Reviews (page 11 of 15)
Love the Talking Heads. Love David Byrne. No notes.
Good in places. Faded a bit as it went on.
I feel like it started strong and faded a little, but it's probably one i'll come back to
Heard this a while ago and didn't think much of it. Sounds better with age.
Hearing this album makes me feel like I'm constantly in a high speed chase. A little too melancholy in some spots for me but overall very fun Once in a Lifetime is probably the standout for me.
Some great songs on here. Houses in Motion is terrific but Listening Wind really stood out this time. We are so lucky to have Talking Heads
I keep trying to get into talking heads but I just can’t, there’s too much going on
I mean it's a classic what more can I say
As expected, an anchoring album of the 80s
Well that was as ‘Talking Heads’ as an album could be.
I only ever had a greatest hits for the Talking Heads, so I don't know what a full album experience will be like. Honestly I was intimated and wasn't sure when and where to start. But very excited for this. This rules, plain and simple.
New Wave und experimentell. Nun ja.
I didn't really like the first song too much (repetitive), but loved the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th songs. I can see how they were a vibe in the 80s - eclectic and also accessible. Both/and.
Top so far
Awesome sound
I started really enjoying this around minute 40.
Ohhhh yes please, gimme more! I love Talking Heads, I don’t necessarily know why as it’s not massively aligned with the rest of my music, but I just do! Just makes me feel happy to imagine David Byrne doing his funny little dances. Simpsons: Byrne has guest starred and him and the band mentioned quite a few times!
First listened to this whilst on a very windy hike. It didn't fit the vibe, but thought I heard bits I'd quite like. Decided to give it another listen at home, in case it deserved a 4. As each song passed on the second listen, it got worse and worse, until it couldn't get any worse.
Not a fan. The only song that I will listen to again is once in a lifetime
Talking heads are a band that I feel I should really like but they just don’t click for me for some reason
I loved this shit. Such cool African influences — shoutout Fela Kuti… also some Caribbean/ Soca influences? Yessir
Once in a lifetime is a classic epic song, but the rest of the album doesn't hold up. Frenzied, jarring and very memorable.
We enjoyed this album, listened to on the train back home. That one popular song was still good (we don't remember the name). Other than that, no standout tracks but all around pretty good.
A fresh blend of funk, new wave, and early hip hop that makes liberal use of loop tracks. Sounds very much that a prelude to Eno’s later instrumental forays, though the Talking Heads deliver lots of character through vocals, guitar, and especially bass to keep songs interesting. Very cool exploratory album that still sounds exciting today. Stand out tracks include “Born Under Punches”, “Houses in Motion”, and “Seen and Not Seen”.
Fast beats, funky sounds, interesting voices and rythms. Some songs like listening wind are more hippie feeling, and the last part of the album is slower. So far 4 stars
David Byrne's style is so eclectic that the music he and the Talking Heads create is the very definition of an acquired taste. Their style is so weird and peculiar, but not necessarily difficult to listen to. This album wasn't bad but it didn't seem to exceed past a rating of 3.
Good album with inventive rhythms. I always seem to enjoy Talking Heads.
I've always thought this was overhyped. I prefer earlier Talking Heads
Not bad, I felt like a lot of the songs were really lengthy and were just going on and on for no particular reason - like, I get it. The quirky new wave sound is neat though Favorite song: Once in a Lifetime Least favorite song: Listening Wind
This doesn’t feel like their best album. The majority of the tracks were kitschy performance tracks. Which, to be fair, is what Talking Heads do.
Never liked the Talking Heads and this didn’t change that
Once in a Lifetime is a five star song. But in the while this us not a five star album. Too much talking vs singing, percussion vs melody. I know they have an album I enjoy more, hopefully it will show up on the list.
Epic, influenced so many bands.
Was really liking it, didn’t realize the album ended, a Flaming Lips song auto-played after and I was like “damn I really, REALLY like this” (just really liked it)
The definition of “scaring the hoes” music
Not rlly my vibe
More like talking dead
-gibt bessere Alben der Band (Talking heads '77). -Liebliongssongsong "Once in a lifetime" -1001 >> https://open.spotify.com/episode/54W220HlWXWf02kozb8ZG2?si=525a7a1e3fc14cb5 -Jetzt im Kino Stop Making sense (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-rjMwSTeVeo) -cooler Tänzer (https://www.instagram.com/dailydavidbyrnedances/?hl=de)
I just had "Talking Heads 77" 3 days ago, and wasn't impressed at all. In the 3 years between "77" and "Remain in light" Talkingheads have somehow moved from something that I didn't enjoy at all, to something I absolutely love, and that will enter my normal music rotation. It's faster and more upbeat, and just all around more stuff going on. Absolutely brilliant.
Still an extremely listenable album, rhythmically and the distinctive vocals of David Byrne are simply a novelty. .. all I want is to breath.
Amazing album
Such a creative album. If Stop Making Sense is the best concert film I’ve ever seen this album contributes a lot to that. 4.5/5
This wasn't a bad album. Nothing grabbed me emotionally so it was just alright.
an incredible album. Really nothing else needs said. A never skip
I try every time but I do not like the Talking Heads.
I really enjoy the Talking Heads. Sometimes they can be a little much for me, but overall I really enjoy their music, and this album is no exception. "Born Under Punches," "Crosseyed and Painless," and "Once in a Lifetime" are the best songs on here, but they're all pretty good. This is between a 4 and 5 for me, but I've been listening to "Born Under Punches" on repeat all day, so it's getting a 5.
It never struck me before how much funk is in the compositions. It is odd music with austere vocals at times. Once in a Lifetime feels innovative while the theme is reflective of the human condition, easy to see how it was the breakout hit of the album in the US, at least.
Didn't really care for it.
Classic album. A few of the biggest TH tunes ever. Crossed & Painless is an all time great, and Once in a Lifetime may be their best song ever. 4.5
Love this album so much. Really intricate, but poppy new wave.
Sounds ok Some really weird songs. Song plays in spotify go in descending order of plays. I guess a lot of people try this album and can't make it through. Once in a Lifetime is a good song Album doesn't seem to really flow. a few songs are good, but I probably wouldn't listen to it start to finish.
Once in a Lifetime and a bunch of other BS
Decent album
Pretty awesome
The second Talking Heads album I've ever listened to and I like it much, much better.
An ok one
Love, love, love this band so much. Such a unique sound that blends so many different genres into a beautiful, interesting whole. That's basically the recipe for my perfect album. Favorite track: Once in a Lifetime
Didn’t realise Once In A Lifetime was a Talking Heads song. Rest was OK too.
I enjoyed this much more than Fear of Music, though the songs are a bit overly long. Once in a Lifetime is an obvious classic, but then I think this is a little more contemporary. It's still avant garde and embracing the Talking Heads sound, but it also is far more approachable.
typischer bass, schlagzeug, bongos - talking heads! mir haben es vor allem auch die „unfinished outtake“ am ende der remastered-version angetan.
Dieses Album gefällt mir besser als das Debütalbum. Schneller, rhythmischer.
I was surprised that I liked this to be honest. I'm not typically a fan of the talking heads, it's all a little too 80s on the nose for me but this - with its global influences - was an enjoyable listen
I'm glad that I listened to both of the Talking Heads albums on the same day. Earlier, I listened to Talking Heads: 77, and one of my main critiques was that the vocals just needed to be tightened up. They listened, obviously, and three years later they came out with this. The vocals are tighter, and they even harmonized and added some background vocals. Everything I said about the other one still applies here. Great album. Great band. Same as it ever was.
Not gonna lie, thought I was in for a stinker upon listening to the first song, but the songs got better. This is one of those albums where I thought the songs were generally fine, but would I go out of my way to listen to them? No. I recognized Once in a Lifetime and I do like that song, but if it already wasn't exposed to me through pop culture/radio, would it stick out? I'm not sure it would. All around average.
Very funky stuff. Loved the intricate percussion. Also interesting guitar riffs thoughout. Once in a Lifetime is a jam. A lot of the other tracks felt like filler though. Artsy weird stuff that I did not vibe with. As a whole it was meh.
Nothing to say that hasn’t been said 100x before. I don’t like to give 5 stars unless an album is literally perfect. That’s the case here
One of their best albums. their work with Eno is a shining start
Only recognized one song. The rest was really great.
Liked the first half better than the second. Big fan of the groovy instrumentals. 3.5
6/5 from Ant Hayden
Way ahead of it's time, David Byrne and Brian Eno are simply exceptional Favourite track is overload, it has that dark and hypnotic Ian Curtis feel with it, almost impossible to believe they recorded this without listening to JD before I feel I could be doing an ELO - Out of the Blue all over again and I may regret not going full marks 4.5 / 5
Probably the best album on this list so far. One of the most influential bands ever and this is their crowning piece. Simply majestic. 5/5
4.5 AND YOU MAY FIND YOURSELF, REVIEWING A TALKING HEADS ALBUM ON A RANDOMLY GENERATED WEBSITE. AND YOU MAY FIND YOURSELF GIVING THAT AKBUM A 4.5. AND YOU MAY ASK YOURSELF, HOW DID I GET HERE?! I love albums that sound completely out of time from when they were released and this is one of them. 1980? these crafty bastards. I found it a lot more groovy than first anticipated and of course ‘Once in a Lifetime’ is a big banger - even if I do prefer the Kermit the Frog version. It’s a classic. Enough talking and give me head!
I've always respected the Talking Heads. Interesting, unique, creative, thoughtful. I've just never been able to get into the music. I find it unmoving and tedious.
A rare repeat artist. Only had a few of those so far (Metallica, A Tribe Called Quest). This is my favorite Talking Heads studio album. Has been for a while now. The use of syncopation, the influence of African rhythms and styles, the at times enigmatic, at times incredibly insightful lyrics, and the intangible mood and attitude of this album just grab me in a way no other Talking Heads album has. I’m a little biased, I think. “Speaking in Tongues” has what I consider inferior versions of songs that were in “Stop Making Sense,” so I just find it hard to listen to. “Fear of Music” (the first album I reviewed in this project), falls flat for me for most of the album and comes off as overly pretentious (not that “Remain in Light” isn’t, at times, pretentious). “Talking Heads 77” is my second favorite but it just comes with so much naivety and has a very specific sound of a band early in its lifespan that it can’t be my favorite. Anything after “Little Creatures” is just a band in decline. No, this is the best one if you ask me. This was a thrill to listen to again with a purpose. I was reminded of why I loved songs like “Born Under Punches,” “Houses in Motion,” and “The Great Curve.” Deeper cuts like “Listening Wind” earned a little more favor this time around. Overall I love this album and it’s almost cheating to hand it to me because it was an automatic five stars before I even started the first track. My one complaint about my listening experience is that the Dolby Atmos mix on Apple Music was…bad. Certain elements I felt were key to certain songs we mixed far too low and some songs almost sounded new, and not in a good way. But that’s not the album’s fault. Five stars. Standout tracks: Born Under Punches, The Great Curve, Once in a Lifetime, Houses in Motion
I think the production for this album is really wicked and really unique for its time period. However, I often dislike a lot of albums in which the lyrics are super philosophical and deep and I need to dive through genius lyrics to understand what the fuck they are talking about.
Talking heads are great & this album just reinforces it. Combining sounds from a wide array of genres to make their own unique sound.
no soy muy de grunge-punk y no conocía ni el álbum ni la banda anteriormente. sin embargo, me ha gustado mucho! gracias joan por haberme animado a finalmente empezar con esto
One classic song and not much else
It's okay, but not great in my eyes
Loooooooved it
25% biiseistä menee jatkoon ja loput vähän tökki, joten negatiivisen puolelle painuu tämä levy.
Ei ollu erikoinen
This was fun! A romp through the unique sound of Talking Heads. A bit experimental so there are some misses, but most of the songs are cool and weird.
I wonder if they would have been as popular as they were without the music videos...like the groove, don't like the voice. And, I wish he was a Union man.
Listen to this!!
I like it. Perhaps one day I’ll love it. 4/5
Their sound was interesting but the album just didnt quite hit for me
Not my favourite Talking Heads album, that's Stop Making Sense, but still really solid
My opinion did change a bit since I first listened. It's a cool album. Crosseyed and Painless is my favorite from it
Amazing album. Pushed the boundaries of music in directions that defied typical labels. I immediately went back and listened to the entire album again.
Not for me
One reason i had never listened to talking heads before was i had no idea where to start but this album was great. No skips
Silly
A good album but not my favorite. I prefer Naked and the work David Byrne has done solo. Remain In Light and the other Talking Heads Albums needed to happen to produce what was done later though. There is no bad Talking Heads album.
- I see why people like this and I especially see how it was somewhat groundbreaking in the 80s. This album is eclectic and oftentimes bizarre. - Unfortunately, it just does not do much for me. I do like "Once in a Lifetime" and see why this particular song pops up often.
This is a high 4 for me that gets pushed into the 5 territory on the virtue of its lyrics. The continued feeling of paranoia and frenzy and undeserved self-confidence and cyclicality and !!! It's all very good. We love you Talking Heads.
Absolute classic, one of the true must-hear of this collection. Everybody knows the track watching the days go by, yet it is all of the other tracks, like Crosseyed and Painless, Born Under Punches, and Houses in Motion for which is album really stand out. The Overload is the one track that doesn’t fit, and I don’t even begrudge that - just puts a backdrop for the funky light of the rest of the tracks.
"Born Under Punches!" Jesus christ... that might be one of the most memorable opening tracks of all time. I fucking love that song. "Once in a Lifetime" is one of the best songs ever made. I'd need to listen to the album in full a few more times for the rest to really grow on me.
Mid. But that song just gives it a boost
once in a lifetime!
Like this a lot more the more I heard it not my favorite album from them also not a huge talking heads guy this is still great tho mid-high 7
This album was a vibe!! It was very unique and groovy and I would definitely listen to it again :-)
I enjoyed this one thoroughly. I only knew Once In A Lifetime coming in but it’s full of great songs
At times weird but a great listen
I have mixed feelings about this album. I like some Talking Heads music, but some of their more artsy stuff can be an acquired taste. I appreciate the technological accomplishments of this album—it's essentially the first album to significantly incorporate loops, even though computer tech at the time couldn't actually handle creating them, so they had to learn to play the loops themselves. That's wild. There are some really fun grooves throughout this album. It's difficult not to bop to it. The songs with sung vocals are generally catchy too. "Once in a Lifetime" is obviously a classic. "The Great Curve" is maybe my favorite track on the album. On the other hand, the back half of the album starts to drag. The lyrics are mostly abstract nonsense (though they sometimes stumble on some cool ideas mostly by accident). The songs that are almost completely spoken word ("Houses in Motion" and "Seen and Not Seen") get a little annoying after a while. I know sing talking is what David Byrne is famous for, but this goes beyond that, and I felt like I was at some weird gallery show. Also the distorted trumpet solo in "Houses in Motion" sounds like a shofar haha. And that's my biggest complaint with this album. It feels like an art project made by white students about the things they learned in school about African music—because that's basically what it is. They listened to Fela Kuti and read some academic articles about the cultural importance and function of music in African cultures and decided they wanted to make an Afrobeat record (with some dancehall and funk thrown in). There's just something derivative and a little appropriative about it that doesn't ruin the album, but rubs some of the shine off. On that note, Jaqueline Kidjo (a singer from Benin) made a full cover album of "Remain in Light" in 2018 and it's incredible. It actually has the heart and vitality that Talking Heads attempted to imitate. Highly recommend everyone take a listen to it. I'd give it a 3.5 if I could, but am rounding down to a 3. I appreciate the technological innovation and importance of this album, and I don't dislike it, but I also don't love it.
And you might ask yourself, Why am I here? And you might ask yourself, Why am I listening to so many albums? And you might find yourself Listening to this 1980 classic And you might tell yourself, Maybe this site isn't so bad after all
I feel like I have to be in a specific mood to listen to the first 3/4th of the album. The bass tone and the rhythm is really grooving. The last two songs were transcendently dreamy, however. A great fever dream feeling
Really well done but not my type of music
Unfortunately, this album is as good as the nerds at /mu/ say it is.
I really like this album and already own it. I have heard it many times and I'm sure I will hear it many more.
Pure kinetic perfection that appropriates all the most exciting energies of its era to create something unheard and strangely alien. Relentless grooves, complex poly-rhythms, hyperactive guitars that are at once post-punk and disco, new-wave sythns, funk bass, Krautrock trance, lush gospel harmonies, intriguing imagistic lyrics and off the wall charismatic vocal delivery. Nervous, ferenetic and anxious and yet totally self-assured in vision and delivery. I've listened to this thousands of times and hope to listen thousands more, one of the best albums ever recorded.
10/10, one of the all-time favourites
I always want to love Talking Heads and am always disappointed. So sloppy and messy. Not much on here apart from Once in a Lifetime.
Another classic.
Spectacular album. Docked one star for being a little too chilly in spots.
One of my favorites from one of my favorites. I have not gotten tired of it.
I was boring in parts, but i like the sound in some songs, like "Crosseyed and Painless" and "The Great Curve".
Amazing
Good news from TVLKINGHEVDS Had not heard this one in its entirety before, the album is weird good. Liked all songs except Overload. Can’t beat Once in a Lifetime. You may (often) ask yourself; how did I get here? The cover art always seemed to me to be a nod the cover of Let It Be. Team rating (2.8*s)
Their best album. Funky songs like Born Under Punches (Take a look at these hands!), of course Once In a Lifetime, and as the last song the frightening the Overload. David Byrne sings in his best maniac-like way and the African rhythms and production by the genius Brian Eno finished it off. Well deserved that they are again very hip and hot with the re-release of the Stop making Sense concert film. Do hope we also the Speaking in Tongues album in the 1001 list.
I don't even have to turn this album on to know that it gets FIVE STARS from me. One of the most listened to albums in my life. This was part of the beginning of the spiritual awakening that listening to music gave me.
This was a fun album. We get Once in a Lifetime which is a classic. The other songs were all interesting in their own way. They didn't stay with me, but I felt like I was experiencing something while listening. Loved some of the Nigerian influences and sonics.
Whoa, another big one, within a week of Nas' Illmatic. As someone who casually peruses RateYourMusic.com from time to time, both this album and Illmatic are in the top fifteen rated albums of all time - that's part of where I get my "big one" designation. We've had a few Talking Heads albums, and none of them really clicked for me. Weird, fun fact: we've now received each of the first four Talking Heads albums, in chronological order. I made jokes in past reviews about my opinion improving and softening with each new album, and how maybe they could claw their way to a 5 star. This one is the moment of truth. Obviously it's got the big hit "Once in a Lifetime," but just in general, this album is so funky and full of life. The instrumentals are super crisp and detailed, and there's this good balance of variety and cohesion - they were definitely locked in. It's a sort of refined, alternative take on '80s new wave (and it's 1980, so ahead of that curve anyway), and it works really well here. Almost enough to make me want to revisit their other albums we heard, but I do think this is the mountaintop (and that debut really sucked if you ask me). Prior to today, I would definitely have considered this band overrated by music nerds, and I still kinda do, but now I sort of get it. I wouldn't call this a top 20 album of all time or anything, nor is it getting five stars from me today, but it's really, really great. I was pleasantly surprised how much I enjoyed it and that I wanted to replay tracks almost immediately. With time, I could potentially see it ascending to 10/10 or five star territory for me. Favorite tracks: Once in a Lifetime, Seen and Not Seen, Born Under Punches, The Great Curve, Listening Wind, Houses in Motion. Album art: I'd say this one is iconic, I've seen it plenty of times before. I love the sort of digital artifact covering over each of the faces, it just seems bizarrely modern. The faces are all in a blue filter, the coverings are a bold red. Text is nice, the upside down A's are a nice touch. Cool cover. 4.5/5
Está bien, hubo varias canciones que me gustaron.
36/1001
This album had lots of funk and 70 influence. I enjoyed it a good amount
This was better than I remember it. I do really like '77, but later Heads typically doesn't do it for me.
❤️
Always a 5, every track is perfect. TH was one of the best.
The Fela Kuti influence is clear in this one, but not as good. Overall rough, not much stood out to me. 2*.
People just did fat rails of blow then recorded absolute dog shit back in the 80s, didn't they?
couple of bangers but generally uninteresting
Wow. Excellent album all the way through. I had no idea.
take a look at these hands
Very quirky, typical David Byrne. Some tracks with little vocals, great for background music.
Listening Wind has some crazy instrumentals. Got bored with some songs when they were very repetitive. Liked a few songs and the mixing of genres.
Indisputably my favorite Talking Heads album. Every song is just full of energy and VIBES. You'd be hard pressed to find anything like this before or after their time. It's just so unique and quirky. 20/10. Cannot recommend enough. Standout Tracks: Born Under Punches, Crosseyed and Painless, Once in a Lifetime, LIstening Wind
found myself tapping my foot along to a good number of songs. some were really cool. i liked houses in motion, crosseyed and painless, and born under punches, and once in a lifetime's a classic. others didn’t do much for me though. i’d say it’s between a 3 and a 4, but i’m feeling generous today
Goeie grooves, merk nu wel echt dat ze inspiratie uit highlife halen. Wel meer waard dan een 4
Once in a lifetime and great curve only standouts
Inattendu mais vraiment bon
Weird and fun!
Typical Talking Heads album, some songs really like and others just seem rather quirky. I have always liked the band overall and Byrne singing.
I thought it was solid and contrasted each song well
It was interesting. Liked the sound of it but it was also just really weird. It wasn't necessarily a bad weird (like Public Image Ltd. or Sonic Youth) more just the album lacked consistency and even in some of the songs themselves there wasn't much unity. Not really my style but still sounded nice.
I enjoy the random, eclectic mix of sounds, instruments. great album to listen to while you're doing other stuff-up tempo & keeps you moving
Hyvää groovia ja rytmiä!
"Listening Wind"
Not really my vibe... Too much talking?
Great opening 5 tracks, how many albums can repeat that!
I love hearing the influences from this album on other albums!
I only discovered that I love Talking Heads in the last couple of years. This is a very good album. Listening this time proved that the first half is killer. And the second half is just good. Therefore it just misses the perfect rating. 4.5/5
Interessantes New Wave Album mit afrikanischen Einflüsse. Sehr abwechslungsreich aber auch sehr anstrengend arrangierte Stücke. „Once in a lifetime“ ist die Erkennungsmarke des Albums - jedoch nicht alles. Sehr spannend zu erhören ist „House in Motion“. Wiederholung möglich!
À couple of flat songs
Bit chaotic, bit weird, bit fun, bit confused. 63/100
Love any album that feels like it defines the sound of a band. This album just feels like the most Talking Heads album ever.
It was boring
It was good! The music really brings you into the song.
Interesting, unique music. Cool and funky. But not really my style - especially the vocals.
Occasionally weird, occasionally brilliant
Ey once in a lifetime what a banger :D Es isch cool aber d Lieder fühled sich schnell sehr repetitiv Ah (aso in sich selber) Idk ob das Sinn macht aber ich ha s gfühl d Lieder sind sehr lang zoge. Ich check au max nid was unfinished outtakes sind (nei ich has Wikipedia nid glese) 3.9/5
Boah ich weiss ned öbi hütt eif negativ und schlecht druf bi oder öb die albe wük all so whack sinf iwie aber s hittet eifach gar ned
Beep boop
birn under punches isch frenetisch und funny. ich mag de david byrne wo mit mir redt. finds chli lang fast 6 minute crosseyed and painless foht guet ah ich mag d perkussion. s blibt afoch ufem gliche immer? wikipedia seit afrobeat iflüss und jo gsehni scho. the great curve isch seehr viel perkussion und au easy nervös. bitzli funky? once in a lifetime kenni halt. aber riese banger. text hammer. bassline. you may find yourself behind the wheel of a large automobile. refrain iconic. ich denk so oft a "same as it ever was". flanger gitarre (orgle?) part isch huere geil. houses in motion. mega ente grüsch time. seen and not seen findi chli es nüt? listening wind. meh. the overload. langsaam moody.
goofy ass musig bass sehr slappy beepbeepbeep es isch sunntig morge, ich han kei bock uf das aso once in a lifetime hani jz no cool gfunde aber ja bin nanig wiit und es fühlt sich ah wie wenn ich sit 45 min am da hcoke bin ja jz redt er eifach lislig chli über en funny aber au ahstrengede beat vlt findis eifach zu 💫quirky💫 oder bin z wenig quirky 😦 omg nei fela's riff gahtmer ab sekunde 1 ungkaublich uf de sack glaub allgemein findi sochli die atmosphärische lieder voll okee, d zdbaudzqushgsjq-lieder findi echt nervig
My all-time favorite. Seriously, play this at my funeral. 5 stars. No skips.
David Byrne makes giant strides in giving musicians the artistic freedom to be weird as fuck, and I love him for it. Once in a Lifetime is perfect and kind of carries the rest of the album.
Not my cup of tea
Indispensable.
Particularly enjoyed listening wind. Enjoyed this start to finish.
RAHHHH I LOVE THE TALKING HEADS WHAT THE FUCK IS A SMALL SUIT JACKET🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
It was pretty avante garde, and the only song I still actually liked was Once in a Lifetime. There was a track at the end called "Right Start" I think which was a partially instrumental piece from Once in a Lifetime, as if you stripped vocals and some instruments off it.
Like many Talking Heads albums, the first listen feels a bit cold, a bit impersonal, but it’s on the subsequent listens the music reveals its raw, beautiful humanity. Once in a Lifetime is one of the great songs of my life. I transcended when I got to see Byrne himself perform it on a Broadway stage, I’ll never forget it.
Chaotic but interesting.
Classic
1. born under punchez - 0 2. crozzeyed - 0 3. the great curve - 0 4. once in a lifetime - 1 5. houzez in motion - 0 6. zeen and not zeen - 0 7. liztening uuind - 1.5 8. the overload - 1 9. felaz riff - 0 10. unizon - 0 11. double groove - 0 12. right ztart - 0
Ok I like where this list is going. I have heard this album plenty of times before. Highlights: energy of first three tracks... When Born Under Punches turns into The Heat Goes on and every repeat of the lyrics David Byrne is in the background coming up with unique nonverbal ways to enhance the track... "She is moving by remote control"... "Facts just twist the truth around"... "Same as it ever was"... Side 2 never really did it for me.
Mehrstimmig, klingt immer irgendwie richtig voll.
This is what happens when a bunch of RISD art students are shown rock ‘n roll and African polyrhythms. Walks a very fine line between accessible and interesting. The layering is incredibly complex but meshes so well together. “Once In A Lifetime” is the obvious single but “The Great Curve” is a beast of a jam, and “Houses in Motion” has such a slippery guitar part. Incredibly impressive.
5 stars because “once in a lifetime” is on here and that song bangs. david bryne is an icon
This album rules. The songs are busy, chaotic, repetitive, and driving. Houses in motion is a groove. Definitely feel like this album pushed the envelope and paved the way for a lot of post punk artists out there. Anyway, I’m just here so I wont get fined
Great album. Timeless hits, a unique sound and lots of weird going on. David Byrne is a genius 8.5/10
Good upbeat album and I was kinda fucking w/ it. The Great Curve and Once in a lifetime, great songs. The rest of it felt like a fever dream.
I definitely like More Songs about Buildings and Food more than this one, but it’s still a good album. They just have such a unique style to them that no one else can replicate.
I loved this, super chaotic and fun. Added most of the songs to my library.
I’ve never listened to a talking heads album fully before, very pleasantly surprised
3rd talking heads album on this list so far. This list has made me really appreciate their music and how much of a powerhouse they are as a group. Another very good album here. Flows nicely and has alot of memorable songs
Just okay, i think Byrne is dope af but this album is pretty carried by once in a lifetime imo.
Once in a lifetime is the single taken from this album.
Pretty cool but no songs I’d add to a playlist
I'm too lazy to listen to Talking Heads...they are so 80s that it tired me somehow. However, this specific album was a happy surprise. I don't know if the pressure on the 80s radio made their singles sound so different from the entire album, but the songs I found inside "Remain In Light" do not sound like what I expected from Talking Heads. They are much more powerful and less generic synth-pop. It's still 80s songs, but at least it's much more enjoyable.
Pretty good toons. Funky ass songs that feel like a fever dream. Once in a lifetime is a highlight but the ending is a bit disappointing. 4 stars.
A masterpiece.
Way better than Fear of Music! Funky, catchy, weird: great!
hatte ich ganz vergessen, das bessere bei beiden grossartigen th alben
Watched a movie by Nicholas cage the same day that referenced this band!!
Wanted to like this more than I did. I've tried several times to really like them but I think I'm the end I really only like the hits. The other music is just too quirky for me. That being said, it's at least listenable.
own
So Good 👍 years ahead
Classic Talking Heads, great album!
Good album. Didn't know much about the band before listening to the album. Tina Weymouth lays the groove.
Talking Head's 1980 Brian Eno-produced record stands as one of the funkiest displays of post-punk attitudes and ethos. Digitally spliced with tight licks of guitar, bass, and horn enterlaced through each track, this album remains one of the most mind-bending listens of the 80s. The unrelenting punch of the polyrhythmic, afro-inspired percussion and the slap bass hits are woven throughout the first track as Byrne rambles about his mortality under a controlling government. "Fire cannot hurt a man". I love the group vocals that close this track off, alongside the cacophonous nature of its guitar solo. There's a moment in the song "The Great Curve" right after the strung-out and noisy guitar solo where the drums, bass, and horns form an insatiable groove that I consider to be one of those "How does music get this good" moments. "Once in a Lifetime" has Byrne's best ramblings. It feels like a burst of panic runs through him as he comes to terms with all his regrets, as well as with what's to come. A great psychedelic synth loop arpeggiates throughout this track with one of the catchiest choruses in their entire catalog. I love the downward and dark spiral this album takes, both sonically and thematically. "Seen and Not Seen" is subtle instrumentally and Byrne talks about his desire to morph his face into an ideally attractive magazine-ready image. "Listening Wind" leans towards the New Wave sounds of this album; dark and gothic laced with lyrics about a rebel's journey for liberation. "The Overload" is the darkest and most ambient track, allegedly based on a Joy Division sound. All the tracks on this record are so distinct and enjoyable. The album starts fast, punchy, and visceral and slowly spirals down into something gloomy, gothic, and dark, all the while remaining one of the cleanest and futuristic-sounding albums of all time. 10/10
It's pretty impressive that an album this experimental gained the popularity that it did. I enjoyed most of the songs: the bass was funky, I liked the repetitious elements, the droning sections, and the vocals. Though I found the album to not have much of an identity or personality. It felt like the songs were just clumped together with a few singles mixed in. Both the opener and closer were weak. 3/5
5.5/10
Not as strong as I expected. A few standouts.
Good, but it ain't no speaking in tongues
Brian Eno Produced? Fela Kuti inspired? David Byrne at the helm? Yeah I’m thinking that this slaps.
Great album!
Loved this, so much to hear especially the percussion and beats. Once in a lifetime is the only immediate banger but the other songs really grew on me with time.
6/10
Solid album and definitely one I will come back to. Once in a Lifetime is a certified slapper and one of the best songs from the Era of this style. Really enjoyed the varying use of styles and instruments. Some of the songs weren't as good as others but the album as a whole is really good.
Awesome album. Love pretty much everything about it. Combines so many aspects of rock and metal into a perfect blend. I liked the change of pace into changes and leguna even though it can seem to come out of left field. It was the brief respite before continuing on. I'll definitely keep this one in rotation. I think it's a 4.75 rounded up to 5
Once in a Lifetime was fine and the rest of it was fairly uninteresting
??? Don’t like this, too much change in music
not my taste
Pretty odd sounding, but also catchy. Love all the instruments and Once In A Lifetime is a classic
i was verrrry excited to see this one today. an absolute classic by one of my favorite bands.
Appreciate this album very much, all the lyrics and tune.
Sehr vom Afrofunk beeinflusstes Album der Formation. Treibend, aber auch monoton. 2,5
Unrelenting energy - expect nothing less
Copy and paste what I said about "Fear of Music". One thing to note is that Once in a Lifetime is prob the best song between the two albums.
Got better on the second listen. Then worse on the third. Once In A Lifetime is a top 50 all time song, but the rest of the album be so different. And sometimes better.
Thoughts before listening: This is a 5-star album, and one of my personal favorites. I was first introduced to this through Phish's cover, but the Talking Heads soon became a band that I loved all on their own. Review: Yeah this is great. Such a unique sound for the Talking Heads at the time, and I have always loved the tempo of this album. Especially with the first 5 songs, they are playing funky, world music inspired songs but at the tempo of the punk scene they came out of. I have always appreciated the Talking Heads' place as a bridge between the late 70s CBGBs punk scene and the more party aspects of 80s new wave. Those first five songs are the star here: "Born Under Punches", "Crosseyed and Painless", "The Great Curve", "Once in a Lifetime", and "Houses in Motion". These are the whole album to me and some of the best songs of their era. I am less of a fan of the final three spacey, moody songs that follow, but the quality of the top of the album still makes this an easy 5-star for me.
I love new wave but I have never been a fan of the Talking Heads. This album didn’t really change that for me, but I gained an appreciation for some of their work I wouldn’t have been exposed to otherwise. The album didn’t have a ton of songs I enjoyed on it, but it was very cohesive.
Solidly enjoyable end to end. Needs listening to again. Once in a Lifetime is the only thing that jumped out on first listen (and I've heard that one before).
Interesting, a bit too funky for my listening and not sure when I'd actively listen to it again.
THERE IS WATER AT THE BOTTOM OF THE OCEAN
After bouts of writer's block and internal tension, Talking Heads came back to record their magnum opus. Producer Brian Eno continued the work started with Bowie to combine elements of work music with post punk. But 'Remain In Light' is a lot funkier than anything on 'Lodger'. This album is another benchmark for a band who reinvented so much during their time.
Unlistenable. It sounds like a boy in his room on a kiddie keyboard.
This album made me want to dance! The beginning of the album was a little reggae and I liked it. Another group I was not that familiar with. I'd heard of them, but knew nothing of their music.
…needs more cowbell. Once in a lifetime… I mean you can’t beat it
Nope
Stone cold classic TH album, but second in line to Speaking in Tongues.
This album is a lot like huffing paint. It's not really enjoyable but there is something inside you that doesn't want to stop. You keep going and you still don't like it but there's some hold on you that it has keeping you coming back for more track after track.
Unique, yes, but still annoying.
Pido perdón, solo escuché 2 canciones😀
No es de m8 gustó y no no lo escucharía de nuevo.
no lo escuché enteri porque las dos primeras canciones se me hicieron horribles 1/10
good
4.7 One of my favourite albums ever, especially side 1. Fave songs: Crosseyed and Painless, The Great Curve, Once in a lifetime
First-rate. Interesting and different. One forgets how funky they were/are/could be. “Born Under Punches” is just killer groovy. “Crosseyed and Painless” also great and "Once In a Lifetime" is a pop song for the ages. Last few cuts maybe shade slighttly us into longeurs territory, but this was a worthy successor to what came before and maybe one's personal fave among a strong catalog. The dynamic and layered complexity feels richer and more ambitious than the previous records, but also a touch more forbidding. Overall, though, aesthetically intriguing and fucking fun, too.
Dat dit komt de dag nadat ik naar de film ben gegaan, kan niet anders dan 5 sterren
Beste tot nu toe. Innovatief, dansbaar, gevoelig, alles. Weet nog niet goed genoeg hoe ik albums moet omschrijven maar dit is de shit.
One of my favorite things about Talking Heads is that every one of their albums, though distinct in its own way, makes sense within the band’s oeuvre. This album does not sound like ‘77 or Speaking in Tongues. But it still sounds like Talking Heads. Thank god for this band.
great album.
Good songs
A fresh and rhythmic joy ride. Sensational.
Good album but not my fav.
Arty. Nerdy. Chaotic. Ambient. Really solid. Tina Weymouth is just outstanding on bass. They're all good players. Pleasure to hear Adrian Belew on this. Not quite perfect but still a worthy listen.
Meh - not my style
- Really funky guitar riffs and bass lines - Great vocals - Catchy guitar rhythm - Possibly dance music? - Very groovy - Sounds similar to world music - Experimental enough to sound different, but not too much as to where it is difficult to listen to - Abstract lyricism - Even in the longer tracks, they do not feel like they drag on - Enticing groove with the bass lines - Feeling of constant motion, never given a chance to slow down - Oddly psychedelic at points - Songs fly by, you are completely absorbed into the listening experience - Lyrics can be very introspective at times - Loads of replay value, as a whole or as tracks individually, as the tracks are just so fun to listen to, having an undeniable allure to them - This is definitely the best album I have listened to so far, as its instruments, vocals, lyricism and overall emotions are extremely strong. This album gets a lot of praise in online music circles, and rightly so. It encorporates aspects from world music, funk, and new wave, and overall creates a hypnotising listening experience, one which does not feel a chore to listen to, rather an unconscious listening experience, where you lose yourself in-between tracks, and soon the album has ended. Then you replay it.
Klasik
I really like Talking Heads. I wasn’t initially as impressed. But then The Overlord comes in and I’m impressed. This is definitely a 4.5
I did not like this very much. It is way too experimental and wacky for me to enjoy it. I can see the appeal of the album but it's just not suitable for me.
It was fine. I can appreciate the musicality and vibe they were going for, but it didn't capture me. I *do* appreciate "Once In a Lifetime" though ("This is not my beautiful house... as the days go by...")
Electro-funk ... not interesting sound and the lyrics make no sense.
Delightful. Once In A Lifetime is a five star song.
You got your Eno in my Talking Heads! You got your Talking Heads in my Eno! This the third and final collaboration between the two, and of the three, probably the more Eno-y, which might be why I like it best (all of them are great.) A phenomenal kaleidoscope of sounds swirling to a polyrhythmic heartbeat, with songs that simultaneously celebrate and eulogize the inevitability of the earth turning. Maybe it’s not perfect, but that makes it better.
Talking Heads have always been a favorite of mine. Since they rereleased Stop Making Sense and we went to see them, they’ve been top of mind in the house and I gifted a first pressing of that vinyl to Shea for Christmas. Remain in Light hasn’t ever been my favorite of theirs and this is my first time listening to it in awhile. I was pleasantly surprised at my enjoyment of it!
This is probably my favorite Talking Heads album. By this point Idk if I would classify them as a punk band. Sure that is their roots when they were art students. but by this point they were drawing from wold music and other stuff that it was no longer just punk.
So wildly weird.
Already a fan
think this one is a grower and not a shower. i really liked a lot of it but it is a little off the beaten path for me. i think if i listened to this again, i would like it more. as it stands, it's still pretty good!
Impressed with the experimentation throughout the album. Sometimes it creates amazing songs (Once in a Lifetime), other times less so, but either way I applaud the creativity.
that was weird. Seemed very jam bandy
Not for me
I listened to this but it didn't really grab me like some of the other Heads albums. I'm not a connoisseur of the Talking Heads, but definitely familiar. The only song that hits is Once in a Lifetime. It's great. The rest are sorta 2-3* songs. 3/5
A great record. So much energy and happiness in one record is awesome!
Just kinda boring. Didn't finish it.
Always enjoy David Byrne...
A blast!
Truly a quirky album, but a heck of a lot of fun. David Byrne is not a stellar singer, but the crafting of these songs use his voice to good effect. That, along with a production that incorporates a diverse mix of excellent musicians, results in a very entertaining collection. This is an album that I, in the right mood, will pull out and play again
Once In a Lifetime is classic 80s song. I prefer Houses In Motion. I owned this on vinyl
Kind of boring and not memorable. Jam session really. Good stuff but not worth listening to again
Tandon Scale Rating: 3 Standouts: Born Under Punches, The Great Curve, Once in a Lifetime, House in Motion Foot Notes: 1 Chaotic and funky and weird 2 The looping beats had me tapping my foot 3 A nice surprise album however it loses steam for me at the end Would I Listen Again: Probably behind the wheel of a large automobile (only a few songs)
"Drawing influence from Nigerian musician Fela Kuti, they experimented with African polyrhythms, funk, and electronics, recording instrumental tracks as a series of looping grooves" MY BOY! You can completely hear it in the first song... and maybe some of the vocals? First song left me confused on where this album is going. Super funky but also has some instrumentation that is very surprising. Once In A Lifetime is on this album??????? Love the artwork of the album. I think best album cover so far. Album slowed down for me at song 5. Best songs: Born Under Punches, Once In A Lifetime Would I listen again?: Speaker garage type of listen.
Vaya maravilla que son los Talking Heads siempre. Solo conocía la más famosa del disco, pero es muy entretenido de principio a fin. Unos grandes.
Wow, never heard this album and it rocks! First few songs are TH at its best. Wish i could have seen them in concert, must have been incredible.
I'd say it hit the spot,,, not with every song, some are skips for sure but like some are very vibey, wouldn't say my favourite album but kinda in the middle.
(First full listen of Remain In Light) Bam! Right out the gate with one of the funkiest grooves I've heard in a minute from Born Under Punches, and the digital synth midway through too... Really solid opening track. The electronic blips among the congas and staccato guitar in Crosseyed and Painless are really neat. Love the guitar fills and solo in The Great Curve. Oh I definitely recognize Once In A Lifetime. I've heard it before for sure. It's a good one. The groove and beat of Houses in Motion are top notch and the horns are a nice touch. Seen and Not Seen was a standout track for me. Everything from the ominous background keys, beat, poppy bass groove and cryptic lyrics. Really loved Listening Wind as well. Possibly my favorite track on the album, but it is very hard to decide. Probably a tie between this one and Born Under Punches (which I know sounds wild because they are very different songs but that just speaks to the range of this album and how it excels in a variety of styles). The echoey harmonies and blippy synth beeps of Listening Wind work really well against the dark lyrics and rhythm. Wow, just when I thought it couldn't get darker, The Overload takes us deeper to close side two out. Yet another solid track on a masterpiece of an album. Overall I love the use of experimental polyrhythms, dark/mystical imagery and Afrofunk fusion. 10/10 album
Great, influential album from an underrated band.
Just amazing!
First song is putting me to sleep
1 good song on the whole album :(.
The Fela influence is unmistakable and amazing.
Listened to on 1/8/24.
another fun adventure with david byrne and crew. weird quirky lyrics and energetic beats.
Yeah. It was fine. It's like the other talking heads stuff. For a song here or there, I can't imagine anyone else doing it. But mostly it feels gimmicky.
Not my type of music. But a couple of really good songs
It is a fun album. Really getty sound
Omg already listened to this and really liked it, I'll copy over my notes: Liked it a lot! Super cool and want to listen again, I see how awesome it is but I didnt LOVE it the way I loved Abbey Road. I guess it’s a little less commercial? Upon first listen I’d give it a 4/5 but I’m going to listen again. Ok Crosseyed and Painless is a highlight, this song is sick. One in a Lifetime hell yea.
Pretty boring, did not like
Did Robin Williams have a side gig with Talking Heads? Once I realised who it sounded like I couldn't shake it the whole album. Was ok.
First time ever listening to this album. Familiar with the hit single, Once in a Lifetime - though it is my least favourite among their hits. Definitely felt a Tom Tom Club vibe in the music, as that band started up close in time to this recording. Not an album I’d necessarily seek out to put on and listen to. But I’d be very happy to have this on in the background of a get-together with friends, sharing some drinks and discussing culture and politics. It has a distinct intellectual vibe to it. It feels very much the product of the NYC new wave, art pop scene in the late 70’s to early 80’s. This is what was being listened to in hipster apartments in Greenwich Village and the LES when the atmosphere outside was too unpredictable. This sounds of the future, standing at the door, about to knock and come in and start the party. I came away feeling that the music on this album supercedes the lyrics. Almost like it became important despite David Byrne’s lyrics. Maybe I’m too far away in time to appreciate them, but I’d listen to this as an instrumental. I’d give this a 4.75 but will give five stars as I don’t want to split hairs.
Got a bit much quite quickly.
didn’t lost
muy bueno, experimental y variado. lo volveria a escuchar
Funky
I’m not always a fan of punk so I was prepared for a bad album - but I was pleasantly surprised! This sounded very experimental which I always enjoy. There wasn’t a single bad track on this album.