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| Sam Sparro | 
 enlarge | List Price: £11.99
Buy New: £7.21
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Buy New from £7.21
Avg. Customer Rating:  (based on 9 reviews)
Sales Rank: 32
Category: Music
Artist: Sam Sparro
Publisher: Universal
Studio: Universal
Manufacturer: Universal
Label: Universal
Media: Audio CD
Running Time: 57 minutes
Discs: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 5.4 x 4.9 x 0.4
UPC: 602517690653
EAN: 0602517690653
ASIN: B0017HRSSC
Release Date: April 28, 2008 (New: Last 30 Days)
Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days
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| Tracks:
| • | Too Many Questions | | • | Black & Gold | | • | 21st Century Life | | • | Sick | | • | Waiting For Time | | • | Recycle It! | | • | Cottonmouth | | • | Hot Mess | | • | Pocket | | • | Cut Me Loose | | • | Sally | | • | Clingwrap | | • | Can't Stop This | | • | Still Hungry |
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| Customer Reviews: Read 4 more reviews...
 Sam Sparro or Prince? May 10, 2008
Great album, although halfway through I thought I was listening to Prince!
Not sure where he can go with the next single to top Black & Gold, maybe 21st Century??
Very Electro, Funky, and like I said Prince like!
 It's a grower! May 9, 2008
After hearing and getting addicted to Black and Gold, I was anxiousto see if Sam Sparro's album would live up to my expectations.
If you're buying it solely on the basis of Black and Gold, I would be a bit wary, perhaps wait for another single, because there are no other songs in that vein on the album.
However, I've really enjoyed the album as a whole. Despite thinking on first listen that some of it was a bit cheesy - indeed some lyrics are but I don't care - I've found it completely addictive and can't stop listening to it. It's sort of like Happy Hour at a gay club, which I mean in an entirely complimentary way! It's so upbeat and fun, perfect for the summer weather which is attempting to shine through. Brilliant for anyone who likes to sing along, too.
Anyone who likes the more upbeat songs of Basement Jaxx and Scissor Sisters would probably like this album in all its electro-disco-funk brilliance.
Stand out tracks are Sick, Cottonmouth, Clingwrap and Pocket.
If for no other reason than this album comes across as unashamedly fun and a bit different to everything in the R n B saturated charts (which I like some of but think there's a bit too much) it deserves five stars.
The new sound of the summer May 8, 2008
5 out of 5 found this review helpful
It would be impossible to write anything about Sam Sparro without discussing his ubiquitous first single, so I'll get that out of the way first: 'Black and Gold' is a stunning, reflective - almost melancholy - song, impossible not to love and perhaps a classic in the making. But fans of that track should approach Sparro's debut album with caution. There's only one other slow song amongst the 14 here - 'Waiting for Time' - and it doesn't even come close to matching the brooding magnificence of 'Black and Gold'. The majority of this record is far more funky and upbeat, both innovatively futuristic and pleasingly retro.
Instead of taking the standard pop route, Sparro's music mixes elements of dance, electro, funk and a distinctive 1980s sound - Prince is the most obvious influence, while 'Hot Mess' sounds like a lost track from the Scissor Sisters' first album. For me at least, the highlight of the whole collection is 'Clingwrap', a joyous, four-minute kiss-off anthem anchored around infectious hooks and brilliantly absurd, witty lyrics. 'Too Many Questions', '21st Century Life' and 'Sally' are similarly fabulous pop songs, instantly easy to sing along to. Meanwhile, the closing hidden track, 'Still Hungry', is something of a departure - a piano-led ballad showcasing Sparro's soulful voice, it suggests a versatility that could turn its creator into a genuine star.
Anyone familiar with Sparro's debut EP will be aware that his lyrics can veer dangerously close to the offensive side of trite, as on the embarrassing 'Miss Rexi' (thankfully not included here), the brief skit 'Recycle It!' and the verses of the otherwise excellent '21st Century Life'. These lyrical indiscretions provide the weakest moments of the album - Sparro's songs work best when he sticks to the universal pop themes of relationships and having a good time.
It remains for time to tell whether Sam Sparro will ever have another hit big enough to surpass 'Black and Gold', but this record is a triumph nevertheless, packed with catchy tunes and brimming with irresistible tracks almost guaranteed to make you want to dance. It's perfect for playing in your car with the windows down on a hot day, or to get you in the mood for a big night out. If Sparro's lucky, this could well turn out to be the must-have album of summer 2008.
Very Good Debut! May 8, 2008
Sam Sparro definetely has got talent! And he shows it in his album. Although i do feel this album could be better some songs that are pointless like "Recycle it" do not need to be on the album or at least one of the last songs.
I like most of the songs except: Cottonmouth,Recycle it,Clingwrap and Cut me loose these songs i feel could be better songs but there still worth a listen i suppose
Others i really like which is why it deserves 5 stars, also, The background music/beats are very well produced aswell.
The songs are very 80's, also its brilliant album to listen to for sunny weather! Its a great feeling album, put you right into a good mood!
If you like Black and Gold then not all songs are like that style, if any others at all, but it is a grower album. It opens with a catchy 'Too Many Questions' which is one of my faves on album and ends with 'I can't stop this!' which is also a great song, its two songs in one which makes it 12mins long!
If your looking for a great summer album then this is the one! Im looking forward to more from Sam Sparro!
I love the music, but the "IN YA FACE" production gets wearing! May 7, 2008
The tracks on here show great talent to my tired old ears, each one subtly different from the previous one and no less interesting. I feel that much thought went into the composition, recording and basic mixing of each track and I personally find joy in a modern artist using their style (electrofunk?) so sensitively and with some imagination. For some reason, I hear shades of Depeche Mode on this CD - strange....
So far so good and a worthy five stars for the music alone! However, yet again the music machine has got at the finished CD product and forced the sound volume of each and every track to be FAR TOO LOUD AND IN YOUR FACE!!!!!! I just can't listen to this from one end to the other - it's just too much - every track comes on at the same intense bassy level and there seems to be no light and shade in the "sound" at all, unlike the music, which is desperately begging to be loosened up a little. If I want to hear music sound like this CD, I'll tune in to screaming Radio 1, which is even worse... The Depeche Mode albums I referred to are in a different league in terms of mastering, with real perspective into the mix, something Sam Sparro had too in his mixes at one point I think.
I wish the album could be "relaxed" a bit in the mastering, to allow the musically obvious light, shade and "texture" to flow forth more naturally. Even the gentler, moody tracks sound like they're full on "speed" and it's such a shame that the tracks couldn't have been released with their natural dynamics. The sound is worse on the kind of tiny sound systems you buy in Argos too. I hope the music industry wakes up to this sonic butchering before it's too late!
Gripe over! The music more than justifies the five stars I've given it
RECOMMENDED REGARDLESS!
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