Remain In Light

Definidamente puedo entender porque la gente lo ama, hay mucha variedad que hace que no te aburras y lo disfrutes de verdad.

First track starts as a funk with semi-spoken word. Nice solo/instrumental interlude, electric/heavy fx. Rest is similar. Nice unique sound of funk rock. Once In a Lifetime is actually a decent song Didn't expect this to be so funky throughout. Listening Wind is a departure, almost Kraftwerk levels of robotic synth and beats. Ooh, seems to stay this way, The Overload is quite a dark moody track. Fela's Riff shows good mix of tight beats, synth sequences and improv/solos In general even the bonus outtake tracks are great too! Choosing best track is so hard as the best tracks are all so different! As usual in the best albums Right Start outtake just hits differently, with those ascending and descending slides. Best track - Born Under Punches, Listening Wind, Houses In Motion 4 stars, close to a 5 actually

sorry but that was so mid… i just don’t like hard rock like that

pretty good.

Album trop experimental à mon goût, avec une forte influence afro-funk. Seul le titre "Once in a lifetime" sort du lot.

Not my thing

Kinda a strange and distinct album. It’s exactly how I imagine 1980 to sound. Retro-futuristic-bongo-disco. 3.6/5.0

What an amazing album. Byrne is such a weirdo! I love his lyricism. Seen and Not Seen was so real. I feel like this is a guy who really gets it. And the music ! Oh my ! The music is phenomenal. This is what Lou Reed wishes he sounded like. I feel like I hear all of the instruments both separately and entirely indistinguishable from the whole.

I love Talking Heads so much. No notes.

Duh its a 5/5. On a good day its my favourite album of all time, the creativity and claustrophobic energy of the first five tracks is unmatched by almost any other album I've had the pleasure of listening to

it’s so goddamn good I want to light myself on fire

I like my heads like I like my friends: capable of talking

Whatever… sorry not sorry

Feb 1, 2026: Have not listened to this album yet, but Talking Heads, why are you so cool! Sometimes I don't get your music, but you are clearly.... art school kids.

It’s a classic. So good.

All tracks from Once In A Lifetime onward are crazy good

8/10… art rock / alternative 80s / *1980

not my fav talking heads but talking heads all the same

Interesting album, but not entirely for me. In theory it should suit me, with its experimental sound and unusual instrumentations. But somehow it just didn't touch my soul in any miningful way. Honorable mention to "Listening Wind", by far my favourite piece on this record.

Never really listened to Talking Heads before, so it's good to get a sense of what they were about. I like their use of Afrobeat influences, to create something new rather than just stealing. But it's a shame that it all feels a bit detached and doesn't have the groove of Fela Kuti.

Medio falopa pero está bueno; Si sos gen z en adelante te puede dar un ataquito porque los temas duran 4-5 minutos mínimo. Sape

Good listen. No idea what this guy is on about. Has that one very famous song “and the days go by”… fun listen

This album is quite experimental and perhaps a little above my head but I enjoyed it in general. Once In A Lifetime is of course, a legendary single but the rest of the album is musically interesting.

really not a fan of the unfinished outtakes but Once in a Lifetime pulls the average up to a 3 ⭐️⭐️⭐️

artie adora esse albummm gostei de the great curve as músicas são ótimas, parecem trilha sonora daquelas cenas de filme que não tem fala, apenas mostram uma "transição"

Had coole momenten, coole leadgitaar soms

Fantastic album. I don't understand why the second half of the album tends to get so much shade. Seen and Not Seen and The Listening Wind are my two favourite tracks on here.

Once in a Lifetime is good - the rest of the album okay.

Didn't initally resonate with this -- probably not a running album! Upon second full listen… loved it all except the last two songs (bit slow). Very dance-able and vibey!! Completely understand the acclaim with this album, love the funkiness

Not my favorite Heads album, but also not hard to see why it's on this list. Even besides "Once In A Lifetime" being a new wave classic, the rest of the album is no slouch. Big fan of the entire rhythm section in particular with all the amazing bass, drum and percussion work. Adrian Belew's session guitar work is also a treat. 9/10.

2.5 3

New wave, art rock, funk-rock, post-punk, dance-rock, afrofunk, worldbeat, psychedelic funk. Worth a revisit.

Really cool listen. Weird, experimental, and groovy. Not my favorite Talking Heads, but an interesting listen. "Once in a Lifetime" is probably my favorite song. It's the biggest hit for a reason.

Masterpiece

I have always loved this! Fela Kuti’s rhythmic influence on the band is great! The 3 tracks on side 1 are all gold - and side 2 is better.

i like the flowy lightheartedness of it all but i'm glad it's over, too

Stress bongos Tiktikkietakkierikkietikkietakkie

Stellar. Another album with a variety of sounds, and a song i've always heard but never knew the name of.

Reminded me a lot of "Elephant Talk" by King Crimson and while the album was good, I don't really feel like listening to it again.

So Mojique is just blowing things up huh?

Listening to 'Remain In Light' for the first time, it might actually boggle the mind as to why it's considered one of the greatest albums ever recorded. There are more genres on display than songs, David Byrne's voice sounds like he's in constant danger and none of the songs are really conventional pop hits. But to truly understand and appreciate the brilliance of 'Remain In Light', multiple listens are a must. This is truly a rewarding listening experience. Inspired primarily by afrobeat, worldbeat and funk, with dashes of electronica and punk, 'Remain In Light' is a beautifully-arranged collection of music that is, without a doubt, as challenging and as inventive as new wave ever got. With the legendary Brian Eno at the production helm, he only took what he learned working with David Bowie and added more variety, not that Bowie's Berlin records weren't varied enough already. Lead single 'Once In A Lifetime' is such a brilliant rumination about existentialism and living life on autopilot, questioning whether it is truly "living". It is only further complemented by 'Houses In Motion', which takes the mood of 'Once In a Lifetime' and laments deeper about how that autopilot way of life can lead to eventual insecurity and losd of all meaning. The songs play out like a real cause and effect scenario, and in both instances, David Byrne is imploring the listener to wake up and smell the roses, essentially. The rest of the record is solid too, of course, but I needed to highlight those two songs in particular as they are essential to understanding this record. 'Remain In Light', at its very core, is about maintaining that will to be weird in a society that pushes you towards conformity and following the life script, and through some of the funkiest bass lines you'll ever hear (courtesy of Byrne and Tina Weymouth), truly innovative guitar lines (Byrne, Jerry Harrison and Adrian Belew) and Eno's astute production, 'you may find yourself' really appreciating how genius this record truly is. Best songs: All of them!

Good

This album started out really strong. Manages to sound very 80s but also fresh at the same time. One In a Lifetime is an absolute banger. The last two tracks kind of fell off. The last song gave dirge vibes.

I am more of a fan of their earlier work but still a solid album. Definitely more than David Byrne‘s influence on this one.

Ratings: 5: I will happily play this album anytime 4: I may occasionally play this album of my own free will 3: I will happily listen to this if someone plays it in the background 2: I will tolerate this if it is playing in the background 1: I will leave the room if someone plays this in the background Beyond Once in a Lifetime (which is a fantastic song) the rest of this album has never clicked with me.

I bought this record when Once In a Livetime became a hit. Revisiting now, I kind of remember that the rest of the album was not bad for me then, but nothing I would regularly listen to. This changed a bit; I like some TH now and then. Eno's not my favorite producer, but he fits TH quite well.

A bonafide classic rock album.

The best Talking Heads album

Seemed less obviously arty than other music I've heard from them. Towards the end it was quite atmospheric and had that post punk sound that I quite like from the late 70s/early 80s. A generous four.

Lots of interesting stuff going on, but there's a reason Once in a Lifetime is by far the most well known song on the album.

Personally, I am partial to 77. But still this is a great album. Not perfect and too full of themselves (or himself). But still, I will be listening to this until I don't listen again. Hence, dead. 4 burning brightly in the heavens.

cool y psicodélico

Excellent album. So a classic art-rock sound!

Definitely belongs to a ZARA playlist. Not mine tho.

Interesting sonic design Early incorporation of loops and recordings Synth heavy

Неплохой альбом. Учитывая год выпуска отличный электронный звук, сложные пассажи. Брайан Ино знал своё дело. Обязательно нужно переслушать его и другие альбомы группы

Not as accessible as my favourite Speaking in Tongues, but a classic all the same

Started slow but really picked up in the middle

Talking heads are such a good band they created a way for music to progress and have some amazing songs! Love talking heads and there bizarre ways

You can start to feel the age of the writing, and I don't know if it has aged well. Still very rhythmic, a few "classics", overall a good album. I would have to listen to it again to see if it could enter the "essentials" shelf ! :D

Never heard it before. Once in a Lifetime is a classic. Makes me want to drive through some canyons

One of my favorite albums of all time. Peak Talking Heads.

So is this too obvious or, am I reading too much into it, but the cover is some kind of nod to both Andy Warhol and the Beatles, Let it Be. Anyway, then the album sounds a bit like the Beatles as written by Andy Warhol in a full on pop art style. But there's also Afro beat, funk, rap, rock and pop music as well as pop art. But with many bands, it could all be too much but not here. Works perfectly to me. Fantastic album, 5 out of 5 for me.

talking heads are the group that it pains me the most to not connect with but this one did nothing for me...i would literally rather listen to brian eno's hold music at this point

this is so 80s but like ok! LMAO

2/5 really weird and unexpected in a bad way. too experimental best: -

Ihan kivan kuuloista. Musiikkityyli ei ehkä sellaista mitä yleensä kuuntelen. Mikään kappale ei oikein jää mieleen. Biisit melko samankaltaisia keskenään. Once in a Lifetime ja Listening Wind oli parhaimpia.

There's something about sounding 80s that Talking Heads do right here. I think all the Afro influence has a lot to do with how pleasing and interesting a lot of the songs are. As much as I appreciate the way they worked it, this is not something I would find myself in the mood for. 3.2/5

Yet another album that's loved and celebrated, and I hated it

Why are the Talking Heads albums on this list all abrasive post-punky Talking Heads albums with one good single and not fun poppy Talking Heads albums with lots of good songs on them? Are you trying to hurt me?

Quite possibly the best album from one of my favorite bands. Might not be my favorite TH album but probably the closest this band has come to a perfect album. Beautifully layered instrumentation with catchy grooves; What more can you ask for? I will admit the outtakes on this album leave a bit to be desired so I would skip them if you want the untainted experience.

- 0 nummers toegevoegd aan MMMM - 0 nummers al toegevoegd aan MMMM

this was so bland and boring I couldn’t believe my ears. Skipped a few songs half the way through.

Yay

Lovely album, I personally love Talking Heads so much, they're so fun. This shit always makes me move, but I just think there are better Talking Heads albums. So it lacks that little something for 5 stars but overall it is still awesome

this is a classic, of course i've already heard this!! i don't really have to rate this necessarily, i know for sure it's a near-perfect album Born Under Punches (The Heat Goes On) - 5/5 Crosseyed and Painless - 5/5 The Great Curve - 5/5 Once in a Lifetime - 5/5 Houses in Motion - 5/5 Seen and Not Seen - 4/5 Listening Wind - 5/5 The Overload - 3/5 Average score: 4.6/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ honestly, only track(s) that keep this from being a solid 5-stars in my book is The Overload (maaaaybe Seen and Not Seen as well as it's also a bit weak). that being said, that certainlg doesn't keep me from giving it 5 stars here

Another album I have on vinyl. It’s without a doubt their best album, Side A is FLAWLESS

Not for me

Doesn’t get any better than this.

This is a little hard to do in the Winter.

There are some good moments, but the album is really experimental, so i coudnt really find a vibe. But if I were to describe it, it would be like having a one massive trip, or I could be having a massive trip idk tbh. I'm not saying it's bad, I love it, but some things did throw me off.

Groove after groove!! Not what I’d usually pick on a grey rainy Thursday morning but I liked it!

experimental n ruminating not my cup of tea

Once in a Lifetime is a certified banger, but the rest of the album was just so-so for me. Not a huge fan of David Byrne's talk-singing vocals. Backing vocals are good, instrumentation is sometimes very good, sometimes overly busy and repetitive.

I'll be honest, I didn't listen to the whole thing - easy listening though. Much of muchness

This one has really good storytelling in its lyrics, touching on political and social ideas as well as more personal and spiritual thoughts. All of this is paired with very cool and interesting music, and the delivery of the songs makes everything more engaging. I enjoyed listening to it and found the album both meaningful and fun at the same time.

mag iiiich, gut auch für hintergrund noise

It's inventive, and it's nice to listen back with hindsight and spot the Afrobeat influences behind this album and those emanating forward from it. 'Once in a Lifetime' is the one standout track to me, extraordinary and stirring. I'd give it a solid 3 stars but Adrian Belew's spellbinding bat-mess-crazy guitar solos take it up to a 5.

One of my favorite albums. I love Talking Heads. I remember being introduced to this 80s alternative extravagance during my university days. Great album, come for 'Once in a Lifetime,' stay for the for David Byrne.

Labai įdomiai ir šviežiai skambantis albumas. Tikrai sužavėjo. Nuimu balą visiškai randomly dėl to creepypastos apie albumo coveri.

4.5 - Great

Love Talking Heads but this may be my least favorite album

slay

4/5

Very experimental, I could listen to it when in the mood, but I think it is not my fav album of theirs. I like the other one "Fear of music" more.

Great production and completely original. Once in a Lifetime is a classic, obviously. All around great record.

Funky; dancy

Once In a Lifetime aside, I don't like this as much as I'd hoped. I think its the production as I love the sound on the live albums. Appreciate the originality for it's time.

More misses than hits, even if the hits are very good

This has always been my favorite Talking Heads album. I first listened to it in college as part of a class I took called 'The Producer as Composer', and ever since then it has slowly been revealing itself to me. It had been awhile since I'd listened to the studio versions of these songs - the live versions from Stop Making Sense and The Name of This Band tend to make it into my rotation more often. Despite all of this, I’m alarmed to note that until this very moment I thought the title of the record was 'Remain in THE Light'. The fact that there is no 'the' in there is bewildering. How the fuck?? Regardless, if I could give this a 10, I would. It’s a tidal wave of sound, rhythm and counterpoint, with blistering instrumental solos that resemble everything from buzz saws to dial-up modems. In the first half of the record, songs that are transparently made up of interlocking, yet fully distinct parts somehow resolve into a piece that feels like it emerged fully-formed from the mouth of the universe- ‘Once in a Lifetime’. In the second half, the ebullience and inspiration of afrobeat dissolves into dead-eyed spoken word and a haunted ballad from the perspective of a terrorist. In terms of scope, ambition and pure creative muscle, it’s hard to imagine anything on this list can match it.

It's alright. It has the hit Once in a Lifetime, but the rest of the album... I dunno, it didn't really connect with me. A fair few tracks start out good but then become repetitive or go on a bit too long. I might just not be a Talking Heads guy.

i only like one song - Once in a lifetime

a solid 10/10, every song in the album is a hit.

This challenge finally introduced me properly to Talking Heads, and I’m honestly a bit annoyed it took this long because I am now a big fan. Remain in Light is an album I’ve been looking forward to listening to properly, and it really doesn’t disappoint. There are some genuinely great songs on here. I really enjoyed Unison, and of course Once in a Lifetime is just fantastic. Musically, this album is brilliant. It’s full of loops, strange rhythms, and ideas that shouldn’t work but absolutely do. I love how creative it is. There’s loads going on stylistically too — punk, funk, world music — all mashed together into something that still sounds tight and focused. It feels bold, confident, and completely its own thing. Even now, it still sounds fresh. Favourite track: Once in a Lifetime — pure 80s brilliance. An iconic pop song for a reason. Least favourite track: Fela’s Riff — not awful, just a bit dull. I’m not sure what it really adds. Album artwork: Iconic Talking Heads cover. Instantly recognisable and suits the music perfectly.

Couple of good tracks, but I have a hard time loving the Talking Heads, unfortunately

Loved the first 3 songs, then it got more and more psychedelic I guess which I didn’t enjoy as much

I love the talking heads! I was most familiar with Once in a Lifetime on this album, but I really enjoyed listening to the whole thing.

iconic of COURSE

Ρε δεν περίμενα να μου αρέσει τόσο. Πολύ ενδιαφέρον ήχος. Θα ήθελα να το ξανά ακούσω. Φαίνεται σαν ένα πολύ καλό introduction στην rock του 80 και με ξάφνιασε πολύ θετικά. Για αυτό που είναι (80s rock album) είναι σίγουρα 4+. Θα έβαζα 3 αν το σύγκρινα με σημερινά άλμπουμ αλλά θα επιβραβεύσω την πιθανή αφύπνιση μου για την rock.

I think I wish that there was more consistently good songs on this album, some good ones but not enough to give a 4

There is absolutely nothing like this album and there won’t be anything quite like it again. Before this record, Talking Heads were a punk band with a funk streak. After this album, they were a killer pop band with a massive repertoire of musical styles. But this was a moment of utter synthesis, of merging funk and world music exploration, expanded soundscapes, and punk attack into a real masterpiece. Adding more musicians like Adrian Belew and Bernie Worrell pushed the music to new heights, and also stretched the concept of what music could be. Yeah it’s a masterpiece, but it’s rare when you can pull out a record and say “this changed music forever.” Remain in Light is one of those records.

Psychedelic and a skipper.. the way I imagine the 80s. Captured a feeling. Heard a feeling.

Obviously still a great album but I was expecting much more out of it tbh. Once in a Lifetime is an all-timer though fs.

Like the automobile song, that’s about it really

Strong first half. I feel this is the kind of album that needs multiple listens. Fell off in the second half and got a bit repetitive for me.

I have listened to this one before, and had mixed feelings. Upon a re listen, though, I appreciated the album much more as I think I was a little overwhelmed with the genre blending. This album really transitions dramatically from positive to negative as it goes on, which I enjoyed. I also appreciated the influences of the sound created a lot more than on my first listen. You can tell that these guys are talented, and the musicality and production really stands out. One thing that I still am a bit unsure on is the voice of the lead singer. I know this album could only work with that kind of matter of fact voice, but it’s not for me. 8.5/10 for me

have seen this album cover around quite a few times but have never really looked into it or actually have put it off a bit. i wasn’t even sure what the genre was or what to expect, so far im pleasantly surprised. the bass cannot go unnoticed esp a woman behind the bass hell yeah. v funky and groovy ! omg so thats Once in a Lifetime and thats talking heads. okay im so sorry but one of my first thoughts was this is king julian singing if he could sing properly and had a creative direction.

Super neat sounds, I’ve always wanted to listen to the talking heads and I’m glad I did

The Talking Heads at their weirdest, full of great grooves and a lot of understated tracks that reward multiple listens, plus of course the masterpiece Once in A Lifetime. This starts very high energy and stays that way for the first several songs, and then mellows out dramatically for the last three songs, which are almost ambient. I could argue that the album might be better with the songs ordered differently, but it’s a great album either way.

Brian Eno's influence on this album is obvious, and I wish it wasn't. Still not as bad as an actual Brian Eno album though. Supposedly the instrumentals were influenced by Fela Kuti, but they're certainly not as good.

Whenever I listen to these acclaimed albums I expect a lot, but this was a very boring and painful experience from start to finish. I’ve listened to 1 Talking Heads song in the past, and now that I’ve listened to an album I’ve decided I was right, the Talking Heads suck.

Easily my favorite Talking Heads album. Great stuff. Unique and creative without being nonsensical.

Obvious hits once in a lifetime and houses in motion, but otherwise not for me.

While it’s not their best album, it’s a fantastic balance of experimentation and songwriting. Come for the Once in a Lifetime and Crosseyed, stay for the Overload.

good

extremely good

Good but not one I need to rush back to.

One of the greatest albums of all time, easy 5 out of 5. I personally enjoy Fear of Music a bit more, but that does not take away from Remain in Light's greatness.

Overall a decent listen. A couple popular songs I recognized. It seemed they had a bit of a duality as far as their “sound” goes. Started high BPM, repeated quick guitar riffs, high energy, b52 type chaos. Then switched to a Pink Floyd, immersive slow sound. That said, I liked the back half of the tracks better. Would I listen to the whole album again? Prob not, but I’ve added a couple “new” songs from the back half as a result!

Entendí la vibra pero no es mi estilo. Me costó mucho cuando solo se ponían a hablar y no cantaban nada. Me gustó mucho el estribillo de once in a lifetime, xq el resto es el chabon hablando. Muy psicodelico para mi aunq no este bien dicho jaja 3

Didn’t really listen tonit

Not bad but not great.

1,3/5

Oh good another album I already know and love. Favorite Track: Once in a Lifetime

Talking Heads are one of those sacred cow bands that I've always enjoyed in very small doses. A TH song on the radio to break things up is great. A whole album is ususally too much for me. With Remain in Light, I found myself enjoying the afro-beat aspects quite a bit. "Once in a Lifetime" is the clear standout. But I also very much enjoyed the Joy Division-y "The Overload" quite a bit. That was a fun surprise. Overall this is a very solid record with an incredible hit single. FOUR STARS

Listening Wind- Needs more texture for the rate of the percussion. Once in a Lifetime- Best songs of the album. Houses in Motion- Good jam. Seen and Not Seen- Nice. Album picks up nicely

The beats and instrumentals are completely new to me. It sounds like a mix of dance and futuristic electronic. I liked this album a lot. Definitely worth a second listen

I listen to this album at least once a week.

I already listened to this album a while ago! 10/10

it was an okay album

Lo voy a comprar en vinil, 10/10

This album is probably mostly known because it has the hit song Once In A Lifetime and for good reason; It is by far the best and most unique track. The rest of the album was nice to listen to once but not something I would play more often. I liked Seen And Not Seen the second-most because it felt very different.

Great 80s guitar solos

Each song in the back half gets slower, just when you think it can’t get slower they hit you with the overload

So this album was "preserved" by the library of congress as being culturally significant. It's pretty good, but I don't see it's significance. I'm probably missing some context or something. It's pretty good. Solid funky rhythm for most of it. "Once in a Lifetime" was the best track of course.

Talking Heads is wierd. This album was fairly enjoyable, but some of the tracks are pretty boring - I was listening in the car and I caught myself starting to sing other songs out loud and I had to remind myself I was listening to an album that I must hear before I die.

Fav track- Crosseyed and Painless Least fav track- Listening Wind Fav lyric- And you may tell yourself, “This is not my beautiful wife”. Overall rating- 8/10 Notes- this was def more my kind of music, again, very similar to previous albums i’ve listened to.

Overall pretty funky. Some cool tunes and some slower moody ones. Would have to listen closer to the lyrics to appreciate I think.

Other than Once in a Lifetime, this is just unbearable

This is another artist that I need to reconsider whether I actually like them or not after listening to a full album, or whether I just need the hits. “Once in a Lifetime” is great. The first half of the album is tolerable. The rest is just a bit too weird for me to like that much. I’d probably give it 2.5* if I could, but it’s not a 3* album.

Second consecutive post-punk album in a row, but at least as this is Talking Heads, it'll be a little bit funky and a little bit odd. Also, you know, it includes Once in a Lifetime... ... well that was disappointing. 2 stars, solely for Once in a Lifetime. 2/5

Apprezzato come compagnia di sottofondo. Le mie preferite: - Born Under Punches (The Heat Goes On) - The Overload

This is a kinda OK album but with one absolutely brilliant song on it in Once in a Lifetime. The rest of the album is listenable but mostly not too interesting. Also enjoyed Houses in Motion.

Appreciate David Byrne, sometimes a little out there for me

Would give 3.5. Groundbreaking for its time. Once in a lifetime holds up.

I love so much.

Cool beats and bass.

Nothing makes me feel crazier than thinking Talking Heads are grating and overrated when most people think they're on par with The Beatles

Best song: Once in a Lifetime Nice find: Listening Wind Worst song: Seen and Not Seen. Too talky.

One of the all time greats. Rhythmic beauty

Although I do like the big single from this album on the whole this album just wasnt my cup of tea. Not even really a hint of a song growing on me.

The rhythm in this album is really something else. The Fela Kuti and African influence is so present throughout this album, though it is not an imitation but a new and completely distinct feeling in the music. There's so much energy throughout this album. Once In A Lifetime is a classic, but The Great Curve is too darn good as well. It was completely new to me on my first listen and it just blew my mind. This whole album's a real mind bender and definitely an essential for all to listen.

Boring

Really good first half, unfortunate drop off in second half.

Facts are useful in emergencies

Standouts Once in a Lifetime

Not my thing

First album of 2026 and it's my favourite Talking Heads album. Hopefully an omen for a good year!

“Once in a Lifetime” is a once in a lifetime song! If I wanted to make some weird, whacky music, I would definitely pull from/listen to this for inspo Also, this album would be a great album to work to “Listening Wind” would be a great song to smoke weed to “The Overlord” however is a song that is very bad for being on drugs!!!!! Scary scary!

This is the best album i’ve ever heard, can’t believe I only knew Once in a Lifetime. David Byrne invented music and I stand by that

Excellent album very Zappa Influenced

5/10 not bad first listen, just not what im looking for when it comes to music

too much yapping (except once in a lifetime, what a banger) Would I listen again: No Deserves to be on this list: Yes 2.7

it was fine. not really my favourite tho

odio que la música me recuerde a alex (lo amo) in fact... para largometrajes, prefiero a king crimson. solo escuché una canción del disco, perdón.

4/5. An extremely interesting and unique piece of work. I think most people can find something here they might like, with the major caveat being that you sorta need to be in the right headspace for this music for it to really work. I don't really know how to describe that headspace quite yet. Maybe you need a slight buzz, maybe you need to be a bit manic. Not really sure. That said, it really is a cool album. The singer's vocals are one of a kind. Production does an amazing job taking this voice and giving it a haunting, hypnotic quality to it. I'm a semi-competent guitarist and personally was enchanted with a majority of the guitar and bass, both in arrangement and the tone they got out of these instruments. Standout song for me was Houses in Motion.

OOPS!

fun short album! good vibes only here. one already liked song.

Definitely sounds like the 80s. Obvi an iconic track in Once in a lifetime.

Вот еще одно клише в список (думаю, что оно уже применялось триста раз до этого, но): если бы этот альбом вышел в 2026-ом, возможно, у человечества была бы надежда. Лучшая песня - Listening Wind.

Ok, Its a different album, but not what I was hoping for. More eclectic than necessary. Looking at their trajectory, this album points to more interesting ideas in the future.

“Once in a Lifetime”

"post punk white funk" Ouais, non, ça ira.

Very funky 80s album. The music is great but I often struggle with David as a singer. While this is the best album from him, he is still the thing I dislike on the album.

Having only heard the radio singles for Talking Heads, this album wasn’t what I thought it might be. Once in a Lifetime is good, but the rest is not for me. Repetitive and monotonous beats with David Byrne’s droning voice on songs that were far too long for that.

Subtle tones of punk complement the rock base of the Talking Heads songs on this album. David Byrne’s vocal’s are more musical-talking versus actual singing across most of the album, but it adds to the vibe of the lively songs. I never fell in love with any of the songs, but I appreciate the style and the product the Talking Heads created on this album.

When I was in high school, I was a theater kid. This one weekend, I was in a new play festival at a local university, where I spent 3 days on campus with other high school kids. There was one kid in my group (I definitely don’t remember his name, so let’s call him Noah) who was decidedly the coolest kid on campus. He had a brother who went to the college so he knew all the cool things - where to hang out after rehearsal, how to get into the secret tunnels beneath the dorms and how to interact with actual college students. Anyway, on the second day, Noah showed up wearing a Talking Heads Remain in Light t-shirt. Seeing this shirt on the cool kid was like finding a cheat code revealing how to be cool. I needed to get this album! Now, this being the late 80s, I couldn’t jump on the internet to listen, much less download it, so I had to wait until the weekend was over and I got my parents to drive me to the local Strawberry’s Music and Tapes to pick it up. When I popped the tape into my Walkman, I was completely confused. What was this shit? I didn’t get it. It was weird. It didn’t make sense. I didn’t like it. I guess It turns out Noah actually was cooler than me because he liked this and I honestly didn’t understand it at all. I was lost. I filed the cassette alphabetically in my wooden tape rack and didn’t really ever listen to it again - until today. Now, 40 years on from that weekend, I understand this album much better. It is world music, or at least Talking Heads’ version of world music. Having a much broader musical and cultural knowledge these days, I can recognize the African influences and the circular hocket patterns at work. I read about the inspiration from Fela Kuti and the band’s desire to include roots and reggae patterns. All of this makes everything make much more sense to me sonically. I still don’t like it all that much. But I appreciate it more. It’s a good musical exploration from a good band. I just don’t care for the results of the experiment all that much.

Once in a lifetime is a great song, love the video with David Byrne's goofy dance. Rest of the album didn't hit for me. Most songs felt like 4 measures of music played on a loop with the occassion vocal and guitar lick. It was all good and fine I just found it repetitive and honestly a bit bland.

very good album, liked the funk influences and unique style

nice.

Love the first track, sounds good in general but I just don't get what makes it so special. Listened to it for like 4 or 5 times now. Wish I'd get it

un peu brouillon mais trql

It was okay, experimental pero no algo that I would listen to on the daily. I liked the different melodies in each song tho

Yep Yep Yep Yep

I love all the individual components that make up this album, but for some reason, it’s not click with me the same way other legendary albums do. Maybe I need to listen to it a few more times. I’ll give it a 3.5/5, rounding to 4 cuz if how catchy once in a lifetime is.

3.5/5

Pretty decent

Not the vibe for me. got three songs in and thought yeah nah

I love Talking Heads but have always preferred their live albums, so I don't really know their records well. This one is insanely stacked. Born Under Punches into Crosseyed and Painless to The Great Curve is just killer. I'm so pumped up. What can you even say about Once in a Lifetime? just thinking about it can make me cry. perfect song. SAME AS IT EVER WAS! Falls off a little after that but this still gets a perfect score for the first half of the album. 4.6/5

Autistic jams

I love this band. Idk if I’ve ever listened to this entire album but I very much enjoyed it

My least favourite of the first 4 Talking Heads LPs... But much better than I remembered it.

I don’t know why, but I don’t really connect with this album. I like once in a lifetime and the opener, but the scary, funky stuff is not really my vibe. I feel like on most of the songs, the grooves, or not that memorable catchy, and they go on for a very long time. It’s highly creative, but I leave not having enjoyed it

Another artist I’m familiar with but the first album that’s been generated with a woman artist involved! There are plenty of talking heads songs I really like, as a band from the 80s I pretty much like them on principle. But sometimes their songs really over stimulate me lol. Not what I would consider ‘easy listening’. When I realized this album had Once in a Lifetime on it, the most overstimulating of their songs, I strapped in. Lots of beeps and boops. Lots of talk singing, and that classic David Byrne yell-singing. I can describe David Byrne’s vocals as the guy at the bar that’s drunk enough that you’re kind of scared of him. This one had the most tracks of any of the albums so far. And I like a decent amount of them but they kind of blend together. I had to listen a couple times to grasp them individually. That could be a testament to the cohesiveness of the album as a whole, which I can appreciate. By the 3rd or 4th listen I was starting to get into the groove of it. The Overload was the track that took me by surprise, I can sense a little The Doors influence, a little gothy influence. I know a lot of musicians who really like Talking Heads and I can tell why people who are passionate about music like them. They make music that you have to pay close attention to absorb all of it. There wasn’t a track I disliked necessarily just parts of the songs I dislike. But standout tracks for me would probably be The Great Curve and Houses in Motion.

fun time.

What a great album to start this project with

Not for me, but glad I tried it!

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

A decisive nope.

the (only) talking heads that i reach for

Fantastic start to finish.

-okay something different and that i am at least some what interested in -okay come on can i just get a normal album for once this is showing me 70s is a decade where there’s only a very specific sound i like -born under pressure no thanks -crosseyed and painless is better but still not very good -the great curve is fine -wait i know once in a lifetime and i like it -houses in motion is fine -seen and not seen is okay -listening wind is surprise surprise fine -i kinda like the overload

… bof

A tiny bit uneven but just such a great capture at the Talking Heads. Once in a Lifetime is a near perfectly written song. Maybe a 4 but the rhythms are so so tight.

Not every song is perfect, but Once in a Lifetime should be the national anthem.

Nice face

First one. Enjoyed while working out, rhythms... Mojik... The spoken word in Seen and Not Seen intriguing. Want to listen again.

Very good album. So many different sounds. A pleasure to sit back, relax and just listen.

I’m disappointed that the only song that really sounded good was the radio song that I knew from this album.

And you may find yourself listening to this album, And you may find yourself in another part of the world, And you may find yourself having the time of your life, And you may find yourself asking to give this album 6 stars, And you may ask yourself, "how did I get here?"

Once in a lifetime, this album is fine to listen to. It started off slow, but had a solid finish. Favorite Track: "Once In A Lifetime".

Sure I like it.

Interesting album, must have sounded crazy in 1980.

First few tracks felt all the same, then we get "Once in a Lifetime," who is iconic, and then there's a lot of stuff that feels very experimental. Not the stuff I like best about them, but it grew on me.

Played this for the kids yesterday and expected to be told to turn it off near-immediately. On the contrary, they were super into it. I was jealous because it took me decades and some cajoling from Thom Yorke and James Murphy to really connect with Remain in Light, and with Talking Heads in general. Once it clicked, it clicked hard. What a unique, off-kilter masterpiece.

Songs are pretty groovy and has catchy lyrics

I don't know why I didn't listen to this before. So many good grooves.

Great first half, sputters a bit after Once in a Lifetime, but overall, a great album

Really held up well - enjoyed almost all of it.

"The sculpture is already complete within the marble block, before I start my work. It is already there, I just have to chisel away the superfluous material." Michelangelo The studio once appeared as a site of possibility. Its promise was that a "non-musician" like Eno and an "art punk" like Byrne could, through technology, approximation and montage, approach what someone like Fela Kuti could generate live - not by imitating Afrobeat, but by redistributing agency across machines, rooms and bodies. Remain in Light emerges at the moment when that promise is still operative, but already compromised. The album stages a tension between process and product. Were these songs excavated from collective improvisation, or were they the arbitrary limits imposed once the jam became unmanageable for nerds like Brian and David? The answer is both. What begins as open-ended circulation is rapidly territorialised. Groove is captured, looped, stabilised. What had the potential to remain social becomes fixed as recording. Where Byrne once brought songs to the band, he now extracts or distils songs from them. It is an anti-social act that suits his twitchy subject matter. The comparison with Zombie is instructive. Fela’s grooves are not frameworks to be escaped but environments to be occupied. They remain open to mutation in real time. Repetition produces not stasis but duration - a collective inhabiting of time. Remain in Light, by contrast, offers repetition without inhabitation. The loops do not deepen; they accumulate. More and more material is added. The groove becomes a structure rather than a situation. Byrne’s voice makes this contradiction audible. He cannot dissolve into rhythm because dissolution is precisely what the music - and his persona - withholds. His fidgety presence, the sense of nervous motion without arrival, registers an emerging condition: recorded music becoming aware of its own enclosure. And enclosure implies ownership, which Byrne and Eno quietly claim for themselves. The studio is no longer a space of liberation but a site where freedom is simulated, then parcelled off. In this sense, Remain in Light documents a historical transition. For decades, the studio appeared to offer limitless expansion. Through the 50s, 60s, 70s and into the 80s, it promised new spaces, new temporalities, new freedoms. Now, as the live room contracts into the home studio and the laptop, that promise looks different. The studio no longer expands what music can be so much as multiplies its options. More tools, fewer exits. Contemporary production is quantised, on the grid, digitally perfected in infinite ways. That’s all. Remain in Light doesn’t fail to achieve transcendence; it diagnoses its impossibility under late modernity. Byrne’s later discomfort with the Talking Heads catalogue is already encoded here - the sense of being trapped inside canonical versions of once-fluid processes. But that’s what he had to do, because that’s the purpose of a pop artist. And, of course, he didn’t want to share the process with his bandmates. Groove is all feel, and he wanted to overthink it with Eno. 3 I ought to like Talking Heads more than I do. That they were capable of stretching themselves creatively (or at least being contrary enough) to produce Remain in Light rather than something safer, more predictable and less colourful should be enough to earn the admiration of someone who holds up Kid A, for example, as a favourite record. That the band were able to suppress their egos enough to submit more than ever to the dominant creative oversight of Brian Eno and the substantive musical contribution of guest musicians should be enough. The only problem is I never actually want to listen to this album. I approve without enjoying. I acknowledge the elegance and distinctiveness of the grooves that populate most of this record but I can’t help feeling that there is always stasis. There is little narrative in the song structures, much less in the lyrics - cool mutterings about nothing much. There is approximate repetition without development. Variation is superficial and centred on timbre, where there is variation at all. Once rhythmic momentum is achieved you are simply spun round and round - a funny noise here, Byrne shouting something or other there - to no particular destination. If kids in the park could climb aboard there’d be vomit everywhere. If there is a sense that these tracks constantly escape being defined by the underlying banality of the musical architecture it’s only because the tracks end after 4 or 5 minutes. Am I just describing pop music though, and making Talking Heads accountable for sins that are generally winked at simply because TH had the audacity to do pop music a little differently? Sure, Once in a Lifetime sets up a successful four bar chorus (one in which each bar is almost identical to the last) and then beats you over the head with it, count em, 6 times in just over 4 minutes. But that’s just pop music isn’t it? Only this is ‘better’ because we credit the additional imaginativeness of its being Afrobeat through a New-Wave filter? Right? Probably. Pop music only better. But there is also the possibility that it’s Afrobeat only worse - none of the musical patience of a Fela Kuti track where the groove ebbs and flows in defined episodes over (very) long running times. Little room for any particular musician to express themselves. None of the lyrical purpose either. Byrne’s lyrics, like the music, are really just a carnival of fragments - superficial, no more than a childish bid for your momentary attention as you spin on Brian Eno’s magic roundabout. Anyway I am complaining a lot for something I am about to give a half-decent mark to. Sure nothing on Remain in Light actually moves me. The thrills aren’t that thrilling. The beauty isn’t particularly beautiful. But Remain in Light is distinctively itself; unmistakeable like a good logo. That’s more than half the battle in pop music or any kind of music. So here’s more than half the marks. 3/5

Fine, I feel reinforced in my ambivalence towards the talking heads.

really good, fun . 12/16/2025

Not my normal style of song, but surprisingly I did enjoy it and wold listen again in the future 👍

Love it

A bit odd, struggled to finish

Real good and funky. Favourites are: (In order) Fela’s Riff, Once in a Lifetime, Born under punches

Another band that is rightfully famous for their singles.

Really loved this album when it came out. Its hard to convey now how new and different this sounded in the moment. "Once in a Lifetime" is an all-timer, also some of the deeper tracks like "Crosseyed and Painless" and "Listening Wind" stand up really well today.

Heard Before: not in full Fav Tracks: Once in a Lifetime Would I Listen Again: very Likely I wasn't paying super close attention during this album listen. But I love Talking Heads so ill give this a strong 4. Rating: Strong 4

songs are too repetitive for my taste, I wouldn't listen to it every day or even every month. not sure I enjoy this album. I'm sure you could find some nice things about it but I'm not invested in music like that to enjoy the album to its potential.

Great album in general, not exactly my type of music but two songs landed in my playlist 😜

not listened to much talking head prior to this. really enjoyed the first 3-4 songs but then got distracted, but will definitely be revisiting.

indie rock must've come from somewhere i guess

C'était honnêtement pas si mal, je m'attendais à rien et c'est passé tout seul. Par contre vraiment les delux faut arrêter c'est juste chiant, au moins laisser la version original, à la limite les sons remastered ça va mais à chaque fois on a des albums à rallonge par rapport à l'original

Un peu trop experimental à mon goût

Good

pas trop mon style mais reste assez bien

Canon for a reason.

100%!!! Amazing album!

My first time listening to a Talking Heads album all the way through. It was fun and quirky but nothing really beyond that. Would probably give it 3.5/5 if I could but it will end up getting a 3/5 because I didn't think it was that good to warrant a 4.

Silly!

Weird, but better than the last I listened to. Gets an extra point for Once In A Lifetime, even though I originally thought the chorus was by Crowded House.

I probably preferred both of the other Talking Heads albums from this list. This one was great but I almost got lost in the repetitive, hypnotic grooves of every song and whilst I was completely engrossed in it, most of the tracks didn't have the overall capture that I got from previous releases.

Pretty weird but also pretty cool too

Gah I really want to like Talking Heads but they're just a bit odd for me. Found myself frowning a lot more at this than I smiled so there's your answer

Love the Heads, though there’s inevitably a point on every album where I kind of zone out. The songs turn into repetitive low-key chants and I wonder where the last four tracks went. Don’t misunderstand; they have multiple righteous bangers, they just don’t always cohere into a listenable whole like Stop Making Sense.

Don’t get me wrong this is a good album. I feel like it requires a very specific vibe and dictates the listening experience accordingly and stressed out of my mind trying to get a theater show up was likely not the vibe that Mr Byrne had in mind while putting this one together. I’ll have to give it a second listen when I’ve got nothing going on to give a real score. Instrumentally amazing, lyrically fun and interesting. It starts very same thing again and again and not changing dynamically. Once in a lifetime obviously sticks out as the hit but it’s guilty of the same thing. A lot of these songs just sit in the same dynamic for the whole 6 minute run time. I did listen to the deluxe to be fair, a lot longer and drawn out and like 4 more just the same thing for 6 minute songs. Super interesting, the deluxe has a demo of this must be the place with no lyrics and It really points out how much David Byrne brings to this thing. It’s just A-B-A-B-A-B-A-B forever but His vocals are what make it interesting. Again, the mood for this is super important. I’m at a high 3, realistically will listen again and give it a 4.

I guess this is what Fela Kuti would sound like if he was a bit crap. Don't get me wrong, this was pleasant enough to listen to, and the Brian Eno touches could be heard throughout. But it wasn't a patch on Fela Kuti, and I would never go out of my way to listen to this again. The big hit was overplayed to the point of becoming annoying, so there's that too I guess. Pleasant in parts, but aimless, and grew tiresome by the end. I'm kind of glad that I got a chance to listen to some Talking Heads, as I've often been told that they're amazing. But if this is their magnus opus, then they're definitely not for me. Two stars.

It was very cool! I loved the overall theme. It will be a playlist to play while getting ready

meh 2/5

i like like the music, will definitely look more into the band

LOVED IT!!!!!

Sure this is crazy, cool, experimental, unique, and sophisticated. But so were Bored Ape NFTs. Just because the album is all of these things, doesn’t make it a good listen. Maybe some day this will click for me, but for now it just feels like it’s too excessive in its pompous, yet nerdy chaos. Shout out Once in a Lifetime music video though

Masterful

Don’t know how I feel about the Talking Heads still after 2 albums now…

YES

Never heard of this album or the group before. The tracks were quite interesting but I don't think I will include them in my library.

Pretty repetive and boring, some good bass and guitar parts

One of my ALL TIME FAVES !!

I appreciate the talent of the Talking Heads but I can't get into their choppy vocal style.

Classic album and a great mix of sounds and influences

It was ok, it has the same as it ever was song, I’m not a huge fan of new wave stuff, though. Didn’t particularly speak to me

application of african circular song structure to western chorus/verse song structure. super fun, plenty of aux perc & synthesizers provide atmosphere. david byrne is talking about who the fuck knows what, but he delivers every line as if it carries overt meaning. this is disarming, and i love it.

Very surreal and dramatic with some spookiness. Like the high energy but where are the drops? 😞 This album made me tired.

Wow!! This was way ahead of its time! I would imagine a ton of rappers have samples them over the years. This sounded very different from their radio stuff / greatest hits. The rhythms were so unbelievably catchy. The music was so textured and interesting. I don't know how they would play it live. The first two tracks were 5 star, then Once in a Lifetime is one of my top 40 ALLTIME favorite songs.

Was worried about the alblum when I saw it come up. It was an interesting listen. It might have been the first time i listened to thier "non hit" songs.

This was a fun listen but not anything to write home about.

What a great album. So dense. So full of energy. So clever. Have listened before and listen to lots of the songs separately from the whole album, but I think the whole album sounds better than previous listens. Almost feels like a David lynch soundtrack, especially songs 6 to 8 - surprisingly moody.

Exceptional record, every song great. All unique but along the same theme, feels really cohesive without being dull. Worthy of the hype

Even with Once in a Lifetime, this does relatively little for me. It's not bad, but I just don't really want it.

Born Under Punches and Right Start are cool

Super weird album. It feels almost manic. Some true bangers like once in a lifetime. I like the song listening wind.

Great band. Not sure it's their best work.

One of my favourite albums of all time

1001 Albums Vol. 0017: Remain In Light ============================================================ Introduction: I just have no words for the unbelievable start I've gotten on this site. It truly is amazing how I'm not even twenty albums into a site that contains 1089 total and I've already generated three of my favorite albums of all time. This is another album where the final score will be absolutely no question. I've already heard this entire album front to back...I could just go ahead and rate it now....I won't. I'll listen to it anyway. I'm not complaining AT ALL. That aside, this legendary album was released way back in 1980 by Talking Heads, a group which had already made some pretty great stuff up until that point, but it wouldn't be until that year that they would release both their pinnacle and one of the pinnacles of music in general known as Remain In Light. What makes this album so great? Well, literally everything. I'll gloss it a bit more in the conclusion, but every positive descriptor that you can think of describes this album. Unique? Yes. Fun? Yes. Meaningful? Absolutely. Extremely influential? Without a doubt. It hits all the marks to be a perfect masterpiece. Like many masterpieces, critics would go on to hail it as a great album, a really great album. That being said, this is the first time I've seen an album actually get praise from an official government agency. Nearly forty years after this album's release, it would be inaugurated into the National Recording Registry in the United States. I could have stated that fact alone and just let it speak for itself in the intro. It should go without saying, but that is absolutely insane. Anyway, all that filler aside, I really don't have much else to say that won't just spoil the need for a conclusion, so I'm going to make this intro kinda short and just get into this thing. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Track 1: Born Under Punches (The Heat Goes On) Score: 11/10 Track 2: Crosseyed and Painless Score: 11/10 Track 3: The Great Curve Score: 11/10 Track 4: Once in a Lifetime Score: 11/10 Track 5: Houses in Motion Score: 11/10 Track 6: Seen and Not Seen Score: 10/10 Track 7: Listening Wind Score: 11/10 Track 8: The Overload Score: 10/10 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Conclusion: And that ends one of the best albums of all time and my new personal favorite that I've generated from this site. It's amazing how Kid A didn't even last ten albums before it became overthrown and Disintegration lasted even less than that. Seriously, this site is just storing junk somewhere and I am in need of seeing it. Anyway, that aside, this album is like no other that I have ever heard. To this day it is still a collection of eight songs that are yet to be replicated...with the exception of The Overload, but that was kind of intentional on Talking Heads' part. No hate there. It is an immersive, cohesive, unique, and overall non recreatable album. It's something that people would hate if someone were to try and make again because people would just say that this "new album" is just a blatant copy of Remain In Light. Something of this level and sound is truly one-of-a-kind. Now, what makes this album so unique? As I said in the intro, literally everything. The fun and fast-paced beats of the first half, the production of the album as a whole, and even just the lyrics are something that only David Byrne could write. The instrumentation on this album is phenomenal in every way. It is absolutely flawless. The execution of instrumentation is so...tight, I guess, on most songs. The instrumentation feels almost robotic in a way. It's not and that's the incredible thing. You can just tell that these songs were practiced to death in literally the first few seconds of Born Under Punches. That alone creates such an already unique experience, but every other aspect manages to elevate it's uniqueness even more. The perfect production is a prime example of this. Literally every moment on this album feels perfect from a production standpoint. Guitars reverberate for just the right amount of time, volume of instrumentation increases and decreases, particularly in later songs, perfectly, and the vocals are perfectly layered with the instruments. Talking Heads really, really did make a great decision hiring Brian Eno as their producer. This album would not have been what it was without that man's perfect production. It would have still been a masterpiece, but not a god-like masterpiece. Anyway, that aside, this album is just as lyrically perfect as it is perfect in every other aspect. There are a few songs that have obvious meanings towards the end of the album, but most of the album is up to heavy, HEAVY amounts of interpretation for the most part. Hell, there are people still speculating on what Houses in Motions even means to this day. Most songs can have whatever meaning you want. All of them, however, have that nerdy tone that you would only hear from Talking Heads. David Byrne using water as a metaphor in Once in a Lifetime is seriously one of the most nerdy things I have ever heard, but I still love it. Speaking of that song, Once in a Lifetime is literally one of the best songs of all time. No doubt about it. It is a very high 11 for me, and that's coming from someone who really shouldn't feel all that moved by such a song yet. I still have plenty of life to go...well, that's assuming I die naturally but that's beside the point. It's a masterpiece just like every other song on the album. I mean, it really is impressive that these songs are so good. The first four songs on this album, especially Born Under and The Great Curve are really, really chaotic in terms of their music. The amount of layering of vocals, unique guitar solos, and overlaying instrumentation is honestly insane. This mellows down in the second half of the album. In fact, the tone of the second half of the album almost becomes psychedelic in a way. All of this culminates in the depressing closure of The Overload. It's great, every part of it. I couldn't recommend it enough. I know some people may not like it because of the chaotic song structure and because of how much is going on, but they're just weird. I have to say it. This album is a masterpiece, my new favorite that I have pulled from this site. Again, it's insane how this keeps happening. I generate one of the best albums of all time, thinking it's going to reign as my favorite for a while, but then less than ten albums later I generate a new best. The gap of stuff that can and eventually will be at my top has become so incredibly small that I truly believe that this album will rule supreme for a pretty long time. We're already at the point where I'd say that less than ten albums can top this. Anyway, like I said, the album is beyond perfect. It's a god-like masterpiece. It changed music forever, even the government thinks so. It's perfect in every way possible. It gets my third 11/10. ============================================================ Remain In Light Score: 11/10 Song Average: 10.8/10

Please let this be the last talking heads album I get. There are wayyyy too many on this list

Decent 4,5

There is WATER💧 at the bottom of the OCEAN 🌊

I watched Stop Making Sense for the first time during Covid and immediately understood the genius of David Byrne. I see him as a true artist in every sense of the word, someone who follows his own instincts and trusts his creative gut over all else. I could listen to that opening piano/bass/guitar riff of Once in a Lifetime on a loop over and over. This is probably their best album, and I respect the shit out of the decision to end it with a song like The Overload.

Upbeat and funky at times, being under 40 minutes helped with the 4 star rating

Talking heads is so much fun to listen to, you kinda never know what to expect from the next track. Their quirkiness and sometimes silly stuff has really grown on me over the years. This album has a little bit of a lot different vibes, which in itself feels on brand.

This is probably the best Talking Heads album, and it might also be my favorite. Experimental, dance-y, funky, Afro-beat inspired and still uniquely them. Singles are great but also no filler. “Crosseyed and Painless” is such an awesome song…. “Facts all come with points of view, facts don’t do what i want them to”.

Had to shut it off on track two. Definitely not for me!

To me this album is what anxiety feels like. Very chaotic, nervous energy and just a lot going on at once. This is my second Talking Heads album and I'm still not big fan of David Byrne's voice. There were some good grooves and bass playing on this album. I’d give this a 2.5 but in rounding down to 2.

Strong album. Not sure why it doesn't quite fit to a 5 for me.

A classic

Remain in Light is an unusual album, the 3rd and last to be produced by Brian Eno. More or less consistently, there are no chord progressions or development of any kind within each song. Rather, a groove is established and maintained, a patterned background onto which melody and lyrics are placed. The music is compelling without the sense of progression. I like it a lot, though it's not my favourite of theirs.

On Remain in Light Talking Heads produce something that captures the feel of spontaneous creativity and the magic of the first draft, without compromising on perfect arrangements of meticulously developed sound beds. The vibe is loosey-goosey but the performances are tight and expertly judged. The chaos is all -planned. Their sound is a world away from their first two albums, embracing something far more abstract and ethereal. Its unprecedentedly atmospheric arrangements of noise which act as a poppy, angular backdrop for David Byrne to pour his stream of consciousness vocals into - a perfect match. Given how popular this album is you'd expect there to be copycat bands pilfering these rich ideas for inspiration, but artists are not doing this because its incredibly challenging music to write and very difficult to copy. Remain in Light is a rare beast and one of the best albums ever made.

Today’s Talking Heads record is my favourite of theirs and a solid 5, I think they do everything they do well here better than anywhere else and the whole product is consistently excellent

I clearly haven't given them enough time for god only knows why.