Remain In Light by Talking Heads

Remain In Light

Talking Heads

3.68
Rating
30810
Votes
1
3%
2
11%
3
28%
4
31%
5
27%
Distribution

Reviews (page 4 of 15)

Jeg ser ikke lyset - måske mit 80'er hjerte bare ikke banker så stærkt. Det var, af en eller anden grund, en noget stressende omgang musik at arbejde til.

3.5!!! Once in a lifetime carries…. Rest of album is decent, but not quite a 4

Forferdiliga monoton, einasta highlight er Once in a Lifetime

what a weird album

Once in a Lifetime is one of the greatest songs of all time! Never listened to the rest of the album but it's good if uneven. May need a few more listens

Love it - 4.5

Excellence,

Wondrous and weird and unmistakable. Flipped back and forth between a 4 and a 5, so listened again, and then again, and settled on 5. Just an absolutely seminal album, one that has aged with grace.

It can get weird, but I'm here for it.

Not Ford me

Liked this way better on a 2nd listen - I knew none of these tracks other than Once in a Lifetime, they're all pretty spectacular.

too busy

Okayish but not great

classical tracks, some innovative styles and overall an interessting album.

Somehow the music by this band goes right over my head.

Magnificent. Went to new places and nobody has been there since. Fantastic rhythms with beautiful layers of melody woven through. Just about perfect.

One of my all time favourite albums. Just immense. Brian Eno brings so many layers and textures. So funky but complex. David Byrne’s lyrics are fascinating and intense. His delivery as always is brilliant

once in a lifetime is goated but this shit is too grating to listen to for 40mins

Fun and funky! Lots of beeps and boops, but a bit gloomy. Don’t love David Byrnes’ voice but I got over it.

Instant 5 star. I already liked this album but comparing it to other albums from 1975-1985 on this list, it's honestly embarrassing how much this clears.

I used to find _Remain in Light_ dense, hard and unrewarding. I could hear that Talking Heads were doing something clever, but mostly I heard clutter. Coming back to it now, the clutter has resolved itself into a band locked into a hypnotic groove, and I find the whole thing exhilarating. The great conceptual leap is that this is music which has largely stopped relying on chord changes to create movement. Talking Heads and Brian Eno build loops out of individual performances, then create development by adding, subtracting and reintroducing elements. The remarkable thing is how often those reintroductions _feel_ like chord changes. A guitar figure returns, a voice appears, the percussion is reweighted, and the entire harmonic colour seems to change even though the underlying structure has barely moved. They have found another way of doing the job. In that sense, _Remain in Light_ feels like one of the places where the harmonic world inherited from white 1960s pop finally loses its monopoly. Not because chord progressions suddenly became obsolete, but because this record demonstrates that you simply don't need them to make music move. Rhythm, texture, density and repetition can do it instead. It also changes the role of the singer. The frontman doesn't stand above the music while the band accompanies him; he wanders in and out of the system. Sometimes he's preaching, sometimes chanting, sometimes telling a story, but ultimately he has to submit to the groove like everybody else. Even _Listening Wind_, the closest the album comes to conventional narrative, refuses to reorganise itself around the story. That beautiful four-bar motif comes about as close as the record gets to a chord change, while the groove remains a wash through which the voice passes. It consequently feels slightly in bad faith to single out tracks. This is a glorious wash of a record, and repeated listening isn't really about decoding it. It's about surrender. Follow one guitar part this time, the percussion next time, a backing voice the time after that. The system remains in place while you change your position inside it. Nevertheless, "The Great Curve" is as close as the album gets to a manifesto, and I don't just mean the lyrics. Everything this record believes is demonstrated there: motion without harmonic travel, repetition generating escalation, individual musicians submitting to a collective system, enormous density without collapse. Then Adrian Belew is allowed to FREAK over the top of it. The groove underneath him is so secure that his guitar can sound completely ungovernable without threatening the structure at all. The final minute is sublime: they simply keep intensifying what is already there until repetition itself becomes release. That's what I most admire about _Remain in Light_: the nerve. This working method could have crashed and burned spectacularly. Remove conventional harmonic movement and you risk monotony. Build from loops and you risk sterility. Keep adding independent parts and you risk an incoherent racket. Deny the singer his customary authority and you risk removing the listener's focal point. Having taken all those risks, Talking Heads and Eno then have to make hundreds of tiny decisions about what enters, what disappears and what is left alone. The choices are almost absurdly good. So _Remain in Light_ isn't great just because it's influential, clever or ahead of its time, although it is all three. It's great because it takes a set of extraordinarily risky decisions and proves they can function as music. Forty-odd years after first struggling with it, I think I've finally stopped trying to make the album come to me. You surrender to the groove, choose an element and follow it. Or, more simply: move. Dance.

Este es un album bizagra, como la cosita de las puertas, sostiene el cambio definitivo de un sonido y lo que sostenía lo que fuera el rock de los 70 y lo que vendría con el de los 80. Defitinivamente un momento en la historia plasmado es mera chimba de canciones.

alternative, funky, rock, dope album cover, really cool

My 3rd Talking Heads album on this list, and probably the best one so far - or maybe it's just finally starting to click for me. It's like a weird missing link between 70s funk and 80s quirky pop (but with great instrumentals instead of lame synths and drum machines). I can see how they could be considered visionaries - as a matter of fact, "Once In A Lifetime" almost sounds like a cheeky parody of 80s pop before 80s pop even existed, which is a feat in itself. I'm still not a big fan of the singer's voice, but the instrumental parts are good (especially the groovy guitar and psychedelic flute). Lyrics are also a lot of fun, alternating between hilarious and unhinged. Overall it's a treasure trove of creativity and weirdness, and even if it's not something I'd revisit often, I have to admit they're doing something right. I might end up liking Talking Heads after all. 7/10

Interesting, Suprisingly nice to listen to (I am not a fan of David Byrne's voice). Openly inspired by Fela Kuti, it's seemavant garde for its time. I'll porbably listen another time.

Too much Talking Heads on this list, and their shrill, pseudo-funk with shit voice just gets on my nerves. It’s repetitive, barely groovy, and honestly kind of exhausting. On this album, it even drifts close to disco at times, it’s easily their worst for me till now. Only the hit Once in a lifetime shines… a bit.

Lo más destacable del álbum me pareció su sonido y su propuesta atrevida, característica de los Talking Heads. Es un disco donde los protagonistas son el bajo y la batería, utilizando las guitarras como instrumentos de ambiente o de percusión a través del staccato. Las letras de Byrne son top tier. Un excelente disco para iniciar los '80 y empezar a jugar con el new wave que a la postre terminaría siendo dominador en la década. Brian Eno es un maestro pero eso no es novedad. Excelente álbum para comenzar la enciclopedia. Sin embargo, quizás no sea mi favorito de los Talking Heads. Aunque es difícil inclinarse por uno, reconozco que hay elementos que en otros discos quizás logran atraerme más, como las guitarras de Naked. Excelente arte de tapa. Completamente innovador y crudo. Top tier. Le pondría 4 estrellas y media pero no me lo permite.

I definitely understand the hype around this album and the band in general. They've got great rock grooves and riffs but also add a lot of experimental elements to their tracks that elevate each song that much more. 8.5/10. Favorite Song: Born Under Punches

i’m sick of this album cuz i listened too it too much, but damned if it’s not amazing

Really solid album, but Once in a Lifetime is more of a sonic outlier than I anticipated.

FAVS (top 3): crosseyed and painless, the great curve, once in a lifetime mençoes honrosas: listening wind tipo é ouvivel mas nada marcante -_- daria menos se fosse insuportavel de ouvir nota final: 3/5

My third Talking Heads album (and third in the last 4 months, so I've got most Talking Heads albums in the list around the same time). For context, I rated More Songs About Buildings And Food, and Fear Of Music (which I got on consecutive days, funnily enough) 3 and 4, respectively. So either I've been getting their albums in order of how good they are, or I'm really taking a liking to them. Probably both things at the same time. I can see how this must have been very innovative for its time, and still it sounds fresh to new ears after 46 years. The fact that they made an album with such a merge of genres sound so cohesive at the same time is truly amazing. I haven't even got familiar with the specific songs, but it's so clear on first listen how extraordinary Remain In Light is.

Love this record. Didn’t really “get” Talking Heads back when this album was released, but now they are one of my favorite bands of this era.

Absolute classic

Extremely inventive and fun

This rules

Some hits some misses on this

no m gustó

Me gusto sobre todo la cancion once in a lifetime, mantienen su escancia

This was great, love the talking heads

Apart from a best of that I listen to every once in a while, I don't know much about the Talking Heads and yes I should have paid more attention to them. The cohesion on the first songs is very strong with this funky vibe and it hooked me directly. Favorite songs: Born under punches ; The Great Curve ; Once in a Lifetime ; Listening Wind

mega silly okładka podoba mi się born under punches - odrazu chce się zrobić awkward taniec i nie brać niczego na poważnie. crosseyed...OMG WCHODZĄ CHÓRKI. trochę vibe the savage ressurrection fox is sick???? the great curve - trochę wchodzi w brazylijską muzykę XDDD skipnęłam końcowo... once in a lifetime - znałam i kocham!!! house in motion - kojarzy mi się z tańczeniem w mieszkaniu ze znajomymi ale to może po prostu moje myśli i marzenie zawsze

It was pretty good since its my first time listening to albums i wanna explore more

Very Upbeat and the bongo-esque instrumentation is very addicting

Fav- once in a lifetime 4/5

Once in a Lifetime is such a strange and unique song. The whole album is, really. Just classic offbeat 80s ideas with 10/10 execution.

never actually listened through before. the energy is unreal. favorite song is Listening Wind

Rating: 9/10 An excellent 80’s American rock achievement, and another banger of a Brian Eno produced record, one in which he’s basically another member of the band. Wild experimentation and funky polyrhythms are employed with the band reaching their creative peak. I wouldn’t even call it post-punk at this point, but what it is is really good shit. It falls off a little bit more in the end for me after the insane first half album run, but Listening Wind is still really solid. The first four tracks are some *chefs kiss* perfection

Pretty cool. Creative and weird and fun to listen to. Tapers off into a bit of a snooze but still a 7.1/10

Very, very strange and dark.

Honestly, I didn't like this album. It's not my style. I hadn't heard much from the band before, only Psycho Killer, which I like, but this album... I didn't enjoy it tbh.

Pas mauvais mais pas mon style du tout

My first album I bought in vinyl say less

Solid with a banger

First time listening to more than 2 or 3 songs by talking heads, was decent enough. A high 3

Classic talking heads but I don’t think it’s their bedt

4/0 didn’t really listen to it

Meh. Not my favorite Talking Heads album.

Kermit the Frogs’s ‘Once in a Lifetime’ is one of those rare examples of the cover being better than the original.

Oh yeah. I was already very familiar with this album, and I had Once in a Lifetime and Born under Punches in my playlist for a long time, so this was a good opportunity to get more familiar with some of the songs I haven't heard as much. They did not disappoint. This album is basically divided into two halves; the first is funky and high energy, and the second is contemplative, eerie, and wonderfully psychedelic. The first half features more live instrumentation and the second is more electronic. I might slightly prefer the first half for that reason (the two note bass line on born under punches is one of my favorites.) The instrumentals are all just busy enough to have maximal rhythmic interest without overwhelming you; all the different bleeps and clicks are so delicious. Like Ray said, the lead singer has a somewhat similar quality to Pere Ubu, but I much prefer his singing because it is more tool and he uses nice harmonies. I went into this album thinking I'd give it a three or four, but there are no weak tracks, so I might have to go to five.

5 stars! One of my all-time faves. Still sounds so fresh (after 46 -- wtf? -- years), and bursting with creativity, and funk and . . . how did they do that?! It still sounds so original, and also so full, and dense (multi-layered) - but also tight. Never goes stale for me. The closest to doing this (i.e., going stale) is probably "Once in a Lifetime," which I still hear fairly often on the radio. As I recall, it was one of the songs that first grabbed me, but for much longer, now, it has been all of the other songs that I've really grown to love, and, even more so, all of them together as a group. I can think of few albums (if any) where I have a stronger sense of the perfect cohesiveness of an entire album; it's like entering a another (and fascinating) world. A world with satisfying, catchy, danceable rhythms.

I wish I could hear this for the first time again! As it is, I'm a little bored with the tracks I know because they've suffered from success. Tracks 1-4 are still really good, but I have the sense that I'm lacking the excitement they would give when they came out. The second half is less stellar The rhythmic loops and textures are very cool. But there isn't much arrangement beyond that, just groove There are some solid thematic and stylistic ideas, but I'm not a huge fan of the Eno influence

Eclectic, different, creative and interesting album.

The odd track was all I really got into from this album but over time, it's grown on me. I'll have to keep coming back to this. More multifaceted than some of their other albums with Fela Kuti's influence coming through on some of the tracks and various efforts at experimentation. Enjoyable.

Good. I wanted to like it more. I really like the Talking Heads, but didn’t love this.

excelente!!

Probably the only Talking Heads album I still consistently listen to from start to finish. Brilliant collaboration between Eno and the band on the production, and an incredible stylistic left turn to even take to begin with. Truly an album to hear before you die.

I think I’ve come to the conclusion that Talking Heads/David Byrne is what I keep expecting David Bowie to be like. I like his music less, and this music more.

6/1001 Remain in Light - Talking Heads (1980) The run from the opener to "Once in a Lifetime" may be one of the greatest four track runs of all time. This album was way ahead of its time, and as a Brian Eno fan it was really nice to hear his influence. David Byrne is an absolute genius with his writing, and the jamming of Jerry, Tina and Chris make this a cohesive electrifying experience. Although if with how heavy and apparent the inspiration is, I'd be happy to consider Fela Kuti the fifth (sixth) member of this group here. All said, the track run from "Once in a Lifetime" to the closer just wasn't as strong for me and ultimately held this album back from perfection. ★★★★½

Having heard some Talking Heads before, this is exactly what I expected

I do not like this album other than Once In A Lifetime. Otherwise, this album is forgettable to me.

interesting this is kind of weirding me out im ngl nevermind great curve lowk got me grooving this fits well with my mindmapping 7.3/10

Fun and upbeat I dig it and will try out more of their stuff

I know this. This is the one where every track is based on a repeated riff or groove, right? The question is, is the music any good? Sometimes.

upbeat, interesting instrumentals, reminds me of jay keane. holy vocals i dont like the vocals. too avant garde w the instrumentals for me second track much more appealing sounds like they sung this on coke or addy or sumn third track fav so far, perf driving song track 4 good asl too holy switch up start of track 5 from track 5, it's gotten significantly less crackhead-y wtf track 7 why am i in a middle eastern country in a michael bay film why am i in gotham track 8 why was i a rasta on coke track 1-3, detective in a thriller track 4-6, a stereotypical camel rider in track 7, and then bruce wayne track 8

Yeaaaah idk

like but a little boring

Not a bad background music or a movie soundtrack, but not something I would have put on and listen to on a daily basis 🙃

Eighties pop

I havent heard this in a long time and have never given it close attention. What a great mix of almost afrobeat rythms and percussion layered over a funk groove that underpins and provides a solid base for some more arty and experimental elements. The solid base is Provided by a great bass/drums rythm section playing so solidly together. It gives it a rock/pop appeal that the album may not have otherwise had. I suspect a lot of kudos to Brian Eno for this given his role producing, playing, songwriting (how much songwriting I dont know as all the band get songwriting credits here. Blending so many elements without letting one stand out or have it come out sounding like a dogs breakfast is incredible. The drone and repetition of track 1 had me worried the whole album would be the same, no chords structure like you’d expect in a rock/pop/most songs but it was the same, in fact there werent any chord changes at all, just the individual instruments weaving melody in and around the one chord, but it was not boring at all and i didnt really focua on it after song 1 and that is a fucking amazing feat.

Nope, I remember everybody was mentioning the Talking Heads when I was a kid. Maybe they even have a song that if i hear it I will remember it being played everywhere back then, but I didn't enjoy listening to this album. I respect their fans but this is just not for me, it's like 80s gregorian chants XD

I love this one so much. You're making it hard on me, all this classic albums. A few years ago I followed the Talking Heads discography, and I remember very well the excitement of getting to listen to this album. Another 5. I think that even if it dropped as a 2000's dance record it would have made waves in the music scene. 1980? Revolutionary.

One of the most influential new wave albums of all time.

It’s ok, one great song on board

Thought id enjoy this more to be honest, honestly fairly dull.

Fantastic album. All hangs together super well.

Stop I was so excited to see this pop up I freaking love the talking heads and don’t know enough of their music. This is cool girl music. I listened to the deluxe version and I thought the unfinished outtakes were pretty jammy! I don’t think they’d be hits but like they were shredding for a bit there. Favs: the great curve, once in a lifetime, houses in motion, the overload

I'm a bit miffed Speaking in Tongues isn't on here (I don't think?), but this is still an incredible album, definitely worthy of a 5

Not a big fan of them, some nice songs but I get irritated by his voice and find their music a bit boring

Some very funky songs. Not my favourite album of theirs though.

Baffled as to how this is so highly regarded Best Song: Once in a Lifetime Rating: 4/10 Stars: 2

Just as idiosyncratic as the Talking Heads are known to be, but Reman In Light is a remarkable step forward in terms of sound and songwriting. A snapshot of a band blazing new trails.

# Album Name: Remain In Light # Artist: Talking Heads # Rating: 3/5 # Comments: Pretty mid TH album. Shame. Couple of good songs though. # Top Tunes: Crosseyed and painless / Once in a lifetime # Would I listen to it again? Maybe

Tina Weymouth I would still do anything for you...

It's a pretty good TH, but not Speaking in Tongues good.

While I do think these songs work way better in the concert film, they’re still good & groovy as hell

Didn’t like it as much as the last Talking Heads album

Solidísimo. Buenos ritmos, no sé si comulgo con el estilo

Funky and fun

no es mi estilo de musica, pero tiene algunas canciones que volvería a escuchar

(Relisten) This is the kind of enlightenment that every musician hopes to achieve. This album is so deeply introspective whilst remaining unapologetically chaotic that it's truly a wonder that it has stood the test of time. Being Talking Head's most well-revered project, it's intimidating to pick up but impossible for me to put down. Although I prefer Speaking In Tongues, I can't ignore how fun this album's front half is. Comparatively, the back half has never fully clicked with me, however, I appreciate it's delivery and effort. Also, I'd like to note that Tina Weymouth's bass playing on this record is genius. I adore it. Highlights: Born Under Punches, Crosseyed and Painless, The Great Curve, Once in a Lifetime, Listening Wind, The Overload Lowlight: Houses in Motion

A masterpiece of an album. The first 3 tracks are so energetic and frenetic and that's before you get to the band's signature song. The second half of the album is more moody and contemplative but all the songs still groove. This is the best Talking Heads album - they take a lot of risks but all of them work. The end of Great Curve makes me wish they had more guitar solos. Best tracks: Crosseyed and Painless, The Great Curve, Once in a Lifetime, Seen and Not Seen

Repetitive, hypnotic, slightly innovative sound, rhythmic

Great album. Despite the effort to achieve a more "band" album, the excellent result nevertheless has quite the Eno/Byrne vibe. Today I will marvel at the fact that it sounds like 7xFela then 1xJoy Division and somehow that works.

I liked most of it

Es el primer álbum que escucho, mi primera recomendación. La verdad no fui muy fan, sentí que todas las canciones del álbum eran iguales, no había una más fuerte u otra más suave para diferenciarlas, además quizá lo escuché en un mal momento, porque la vdd lo escuché y sentí que era ruido. Le daré otra oportunidad más adelante, quizá lo perciba distinto

Was good

I'm never passing up the chance to listen to this beauty. One small point. I prefer the original release instead of the deluxe. It's shorter and concise. The outtakes don't add much of value.

Pretty good, just wouldn’t really listen to this. Stand-outs - Born Under Punches (The Heat Goes On) - Crosseyed and Painless - Right Start

mam mieszane uczucia, moze by bylo git jakbym posluchala kilka razy, taki specyficzny

Album 80 Top 3 favorites off the album: Seen and Not Seen, Listening Wind, Crosseyed and Painless Guys, I'm kind of freaking out. I just found myself behind the wheel of a large automobile parked in front of a beautiful house. I went up and rang the doorbell to see if I could get some help figuring out where exactly I was and this beautiful woman opened the door, gave me a kiss, and pulled me inside. I'm sitting in the front room now. The couch is comfortable. It's all tastefully decorated. There's a picture of a wedding on the wall. She's one of the brides. The other one looks an awful lot like me. I think she must be *my* beautiful wife. What do I do??? We've made it!!! I finally get to listen to Talking Heads for an extended period of time!!! Could I have done this before? Absolutely. Should I have done this before? Without a doubt. Is my dad hearing about this immediately? You bet. If they were spinning this in clubs back in the day, I would have been there, no questions asked. If they were spinning it now, I would also be there, no questions asked. Glorpy bass is one of my favorite sounds. Shoutout Tina Weymouth.

This album is like perpetual motion. Everything seems to be moving forward with so much pace. I don’t particularly enjoy it but I don appreciate the orchestration. Really interesting but not for me on like an enjoying the listen itself level.

These guys fuck, except that one overplayed song

Talking Heads always been such kind of a band to me when some of the songs I really like and some of the songs are really “wtf” to my ears. And this album leans to the “wtf” side. Especially Once In a Lifetime, oh boy..I just can’t stand that song, it literally annoys to no end.

Innovative genius

Days Go By is okay but otherwise not great

A great album. I was a little disappointed when I saw that Speaking in Tongues wasn't on the list, but this album is probably my favorite of the remaining four. This is a group that deserves multiple albums on the list because of how their sound and focuses changed over time.

So ahead of it's time, how can anyone who seriously like music hate on this.

me gusto bastante, pero solo lo escucharia cuando este en ese mood

No fue de mi agrado

Born Under Punches (The Heat Goes On) - 4/5 Crosseyed and Painless - 3.5/5 The Great Curve - 4/5 Once in a Lifetime - 4.5/5 Houses in Motion - 3/5 Seen and Not Seen - 3/5 Listening Wind - 2.5/5 The Overload - 3/5 Fela's Riff - 2.5/5 Unison - 3/5 Double Groove - 2/5 Right Start - 3/5

weird stuff

David Byrne and Brian Eno i love you both forever

Another all time favorite.

This was an enjoyable listen. The laid back attitude with quirky directions was fascinating without being weird. There were some good hooks throughout as well. I am not sure there was a main idea or at least I didn’t catch it.

One of my favorites. Great rhythms

Lengedary album

Such a unique sound

This is almost like the entire 80s sound distilled down to one album. Which is crazy considering it came out at the start of the 80s. These guys clearly had their finger on the pulse.

Very cool. I didn't know I knew the Talking Heads. "Once in a Lifetime" is super popular

Every song kind of sounds the same, but its a great sound!

I've already run through one or two albums made by (or featuring) members of Talking Heads, and quite a few more by future artists who were heavily inspired by their work; here, for the first time, we get the genuine artifact, and it's probably their best work! I would've liked to lead up to this a little bit more but hey, that's the luck of the draw for you. Remain in Light has always felt like kind of a miracle to me, even from the first time I heard it as a teenager. even for 1980, it feels wildly ahead of the curve. of course, we owe at least some of this to producer Brian Eno, who's also shown up a few times in my 1001 Albums journey on the grounds that he's one of the most important, forward-thinking musicians in all of recorded music. however, even more important than Eno's contributions is the heavy influence of Fela Kuti and Tony Allen. yes, underneath all the funk and punk and disco influences, the propulsive, driving weight of Afrobeat really drives the proceedings, especially on side A. these songs are borderline modal, with pretty static harmonic treatments. you could boil most of 'em down to a single chord. but, like with Afrobeat, the intrigue comes from all the layers. damn, there's so many layers to these songs. a shit-ton of percussion, guitar and synth riffs popping in and out, vocal melodies and countermelodies, David Byrne's nervous shout, Adrian Belew howling away, the basslines! even on the second side, when things get slower and more ambient, the attention to detail never lets up. if you've yet to experience Remain in Light, do it now! you'll likely fill in some pretty major historical gaps. 10/10.

Not really my jam. Was just background noise for me.

Just a really enjoyable album

Lahe album. Eriline kõla ja paras kunstiteos ikka. Kiiksuga muusika ja mulle see istub. 4.1/5

This is my second Talking Heads. I didn't like the first. This one's a bit better, but overall, it confirmed that I'm no Talking Heads-head. The album is listenable, but it never lifts off for me. Even the "big hit" is something I felt a subtle urge to skip through half way.

solid and sounds as relevant today as it did when it came out

Old school vibes very long songs

Talking Heads is one of those bands that always existed in the peripheries of my life but I never sat down and explored much. This was good! I liked it a lot, and makes sense given I enjoy many of their contemporaries of the time. I will explore more on my own eventually.

I always get a feeling of manic anxiety listening to Talking Heads. The loopy rhythm section. The blippy guitars. The vocals of David Byrne. I want to like this band more but can’t seem to. Maybe for now it’ll remain as respect from a distance.

4,5 pras cabeças falantes

Me surpreedi.

Definitely sounds like the beginning of 80's production, which isn't a bad thing in any way at all. I think it was the staleness of the 80's which lead to it being an "inferior" decade of music. Anyway, it wasn't really my thing. I liked the bassy production and instrumentals. The vocals weren't really doing it for me. It also felt a little bit repetitive at times with the loops. Still an insanely good listen, but maybe a tad overrated. Groovy and the rhythms were addictive. Percussion was also great. Favorite Song: The Great Curve or Crosseyed and Painless (Can't decide!)

que gran album

I thought I'd be giving this a 5/5, but rather it's a high 4/5. There's some really good stuff, but the other half of it just doesn't click at the highest level.

Thoroughly enjoyed, had a very groovy sound and really enjoyed the singing. The album art is super cool

Liked: Crosseyed and Painless, Once in a Lifetime, The Overload

Groovy sound, cool beats and voices and crazy, crazy good basslines. I'm quite strict with my ratings and gave some of my favourite albums only 4 stars. This isn't close to any of my favourite albums, but it's surprisingly good.

I don’t know. Talking heads has some good work but this was not for me at all.

Why does it always sound like he's out of breath when he's singing/talking?

Muy chulo, es la palabra que mejor lo describe. Dificil dar sensaciones con una escucha me parece, un album tremendamente bailable y ala vez experimental, no esperaba menos.

i hate that stupid son of a bitch, bird guy i will kill you

Funky and fun 3 - deserves to be on this list

1980 me thought this was OK. 2026 me thinks it’s great. Catchy beats and great arrangements. A very good listen.

Really cool layering of vocals on one song. Liked it more than I thought I would overall LETTING THE DAYS GO BY. 3.5

the great curve is top 500 songs ever by the way

One of the greatest ever. Hard to say anything new here but the concept, innovation, and album cover are as good as it comes. Side A might be my favorite side of any album. The subtleties of Side B hit me a bit harder this time around. The second half isn’t as good as the first but it’s a case where the good is so good that I look over any “flaws” I have with it. 31st perfect album, 987 albums in. Rating: 5.0

A cult album with a creative Sound approach

Not my favorite Talking Heads album, but still a great listen.

'Once In a Lifetime' is a standout. The rest of the album is kind of noise to me, maybe not in the right headspace for it today but it feels fairly experimental but most of it doesn't land for me.

I liked all the unfinished outtakes

Did not go through full album as it sounded monotonous

An exceptional album, one of the best by the Talking Heads

tqm adrian belew

Kinda interesting, but also kinda boring....idk man. I zoned out. Listening wind reminded me of Gorillaz which is nice ig. Overall, forgettable

maybe if i took lsd this would work

factsaresimpleandfactsarestraight factsarelazyandfactsarelate factsallcomewithpointsofview factsdontdowhatIwantthemto factsjusttwistthetrutharound factsarelivingturnedinsideout factsaregettingthebestofthem factsarenothingonthefaceofthings STILLLLLL WAITING As much as I love this album and the Talking Heads, the last 2 tracks dramatically slow down the pace. I don’t really like how it ends. But man Once In a Lifetime is so great.

Solid album, including the iconic Once In A Lifetime. But that’s really the highlight. Everything else is just their good clean classic sound.

cool lyrics

Cool niet gebaseerd op ckassic rock/bkues

How can they create such a masterpiece like a Talking in your sleep and then this is the rest of their discography. This is the second album by them I am listening to, that was recommended to me by this app and I don't see why it is here. It's just mid if not bad.

Decent album. Once in a Lifetime is a massive tune!

Fantastic record. Wall to wall hits; no misses

Nice Album. Some things I liked, some things I would never want to listen to again.

Such a unique, frantic, creepy, funky sound. Born Under Punches is a brilliant opener to an album. And Once in a Lifetime is an anthem.

Maaaaaaassstterpiieeeccceee

All you can maybe say negative is songs are often too long. But other than that, great album. Oozing with originality, funky, genre spanning deliciousness. Eggs.

Pure class.

I love talking heads and I've already given this album a listen. I should probably listen again. Maybe.

1.7/5 Not sure what the hype is about this album. I found it pretty boring and only the hit single was half decent.

Some interesting songs, and at least one of their biggest hits. Not an unpleasant listen but not one I’ll rush to listen to again.

Great album love the bass lines

A stunning collection of songs beautifully produced and aided by Brian Eno

Great art rock album produced at the end of the seventies by Brian Eno

Not super into new wave, but they’ve got some okay stuff.

Funky & experimental. Didn't like this album when I was in my 20s. I appreciate it way more now, although it's still not my favourite Talking Heads album (that would be Stop Making Sense).

Offbeat, engaging, and hauntingly beautiful. Not sure if I've ever heard anything like this album, it's wildly inventive and very interesting. Zero wasted space and a lot going on in a shorter runtime. Will most likely be coming back to this one since I'm sure repeat listens are even more musically rewarding

From the first bar of the first song you know you’re in uncharted territory. Layered, syncopated rhythm guitars pulling off something akin to some vein of world music, new wave funk dub bass, groovy solid drum lines, and a front man just dripping with bravado who sings the only thing that can be sung over these tunes while remaining firmly rooted in his own unique style without being gimmicky. These songs are weird and thoroughly pretentious in a way, but they’re great. Maybe it’s exactly that weirdness that makes this so fresh and captivating. The songs never really change. There’s seldom to never a verse/chorus structure. The songs never really end either. They just groove off into the sunset to make way for the next experience. Adrian Belew’s guitar solos are bizarre and somehow always perfect. This is a masterful set of songs.

The third and final record Eno produced for the Talking Heads is also my favorite Talking Heads album. There is so much going on on this record: interesting world instruments and rhythms; great backing vocals; amazing guitar work by Adrian Belew. I’ve been listening to this record for over 20 years and I still hear new things on it. After this record, TH took a break then recorded Speaking in Tongues, which included the hit single Burning Down the House. But that record suffers from slick overproduction and a spotty track list. Remain in Light was the last truly exceptional Talking Heads album, and, I believe, their very best work.

And you may find yourself living in a shotgun shack And you may find yourself in another part of the world And you may find yourself behind the wheel of a large automobile And you may find yourself in a beautiful house, with a beautiful wife And you may ask yourself, "Well, how did I get here?" Letting the days go by, let the water hold me down Letting the days go by, water flowing underground Into the blue again, after the money's gone Once in a lifetime, water flowing underground And you may ask yourself, "How do I work this?" And you may ask yourself, "Where is that large automobile?" And you may tell yourself, "This is not my beautiful house" And you may tell yourself, "This is not my beautiful wife" Letting the days go by, let the water hold me down Letting the days go by, water flowing underground Into the blue again, after the money's gone Once in a lifetime, water flowing underground Same as it ever was, same as it ever was Same as it ever was, same as it ever was Same as it ever was, same as it ever was Same as it ever was, same as it ever was Water dissolving and water removing There is water at the bottom of the ocean Under the water, carry the water Remove the water from the bottom of the ocean Water dissolving and water removing Letting the days go by, let the water hold me down Letting the days go by, water flowing underground Into the blue again, into the silent water Under the rocks and stones, there is water underground Letting the days go by, let the water hold me down Leting the days go by, water flowing underground Into the blue again, after the money's gone Once in a lifetime, water flowing underground You may ask yourself, "What is that beautiful house?" You may ask yourself, "Where does that highway go to?" And you may ask yourself, "Am I right, am I wrong?" And you may say to yourself, "My God, what have I done?" Letting the days go by, let the water hold me down Letting the days go by, water flowing underground Into the blue again, into the silent water Under the rocks and stones, there is water underground Letting the days go by, let the water hold me down Letting the days go by, water flowing underground Into the blue again, after the money's gone Once in a lifetime, water flowing underground Same as it ever was, same as it ever was Same as it ever was, look where my hand was Time isn't holding up, time isn't after us Same as it ever was, same as it ever was Same as it ever was, same as it ever was Same as it ever was, same as it ever was (I couldn't get no rest) Same as it ever was, hey let's all twist our thumbs Here comes the twister Letting the days go by (same as it ever was, same as it ever was) Letting the days go by (same as it ever was, same as it ever was) Once in a lifetime, let the water hold me down Letting the days go by, water flowing underground

Very unique but I’m not sure if it’s very good. Enjoyed the first half a lot more than the latter half.

I'm starting to think, that this thing recomended maisntream

I’m a little surprised I didn’t like this more than I did. But still good energy and fun. I think the outtakes were some of the best tracks.

This album is another foundational tastemaker in my life. That said, it's been a while since I sat down and listened to it all the way through. The truth is that I tend to prefer live recordings of these tracks, like Stop Making Sense. Something about the production on this album leaves me a little cold, maybe it's the Eno influence with the bleep-bloop krautrock overlays. In live settings these tracks really come to life in a warmer, more organic way that I prefer. I could probably write a lot more about this album, but as always I'm crunched for time so I'll leave it at 4.5/5 for me, which seems almost sacrilege, but the last two tracks really drag me down.

Pretty much the definition of early 80s cool in art-pop music (ya, this is pop). Somehow the Talking Heads managed to pull off that detached 80s 'we may all die in a nuclear war' sound while still writing good art songs, unlike contemporaries such as Nina Hagen and Laurie Anderson (which admittedly are 10000% weirder and artier). Pretty cool listen all around with no real stinkers of songs. I'd buy this one.

Love the album, love the band. It may sound strange to most, but back in the 80's, I used to imagine being David Byrne, dorking around live on stage in a packed club. Cool, right? Of all the rock stars to emulate, I pick the nerd, quirky, socially awkward, skinny white boy with a clear learning disability. Some silly shit right there, but man, the 80's were fun times. Not my favorite album from this group, but a close second, and every bit excellent.

Very interesting. A bit wild. Haven´t heard the full album.

Good, if a tad repetitive

Bored with this sound

All timer

Very cool album, first half in particular, but loses steam in the second half a bit and falls into some really braindead repetition. Strong lyrics as well that still hold up.

Same as it ever was Fav tracks: Born Under Punches, Crosseyed and Painless, The Great Curve, Once in a Lifetime

i love this album 😭♥️

YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!

Truly one of the all time classic albums. Such densely layered rhythms Fav tracks: Crosseyed and Painless, The Great Curve, Once in a Lifetime, Seen and Not Seen

Yeah this is a classic

I love talking heads but their albums are always more filler than I expect.

I like Talking Heads, this is not my favourite album of theirs, but still superbly done.

new sound for the times and I can see that it influenced a lot of artists I listen to now but it’s just a little boring

A great album overall. I can see what the Heads were trying to do, but I feel like it was a little too experimental.

I've had this on vinyl since the 90s because I'm sure I got it for $3 or less (love the 90s) and the album cover is super cool. This might be only the second time I've listened to it, and I'm reminded why. Once In a Lifetime is brilliant, the rest is...interesting.

Again, one of the very best

Talking Heads are a top 5 band of all time for me and this is their best album. Absolutely flawless.

The more I hear of the talking heads the more I enjoy them.such a fun original sound they have.

I’m probably more of a greatest hits kind of fella when it comes to the Talking Heads. But the news decent.

My all time favourite.

I think Discipline by King Crimson is a lot more interesting than this album. I just feels my braincells dying while I listen to it. I dindnt absolutely hate it its just that its not for me. Once in a lifetime is not that good.

favorites: crosseyed & painless; the great curve; listening wind

Classic Talking Heads. Enjoyable listening

the best album of talking heads

Holy crap what an album. I wonder how much money they spent on drugs to create this masterpiece of an album. Shoutout to everybody involved 4.45/5

Could not get into the album the songs were not great.

A diverse enjoyable listen. 4/5

An all time classic.

"Remain in Light" kicks off with "Born Under Punches (The Heat Goes On)," driven by pulsating, "human-sampled" percussion and a relentless dance rhythm. David Byrne’s distinctive vocal cadence - neither truly sung nor purely spoken - sets a paranoid yet commanding tone, backed by superb vocal harmonies, tasteful guitar work, and a great bassline. That opening defines the album's DNA. The first side, in particular, swings with a potent degree of funk, provided largely by the wonderful Tina Weymouth (most notably on the unstoppable "Crosseyed and Painless"). At a smidgeon over 40 minutes, the record is expertly paced; it is a captivating, engaging listen that never risks becoming boring. To these ears, Side One is simply faultless. Side Two introduces a shift in temperament with the "perfect pop" of "Once in a Lifetime," which pivots away from the manic swing of the first half toward something more atmospheric. As the album progresses, the pace slows, but the groove deepens - particularly on the slinky, menacing "Houses in Motion." By the time we reach "Listening Wind," the soundscape becomes lovely yet profoundly mournful. The album concludes with the stark, haunting "The Overload," which stands in complete opposition to the album's opening energy. For an album approaching its 46th anniversary, it has aged remarkably well. The production by Brian Eno and the collaborative mix are stellar, creating a sonic depth that felt futuristic in 1980 and remains utterly distinctive today. I’m usually the first to cringe when an album is lazily labelled a "masterpiece", but here, the hyperbole is entirely justified. Five stars. Side One 1 "Born Under Punches (The Heat Goes On)" (5/5) 2 "Crosseyed and Painless" (5/5) 3 "The Great Curve" (5/5) Side Two 1 "Once in a Lifetime" (5/5) 2 "Houses in Motion" (5/5) 3 "Seen and Not Seen" (4/5) 4 "Listening Wind" (5/5) 5 "The Overload" (5/5) Total - 39 Average - 4.88 259/1001 140/259 albums reviewed were new to me

I've said it before probably on Fear of Music when I got that on here. This is the music of my people. I still know that I'm not going to give people all of '77 or something as their first foray into Talking Heads. If you only have 5 minutes of someone's attention to explain what this band is about, you would use the tracks here. Must hear before death etc

Y'all mind if some swaged out white people get a lil funky?

again not my fav kind of music i cant say its good or bad but its a little "too normal" for me im tried of this type of music

Rock, wandering from dream to world-music-esque with bongos

Not really my style.

If you only know the radio hits then this one will throw you in a loop. There's a hit on this one that you'll know. As for the rest of it..It's weird. It's out there. It's frantic. The music is all over the place & it might've been influenced by some outside substances. & that's exactly how I want my Talking Heads!! A classic & I love it!!

Feels very much of its time. Not for me

Me gusta mucho. Lo escuché mucho en el pasado. Música en su máxima expresión.

This is okay. "Once In A Lifetime" rules. Rest of the album is okay, though.

Starts out with a lot of funk-style guitar and rhythms, then the album ends on dark somber tracks. Sounds like Adrian Belew is in this one on lead guitar.

Whatever

a while after I met my bf he dragged me into stop making sense. loved it and ever since then listening to the talking heads makes me happy

I don't listen to a lot of 70s/80s psychadelic music, but based on the album art and what I know about the band, this was a very trippy psychedelic album. Easy listening for work from home. I'm not sure if I'd reach for this album again, but it was a nice listen.

Not my cup of tea

absolutely fucking legendary

One of the greatest albums of all time. I genuinely cannot fathom what stroke of genius brings forth something like this. Absolute madness.

It was fun. I like this better than the last one!

Not my type of instrumental. But it isn't bad. I would listen to it eventually.

“Once in a Lifetime” is essential, of course. More generally, this is one of the best albums by one of the greatest bands ever because of the embrace of Afrobeat. That embrace changed the band—and rock history.

Älskar hur alla instrument agerar rytminstrument! Blir så jäkla svängigt. Jag har lyssnat för lite på Talking heads utöver hitsen inser jag. Hade inte koll på att de kunde vara så här funkiga! Stark 4a!

Första halvan är 6/5, sen tappar det tyvärr lite energi och styrning tycker jag och som album tror jag det hade mått bra av att kapas lite. Jättestark fyra!

Det är nog deras bästa va? Meditativt och poppigt samtidigt, med otroliga små nuggets till solon och annat trams som kommer in och förgyller. Man hör ju Fela-inspirationen tydligt men de lyckas göra det till sitt eget! Äsch, känner mig generös!

David Byrne säger i en ljuvlig dokumentär om funk (som finns på SVT) att han försökte göra James Brown och misslyckades men därmed skapade nåt helt nytt. Det är ändå jävligt träffande. New wave-igt, industriellt och kyligt men med fela kutis vamp och repetitionstänk. Älskar talking heads och deras angreppssätt av funken, och det här albumet är en höjdpunkt.

Första gången man lyssnar på en skiva från Talking Heads. Dansant och funkigt. Skulle nog inte sätta på det när man bara mår men är det live eller om man är på fest så njuter man nog.

inte min favorit av deras album men vad ska man göra! jag är en sucker för talking heads!

De borde bara ha gett fan i att göra de där sista, sega "alternativt och svårt band på 80-talet" - låtarna på slutet av plattan.

This may be harsh but it seems to me that for each song, they find a riff, play it to death, David Byrne adds some random words and a few yelps, and then they move on. I'm no musician, I could be terribly and quite unreasonably wrong, but hey, what if I'm right?

"once in a lifetime"? Great. Rest? Too much vibe, not enough... anything else

Best heads album. Still is after a relisten. Just listen to it and you'll see.

Pretty good album I have no complaints I like pretty much all of it

More Talking Heads! Probably my favourite album of them. This is a bit more up-tempo, percussive and rhythm focused, which I like a lot. The first half is the best, with 'Born Under Punches', 'Once in a Lifetime', and 'Houses in Motion' being the absolute best songs. The second half is a bit more down-tempo, but still really tasteful and cool. As with their other music, this is equally quirky. But on this record I think they found a coolness that I'm sometimes missing in their music. Not much more to say, just really good stuff! If there is one Talking Heads album you should listen to, it should be this. Weak 5!

Such a fun album. Loads of great syncopation and rhythms. The opening track, ”Born Under Punches”, is just such a groovy song. I have trouble defining exactly why other tracks, like ”Once in a Lifetime”, are as good as they are. I guess they’re just quite unique. A lot of the tracks have a fun spin to them. For being so catchy and unique, I think this deserves five stars.

Inventive & creative, rhythmically. After awhile Byrne’s presentation becomes predictable— the effortful presentation of tone poetry is boring after awhile. But I still enjoyed it. A high 3.

another massive win for autism!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I love Dave Byrne.

The Great Curve (of my dick) Great album.

Really beautifully crafted album.

Like the one sone that made it famous, the rest are forgettable.

Always love when I get to listen to a Talking Heads album as part of this project -- same as it ever was!

C'mon now 5/5

Interesting and very experimental.

I liked this way more than I expected. Great music to have on in the background while working

Somehow, I'm not sure I ever recall listening to this all the way through, but I'd definitely call this a masterpiece and the best thing Talking Heads ever did. What stood out to me most is just how relentlessly RHYTHMIC this is - it's groovy and percussive, just not in typical ways. Born Under Punches maybe typifies this, with slap bass and the plunky guitar, but it doesn't sound very much like typical funk. The production is so cool and layered and most songs just have so much happening. Once in a Lifetime truly lives up to its namesake as a song - I know of nothing else really like it. I was maybe most surprised by the closing track and how brooding and ominous of an atmosphere it creates. Overall just a fantastic record.

I enjoyed hearing how much more existed to the Talking Heads beyond Once in a Lifetime. This was a surprising jam, with cool quirks around corners (like the dark ending to the overload). I always thought their vocals were a little too silly to be enjoyable, but I liked this. I also didn't even realize the Fela Kuti influence until I read about it, and now totally see it. Liked it!

"Remain in Light" is a deeply layered electronic/funk album characterised by polyrhythms and repetitive phrases. These repetitions create an underlying 'groove', which is built upon by unconventional instruments and vocals. Byrne adopts a stream of consciousness lyrical style; the viewer is not entirely sure what the singers are saying, but that is not the main appeal of the album anyway. Similarly, the songs lack clear structure and chord progressions, and are instead formulated by pedal points and the aforementioned repetitions. Key to this is the much appreciated "Once in a Lifetime", a dizzying mix of call and response and strange lyrics. All in all, it adds up to be an interesting (and certainly influential) listen; but it is tiring to listen to after a while, and requires a certain mood to fully appreciate.

Never has there been an album with so much stylistic variation, unsettling atmosphere, and infectious grooves. Talking Heads were able to blend funk, African music, new wave, post punk, and so much more into 8 tracks and make it a cohesive body of work. It’s a truly unique album with endless replay value in my eyes. I have always adored this record and its colorfulness juxtaposing its smokiness.

I revel in the weirdness

Super influential, amazing production and sound and iconic lyricist

Mediocre

Their fourth album. Post Punk / New Wave. Crosseyed and Painless, Great Curve and Once In A Lifetime are all brilliant tracks. The bass playing throughout the album by Tina Weymouth is superb. The entire album is relentlessly good, it's speeds on by. A fantastic album.

Surprised me. The whole thing holds together as one delightfully weird album.

well that happened. Great music (drums and bass) with strange poetry read over it.

Weird, but that's some great bass.

Not my bag, very 80s with the odd track I'd listen to again but ultimately I'd just walk on by...

Pretty solid and a smooth nice listen. Not much more I can say, thoroughly enjoyed it.

Not really my thing tbh, love "Once in a lifetime", "Crosseyed and Painless", and "The Overload" was really cool and athmospheric. But other than that I feel a little indifferent to the rest.

While I love the talking heads, this isn’t my favorite album by them. David Byrne’s writers block really shows. That being said, the first 4 songs are bangers. After that it turns into a flat version of a Joy Division record.