E Talking [CD-single] [Import]

E Talking [CD-single] [Import]

Editorial Reviews
Product Description
CD single from the Belgian rock band Soulwax was formed by singer Stephen Dewaele and his guitarist brother David, sons of the influential Belgian radio personality Zaki. Taken from the 2004 album 'Any Minute Now'. Five non-LP tracks, 'E Talking' (Radio Edit), 'Teachers' (Pupil Mix), 'E Talking' (Soulwax Nite Version Feat. Nancy Whang, Jagz Kooner Black September Vocal Mix, & Video). Pias. 2005.

Tracks:

Love ->
Building On Fire
Psycho Killer
Oh, Love Comes To Town
Take Me To The River
Found A Job
Life During Wartime
Heaven
Memories Can't Wait
Once In A Lifetime
Houses In Motion
This Must Be The Place (Naive Melody)
Girlfriend Is Better
Burning Down The House
Road To Nowhere
And She Was
Wild Wild Life
Blind
(Nothing But) Flowers

Album Description

Formed in NYC in the mid-'70s by David Byrne, Chris Franz, Tina Weymouth, and ex-Modern Lover Jerry Harrison, the Talking Heads evolved out of their now-legendary humble beginnings at CBGB's to become one of the most adventurous and influential bands ever. Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2002, the Heads' visionary, polyrhythmic sound daringly combined funk and punk, African beats, avant-garde minimalism, and pure pop. From their 1977 debut through their Brian Eno-produced classics to their '88 farewell, Naked, they both pushed artistic boundaries and delivered indelible radio hits like "Once In A Lifetime" and "Burning Down The House."

Customer Reviews:

CBGB.......2007-07-06

This collection is all a Talking Head fan (except the most devout fan) will ever need. 3/4s of the tunes are great, the rest are still good.

Exceptional best-of set.......2006-10-10

Of course you know all these songs, and of course there are many more great cuts deeper on the original albums, but for a single-disc review of a band with over 10 years' worth of releases, this 18-track set is hard to beat. The group went through several striking stylistic changes over its lifetime, but that variation actually helps this disc hold together as an album as well as a set of songs.

This would make a great introduction for a younger fan of the current crop of danceable art rock bands (Of Montreal, The Killers, Decemberists) or a casual fan looking to supplant an old LP collection.

A nice compilation of The Talking Heads.......2006-08-24

I've always liked The Talking Heads, they always had catchy songs that were fun to listen to. I must admit, my favorite of theirs has always been "Burning Down The House", but there are so many good songs on here, as well. The Talking Heads were one of the best bands of the 80's, that's when they had their best work. The 70's were ok, too, but their 80's work really shined. I'm quite happy with this.

Articulate Collection.......2006-08-17

Oddly, a compilation by Talking Heads should come out uneven and disjointed, but this collection is marvelously done. The songs meld well together and provide a sampler that wouldn't prevent anyone from buying their excellent original albums. ('Talking Heads '77,' 'Remain in Light,' and 'Speaking in Tongues' are their crowning achievements artistically, but 'Fear of Music,' 'More Songs About Buildings and Food,' and 'True Stories' demonstrate that they had a great repertoire. (Unlike, 'Sand in the Vaseline,' which is also excellent, but perhaps takes too many gems and doesn't align them as well.)

For the initiated, Talking Heads is one of the freshest and engaging progressive bands from the seventies and eighties. "Psycho Killer," "Once in a Lifetime," "Burning Down the House," and "Wild, Wild Life" all capture the inspired lunacy that dares to match the insanity of ordinary life. All of their albums are well represented. "Life During Wartime" represents them at their progressive best, but "And She Was" showcases their ethereal best.

In sum, 'Best of Talking Heads' provides a great mix and a thoughtful sampler without spoiling all of the fun.

Excellent Heads Compilation.......2006-04-03

Known as much for their quirky style as well as their enigmatic and creative music, Talking Heads were one of the most popular and successful bands of the late 1970s' and early 1980s'. Even today, almost 20 years after they broke up, they still have a large fanbase.

Personally speaking, I'm not the world's biggest Talking Heads fan. However, I've always liked what I heard from them, and I always wanted one of their cds in my collection. So when I found the single disc, 18 track collection "The Best Of Talking Heads", I snatched it up immediately.

This is by far the best collection for the Talking Heads novice. Pretty much all the Talking Heads essentials are here, including "Love - > Building On Fire", "Take Me To The River", "Life During Wartime", "Memories Can't Wait", "Once In A Lifetime" and "Burning Down The House" as well as many others. And every track sounds fantastic.

In addition, there is a wonderful booklet replete with great liner notes, including interviews with Talking Heads fans such as Moby and El P. It is also readily available and affordabe. I highly recommend it.

Average customer rating:

Cool music
AFT at his best
Fabulous Music
Gorgeous, happy, relaxed music.
Wonderful music

Talking Timbuktu
Ali Farka Touré , and Ry Cooder
Manufacturer: Hannibal
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Contemporary Blues | Blues | Styles | Music

General | Blues | Styles | Music

General | Africa | International | Styles | Music

Mali | Africa | International | Styles | Music

General | International | Styles | Music

General | Rock | Styles | Music

Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music

Fusion & World Fusion | Compilations | Jazz | Styles | Music

Hannibal Records | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music

General | Blues | Indie Music | Stores | Music

Contemporary Blues | Blues | Indie Music | Stores | Music

General | International | Indie Music | Stores | Music

Africa | International | Indie Music | Stores | Music

Pop | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music

Rock | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music

Jazz | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music

International | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music

All Blowout Music | Blowout Music | Stores | Music

More Titles at Least 25% Off | Blowout Music | Stores | Music
Similar Items:

In the Heart of the Moon
Savane
Spiritchaser
Ali Farka Toure
Niafunke

ASIN: B00000062H
Release Date: 1994-03-29

Tracks:

Bonde
Soukora
Gomni
Sega
Amandrai
Lasidan
Keito
Banga
Ai Du
Diaraby

Amazon.com

Talking Timbuktu is a groundbreaking record that vividly illustrates the Africa-Blues connection in real time. Ali Farka Toure, one of Mali's leading singer-guitarists, has a trance-like, bluesy style that, although deeply rooted in Malian tradition, bears astonishing similarity to that of John Lee Hooker or even Canned Heat. It's a mono-chordal vamp, with repetitive song lines cut with shards of blistering solo runs that shimmer like a desert mirage. Toure may be conversant with some blues artists, but it is unlikely that artists like Hooker or Robert Pete Williams ever heard these Malian roots, which makes the connection so uncanny. Ry Cooder, well versed in domestic and world guitar styles, is the perfect counterpoint in these extended songs/jams, his sinewy slide guitar intertwining with his partner's in a super world summit without barriers or borders. --Derek Rath

Customer Reviews:

Cool music.......2007-05-13

This is really good music. A combination of blues, African, something I cannot put a description to. Each person has to experience this to see what it means to him (her).

AFT at his best.......2007-04-03

As usual, this is another spectacular disc, only made better by the addition of Ry Cooder.

Fabulous Music.......2007-03-26

This CD is just fabulous and everyone who hears it wants a copy. Very sophisticated yet original music,
soothing and exciting sound.

Gorgeous, happy, relaxed music........2007-03-25

This will make you want to dance. Standouts for me:

"Lasidan" - Gets in your head. It's possibly my favorite song on the album. Touré's voice resonates in the mind for days.

"Banga" - Ali Farka Touré is incredible here on the njarka. The combination of this beautiful instrument, the congo, and the calabash is breathtaking.

"Diaraby" - A fitting end. Lovely.

It's an all-around beautiful disc.

Side note: If you like this album, you should really check out Ali Farka Touré's son, Vieux Farka Touré.

Wonderful music.......2007-03-22

I enjoy African music and love this CD. One of the songs on this CD is very famous. It's called "Ai Du" from the movie "Unfaithful".

Average customer rating:

Stevie Wonder's Greatest Album.
A Classic - For Anyone's "Greatest of All Time" Collection
A Simply Marvelous Recording
Proves my point.....
Stevie is amazing.

Talking Book
Stevie Wonder
Manufacturer: Motown
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Pop | Styles | Music

Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music

Classic R&B | R&B | Styles | Music

General | R&B | Styles | Music

Motown | R&B | Styles | Music

General | Soul | R&B | Styles | Music

General | Funk | R&B | Styles | Music

Album-Oriented Rock (AOR) | Classic Rock | Styles | Music

$9.99 and Under | Blowout Music | Stores | Music

Pop | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music

Classic Rock | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music

R&B | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music

All Blowout Music | Blowout Music | Stores | Music

$9.99 and Under | Prices | Blowout Music | Stores | Music

More Titles at Least 25% Off | Blowout Music | Stores | Music
Similar Items:

Innervisions
Fulfillingness' First Finale
Songs in the Key of Life
Music of My Mind
What's Going on

ASIN: B00004S36A
Release Date: 2000-03-21

Tracks:

You Are The Sunshine Of My Life
Maybe Your Baby
You And I
Tuesday Heartbreak
You've Got It Bad Girl
Superstition
Big Brother
Blame It On The Sun
Lookin' For Another Pure Love
I Believe (When I Fall In Love It Will Be Forever)

Amazon.com essential recording

The two No. 1 hits from this 1972 album perfectly illustrate the contrasting sides of Wonder's complex personality. "Superstition" is a strong rocker, a paranoid bit of wah-wah guitar funk that's as persistent as the best punk music; the opening track, "You Are the Sunshine of My Life," is a pure love song that would sound corny coming from any other voice. A hint of bitterness, perhaps owing to Wonder's then-dissolving marriage, gives Talking Book its edge. But overall it's obsessed with love, and while "Sunshine" is still one of the singer/keyboardist's most beloved songs, the closing "I Believe (When I Fall in Love It Will Be Forever)" is much deeper and more rewarding. --Steve Knopper

Customer Reviews:

Stevie Wonder's Greatest Album........2007-04-18

Stevie Wonder released many classic albums in the 1970's including "Innervisions", "Fulfilingness First Finale" and the epic "Songs In the Key Of Life". However, in this reviewers opinion, his late 1972 classic "Talking Book" is still Stevie's best overall album.
Like "Music Of My Mind" before it, "Talking Book" finds Stevie Wonder in complete control by writing, producing and performing most of the music himself. His natural songwriting talents combined with the latest technology and his unmistakable vocals make for what is undoubtedly a timeless classic.
Many of the tracks on "Talking Book" have become standards since their initial release including the wonderful "You Are The Sunshine Of My Life", "Tuesday Heartbreak", "Blame It On The Sun", "You've Got It Bad Girl" and the driving funk of "Superstition". Elsewhere are stellar moments such as the hard rock of the jamming "Maybe Your Baby", the folkish "Big Brother", the beautifully orchestrated piano ballad "You and I" and the dynamic spiritual closer "I Believe".
Indeed, all 10 tracks that make up "Talking Book" are some of the best music Stevie Wonder has ever made. This isn't just an album to be listened to in sections, it needs to be played from beginning to end. As mentioned above, Stevie has made albums that have equalled "Talking Book", however this album has an extra little added kick that brings it above the others.
Although I've been familiar with the "Talking Book" album since I was born, I'm very happy to say that I finally own this album all these years later.

A Classic - For Anyone's "Greatest of All Time" Collection.......2007-02-19

This album should be in any serious collection of 20th Century music. One of the best of its genre. Just as fun to listen to now as when it came out decades ago.

A Simply Marvelous Recording.......2006-12-14

In one of the greatest albums recorded, Stevie Wonder writes timeless music with a classic blend of r&b, blues, gospel and jazz.

Though the lyrics may be biting at times, You Are The Sunshine Of My Life is a pop classic. And the grappling with the beauty and desperation of love culminates with the last song, I Believe, that evolves from a wonderful gospel rendition into cutting blues.

Superstition is one bad piece of music and the political awareness in Big Brother is unfortunately timeless, especially for urban residents. Blame It On The Sun has Wonder fully utilizing soft textures on the synthesizer, ultimately showing how technology can work with - and not dominate - other instruments.

Released in November 1972 - the outstanding Music of My Mind was released earlier in the year - Talking Book proved without a doubt that Wonder's ability as a composer/producer/musician had reached iconic status at the age of 22.

Proves my point............2006-12-14

This album solidifies why I honestly think Stevie Wonder is the greatest solo recording artist in history. There is not a single bad song on here and is thus far my favorite Stevie Wonder album. Slow ballads like "You & I" and "I Believe". The funk classic "Superstition" AM Gold classic "You are the Sunshine of My Life", and some more that are really great songs are all on here. BUY THIS ALBUM. This is up there w/ "Dark Side of the Moon", "Thriller", "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band", or Stevie's very on "Innervisions"

Stevie is amazing........2006-11-29

Prior to purchasing this CD, I was only familiar with some of Stevie's hits, which I heard on the radio, and "the definitive collection" cd which I purchased before seeing him in concert. That being said, I loved everything I had heard of his thus far.

Let me tell you, now this CD just stands out as one of the greatest all times for me. Besides the classics "You Are The Sunshine of My Life" and "Superstition," every song on this CD is great, although I am personally less fond of "Looking for Another Pure Love." "You and I" is another great Stevie Wonder ballad, and he shows off his amazing vocal technique yet again with the final chorus. My favorite song on this CD though is probably "I Believe (When I Fall In Love It Will Be Forever)." I actually read the lyrics to this track before I had heard it, and the optimism that the song expresses about new love mixed with it's dark melody really touched me.

I highly recommend this CD to anyone and everyone.

Average customer rating:

still good but earlier albums better
"Take a look at these hands!"
Afro/ Techno/ Magnifico!
Holy Byrne, Batman!
Amazing

Remain in Light
Talking Heads
Manufacturer: Warner Bros / Wea
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

New Wave | New Wave & Post-Punk | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

Post-Punk | New Wave & Post-Punk | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

General | Pop | Styles | Music

Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music

General | Rock | Styles | Music

Album-Oriented Rock (AOR) | Classic Rock | Styles | Music

Alternative Styles | Alternative Rock | Box Sets | Stores | Music

General | Pop | Box Sets | Stores | Music

General | Rock | Box Sets | Stores | Music
Similar Items:

Fear of Music
Speaking in Tongues
More Songs About Buildings and Food
Talking Heads: 77
Little Creatures

ASIN: B000002KO3
Release Date: 1990-10-25

Tracks:

Born Under Punches (The Heat Goes On)
Crosseyed And Painless
The Great Curve
Once In A Lifetime
House In Motion
Seen And Not Seen
Listening Wind
The Overload

Amazon.com essential recording

Way back in 1980, the original wave of Talking Heads fans were pleasantly stunned to hear Remain in Light, produced and co-written by Brian Eno, on which Byrne and company are joined by guitar god Adrian Belew, and funk legends Bernie Worrell (keyboards) and Steven Scales (percussion), among others, for a fuller, funkier sound nobody imagined they had in them. The first three songs are long, layered, full-body dance parties, with incessantly repeated phrases (musical and lyrical), and increasingly catchy melodic hooks that won't let go for days. "Once in a Lifetime" was the big hit, but the rockingest track is the third, "The Great Curve," after which the songs get more linear and subdued. It's still great stuff, right through to the especially Eno-like droner, "The Overload," but the second half is maybe better to sleep to than dance to. Which is fine: after the exuberance of the first three songs, you'll need a little nap. --Dan Leone

Customer Reviews:

still good but earlier albums better.......2007-05-13

i am a huge talking heads fan,but this album ranks no 4 on my list. their previous 3 albums are a bit more funkier and catchy. though i have to admit the great curve (off remain in light) is one of my favourites. buy all 4 you wont be disappointed!

"Take a look at these hands!".......2007-04-02

An unholy mixture of stomping funk, icy-cool post-punk, and non-stop worldbeat polyrhythms, Remain In Light is a masterpiece in every sense of the world, a highly original and excruciatingly brilliant work of musical art. At its core are David Byrne's witty, smart, and willfully paranoid lyrics as well as Brian Eno's otherworldly production, a wonderfully post-modern mishmash of styles that bridges the gap between rock and electronica. The first half of the album is a raucous, upbeat Martian party platter: "Born Under Punches (The Heat Goes On)" is one of the greatest album openers ever, a dizzying assault on the senses, rife with squelchy keyboards, bleeps and blips that mutate into guitar solos, stuttering African polyrhythms, and Byrne's brilliant nonsense lyrical poetry, all of which builds to a weirdly magestic chorus in which the Heads utter a gospel-like refrain of "All I want/ Is to breathe/ Won't you breathe with me?" The absolutely awesome "Crosseyed and Painless" is next, and it somehow manages to be even better than the preceeding track- it's a double time funk-rocker with a rhythm that can get your blood pumping twice as fast as it usually does. After that comes "The Great Curve," an endlessly cool, hopelessly groovy global party anthem. Closing out side one is the deathless "Once In A Lifetime," an absolutely ecstatic masterpiece whose lyrics manage to communicate both great joy and bottomless frustration. Side two is a complete 180- instead of rousing avant-funk, it consists of moody, atmospheric skin-crawlers that are every bit as good as thier first-half counterparts: "Listening Wind" is a dark, vaguely supernatural indictment of imperialism, while "Houses in Motion" is a relentlessy hypnotic classic. "Seen and Not Seen" is brilliant as well: It sees Byrne telling a truly odd story of vanity and insanity, while in the background the band churns out a pulsating groove. "The Overload" closes the album with a heavy, slow-burning dose of electronic apocalypse. All in all, Remain in Light is a brillaint work, and one of the best albums of the 80s.

Afro/ Techno/ Magnifico!.......2007-01-28

'Remain in Light' is arguably the Talking Heads' best album ever. Steeped in primitive, African rhthyms, but sent with the trajectory of advanced technology, the album harnesses a mesmerizing and formidable set of sounds and images. It is easily Talking Heads' most avant garde work of their whole career. Think of tribal music generated from a computer, and you get 'Remain in Light'.

What used to be known as side one has mainly more progressive songs, and the second half is more subdued, but all of it is brilliant. There's "Born Under Punches," where David Byrne warbles, "I'm a tumbler...I'm a government man." Like many songs before it, he takes the everyman through the cross-hairs of everyday, struggling existence. "Cross-eyed and Painless" is pedestrian, but contains some riveting funk, and "The Great Curve" is hypnotic with the most dancey song from the album. "Houses in Motion" takes the funk where "Cross-eyed.." left off, but, understandably, given the title, takes a slower groove. (I've often wondered if the song is about the homeless.) Anyway, nuances give way to thoughtful songs like "Seen and Not Seen" and "Listening Wind". The finale is truly magnificent. Perhaps a song about calamity as big as Armageddon, "The Overload" is a chilling song that envelops the listener with its ominous development.

Still, a classic after all these years, 'Remain in Light' sounds just as innovative and modern as it did upon its release. Having a troubadour song, "Once in a Lifetime," complete with synthesizers that simulate flowing water, has kept them on the radio for a number of years with the most moving, and yet, "normal" song from the whole album.

Holy Byrne, Batman!.......2007-01-27

Every band has an album so good, it overshadows everything else they did, even making their better albums seem like mere trifles by comparison. For the Talking Heads, it was Remain in Light. Eight tracks of sheer brilliance: funky, paranoid, and avant-garde thanks to Brian Eno's genius production job. Loaded with unforgettable classics, namely the first four songs: Once in a Lifetime is not only the group's signature song, but arguably the greatest tune of the entire New Wave movement, maybe even the late-'70's in general; Crosseyed and Painless fuses dance with rock and avant-garde music in a way that NOBODY had EVER attempted before; The Great Curve is seductive and sensual, a rare thing for the group, with a cool distorted guitar solo; Born Under Punches has some of the best paranoid lyrics one's likely to hear, period, with an unforgettable feel to boot. This could've been a science-fiction short story, as could've the droning closer Overload, which is also first-rate. Seen and Unseen, Listening Wind, and Houses in Motion are all slightly weaker than those five, but they're all pretty good: there's not a bad song here. I'd say this is even better than Fear of Music, which is quite an achievement. If the Heads do anything for you, you owe it to yourself to buy this.

Amazing.......2006-09-22

I first heard this record either my sophomore or junior year in college. It was late one night and I'm sitting at my computer reading music reviews and I always heard these great things about the album "Remain In Light" as well as the Talking Heads. Rolling Stone (a magazine I cannot stand primarily for the rankings they always do) ranked this record the third greatest album of the 80's. (After #1 "London Calling" and #2 "Purple Rain"). I'm a lover of old-school music so I had to hear this record....I had to hear the Talking Heads. Luckily, my roomate had this CD and I listened to it at about 2 in the morning.

The record opens with "Born Under Punches" (The Heat Goes On). I did not get it at first. I'll go so far as to say I did not even like this record. All I liked was "Crosseyed and Painless". The music was too weird for my liking.

The next day I decided to give it another chance. And man, am I glad I did. This record is flat out ridiculous!! You want funky music?? The entire first side is filled with killer grooves. Tracks 1-4 are danceable and will either make you move or do something. You cannot stand still while listening to this record. This is possibly the first record by a prominent band exploring African polyrhythms....all that really means is that each member of the band is doing their own thing within the song. The additons of Adrian Belew (guitar), Steve Scales (percussion) and Funk Legend Bernie Worrel (Parliment/Funkadelic) on keyboard give the band a complete sound not heard before. The second side starting with "Houses in Motion" slows the record down but the funk does not go away. Concluding with "The Overload" which has producer Brian Eno's influence all over it. (Eno was also on "Buildings and Food" and "Fear of Music" (The track is a very "Low", "Heroes" era David Bowie track, albums which Eno also produced).

The funk that started on "Fear of Music" is magnified ten-fold on this record. My two favorite songs are "Crosseyed and Painless" and "Once In A Lifetime". Starting with "Lifetime", this was the single from this record and it had a video as well. This is considered by many to be the band's greatest song. Watery keyboards along with the Weymouth/Frantz tandem and David being David with the lyrics makes this songs special. But to me, "Crosseyed and Painless" is the jewel of this record.

When I first heard this song back in college I immediately thought it was amazing. This is pure funk. I listened to it about 20 times that night. (No exaggeration) Tina Weymouth'a bass destroys this track and with everything going on at once it is almost impossible to name all the instruments on this one track. (Or any track for that matter) Weymouth has to be one of the best bassists. She never plays anything too complicated but she never messes up, never drops the rhythm. The bass fits in perfectly on these tracks. Frantz does not drop his 4/4 pattern and the track just has so much life. More than any other record, Byrne's lyrics really do not matter nor what the songs are about. This record is all about the music....the polyrhythms. The Talking Heads were so inventive and their music crossed all racial boundries. Songs from the record were played on Black and White radio stations. The influence of this record was felt throughout the entire decade in Rock, Funk and R&B music by groups wanting to branch out in their music.

As great as the music is it is kind of strange to me that it has not been sampled more often. This album has "SAMPLE ME" written all over it!! Those who think this music is monotonous are not seeing the big picutre. I think it is harder to play the same part over and over because one slip and the whole track is wasted. The Talking Heads were all about precision and given time this records seeps in the your mind and body and it cannot be escaped. This is a must listen. If you are interested in the band this is the place to start. No one else was doing music like this back then and that is why it is considered a landmark. Talking Heads- One of my all-time favorite bands.

Stop Making Sense: Special New Edition (1984 Film)

Average customer rating:

Probably the best concert ever preserved
good Talking Heads record
Bigger is not always better
One of the greatest live albums ever.
Great Improvement Over The Original Version

Stop Making Sense: Special New Edition (1984 Film)
Talking Heads
Manufacturer: Warner Bros / Wea
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

Punk | Hardcore & Punk | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

American Punk | Hardcore & Punk | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

New Wave | New Wave & Post-Punk | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

Post-Punk | New Wave & Post-Punk | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

Alternative | Live Albums | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

General | Live Albums | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

General | Pop | Styles | Music

Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music

General | Rock | Styles | Music

Alternative Rock | Live Albums | Rock | Styles | Music

General | Live Albums | Rock | Styles | Music

General | Soundtracks | Styles | Music

Album-Oriented Rock (AOR) | Classic Rock | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

The Name of This Band is Talking Heads
Stop Making Sense
Little Creatures
Speaking in Tongues
Remain in Light

ASIN: B00000K3G8
Release Date: 1999-09-07

Tracks:

Psycho Killer
Heaven
Thank You for Sending Me an Angel
Found a Job
Slippery People
Burning Down the House
Life During Wartime
Making Flippy Floppy
Swamp
What a Day That Was
This Must Be the Place (Naive Melody)
Once in a Lifetime
Genius of Love
Girlfriend Is Better
Take Me to the River
Crosseyed and Painless

Amazon.com

The soundtrack to the Jonathan Demme documentary, Stop Making Sense captures the Talking Heads live in 1984 on what would turn out to be their last major tour. This collection, and the film, is a true gift to the band's fans, a testament to the Heads' extraordinary talent, both in the studio and especially onstage. Frontman David Byrne infuses each song with a jolt of energy and drama that could only have come from a late-'70s art-school student. Now-classic tracks such as "Psycho Killer," "Girlfriend is Better," "Once in a Lifetime," "Take Me to the River," and "Burning Down the House" have never sounded better. This expanded 1999 reissue includes all nine of the original tracks, plus seven previously unheard cuts, including "Heaven," "Found a Job," and "Crosseyed and Painless." --Lorry Fleming

Customer Reviews:

Probably the best concert ever preserved.......2007-02-19

Simply the single best set by any band in the history of rock and roll. I know there will be people out there who will point to some Dead concert that's only available on a third generation cassette, but this set is as hot as the Heads ever were. The expanded edition is a great gift to the world.

good Talking Heads record.......2006-02-20

i own this on vinyl and it's just good talking head songs live,although i have to say the original version of some songs are better but if you have the money i guess go for it but i recommend buying non live recordings.

Bigger is not always better.......2004-10-26

The original LP version of this was a mere 9 songs, and was absolutely brilliant. I remember playing it constantly, wearing it out much like my two album "The Name Of This Band Is Talking Heads" double live album. I also got to see the concert film at some midnight show and was enthralled...a concert movie for people who liked music! I loved it so much that I eventually got David Byrne to sign the book that came with the album.

So I was really hyped to hear that the entire concert soundtrack was about to be reissued on CD. Seven extra songs! Warm with nostalgia, I finally bought the disc. Boy, was I let down. First, it isn't the whole concert. "I Zimbra" is particularly missed. Then, of all the crappy songs to include over that one, we have the Tom Tom Club and their SERIOUSLY dated "Genius Of Love."

One of the brilliant things about Talking Heads is that they may have been trend setters, but they were never trend mongers. The music sounds just as fresh today as it did when I slit the shrink wrap on the 1984 Album. But the Tom Tom Club was a lightweight side project that scored one novelty hit, and it sticks out like crayon smears on a DaVinci. I reach for the skip button just about everytime its lame, cliched, and oh so 80's stage patter starts to invade what used to be a flawless CD.

It takes what used to be a 5 star CD and knocks it down by one. It also provides continual proof that that not all unreleased tracks are really a "bonus." Since it has finally come out on a double disc, I strongly recommend the remastered and reissued "The Name Of This Band is Talking Heads" over this. At least the expanded tracks aren't an emarrassment.

One of the greatest live albums ever........2004-10-23

Jonathon Demme's 1984 concert film of the Talking Heads was an incredible experience. Sadly, when the original soundtrack was released, it contained only nine of the songs performed. Not only that, but they were entirely out of sequence, completely destroying the original purpose behind David Byrne's conception of the concert. Thank God they released this anniversary edition of the soundtrack, as this really does the film justice. Every song is here, and in its proper place, the way it was meant to be heard.

So, what is the big deal, you ask? Well, picture this. The soundtrack begins with "Psycho Killer," one of the first really big hits for the group. Instead of the entire band being onstage, David Byrne walks out with an acoustic guitar and a boom box. He presses PLAY on the box, which cues a drum program to begin playing. So the first song is just David Byrne singing and strumming his guitar, accompanied by pre-recorded percussion. For the next song, "Heaven," Byrne is joined onstage by bassist Tina Weymouth. Then Chris Frantz's drumset is wheeled out, and the three of them go into "Thank You For Sending Me an Angel." We finally hear some real drumming, not the predictable, computerized beats in "Psycho Killer." The album really begins to come alive. Then they go into "Found a Job," and things get more interesting. Byrne swaps his acoustic guitar for an electric, and lead guitarist Jerry Harrison comes out, meaning we now have two guitars. By the time the fifth track, "Slippery People," is underway, the entire band (including the extra musicians and backup singers) are on the stage, and now things are cooking. What happens over the remaining twelve tracks can only be described as an overload of the senses.

The purpose behind the concert was to provide a unique experience for the concert-goer, to create visual as well as aural art. Some of that sense is lost on the CD listener, but some of it remains. The songs were translated to disk beautifully, so that they still retain just about everything that made them a pleasure to listen to while watching the film. One can almost picture David Byrne running laps around the stage, dancing with the lamp, or wearing the big suit.

The concert resulting in the film and this album was performed shortly after the band released their 1983 album "Speaking in Tongues." So, needless to say, many of the songs you will hear are from that album. And I have to say that for each of them, I prefer the live version to the studio version. Each one of them sounds more vibrant, more full of life when performed on the stage. The improvisation on "Burning Down the House" is as good as it gets. Ditto "This Must Be the Place (Naive Melody)," which is one of the most beautiful things I've heard, and I don't even like love songs. The studio versions lack that extra energy. Their pulse is just too slow. This is never more true for "Life During Wartime," which is actually a song from 1979's "Fear of Music." But anyway, this song displays Byrne's tendency to perfectly mismatch music and lyrics. The pulsating beat of club rock flows beneath what I interpret to be a humourously disturbing tale of a country under martial law. The song should not work as well as it does, and yet somehow, they pull it off. Anyway, after hearing the live version of it, I can no longer listen to the studio version. Also noteworthy is the improvisation on "Crosseyed and Painless." The intro and the extended guitar solos are just the icing on the cake for that one!

If there is a bad song on this album, it would have to be the interlude by the Tom Tom Club (a solo project of Heads drummer Chris Frantz and bassist Tina Weymouth). "Genius of Love" could have been a great song. The instrumentation is very good. Sadly, it's ruined by Frantz's raucous babbling. He's attempting to be random like David Byrne, but tragically, he's not good at it. Other than that, this album is solid gold. It demonstrates the full potential of live music, and sounds amazing while doing it. Whether you're a fan of the Talking Heads or not, this album belongs in your collection.

Great Improvement Over The Original Version.......2004-10-17

It's true, to really appreciate this album, you have to see the film. And that's no chore. Stop Making Sense is probably the best concert film ever made. It's hard to imagine just listening to the album without thinking of Byrne's amazing stage presence (in or out of the big suit).

The Special Edition is the entire film soundtrack (minus some stage banter and the cut performances of "Cities" and "I Zimbra"). Their imagination made Talking Heads one of the greatest live bands of all time. The songs are mostly from SPEAKING IN TONGUES, but they also include interesting and in some cases superior versions of songs from all of their albums prior to 1983 with the help of the Tom Tom Club.

In addition to STOP MAKING SENSE, I recommend the newly released CD version of THE NAME OF THIS BAND IS TALKING HEADS. Listening to both would map eight years of live performances and barely short of 4 hours of live material.

Popular Favorites 1976-1992/Sand In the Vaseline

Average customer rating:

Not applicable
If They're Not In The Rock 'n' Roll Hall Of Fame, Heads Should Roll!
Sounds great,sounds like they are right next to you.
Worthwhile; possibly obsolete
Strong compilation from a smart pop band

Popular Favorites 1976-1992/Sand In the Vaseline
Talking Heads
Manufacturer: Warner Bros / Wea
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

Punk | Hardcore & Punk | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

American Punk | Hardcore & Punk | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

New Wave | New Wave & Post-Punk | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

Post-Punk | New Wave & Post-Punk | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

General | Pop | Styles | Music

Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music

General | Rock | Styles | Music

Album-Oriented Rock (AOR) | Classic Rock | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

The Name of This Band is Talking Heads
Speaking in Tongues
Little Creatures
Green
Remain in Light

ASIN: B000002LRK
Release Date: 1992-10-13

Tracks:

Sugar On My Tongue
I Want To Live
Love/Building On Fire
I Wish You Wouldn't Say That
Psycho Killer
Don't Worry About The Government
No Compassion
Warning Sign
The Big Country
Take Me To The River
Heaven
Memories Can't Wait
I Zimbra
Once In A Lifetime
Crosseyed And Painless
Burning Down The House
Swamp
This Must Be The Place (Naive Melody)

Tracks:

Life During Wartime (Live)
Girlfriend Is Better (Live)
And She Was
Stay Up Late
Road To Nowhere
Wild Wild Life
Love For Sale
City Of Dreams
Mr. Jones
Blind
(Nothing But) Flowers
Sax And Violins
Gangster Of Love
Lifetime Piling Up
Popsicle

Amazon.com

Released four years after the Talking Heads called it a day with 1988's Naked, Popular Favorites provides a thorough overview of one of the most important American bands of the '80s. From tightly wound early efforts such as "Psycho Killer" and "Don't Worry About the Government" to the seriously funky likes of "I Zimbra" and "Burning Down the House," David Byrne, Jerry Harrison, Tina Weymouth, and Chris Franz grew as musicians as they stretched the original concepts of the unit to the breaking point. Over the course of two discs and 32 selections, the anthology chronicles the Heads' development from Bowery art punks (albeit of the most civil stripe) to unlikely arena stars. A smattering of unreleased tracks and notes from the original quartet nicely flesh out the retrospective. --Steven Stolder

Customer Reviews:

Not applicable.......2007-07-08

Tried twice to purchase this CD. Both times only 1 of the 2 cds arrived in the package.

If They're Not In The Rock 'n' Roll Hall Of Fame, Heads Should Roll!.......2007-03-20

I found it interesting being referred to in general in one of the spotlight reviews (I'm an evangelical Christian). There are some things I don't like about Talking Heads, and that is a leaning toward Nihlism (no meaning to anything). However, I applaud a band that makes you think, especially one this creative.

I won't make a list of favorite songs like I normally do; there are many good ones. I will say, though, that the band was strongest when more of the band collaborated together on the songs than in the latter years (most of disc 2) when Byrne wrote most of the songs solo.

Another thing that I consider negative, more present in the booklets, is the unnecessary cussing from Byrne. This did give me a negative point of view towards Byrne in general.

I saw "Stop Making Sense" first, and that converted me to being a fan of the group. Actually, the first time I heard this cooled me off, but re-listening helped make me a bit more of a fan again.

Sounds great,sounds like they are right next to you........2007-01-26

This cd has so many songs that you won't believe they squeezed it on the 2 cd set.David Byrne at his finest.

Worthwhile; possibly obsolete.......2006-10-10

This 2-disc set spans, somewhat uncomfortably, the boundary between a greatest-hits collection (targeted at the casual fan) and a retrospective box set (targeted at the completist). Nearly all of the band's well-known hits are here (with the odd exception of "Uh Oh, Love Comes to Town"), padded out to double-CD length with live cuts and non-album tracks. The result is completely listenable, as the boundary between the group's quirky art-rock days and their FM-radio heyday falls nicely between discs, but new fans might consider the later, single-disc hits collection a better value while fans wanting to go deeper will seek out the recent DualDisc re-releases which feature lots of bonus tracks.

It's all great stuff, however, with the first disc showcasing the band's uncanny ability to merge art tendencies with pop instinct even as they were mastering their instruments, and the second bringing key tracks from some of the less-heard later albums to light.

Of special note is the superb re-mastering job by Bob Ludwig, which gives the early songs a punch and presence missing from the prior releases.

Strong compilation from a smart pop band.......2006-09-16

Talking Heads is one of those rare bands with the distinction of making smart pop music accesible for the masses. The double disc "Sand in the Vaseline" is a good reflection of their career. I first became familar with them in the early eighties when songs like "Burning down the House" was all over FM radio and MTV. Disc 2 represents this era thoroughly, and includes some smaller hits that I forgot about until I bought the CD.

The pleasant surprise was Disc 1. Disc 1 focuses more on their earlier music from the late 70's, like "Life During Wartime." While I was familar with these hits as well, some of the more obscure songs on Disc 1 became my favorites on either disc. "Sugar on My Tongue" and "I Wish You Wouldn't Say That" stood out immediately as I was listening to them for the first time. I also liked some of the last songs on Disc 2 that they released before finally disbanding. "Sax and Violins" and especially "Lifetime Piling Up" come to mind. But that's what a good band does. Good bands produce timeless music throughout the decades that stand the test of time. This is a thorough compilation of a good band and a starting point for those becoming familiar with Talking Heads for the first time.

Average customer rating:

an intoxicatingly grooving, virtually flawless album
Best. Talking. Heads. Album.
Superb MASTERPIECE
One song too many
Who knew music could be paranoid and danceable at the same time?

Speaking in Tongues
Talking Heads
Manufacturer: Warner Bros / Wea
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

New Wave | New Wave & Post-Punk | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

Post-Punk | New Wave & Post-Punk | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

General | Pop | Styles | Music

Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music

General | Rock | Styles | Music

Album-Oriented Rock (AOR) | Classic Rock | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

Remain in Light
Little Creatures
Fear of Music
Talking Heads: 77
More Songs About Buildings and Food

ASIN: B000002KZ6
Release Date: 1990-10-25

Tracks:

Burning Down The House
Making Flippy Floppy
Girlfriend Is Better
Slippery People
I Get Wild/Wild Gravity
Swamp
Moon Rocks
Pull Up The Roots
This Must Be The Place (Naive Melody)

Amazon.com essential recording

Observe as David Byrne finally learns to dance. Non-Western sounds and funky rhythms had infected Talking Heads music prior to this 1983 pop breakthrough, but Speaking in Tongues is where the beat truly gels. The band's quirky, nerdy persona somehow blends easily with music borrowed from the African Diaspora on "Stop Making Sense" and "Burning Down the House." The album also marks one of the last true band collaborations, before Byrne reduced his partners to mere sidemen. If their edgier early albums now sound more challenging and unique in hindsight, Speaking in Tongues at least documents the New York quartet's singular blend of World Beat, art school rock, and the always irresistible dancefloor. --Steve Appleford

Customer Reviews:

an intoxicatingly grooving, virtually flawless album.......2007-04-18

The Talking Heads' 1983 album "Speaking In Tongues" is a dazzling, groove-oriented collection. The music here is so impeccably crafted and paced that you're truly left in awe, that is if you're not busy simply dancing and/or singing along.

The album is remarkably cohesive, yet intriguingly varied at the same time. The massively funky "Girlfriend Is Better" has one of the most insanely catchy choruses ever, plus hilarious vocal asides from David Byrne. "Making Flippy Floppy" and the huge hit "Burning Down The House" are ultra-funky gems as well. "Slippery People" has an incredibly catchy gospel-ized call-and-response chorus, sumptuous bright keyboard textures, and a neatly 'off-the-beat' bass line. The swinging "Swamp" is fittingly titled, with a swampy New Orleans R&B groove, Byrne singing much lower than usual, and an amusingly growling singalong chorus. "I Get Wild/ Wild Gravity" has a light reggae feel and yet another irresistible chorus. The closing "This Must Be The Place (Naive Melody)", with its memorably looping guitar line, has a weirdly optimistic tone and is a wonderful way to end the record.

In short, "Speaking In Tongues" is a marvelous must-have record, from a terrific band, that any serious music fan will want to listen to over and over and over. One of my all-time personal favorites.

Best. Talking. Heads. Album........2007-04-07

I have a special edition of this with a DVD side and I can listen to this in 5.1 surround sound. It is an earth movign experience. I love every song on this album. In fact, I think this is my favorite album ever by my favorite band ever and it includes my favorite song ever, This Must Be the Place.

Superb MASTERPIECE.......2006-08-27

I picked this album up used at an old record store. Popped it in my cd player and WOW! This is by far the greatest Talking Heads Album Making Flippy Floppy is a really well composed song. What is neat about this album is it has a sort of reggae funk to it with all kinds of random lyrics. YOU WILL ENJOY THIS IF YOU ARE A TALKING HEADS FAN OR ARE NEW TO THEM!

One song too many.......2006-06-09

ALSO AVAILABLE AS A DUAL DISC WITH SOME EXTRA TRACKS.
HOPEFULLY IT HAS BETTER SOUND.

Released in 1983, this is the Talking Heads' fifth studio album. It came after three years after Remain In Light. In those days, 3 years between albums was a long time. In the sixties some groups released a couple of albums a year. If they didn't you wondered what happened to them. Now, groups go up to a decade between album releases.

The sound quality on the original CD is OK but not excellent. It is a little bit muddled and not as sharp as it should be, especially considering the musical style the band used at the time. There is new version out, on a dual disc. One side is a normal CD and the other is an audio DVD. There are some extra tracks on this.

This might be the Talking Heads best album, if it didn't all sound the same and eventually get stale and boring. I think if they had left out Pull Up the Roots, the album would have been near perfect. Pull Up The Roots just drones on with a disco beat. It almost sounds like one of those extended mixes created just for discos.

Otherwise, this CD is just filled full of great songs and real classics: Buring Down the House, Girlfriend Is Better and Swamp. When I first heard Swamp, I had no idea who it was.

This album is the basis for much of the live CD/DVD, Stop Making Sense. I think that many of the songs are even better on this live album.

If you like this album, than you should check out the early Tom Tom Club albums, especially Dark, Sneak, Love Action. Tom Tom Club is spin off band featuring Franz and Weymouth.

Who knew music could be paranoid and danceable at the same time?.......2006-05-12

Like many others, I believe the Stop Making Sense concert video is the ultimate Talking Heads moment. But in terms of studio albums, Speaking in Tongues is their best.
1. Burning Down the House: 10/10. A classic, my favorite Talking Heads song. Ominous synth, fine lyrics, highly danceable, and nice use of African rhythm. Who can resist?
2. Making Flippy Floppy: 8.5/10. The Talking Heads at their best: Paranoid, danceable and synth-driven. Especially noteable are the Eastern-y synth lines in the instrumental break.
3. Girlfriend Is Better: 10/10. David Byrne's disjointed narrative, set to an irresistably funky bat, never gets old. "Stop making sense! Stop making sense!" is practically the group's battle cry.
4. Slippery People: 10/10. Another one of the album's high points, similar to the previous three songs (not like that's bad, of course) but still it's own song. And if you aren't dancing like a fool by now, I don't know who you think you are.
5. I Get Wild/Wild Gravity: 7/10. Good song, but never was a favorite of mine. Sort of Talking-Heads-By-Numbers.
6. Swamp: 10/10. A menacing, bluesy tune with great antiwar lyrics and perfect delivery.
7. Moon Rocks: 7.5/10. See I Get Wild/Wild Gravity.
8. Pull Up the Roots: 7/10. Used to love this one, but now I don't as much. Weakest songo n the album.
9. This Must Be the Place (Naive Melody): 8.5/10. Damn, does the title suit it well or what? Though it's a bit too naive (on purpose, I understand) to be Talking Heads, I still like it.
Speaking In Tongues is one of the better Talking Heads albums, though I'd also recommend Songs About Buildings and Food and Stop Making Sense. (Keep in mind that I haven't heard Fear of Music or Remain in Light)

Average customer rating:

Content excellent but hard to rip
excellent (and much needed) reissue set
Soooo close to being perfect, but no!
Anything less than 5 stars is absurd
Packaging? meh. Music? yeah!

Talking Heads Brick
Talking Heads
Manufacturer: Rhino / Wea
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

Punk | Hardcore & Punk | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

American Punk | Hardcore & Punk | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

New Wave | New Wave & Post-Punk | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

Post-Punk | New Wave & Post-Punk | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

General | Pop | Styles | Music

Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music

General | Rock | Styles | Music

Album-Oriented Rock (AOR) | Classic Rock | Styles | Music

Alternative Styles | Alternative Rock | Box Sets | Stores | Music

Hardcore & Punk | Alternative Rock | Box Sets | Stores | Music

General | Pop | Box Sets | Stores | Music

General | Rock | Box Sets | Stores | Music

Rhino Records | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music

Box Sets at 30% Off | Blowout Music | Stores | Music

Pop | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music

Classic Rock | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music

Rock | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music

Alternative Rock | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music

All Blowout Music | Blowout Music | Stores | Music

More Titles at Least 25% Off | Blowout Music | Stores | Music
Similar Items:

The Name of This Band is Talking Heads
My Life in the Bush of Ghosts
A Musical History
Running on Empty (CD & DVD Audio)
Pirate Radio

ASIN: B000B5XSK8
Release Date: 2005-10-04

Tracks:

Uh-Oh, Love Comes To Town
New Feeling
Tenative Decisions
Happy Day
Who Is It?
No Compassion
The Book I Read
Don't Worry About The Government
First Week/Last Week...Carefree
Psycho Killer
Pulled Up
Love Building On Fire
I Wish You Wouldn't Say That
Psycho Killer (Acoustic)
I Feel It My Heart
Sugar On My Tongue

Tracks:

Thank God For Sending Me An Angel
With Our Love
The Good Thing
Warning Sign
The Girls Want To Be With The Girls
Found A Job
Artists Only
I'm Not In Love
Stay Hungry
Take Me To The River
The Big Country
Stay Hungry (1977 Version)
I'm Not In Love (Alternate Version)
The Big Country (Alternate Version)
Thank You For Sending Me An Angel (Country Angel Version)

Tracks:

I Zimbra
Mind
Paper
Cities
Life During Wartime
Memories Can't Wait
Air
Heaven
Animals
Electric Guitar
Drugs
Dancing For Money (Unfinished Outtake)
Life During Wartime (Alternate Version)
Cities (Alternate Version)
Mind (Alternate Version)

Tracks:

Born Under Punches (The Heat Goes On)
Crosseyed And Painless
The Great Curve
Once In A Lifetime
Houses In Motion
Seen And Not Seen
Listening Wind
The Overload
Fela's Riff (Unfinished Outtake)
Unison (Unfinished Outtake)
Double Groove (Unfinished Outtake)
Right Start (Unfinished Outtake)

Tracks:

Burning Down The House
Making Flippy floppy
Girlfriend Is Better
Slippery People
I Get Wild/Wild Gravity
Swamp
Moon Rocks
Pull Up The Roots
This Must Be The Place (Naive Melody)
Two Note Swivel (Unfinished Outtake)
Burning Down The House (Alternate Version)

Tracks:

And She Was
Give Me Back My Name
Creatures Of Love
The Lady Don't Mind
Perfect World
Stay Up Late
Walk It Down
Television Man
Road To Nowhere
Road To Nowhere (Early Version)
And She Was (Early Version)
Television Man (Extended Mix)

Tracks:

Love For Sale
Puzzlin' Evidence
Hey Now
Papa Legba
Wild Wild Life
Radio Head
Dream Operator
People Like Us
City Of Dreams
Wild Wild Life (Extended Mix)
Papa Legba (Pops Staples Vocal Version)
Radio Head (Tito Larriva Vocal Version)

Tracks:

Blind
Mr. Jones
Totally Nude
Ruby Dear
(Nothing But) Flowers
The Democratic Circus
The Facts Of Life
Mommy Daddy You And I
Big Daddy
Bill
Cool Water
Sax And Violins

Amazon.com

Talking Heads' 30th anniversary is commemorated in typically artful style here, sonically upgrading their eight, era-defining albums via bonus-packed Dual Discs and encasing them in a molded white plastic box intricately embossed with the band's song titles. Each disc contains complete album tracks and bonus cuts remastered in High Resolution Stereo on its CD side, while the DVD programming on the flip offers up the audio tracks in expansive new 5.1 Surround Sound mixes, with all of the sonic upgrading personally supervised by Heads drummer Jerry Harrison. Those long overdue audio improvements alone would make it an attractive set, but fans of the band will find its wealth of bonus music (various B-sides and previously unreleased outtakes) and video (including a number of rare live clips seeing their first release here) supplements equally intriguing.

Bonus musical highlights include four rhythmically-charged, unfinished Remain in Light outtakes (including one that eventually evolved into the band's signature "Once in a Lifetime") that allow insightful glimpses into Eno's innovative production techniques on the album, alternate versions of "Cities," "Life During Wartime" and "Mind" from Fear of Music, a countrified version of "Thank You For Sending Me an Angel" from More Songs About.. and a strangely muted early version of another Heads staple, Speaking in Tongue's "Burning Down the House." An early demo of "And She Was" from Little Creatures demostrates that the whole of a glorius pop song can be the assembly of its simple parts. While the additional visual materials (especially the raw early performance clips) are a welcome addition to the Heads' canon, they're also something of a tradeoff: a few of the band's videos are conspicuously absent, including Remain in Light's "Once in a Lifetime." But overlooking a couple of the band's better known promotional moments in favor of revealing new musical treasures and vastly improved, state-of-the-art audio scarcely blunts the appeal of this rewarding career overview. -- Jerry McCulley

Album Description

Formed in the mid-70's by art school chums David Byrne, Chris Franz, and Tina Weymouth-and ex-Modern lover Jerry Harrison-Talking Heads rose out of the CBGB punk crucible and proved themselves one of the most artistically adventurous and influential bands ever. Their visionary, polyrhyhmic sound fused elements including rock, funk, and punk with diverse world beats, avant-garde minimalism, and pure pop genius. Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2002, the band and their groundbreaking repertoire are celebrated in Rhino's deluxe DualDisc upgrade of their catalog. Now their critically praised recordings can be reexperienced as never before, with new DVD-A Surround mixes personally supervised by Jerry Harrison.

Customer Reviews:

Content excellent but hard to rip.......2007-07-09

The music is awesome, the bonus tracks are great, and the dvd features are pretty cool- HOWEVER, Duel Discs are excruciatingly difficult to rip to your computer. Some take hours per disc and you'll get skips in the tracks occasionally but some computers can't even rip them at all. BE WARNED!

excellent (and much needed) reissue set.......2007-06-19

I am beyond satisfied with the Talking Heads' Brick. While some complain of compatibility problems with their standard cd players and dual discs, I haven't experienced anything of the sort (but clearly it pays to check these things before making this purchase).

I'll also say that I do not have a 5.1 DVD system, so I'm only able to comment on the CD audio of this set.

That said, I was immediately taken aback by how good these discs sound. The clarity and depth of the recordings on the remastered cds far surpasses their predecessors, even more so than I anticipated. And I'm not much of an audiophile, but the difference is immediately noticeable, and certainly welcome.

The bonus video content is interesting and enjoyable. Admittedly it would have been more convenient to have a separate DVD disc with all of the video content, but it's not a big deal. The omission of the music video for "Once in a Lifetime" is indeed curious. All of the other promo videos are present (that I know of anyway), and the "Once in a Lifetime" video was a landmark for the group. There is a great live performance of the song included, but I can't imagine why the video was left off.

That's really my only complaint about this set. There are few bands whose catalog I will repurchase without hesitation, and the Talking Heads are among that elite class. And it's well worth it.

Soooo close to being perfect, but no!.......2006-12-09

Since most people visiting this site are already probably familiar with Talking Heads' music, I'll skip the hyperbole. You know how good their music is. And before I say anything else, I have to mention that it's definitely worth owning every single one of the albums included in this box. But you should also know how alternately revelatory and frustrating this boxed set turns out to be.

Now, then...the Brick.

What a great idea. Remaster all the albums, both in 2.0 and 5.1 mixes, one mix on either side of each disc in the DualDisc format, and box them all together. The thing to remember is, this isn't in a regular 5.1 DVD format where you can stick the disc in your DVD player and let it go. You have to have a DVD-Audio compatible DVD player to play these, so be sure about this before you take the plunge. (I've read that other people may have had some luck hearing a 5.1 mix without using DVD-A, but I haven't.) DVD-Audio requires a cable going from each channel on the DVD player to the corresponding ones on your receiver, so it's an extremely pure sound, but I really wish for convenience's sake that they'd formatted it in regular ol' DTS or Dolby Digital 5.1 sound for those without. I'm sure they had the best intentions, but on my Harman/Kardon 31 DVD player this means that you have to hit "play" on your DVD player, then "pause", then hit the "6-Channel" button on your remote before hitting "play" again to listen to the disc. Whatever.

The 5.1 mixes are a revelation...I've been listening to this music for over 20 years and I'm hearing so many things for the first time that have previously been buried in the mix...really incredible. Almost all of the discs benefit from this depth and clarity - especially More Songs, Remain in Light, and Naked. However, these were remixed by Jerry Harrison...so the keyboards are jacked up really high in the mix. Which is cool in some cases as they were initially (unfairly) minimized on certain albums. But it also means that Speaking In Tongues is an entirely different listen. The keyboard parts have dated a little bit, so it becomes a true artifact of the 80's. Huge sound, swirling effects, and distracting stereo trickery. It's almost as if it were reproduced by Esquivel.

Now for the bonuses -- the extra tracks on each disc are fascinating. Not fascinating enough to warrant repeated listenings in most cases, but intriguing if you're a Talking Headsophile. The artifacts from the Fear of Music and Remain in Light sessions, especially, provide indications as to Eno's influence in their writing process at the time. They sound much like Eno songs backed by the Heads. The demos, alternate takes, and remixes of several songs are also very cool. There are also a handful of additional outtakes, such as "I Feel It In My Heart" from the 77 sessions (which was deservedly left off the album) and "Sax and Violins" from the Naked sessions (which would have provided a much-needed ray of hope to close out the oppressively bleak second half of that album). However, some of them are given the 5.1 treatment while others inexplicably are not.

Worse, they've neglected to include some of the outtakes they've released on other collections in the past. Where's "I Want to Live", "Popsicle", "In Asking Land", "Gangster of Love", and "Lifetime Piling Up"? Those last two or three songs are lame, but as long as they're being comprehensive here, what gives? Also missing are the alternate versions of "Uh-Oh, Love Comes to Town" and "New Feeling" previously released elsewhere. You can get some of this stuff on iTunes, by the way -- just not here. But that's not as unforgivable as the video omissions.

Although their last feeble collection, "Once in a Lifetime", was kind of a joke, it came boxed with the spectacular, expanded DVD version of their video collection "A Storytelling Giant". All of their videos were included with the original between-song vignettes intact. The Brick doesn't include this disc. Instead, they give us some early live stuff (admittedly, the shaky footage of "Warning Sign" gives me the shivers, it's so good) some Fear of Music-era live stuff (fine) and a smattering of their videos later on.

Excellent, but where's my favorite video of theirs, for "(Nothing But) Flowers"? How about "The Lady Don't Mind" or "Stay Up Late?" For god's sake, where are the original, revolutionary videos for "Crosseyed and Painless" and "Once in a Lifetime"!? They're shucked for live versions of both songs. This is shocking.

The packaging looks neat from the outside. Like everything else the band does, it's designed to fascinate. But it couldn't have killed them to have the names of the discs embossed on the spines. Likewise, it'd be great to be able to see exactly where the bonus songs are on the disc without digging through the CD insert to find the song titles. But now I'm nitpicking.

All that aside, I've spent hours poring over this treasure trove. It's my favorite band, after all. But you shouldn't spend this much on a boxed set and not get everything they could feasibly have crammed into it. Was it a contract issue or some kind of rights agreement that kept these significant items off the set? Good thing it was a gift, or I'd feel a liiiiiiitle cheated. But I'm going to give the Brick four stars because the band's just about the best thing in the world and this is where you can find (almost) all of it.

Anything less than 5 stars is absurd.......2006-12-02

Good God this is the greatest set EVER!!!
I am a music lover with over 500 CDs and 600+ vinyl. I've got all the Heads on vinyl and always came back to 'em year after year.
So when I found out that Jerry Harrison himself was doing the surround mixes, I couldn't resist. Especially after hearing such good things about the results!
So I bought The Brick. 1st - the packaging is unique. A sturdy molded white plastic box with emboss/extruded song titles all over it. Okay the CD cases are just plain white, and you have to open up the booklet just to see the song titles...but really this is not bad at all, as you tend not to skip around so much and just listen to it even more!
The bonuses consist of DVD videos and live clips, 2 or 3 per disc reflecting each era. Of course they are not up to the quality of the studio stuff, but that's to be expected and really there's little way to 'spruce up' an old videotape from a live show. The bonuses are still really good, though. The only wish that went unfulfilled here is that they don't include either live albums - I would especially have loved to get TNOTBITH with this, but it's understandable since that double album is a compilation in it's own right.
Now for the MUSIC: Holy God, this is the best ever. No band ever grooved like The Heads! The mix goes waaaay beyond typical surround and you feel like you're in the middle of the band itself, with FULL VOLUME instruments all around! That's Dave upfront, Tina thumping underneath, Chris wide open l-r, Jerry popping up in the front, back and sides...Bernie over there somewhere...Eno freaking the rhythm section through the rear...Belew soaring over my shoulders...synths, congas and rhythm guitars pecking away through the sides and rear...it goes on and on. Albums that I always enjoyed but never dug far into before ('77 & Food) are given glorious new mixes and have a whole new freshness and power to them.
There are other essential 5.1 rock discs out there...Roxy Music AVALON and Floyd's DSOTM being two...but this is THE BEST OF ALL.
EVERY SINGLE ALBUM in TOTAL SURROUND!!!

Packaging? meh. Music? yeah!.......2006-10-04

So Talking Heads fans will be wondering whether this is worth it if they already have most or all of the above-mentioned releases, and the answer is YES. This is true for all of the albums, but especially for Remain in Light and Naked, which really sound like new albums. Listening to either one of these records on the DVD-side surround mixes on solid speakers is a life-altering experience. (And furthermore, thanks to some tweaks and editing, in many ways the DVD sides really are different from the CD sides.) Even without surround, the remastered CD sides are an instantly noticeable improvement. The unreleased material and B-sides are generally excellent, and often provide insight into how the album, or its songs, were made or put together. The video extras, while few in number, are surprisingly good and aren't dated, grainy, or cheesy. Given how wretched music videos from the 70s and 80s tend to be, this is a testament to the artistic skill of the Heads.

As mentioned above in the title of this review, the packaging on this, while it looks cool, was really poorly designed. The backs of the individual cases are white, so we don't get to see the rear cover art, and they're also white on the side, so you can't tell which CD you've got until you pull it out. The exterior case is creatively designed but the CDs fit in it rather tightly, which means their cases are prone to breaking when you take them out, and they're rather difficult to get out. Also, many have had problems with the Dualdisc format (on my computer, the DVD-side is finicky on several of the discs and sometimes doesn't want to play).

But the heck with that. You buy CDs for the music, not to look at the tracklist on the back. If you are a Heads fan then get this. Believe the hype.

Average customer rating:

Talking Heads hit their stride
best TH album
4 1/2 stars-- the "second debut" with Brian Eno.
Stands the test of time
Inventing Situations

More Songs About Buildings and Food
Talking Heads
Manufacturer: Warner Bros / Wea
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

Punk | Hardcore & Punk | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

American Punk | Hardcore & Punk | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

New Wave | New Wave & Post-Punk | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

General | Pop | Styles | Music

Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music

General | Rock | Styles | Music

Album-Oriented Rock (AOR) | Classic Rock | Styles | Music

Eccentrics | Warner Brothers Records | Stores | Music
Similar Items:

Talking Heads: 77
Fear of Music
Remain in Light
Speaking in Tongues
Little Creatures

ASIN: B000002KNV
Release Date: 1990-10-25

Tracks:

Thank You For Sending Me An Angel
With Our Love
The Good Thing
Warning Signs
The Girls Want To Be With The Girls
Found A Job
Artists Only
I'm Not In Love
Stay Hungry
Take Me To The River
The Big Country

Amazon.com essential recording

Choosing former Roxy Music member and David Bowie collaborator Brian Eno to produce them, Talking Heads expanded their sound greatly for their 1978-released second album. While most associated Eno with hi-tech, electronic fare, he surprisingly brought out the more organically rhythmic side of the Heads' material. With Jerry Harrison's keyboards playing a more pronounced role--most notably on their spirited hit cover of Al Green's "Take Me to the River"--and drummer Chris Frantz and bassist Tina Weymouth powering the band through tracks like "Stay Hungry" and "Warning Sign," leader David Byrne sounded more relaxed and "normal," even as he wandered through such high-concept works as "Artists Only" and the sprawling "Big Country." --Billy Altman

Customer Reviews:

Talking Heads hit their stride.......2006-10-11

The Talking Heads' debut album, Talking Heads: 77, clearly stood the test of time like few punk and proto-punk albums. But if 77 was one of the best creations of the punk genre, then with their second album, More Songs About Buildings And Food, David Byrne and co. achieved a sound of their own that transcended time and genre, and assured their place in the pantheon of rock n' roll.

In no small part, thanks are due to producer Brian Eno; though he was only four years older than Byrne himself, Eno had a rich career behind him, not only as a former member of art-school heroes Roxy Music but also as a collaborator with varied artists such as David Bowie, Devo, John Cale and Robert Wyatt. Eno helped the Heads mature their style, giving Jerry Harrison's keyboard a more important role than in 77, and Harrison carries many of the songs on his wonderful playing. But Eno or no Eno, the show still belongs to Byrne, and he matured greatly in his singing and most notably in his songwriting from the first album. The angst and cynicism of Psycho Killer and Don't Worry About The Government is still there, but it's more subtle, more low-key, and much, much nastier. In fact, the beautiful The Big Country may just be the meanest piece he has ever written.

Not all the tracks on More Songs are standouts; in fact it starts out pretty mildly. The first three tracks - Thank You For Sending Me An Angel, With Our Love and The Good Thing - are relatively lukewarm, nice little tunes with good and intelligent lyrics, and aren't as powerful and straightforward as most of 77. But when Warning Signs hits, it's clear that the change that went over the Heads is not a mellowing of their first album, but on the contrary - Byrne merely sharpened his knives. Warning Signs is a phenomenal song and a strong one, and once the album hits its stride, it doesn't let go. Warning Signs is quickly followed by the brilliant Found A Job, that remains one of the Heads' greatest songs, and one of Byrne's best lyrical inventions, telling the story of a problem couple who start creating their own TV shows at home; the song is sharp and cynical, and in its subtle ways the message is more powerful than in straightforward anti-social numbers like the classic Psycho Killer. The next three tracks - Artists Only, I'm No In Love and Stay Hungry, are consistently engaging and challenging and keep the album running smoothly, even if Stay Hungry might have felt more at ease on 77.

The last two tracks show just how much the Heads have grown in the past year, and how much they have increased their versatility. The cover version of Al Green's Motown classic Take Me To The River instantly became the Heads' biggest radio hit, and even if it's not one of the best tracks on the album it's easy to see why; it's a fantastic cover version, done with every bit of respect and love for the original and for the Motown sound, but infusing it with new life and modern sounds. Byrne and co. prove on that track just how talented a group of musicians they were, setting themselves completely apart from punk rockers like the Sex Pistols or the Ramones; the Heads were capable of instrumental grooves that few punk bands could master. On the other hand, the epic The Big Country is the best showcase of Byrne's song craftsmanship, and it remains one of his greatest creations. Byrne's mild and subtle sarcasm on The Big Country is immensely stronger and nastier than anything on 77, and it's perfect in composition and in delivery both. The Big Country is the best track on More Songs, and it would be the springboard for their finest albums.

So even if More Songs About Buildings And Food is not the Heads' best album, it's the beginning of their creative prime, one that would produce the brilliant masterpieces Fear Of Music and Remain In Light, and even if it's not necessarily better on the whole than Talking Heads: 77, in many ways it's the first true Heads album. It's essential for any fan, and a standout album of its time.

best TH album.......2006-05-17

Talking Heads were one of my favorite bands in the early 80's, but back then I listened mostly to Fear of Music; and Remain in Light has always been the critically more acclaimed album by the band.
Although many consider those two albums more significant, and I do not want to argue that opinion, 25 years later it's "More songs..." the CD I elect to listen to. That makes it the best Talking Heads album for me

4 1/2 stars-- the "second debut" with Brian Eno........2006-02-21

After hitting the ground running with their stunning debut, the Talking Heads decided to enlist the assistance of Brian Eno for their second album, "MOre Songs About Buildings and Food". In all likelihood, this was a wise move-- following up a debut as fresh and superb as "Talking Heads '77" was a difficult task, and in Eno they had someone who could grow their music. The partnership would last through the next two Talking Heads albums, a collaborative effort between Eno and Byrne ("My Life in the Bush of Ghosts") and Byrne's "Catherine Wheel". The one thing that's pretty much consistent throughout is that the union of Byrne and Eno produces high results.

In many ways, all Eno did was encourage natural outgrowth from the last album-- certainly the debut record was a quirky and timeless effort and more than a superb springboard to work from and pieces such as "Stay Hungry" (in fact originally attempted for the debut left unused) and "Artists Only" recall the best of '77'. But Eno also seemed to encourage more diversity, pushing the band in a number of different directiosn-- opener "Thank You for Sending An Angel" uses march rhythms and high energy, "With Our Love" hints at Eastern European sounds and the Ramones, "Warning Sign" bubbles with a frantic power that sounds like the successor to Eno's "Third Uncle" and the cover of Al Green's "Take Me to the River" slinks into a deep organ groove with Byrne bringing a quite unexpected vocal to the table for the gospel-infused monster (and proved to be the first major exposure the band got). But perhaps closer "The Big Country" is the best of all of them-- Byrne sinks into a more calm and melancholy delivery over a laid back and yet somehow still energetic groove. Like the debut, there's some less than fantastic material, but even that is very listenable ("Found a Job").

This album has just been rereleased in dualdisc format and the sonic upgrade is well worth the extra couple bucks investment.

The collaboration between Brian Eno and the Talking Heads would continue to yield superb results-- in many ways, this is as much a debut as the previous album was, and like the debut, is equally essential. Recommended.

Stands the test of time.......2006-01-10

"Take me to the River" was the first Talking Heads song I ever heard, being a huge radio hit way back when. I got around to buying this album a couple years later (along with Talking Heads 77) I only wondered "why that song, when there are so many better ones on the record?"
That being said, this album is chock-full of great songs, and with great production to put them across. Worth every cent!

Inventing Situations.......2006-01-10

This is my personal favorite of the Talking Heads CD's I own. Why? It is both playful and lyrical. Each song seems to tell a complete story, with characters, motivations, and conflict. The best example of this on the album is "found a job", explaining how a couple saves their relationshp through creating their own TV shows on a new videocamera. Every song seems to create a complete lyrical and sonic vision, with catchy melodies that make the CD easy to listen to over and over again.

Average customer rating:

The album that changed what I listened to
Fear Itself
Best Talking Heads album
Nothing to Fear
The HEADS are TALKING to people who have no FEAR OF MUSIC

Fear of Music
Talking Heads
Manufacturer: Warner Bros / Wea
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

Punk | Hardcore & Punk | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

American Punk | Hardcore & Punk | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

New Wave | New Wave & Post-Punk | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

Post-Punk | New Wave & Post-Punk | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

General | Pop | Styles | Music

Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music

General | Rock | Styles | Music

Album-Oriented Rock (AOR) | Classic Rock | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

Remain in Light
More Songs About Buildings and Food
Talking Heads: 77
Speaking in Tongues
Little Creatures

ASIN: B000002KNY
Release Date: 1990-10-25

Tracks:

I Zimbra
Mind
Paper
Cities
Life During Wartime
Memories Can't Wait
Air
Heaven
Animals
Electric Guitar
Drugs

Amazon.com essential recording

This disc represents the bridge between Talking Heads' first two herky-jerkier albums and the next two funky ones. Fear of Music is more than just a bridge, though. It's the water under the bridge, the air, the animals, the cities the river flows through, and the heaven on top of it all: "...a place where nothing ever happens." Plenty happens here, however. The CD starts out with its feet off the ground and both arms in the air: "I Zimbra" is all-out celebration. The rest of the songs are pretty much exercises in simplicity: one-word titles with music to match. (Witness the lightness of "Air," the trippiness of "Drugs," the "ooga"-ness of "Animals.") David Byrne's artful naiveté ("Hold the paper up to the light/Some rays pass right through"), coupled with the whole band's musical playfulness (for example, the tuba on "Electric Guitar"), makes for fun fun fun. --Dan Leone

Customer Reviews:

The album that changed what I listened to.......2007-04-21

Summer of 1979. I just graduated from high school. I was into The Who and Led Zep during those years and then I listened to this album. Fear of Music instantly changed my listening preferences much like in the scene from Taxi when Jim, as a college student, eats a pot brownie and changes immediately into the stoned Reverend Jim. Fear of Music introduced me to Eno, Bowie, early Roxy Music, and alot of the new wave music that was coming out at that time. David Johansen's first album stayed on my turntable for a long while. Today Luna and Wilco take up alot of space on my iPod, and I thank Fear of Music for this.

Fear Itself.......2007-03-11

David Byrne always passes off the "Fear" angle/theme here as a joke -- but I don't buy it. These songs are anxious, clautrophobic, and twisted -- and legitimately so to my ears. They're also poppy as a laundry basket full of poppyseed muffins, and this aural culture clash has been known to lead to vertigo -- don't look down....

Best Talking Heads album.......2006-11-12

Buy it, definitely. Every song is great (except Animals - I never could get into that one). It's dark, it's funny, it's artsy (in a good way), it's 100% unique, like the Talking Heads in general. Best cuts: I Zimbra; Cities; Life During Wartime; Air; Heaven (my favorite of the bunch) and Drugs. Buy it, and pick up More Songs About Buildings and Food, Remain in Light and Speaking in Tongues while you're at it.

Nothing to Fear.......2006-09-22

First off....What an amazing title for a record. "Fear Of Music"....I find that hilarious. But coming from the mind of David Byrne I guess it should not come as such a huge surprise. What IS surprising about this record is how FUNKY it is. That's right's....funky. Who knew that David Byrne, Jerry Harrison, Tina Weymouth and Chris Frantz had it in them? "More Songs About Buildings and Food" (another hilarious title) may have hinted at this direction slighty but I don't know how to catergorize this band and that may be the reason they fascinate me so much. Along with "Remain In Light" this record showed the Talking Heads maturing and at the same time we get to see what their souls look like.

This is the record where the band began to rely heavily on their rhythm section. This is music that grabs you at first listen and just does not let go on repeated listens. The more listens, the more addicting it becomes. As I said before I don't know if this is R&B, Funk, Rock or New Wave but I do know that the band makes it work. (Think about it....they are considered art-school Punks)

"I Zimbra" kicks the record off and the change in style from the previous records is immediately noticeable. Nonsense lyrics, great bass....it sets the record up nicely. "Mind" and "Paper" follow and then tracks 4 and 5 kick in and to me are worth the price of the CD.

"Cities" and "Life During Wartime" simply are stunning. (Great live versions are present on the "Stop Making Sense" DVD) Have you ever heard of a lead bass part?? (I'm not talking Geddy Lee, Les Claypool, Cliff Burton, Bootsy Collins, Victor Wooten, Jaco Pastorius virtuso bass) I mean a straight driving, funky bassline that is in essence the melody of the song. (Until the solo in the middle section but it's a solo, not melody) I know what I wrote may not make sense because it is a bass but Tina Weymouth put it down on this track!! She has the only moving part in the song which accounts for the melody. The first time I heard "Cities" I was in disbelief and it is funky as hell!! She's not the most technically proficient bassist but she has to be on the greatest bassist of the late 70's and early 80's. (In my opinion one of the greatest ever). If you need someone to hold down a rhythm she is right up there with the best. Frantz's drums blend it perfectly and David's playing his rhythm part and singing in his glorious vocal style. "Cities" is just a great song and one of my favorite by the band.

No time to rest though because "Life During Wartime" follows and the momentum does not stop. The funk vibe continues and David has some of his most famous lyrics...."This ain't no party/This ain't no disco/This ain't foolin' around. This ain't the mud club/or CBGB/I ain't got time for that now!" This was the only single from the record and the most popular song because of it. It's a great song. Tina's bass is not as forceful in this track but she's in the back doin' her thing. David is the star of this one and it is what we expect from him. Great song.

"Heaven" is another great track and a beautiful ballad about a bar in England. This slows the momentum some after "Air" (some people have a problem with air) but still is amazing. The rest of the record holds together nicely although there are some weaker moments that don't deter from the end product which is an awesome record. This is a very unique band that were not afraid of taking risks to create art. And before I forget....this record was produced by Brian Eno who knows a little bit about what he's doing. (that was an understatement, Eno is awesome). He produced "Buildings and Food" and "Remain in Light" as well. NOTE: This is a transitional album. (Like "Station to Station" before Bowie went on the make "Low" and Heroes" also produced by Eno) All that means is a definite change is taking place to set up music in the future. The funkiness that was present on this record comes full blown on "Remain in Light" but this record is great on it's own. If you like this band and don't have this you are missing out. Even though the Talking Heads started at CBGB and are sometimes called a "Punk" band I think "New Wave" fits them better. It may take a while to warm up to but once you give it chance it will not be too far away from you.

The HEADS are TALKING to people who have no FEAR OF MUSIC.......2006-06-26

"I Zimbra" opens FEAR OF MUSIC kind of famously for its wordless or "nonsense" lyric, merely vocal utterances, musical syllables coupled with complex rhythmic styling and an irresistible groove. This is followed by the equally rhythmic yet persecuted "Mind," the HEADS at their most minimalist, "I need something to change your mind..." We're then freed by "Paper" and its translucent and resonant homage to guitar rock. "Cities" perhaps defines this record and its era ("...Some good points! Some bad points! Find a city, find myself a city to live in!") It's absurd minimalism at its most ironic. We're then necessarily treated to the woeful "Life During Wartime" which also happens to be one of the great party grooves of that era ("This ain't no party! This ain't no disco! This ain't no foolin' around!" This ain't the Mud Club or CBGB's...I ain't got time for that now!")

"Memories Can't Wait" has an unusually lush production for this album, and is reminiscent of acid rock at its most obscure, but is more off-key and desperate, like its lyric suggests. There is something terribly true, insightful, and disturbing, about David Byrne's lyric "Take a walk thru the land of shadows take a walk thru the peaceful meadows...don't look so disappointed, it isn't what you hoped for, is it?" Perhaps the most influential track on the album, Byrne sings, "I'm wide awake on memories...these memories can't wait!" That tune is about as profound as the TALKING HEADS get.

"Air" is a delight as light as its name and humorous, and like all these weird little songs, a catchy tune. "Heaven" is perhaps the most quoted of all songs on this album ("Heaven is a place where nothing ever happens...!") Brilliant but cold, it does remind me of (the great) Neil Young at his most ponderous and protracted. "Animals" is what we are, capiche? Funky, and a little skunky. "They're livin' on nuts and berries..."

Like objects "Paper" upon which he writes his lyrics, or "Mind" from which ideas spring, the artist's "Electric Guitar" is essential and that track comes across like a 1950s Sci-Fi homage to the institutional claim of one's art, or perhaps the fascist claim of same by the state, or more likely, the cognescenti (i.e. the New York press or Rolling Stone magazine) bringing FEAR OF MUSIC back to personal expression and the hold of such expression on the artist, both fearful and funny. "Someone controls electric guitar...Someone controls electric guitar..."

The last track "Drugs" is an afterthought nightmare dream float you forget in the night, a footnote, a dream float, an insight and epiphany, the last secret little piece...

Produced by Brian Eno, who may have been a bit heavy handed here or there, but only in comparison with the HEADS' followup, FEAR OF MUSIC remains a mesmerizing album that is also underrated. Perceived by some as an extention of MORE SONGS ABOUT BUILDINGS AND FOOD, but FEAR OF MUSIC is moving towards the HEADS' masterpiece and has a unique transitional quality. Not exactly loveable, hardly perfect, but nonetheless groundbreaking, fascinating, and essential. There would be no REMAIN IN LIGHT if there was not FEAR OF MUSIC.

Music Review:

Music Review

music review