Où est la maison de fromage?
John Cooper Clarke · 1978
43 min · 23 tracks · punk rock
Spoken word narratives collide with sharp punk rock energy, creating a surreal yet incisive commentary on everyday life.
Top tracks — play these first
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The Serial, Part 1 — Opening with this track sets the tone for the album, blending dark humor with a narrative style that hooks listeners immediately.
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Kung Fu International — This track exemplifies Clarke's fusion of absurdity and social commentary, using martial arts as a metaphor for cultural escapism.
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(I Married a) Monster From Outer Space — By employing sci-fi imagery to critique societal norms, this track showcases Clarke's ability to blend wit and sharp observation.
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Ten Years in an Open Neck Shirt, Part 1 — This multi-part piece encapsulates Clarke's self-deprecating humor while reflecting on fame and identity within the punk movement.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album blends spoken word with punk energy, creating a unique sound that resonates within its genre.
What we noticed
- Many tracks are structured as narratives or vignettes, often ending abruptly or on a punchline, which contributes to a sense of urgency.
- The use of repetitive motifs and phrases across multiple tracks creates thematic connections, while the pacing shifts between frenetic energy and more subdued moments.
- Composition 25% of the score
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6/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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7/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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5/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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8/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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4/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Significant within its genre. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.
Moments worth listening for
Where the writing does something specific.
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(I Married a) Monster From Outer Space
The narrative shifts from light-hearted observations to deeper existential reflections on conformity and alienation.
This transition reveals Clarke's skill in juxtaposing absurdity with profound themes, encouraging listeners to reconsider their own experiences.
Tracklist
Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.
- 1 The Serial, Part 1 1:43
- 2 Letter to Fiesta 1:01
- 3 Film Extra’s Extra 3:46
- 4 Majorca 1:41
- 5 Action Man 1:09
- 6 Kung Fu International 1:48
- 7 Sperm Test 1:05
- 8 Missing Persons 1:56
- 9 Spilt Beans 4:13
- 10 Dumb Row Laughs 0:50
- 11 Bunch of Twigs 0:33
- 12 Trains 0:45
- 13 The Cycle Accident 1:18
- 14 Gimmix 3:01
- 15 Readers Wives 1:14
- 16 Ten Years in an Open Neck Shirt, Part 1 4:03
- 17 Nothing 1:14
- 18 (I Married a) Monster From Outer Space 2:12
- 19 Ten Years in an Open Neck Shirt, Part 2 3:20
- 20 Daily Express (You Never See a Nipple In) 0:52
- 21 Ten Years in an Open Neck Shirt, Part 3 1:40
- 22 Salome Malone 2:17
- 23 Psycle Sluts, Part 1 1:31
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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