Reviews (page 14 of 15)
New wave rock, lidt punk, lidt funk, holder sgu egentligt
Needs a relisten
Great album, but I already knew that. I'd listened to this album a lot last year. 4.5/5
Not my favorite Heads album (always been partial to the first, and Fear of Music is a serious contender), but damn if this isn’t incredible. Still has that firesome energy and artistic spirit that makes their earlier stuff soar, but the experimentation throughout is undeniably charming. Sounds as good as ever. A-, maybe drop the minus?
In more than 40 years this record feels like it dindn't age a second: it's still innovative and brilliant nowadays. An absolute masterpiece by one of the most talented and influential bands in the history of music.
Disco mixed with Dexies. Some good songs but not really my bag
Per me il miglior album dei Talking Heads.
A really good example of a more mainstream new wave sound. Great social critique with nice dark undertones.
Fun, unique!
I've listened to this album on so many top lists and heard how Talking Heads are a GOAT band but I just can't seem to find the interest for myself. I can acknowledge they are great musicians and pioneers in the new wave era, which I love. Just too silly for me at times and hectic arrangements can't keep me interested.
weird and good. fun and interesting instrumentation.
I’d heard two of the songs before but never the rest. Definitely listening to it again, highlight “the great curve”
Yeah. It’s alright.
I love this record so much. So many cool rhythmic layers and really cool tones and textures. I love all the funky rhythm guitar and percussion. These grooves are so great. I love all the unconventional solos that are super colorful and expressive. The lyrics are great and fit the music perfectly. One of my favorites albums -Also love the Angelique Kidjo version and the Stop Making Sense concert.
Love this record! David Byrnes has such an interesting approach to songwriting and art, and I’m a fan of the stuff he did with Brian Eno. I like the afrobeat inspired vibe on this record, some really interesting guitar parts.
This album is anxiety inducing. I hated everything. I can’t believe this was allowed to be released much less hailed to be an incredible album.
Good album
I never could get into Talking Heads, save from a few mid-80s songs. This album is more a sound collage than music. The singing is particularly atrocious. Of all the songs, only Once In A Lifetime was alright, but generally I find this album to be severely overrated. 1.5/5
I love the talking heads singles but this album didn’t do anything for me. Just felt messy
Gar nicht meins. Irgendwie lärm
Top 5 album ever made for me
Oozing with originality, but a tad too eccentric for my taste.
Good good good good shit. This is everything they were building towards in their early work, fully realized. I see why this album is so highly praised and so iconic.
I think this is a real testament to Brian Eno. The soundscapes on this are just iconic and very complimentary to the Talking Heads sound.
Great instrumentals, but no more
Totally solid album from talking heads. Clearly a band whomlobed music, lobes to experiment with music and had great vision
I don’t usually like 80’s music but this was good. I think the synths aged fine
Talking Heads are........a difficult band. Intelligent pop that speaks to you but without round edges and without warmth. There's much to admire and nothing to love here? Still, this album is a treasure.
Darn infectious grooves. Kind of like Michael Jackson’s songs where every instrument track is a catchy hook. Laudable for kickstarting Phish’s cow funk era. Knausgaard has a good vignette about listening to this album in Dancing in the Dark. A very inspirational album for artists of all sorts. The heat goes on. Same as it ever was.
Fun album
5/5. An awesome album that has back to back bangers. Although not all songs are the best songs in the world, the first half of the album really makes it amazing. The second half is a lot darker but still great.
Already listened to it. Born Under Punches is a banger, Once In A Lifetime i like also.
I actually thought these songs were really interesting, but for some reason they didn’t really pique my interest, if that makes sense. I don’t like the spoken word stuff. I think the songs got worse as the album went on.
Vibin
great!
Absolute favorite of mine. Nothing more to say. Favorite Songs: “Born Under Punches”, “Once in a Lifetime”
3rd album I heard of them and now I’m a fan.
Incredible, amazing, exhilarating. One of their best.
Some really good tracks, and some others that are less impressive, but not bad. Brings in a range of styles and approaches.
Not the worst Talking Heads I've heard. But by god I just do not like this band. 2 The unfinished outtakes were much better than the actual album 1
Classic. I really enjoy a lot of the tracks here and could listen almost anytime
It had some pretty good songs. But there were more songs I wasn’t really a fan of.
One of my favourite pieces of music ever, something to love forever.
fíla þessa
Best album from one of the greatest bands ever.
83/100: Oh man, I’ve been waiting for a Talking Heads album for a while now. The only two Heads songs I’ve ever really listened to are “Once in a Lifetime” and “This Must Be The Place,” but I’ve always been curious what their albums are like. Needless to say, I was super excited to get this album today. Upon first listen through, I could confidently say that “Once in a Lifetime” was the best song on the album, but that was kind of expected going in. What did surprise me, though, was how different every song on the album sounded. This is such a rare thing in music—especially in my experience throughout this project. Most songs on an album tend to blend together and I find myself having a difficult time remembering which was which. The Talking Heads completely avoided this issue on “Remain in Light.” The only connective tissue between each song was that they were all equally “weird.” That “weirdness” is exactly why I loved this album so much though, each song is like a good time distilled into 4-5 minutes. The tone is infectious, it’s impossible not to smile and tap your foot while listening to this album. That’s what music should be.
Another first for me. What a great album, energetic and creative, full of interesting passages and effects. Listened to it three times!
I fucking love New Wave and I fucking love Talking Heads. HOWEVER This album is extremely front-loaded imo and suffers towards the end. I’d give it a 4.5 buy we’ll go with four.
It was very different which made it an enjoyable listen.
Favorite song: Seen and Not Seen Upon re-listen - Born Under Punches may be my favorite song. What an opening.
Really interesting and I should listen to it properly again.
I would listen to this again
I enjoyed this album quite a bit, and more than "Fear of Music." "Once in a Lifetime" is a choice classic, and the rest of the album sounds both interesting and enjoyable.
I knew only the one track on this album, but I very much enjoyed being introduced to the others!
Not a lot of surprises here. It's fine but none of it really seems like mine. Feels like being at a party where I don't know anyone but I don't really feel like getting to know anyone either. And the feeling's mutual.
I’m so glad to have grown to appreciate the genius of Talking Heads… great album!
When someone ever asks you "What the hell is New Wave?", you go ahead and hand them this album. It's that simple.
Didn't know most of these songs apart from "Once in a lifetime". That track is still the stand out. The rest of the songs didn't really grab me on a first listen. might need to come back for another listen.
Looping rhythms in an industrial punk funk factory from 1980 with David Byrne narrating from a bird’s eye view over culture and the everyday mundaneness of living. 9.1/10
I recognize that this album is unique and experimental and has some bangers however it's not really my thing, wouldn't catch me listening to the whole album again
Definitely an 80's album but you can hear the punk influence coming through. Some great experimentation with other genres, Massive Attack must have been influenced by The Overload. Once in a Lifetime is a classic but I think my stand out track is Crosseyed and Painless.
This album exemplifies what makes the Talking Heads Great. The mix of absurd and meaningful lyrics paired with strange synth instrumentals creates some unique music. Remain in Light starts out with a bang with three great songs in a row. Unfortunately, the album slowly loses that punch and fizzles out by the end. Best Songs: Born Under Punches (The Heat Goes On), Crosseyed and Painless, Once in a Lifetime, Worst Songs: The Overload
It's the Talking Heads. Same as it ever was.
I fully respect this album and understand why people would like it; it's just not my cup of tea. Once in a lifetime i could revisit; the rest of the album I would rather not listen to again.
So good!
Enjoyed this, very fun funky feel
bueno, pa repetir
I am bored listening to this album; most songs aren't doing anything particularly interesting, and strike me as repetitive. It's fine background music but not a keeper for me.
Overall pretty good. It's got the classic "Once in a Lifetime" but I also liked "Crosseyed and Painless", "The Great Curve" and "Houses in motion".
Starts strong, but the repetition wore me down by the end of the album. The outtake cuts at the end were especially tedious. One of these bands that I should absolutely love, but I'm on the edge about 'em.
This is the third Talking Heads album on this list. Not sure why their albums keep making the list. There were a couple of songs that were recognizable. Like the other albums, it was alright, no need to listen to again.
Love the groove, very fun album with some songs I actually recognized! The funky basslines really had me moving, 8/10
Favorite Songs: Born Under Punches (The Heat Goes On), Houses In Motion, Crosseyed And Painless, Once In A Lifetime, The Great Curve, Listening Wind Least Favorite Songs: N/A One of the greatest albums ever made. I've listened to alot of Art-Rock albums. Alternative albums. Pop albums. Funk albums. Proto-Punk albums. World albums. Atmospheric albums. This album is not just those things perfected, but recaptured and contextualized. Add odd-time signature African beats, general radio hit appeal, and sharp writing; And you get some of the most accessible experimental music ever made. Political, loving, and kind more than most you'll listen to.
A classic album that I find a bit overrated. It starts off incredibly with poly-rhythmic masterpieces. Side 1 is a wild ride and it only gets better with Once in a Lifetime, an absolute classic sluce of 80s goidness that remains fresh today, kicking off side 2. Then things take a turn towards the atmospheric, droney and dare I say monotonous. The one song that does stand out is Seen and not Seen, but the other three I find eminently forgettable. All that makes for a 4 🌟 album in my opinion.
Not my music preference but not a bad album
not their best album
I started listening to this at 8:30 in the morning. My dad had this record in the 80s. Didn't like it then, and don't like it now.
So varied in song style. While some tend to share in the rhythm styles, it feels like each song is a singular and unique creation. There seem to be some sounds that foreshadow songs that will come later, however. But that last track is completely unique in the outright creepiness of it. So unlike anything else I’ve heard from TH.
Not bad, fine background listening
Pop inglés ochentero sin mucha complicación. Un tanto básico. Canciones que no han envejecido muy bien. No destaca en nada, más allá de dejarse escuchar simplemente
One of the New Wave greats. Born Under the Punches acts as a great opening number. Once in a Lifetime is always a welcome play as well.
Good
Wasnt my thing
Basically unlistenable.
3.75
some good songs.
Such a fun album! As almost always, it was my first experience with this band, but man, what a pleasure. Such a nice ride, I felt like on european trip through safari. Another mixed genres album, that actually struck a gold. I think this is a type of album that is very consistent throughout the whole length of it. Starts with 'Born Under Punches', with a very distinctive African-sounding beat, that never leaves and actually sounds even better on few of the instrumental tracks. Couple of slower songs fitted in between also doesn't distract you from the roller coaster ride that is this album. The only problem is that the album is too consistent for its own sake. There is no stand out song, that I could remember. The most known one is 'Once in a Lifetime', but it wasn't anything special in my opinion. So in future, I will listen to the whole album, and not just few chosen songs.
This is such a fucking fantastic album.
All rhythm and percussion-based grooves, not so much melody - Once in a Lifetime excepted, there's nothing on here I would ever play again. Disappointing.
Odd to find a band that both me and my teenage son enjoy. Gotta give this one a five
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Same as it ever was.
Freaking amazing
Not my favourite Talking Heads, but it's still a classic.
Stand out track, once in a lifetime. mixed view in the rest.
This album is undefeated. I love this album, I love Talking Heads, this is one of my top 15 albums of all time.
I don't think I'll ever figure out this album
one of the greatest to ever do it Seen and Not Seen ruins me
Enjoyed the full choruses, African, and funk elements. Fun album.
i thought this was a very complex and interesting album. Give credit to Brian Eno and his production expertise in helping to put this together. There are so many merging musical sounds and styles, and it works. One aspect I read that I thought was unusual and amazing was that while the music was recorded in the Bahamas, the lyrics were not written until after the band returned to the US. David Byrnes' lyrical style is immediately identifiable. My favorite tracks were Born Under Punches and Once in a Lifetime, although the entire album is very good.
Quite possibly the worst band of all time
Bit disappointing, to be honest.
Same as the last album. Fine.
me mato por este álbum
Prefer Stop making sense from 1984. Lots of repetition on this album (each song)
Not my favourite! Once in a Lifetime is a fav, but the rest is a lot of jamming.
Loooooved it
I enjoyed this more than I thought I would. Once in a Lifetime is a classic, didn't know any of the others. Not a huge fan of the vocal performance but it's a good listen.
Best Song: Born Under Punches. I really wasn't expecting that futuristic sound. Felt fun and dance-y. Worst Song: Seen and Not Seen. Although I like the attempt at this kind of spoken word track, it ultimately doesn't work here for me. Overall: This album felt like a bit of a bait and switch. It kicks off with these killer 80s dance tracks, and then before you even reach the midpoint the style totally changes into a heady, serious, ballad filled album. I wish the whole album had been like the first four songs.
Think I preferred the other Talking Heads album on this list.
Decent
Amazing
I’ll give this my first 5/5, not a single lowpoint on the entire album. It just feels so creative for it’s time and i’m in love with sound and vibe this whole album has (though i understand why it may not be everyones cup of tea). Hard to choose the best tracks but i’d probably go with The great curve and Listening wind
Second repeat artist in one week, and I’ve rated fewer than 50 albums total. Interesting how the algorithm works sometimes. That said, the first time I got a Talking Heads album, it was my introduction to the band, and it’s easily the best thing I’ve discovered on this journey thus far. I was pretty happy to see another Talking Heads album this morning. I loved it and will definitely be adding it to my phone. Oh, and thanks to the generator for giving me Fear of Music, My Life in the Bush of Ghosts, and this in their proper chronological order. Nice it worked out like that!
This album was super fun! Talking Heads always have some good hits but listening to their album was a whole new experience! The album was so wacky but in the best way possible! Standouts include Once in a Lifetime, Burn Under Punches, Houses in Motion, and Fela’s Rift
3.5/5 fun but strange if you are paying attention more.
Arrangements are complex and frenetic but structured. Love the Afro funk influences and crazy sounds. End of album kind of dragged.
Another band I don't get - their hits are hits for a reason, the rest of the albums add nothing at all, such is the case here. Weird noodly arty stuff, clearly too clever for someone like me
Þetta er gott stöff.
Ivanova nocna mora
Ivanov najbolji bend, prvo mu je najdraži Brian Eno pa Talking Heads. Odličan album.
Keckec
Nothing like what i have previously listened to, i really enjoyed the new wave rock or whatever genre this is. It isn't really something I would listen to casually, but it is a very good album
They have much better albums, but this one is crap.
Remain In Light starts of really well and keeps delivering quality high energy song one after another, but then it quiets down and ends on a bum note. If the track list was re-arranged so the best wouldn't be all in the first half, then it would have made a more interesting experience. Definitely the best track is Once in a Lifetime which sidenote watch the music video to see some awesome dance moves. Crosseyed and Painless is also increadibly funky and awesome.
Amazing album by an amazing band. Legendary.
Decent
No skips I love the basslines and African elements Crosseyed and Painless/Once in a Lifetime were my favourites I would easily listen to this again
This is my fourth TH album in the project, and I’m glad I had a chance to hit the prerequisites before arriving at this one. To the uninitiated, this album may seem obtuse, overlong, and hard to vibe with; but those who know the Heads formula, this is the epitome of their free-flowing, organic, and near-improvisational nature. I didn’t find every track on here enjoyable, but those I did fell into such a strong and memorable groove that it’s hard to remove the hooks even hours later.
Didn't think I liked this album so much based on previous listens, but this time around I found myself grooving along to the whole thing.
I loved the start of this album, wasn’t so keen towards the middle and unfortunately didn’t get back for the last couple of tracks. Nevertheless a perhaps generous 4* for the brilliant first half.
Like Bowie, another album that I think I should like more than I do. But it was fine.
Considered chaos
5.0 - Incredible. The first few tracks sound like Fela Kuti through a neon filter with instrumental solos that sound wildly futuristic even by today's standards. "One in a Lifetime" is a masterpiece of songwriting, imagery and sound production. The tone and tempo mellow for the second half, ending with a Joy Division-esque dirge with "The Overload." This is a nuanced, heady, kinetic and bafflingly awesome listen.
I liked this enough to definitely revisit.
You can definitely hear the Brian Eno touch on this one. One of the better Talking Heads Albums. 3/5
was ok as background noise while working, my version had some demo tapped on the end that sounded great
This is dope 5
Meh its different but definitely not my favorite type of music.
Wow. The rhythm section here is unbelievable. “Crosseyed and Painless” and “The Great Curve” in particular are stunning. Just relentless in their energy. Amazing. The whole album is solid and it has “Once in a Lifetime,” which I’ve heard a million times before but still sounds fresh.
I like that right from the start you *get* the sound. It's fun, energetic, electronic, and unique. David Byrne has had several genius moments in this career. Solid album!
I’ve seen this album so much but never herd it I really hope it’s good… The album kicks off with born under punches ( the heat goes on), it’s a really interesting song quite funky but in a really “ messy” kinda way. Yeah probably not my kinda thing but still cool enough to keep me interested. Crosseyed and painless is next, yeah it’s cool. Still really odd my only criticism is that the rattling sound on it gets annoying if you focus on it too much. Side one ends with the great curve, it does sound much the same as the last two but I think the application of this song is better with this cool tribal drumming type sound throughout and the extra vocals at the chorus are cool. Side 2 starts with once in a life time, I think I recognise the chorus but the song itself i’am not too sure still good though and while i’am here I really like the African inspired sound on the album really makes it a unique listen. Houses in motion sounds the most different so far but i’am not sure if that’s the best. I still liked it just doesn’t feel as “colourful”. Then for the song seen and not seen, this is really strange it’s just talking over a beat but too slow to be rapping. So yeah it’s fine I guess. Listening wind has a really cool intro ( which carries on to the song) and honestly a nice pickup from the last two (where my enjoyment started to slip). The album concludes on the overload the slowness here reminds me of the last song on joy division’s unknown pleasures. And while this song isn’t as good as that one and it does drag at 6 minutes it’s a good departure. Overall, it’s cool, very artsy, but a unique and interesting sound, shame there’s only 8 songs.
listened to before appreciate the cultural moment but still not a new wave guy
Same as it ever was. Prefs: TOUT Moins pref: RIEN
I really like this album. Groovy, layered rhythms (almost like Afrobeat) with unique vocals. It's well mixed, too. The vibe does kind of change towards the end though, and I miss the energy that's in most of the albums in the closers. The closing song sounds like a Joy Division thing, which isn't bad, but is out of place with the rest of the album. 4/5
Not the best album
Classic.
David Byrne is a musical genius. The Talking Heads take everything I dislike about dance music, art pop, and new wave and do it in a way that I actually enjoy. This isn't my favorite of their albums, but it is a great album from a great band. "Once in a Lifetime" might be my favorite of their songs overall though. And if for some reason somebody is still reading this review and hasn't watched the Stop Making Sense film do yourself a favor and watch the amazing art that it is.
I Zimbra from Fear of Music was the first step towards the band's next level and set the tone for what was possible. Remain in Light delivered this next level. The quality falls on the last half of Side 2 but the rest is magical. Adrian Belou delivers wonderful licks
It’s always great to get an album you don’t need to listen to (again) to review. The three albums leading to this one gave hints that they might move in this direction, but when they did, they went so all-in, it was a shocker. I bet a lot of the ‘new wave’ bands at that time were thinking much more out-of-the-box when they went back into the studio after hearing this. The problem with such a masterpiece is that there was nowhere to go after.
This album starts off with a bang with the frenetic African polyrhythms of Born Under Punches. Fela Kuti’s influence is unmistakeable. The chemistry of the band and guests is also magic in a bottle: Eno, Belew, Hendryx and Hassell’s trumpet! The intensity is maintained with the next few songs: Crosseyed, The Great Curve and Once in a lifetime. In particular Adrian Belew’s guitar is astonishing on the Great Curve. The pace slowly gets turned down with each successive song but the incredible quality of the songs is maintained throughout right to the end. Seen and not Seen is the perfect bridge between the more upbeat African polyrhythmic songs to the two sonic masterpieces The Listening Wind and The Overload. Talking Heads put out many really great albums but this is their very best, and that is saying a lot. One of my favourite albums of all time.
I love Talking Heads and was obsessed by them after seeing Stop Making Sense when it came out on video. That said, as brilliant as this album is, it is tainted by the sheer pretentious of a couple of songs. Talking Heads were always more than just David Byrne, and the other three are geniuses in their own right. This is the point with Talking Heads where Byrne really starts to dominate and they are lesser for it
Oh FUCK I love this album
Genius album with brilliant crazy energy.
Boppity bops
One of the all time greats
I like some of these songs, and 'Once In A Lifetime' is iconic, but overall I found the album a bit too frenetic and disjointed for my personal tastes. I would probably like it better in the right mood at the right moment; perhaps my response to this album today is affected by the even-more-crazed-than-usual workday.
Always wanted to like more than I did. Some cool stuff though.
I used to get super high at my college job in the mall selling hats and t shirts and listen to this album. This album takes you to a pretty unusual mental state.
This is a great album that you can tell is towards the end of their run
3.9
Just some talking heads. Pretty good art-pop
Eh. I must be anhedonic.
Didn't listen to all of it but liked what I heard.
Genre: New Wave 3/5 Remain in Light by Talking Heads is one of the most highly regarded albums to have come out in the last 50 years. This album is the brainchild of David Byrne and Brian Eno, two gentlemen who have now both cemented their spaces as titans of new wave, as well as popular music in general. Critics and fans alike view this as the true turn-of-the-decade piece, a musical moment that birthed an entire decades plus of music, on either ends of the enjoyment spectrum. With that being said, I personally thought this album was just fine. Born Under Punches and Once in a Lifetime are mega-bright spots on this album. Two songs that lay the groundwork for hundreds of songs that came after them. The entire decade that followed this album musically was effectively trying to top these two tracks, without ever reaching that peak. However, the rest of the album also fails to come close to those two tracks. The sheer amount of influence this album has is clearly enormous, each song does something that would later be borrowed later in some way by much lesser artists, and the experimental nature of what’s going on here is admirable, but I never felt, or heard, what makes this album so special in many people’s ears. King Crimson’s Discipline borrows massively from this project, Fripp has some explaining to do, but I think that album does a better job of executing what the geniuses behind this album were trying to do here. Goofy, groovy, but with the right amount of technical brilliance. Remain in Light is good, and sometimes great, but I wasn’t quite as impressed as others seem to be.
Ten out of Ten. Twenty out of Twenty.
The Talking Heads are way more talented than their one-hit wonder status would ever suggest. Every album sounds great and decades ahead of its time. This one is no exception.
Rating: 6/10 Best songs: Once in a lifetime
Tocado, mas sem uma audição dedicada.
Possibly the best Talking Heads album. David Byrne is at his songwriting peak here blending his surreal lyrics that satirize society with his unique blend of funk, world beat, and new wave. This album is fearless and in being so, sounds like nothing but the Talking Heads. This album is a tremendous achievement and though it was released at the top of the decade, may be the best album of the 80s
p461, 1980. 2 stars It's not bad, its just not great either. Too many tracks just meander. Brian Eno on form though. Great guitar work on The Great Curve. Other than Once In A Lifetime, nothing left a lasting impression. Not on the replay list.
Not really my vibe
Not my favorite Talking Heads L.P. But a good one none the less
Classic with all the trimmings
nah fam
I think I've finally accepted that Talking Heads just isn't a band for me. I've listened to a bunch of their albums before and like songs here and there. Hell I loved the podcast U Talkin' Talking Heads 2 My Talking Head (which you should absolutely check out since Adam Scott and Scott Aukerman are amazing) but still just don't dig the band. This is a fine album but not for me.
Great fun.
4.0
Not the style of music I seek out usually, but a pretty good listen
Same as it ever was - great album start to finish
A good band, not exactly what Id like a lot, but clearly a step ahead on their times.
excellent
This is fantastic, in the weird way only Talking Heads can do it
Kind of a weird, interesting album. Not really sure how to describe this band or their genre. Obviously have always been familiar with them and knew a lot of songs on the album.
Side One is great Side Two less so
Pretty good album. Kinda wild they made this in 1980. Feels like it could be a modern day indie alt album. Feels very similar to lcd sound system. Their beats and instrumentals are very unique and I read it has some African influence which makes sense. Not your typical sounding band and because of that this is special. 7.7/10
Excellent 80s new wave/post punk tracks. Still holds up now and doesn't get too bloated or into itself along the way
Not my jam. There are some Talking Heads songs I like, but they’re not on this album.
Boring
i was kind of disappointed by this, because I like other talking heads stuff and Once in a Lifetime is obviously a banger. this album was decent, but the really long track length became a bit hard to listen to, and something about the production sounded sort of hollow. 6/10
7/10. Once in a Lifetime is great, but the rest of the album is thoroughly middle of the road.
Once in a Lifetime is a great centerpiece but the album has the strange feeling of slowing down over its duration. 8/10
Can see the appeal but not a great listen for me
Though I thought I would prefer the band's earlier stripped down sound, Remain In Light is a turning point for the band musically. The additional musicians and a wider range of sound gives the band a full sound that shows how the band has grown both creatively and production-wise. Not my favourite Talking Heads record, but perhaps the most interesting.
Mi pare molto sperimentale e che le canzoni siano allungate oltre la loro naturale conclusione. Ma è normale che le parole non siano a tempo con la musica? Boh, non mi rimane nulla.
not the biggest talking heads fans. Does seem to be the an experimental album.
-"Crosseyed and Painless" is super catchy with the main driving bassline, but within that main groove there's just a bunch of little parts. The main drums, the extra little background drums, the main bass, the guitar, lots of guitar flourishes, the synth, plus whatever other instruments I'm missing all blend to a really cool riff. -The repeating lines in "The Great Curve" almost become a rhythm because they are so consistent and overlapping -"Houses in Motion" has a great main riff. The elephant (?) solo at the end is pretty cool too -Album gets very spooky at the end -Solid tracks with a couple absolute bangers
This album gets 5 stars for Once In A Lifetime alone. The video also is completely a vibe I aspire to. The rest of this album is pretty good. Born Under Punches has real ‘just discovered my computers’ soundboard’ energy
Le début est vraiment très bon. C'est un peu deparaillé comme son mais le tout est vraiment bien. Wow c'est vraiment bon ahaha 5
Rock
My first off-mainstream music love as a teen was what got lumped under the broad umbrella of New Wave. The proliferation of sub-genres and side-genres around this wing of the Rock and Roll mansion starts to strike me as academic confabulating pretty quickly, though this album makes a strong argument for how diverse and wide ranging New Wave actually could be. It is about top form for Talking Heads, I think.
One of my favorites from this decade. Such a strange and angular band, and this is one of their weirdest and most interesting.
Classic album. Great rhythms, loved the mix of instruments. Bass is fantastic, really drives the band along. So many things to listen to at once, there's a lot going on.
A great crossover album of funky Afro-beat dance, post punk pop and Joy Division-style alternative rock. Very accomplished and enjoyable.
1,5
First album of the talking heads I ever listened to. Heard of them before, but didn’t know one song. Quitte enjoyed it, not my favourite genre. Contains some good songs. Favourite songs: - Once in a lifetime - Listening wind - Houses in motion
This is a fine album...the census best Talking Heads album but I don't agree with that opinion. I prefer both Fear of Music and Mire Songs About Buildings and Food. But Remain in Light is still great...excellent poly-rhythms, cool songs and production and still sounds unique even today. 4 🌟
This album is a groove and a half! The music moves and you have to, too. There is so much going on in these songs, lots of layers and a great mix of sonic textures. One of my all-time favorites. 5/5 stars
Outtakes are just as good as regular tracks.
So good! David Byrne is a proper genius
Guter "Indie-Funk". Verursacht unkontrolliertes Fußwippen.
A stunning album, full of depth, ambition, sonic innovation and the extraordinary Once In A Lifetime, Talking Heads take their musical experimentation to a new level and create a new wave poly rhythmic art rock fusion masterpiece. Even more surprising for such a complex studio production is how good these songs would sound live on the Stop Making Sense tour. An album born out of creative frustration, recording limitations and antagonism between the band members - from such challenges is born a work of art.
Could not listen to the whole album. It was good anywawy
Nja.. kul och jobbig
Chevere
Tirándole al 4, pero un buen 3.
One of my all time top ten
This was an odd Talking Heads album.
TAKE A LOOK AT THESE HANDS!!
dead good.
Talking about head. Do you know how long it's been since I last had a blowjob? 34 days. Totally unacceptable. If you know of anyone who wants to sort me out, give me a call on 07797098556
Bowen's on fire and he's shagging Dani Dyer
Too experimental, repetitively syncopated melodies and percussion.
Loved it.
Good album, enjoyed the lyrics singing and music
Not bad! Not super enthralling though, was a little boring.
Talking Heads unlock the funk and bring African beats into the mix - increasing intensity and tension
Gets very repetitive but the tunes were banging Bass lines funky as per Once in a lifetime certi bop
After spending the previous three years being afraid of everything from the countryside and work to painting and music itself, David Byrne gets a goddamn grip and learns to let the days (and water, whatever that means) pass him by, tapping into a global groove that widens his outlook and softens his responses. If More Songs About Buildings and Food was the first Talking Heads album made with access to fresh air, this one is positively oceanic. Letters of thanks should be mailed to Brian Eno. His whacked-out guitar tunings are rock futurism built and demolished in the same instant. On Houses in Motion, he plays what can only be described as an elephant with its trunk up its arse. Throughout, he counsels Byrne (never a world beating songwriter) to pick his lyrics out of a hat, which elevates the pretty good ones to semi-parodic quite good ones (“Facts don't do what I want them to,” “Can’t stop, I might end up in hospital”), and leads to him stumbling on some genuinely great ones. Once In A Lifetime, obviously, but also the one about a kid who reads too many magazine and tries to change his face by sheer force of will. (Don't try it--doesn't work). While the one about Mojique doesn't hit the bull's eye, it does demonstrate just how far Byrne has stepped outside of himself. All the way into Africa.
108. Remain in Light - Talking Heads 12 tracks Didn't expect to like this & wasn't surprised. I know they were hugely influential but it just doesn't do it for me. Once in a Lifetime is a special track, but 1 track does not an album make. Interesting funky beats though. 2/5
Is every TH album a must listen? Sonically, this is an interesting album, but nothing to write home about. Once in a Lifetime does the heavy lifting here.
3.5/5. I was expecting more, but it was good. I like how unique this sounds.
did not enjoy
hard to judge like the other album but still good 3.5
vond ik niet zo speciaal
yooo vibeke
Not for me
8/10
Frenetic and quirky, but still very catchy and likable. I love Talking Heads, but surprised this album was selected. Once in a Lifetime is amazing and never gets old.
musically interesting, arrangements are unique without being a niche genre
This is what you get when a white suburban songwriter goes wild on Afro-American polyrhythms. It's strange disruptive and groovy as hell. One of the best albums of the 1980s and in my personal top 25.
Saved Prior: Once in a Lifetime Off Rip: Born Under Punches (The Heat Goes On), Crosseyed and Painless Cutting Edge: None Overall Notes: Sounds cool but only in spurts. Some of those spurts are song length, most aren't. Dare I say overrated?
I always enjoy listening to the Talking Heads, I just kind of don't do it enough
Every song sounds like a less fun version of Once in a Lifetime. Just not my jam.
3.5 stars... One of Talking Heads weirder albums. 'Right Start' might be one that I didn't think to save first listen
Sounds quite modern.
4.5 | Una vez más de lo mejor que hubo del New Wave/Post Punk/en realidad son difíciles de clasificar o centrar a un solo modo... en este disco se ve mucho ese sonido de los que les gusta llamarlos una banda punk. No se si lo mencione a fondo en la anterior, pero a pesar de todo lo que me gustan los Talking Heads nunca he sido un fanático fuerte de manera particular hacia alguno de sus discos. “Once in a Lifetime” ha sido una canción que me ha gustado mucho casi desde que tengo memoria. Es realmente extraña, en música y letras, pero es harto pegajosa. Siempre me preguntaba si esa canción era una muestra de lo que era envejecer. Ahora que soy mayor, veo que para algunas personas lo es. Siento que con el tiempo se va haciendo uno más reflexico y se oye raro pero quizás tener esta canción conmigo ha ayudado con eso. Así que, queriendo encontrar más música como "Once in a Lifetime", puse este álbum, cuya portada es también de mis primeros recuerdos de ver en discos de vinil. No es un álbum que te agarra instantáneamente y toma tiempo asimilarlo. Siento que en estos días lo he absorbido canción por canción, y más o menos en el orden de las pistas. Realmente me terminaron gustando bastante alrededor de 7/8 cancines en este punto (la pista final que no me agrada y queintentan sonar como Joy Division) . Me encanta el rollo en el que continúa, esos loops repetidos son increíbles y aportan una vibra muy correcta. El lado a es básicamente una forma realmente difícil de hacer un álbum de Funk. El segundo lado suena oscuro, pero al escuchar atentamente habla acerca de la belleza de la vida. Cada paso del proceso en la creación de este álbum se siente extremadamente calculado y eso debería dejarlo rígido y seco. En cambio, trae esta emoción y ritmo, es algo hipnótico. Brian Eno tiene cosas que me encantan y cosas que simplemente no me cuadran, esta es una especie de culminación de toda su experimentación. Reúne todo lo que había estado haciendo durante una década. Sugiero concentrarse en el primer lado ... el más rítmico y luego dejar que todo llegue a su debido tiempo en la segunda mitad.
Este disco me impresionó más de lo que me gustó. Por un lado sí es muy innovador para la época y es muy variado en sonidos pero tampoco es un disco que me provoque volver a escucharlo o volverme fan de la banda. Por otro lado, es impresionante escuchar algo que es influencia de varios géneros musicales y de muchas bandas reconocidas que vieron sus orígines en la primera mitad de la década de los 80s. 3.5 estrellas que suben a 4 porque sí, creo que todo el mundo debería escuchar este disco alguna vez en su vida. Songs: The Overload, Once in a Lifetime
Dudé un rato entre 3 o 4 estrellas, porque por un lado son excelentes músicos: innovadores, arreglos elaborados, ejecuciones complejas, etc. y lo demuestran en cada canción; por otro lado, el Synth Pop no es mi estilo musical y me cansan rápido (incluso con lo elaborado que es) el estilo de sonido que usan. Por supuesto, la rola que se lleva el disco es Once In A Life Time, que incluso sorprende que sea de 1980, pues suena como algo mucho más actual. Pero también hay otras (como Seen and Not Seen) en las que en vez de cantar solo hablan y no me gusta.
Не понял
Great album!
some okay some meh
i like it
interessante Rhytmen, manchmal zu lang, manchmal zu viel auf einmal, gute Soli
Absolute masterpiece.
Not my favourite TH album, but enough highlights to keep me happy
Weird timing consider I just had a post-punk album from the same exact year yesterday (The Teardrop Explodes); however, I definitely found this album more interesting and unique. While I don't feel that I am a huge fan of this genre overall, the tracks on Remain in Light were more distinct and detailed which is what I feel is needed to make an album like this work. I also feel like it did not feel dated in the slightest which is always impressive for an album that is more than 40 years old. The track that stood out to me the most upon my first listen was Crosseyed and Painless due to the upbeat instrumentals, and I was surprised to find out that Once in a Lifetime is a Talking Heads song (absolute classic!). Would listen to this one again and also explore the rest of their catalog to see how many other songs I know. 3.5/5.
Isn’t David clever! Lots of groove, fantastic guitar work and a stone cold classic song (universe level) too. I’m never sure if I like Talking Heads as much as I should, but not to worry: the album enjoys itself whether I’m sticking with it or not. Very good.
Les Talking Heads ont tout misé sur le rythme et ont eu raison. Le guitariste joue en effet le même accord de Sol majeur pendant les quarante minutes du projet avec une dextérité sans précédent. Sol, sol, sol, jusqu'à l'épuisement. On le soupçonne parfois de nous préparer un Mi ou même un Ré, mais rien n'y fait, le prochain accord sera bel et bien un Sol. Pour notre plus grand bonheur.
Aujourd'hui je suis assis à côté de mon manager au bureau, il m'est donc absolument impossible de rédiger des reviews de qualité. En effet, à tout moment ce dernier peut pivoter sa tête sur le côté, et ainsi me réprimander pour le 3/5 accordé aux Pink Floyd il y a de cela quelques jours. A très vite je l'espère dans des conditions plus propices.
Love talking heads! Once in a lifetime album. Awesome album.
This is the first full Talking Heads album I've listened to, though I'm familiar with David Byrne, and some of their radio hits. It's unique, it's experimental, it's very 80s, and very frantic.
This has Jake written all over it. Imagine putting a 6-9 month old baby in front of the screen and putting on the music video for "Once in a Lifetime"... what would that child become? I do not know... hahah.
Talking Heads at their peak. Their evolution from full-on weird punk to masters of New Wave reaches its climax before they would go on tours for a few years. There are only 8 tracks, but they're absolutely perfect. There is quite literally not a single forgettable track. I feel like everyone who's listened to this album at least a few times can say something about each of them. Everyone has a different favorite. You'll notice that a lot of people rank their favorite tracks nearly exact to the track listing. That's because the album starts out loud and bombastic. "Under Punches" kicks off with a yell and goes straight into the action with weird lyrics and incredible synths that define everything great about Talking Heads. It's no wonder some consider them to be the epitome of the New Wave movement. The entire first side could easily be smash hits if placed on different albums, and it's incredible hearing them back to back. Very hard to pick favorites. Second side is also full of top tier tracks, but they're not dance based... it gets incredibly eery and involved. This makes for a thematic experience overall, but could push people away from finishing the album. My first few times listening to the album, my brain would always space out the last few tracks. But then I started listening to the lyrics. "Seen and Not Seen" is a lesson to be learned about the whims of appealing to how you wish to appear, and the consequences that may follow. "Listening Wind" is about a terrorist sick of intruding globalization. "The Overload" is a gothic atmospheric track which ambiguous, haunting lyrics that I still have no idea what to make of. They're not hits by any mean, but I love their sounds. Oh and the chorus of "Listening Wind" catches on. So many things I find perfect about this album. I was assigned Fela Kuti a few weeks ago and I absolutely loved his work, but didn't know why. Turns out it sounds just like Talking Heads. Talking Heads takes a lot from funk and afrobeat, most notable Parliament-Funkadelic and Fela Kuti respectively. Such developments came to fruition in Fear of Music, but I feel the sound is at its peak here. Not to mention Eno is back here again with the flawless production. It just sounds fantastic, and it's insane how they combined all these channels without divine guidance. Of course, Byrne's vocals is also a central strong aspect, not only with his peculiar yet accessible lyrics, but his speech pattern, and his delivery between melodic singings and proto-rap-like verses. I'm a sucker for synths and for weird music and complexity. This has all of that. Parts like when all voice channels sing different lines in "The Great Curve," or the speech about facts in "Crosseyed and Painless," or the part about water at the bottom of the ocean in "Once in a Lifetime," I look forward to it all as highlights. Sometimes I rewind just to hear them again. Truly, this album checks off everything I look for in an album, and delivers much much more I couldn't possibly expect other albums to have. You are guaranteed I will be listening to this album many times a year for as long as I live.
Kinda boring but it grew on me
Interesting listen. Not a band I usually listen to, but appreciate the complexity in the African rhythms and dense musical landscape the album paints. 3/5 - probably wouldn't listen to again.
Enter synth and syncopation
TIL all my favorite artists are just Talking Heads cover bands
Always enjoy listening to a band/album like this that is experimental and unique while being listenable at the same time. Some songs are iffier than others but that's what happens when you take risks. Overall pretty great stuff.
It's slightly more enjoyable than 77 but wouldn't put it on again any time soon probably.
Top 2 Talking Heads album.
Not as good as I expected.
Loved this for the longest time Love the Fela nod on this album
Great Band and a good album! Probably one of the best "Art House" band ever, love their early stuff and their later stuff. Tina Weymouth was the thinking Mans Bass player of choice and was the the stuff of teenage fantasy for me. In my opinion "Stop Making Sense" which I think came out a couple of years after this is a) the best Live Music Film of all time and b) Classic tunes for the post punk era. I think my favourite here has got to be Once In A Lifetime! The Overload is reminiscent of Curtis Era Joy Division/New Order to me so who was influencing whom?
Great LP!
Surprisingly not very good. Once In A Lifetime is of course a great song, but the rest of the album didn't sound anything similar to that song. 1RS
I've always liked Once In A Lifetime but I really didn't get the appeal of the rest of this album. A difficult listen for me.
I'm confounded by my experience of Talking Heads after their debut. That was magical; Everything else has been distinctly not. This record picks up quite a bit after Once in a Lifetime (or after I get into the groove). Before then it's a bit too campy and Talking Heads-y for its own good. The turn to a fuller sound is very good for the band, though. Just not the day for me to fall for it. The last two tracks, in particular, make this worth listening to. I could have done with an entire album in that vein.
lite knepigt va
I remember seeing a Talking Heads video on VH1 way back when I was but a wee teenager. I thought it sucked donkey balls and the video was weird too. Now, I have to admit my taste in music (and music videos) has matured quite a bit, and quite like this, and weird is good. This is an absolute banger!
First record with a computerized image on the album cover! And what a record it is!
Rock-pop. Ni fu ni fa. Una canción me sonaba.
I am a fan of the Talking Heads. This is the second recomendation for this band on this list, and I've heard a few other full albums from the band as well. I don't think I liked this album as much as the previous recommendation (More Songs About Buildings And Food), but I liked the album. "Once In a Lifetime" is one of my all-time favorite tracks from the band, and "Crosseyed and Painless" is another track that I would come back to. The remaining tracks felt new to me. "Born Under Punches" seemed like it had a strong connection to the live performances that followed this time... with a large supporting band and lots of interaction between the main members and the supporting band. I think because I am a fan of the Talking Heads in general, this album gets a slight boost to round up to 4 stars.
well, like all good art, this makes me think. and by the end of this album, i'm thinking about music's long tradition of borrowing rhythms and flavors from other traditions, and it makes me wonder...in our current heightened state of cultural sensitivity, what would happen if a skinny white dude tried to bring traditional african beats and tone into his music. what if he worked with the spiritual heirs of fela kuti, would that be better? and if it was ok today...how far ahead do we have to look to see that tradition of borrowing as some kind of uncool appropriation? because this album - and in fairness, like, all of rock, benefits greatly from the legacy of africa and africa's often-unwilling footprint on The West...where we count europe - or at least england - as being somehow meaningfully west of africa. anyway, i like to think this album could be made today - especially by someone with david byrne's cultural gravitas. but what if it was some unknown nyc art-rocker? if it's not problematic now, does that borrowing become a problem in the future? i really hope not, because art in general needs that cross-pollination, or it withers. i hope we can get this figured out.
I love David Byrne and the Talking Heads. I don't think I ever heard the whole album but it is consistent and funky and edgy. I think I would want to hear it again some time. Maybe not tomorrow or next week, but I keep it in my list of music I like.
Fantastic album!
You can absolutely feel which songs were written by Byrne and which were born out of the jams by Frantz & Weymouth. Byrne has an absurdist take on pop where the others took a turn toward afro-centric. Born under punches should've been a single. Once in a lifetime is fantastic, of course. Houses in motion isn't bad, but it's not "greatest hits" great. Most of the rest of it is good, but not anything outstanding.
Typical 80s - drum machine, keyboards and overly british vocals. A bit of a dirge in places but would listen to them again if they were on the radio or something.
Such a melting pot of influences. Madness!
2/5 nothing special
One nice song, others are so so, not my kind
Top 3 album of all time. An absolute masterpiece. 10/10 1. The Great Curve 2. Born Under Punches (The Heat Goes On) 3. Once in a Lifetime
This album made me realize I'm not a big fan of Talking Heads. Their 4 big hits (that I know of) are enough for me.
Surprisingly I had only heard one of these songs before (Once in a Lifetime of course). This seems like the prototypical Talking Heads album with the African influenced beats and seemingly stream-of-consciousness lyrics. Good stuff. 4 stars.
David Byrne!!!! That is all.
Weird, folksy, and fun.
I'm just not a huge fan of Talking Heads. They're a little too much for me. I think that the songs also go on for a little too long sometimes. I liked "Once in a Lifetime", but that's really all I would go back to listen to I think. Overall: Eh, I just don't really think it's for me.
A1 album good from beginning to end.
Not as good I had hoped
In discussions of this album, the primacy of African polyrhythms is often mentioned, but that not quite correct. Strictly speaking, the polyrhythms are African-American because they derive from Afrobeat, which originated as a response to the music of James Brown. Fela Kuti and others took the funk rhythms of James Brown and added the polyrhythms and layering of traditional African music. With Remain in Light, Talking Heads returned the favor, emphasizing layering and interlocking rhythmic patterns even more, and not only rhythms but also sounds. Anticipating hip hop, Eno built up the tunes out of loops cut out from two live jam sessions from the full band. In producer Brian Eno's hands, the complexity of this layering dwarfs anything Fela Kuti ever did. Which brings up another point, which is rarely discussed. Remain in Light is one of the most sonically rich and gorgeous albums ever made--Eno takes his unique and patented electronic processing to new heights. But as much credit as Eno deserves for the success of Remain in Light, it's hardly a one-man show. Tina Weymouth's bass lines are deeply funky, as is Jerry Harrison's chickenscratch guitar. Chris Frantz' drumming seems less distinctive to me, which is perhaps why Eno and David Byrne decided to bring in percussionist Jose Rossy, who later played with Weather Report. And I suspect that the interweaving vocal parts are largely the work of Byrne, enriched by contributions from soul singer Nona Hendryx. Another thing: it's wrong to say that there are no solos on this record--they're just deeply untraditional. Adrian Belew's avant guarde outbursts on guitar are refreshingly non linear, thrilling and absolutely brilliant. And world music pioneer Jon Hassel's processed trumpet solo on Seen and Not Seen gives the track a suitably eerie edge. As if all that weren't enough, Talking Heads even include one track that miraculously manages to weave Afrobeat, pop, and the Velvet Underground into one of the most indelible singles of the 80s, Once In A Lifetime. Remain in Light is damned near flawless.