It doesn't say much for an album when its strongest track is a shaggy-dog story like Interior Design's "Madonna," and even less when they repeat it three times (albeit in different languages). This is a scaled-down, self-produced effort nearly bereft of Ron and Russell Mael's trademark (often off-color) wit. And, unlike many of their earlier alb...

It doesn't say much for an album when its strongest track is a shaggy-dog story like Interior Design's "Madonna," and even less when they repeat it three times (albeit in different languages). This is a scaled-down, self-produced effort nearly bereft of Ron and Russell Mael's trademark (often off-color) wit. And, unlike many of their earlier albums, they don't have a hot band to put the iffy material across; other than a guitarist and second keyboard player, this is all Ron and Russell's show. Between the lackluster songwriting and static arrangements, this 1988 release is Sparks' weakest album to date. ~ James A. Gardner, Rovi