Lil' Beethoven

Infobox Album |
Name = Lil' Beethoven
Type = Album
Artist = Sparks


Released = 2002
Recorded = 2001-2002
Genre = Rock/Chamber pop
Length = 44:36
Label = Artful Records
Producer = Ron Mael, Russell Mael
Reviews =
* Allmusic Rating|4|5 [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:g9fuxqyaldfe link]
* PopMatters [http://www.popmatters.com/music/reviews/s/sparks-lilbeethoven.shtml link]
* Rolling Stone (Positive) [http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/sparks2/albums/album/317406/review/5940717/lil_beethoven link]
Last album = "Balls"
(2000)
This album = "Lil' Beethoven"
(2002)
Next album = "Hello Young Lovers"
(2006)

"Lil' Beethoven" is the nineteenth album by Sparks, released in 2002. Described by the band themselves as a "career-defining opus", "Li'l Beethoven" saw the duo move into a more classical-influenced sound, with a heavy reliance on repetition (one song, "My Baby's Taking Me Home", largely consists of the title repeated over 100 times), synthesized strings and multi-tracking.

The album was critically applauded, which led to renewed interest in the band, for instance Record Collector magazine named the album as one of its "Best New Albums of 2002", describing it as "... possibly the most exciting and interesting release ever from such a long established act" and later in 2003 saying "... it really does feel like one of the best albums ever made."

Track listing

# "The Rhythm Thief" - 5:18
# "How Do I Get To Carnegie Hall?" - 3:50
# "What Are All These Bands So Angry About?" - 3:32
# "I Married Myself" - 4:59
# "Ride 'Em Cowboy" - 4:20
# "My Baby's Taking Me Home" - 4:42
# "Your Call's Very Important To Us. Please Hold." - 4:11
# "Ugly Guys With Beautiful Girls" - 7:06
# "Suburban Homeboy" - 2:58

Bonus tracks on Deluxe Edition:
*10. The Legend Of Lil' Beethoven
*11. Wunderbar
*12. The Rhythm Thief (Instrumental Version)
*13. The Rhythm Thief (Video)
*14. Inspiration Behind Lil' Beethoven: "Fear Of A Blank Page" (Visual)
*15. Lil Beethoven Screen Saver

Personnel

* Russell Mael, vocals
* Ron Mael, keyboards
* Tammy Glover, drums
* Dean Menta, guitars