Like 10cc, Sparks plays music that is deeply rooted in the mid-Sixties "pop" vein — in fact, the uninitiated musical historian might well mistake them for the Honeycombs, whose "Have I the Right" bears a strong resemblance to the entirety of Kimono My House. Muff Winwood's production of this, Sparks' third LP, has given the band a more contemporary (heavier) instrumental sound but at the cost of obfuscating the whimsical lyricism of head writer Ron Mael. The already annoying chirping yodels of singer Russell Mael become a disappointing stab at intelligible vocals, sadly disguising the fact that Ron Mael is a composer with both a unique (if slightly warped) perspective and a volatile sense of humor. With more intelligible vocals Kimono My House would make a great conversation piece, but, as is, only its lyric sheet bears attention. (RS 170)

GORDON FLETCHER