Remain In Light

one thing i've learned from this list so far, I can always skip New Wave/Post Punk albums

Interesting music sound. Liked a few songs but not really my specific taste!

They scared a lot of people back in the day, but hindsight let’s this album stand it’s ground. Layered instrumentation & memorable grooves. I’m addicted to the opening song on this record there’s like 3 separate perfect melodies going at once towards the end of it

This album slaps. It’s catchy, complex, full of paranoid energy, all the good things. ‘Born Under Punches’ has great rhythm and the chorus just HITS, especially when it comes in during the outro. ‘Crosseyed And Painless’ is sharp and David Byrne has a great performance. ‘The Great Curve’ just stays in motion for the whole 6 and a half minute runtime. ‘Once In A Lifetime’ is a classic. This praise goes on practically throughout the album. Easy 5.

All-time Pantheon album

It’s good - not my favorite of theirs.

- Interesting album. Surprisingly energetic and fun. - Seeing that it came out in 1980, it makes me think how much did this set the tone for upcoming bands in the decade.

Once in a Lifetime is obviously great and Crosseyed and Painless had me tapping my pen. A few of these songs got me going but overall the album didn't do much for me. Some songs felt chaotic and thrown together. I think there's probably better albums of theirs out there and I'm happy to investigate further.

Whoa...mind blown. Totally thrown by his album. I knew I would like it but not as much as I did. Byrne is on another level here. So full of everything...funk, soul, rock, Electronica, tribal, island groove...ah! Starts out with an engine house like a locomotive pounding down the rails and slows down to a groovy ooze (grooze). Good beats, eery Byrne over top, souls sistahs backing it up, and some riffs chopping the madness. Gatdamn! Albums like this tell me we need to give more awkward white boys instruments. Seeing "Stop Making Sense" dance party at the Frida recently has some influence on this review; even so, a must listen for all. (If you enjoyed as much as I did, listen to the deluxe with outakes)

Talking Heads 11 year run was truly something special. Remain In Light is a great album in the middle of their discography. They had already hit their groove and proved to be one of the most unique rock bands ever. First half of the album is loaded. Second half is still strong and full of unique sounds. I personally prefer Speaking in Tongues to RIL but this was a complete joy on a re-listen. Anybody who hasn't delved into Talking Heads needs to do themselves a favor. 4.09 stars

Aaaivan liian raskasta kokeellista päällelaulantaa. Kiva kokonaisuushan siitä on saatu aikaan, ei hajoa, muutamia erittäin mukaansatempaavia kohtia.

Kaikessa nytkähtelevässä pysäyttävyydessäänkin levyn kolme ensimmäistä biisiä herättävät kysymyksen: onko keskeliään (eli taitavasti approprioidun) rytmiikan lisäksi tulossa mitään muuta? Kyllä on: Once in a Lifetime/Houses in Motion -kaksikko ovat intensiivisen koukkuisia, ja Listening Wind rauhoittelee kuulijaa, joka saattaa pelätä Seen and Not Seenin jäljiltä, että levy ajelehtii loppua kohti jännäksi ääneksi. Minkä se lopulta tekee.

A little too discordant for my current taste.

Yep. This is a masterpiece.

10/10

Pretty good. Solid talking heads.

Better then I expected.

Spannender Soundteppich, unverkennbar talking heads. 3.5 stars

My love towards Talking Heads came with their first live album collection and I quickly expanded my listening-in to the regular studio records. In my opinion their best album during their formative early years, before they went massively mainstream with "Road to Nowhere" and "Stop making sense".

Schade, dass ich das Album erst heute entdeckt habe. Toller Groove.

Bra.

I listened to my first Talking a heads album only a week or so ago and absolutely loved it. Today I’ll be listening to another, and I’m quite understandably optimistic for this one. If it’s anything like the other, then it certainly bodes well. Let’s listen! Songs I already knew: Once In A Lifetime Favourites: Once In A Lifetime, Crosseyed and Painless Thankfully, this did not let me down! The music is so very interesting, and I love the slap bass and just how much it adds to the music. I’ll definitely have to learn some of these tracks on my bass because they sound so fun! I also never realised that Once In A Lifetime was Talking Heads. It comes on the radio every now and then and it’s an absolute bop. Definitely give this a listen because it’s great.

Love it!! It’s my first time listening to a full Talking Heads album and it really makes for a good time.

Once in a Lifetime always thrills me; the rest fusses past. The torrent of words and instruments, full of excitement, do not excite me much of the time. Three TH albums in, I respect them and am usually left tepid. This got a little stickier on the second and third plays, reminding me of the Fall, who have a similar effect on me: impressed by the density of ideas, unconvinced by the structure beneath them.

So many interesting sounds, rhythms and melodies colliding all over this. Very clever how the first half is relentlessly upbeat, followed by the complete opposite at the end. Most of this is probably obscure to the casual fan apart from "Once In A Lifetime", which amazingly is in the bottom tier of songs here. Excellent stuff

Fun, fun, fun creative and engaging. Nice selection

One of my all time favorites for my 50th album! Feels special, man. "Born Under Punches (The Heat Goes On)" is a disorientingly funky opener- this is a song that I can comfortably say changed my life and the way I listen to music. There are so many layers of sound and rhythm driving this one, I've been a fan of Talking Heads for most of my life and I still feel like I focus on new rhythm loops each time I get into this song. And that's what this album is all about- rhythms on rhythms inspired by Afrobeat and filtered through Talking Heads anxious post punk sensibility and Brian Eno's atmospheric production prowess. For a different spin check out Beninese singer Angelique Kidjo's song for song remake album released in 2018 - it also slaps!

On first listen this was a bit hit and miss. At times chaotic, at times overly repetitive. With the exception of Once in a Lifetime, I wasn't overly impressed tbh. So I slept on it and came back with a fresh mind. I really like the elements in the songs individually, but they don't really gel properly a lot of the time. I get what they were trying to do and can see how this would have influenced a lot of future artists. After a few listens through, I would call this ok, but not great.

Not my jam

another one of my favorite albums

One of my favourites, Born Under Punches blew my mind the first time I heard it and still does

Love the instrumentation on this album. Such a fun listen through, not a single song I don't enjoy, although not quite deserving of a 5 to me.

Not a record i’d listen to a ton but lots of cool basslines and cool grooves.

3.5

This album has a crazy energy, it kind of makes me happy

Known before: Yes Standouts: The Great Curve Once in a Lifetime 7.5/10

Known Before: Standouts: 3. The Great Curve 4. Once in a Lifetime 8.0

Known before: Band Standouts: 04. Once in a lifetime 06. Seen and not seen Rating: 7.0

Very good album. Enjoyed the entire thing

Probably just a perfect album. To sum it all up in one single word, that word would simply be INFECTIOUS. The album just makes you want to get up and move around and flail your arms and legs and head in all different directions, it's fantastic! 10/10

Nothing impressive

I love Talking Heads, but this might be one of the albums I listen to the least. I know it's the most acclaimed, the most inventive, etc. but it doesn't hit me the way Fear of Music does. Still, its Talking Heads, so I'd rather listen to this than most other music.

behind the wheel of a large automobile/10

Endelig. Mer stabilt enn forrige album, psykosen hadde kansje ikke kicket inn helt her. Men god damn det er så digg. Det er groovy, det er weird og jeg føler tekstene så jævlig hardt. er nå blitt fan av talking heads

Originalt og helt sin egen greie, dessverre bare ikke min greie. Mye mer spennende enn det forrige vi hørte på. Respekterer mye, men digger ikke.

Pop sounds with punk energy. Once in a Lifetime is a banger. The rest is stylistically similar but not as catchy. Rating: 2.5/5 Playlist track: Once in a Lifetime Date listened: 10/12/23

- One of the funkiest and grooviest albums I've ever listened to. Initial thoughts: how tf can people create music like this?

eclectic

80s alt weirdness in the best way possible

The Talking Heads are great. At least a four star band. But I'm not sure any of their albums, individually, are four stars. I'd put this at 7 out of 10, and I'm rounding down (and converting to a 5 point scale).

This is a funky album that I really enjoy. Once in a Lifetime is a classic song. There is so much 80s about this album and I love it which is surprising considering it was a 1980 release instead of later in the decade. That being said it's a rather inconsistent listening experience. Really good and a great way to take in 80s music if you are looking for that but overall I'd give this a 3 out of 5.

Classic

This is a pretty cool album, but it seems like there’s a fair amount of filler songs.

Classic from first to last track

Once in a lifetime is great, but the album is otherwise not that memorable.

Once In A Lifetime //

אלבום מעוד מעניין וכיף להאזין אליו. מאוד פאנקי ומיוחד. בהחלט היצירה הכי טובה של הראשים המדברים.

Great listen; "The Overload" had Joy Division undertones. Dry guitars, great rhythm construction.

Creative, but not really my thing

Nice album

Definetly one of the better Talking Heads records!

I love this album. So much I bought an OG pressing this weekend. But the hilarious thing is—all these years I thought David Bowie sang Once In a Lifetime. 😳😄

I totally get why Bowie was a fan...The lyrics are ridiculously pretentious, but the delivery is so lighthearted, yet intentional... It's interesting! Can't really rank from one listen. 4/5, might give this band another shot.

Good music!

Was never a fan. Only semi liked one song on the album and it the most popular one

Nostalgia!

Didn't enjoy this as much as Fear Of Music - I guess they were going further in their experimentation and it didn't land we strongly with me. Definitely would have been better without the outtakes at the end.

Goat album

Once in a Lifetime - classic. Album gets boring fast though

neh... not my type...

This album is confusing Once in a lifetime is a banger though

The funky Heads, exploring African rhythm and bringing it to white America. Containing one of the best Heads songs, "Once In A Lifetime" with its infectious bass line. Excellent.

Okay album. Not my style of music.

actually p good

5/5

this is how good summer home could be if they let me in the band. a classic. 4/5

This is what the kids call goated. What can be said about this classic that hasn’t already been said…. Ooga booga poopy pee pee? Anyways, love this album what a fuckin wicked time logan showed it to me back in grade ten, I’ve always had a crush on the talking head in the bottom left square of the album cover. Highlight tracks are Seen and not seen, cross eyed and painless, listening wind, born under punches and of course once in a lifetime. This album sounds so fucking cool idk what they did on the vocals but I can’t get enough of the vhs/HD sway they sound if that makes any sense!

I recognized Once in a Lifetime. I didn’t know any of the other songs. I didn’t feel hooked by any of those other songs, but I’m curving the album up because other folks in the group are really into the talking heads so I’d want to give them another try.

I listen to so much solo Byrne stuff or greatest hits/live albums by Talking Heads that it's been a while since I listened to a studio album all the way through. Makes me want to revisit their discography chronologically.

Forgive me, Tyler.

Glemte visst å rata denna, men e kje så stor Talking Heads-fanboy

I appreciate the Talking Heads, I just don't always enjoy listening to them.

Interesting concept album, integrating the African beats. It's not my favorite talking heads, but the highs are pretty high

Mediocre, didn't really like it...

A classic.

Lovely!

How did I get here?!

Love me some Talking Heads.

Good bongos. Some darker tracks

It felt off rhythm sometimes with talking with music in the background vs. singing and sometimes I actually like it because it felt different but sometimes I just some regular on rhythm singing.

A masterpiece and amongst my favorite albums of all time. Richly textured polyrhythms with interesting vocals and lyrics. The only song I don’t love is final track the Overload. All the other tracks are sensational

Awesome album

This album is arguably the best from Talking Heads. It's not my favorite of theirs, but it's nearly perfect. Very stoked to get this today.

La première fois que j’ai écouté cet album là, j’étais pas certain de savoir ce que j’écoutais. Là, quand je l’écoute, j’ai envie de me claquer les couilles

Repetitive but funky sounds, definitely “interesting” as it doesn’t follow the normal music theory but not for me otherwise

Good music, bad vocals.

This may be my favorite album by them. Always ahead of their time. love every song.

Unique, but never my favorite.

meget muligt det er mit yndlingsalbum vi har haft indtil videre. wall to wall bangers

Bedste plade fra 80erne!

👍🤷

I liked it. Loved the bass. Might listen to it in the background again.

Wacky album very Brian Edo, knew one song and thats the one I put into playlists.

This album has amazing songs, my favorite has to be Once in a Lifetime

There is too much good music. Not everything can be a 4.

And you may ask yourself...how can you rate this anything else?

It's alright. I'd hear it again.

oooo this is a weird album i like it

The goat

Great jam, super funky and quite iconic.

I usually listen to album two times in a row and most of the time I know what my rating will be. This time however, I've been listening to this for five hours straight and still finding something new, which keep me thinking about it. Last time I had identical case with Rumours by Fleetwood Mac. Judging by the pretty average score (3,46 today) I think that many listeners share the similar: they didn't listen long enough to this record. Because ladies and gentleman, this... this is one of the best albums ever created.

I have always remembered this album as a vehicle for David Byrne's creativity, but it has been a long time since I've listened to it. I has hit was a sudden feeling of recognition but also I think I forgot how influential African music (like funk and afrobeat) had on this album. I mentioned it in Graceland by Paul Simon, how much of this is influences and how much is cultural appropriation? But I have to admit I enjoyed the experimental nature of this album, maybe because I like this band or maybe because it was being experimental in all types of musical styles. What I've always liked about this album, is that it feels like it's almost entirely stream-of-consciousness, making it hard to predict what is going to happen next. I know David Byrne's did struggle with writers block and the band just went with this approach and resulted in such a great album. Standouts: Crosseyed and Painless, Once In a Lifetime, Houses In Motion, Listening Wind

Love this one.

I really wasn’t expecting to like it for its year of debut lol. It was very good although a bit weird

Overall if this album is Talking Heads' "magnum opus" then I'm not really impressed. I suppose at the time of release this style of music was more modern, edgy and experimental but listening to it in 2023 I don't find anything in particular that grabs me. It's all just sort of a jumble of sound with some haphazard lyrics thrown in and not mixed well, maybe that's the point, I don't know.

Classic Talking Heads.

Sorry, I actually found this kind of painful to listen to. The first song I had hopes, the one radio release was all right, but by the end of it I had to take a couple of breaks, because, woof.

Stone cold classic

I preferred the first half of the album but enjoyed it more than I was expecting.

Mostly just okay Once In a Lifetime is great

Great record, love all the samples, synths, and harmonizing vocals on this album. Once in a Lifetime is the star, but the rest of the tracks do not miss.

Once in a Lifetime is a great song. The rest of it was good, but not great.

They would be ahead of their time in any era. Good album. Some iconic songs.

Super weird but great jams

Excellent album.

Nothing like this. So very good. Seen and Not Seen is great. Let's not even mention Once in a Lifetime.

Oh yeah

"Life During Wartime" is an great song and massive hit. And featured an iconic MTV video. But outside of that song, it's not my favorite. Not my favorite Talking Heads Album, not my favorite album from 1980. One of the things I liked about Talking Heads' first two albums was the focus on concise songs with pretty simple instrumentation. That's gone here on the 2nd of the their Brian Eno produced albums. In their 1st 3 albums, the average song length is under 3:40, here it has ballooned to just over 5:00. Lots of synths and polyrythms, and looping grooves. Which is OK, I suppose, but really drags when songs are stretched out forever. They get points for evolving. I'll give 5 for the hit, 3 for the rest... call it 3/5, 'cause I can't do 3.5

One of the best albums by one of the best bands of all time, unofficial 6 star

Not doing it for me, rhythms are way too repetitive

this album is one of my favorites. just the right amount of weird and interesting without sacrificing quality. once in a lifetime is one of my favorite songs ever, and the entire front half of this album is banger after banger. favorites: born under punches (the heat goes on), cross-eyed and painless, the great curve, once in a lifetime

The electronic noises are hilarious. This is 1980. So it's like all this shit was new and so they just are playing with the random sounds. Has an underlying kind of funk rhythm to it. I don't particularly like it. But I also don't hate it.

Not really into new wave

I forgot how good this album is. I first listened to it when I was about 19, and it was almost too weird. A few years later I could appreciate it more. Now I'm just shaking my head at my younger self for not loving it immediately.

The first five tracks on this album are tremendous, and the last three tracks…well, those first five are really, really good.

- zu chaotisch für mich

2nd Talking Heads album on day 4??? I must have done something right in a past life. Poetry smashed over smooth funky beats, top tier

Eclectic but very accessible, so cool that all of the "looping" was manual. Definitely gives it a human feel, even if it's subconscious. Liked this a lot. Favorite track: Crosseyed & Painless

Déjà vu review One song’s a stained glass window in a church where all the other windows are clear or have been blown out. Once in a lifetime is vivid colour and the rest aren’t worth a mention in the visitors book.

Except for the songs Once in a Lifetime and Overload, this album left me cold

While I didn't LOVE every second of this album, it reinforced just how original, arty, interesting, and damn good this band was. No question that David Byrne's vision drove the band from a creative perspective, but the culmination of these four members made them something special, and the more I go back and listen to their records, the clearer that becomes. Unapologetically quirky and intellectual and odd, they are also accessible, funny, and melodic. Great band, solid album.

One of the nice surprises with this exercise is that it's made me a Talking Heads fan. I already knew this album and enjoyed it well enough, but it's been cool to arrive here now that we've listened to three other TH albums, so I could hear it in context. I dig the Fela-Kuti-inspired-but-not-appropriated vibe they've got going on here. And I love the crazy guitar solo from Adrian Belew on "The Great Curve." That final track is menacing and dark and I'm so there for it. Great stuff.

Always a joy to revisit Talking Heads' brilliance.

K, that was not the Talking Heads I was expecting. 😂 Big Weirdos. But I love them. Not my favourite TH album, but glad I gave it a play through. 👍

Very cool album

I don't think I'd ever listened to this, surprisingly. Only one song I knew but it was good.

“Once in a Lifetime” is one of the best songs of the 80s and is my go-to whenever I’m near a TouchTunes. It never fails to make people smile and sing along with “same as it ever was…”. The rest of the album doesn’t *quite* meet that standard. However, ever since seeing “American Utopia” (David Byrne’s recent Broadway contribution), I have a new appreciation for Byrne’s creativity and fusion of musical styles. He also mixes music and message very well.

I enjoyed this album much more than the food and buildings album.

I really enjoyed this album. Although the vocals could be annoying at times (in my opinion), the concepts and songwriting were really creative. I loved the synth computer / guitar noise SFX!

talking heads is very unique, good solid album

A classic in my life, one of the all time greats for me. A breathtaking collections of creative, energetic, and rhythmically complex songs: life pulses vibrantly through the whole album. My favorite of the many greatTalking Heads albums, and an album I put on when I don’t know what to listen to. Highly danceable, texturally multilayered, and honestly downright fun in parts, this album also contains some stunning turns of phrases and moments of real lyrical beautiful sing with real feelings and depth of emotion. Though overplayed, Once in a Lifetime is still a stunner of a pop track. If only the album had This Must Be the Place. Nonetheless, this is a stunning achievement and a monumental testament to the creativity and ingenuity of modern western music.

Enjoyed it, which kind of surprised me. An array of instruments used made it even better 4/5

kinda dissapointing consider how hyped this album is on sites like RYM, decent album with 2 catchy songs but nothing more than 3 stars

Funky or sometimes not so funky backing track that repeats throughout entire song - one of those albums where the music DEFINITELY matches the album cover. Voiceover or repeated snippets of melody are layered over track - definitely worth a relisten. Fave tracks: Born under Punches, Once in a Lifetime, Seen and Not Seen

I enter a familiar room, filled with familiar shapes. We nod at each other (how's the week been? woah, really? not too bad not too bad) and step back, admire each other's colours and edges (quite the sparkle round there). We jiggle, we jangle, iridescent slicks streak the midground, bubbling at the fringes, we finkle, we fankle, following the piper past furred bamboo shooting heavenwards, stroking bleeps and bloops, having a great time. Same as it ever was.

This is definitely a talking heads algorithm. Each song is completely forgettable (except maybe once in a lifetime), but the vibe is so unmistakable talking heads that I can't help but be impressed by their ability to craft such a unique sound. 3 stars. The last two songs almost ruined the album for me. I'm going to ignore them and stick with 3 stars.

Melodically unsatisfying, rhythmically bonkers. Interesting mix, vocals not at the forefront on some songs. The second to last song was surprising in a good way.

Un Viaje Sonoro Desafiante Si bien "Remain in Light" de Talking Heads ofrece una experiencia musical única y experimental, no es para todos los gustos. Este álbum es un viaje sonoro que te transporta desde tu lugar de escucha hasta los vibrantes paisajes africanos. El disco está lleno de ritmos africanos, guitarras funk y una velocidad vertiginosa que mantiene la energía en todo momento. Las capas de ritmos y sonidos crean una experiencia auditiva envolvente que te hace sentir como si estuvieras en medio de una calle africana. El bajo, con su groove infeccioso, es uno de los aspectos destacados del álbum. Sin embargo, a pesar de toda su frescura y vitalidad, "Remain in Light" a veces cae en la repetición y la monotonía, lo que podría desconectar a algunos oyentes. A pesar de su repetitividad, canciones como "Once in a Lifetime" se destacan con su coro pegajoso. Los solos de guitarra que emulan el sonido de un saxofón aportan un toque inusual a la mezcla. En general, "Remain in Light" es un disco desafiante que puede no ser del agrado de todos. Su enfoque experimental lo hace interesante pero no necesariamente accesible. Si estás buscando una experiencia musical inusual y estás dispuesto a explorar nuevos territorios sonoros, este álbum podría ser una elección interesante. Sin embargo, si prefieres un sonido más convencional, es posible que te encuentres deseando más variedad. En mi opinión, este álbum merece una calificación de 3 de 5.

Short and sweet. I love Speaking in Tongues so I'm glad I got to play this album out. Funky and fun. Once In A Lifetime is an anthem.

It’s a classic. At least for me. One of the first albums I bought on vinyl.

born under punches 6.2 crosseyed and painless 7 the great curve 7.1 once in a lifetime 8 house in motion 7 seen and not seen 5 listening wind 6.6 the overload 6.5 I don't think it holds up extremely well but mostly inoffensive. 3.5 stars.

Greatly appreciated this one popping up in the generator, as I’m on quite the Talking Heads kick at the moment. Love this album - it’s quintessential to the band’s discography. Silly, funny, at times scary, and endlessly groovy. Standout tracks: Born Under Punches (The Heat Goes On), Crosseyed and Painless, Once in a Lifetime, Houses in Motion 4.5/5

David Byrne might be weird as heck, but you can never say he's boring. This album takes some unexpected turns but it's a fun ride.

Good stuff, a tad on the long side but still a good listen

Another classically Talking Heads album. Full of their patented rock sound with the insertion of weird lyrics and noises. “Once in a Lifetime” sits on the back half, which will always be a great listen. Nothing else pulls me back here. 3/5.

Somehow I’ve never listened to this album… or any Talking Heads all the way through. LFG 1. Very funky bass line and eclectic guitar work. Feeling this. Drums good too. Whoa wtf is this weird electric stuff happening in the middle. This song is madness 🤘🏾 2. Man another banger. The layers on this instrumental is crazy. There’s so much going on and the vocal melody is fire 3. You can really hear the African influence on this track. Another banger somehow. 3/3 LFG. Great drums and the lyrics are awesome. The background vocals are sick too 4. The song everyone knows. It’s an anthem. But honestly the other three tracks I’ve heard were more interesting. But that’s probably because I’ve heard this song a million times. It’s still a banger tho 5. A funky number. The layers my god. Sooo good 6. Ok another weird cut but I’m vibing. The tracks are really riding into each other so well. This album is incredible so far. No skips 7. This song is vibes. I love this record. 8. Another banger. 9. No misses. What a creepy brooding closer. This album is a certified classic. 10/10

mid

nice

Absolutely seminal album from one of my favourite bands of all time. Cannot imagine how fresh this must have sounded in 1980, especially a year after Fear of Music.

This album overall is just a nice album to just sit and kind of just listen, I like how longer most of the songs are. So overall I will definitely be listening to this again!

Decent, I enjoyed it

Chaotic. Stressed me out. 1-2 beats I liked though.

favorite!

It has the vibes of songs from that era. Honestly, it didn't stand out for me and I wasn't really moved by it but still pretty decent i guess. won't listen to it again though sadly

Fantastic. Starts perfect through first 3 tracks. Slows down little by the end, but all great.

#2 fav talking heads album

I enjoyed the album, and I'm glad I listened to it, but it's not really my cup of tea. I'm glad that this site made me listen to it.

Great album. Love the talking heads.

Great album.

I fell in love with Once in a Lifetime years ago and instantly explored the rest of the album to find myself disappointed. Then about 3 months ago More Songs... came up on this list and I found myself completely hooked. Going back to listening to this album again, I just can't get on board with it. The first half is alright, it leans too heavily into the African theme but has some good hooks. The latter half, specifically the last two songs, are just pretty weak. Disappointing given how good buildings and food was.

Kolmekauttaviis

On näil parempaaki kamaa

It's tough to come out with a truly unique sound and be a borderline genre defining band but Talking Heads managed to mix several sounds to create their own "voice."

Smá Before and After Science og smá Lodger, og kannski gráðu of mikil David Byrne rödd (fíla samt samgöngustefnuna hans: Hjól og Citroën DS). Er að fíla pólýrytmann og fjörið á A hliðinni mikið, en B hliðin er aðeins of þunglamaleg fyrir mig í dag. Tæpur fjarki held ég.

Once in a Lifetime is good. The rest had good music but I'm not a big fan of the talking singing style.

People come for Once In a Lifetime, but stay for the absolute, unrelenting, forward velocity of The Great Curve.

I'm sure it was groundbreaking at the time, but I was not a fan of the repetitive sounds (even with the experimentation on top) and the vocals are tough for me to get into.

I like it but not mind blowing probably like a 4.5 or 4

1/10

African beats/syncopations, loop patterns. All analog baby!

Talking Heads first album only hints at what they would become.

This album has some funk. Not for nothing, but Bernie Worrell of Parliament/Funkadelic played with the band on the ensuing tour. It also draws on producer Brian Eno's ambient work (there's a straight line from Music for Airports to the atmosphere of the sound m album's closer, The Overload). It's a lot and it's often weird -- and you should listen to it. Thanks to Eno, Talking Heads take this album to explore rhythms, melodies and structures common to West African (especially Fela Kuti) and North African music (Arab influence, in particular). Bearing in mind that these four came up through the same New York scene at CBGBs that incubated New York Dolls and the Ramones (keys/guitar man Jerry Harrison previously played in the Modern Lovers), you need to imagine this as a close relative of punk, even if it may not seem so immediately. It's just less-distorted and departs more from the early rock & roll song structures. Tina Weymouth she Chris Frantz kill it all record long. They're an underrated rhythm section outside of the New Wave world. Singer, guitar player and chief songwriter David Byrne is in fine form as well, pushing the envelope of that a front person does in popular music. Remain In Light does occasionally drift far enough into experiment to lose its emotional resonance. The record drifts out on a pair of songs that communicate dread, but you'll need a few listens to start feeling the what and the why of it. Talking Heads polished up a product that sits in the middle of a Venn diagram with bubbles for West African dance, King Crimson and CBGBs. It's weird. Not every track is a banger. But everything has a purpose here and you should listen to this if you wonder what kind of creative bravery went on as the NYC punk scene faded from the popular eye. A classic, but a challenging one.

Weird, wacky, crisp, and completely unique.

It is just so unbelievable great. 5/5 Frequently listen to

Nice for someone who likes random Electronic noises in the background

Amazing!

Such a funky record. You can really hear the afrobeat influences they were into at the time. Aside from the obvious hit, all the other songs are really solid as well. They also kept a bit of their punk edge on some of the tracks.

Une sorte de funk pas mal mais avec des éléments électroniques nul Écoutable mais pas incroyable Once in a lifetime est sympa Mais sinon belle découverte de Talking Heads j'aime bien leurs autres sons

Always had a soft spot for this album

I like once in a lifetime but the rest were too artsy

Pretty great! Versatile, creative, funky, cool.

After listening to this album I felt the odd compulsion to ask myself, "Where is my large automobile?"

This album is strange, but I like it.

Brilliant brilliant brilliant. Is there anything better than Once in a Lifetime? It is just a tiny bit long, and could probably have done with a little more quality control, but we're nit-picking here.

Besides Once in a Lifetime, I wasn’t much moved by the rest of it.

do prefer the quirky upbeat first half but really really enjoy everything here and i do think it’ll grow on me further standout- once in a lifetime 😝

2nd song was good, definitely the talking heads would not seek out.

the one good song on there i will always remember is that one one in a life time

pretty iconic but some of the songs are a tad too long

Quirky, weird, autistic and wonderful

Groovy

Good shit, proto LCD. His vocal gets a bit annoying at time for me tho.

Brill

j'aime pas la funk,mais au moins ça dure pas 1h once in a lifetime ok listening wind ok the overloard ok,style pink floyd

took me a few listens to fully get it but man I finally understand why everyone loves this so much. production is absolutely incredible and complements the already great songwriting and performances. best tracks: once in a lifetime, the overload, born under punches

Never got too deep into Talking Heads and definitely never listend to this all the way through. Was jamming for the first few songs but then slowed way down and a couple of songs were hard to get through. All told a very good album.

3.2

surprisingly not bad

Whilst I would always turn up the volume when ‘Once in a Lifetime’ came on the radio, I’d never explored their albums. So this was a nice surprise to have a reason to give this a listen. Love the energy of the first side (fired up my Monday morning nicely), and then the change of pace and mood that followed in the 2nd side. Lots of grooves, loops and different influences. Rated as a high 3 star, but will definitely listen again and maybe explore some of their other work.

Interesting album, which I have been aware of ever since I was 9 years old. I remember the lyrics and vocal style on Once In a Lifetime used to scare me as a kid 😂 never really listened to much by them over the years, however, it must have been one of the earliest western albums inspired by Afrobeats, I'll definitely have a few more listens, but really loved The Overload especially. A high 3

This is what I’d expect from a Talking Heads album. Eclectic and weird. But I vibe with it. Couple of classics in the middle.

Groovy, interesting, but not my cup of tea.

This one is 3, maybe heading to 4 upon repeated listenings. This album is very funky, although it's missing a key component of funk–some looseness of wrist. This shit is tight, often over-caffeinated (over-coked?) highly BPMed, and right on the fucking beat. That said, it is a very quirky, unique-sounding work, with repetitive, droney (mostly in the funk way) soundscapes, and David Byrne's alien observing human lyrics and delivery. I could talk myself into four stars for this one, but I don't know if I'll be saving this for repeated listenings, which is generally my bar for four.

Not that it matters, but I want everyone that rated this less than a 4 or 5 to know that i'm judging you and your taste very harshly.

nahhh

Good songs but overall really weird experience.

Meh. Typical David Byrne yelling over instrumentation. I'm just not the biggest Talking Heads fan it turns out. The only song that stood out was days go by, but I feel like that is more because it's part of the collective pop consciousness at this point rather than the fact that I specifically like it.

Pretty unique world beat type sound.

I’ve already waxed lyrical about how great Talking Heads are, so I’ll keep Remain in Light review short and eloquent: It’s fucking class.

Loved it, best talking heads album we've had. I knew once in a lifetime but everything else was new to me, not sure I've heard anything quite like it before. The repetitive loops and odd percussion reminded my of some 00s dance indie like the rapture, maybe LCD soundsytem on occasion. Really unique though, definitely occupies its own space. Already listened twice but definitely going back.

I know Once in a Lifetime. It is quite listenable, a 'jangly' sound. I think I prefer their 1977 album overall.

I don't like the New Wave sound and it was hard getting through this album. There are plenty of okay songs but I hated most of it. It all sounded very experimental. Highlights: Once In A Lifetime Crosseyed and Painless

This is our third talking heads album on the list and I think the most famous one? I've listened to this one before. I can safely say I just do not get talking heads. It just feels a bit all over the place and experimental. I know a lot of people like them and I've tried! I enjoyed the last few songs on the album which were "unfinished outtakes" the most, which didn't have the lead singer in so I can only assume he's what I don't like. Even once in a lifetime, I know it, but not sure how much I like it Sorry talking heads, I tried, but we're done

4.25

Surprisingly, I didn't hate this, and it actually ended before I wanted it to. Would give this band another listen.

Remain in Light is the fourth album by American rock band Talking Heads. This is considered to be the band's magnum opus and it was more experimental than their previous work. Sonically, the album is influenced primarily by African music but also by polyrhythms, funk, and electronica, and the final product is a mix of new wave, post-punk, afrofunk, and art rock. Remain in Light is certified gold in the US, UK, and Canada, and the album was inducted into the National Recording Registry in the US for being culturally and artistically significant. The album performed well critically because of its new, experimental music that showed the band's evolution. This was an awesome and interesting album. I's a classic for a reason. The punk and rock music mixed with African rhythms is quite the experience. I recommend this Talking Heads album to everyone.

My experience of Talking Heads as a young person was filtered through my POP's copy of Sand in the Vaseline. That box is in its essence a greatest hits+ collection. But listening to Talking Heads albums is wholly different than listening to a greatest hits collection or even one of their excellent live (The Name of this Band is Talking Heads) or popular concert records (Stop Making Sense). Collections and live records deliver all peak and no real significant valley. More often then not, they erase the quality of experience that was present in a given album and color into the collection something more commercial and appealing as the experience. Remain In Light continues some of the Fear of Music menace and paranoia but with a broader palette. It's one of my favorite Talking Heads records to pick up and listen to as a whole. I picked up a copy on vinyl though today I'm streaming it and thinking I know I should mention the rhythms in this review, but instead I'll offer that what we should be thinking about and talking about when listening to this record is INTENSITIES. Complex interplay of drum and percussion rhythm underneath layered vocals sliding, doing call and response, stabbing guitars, solos and other instrumentation flown in hot and high in the mix, bass punctuating is one kind of intensity the record offers, but it's not the only one. We also get music that's both claustrophobic and atmospheric leaving space to experience a different kind of intensity altogether. I'm not talking about dynamics purely, even though that is part of it, but about presence and pulse paired with dynamics — how much sonic matter matters in a moment, in other words music, and for me that's what makes the album title so apt, and this run on sentence so long, REMAIN IN LIGHT, as in, I to the E keep in intensity.

know the Talking Heads, I know 'Once in a Lifetime'. I was excited to listen to this one because my wife went to see David Byrne's show on Broadway on a business trip a few years back. I didn't think this was bad or good. 'Once in a Lifetime' was and is still a good song. The rest of the stuff just kind of blended together for me. I wouldn't need to listen to the full album again. 3/5

Rock-pop. Ni fu ni fa. Una canción me sonaba.

Once in a Lifetime

Once in a lifetime is a good song, the rest was not as good. Worse than I would have thought.

I know the Talking Heads, I know 'Once in a Lifetime'. I was excited to listen to this one because my wife went to see David Byrne's show on Broadway on a business trip a few years back. I didn't think this was bad or good. 'Once in a Lifetime' was and is still a good song. The rest of the stuff just kind of blended together for me. I wouldn't need to listen to the full album again. 3/5

Talking Heads at their best. Be sure to listen to the deluxe version for outtakes that highlight the musicianship on display.

Fantastic display of New-Wave, Post-Punk, Funk, Art Pop while all still very danceable! Talking Heads is a very out there band but when they hook you, they reel you in fast. I'm digging them more and more and this might just be my favorite of theirs. 8,5 out of 10

better than the last talking heads still not a fan. feels like im drunk listening to music

I like Once in a Lifetime. The rest was kind of meh to me. Comes off as pretentious at times. I was going to give this a 3/5, but the last two tracks, especially the Overload, were dull and brought it down to 2/5.

First half is great, mad music you can't stay still to. It sort of loses its way a bit, but I think maybe it's a grower.

"Remain in Light" by Talking Heads is an iconic album that defies categorization and stands as a testament to the band's experimental prowess. Released in 1980, it's a revolutionary fusion of rock, funk, and world music that redefines the boundaries of pop. Tracks like "Once in a Lifetime" and "Crosseyed and Painless" showcase David Byrne's enigmatic vocals and the band's innovative instrumentation. The album's production is a dense and rhythmic tapestry, with Brian Eno's influence adding layers of sonic complexity. "Remain in Light" is an auditory adventure that rewards repeated listening, as its intricate patterns and thought-provoking lyrics continue to reveal themselves.

Reminds me of some later pink floyd work, especially at 34:30 mins. Cool soundscapes, decent singing. Very listenable.

Masterpiece. Rhythm section is phenomenal and the grooves are unique with a variety of interesting instruments and other sounds. David brings the weird lyrics to tie it all together.

This is not my beautiful house. This is not my beautiful wife. This is just a really good album.

Generally considered the best Talking Heads album… I think this is a way more interesting album by a Western musician incorporating Afro beats than Paul Simon’s “Graceland.” I still like the more punk-y “77” and “More Songs…” albums by TH just because I like late 70s punk more than world music. This is still a great album though.

This is easily their best album by several orders of magnitude. Going all in with the afrobeat influence and toning down David Byrne's annoying mumbling makes this the only Talking Heads I can listen to without wanting to rip off my ears! "The Great Curve" is absolutely the best song of their discography. Sometimes I think the only reason people like "Once in a Lifetime" more is because of the great music video. They're both amazing songs though. In fact, all of the first 4 songs are masterpieces. Album takes a nosedive into the shadow realm in the second half though. "Houses in Motion" is boring, but fret not, because "Seen and not Seen" is even more boring! How about three boring tracks in a row? The Talking Heads have you covered - four boring tracks in a row, take it or leave it! It's more of the generic Talking Heads bullshit that I've had to endure two entire albums of ("77" and "Fear of Music"). Boo. Get the funk back on. That makes this album really hard to rate. If this was just the first half, it would easily be one of my favorite albums of all time and a clear ten outta ten. Adding the second half into the equation drops this to something like a 7/10. Gonna listen to Fela Kuti's "Zombie" for the hundredth time now.

I did not want to listen to this since I'm not a huge David Byrne fan. But, I was proven wrong. Really enjoyable listen.

Not the best TH album, but you can get a sense of how ground breaking they were in the time.

Just a great album

Classic stuff

"Once in a Lifetime" is, obviously, iconic. But TBH the album overall just isn't quite my cup of tea.

not loving it. idk, just not my vibe. the vocals are just not ellaborate enough for me to enjoy.

Great album, consistent sound, dance vibes throughout.

Ja lisää samaa 80 poppia. Parempi kuin edellinen, vähän ambienttistäkin välillä mutta ei kuiteskaan taas mitään ihmeellistä

It sounded pretty disorganized and noisy.

An innovative, unique and exciting album - I like the mix of new wave, world, funk which result in a really strange but danceable and fun record. It's one of my favourite albums from the era for sure.

Propulsive, slightly nervous, indebted to a dozen different genres. Perhaps their greatest album.

A different sound and perspective.

SO FUN!!!!!!!

joyful yet resoundingly melancholic! very charismatic

did not like really. too weird for me

woozy

Not a bad album, interesting soundscapes for sure

A radical departure from the original art house style new wave of the Talking Heads. Remain in Light generated one of their early mainstream hits and MTV staples Once in a Lifetime. The use of Roots, African, and Latin rhythms had been used sparingly (hinted at really) on Fear of Music in 1979, especially on Life During Wartime. That album, for the most part, just carried through their classic era styles. Remain in Light was a dramatic departure and not all Talking Heads fans were thrilled at the time. Remain in Light is, all in all, a transitional album. Their new direction wasn't fully realized until Speaking in Tongues in 1983, which propelled them into mainstream stardom.

Once in a Lifetime is fun, the rest is only OK.

Super funky and experimental. David Byrne's lackadaisical vocals are at times tough to handle. Cannot stand the spoken word in Seen and Not Seen. Reminds me of the ramblings of a second year philosophy student at university who discovered the devil's lettuce.

no es mi copa de té

This is without a doubt one of the best albums that have ever been produced simply because of the fact that is walks the tightrope of being danceable and sophisticated at the same time ("Crosseyed and Painless", "Houses in Motion" are the best examples for this). The musicianship is just grand with the inspiration from Fela Kuti's Afrobeat to construct polyrhythms as the backbone of the great instrumentation carried by bass, keyboards and guitars (Adrian Belew, here as a guest, delivers one of his best work) and David Byrne's lyrics. This is a masterpiece. I'd give it 6 star if I could!

"Remain in Light" is the fourth studio album by American rock band Talking Heads. It was primarily recorded, at the least the music, in the Bahamas with Brian Eno as the producer, his last with the band. The ideal was to record an album with mutual cooperation not just as David Byrne's backing band. And, the goal was to blend rock and African genres and they experimented with African polyrhythmns, funk and recorded instrumental tracks in loops - pre computer and sampling era. Maybe the most genres I've ever seen listed for an album: new wave, post punk, world beat, dance-rock, art pop, art rock, avant-funk, funk, afrofunk and pyschedelic funk. The album received universal acclaim, commercially reached #19-US and #21-UK and in 2017, the Library of Congress put into the National Recording Registry for its artistic significance. The first side is the rhythmic side. "Ahhh" and we're off with "Born Under Punches (The Heat Goes On)." Multiple rhythms. The scratchy, funky guitar. The synth and noise sounds. Byrne preaching, rapping, shouting. The pace picks up on "Crosseyed and Painless." That bass. The urgency and nervousness. Old school rap and based on Kurt Blow's "The Breaks" People were trying to read way too much into the lyrics and Byrne no, take it literally: people operating half-awake and on auto pilot. Let's speed it up even more and add horns in "Houses in Motion." The female backing vocals overlay and criss-cross Byrne's. Adrian Belew adds a crazily-weird guitar solo. An album deeper cut highlight. "The world moves on a woman's hip." Yep! The second introspective side opens with their single "Once in a Lifetime." Swirling keys and the bell percussions. A preachers' diatribe. We're moving water! I love the bass and synth funkiness and jazzy feel of "Houses in Motion." I have no idea what Byrne is singing, whispering and screaming about but I don't care. He's answering his own questions. The album closer "The Overload" starts eerily and ominous. Creepy guitar and Byrne's voice. Well, we are in prime goth and new wave time frame. They could have made this an entire album side. This is just an excellent album, always one of my favorite. It still sounds fantastic and original. That being said, I still like their previous two albums "More Songs About Buildings and Food" and "Fear of Music" just as good if not better. A great album run for them. Mandatory listening.

Chato

Always 5 stars.

I can't imagine hearing this album when it initially came out and hearing Adrian Belew's guitar for the first time. That solo in "The Great Curve", holy crap! My brother in-law told me once he has lived his entire musical life with Adrian Belew as his guide: from Zappa to Bowie to Talking Heads to King Crimson. I feel that's pretty accurate for me as well. Adrian Belew is probably one of (if not my top) favorite guitarist. He is just... amazing. There's no other way to put it. The first half oh the album: every song is just a 1-2-3-4 punch. They're all great. The second half has some lesser known tunes, but all four of them still have deep resonance. They're a little "artier," but I love them as well. It's probably my favorite Talking Heads album, it's just stellar.

Growing up I didn't love all Talking Heads songs, but I always loved Once in a Lifetime. It was probably the first song of theirs I remember ever hearing. It is still magical. It's the fourth song on this album but damn if each of the ones before it isn't awesome too. I didn't know about Fela Kuti until listening to this list but he rocks. You can totally hear their homage to him and African sounds on these first four songs. Really cool and unique (Crosseyed and Painless might be more second favorite on the album). I don't love the second half of the album as much, probably the beats just aren't as good. But Houses in Motion (best beats of the last four songs) and Seen and Not Seen have pretty neat lyrics and vocals (weird and wonderful David Byrne) and The Overload is sneaky good (the droning sound, fit for Joy Division, doesn't quite mesh with the rest of the album's style but it's cool nonetheless). Very solid album but not quite great in my opinion.

I already loved this album, I have an LP of this album and It sounds sooo good! Love the dance vibe rock and weird sounds. One of my favourite albums of all time 5.0

Going into this, the only track I knew off the top of my head is 'Once In A Lifetime'. Listened to tracks 1-4 on the way to work and each one absolutely slaps. The constantly repeating instrumentals were absolutely a precursor to the repetitive hip hop beats of the 2010s. I get hyped every time I hear a guitar solo start because of the unpredictability of it. Track 1 also has a wild synth solo. The harmonies and backing vocals are incredible. After listening to the whole thing, I like just about every track minus 'Seen and Not Seen' and 'The Overload'. The first half of the record is incredible, and 'Houses in Motion' is a solid anchor to the second half. I will revisit this one often.

la sección rítmica es espectacular, el resto es entre monótono y experimental. aparte, david byrne tiene que gustarte.

kinda dissapointing consider how hyped this album is on sites like RYM, decent album with 2 catchy songs but nothing more than 3 stars

I like the Talking Heads but this is not my favorite of theirs...

I nearly turned this off midway through track one, but decided to persevere and glad I did. Unusual but can see why it's in the list.

Didn't really like it, some of it I did.

By far my favorite Talking Heads album. So groovy; so many hits. Crosseyed and Painless is such an end-to-end jam. Great song. Bleeds into The Great Curve, which has a funky little guitar riff paired with a driving bassline. Love the layered vocals throughout. The fact that Once in a Lifetime was a commercial success single-handedly makes me wish I could have lived through the late 70s into the 80s. Could never imagine such a song getting radio play today. Such a queer, dreamlike song. Awesome spacious instrumental with ridiculous lyrics (even by Byrne standards). The whole under the water bit... Love everything about this song; I don't think it ever fails to put a smile on my face. Only wish I could have seen them live. Highlights: Crosseyed and Painless, Once in a Lifetime, Houses in Motion. 5/5

I like Talking Heads in small doses. Listening to the whole album at once just feels disjointed and random. I generally appreciate how unique Talking Heads is, but it's a bit much for me and less enjoyable in long form. Crosseyed and Painless and Once in a Lifetime are standouts to me. There's some highs and some lows on this album. The Overload is kind of a dull song to end on. I think I biasedly want to give this a 3, but I'll pretend I've never heard of Talking Heads and give it a 2.

Everytime I listen to Talking Heads it makes me want to take a big whiff of Jenkum. I've never listened to a Talking Heads album completely through. This one was alright I am guessing that there are probably better ones based off of the songs I know Once in a lifetime is a jam.

We are on some burners here! Three 5's in a row making me feel like a bitch to music. Also another Eno gem. Growing up my parents told me David Byrne was weird... now I realize they were correct but who gives af. Born Under Punches is awesome. So funky. Love the percussions in Crosseyed and Painless. Every song is so good. Same as it ever was.... Listening Wind is haunting in the best way possible. I feel like the Overload would scare Allie. I on the other hand love it even though it might be my least fav on the album. Also I just listened to these unfinished outtake songs and they're incredible. Worthy of a listen. This album is a classic. BRB going to watch Stop Making Sense.

Fantastic, forward-thinking new wave from the early ‘80s. Easily Talking Heads best.

One time when David Byrne was on SNL, John Mulaney told Loren Michaels he'd be performing Once in a Lifetime and Loren dejectedly went “awww I was hoping he would do Letting the Days Go Bye" and that cracks me up. Anyways I love this album. Well, the first track is a little underwhelming to me, the repetition doesn't add much substance, but the entire rest of this record is a total boogie. Besides OIAL I really enjoy the great curve. David is a total kook but unlike Zappa his kook connects much more than it misses. Indelible sound. I think this album also marks an elevation in the nuance of his trademark sound. There's more depth. Would go 4.5 if I could

While I do think Once In A Lifetime is overplayed, this album is pretty solid. My complaints about Byrne’s voice and delivery still hold but this was fun enough to warrant a 4.

Talking Heads are in my top five of all time. Also high up on my list of bands that have the highest average rating over their entire output. Is this their best? I am not sure. This is the mature "funk" band version of Talking Heads. It is sometimes hard to fathom that they went from a quirky three piece art-punk band to this is five years or so, but listening to the albums in order it all makes sense. The irony is the most popular song on this disc repeats the refrain "same as it ever was". A classic and essential.

Innovative and exciting shift for Talking Heads. David Bryne has always made challenging music, often outside of mainstream conventions. Maybe this is how this album started out. Marking a bit of a transition from earlier "punk" (a term I apply loosely to TH mostly because of where they grew up performing) to a world music sound. The record's incorporation of African rhythms into pop/rock music is transformative. While every track may not be great, those that are make this an worthy entrant on this list. Falls a little short of a 5 for me. Would give it 4.5 if I could.

Pretty good, but still not exceptional to me. Speaking in Tongues will get the 5 from me assuming its on here. Having said this, the Talking Heads are clearly a unique band.

Such a great start to the album. Love their Debut album have been meaning to listen to more of the Talking Heads. Once in a Lifetime is an absolutely banger. Will update once I've finished the album. Update: Great album, great from start to finish. Will need listen to more of their music.

Thought this would be higher

Delightfully quirky and groovy, this album really feels like Talking Heads have found their sound. Great album