Most of Big Beat finds Sparks doing what they do best: spewing out clever, mile-a-minute lyrics over solid rocking accompaniment (this time, provided by a superior group of studio musicians). Drummer Hilly Michaels and guitarist Jeffrey Salen lend Ron and Russell Mael's songs considerable rock & roll authority. Standouts include the opening blast "Big Boy" (which was featured in the film Rollercoaster), the propulsive "Fill-Er-Up," and the falsetto-delivered proclamation "I Like Girls," apparently a leftover from their previous album, Indiscreet. Generally, however, they eschew the elaborate arrangements of Indiscreet and go for a powerful, stripped-down sound. As titles such as "Everybody's Stupid" and "Thrown Her Away (And Get a New One)" suggest, the album brims with decidedly politically incorrect (and often hilarious) lyrics. [The 2006 edition includes six bonus tracks.] ~ James A. Gardner, AMG
Disc 1: Big Boy I Want To Be Like Everybody Nothing To Do I Bought The Mississippi River Fill 'Er Up Everybody's Stupid Throw Her Away Confusion Screwed Up White Women I Like Girls I Want To Hold Your Hand (Bonus Track) England (Bonus Track) Gone With The Wind (Bonus Track) Intrusion (Bonus Track) Confusion (Previously Unreleased) (Bonus Track) Looks Aren't Everything (Previously Unreleased) (Bonus Track) Tearing The Place Apart (Bonus Track)