066: Sparks - Angst in my Pants (1982) - Instant Weight Loss

“Instant Weight Loss” marks one of the most unexpected stylistic turns on Angst in My Pants. Built around a steady, hypnotic riff, warm basslines and unusually sleek production, the track drifts into territory Sparks rarely visited — part R&B shading, part post-punk minimalism, with flashes that evoke Talking Heads, Wire, or even hints of what The Smiths would later explore.What begins as deceptively simple quickly reveals itself as an “instant classic,” at least among listeners drawn to Sparks’ more atmospheric detours. The band rides a single motif with confidence, letting subtle changes in groove, tone and vocal phrasing carry the song forward. It toes the familiar Sparks line between addictive repetition and deliberate irritation, but most of the panel agrees it stays on the right side of that boundary.Lyrically, the track skewers body-image obsession and beauty culture — themes just as relevant now as in early-80s Los Angeles. The self-contradicting “don’t play that riff” joke mirrors the meta-humour found elsewhere on the album, like I Predict’s fake fade-out.Rarely performed live (aside from the complete-albums shows in 2008) and never released as a single, “Instant Weight Loss” stands today as a deep-cut highlight: unusual, stylish, and unlike anything else Sparks recorded at the time.