an instant fan,although I was in to way heavier music at the time. Being a musician, I "got it",as far as what they were doing musically and lyrically. This is a classic album from the 70's era,a multi-tracked master-piece with classic hooks,guitar licks,piano fills and melody galore. Some VERY witty tracks on this CD,folks,and proof there was some artistic,humorous rock and roll of the highest order made in the mid-1970's.
If you can only understand 3-chord rock,don't buy this CD,but if you savvy what a recording artist is all about,turn yourself on to the work of two near-genius brothers. You will not regret it,I promise..."
At Home At Work At Play
Harold G. Meeks Jr. | raleigh nc | 05/14/2007
(4 out of 5 stars)
"This is the followup to the brilliant glam-rock excess of Kimono My House, which is an essential 70's album. Propaganda was written in the studio, a sort of brain-dump by Ron Mael of all the stuff that sticks in his head -- appropriation of british music hall and classical music themes, pun-filled juvenile/clever sexual innuendo. It has the same production values (bombastic excess), and a really really strong opening. But, if you want to buy just one Sparks album, get Kimono My House. If you want to buy a second one, get Angst in My Pants. If you want a third....well, you have a bunch of good ones to pick from, including this one.
--hal
"
Up there with their best
Andreas C G | Huntington Beach, CA United States | 02/20/2009
(5 out of 5 stars)
"
This album is often given second fiddle status as Kimono My House's "follow up", "sequel" or whatever, but I consider it to be every bit as good as "Kimono", which means it's great. Listening to it 35 years later it really make no difference which one was released a few months earlier. If you like one of them, you will want to get the other one. Like the other reviewer pointed out, terms like bombastic, juvenile, campy, etc. all apply AND THAT'S GOOD!
My copy doesn't have the two extra songs, so I can't speak about those, but as far as the original LP tracks go, there really isn't a weak song. If there's a difference between "Kimono" and Propaganda", it's that this one has a bit of harder guitar sound, again hardly a bad thing. The first track has one of many refrains and stick in your heard, and has various shifts in tempo, while remaining catchy throughout. The album is full of clever quirks, like the slow increase in tempo and starts and stops of "BC", and the sneeze solo at the end of "Achoo" (the story I've heard was that Ron & Russell disliked the guitar that was recorded, so they replaced it with achoos).
Highly recommended.
"
Track Listings (13) - Disc #1