More Songs About Buildings And Food
Talking Heads
1978
Album Summary
More Songs About Buildings and Food is the second studio album by American rock band Talking Heads, released on July 14, 1978, by Sire Records. It was the first of three albums produced by collaborator Brian Eno, and saw the band move toward a danceable style, crossing singer David Byrne's unusual delivery with new emphasis on the rhythm section composed of bassist Tina Weymouth and drummer Chris Frantz. More Songs established Talking Heads as a critical success, reaching number 29 on the US Billboard Pop Albums chart and number 21 on the UK Albums Chart. The album featured the band's first top-thirty single, a cover of Al Green's "Take Me to the River".
WikipediaThere are too many Talking Heads albums on this list. Just like all the others, about a third of these tracks are okay, the other two-thirds are pointless, repetitive, boring, or annoying. I'm being generous with two stars.
Frustrating. Talking Heads are a band I always think I should like way more than I do. Until we try again in another 12 months Mr Byrne.
Super fun and catchy. Realizing more and more why some rando on RYM described LCD Soundsystem as a carbon copy of Talking Heads (in a good way), even though he was totally wrong.
This is the Talking Heads before Afrobeat really took over as an influence. I really enjoy the second half of this album a lot and I think it is paced very well. The playing is incredibly tight (the drums on I’m Not In Love are *chef kiss*) and some wild guitar effects to make it extra funky. I tend to prefer more of their later output, but this one is still very nice and has a lot of songs that I show people if they ask about good Talking Heads starter songs. Favorite track: I’m Not In Love Least favorite track: The Good Thing
The beginning of their collaboration with Eno and where they really start to take off. Eno came in and bring just the right amount of punch and flourish to the mix. This is a real nice midpoint in their sound as they continued to evolve. Love how the album starts by just ripping right into it. So much forward momentum on this album.
Every Talking Heads song sounds the same to me. I just don't really care for them too much. Favorite Tracks: "Take Me to the River"
I like what comes after this album, but holy god I cannot stand this album. Highlights: 1.
Great album. It’s interesting to consider just how weird David Byrne’s cadence / singing patterns were.
Pretty cool, I liked this a lot. Everything sounds tight without being overly clean, the basslines are really fun, and the lyrics are interesting to think about. Last few songs kinda fell off imo. 4.5
More bass + breaks than would've epxected David Byrne sounds a bit like RuPaul? Cover of that Big Mouth Billy bass song that reminds me of Tony Soprano beating up Georgie with the fish :( fav track: The Girl Wants To Be With The Girls
Day 37 of Albums You Must Hear.. More Songs About Buildings and Food is the second album from New Wave band Talking Heads. I reviewed their debut album ‘77 about a month ago and enjoyed it. Talking Heads sophomore offering finds the band with a new producer, Brian Eno, who would help the band add a bit more danceability to their already polished sound, resulting in Talking Heads coming more into their own style that would become more and more “uniquely them” for the next few years. On MSABAF, singer David Byrne would broaden his singing a bit more, bassist Tina Weymouth and drummer Chris Frantz would bring even more of a pulse to the rhythm section and Jerry Harrison would continue to create funky synthesizer and guitar effects. The cover of Al Green’s Take Me to the River was a smash hit for the band and is an absolute gem! I’m Not in Love is another great track that can easily get stuck in your head all day. I had fun with Talking Heads More Songs About Buildings and Food and their unique approach to punk rock. Please share your thoughts, memories and opinions!!
more dorky 70s rock.... it's not awful but there really doesn't need to be so much of it on this list. 2/5.
Talking Heads you say? Well they're no Stuart Maconie in the talking heads stakes. When was the last time you saw David Byrne on one of those I Heart The 1980s, I Heart the 1990s, I Heart Whatever Happened A Week Last Tuesday TV shows? And when was the last time Stuart Maconie wasn't featured in one of those I Heart The 1980s, I Heart the 1990s, I Heart Whatever Happened A Week Last Tuesday TV shows? Byrne just isn't putting the work in to be considered a real top level talking head. He's just not in the conversation when Channel 4 are looking for someone to reminisce about the first series of Big Brother. This album is great though, I'm sure Maconie has pretended he remembers its release vividly on some nostalgia-fest TV show or other.
I really enjoyed this album, more than I thought I would. After all the "challenging" prog and art rock that this list has been suggesting, I was braced for more despite my general appreciation for talking heads. This album was listenable end-to-end and I found myself picking my head up from my work to just sit and enjoy it. Really good stuff.
As TH no. 1 fan ;) I think that this album should be replaced by Speaking With Tongues, which to my best knowledge isn't among the 1000 (and one). Still, it's great to observe the transformation of the band from '77 to Fear Of Music. If you ever wondered how the mix of '77 and FOM would look like, that's the answer. When you listen to all the band's albums, it'll become very clear that an album like "More Songs..." had to be recorded. For me it always seemed like a natural step and maybe that's why I wasn't focusing on it. But songs like: "Thank You for Sending Me an Angel", "Found a Job'', "I'm Not in Love", "Stay Hungry", "The Big Country" and "Take Ne to the River" are absolutely TOP. I also have to say that "The Good Thing" sounds too calm and predictable for a TH song and "Artist Only" sounds too much like a Talking Heads song.
The first of a trio of masterpieces (and my second-favorite of the bunch). There is not an ounce of fat on this record and not a single disposable track. I would also recommend this as the perfect introduction album for Talking Heads. The Big Country is my favorite track.
This and the other two albums in the "Eno Trilogy" were a staple of my teenage listening. Talking Heads were my band and spoke to this oddball from the suburbs, I even used "Artists Only" as a tag for a little while. This album is testament to the fact that they were four talented artists, not just David Byrne's dog and pony show
Love Talking Heads and this album delivers exactly what I want from them. Excellent follow up to their debut Talking Heads: 77, it’s like a seamless continuation of that album. I’m Not in Love is my new favourite Talking Heads song.
I absolutely adore Talking Heads and David Byrne in general. They are so creative and different and such an excellent sound in everything they do. I'm currently reading David Byrne's book How Music Works which is great and he outlook on what music is and 'how it works' is great. This album really shows so many different aspects of what makes great music great. Also I think Tina Weymouth is the best bassist I know of, Talking Heads basslines are so so good and a big fat middle finger up to people who think bass is just a necessary but boring thing, the bass in Talking Heads is so integral to their sound.
Listening to this album has brought me to an entire day of Talking Heads and it's a discovery I really enjoyed. Now I've likely listened to most albums once or twice in my life before, but it has made for a great day with some incredible music. First of all, this album itself, it's so incredibly infectious and fun. The basslines are jumpy, the lyrics are different, the music is clever. And, what's more, it's a strong album. There's no song to skip, not even the Al Green cover.
‘Jerky funk rhythms’ is a good description. I’ve never heard of this album, nor heard any of the songs. Outstanding, very pleasantly surprised. You know it’s good when you want to play it the 3rd time without a break. Their 2nd LP and the first of 3 produced by Brian Eno. This is interesting, lots going on. Love the band, not sure about the voice at this early stage but the rhythm of the voice and the lyrics bring it together and the rhythm is excellent, would be great live. Can’t help but move to this. Love the sound, the production, the bass in particular sounds amazing. Sounds indie at times, jangly guitars, but always with a funky drums & bass. Music to lose yourself in at the gig or on the dance floor.
I am very familiar with TALKING HEADS with being a fan having and listening to their second album, MORE SONGS ABOUT BUILDINGS AND FOOD, along with most of their entire oeuvre. After re-listening to MORE SONGS ABOUT BUILDINGS AND FOOD, this album still great and fresh as it was in 1978. In 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die, along with TALKING HEADS - MORE SONGS ABOUT BUILDINGS AND FOOD, their debut, third and fourth albums are also listed: TALKING HEADSː 77 (1977); FEAR OF MUSIC (1979); REMAIN IN LIGHT (1980) Rate Artist: TALKING HEADS (5.0) Rate Album (Year): MORE SONGS ABOUT BUILDINGS AND FOOD (US 1978 Original) (5.0) Rate Album (Year): MORE SONGS ABOUT BUILDINGS AND FOOD (US 2006 Rhino version) (5.0) Ranking of TALKING HEADS - MORE SONGS ABOUT BUILDINGS AND FOOD songs No. Title Length Ranking 01. "Thank You for Sending Me an Angel" 2:11 09.5/10 02. "With Our Love" 3:30 08.5/10 03. "The Good Thing" 3:03 10.0/10 04. "Warning Sign" 3:55 10.0/10 05. "The Girls Want to Be with the Girls" 2:37 10.0/10 06. "Found a Job" [a] 5:00 10.0/10 07. "Artists Only" 3:34 10.0/10 08. "I'm Not in Love" 4:33 10.0/10 09. "Stay Hungry" 2:39 10.0/10 10. "Take Me to the River" 5:00 10.0/10 11. "The Big Country" 5:30 10.0/10 US 1978 Original Release 108.0/110 = 9.82 / 2 = 4.91 Bonus Tracks (CD Side Only) 12. “Stay Hungry” (1977 Version) 3:47 10.0/10 13. “I'm Not In Love” (Alternate Version) 5:17 10.0/10 14. “The Big Country” (Alternate Version) 5:03 10.0/10 15. “Thank You For Sending Me An Angel” ("Country Angel" Version) 2:11 10.0/10 US 2006 Rhino Release 148.0/150 = 9.87 / 2 = 4.93
I think this album is a big step up from Talking Heads' first album, even though a lot of the songs at first have a similar feel to the first album. There's a lot more of this album I know though, whether it's from "Stop Making Sense" or greatest hits. My 2 favorite songs: 1) "Thank You For Sending Me An Angel" - every time I hear this song, I envision Jackie Gleason dancing. It just has that musical freneticism to it. 2) "Take Me To The River" - It's so weird to hear the original Al Green version now. This one is so definitive to me. Although not my favorite of their albums (either Fear of Music or Remain In Light), there were so many of the songs I sang along to in the car while listening to it.
"More Songs About Buildings and Food" is the Talking Heads' second studio album and the first of three collaborated with Brian Eno. The music is more rhythm and dance driven with quirky, jangly guitars and Eno's keyboards overlaying. Tina Weymouth (bass) and Chris Frantz (drums) really come to the forefront and in a lot of these songs. David Byrne's lyrics are sometimes about relationships, other times not. When they are, it is usually in a weird and original context. This is a fantastic album. The album cover is a photomosaic using 539 close-up Polaroids. Another interesting fact: the song title comes from a title suggestion for their first album of "Songs About Buildings and Food." They just added the More. The rollicking "Thanks You for Sending Me an Angel" begins the album with drums kicking in. Percussions would be added later. Somewhat chaotic/frenetic guitar comes in. It appears to have somewhat non-sensical lyrics...about parenting a baby? The song was a definite highlight of "Stop Making Sense." The first side continues the fast rhythmic pace and ends with another "Stop Making Sense" standout "Found a Job." Here's where Weymouth and Frantz really lay the funk. Weird and interesting keyboards. Some more original lyrics about making a relationship more interesting than what the couple sees on TV. One of my favorite Talking Heads songs. Side two continues the pace but ends on two slower-paced songs. Tina Weymouth lays a great bass line on the Al Green cover "Take Me to the River." Great vocals by Byrne and a somewhat surprising US top 40 hit. Slide guitar highlights "The Big Country." Does David want to live between NYC and LA or doesn't he or is he poking fun at coastal elitists? A lot of days " More Songs About Buildings and Food" is my favorite Talking Heads album which is saying a lot since they have a few outstanding ones. Obviously, an album highly, highly recommended for a listen.
Got this a few weeks ago and originally gave it a 3 and forgot about it, but haven’t stopped listening to it today. Vocals were so unique. drums and bass spazzed the entire album. Take me to the river and the big country was an extremely powerful 1 2 punch to close out the album. “Everything Hit” - Nav
Great album, sounds stronger than their first and you can feel the confidence through the strong grooves throughout.
It’s just a mesmerising collection of rhythms and auditory patterns. Like Jackson Pollock on a 45.
you can really see brian eno’s influence on this album, and it feels like exactly what i want from the talking heads.
Way better than the other album I listened to! Solid nice vibes, bouncy and light with a few bangers. 4 cuz it’s better than the last lol but I’m being generous
It's the talking heads, who doesn't love them. Imagine the mountains of cocaine that fuel this odessy.
Great album with a unique sound without going overboard with instruments. Love the bass lines and guitar riffs. Drums aren't bad too. Cool album but not absolutely killer songs. High 3.5
Enjoyable with interesting vocals, not a genre I'd typically choose to listen to but I do think I got something out of it
Short, sharp, tight funky. Take me to the river is an all time cover. Brian Eno is a genius
I absolutely should love this I really love the talking heads and I have yet to hear this album thank you 1001 albums
Great introductory album to Talking Heads for someone that hasn't heard much of their material beyond singles. Highlights Byrne's weirdness without being overbearing. Didn't pay enough attention to track names to give fave/least fave
Awesome Talking Heads album. Lesser known tracks, as well as some greatest hits. Good energy, definitely can understand the influence they had on Trey/Phish. Highlights: -Thank You for Sending Me an Angel -Take me to the River -Stay Hungry -The Girl Wants to Be with Girls
The Talking Heads do a thing and they do it well. I enjoyed many of these songs though none of them really knocked my socks off. Between a 3 and 4, will round up.
Pretty great early Talking Heads. You can hear their future sound blossoming mixed in with a lot of funk riffs.
J’aime lemson du groupe. Mais çe n’est pas memorable. Les tounes sont entrainantes et je n’ai pas vu le temps passe, a s’ecoute bien 4*
I really like the first song and there are some great moments throughout. I got kinda tired of David Byrne over the course of an entire album but the upbeat and zany songs were generally fun to listen to. 2021 really is the year I actually listen to Talking Heads.
Noch deuten sich die ganz großen Würfe nur an, werden skizziert, daher wirkt vieles noch prototypisch, anderes wiederum großartig zu Ende gedacht (z.B. „Stay Hungry“). Was jedoch ganz klar ist: Zeitlosigkeit - mehr als 40 (!!!) Jahre später könnte dieses Album durchaus so aufgenommen werden. Visionary 3.5
I only recently started diving into the Talking Heads catalog after watching Stop Making Sense. I had only known the hits but there’s so much more to them.
I liked this! I actually listened to it twice while doing homework because it was groovy and chill. Didn't seem to take itself too seriously. 4+
Talking heads are such an interesting band. I both really love them and also never listen to them.
A compelling album, complex and at times challenging listen. Let’s going on and lots to enjoy and demands further listens.
Thank You for Sending Me an Angel, The Good Thing, Warning Sign, I'm Not in Love, The Big Country - норм темы. Found a Job и Artists Only - какофония душная. Остальное вроде приятно-слушабельно. Напрягает подход к вокальным партиям, из-за которого порой кажется, что вокалёр только уловил ритм и просто хочет что-нибудь спиздануть в микрофон. Наверное, это дохуя экспериментально и концептуально, но ведь без всей этой шляпы группа тупо внятнее и приятнее звучит. Да и мозгоебучие звуковые диссонансы особо приятностей не доставляют. Но если отбросить это всё - вполне неплохое музло, которое, сложись иначе обстоятельства, вполне мог бы слушать. Не сейчас и не в этой жизни, вероятно, но мог бы.
Ну че тут говорить, одна из моих любимых групп эвер. Причем стала таковой на ракетной тяге всего двух альбомов. Остальные я послушивал постольку-поскольку, но слишком сильно не проникался. Песни про здания и еду к ним тоже можно отнести, но здесь, на мой взгляд, группа показывает максимальную вариативность и экспериментальность, что было не слишком-то присуще дебютнику, на мой взгляд. Позже на альбомах Remain in Light и Speaking in Tongues эта формула будет совмещена с поп-ориентированностью и позволит нам получить две великих пластинки. Ну а это скорее разогрев, впрочем 8 вполне легитимно поставлю
Još jedan odličan album Talking Headsa. Moguće je da mi je u top 3 njihovih albuma. Dosta razigran album, pozitivne vibre.
Second album by a band I never consciously listened to. This is also an era in musical history I never really paid much attention to. I still believe that most generations tend to listen to their contemporaries, so there's nothing inherently strange about that. "The Good thing" stands out. "Take me to the river" is a bop
Had these songs stuck in my head all day after listening. This is one I have underrated in the past in favor of other TH albums, but it's definitely up there with the best.
A great album which starts as it means to go on. The classic Talking Heads rhythms propelling David Byrne's lyrics along at full pace. The funky element of the band is at the fore throughout. A band at the top of their game.
“More Songs About Buildings and Food” by Talking Heads (1978) The title is a big clue. Of course there’s no mention of either buildings or food throughout this entire album (mostly boy/girl evocations) until you get to the final track, which is all about the contrast between the city (where they build buildings) and the countryside (where they produce food). This is a great example of the use of obscurity to draw the listener in, and this last, climactic track is the closest you’re ever likely to get to New Wave Country/Western. This ultimate theme of the urban/rural distinction is more than just demographic curiosity. Remember, ‘parody’ does not equal ‘joke’. Think Soviet Union in 1933 or China in 1960. Mass lethality. But this is an American band, these Talking Heads. And so there is something to celebrate when songwriter/lead ‘vocalist’ David Byrne says “I wouldn’t live there [in the country] if you paid me.” He has the freedom to choose. That’s what’s “big” about “The Big Country”, where folks that produce the food sustain the people who build the buildings. For a fee. Then he trails off in the finale (“goo goo ga ga”), leaving the listener wondering who’s being infantilized. Maybe it’s all of us. This not deep, but it does provide opportunity for meaningful reflection, which is high praise for popular music. And by the way, if you’re sucked in into buying the “Bonus Edition” (2005), this artistic structure is ruined. The album is well produced (Brian Eno), and marks a significant advance over their immediately preceding debut album. The use of backing vocals definitely improves the sound (especially by Tina and the Typing Pool on "The Good Thing"). The head-bobbing, danceable rhythms showcase once again the gifted Tina Weymouth on bass (“Found a Job”!). She gleefully abandons the standard 1-4-5 thump-a-thump for some fine countermelodies and signature chromatic riffs. She’s really good. Ya gotta listen on studio headphones (none of those “earbuds”), and flatten the EQ. Clean and playful guitar. A fine listening experience. I could play “Songs About Buildings and Food” all day, and probably will. 4/5
what an awesome look at their early days. i've always loved covers, and take me to the river is no exception. (al green!)
This was pretty good! It wasn't the most memorable tbh but I enjoyed it and saved it for later!
Another excellent album by Talking Heads. This is their first collaboration with Eno in a series of perfect (or near-perfect) albums. Starting this album, the sound gets funkier, and Byrne's voice gets a lot weirder and more aggressive, best seen in the sexual frustration in "The Girl Wants to Be With the Boys" and critic annoyance in "Artists Only." Through the atmospheric synths and Byrne's accompanying delivery of the lyrics, the stories he tells are clear and imaginative. Being an Eno collab, there are awesome synth moments like the end of "Found a Job." Ironically, I thought their big break track "Take Me to the River" was their weakest track (I like Al Green, but it's not punk and it doesn't have the full charm of funk). I thought "The Big Country" was pretty funny and the parodic use of country tunes, and I love how they used that song to open their shows in the midwest or south. Most tracks don't stand well on their own except for their impressive moments, but together they make for a great album experience. I felt their collaboration improves vastly to perfection starting in the next album.
Probably my favorite THeads album. The opening song; Thank you for Sending me an Angel is in my personal top 5 TH songs and Take me to the River may be my favorite cover song ever. Besides those two high points the album is consistent from beginning to end. Thanks TH for sending us this album 4.5 🌟
There wasn't much I disliked about this album, although not many songs I can list off the top of my head. The overall vibe was something I'd check out again. Very versatile.
R u talkin talking heads 2 my talkin head? I generally prefer these early TH albums to the obvious mid-career ones. This and 77 feel the most frantic and paranoid, as if everything was done in a take or two. Also, the Al Green cover rules.
Hard to complain about a talking heads album. it is not as immediate as something like fear of music, but still a great album
another talking heads - have weird guilt about my continued lack of effort getting into these guys
10/24 Upbeat, danceable pop. Standout Tracks: The Girl Wants to be With the Girls, Found a Job, Artists Only, I'm Not in Love, Stay Hungry
One of my favorite bands of all time. This record is ok but things really take off for me with their subsequent efforts (starting with "Remain in Light"). While Brian Eno is producer on this record, it feels like his impact on the sound is minimal. Almost as if the band had already written and arranged the material and Eno wasn't able to flex as much. That all changes on the next record. This is probably also the last record that features the core founding members, front and center. After this, Byrne starts bringing in aux instrumentalists ad nauseam. which is great. But, as an example of the tight four-piece that Talking Heads had become, this is The Record. The cover of "Take me to the River" is my favorite version of the song. Guitar interplay in "Artists Only" is wonderful. And, the version of "Found a Job" on "Stop Making Sense" is the moment in that film where things really start getting good. So, I appreciate the song for that reason.
Good cruising album in my mind, definitely bouncier than the earlier sound and more filled with fun.
A solid step up from what was already a fantastic debut. Their sophomore album squeezes out a little more catchiness, fun, and memorability that their first album lacked a smidge. I really enjoyed this, it comes very close to a 5 for me, but a few “good not great” tracks at the beginning of the album hold it back for me.
Amazing album. Probably Talking Heads' third best album. 8-9/10 1. The Good Thing 2. Take Me to the River 3. The Big Country
I liked this one! I hadn’t heard most of the songs and I thought I knew a lot of talking heads. Didn’t know Warning Sign by Local Natives was just a cover of Talking Heads.
Primera col.laboració amb Bryan Eno i començament de la trilogia clàssica de la banda. Disc complexe, ple de racons a descobrir en noves escoltes, sense grans singles però un conjunt molt ben tramat d'arranjaments i harmonies
really enjoyed the album. surprised at how much actually. only one really well known song, but the rest of the album filled in nicely.
Only reason I’m not giving this a 5 is because I’m reserving that rank for at least two other TH albums. Still at least a 4.5 for me
The Talking Heads being the Talking Heads. I can tolerate them to a point, but David Byrne just annoys me. 3.5/5
For a band that I like as much as Talking Heads, I'm surprised that I was only familiar with one song on this album, "Take Me to the River". "Thank You for Sending Me an Angel" has the potential of becoming a new favorite track for me, and "Found a Job" was a reminder (but not a surprise) of what Tina added to the band. This album sounded like the Talking Heads, and there's definitely room for this album to grow on me.
I like the Talking Heads and this album. It seems odd that this particular album is on the list though - they have a couple more popular albums with bigger hits.
The band banished solos permanently and anchored rhythms very clearly. The production is meticulous and you can feel the "touch" of Eno implemented in some songs. (7/10) FT: Found a Job, Take Me to the River
So far it is one of those that I liked the most, because it has a more metallic sound so to speak, very Industrial for the types of instruments that are playing. I think it's pretty good, quite nice, maybe one of the ones that most resembles my style of musical taste.
Well I love Talking Heads, they make me reminiscent for a time I was not a part of. Plenty of bangers on here including the Big Mouth Billy Bass song. I was so delighted a few years ago when I found out TH covered that song.
“The tension between Byrne's compulsive flights and the sinuous rock bottom of the music is the focus.”
Talking Heads, before David Byrne began to act like he was some kind of music genius. Fabulous from the first to the last minute.
Listened Before? N Talking Heads! I like these guys. Pros: I love the sound. They're good at what they do. This early stuff is even better than their well-known things. Cons: Can get repeaty at times. If you're not in the mood for the sound of one song, you won't be in the mood for any of them. Added to Library? Y Songs Added to Playlist: Found a Job, Take me to the River
Gotta love some Talking Heads. They're one of the few new wave bands I was familiar with before starting this project. Post-punk, but not miserable, and often delightfully abstract! Right up my alley... Fave track - "Take Me To The River", perhaps, or "The Good Thing"...
Not my favorite TH album, but still has some great tracks and I still love Byrne's voice.
Really good! I don't know why I never listened to The Talking Heads earlier in my life. Somehow I missed them early on, but have really loved them the past few years. Of course I love "Take Me to the River".
Surprised I liked this so much as I wasn’t fond of their other album. Good job Talking Heads
Très intéressant, définitivement à réessayer et essayer les autres albums de Talking Heads.
The thing about Talking Heads is that it's just always a fun listen. I think in my younger days I would have hated it, but now I'm always happy to hear David Byrne being a total weirdo. This was a fun album, with good funky bass and guitar rhythms to David's unusual delivery.
4 stars. Very danceable, and less avant-garde than I feel some of their later stuff is
Talking Heads are the best weird band in the world. Just look at the album title. This album has some big songs and some great, underrated tunes too.
In 1977, the Talking Heads had a vague idea of their sound but nothing was really cemented. In 1978, the Talking Heads had Brian Eno. I can't overstate Eno's influence enough. A distinct focus on rhythm and leaning into David Byrne's distinct style as a frontman leads to More Songs About Buildings And Food being a more polished, focused sound for the band compared to their debut album. I think it's a great step up and the first true album that is the Talking Heads' signature sound. Iconic.
I like this album. Somehow it has a simplicity to it that's unassuming and makes it pleasant to listen to. Also seems more straightforward than an album like Remain In Light, which I honestly enjoy more from Talking Heads as a band. There are some certified bops on this record!
another first full album listened to by a band that i apparently liked. great stuff, and shame on me
Highlights: Thank You for Sending Me an Angel, With Our Love, Found a Job, I'm Not in Love, The Big Country
6/23/2022 - ALBUM #147 Today's Album: "More Songs About Buildings And Food" by Talking Heads - Boy am I glad to get to a Talking Heads album on this generator! I've heard many of the hits from them but I always had a feeling the listening experience of one of their full albums would be a treat, and it absolutely is. The production feels so clear and real, with each instrument coming through super crisp and it helps that each member of the band is just absolutely killing it from front to back. The bassist especially cought my attention for being really meolidic, even when the beat is fast and wild. I really have grown to love David Byrne as a vocalist and this album feels like it was early on enough for him to have a pretty straightforward approach with it. I just love the way they construct their songs as well, with enough space for the band to really let loose and create some really unique, but accessable grooves. The last minute of the song I'm Not In Love is a great example of this. I also think they do a really good job at making really accessable songs too like with the really cute guitar riff in The Good Thing and the amazing blues groove on Take Me to the River. I also really like the flow of this album, with a lot of tracks feeling like they intentionally start with a similar sound to the last track, while still maintaining diversity amongst the track list. Overall, I think this album was a fantastic introduction to the talking heads, showing off the early song-writing of David Byrne and the amazing instrumental chops of the whole band. Give this one if you like a few Talking Heads songs and really want to dive into an incredibly well presented and cohesive project. Highlights: Thank You for Sending Me an Angel, The Good Thing, Warning Sign, Found A Job, Artists Only, I'm Not in Love, Stay Hungry, Take Me to the River, The Big Country Score: 8/10 No one does it quite like Talking Heads
Tina does what tina does. That punchy short scale bass goodness. Some really interesting songs and guitar playing. Some times the guitar tone is a bit harsh but i think thats on purpose. Got some absolute classics on here
Not there best album… but still great. The funk, the groove, the esoteric lyrics… enjoyed!
Before "More Songs...", I was only aware of Talking Heads from their most popular mainstream songs, none of which are present on this album, making for a pleasantly new listening experience! After finishing the album, I can definitively say that I am a big fan of the band's frenetically quirky style. On first listen, a few tracks don't stand out as distinctly from the others as I would have liked, but the album flows with such a consistent upbeat energy that it was never boring. I suspect my opinion will only become more favourable on repeat listens. It's also very cool to hear the obvious influence on some of my favourite modern artists like Modest Mouse and LCD Soundsystem in Talking Heads' sound. It's a style that holds up amazingly well over 40 years (!!!) later. Standout tracks: "Thank You for Sending Me an Angel", "Warning Sign", "Found a Job", "Take Me to the River" and "The Big Country"
Couldn't fit a fag paper between this and Remain In Light and luckily I don't need to. My favourite between the two depends which mood I'm in, and this caught me in a favourable one. I love how lost Byrne sounds. Despite the boldness of his statements, he doesn't know how he wants to live, work, or love. He's merely figuring his shit out by trying on different looks. Having blast while he does it, too, if the dance-oriented grooves and Velvets-y scratched guitars are any indication. Plus his most bonkers vocals ever.
The first half is kinda slow starting, but once you hit Found a Job, it all changes and hits a great crescendo with Take Me to the River and The Big Country.
I found this to be a lot of fun! Atop a bedrock of itchy, manic anti-funk we have a load of ideas and textures that all come together nicely. 'Found A Job' is a delight. This album also happens to contain one of my favourite ever covers - I don't think there's a better version of 'Take Me to the River' out there.
19th August 2022 Listened during the day on Friday. Getting things together for Meg and Em’s wedding in London over the weekend. I love Talking Heads, this process has really hit them home for me. This is perhaps their most “accessible” album? Rockier and less experimental than others but no less for it.
Catchy, boppy, fun to listen to. The production is top notch, so many interesting details.
This is such a funky and fun Talking Heads album. Classic Byrne bouncing around, seemingly having fun, but technically sound!
Great. Does not reach the heights of Remain in Light but is a necessary step that is unique and interesting in its own right. No hits as such though there are certain riffs that provide hooks. Favourite track so far is Warning Sign.
The songs that I will listen to a lot are "With Our Love", "Warning Sign", "Found a Job". I really like the Talking Heads: always have, always will. And this was a good album. However, their repeated song structure wears a little thin when you are listening to them an entire album at a time.
Fun and funky songs for the mildly alienated. Disco for art students, but way better than that description sounds.
Enjoyed the opener a lot, lots of future influence within the Talking Heads and this album is not an exception. The vocal inflections of the lead singer remind me a lot of Keith Strickland from the B-52s, the iconic exaggerated inflections really give the Talking Heads a unique sound. Overall, I enjoyed this record quite a bit, but it isn't the greatest thing I've ever heard. Not bad at all for the first record on the docket, I'd give it a solid 7/10
Starts off like normal rock, but as the album progresses the song become hectic. The vocals start making no sense and the instrumentals get louder in a way. I like the main sound of the album and I like the transitioning from basic rock, to unhinged, then back to a sad song.
Definitely some good songs, and I think I could give 5 stars to a different talking heads album. Just something about this falls a little flatter than I might like
I’m a big fan from just about all the way back, and especially of the earlier catalog through Speaking in Tongues. This album kicks off so hard that I feel like it can’t quite carry that energy through the whole thing, but it’s all good songs and absolutely sticks the landing.
Eno's producer sound doesn't really click for me, even after hearing his solo output. Solid songs, the second half especially, but not nearly as strong as those on the first album. The emphasis on the rhythm section is neat, but everything on top of it is a bit sparse.
I do like Talking Heads, though this isn't my favourite album of theirs. Some good songs , and love Tina Weymouth's bass playing, but I feel like they perfected their chops on later records. Still very much worth a listen.
It’s the Talking Heads, of course it is going to be fantastic. It was! Why though? Instrumentation, is why. This is a band, not a pop group, so there is more to listen to than just lyrics and basic rhythms