Reviews (page 7 of 14)
Great album but I can't help feel I'm still recovering from "Grace"
Just because Ryan likes Once in a Lifetime
Really funky album, a bigger fan now as this is the best post punk adjacaent album.
Enjoyed this album. It was funky and unique. After I finished listening I kept getting a hankering to re-listen for the rest of the day. This one is going to stay with me for a bit.
Weird album. I like more songs than I probably should.
Highlights: Born Under Punches, The Great Curve, Once In A Lifetime. In a nutshell: how did we get here? The signs of a sonic transition appeared on Fear of Music. On this album, the metamorphosis is complete. We get the familiar (new wave and art rock) and the new (worldbeat, afro-funk and more). And I love it. I can't put my finger on why, I just do. If you liked Remain In Light, you might like Tina and Chris's side project Tom Tom Club too. Overall: 8/10
1. The Great Curve 2. Once in a Lifetime 3. Crosseyed And Painless
Pretty good. Definitely more interesting than most of the albums up to this point. It gives me a sort of Pink Floyd vibe.
I've always felt like I ought to like Talking Heads, but I just can't get into them. The album was alright. None of the song stuck out to me and the outtakes were awfully repetitive, but I enjoyed listening to it.
I mean come on... it's Remain in Light 8/10
Enjoyable in the way a trip to a modern art museum is enjoyable.
Not in the mood when was listening to it. Artsy fartsy, still loved it but need to be in the mood.
I really liked this. Super funky with really interesting instrumental work, particularly from the bass. The first half is stronger than the second and the final track drones on, really putting a damper on what had been a really fun listening experience.
Whoa, Crosseyed and Painless sounds like a Friendly Fires song. I would've never put this band as an influence on them. I guess I've never heard this album, so... I normally don't vibe this guy's voice, but it's working on here. I take it track 6 is written as a nod to 19th-century French economist, Frédéric Bastiat, who penned the 1850 essay, "What is Seen and What is Not Seen." One can hope.. This was a groovy album, and I'll give it a 4.
I may be biased: Talking Heads is a band my wife turned me on to, and they are consistently groovin', infectious, stretching, innovating, and unique. They are similar to Fela Kuti in maintaining a groove and layering on sounds and ideas, but funneled through white New Yorkers in the art scene. The music is just the soundtrack to larger performance; they are a complete package live. That said, the music is engrossing enough to stand on its own. Listening Wind is the surprise here for me. A slower, moody lament that keeps a steady though minimalistic beat, similar to Collins-lead Genesis. The Overload closes the album in similar slowed, atmospheric musings, but this time more akin to Joy Division. For Remain in the Light, the album sure ends lurking in the dark. Ooh, my tracklist includes bonus tracks from the 2006 re-issue, which includes Fela's Riff; I guess I wasn't too far off with the Fela reference earlier.
I did not know that Talking Heads got down like this. Some really funky stuff and cool bass lines on here. I liked it and plan on listening a few more times.
Really considered just copy and pasting the lyrics to my favorite song on the album, “Houses in Motion.” How much do I love David Byrne and his comically large suit? A lot. I love him a lot. This is the first Talking Heads album I’ve rolled, but it certainly won’t be the last. The only songs I’d actually heard on this album before today were “Once in a Lifetime” and the previously aforementioned “Houses in Motion.” Ladies and Gentlemen, I am pleased to tell you that the entire album, Deluxe included, is an absolute bop. In other words, goes on, and the heat goes on. Goes on, and the heat goes on.
Stunning album, obvious standout is “Once in a Lifetime”. Such an influential style of music that still feels modern.
Much better than the first talking heads album allocated to me (More Songs about Buildings and Food). The genre bending kept me on my toes. Fun listen.
What an album- especially the first half. Second half gets dragged down a little bit with some weird David Byrne antics but I suppose that's to be expected. 7.75/10 (3.875/5)
Great listen
Not perfect, but it's a fantastic album. Lots of great stuff happening in there. I never tire of Talking Heads.
Cool. I think that I like talking heads but now I'm wondering if I've ever listened to an album through. It's so good. Right from the outset. The first few tracks are absolute bangers. Slightly annoyed by the deluxe edition content at the end. I was actually disappointed when once in a lifetime came on because I was enjoying the unfamiliar awesome dance tunes before that.. But then I realised that once in a lifetime is also an incredible track when you let yourself really take it in. Reminds me of that dance indie trend from the 00s (css, the rapture, whatever else) but the quality and feel here is so much better. I think possibly when I was collecting cds I did have the first talking heads record - definitely didn't enjoy it like enjoyed this today.
Complex and layered music I like it very much. Will study again.
Classic!
Love this album. Properly weird
Slows down a bit too much at the end
i’ve been on a bit of an 80’s vibe these days soooo i was happy to see this on here, since i’ve never actually listened to this album start to finish. they’re undeniably weird as hell and i like it. p.s. 40 mins is scientifically the best album length and you can’t change my mind. it’s long enough to set a vibe, but short enough to hold your (my) attention. i actually hate it when the album is so long that by the time it ends i forget what happened at the beginning p.p.s. i <3 cowbell
Funky
The intro to Once in a Lifetime sounds so unique and aquatic
fun album different style of rock it was cool
This album is not as sonically enjoyable as any of the previous 3. There is coldness that strips the borrowed Afrobeat and template of joy. I know that’s the point but the. Why do all the songs really come to life live.
First half is awesome back half falls apart. Still a great album
Kenties Talking Headsin paras levy! Afrikkarytmit rockaa ja Byrne messuaa, mikäs sen hienompaa. 4/5
lol que onda? creo que cai en la trampa de juzgar un Album por su portada, guardé 5 canciones, no son pegadicas pero si son como pa tenerlas de fundo, y eso es algo que aprecio un montón
Loses steam, but an undeniable classic
Amazing album with so many unique and revolutionary synth sounds. The lyrics and overall theme work to put you in a unique headspace, not to mention its just really good.
Crazy how things come back around. You could tell me this album came out in 1999 and I'd believe it. Pretty ahead of their time with this one, and it makes for a pretty cool listen.
Hard not to love!
Nice funky album with great songs. Maybe a bit too repetitive on some songs but the experimental stuff in others is really interesting ! 7,5/10 fav songs : The Great Curve & Once in a Lifetime
The less famous songs are just as good !
Unique and super fun.
7.5/10 Cold take: Although interesting (and sometimes plain weird), the album versions of some of these songs simply dont compare to certain recorded live performances. Stop Making Sense not being on the list is a crime. This feels more like an intellectual excercise than being actually emotionally engaging. Highlights: Once in a Lifetime Crosseyes and Painless Listening Wind The Great Curve
Facts are useful in emergencies
I’ve really warmed up to Talking Heads since starting this list. Very fun album, Once In a Lifetime is an undeniable masterpiece
Fun weirdness. Light, quick, quirky listening.
Like Bowie, another staple of early MTV that I would have had a MUCH different perception of had I been older. I'm happy I came of age when I did (and certainly don't want to be older than I am,) but I would have been a MUCH bigger fan of these guys a lot earlier if I hadn't been a little kid when I saw their videos. I read for years about how amazing a film Stop Making Sense was and remember thinking "It's Talking Heads - how great can it be?" Then I watched it and holy shit. These guys were fantastic.
A good album by a great band.
I liked it
Was ok
Very interesting art rock, anchored by the absolutely iconic Once in a Lifetime. I never listened to TH albums even tho I liked the singles—this quirky and compelling collection of sounds makes the case for going deeper, finally, on this band.
Dancing in my chair rn
Great album. Amazing looping grooves with strong Fela Kuti influences. Fun and highly-listenable songs. Easy to get into and hard to get bored of. Probably my favorite talking heads album. Perfectly weird - amazing production by Eno.
The creativity is off the charts with this band. A couple of tracks sound like the percussion is played on plastic buckets, otherwise it’s fantastic.
Great music. David Byrnes warbles dont meet the heights of the music though.
Top 3 Songs: 1 - The Great Curve (3) 2 - Once in a Lifetime (4) 3 - Crosseyed and Painless (2)
4* 86%
Pretty funky stuff, you should probably test it out
Once in a lifetime >>>> Great album, great group
I’ve already listened to this one before, and it’s really great. While the second half is definitely not as good, it’s still a great experience and the first half more than makes up for it.
Amazing rhythm and songwriting.
This is another album by a band I like, but have only heard a few select songs off the album. Born Under Punches: Excellent and funky. It was a little slow, but in a way I like Crosseyed and Painless: Reading about the album's Fela Kuti/Afrobeat influence, I can hear it plain as day in this song. Fortunately, I have had a Fela Kuti AND a Fema Kuti album in this list so far, so I had a point of reference for that. And THAT, is exactly why I'm doing this list The Great Curve: Cool. No specific comments Once in a Lifetime: I have always loved the spacey feeling of this song. This is probably the first Talking Heads songs I can remember hearing, and I have always liked the band since then. Houses in Motion: Cool funky bass. I probably could have done without the extended flute(?) solo, but still good Seen and Not Seen: maybe one of the only tolerable spoken word tracks I've ever heard Listening Wind: Good track. No specific commentary The Overload: Weird, though strangely enjoyable ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Second time we've had this come up, after I did it whilst Jiff and Stu were still playing. This is clearly amazing but I think I'd need a few more listens to fully grasp it. Extremely funky though.
Very influential album with some great tunes and the Eno atmosphere really coming through at points
They are quirky and a little bit different, and it shows. But they are not so different that it makes them unlistenable or jarring, which makes me actually want to listen to their music.
some not so perfect slngs drop this down. i want to kep 5s reserved for faveorite albums
It's the talking heads, it was fucking great. It's a bop, and it's smart. Always a variety, but a familiar style and structure.
was okay
3.75/5
Quite liked this with its Fela Kuti influence. Quite funky and musically pleasant to listen to. Ok so it dipped a bit towards the end but overall very enjoyable.
I often hate 80s music as it sounds so dated and feels like it is struggling to transition away from what has come before. This one proves that artists had already mastered the sound and it sets the standard for what the 80s should have been. It sounds fresh and original decades later, and I love the way it combines so many styles. Once in a lifetime is the stand out track and The Overload the dud.
Excelente álbum. Me gustó la combinación de rock con afrobeat. Los coros son muy buenos, los beats de la batería y las líneas de bajo tienen mucho groove. Las letras y el trabajo del cantanta dan una sensación onírica y surreal.
Pretty good, as I expected it to be! Once In A Lifetime is such a banger and overall the album is really solid.
Short but sweet, still a fantastic listen
An uplifting burst of cerebral quirk-funk/rock. Once in a Lifetime obviously one of the highlights but also found myself tapping my feet vigorously to The Great Curve (not overly wise when driving). Have I caught up now?
I’m going to start this review by saying that the temptation to abandon this project is high, as we are now 9-10 albums in and there hasn’t been a single female artist and a total fail of diversity, with every performer so far either British or American, and all but one has been white. I didn’t come here to listen to familiar chart toppers from 1970s and 80s but to discover new sounds…secondly, Eminem is a sexist homophobe and doesn’t deserve even 1 on that basis but by that measure I’d have to eliminate huge chunks of the music making zeitgeist. I also need to allow for slim shady being a no filter alter ego used for artistic purposes to spout violent fantasies. But I can dislike all that while also thinking he lived an early life I can’t contemplate and that his anger and bitterness are rooted in the actions of adults around him. Some of his work is real poetry, some of the tunes are bangers. I gave an extra point for using music to get out of misery, and a point for the humour. Now Talking Heads - I didn’t get round to listening this time round but i remember it as a brilliant LP of the era, a classic and worth a 4 for Once in a Lifetime alone
This album is a true auditive experience, Talking Heads explores a vast layer of sounds, the songs have much tribal vibes and female chorus. I've found it very eclectic this album is not ideal to listen at the office while you are talking about soccer with someone at the office. I really enjoy the experimentation that Talking Heads achieve in this work.
really cool
Already listened. Only got halfway (againnnn). Fun album but not the most groundbreaking thing I’ve heard. Love Once in a Lifetime though
Changed my perception of talking heads, preferred to psyco-killer
This album is so close to perfect, just a couple of tracks drag it down from 5 stars( most notably the closer). But the grooves on this record are iconic and not to be missed.
Really interesting.
Born Under Punches (The Heat Goes On) 4.2 Crosseyed and Painless 4.7 The Great Curve 4.5 Once in a Lifetime 4.6 Houses in Motion 4.2 Seen and Not Seen 4 Listening Wind 3.7 The Overload 3.5 Score: 4.171428571
Can really hear Eno’s influence on this album. Good, but not as good as some of their other albums. I don’t know if he made this one better or worse.
This is an anomalous album for me. I liked it more than I expected, but I don't think I'll come back to it very often. It's interesting once in a while, but I don't see myself, "craving it," again any time soon. Mostly, a 4* from me will almost definitely get revisited. I'm not sure about this one, though.
Another solid entry. I could see listening to this again
very long songs, loved the instrumental, lyrics were a bit off
A classic Talking heads album, featuring Once In A Lifetime.
Album 758 of 1089 Talking Heads -Remain In Light (1980) Rating : 4 / 5 With Producer Brian Eno, this blends new wave, funk, Afrobeat, and experimental rock, creating a sound that was ahead of its time. Love Talking Heads, their 'Stop Making Sense' is also a big favorite.
Jako lepo
4.25
Funky. Me like
I swear I've heard this album sometime in my childhood. It was fun and quick.
Autism in Africa. Not my all time favourite Talking Heads album, but certainly one of the most experimental ones. This album had a huge amount of influence on music at the time, and is responsible for artists of the time trying new styles. That being said, its more of a whole album experience in my opinion, and not something you put on casually. You gotta be in the right mood.
Siis ei hitsi mikä albumi! Kuulen tässä niin monen bändin soundeja - Coldplayn uudempi tuotanto (Once in a lifetime), Rhcp:n kasarituotano (esim. The great curve ja houses in motion). Policelta paljolti kuulostava "listening wind" yksi mainitsemisen arvoinen. Yllätyslevy, muttei omalla skaalalla yllä klassikoksi. Vaikuttavuutensa vuoksi 4.
I wasn't much of a Talking Heads fan when this album came out (I was only ten), though today it seems to have a much different meaning than it would have in 1980 had I the ability to listen to it then in it's entirety. As it is, I think I only heard "Once in a Lifetime" because it had to have been played on rock radio around that time.
Already listened ❤️ Fun instruments, fun album
Psycho Killer
i liked it instrumentally and how it was produced, but vocally i didn't really liked it
Очередной загадочный альбом Говорящих Голов. надо разбираться еще. Новая волна с прививкой соула.
3.5
Do you like sounds? I do. There’s a lot of them for you here. Honestly though, this is beyond genre or classification. Funky, dense, innovative. Well deserving of more listens to truly appreciate it, but it was a very unique but enjoyable listening experience.
84% Best: Born Under Punches (The Heat Goes On); Crosseyed and Painless; Once in a Lifetime Must-Hear? Sure
Take a look at these hands!
I'm a big Talking Heads fan, and this album is probably my favorite of theirs that I've listened to so far. I really enjoy the manic and dark yet groovy sound this album has. Favorite Songs: "Born Under Punches (The Heat Goes On)" and "Houses in Motion"
Wasn't a fan of their other album I rated previously but this one was much better. These basslines are awesome and I'm loving the African influences on it. It doesn't really sound like a New Wave album at all The first half of the album is fantastic. The last three songs aren't so much. They aren't bad, but they kinda just peter out and it leaves quite a dissatisfying end to a good album. It gets a 4 as the songs before carried. Just wish it had ended better
Talking Heads' 1980 "Remain in Light," produced with Brian Eno, is a post-punk classic. Its innovative mix of African rhythms and experimental sounds, featuring Byrne's unique vocals on tracks like "Once in a Lifetime," offers a complex but ultimately satisfying listen. A 4.
Funky Afrobeat rytmer møder cool Post-Punk vokal. Det fungerer godt for mig.
Better as expected
Странный альбом, очень странный. С одной стороны, звучит как самое восьмидесяточное, что только может быть, с другой какой-то краут-рок, с третьей - полиритмы и всякие рандомные звуки. В общем, намешано тут много чего. Настроение у альбома такое иронично-позитивное, немного местами меланхоличное. В целом я бы сказал, что он мне скорее понравился, чем нет, но много раз я бы его слушать не стал, а то от обилия музыкальных партий на одном треке крыша поедет. Но есть тут что почерпнуть как слушателю, так и музыканту.
I listened to this not very long ago actually
Very good, will probably checkout more of the band
not their best but good one
"THIS IS NOT MY BEAUTIFUL WIFE!!" An absolute classic. This is the most celebrated Talking Heads album and it certainly is great though I do prefer their follow-up "Speaking in Tongues" (which isn't on this list somehow). This album starts out incredibly strong with banger after banger but unfortunately the second half is not as solid whereas "Speaking in Tongues" is more consistent in my opinion. Nonetheless, this is at least my second favorite Talking Heads album and I completely understand why so many consider this to be their masterpiece. This album is just as good "as it ever was". Favorite track: Born Under Punches (The Heat Goes On)
Classique, timeless
Talking heads is one of those bands that I can fully appreciate why people love them, but I can't seem to get into it. All the same this is still good 4*
An important album in the evolution of the sound of Talking Heads. Not my favorite of theirs but even so it's quite good. Funky rhythms abound and Tina's bass is spectacular. Glad to have revisited it on my first day of 1000.
Prefer this one to Talking Heads 77. Born Under Punches and Crosseyed and Painless are both pretty good. The Great Curve and Once in a Lifetime (love the effect halfway in - "the MOVE-the MOVE-") are excellent. I like that Houses in Motion starts out like an 80s rap song and is wonderfully weird throughout. Love the weirdness of Seen and Not Seen and Listening Wind. Only song I didn't like was The Overload which was a pity considering it's the closer.
Nice, interesting sounds, I feel like it's innovative for it's team. Catchy tunes
Not bad, see where a few bands got their influence from
And you my ask yourself, "Well, why have I never listened to this full album before?"
Yep. 3/5
Darkly funky in a New York art school cocaine way. Crosseyed and painless is a jammer for the ages.
I keep thinking that I know more of Talking Heads's work than I really do. Here, I only know Once In A Lifetime and to a lesser extent Born Under Punches. Not that the rest is bad.
My first Talking Heads album! I appreciate how stylistic this album was- so much experimentation with themes and genres while still keeping a coherent sound. The hits definitely hit, and the extended instrumental sections were fun to listen to. Overall- enjoyed it a lot!
One of my favorite Talking Heads albums. Very esoteric sound from them and hasn’t been replicated by them since
yeah
I have never been a huge fan of Talking Heads, and they have never been able to blow me away. There was a time, I didn't care much for their jerky post-punk. However, I have grown to understand them more and like some of their albums. Remain in Light does feel somewhat epic in what it covers and has songs that stand out on their own, too. I'd probably give it a 3.5, but I think a 4 is warranted for this scale due to the artistry and impact on larger music.
Really solid album with some great tracks. Can hear some early ground work for some of the current bands I really like.
Ретро-звук, экспериментальная музыка, много игры с примочками, необычным из инструментами, с голосом. Тёплое и часто приятное звучание, навевает ностальгию.
New to me.
I'm actually torn on this one--I love TH and this album is revered, but the second half really drops off. The first side and up to Once In a Lifetime are epically good, but I like them better on Stop Making Sense. They just have more life live. I think this is a 3.5 for me, but bumping to:
A real classic’s classic
This is an 8 track album and the first five songs are ALL home runs. From the gutsy intro, to the settled jams of “the great curve”, to the pop appeal of “once in a lifetime”. Holy shit! The final three songs pack less of a punch. “Seen and not seen” has a spoken word boringness. “Listening Wind” fails to inspire and “The Overload” somehow takes us into brooding… metal? Not for me. The first five tracks are five stars. The final three tracks are three stars. We’ll settle on four.
Some nerds of note include popcorn magnate Orville Redenbacher, rockstar David Byrne and Supreme Court justice David Souter
Very cool and creative, weird but a lot of fun too. Much of the album has a chaotic, nervous energy, there's so much going on each track that I usually notice something I didnt pick up on on previous listens. Cool that a western band used African polyrhythms, that's not something you hear very often so it helps them stand out The turn from more danceable and upbeat to slower, more eery and sinister tracks on the second half reminds me a little bit of David Bowie's Low, at least in terms of structuring (not that anything that is particularly upbeat) I had More Songs About Buildings and Food previously, which I do like but to me they took what they were trying to do previously and perfected it here 4.5 Highlights: Once in a Lifetime, Houses in Motion, Born Under Punches
I wasn’t as familiar with the songs on this album. Nothing stood out per se, it it was as always, dense with musical genius and a great vibe.
The Good: Talking Heads!!! The Bad: Sometimes we don’t really want heads to be talking… The Ugly: Remaining in light can become tiresome… I do appreciate me some Talking Heads! The album was nice, but not one of my favorites… all this world music vibe isn’t what I was waiting for. Anyway, it does merit to be on this list for sure, and will give it another spin soon!
Fun, punchy alternative rock made for dancing. Feels a bit repetitive at times, but overall a banger
Funky in a way that only the Talking Heads can be… Once in a Lifetime is an outstanding song of course but the rest are a little less memorable/tuneful. Great album though
Not my favorite Heads record but still a classic. Everyone I knew in college that was serious about music had a copy of this one
Once in a Lifetime is a fav of mine, had never heard the other songs but was really enjoyed them as background music while working
I enjoyed this album as far. As far as the Talkinh Heads go, I still don’t really understand them as a phenomenon
I never fully got the Talking Heads, but something clicked for me when listening to this album. Weird, funky, groovy, and catchy. Interesting to see Brian Eno produced it and it draws from that Nigerian artist Fela Kuti that we liked earlier in the project.
The first time I listened to this album was in 2023. My first impression was that the album didn't add much to Talking Heads' discography. 1 year later and my opinion remains the same, what changed was that the first time I was focusing too much on the lyrical part when what really shines here is Brian Eno's production that elevates the songs on the album a bit. He deserves the credit for turning this album into something listenable.
enjoyed this album. I only knew 'Once in a lifetime' but the other song were very enjoyable with a clear Talking Heads sound
I love the funk and Fela Kuti influences on this album. Great rhythm and bass and quirky singing on side one. A chiller, more electronic feel on the second side. The last song sounds like a slightly less intense Joy Division.
Very cool
Talking Heads are so interesting rhythmically. I was previously only familiar with Once in a Lifetime from this album, but it's a good listen.
Good stuff, maybe enjoy their later albums as a whole
Classic, once a heavy in rotation album for me. Not so much these days, but among their very best for sure
This was a fun frantic album. Kept me grooving while I worked.
Insgesamt gute Lieder, nichts Schlechtes bei, zwei Rausstecher
4 sterne
No one is the history of cultural appropriation has ever said "play that funky music white boy." Rhode Island Art school ensemble and CBGB headliner that came to embody NYC punk before transitioning to New Wave, Talking Heads are definitively 1980s like Patrick Nagel, Reaganomics, Don Delillo and post-structuralism. Talking Heads 77 is iconic, angular and catchy, Remain in Light is a critic's favorite that incorporates global grooves and Afrobeat poly-rhythms all while abandoning choruses. Radio and MTV hit "Once In a Lifetime" and "Crosseyed and Painless," which would later appear in the classic Jonathan Demme directed concert documentary "Stop Making Sense" are fractured funk pop with surreal spoken word lyrics. "Listening Wind" is a spoken word meditation on cultural imperialism and terrorism. "Houses in Motion" the death march of consumerism, while "Seen and Not Seen" is a Laurie Anderson inspired spoken word meditation on identity mediated by cultural media and narrative conventions. It is surprising how devoid of hooks most of these stream of consciousness songs tend to be.
Second listen. Fan of this one.
Good album 👍
A classic but I don't think it is consistent enough from front to back to be one of my personal favorites.
Top-notch songwriting
Pretty fun pretty funky!
Big talking heads fan, this is another album I had and listened to on vinyl. It's a weird album, like all other talking heads albums I've listened to they have like 1 or 2 of their most popular songs sprinkled in the album, and then the rest of the album is made up of pretty wacky tracks, but they're all super unique. I'd give most of the songs on this album a 3 or 4 out of 5. Gonna give it a very generous 4 overall Fav song: Once in a Lifetime
Same as it ever was
might become a 10/10 someday
Listened to this a few times last year, it’s very good but dare I say overhyped. Can be a tad monotonous and some songs go on too long. Speaking in Tongues for me is the more enjoyable album. That said it’s still a cracking listen 4.25/5
Loving all the layers and rhythms! Trails off towards the end though.
I like how they just crammed the first song with whatever noise they thought of!! “Once in a Lifetime” a stone cold classic of course.
Yeah love it.
I love the Talking Heads, but they’ve got better albums. Remain in Light starts off as a brilliant 5-star record with incredible energy and creativity, but it slowly fades, settling into a solid 4-star listen by the end. Still great, just not their best.
i just love when you can tell artists had fun making something.
mjög mjög gott, 4,5.
Amazing
A few bangers, a few oddities, a few that were just alright...it's definitely a Talking Heads album!
Classic
A classic album from the 80’s that is still fresh and can sit well in between albums of today…. Well crafted from David Byrne!
I knew the hits from it
Insanely polarizing and weird start to the album, but it is groovy; love the chorus on this track. I appreciated the bass on the second track, the panning strange one shot guitars were also interesting. The chorus was really good. The guitar in The Great Curve is fantastic and the percussion is great too. This definitely is an album that has to grow on you through multiple listens. The chorus on Once in A Lifetime is amazing, but the lead vocalists shouty vocals detract from it. Seen and not seen has a great background surrounding it, but the spoken word vocals do not help the song. Listening Wind is a highlight on the album, it has less energy and allows space to focus on the lyrics and the meaning of the song. While The Overload is a departure from the rest of the high energy and frantic performances seen on the album, it is still very interesting and ominous. Personally, I think this is the weakest track on the album but it is still a good song and it ties the album together. Initial Listen: 7.5/10 or 3.75/5.
In Jeff Tweedy's book he says "to create a music that exists only because they looked for it somewhere inside of themselves-knowing that there's a record they want to hear and that the only way they'll ever get to hear it is to make it themselves ... Well, that's a miracle made of miracles." I'm not saying that this is my favorite TH album or even my favorite on this list. Probably not even in Top 10 of what I've listened to, but I feel like that quote really resonates with this album. It feels like these guys wanted a specific sound that no one else was doing and they were the only ones that could do it. Its the weird vocals and lyrics. The interesting synths and even guitars. Its the rolling and bubbling percussion and drums. Its the sad dancy flavor that keeps this going. "Once in a Lifetime."
Strong 4. That was an awesome ride
Creo que me gusta más 77', pero está bueno también
Love this album. Big Talking Heads fan already
Lively. Strange. Pleasant listen
The heads are talking and spinning and talking and spinning. Anyway. Hi how are ya??? Another trip through my mind to the beat of some sort of musical composition dumped fresh and steaming into my phones browser via the algorithm (or malignant intentionality). Let give this a whirl and ruin my Spotify for another day!! A big congrats to me on being 1 bloody tenth of the way through this futile exercise. Album 100 and still no 5s. Will big suit man break the curse? We open with some interesting stuff happening. Oh man. Cool. The psychotic vocals are a lot of fun and what I was hoping for coming into this. VERGING on reggae lameness, but skillfully dodging the steel drum in favour of digital oddity that works so well. How can something be this accessible and still so off the wall? Fantastic. Cool song title. I love a good song title. Man, my vocabulary really is bad. Too much proximity to the US has fried my brain. Anyway, this song was alright. A much better track. So much African influence. I remember hearing that on some college radio station, so it has to be true. I like it. Repetition that doesn’t drive me insane. A classic deserving of this distinction. A regular listen for me and a perfect song. Lyrically thought provoking, musically cool and ultimately a beautiful experience. Coooool. Man the songs are catchy and yet also full of depth. This one really highlights that. Seen and Not Seen is a gem. What an odd series of words. Certainly just sat and listened. Didn’t even try to conjure up any bad jokes. That’s a first. The listening wind makes me wish I was listening to wind!!!!! Man I’ve been killing the zingers lately. Just smashing them out of the park. This is a disappointment. Boring and sappy. Twas a dusty eve on the windswept prairie. Only warmth was the revolver, freshly expunged into the doubting heart of yet another uncooperative town marshal. The villages run together, the crimes, once a means to an end, seem to now be senseless, yet they continue to itch like an inert reflex. Wind whips the dust into the eyes of the lone traveler. A tear where there have been none for an age. Ride forth. Pillage. Burn. American Dream. This album was fantastic. An eerie soundscape at points that shifted and evolved into bombastic exultations with tinges of neuroticism. Themes of dissatisfaction mixed with passage of time colour what is an emotionally excellent piece despite the accessible nature of much of the music. A real gem that gets close enough to perfection to almost break the curse. This is not my beautiful five, but it’s certainly a leap in the right direction. 4.5 HIGHLIGHTS: Born Under Punches (The Heat Goes On), The Great Curve, Once in a Lifetime, Seen and Not Seen
Probably my favorite album of theirs. Not too weird, a good mix of pop and their brand of .
Good Talking Heads album. Has Once in a Lifetime
Really interesting. Haven’t heard such music before
groovy
awesomeeee
It’s Talking Heads, I was bound to like it :-) Favorite track: Once in a Lifetime
"Once in a Lifetime" is the first song I remember loving as a kid. This one will always have a special place.
Good
this shit is cash i really like new wave but listenability is 50/50 for this one, it's like a level 6 or 7 of ten of snooty palate buuuuuut nonetheless i really like talking heads and what they do. I enjoy little creatures a lot more as an album but this was probably the best and most accessible one they put out.
Good fun post punk - Talking Heads are always a good thing in my book and love this record.
great stuff, but Once In A Lifetime is so much higher than the rest album, it's hard to compare
Enjoyable! It's weird but in a good way.
I was Crosseyed and Painless until this album came along. Now I’m dancing to the Double Groove.
I NEED TO REVISIT THIS FEELS LIKE AN ALBUM THAT CANT BE UNPACKED WITH ONE LISTEN. I would love to learn about the process by which this album was created, there are so many sonic layers to it!
This was one of my favorite bands from the 1970s-80s. I heard once that they never used more than three chords in any of their songs. One negative - I thought the end was a bit slow. Heavy on electronica.
I have loved Talking Heads for decades, but never listened to this album in full before. Glad I did. The way they constructed their lyrics is unusual and striking, not always but often addressing the listener directly: "Look at these hands", "You may find yourself...", "You may ask yourself..." The songs seem quirky, and awesome.
I'm familiar with some Talking Heads beyond the hits, but not a lot. They pushed the envelope, showing that you can understand music and it doesn't have to be just self-fellating, but substantive and connecting with people across the board.
Really great Prefer fear of music Still really good A classic really
This album was the final collaboration between Brian Eno and Talking Heads, and it builds on the previous albums with complex Afrobeat rhythms and Byrne’s occasionally obtuse lyrics. The music relies on the absolute precision of drummer Chris Franz and bassist Tina Weymouth in maintaining repeating patterns for extended periods, until they become almost hypnotic. Fela Kuti was an inspiration for this, with a name check on a bonus track. Polyrhythm-tastic!
This is an impressive piece of work. The rhythm section is solid and really the backbone of the album; the polyrhythms and the apparently Kuti inspiration are worth listening to. It efficiently blends different genres and inspirations (their post-punk roots, afrofunk, electronic music) for something completely new. I love the fact that Byrne said that they were "human samplers", and how they created loops to build the music. If I sometimes question the existence of some records in this list, this one indubitably belongs here.
Some classics and good overall.
Funky. Quirky. Lotta good beats. Solid 4/5 for sure. Could potentially see it growing on me to the point where it’s 5/5
Insgesamt gute Lieder, nichts Schlechtes bei, zwei Rausstecher
What jake said Once in a Lifetime might be one of my favourite songs of all time (top 25 at the very least)
I've listened to this before, but I gave it a relisten. Track reviews: 1-5. great 6. one of those artistic only tracks that you don't listen to by itself. Not terrible I suppose. 7. didn't add first listen, it's definitely a good song and I might add, but worse than 1-5. 8. didn't add first listen and I stand by that. It's good for the album though! All in all, very good.
Brian Eno!! Understanding that this record was made by drawing influence from Nigerian musician Fela Kuti, as they experimented with African polyrhythms, funk, and electronic reframes how fun and brilliant it is. It’s a specific vibe but loads of fun
For some strange reason, Stop Making Sense, a clear 5, is not on this list. Remain in Light is, though. And while very good and innovaative in terms of the way they work with effects, repetitive riffs etc., the songs sound a bit too restrained at times compared to Stop Making Sense.
I quite like talking heads, this is one of the weaker albums but it's still pretty solid
Nice.
Love them. Once in a lifetime is one of the bangers of all time
Remain in Light is lightning in a bottle, an album so unique that I've seen at least fifty bands in the past 10 years try—and fail—to replicate it. For Talking Heads to release something this audacious in 1980, a year after Fear of Music, is remarkable. Drawing heavily from Fela Kuti’s Afrobeat, the album breaks rock conventions with looping polyrhythms, layered instrumentals, and Brian Eno’s experimental production, which gave the music a strange hypnotic pull. The band’s approach—building instrumental tracks first and improvising lyrics later—gave them a new creative spark. The opening trio—“Born Under Punches,” “Crosseyed and Painless,” and “The Great Curve”—is relentless, each track intensifying the listener's pulse. “Born Under Punches” bursts out of the gates with a frenetic groove, while “Crosseyed and Painless” dives into paranoia with a pounding funk bassline. “The Great Curve” cranks up the tempo further, layering sharp guitar and rapid percussion to dizzying effect. It’s an explosive start to the album. Then comes “Once in a Lifetime,” the album’s crown jewel and one of the band's, and indeed rock’s, most iconic songs. Its unforgettable bassline and surreal, existential lyrics on identity and alienation make it both of it's time and sharply contemporary, a song that resonates as much today as it did over forty years ago. The album’s intensity dips slightly in the final few tracks, revisiting earlier concepts with a touch less punch. Still, Remain in Light remains a genre-shattering gem—a singular fusion of rock, funk, and global rhythms. - Did/Do I own this release? No - Does this release belong on the list? Unique for its time, it fits well on a list like this. - Would this release make my personal list? I genuinely love Talking Heads, but with such a rich discography I may be inclined to pick one of their other brilliant albums instead - Will I be listening to it again? There is always room for more Talking Heads.
Experimental
really like the vibe, cool to listen in the background, but none of the songs really captivated me enough for wanting to add it to my playlist
This was sweet relief after quite a bad run of albums. Thank goodness! Has some absolute classics on it. interesting and varied and fun and creative.
Love this album, but Listening Wind is a bit of a stinker.
loveeee the guitar already - track 1 "whoop." "TAKE A LOOK AT THESE HANDS." Instrumental on Houses in Motion sounds like a big mosquito. Last two tracks a little slow and uneventful? Taking a second listen though - little bit taken with Talking Heads. Favourite track has gotta be Born Under Punches - Once in a Lifetime too - that might trump BUP.
David Byrne has such a unique and defining voice. The music is mostly smooth and controlled while mixing in a lot of noises you dont hear often elsewhere, and Byrnes voice sails over it and makes it his own. Damn good. Best Song: The Great Curve Worst Song: Seen And Not Seen
Great album
Who doesn’t like Afrobeat inspired polyrhythmic 80’s pop. Great album..
I love Talking Heads thank you
Great. (But not The Overload)
The bad part about listening to a normal Talking Heads album is everytime a song from Stop Making Sense comes on, I remember that the version on there is better, and if it isn't on Stop Making Sense I just think what a version of that song would sound like. 8/10
That was great. I was always aware of Talking Heads and realised i should like them but never spent the time to work them out. This process has given me that and i thank it. Its nice that the 80's produced pop music that has stood the test of time. Good hooks, a real sense of style and well made.
In one twist of the prism, a gentrified Zombie, another, a spaceship in suburbia with an insistence that disco wasn't dead, it just needed more quirk, detachment and body. 80s "world music" not beating the allegations. Did they not have soft power cultural critique back then? Or was the pull to live for our neighbors too great while still (or perhaps only when) benefiting from them materially? Angelique Kidjo's version of this album is interesting.
This album is funky and fun and weird, and for that I really love it. I'm glad I finally gave this album a spin.
I didn’t much by like our last TH album but this one had something better about it. The musicianship is so stellar, David Byrnes singing is less rigid and willfully staccato, and the songs are interesting.
What a band, what an album, but most of all what a sound. I turned it up very loud and it was amazing, the rhythms & basslines, some great guitar touches and the one and only David Byrne. Eno went from 3 great Bowie albums to producing this, the midas touch. The first half is brilliant, so good that 'Once in a Lifetime' doesn't stand out, and it made me dance around the kitchen! Second half drops a bit but 'Listening Wind' is incredible, the lyrics, those guitar noises and the groove really remind me of David Gilmour and The Orb, their album recorded 30 years later. More and more is revealed with each listen. In a week I may wish I'd given this 5.
The thing that stood out to me the most about this album is the way it expertly executed LAYERING. There is so much going on in these beats and that makes the songs so engrossing and groovy. Not much separates the type of riding groove of these tracks from those you’d see in hip hop tracks. Definitely could imagine a rapper jumping onto lots of these songs. ‘The Great Curve’ was a standout for that reason; I just love how it grows and grows. Infectious. Enjoyed the vocals here and there were some gnarly guitar riffs too. ‘Once In A Lifetime’ is fantastic too. What a legendary chorus!! It just sounds so perfect. To be fair, the talking style delivery of the vocals plays into my hip hop comparison on this track too. Thoroughly enjoyable album. :)
Een soort Fela Kuti, uit jaren '80 Engeland. Ze zijn Amerikaans, maar met name het stukje New Wave/Postpunk voelt Brits aan. Veel Afrikaanse opzwepende percussie gemengd met theateropleiding. Later op het album ook wat dromerige drijfmuziek. Het is een ontzettend CKV album, maar wel een interessante deze keer. Doet het prima als achtergrondmuziek, maar je zou er ook uitgebreid voor kunnen gaan zitten om diepere laagjes te ontdekken. Wat ik natuurlijk niet ga doen. De tracks die het meest experimenteel zijn, zijn voor mij het best geslaagd. Polyritmiek als toverwoord. Ik laat me graag murw beuken door de afrobeat vandaag. 4 sterren, want op cultuur gaan we niet bezuinigen.
Talking Heads is always a good listen.
Very cool
Groovy
I don’t feel like this was their best but it was still lots of fun. My favorite was “Once in a Lifetime”. 3.5/5
10/14/24. Sometimes simpler really is better, and this album nails that. Songs stay engaging although there's no real variation in the chord progressions, but the unique vocals and lyrics make it strong.
It's actually a pretty good album. I just can't get over how this jackwagon dances around on stage in front of the mic. The whole album plays while I imagine him flailing his arms around and knocking his knees together. I don't want to like the album for this reason. But I also can't get over the fact that this album just feels fun.
Weird, but I'm a good and interesting way. I liked it. 4/5
An unreal level of production for 1980. You can totally tell Brian Eno was the driving force behind it. Many many many layers great to listen to intently, or have on in the background as audio wallpaper.
El pop artístico y experimental que imprimió David Byrne a Talkin Heads culminó con este, su cuarto álbum, un giro espléndido, introduciendo sección de vientos, percusión africana, teclados funk y electrónica. Esto le permite explorar ritmos africanos cubriendo sus siempre aparentemente inconexas letras. Me gusta el single que extrajeron del disco, "One in a Lifetime", un fracaso en su momento pero que hoy forma parte de repertorio básico de Talking Heads. También disfruto mucho con el arranque, la ácida "Born Under Punches (The Heat Goes On)", así como el ritmo imparable de "Houses in Motion".
Favorite track: Listening Wind Not my favorite Talking Heads album but I can see why it is important.
Great band. Another true sound of the 80’s-90’s. Great singers/ songs.
Hypnotic rhythms, catchy riffs v danceable
Not bad but not great either
Once in a Lifetime steals the show. The Overload was a surprisingly dark and droning end to the album.
Very enjoyable, with some strange use of odd instruments.
Once in a lifetime is a banger, the rest are all pretty good too
stiiiiillllllllllll waiting
You can never go wrong with this one.
Bij het eerste nummer gingen m'n nekharen overeind staan van het lichtelijk valse gekrijs, maar daarna werd het allemaal een stuk interessanter. Een beetje dwarse jarentachtigpop, best goed gedaan met alle likjes en loopjes, zelfs het maffe stemgeluid van de zanger went. En dat voor een plaat uit 1980! Het klinkt alsof het nieuwer is. Ik kon het, ondanks dat Brian Eno het geproduceerd heeft, moeiteloos meerdere keren aanhoren.
Het album komt niet zo heel bijzonder over. Maar de repeterende basis pakt mij heel makkelijk. Ze krijgen het voor elkaar om dit niet saai te laten worden. Dat begint met de aanstekelijke ritmes. Vervolgens weten ze het met simpele sampeltjes/geluidjes toch interessant te houden. Het heeft iets weg van oude houseplaatjes waar de hoofden over heen praten. Zelfs dat praten past prima in het geheel. En dan valt alles samen en is dit plaatje eigenlijk toch wel bijzonder.
Really enjoyed this album. Funky, noisy, strange, but fun. I liked a lot of what was offered here. I will say, that I thought the songs were too long. Repeatedly I would look at my phone when I thought the song would be over and it was always only half way. Standouts: Born Under Punches, The Great Curve, Once in a Lifetime, and Listening Wind.
Great record. My first experience listening to Talking Heads.
9/10. I love nerdy new wave with a whole lotta bass! :)
Great album
So good
How serendipitous that I just watched Stop Making Sense last night. Just about everyone I know that likes Talking Heads cite this as their best and most influential and innovative album, and I don't completely disagree. I always find myself flip flopping between this or Speaking In Tongues for their best album. Meanwhile, Remain in Light is a fantastic blend of styles with new wave, funky bass grooves, afro-beat percussion, hypnotic rhythms, spacey synths and abstract guitars. The first half of the album far more exciting and energetic while the last few songs kinda drone on with David Byrne more or less monologuing over very Brian Eno influenced backing tracks. It's a great album, highly recommend, even if it's not their most successful and single laden album. 4/5
Ground-breaking, funky, but slightly over-rated. 4.5/5
Not my absolute favorite Talking Heads but a great album. I prefer Fear of Music and Buildings and Food more. Low 4.5 stars 8.9 out of 10
I like it. Perhaps one day I’ll love it. 4/5
Just the other day I was wondering why I hadn't gotten any Talking Heads yet, so thankfully that question is now answered. I don't know their discography very well, so it's hard to say whether this is one of their better albums or not, but it *definitely* sounds like the Talking Heads I'm familiar with, and I really enjoyed listening to it, despite the relative paucity of radio hits (although "Once in a lifetime" more than makes up for that lack--what a great song). My favorite previously-unheard songs are probably "The great curve" and "Houses in motion". (And though it wasn't one of my favorites, "Listening wind" makes me wonder if it was inspiration for the Peter Gabriel/Laurie Anderson 1984 collaboration "This is the picture (excellent birds)".) And although I'm sure my memory is quite garbled at this point, I feel like a surprising number of songs on this album was played in that great concert film "Stop Making Sense". I also like the backstory of how the album came to be, a strange blend of reactions to Byrne's controlling nature, Fela Kuti influences, Haitian Voudou, the insights from hip-hop's growing ascendance, and Brian Eno's semi-reluctant return as producer, all apparently reviving the band's energy and a more collaborative spirit. (And, of course, reinforcing that Brian Eno is everywhere.) It kind of feels like this is more of a meta-album for this collection, given how conveniently and easily it meshes with so many other themes in the "1001 Albums" collection. A bummer, though, that the creative process for making this album strained the band members even more than they were already. Same as it ever was....
I enjoyed this waaaay more than I thought I was going to. Restrained 80s electronica. Loopy, minimal and generally doing a lot of things I enjoy from music.
The Talking Heads are the perfect blend of pop and weird. They bring a chaotic energy to the 80s along with a ton of different sounds used in ways you won't find anywhere else. My favorites here are Born Under Punches, The Great Curve, and Once In a Lifetime. The rest of the album doesn't hold those highs, but it's still a great album.
Coll
Je l'ai bien aimé, probablement celui que j'ai le plus aimé après More Songs About Buildings And Food. 7.5/10
Once in a lifetime, one of my all time favourite tracks. Overall great album
Repetitive yet not boring. Original and inventive 4.3
The very first notes on the first song is so funky. The bassline hits so hard. They really have got it. Got 2 of their albums on the list beforehand, but this one is the best of them. 4.5/5.
Very cool album. Standout songs: Crosseyed and painless The Overload
art school pop punk
The Talking Heads were a weird band but man, were they good.
If I heard a description of this band I wouldn't know what to think. "It's a new wave jam band, kind of! With electronic music and spoken word!" But Byrne is so confident that he sells even the weaker tracks. "Once in a lifetime" gets the most attention but "the great curve" is just as good.
I wanted to like this more than I did. The percussion and rhythms throughout the whole album are awesome; and you can feel the influence they all took from Fela Kuti and his contemporaries. In the wiki article it’s mentioned that the band didn’t want to make this another David Byrne and friends album, which I feel they accomplished, other than the massive “once in a lifetime”, which is one of the most iconic Byrne songs ever. The second half of the album is the letdown for me and ultimately makes me not really want to revisit this more. “Listening Wind” and “The Overload” are such a drag compared to the first 4 or 5 songs. I get that you want to vary the tempo over an album but maybe the track ordering got lost in the grander plan. I actually wonder if I would’ve liked it more in a different order. Anyway it’s still a good album, it’s just not great for me.
This album was a certified slapper
7/10
Abstract and zany with a good groove in most of the tracks. Nothing bad to say other than some songs weren't for me.
Good album. I always thought Talking Heads was pretentious, and they are a little, but it's sincere & heartfelt. I like the looping rhythm echoed by the looping words. It's an experience to sit with.
Favourite Song: Listening Wind
I appreciate this album a lot. Incredibly interesting in its diversity of sound and style. Thought it was great!
really catchy and creative percussion and relatively repetitive sounds that form almost a bit of an addictive drone
3.5 stars rounded up
Love Talking Heads and never owned this album, and never listened to it all. Love the poly rhythm but some songs drag. But it's a good one.
8,00
Nice album to play along while you're doing stuff on a daily basis
AMAZING
It's their best one
Wonderful. Every time I retuned my ear I could hear another layer of bizarre instrumentation, or something else interesting going on. This record is layered and complex, but so accessible and not at all pretentious. Bravo!
Excellent early album with lots of their huge, wildly popular songs alongside a few lesser known tracks (the first three tracks aren't at all well known to me). I think in the last few years, the genius of the Talking Heads will continue to unfold similar to the path of Bowie who had a somewhat similar trajectory to eternal star.
Once in a Lifetime is a foundational song to my understanding of what is good in music. The rest of this is very listenable.
'Once In A Lifetime' and 'Houses In Motion' feel like cresting the peak of a mountain - sure, the climb was a gas, but take a look at the view! Superior music. And the rest? Good music, for sure! Itchy afro-funk filtered through the peculiar sensibilities of the Talking Heads. For half the time I thought to myself "gee, some of this sure sounds like Adrian Belew" and whaddya know? Wikipedia informs me that guitar rascal Belew is on a clutch of tracks here. My ears still work.
"Once in a lifetime" is the hit track off this album, great song. The rest of the album has some good songs. Talking heads were always pushing the boundaries, at the time this was pretty experimental. Definitely a good example of the early new wave genre in the early 80s
It's good
Good
feel like the last few songs were not super exciting to me but overall I liked it.
Pretty enjoyable. 8/10
Good listen.
Solid listen
So good. So influential on indie. Talking heads have some bangers and some songs that legit piss me off haha. But overall I respect 🫡
had me moving and grooving
4 stars