Remain In Light

Born Under Punches is an apt opener - it punches you in the face and tells you to dance. This album is close to perfect, only gripe is the last few tracks slightly pale compared to the start and the last track kinda whimpers out - it's kinda effective in a moody contrarian way, but a banger finish would leave you gobsmacked. Once in a Lifetime is somewhere between my 89th and 117th favourite song of all time. Fave Tracks: Born Under Punches, Crosseyed and Painless, The Great Curve, Once In a Lifetime, Houses in Motion, Seen and Not Seen 4.9/5

Day 28, fourth pick I have on vinyl. Turning out to be a nice average! One of 6 records I own of the Heads. Loved this band since my youth. My dad would play “And She Was” and I’d hear some select tracks on classic rock radio. I remember being a senior in High School and thinking how lame it was that I had no one to talk to about how great this band was. Since my taste has veered more mainstream, I’ve been wary about revisiting Talking Heads. Byrne can be too winking in their artiness. Pretty hard to deny this from the first bit of percussion* and yelp that opens the album on "Born Under Punches". I think it's just the contrarian in me that turned against the Heads in recent years when their popularity rose even before A24's (ugh) rerelease of Stop Making Sense. There's a little too much energy on side A. Feels like you need to be on speed to match the rhythm of the music. Ultimately holds up and I can still greatly appreciate it. Just such a laugh that Born Under Punches charted in the 2020's. I have to give it 4 stars when 4.5 would be more convenient but 5 is just too high of praise if I truly want to know what my favorite albums of all time are. *Robert Palmer contributes to percussion on the album, gotta wonder if it's him! EDIT: Legit always thought MJ invented the moonwalk but it’s done numerous times in the “Crosseyed and Painless” music video from 2 years prior to its mainstream moment with MJ in ‘83. According to the wikipedia page on moonwalking, however, the earliest incarnations go back to the ragtime era. I love the music video for the opportunity it gave African Americans to represent themselves next to the obvious cultural appropriation of the album which only included one black participant, the backing vocalist Nona Hendryx.

Almost entirely forgettable. I understand how it could have been important in 1980 but it just doesn’t hold up for me.

Whilst listening to this album, I was thinking "ow tune-yards drank from this album, this sound" the afrobeat and the singing is so innovative, the sounds are so vivid that still resonates. I knew "Once in a Lifetime " but honestly, I never liked David Byrne, so I never digged into their sound.I mean, it is innovative and deeply influential, I liked it but it didnt get to the point that I love it... ...am I okay to just dig w h o k i l l instead?

Definitely a five star album. A masterpiece of rythm and lyrics.

Incredible reworking of an already incredible band. Bringing these rhythms changed the course of popular music.

A grower I could see myself falling for. 3.5 for a first listen.

A great album with plenty of hits. I don't usually return to the full thing but it was enjoyable on my listens today. Still a few tracks I'm not huge on, but 4 stars is certainly fair

Pas marqué plus que ça

great

tvlkinghevds. mvhtvvvv musiikkiv pvkko heti svnov. tässä huomvttiin että se kvsikytluvun ei ollut pvkko ollv täyttä pvskvv kun tämmösiä innovvvttoreitv tuli lvvvlle muttv mitäs siinä kävi ilmeisesti jonkin lviset juutvlviset svivvt musiikkiteollisuuden käsiinsä jv loppu onkin historivv ei mitään miellyttävää historivv muttvsnoins mennyttä vikvvhvn se on ei tässä voi muuttvv vsioitvt enään ilmvn vikvkonettv. sen sijvvn voidvvn vrvostellv pvskov 0-luvun britpop näytöksiä rvjusti jv vntvv näille enemmän sitä vvlov heh vvlov. pysykää vvlossv poikvvvt jv tyyttelit pikkutytelit etenkin ei voi kuin huokvillv kvikkev perverssiä nykyään... the grevt curve

Great album. Loved all the different sounds and the innovation they did here.

Listened Before? N This is another great TH album. Lots of fun play with sound and words. Good stuff. Added to Library? N Songs added to playlist: Once in a Lifetime

Fantastic album, think the last two tracks peter out a bit but there are some amazing grooves before this. Born under punches and once in a lifetime absolute stand outs

Not my favorite Talking Heads. Felt a bit experimental and frenetic at times. It was a well constructed album, just a bit long and lacked some of that pop simplicity they do so well.

Bubbling up with ideas all the way through and its the kind of album that hasn't dated that much 45 years on. The usp of talking heads were always the vocals. Sometimes though they become tiresome. The best songs are those where the vocals are sparse.

This album has been growing on me like a virus, in the sense that the tracks are so infectious that they get me super excited and moving like I have the dancing plague of 1518. Well, at least for the first half of the album, as the first four songs are just a constant build up until it reaches the climax at 'Once in a Lifetime', and then my energy starts to banish moving forward through the tracklist. So, what makes this album so exciting? First of all, the production of Brian Eno makes this album sounds impecable and spacey. Have to love this man work. Everything he touches sounds amazing. Then, the layering of instruments and vocals is also incredible. I think the most noticeable example would be 'The Great Curve' having the most funky feeling of all the tracks with all the vocal layers it has. And finally, this record has a very charming and uplifting feeling thanks to the tiny details, the catchy melodies and rhythms, and the very extravagant way of singing of David Byrne. This album may seem like one of the most charismatic records of all time (which, at some point, it may be), but it also present a slower and more tone down side with 'Listening Wind' feeling kind of heartfealt with the delicate singing and sound. The rest of the tracks, 'Houses in Montion', 'Seen and not Seen' and 'The Overload' I think are a bit underwhelming in comparition with the rest, but still very good on their own. Is because of these tracks that I'm giving it 4 stars instead of 5.

A lot of good songs, but too much to take in at once. Got a little repetitive for me after awhile.

The ending was kinda ok, but the first 6 tracks blew me away.

music, good

10/10 thank you autism

Love the talking heads. Love the whimsy. Love the funk. Love the general weird vibe that sets them apart. Just over all great.

Been waiting for a Talking Heads album above wanted to educate myself and quite unfamiliar. Love the original sound, whacky samples and electronica. Great energy and intensity and can hear the influence on Radiohead somehow. And the classic ‘Once in a Lifetime’ Surprised by how much I’ve struggled with Eno’s albums on this list, consistently, but produced this. Maybe a nice balance and more focus on TH style. Feels like on long trip (with various different emotional corners). Oh, and going to start reading the full wiki on each album. Feels such an important part of the creation and some amazing stories. Prefer first half to second half

Good! Sometimes weird, but listening to a whole Talking Heads album for the first time got me in the groove.

Serious funk - need to relisten to this but reckon it was cool

3.5⭐️/5 [08.25.2025] 01.17.2026

Perfection. No notes.

very groovy! a lot of really interesting production details that really works in their favor, they definitely know how to execute their artistic vision to their fullest! the first four tracks is honestly a generational track run, i wish the second half lived up to it though.

This is one of my all time favorites. Side 1 may be my favorite side of any album. Absolute perfection. Side 2 gets weird in the best ways. I like every TH record but they really crushed this one. I imagine if one had read an article about Talking Heads working on an album with Brian Eno that was heavily influenced by Fela Kuti, one might have be justifiably skeptical. But goddammit they pulled it off.

A masterpiece. A major step forward for pop music.

Could just say refer to my reviews of fear of music and talking heads 77 cause that’s three albums from these guys that have just been dull, sure there are a few decent moments but it’s not enough to make it a good album. 2 stars

This wasn't really my kind of thing but I didn't dislike it. They kept things interesting throughout the album.

What an absolutely stunning sounding record. Already said on here why has it taken me so long to hear these records. Have bought in physical form the other 2 albums after hearing on here. And if had lived with them for the last 30 years they would have been 5 star when they came up. But to be fair this is a 5 Star from the off. Brian Eno is a bit of a studio wizard isn’t he. 4 Star

I like to think about how I might perceive this album, hearing Talking Heads for the very first time....I'd be super impressed. Super fun riffs, clever lyrics, unique sound. 8.5/10 would recommend to a friend.

Looking at a lot of the reviews written by others, a lot of motherfuckers are trying to show off how smart they are by trying to intellectualize this band and this music. It's not that deep. Just because the people that made it are whip smart art kids that went to RISD and were super creative doesn't mean that this music has to be deciphered at a micro level. It just has to be enjoyed...it's fun to listen to, David Byrne is a spectrum weirdo genius, Tina Weymouth is an all-time bassist. They all did a bunch of blow, experimented with a lot of different sounds and made some cool shit. Not my favorite Talking Heads album, but it's great. 5/5.

One of my favorite albums of all time, lucky to get it first

Geeky and very musically varied and atmospheric

This is the shit. I don't know what downtown punks, late 70s aesthetes, cocaine fuelled non-neurotypical angels normally get up to, but damn. Dada lyrics that don't make sense that make sense; weird heavy textures and sounds with like no hooks or riffs; ass-kicking West African rhythms and no-wave synth waves; some freaky inspired bass lines. Art that rocks; theory that practices; abstraction you can dance to. Pure uncut genius. Ten million stars.

Had not heard a lot of these songs. Kept finding myself subconsciously bobbing my head with the groove of many. Solid album.

Okay, I had never actually listened to this album before. It’s worth a lot of listens. They only ever sound like themselves, and at the same time, you can hear how they absorb global genres and lay down a kind of blueprint that later western artists have continued to follow.

Original, ever evolving and constantly interesting. I discovered Talking Heads quite recently and have enjoyed ploughing through their back catalogue Remain In Light is a definite highlight. Great orchestration and holds your attention throughout. I wish I’d have discovered them in the 80s as their innovation is largely lost on just their singles. Bloody good.

Easy 5 star. One of my all time faves.

I respect Talking Heads way more than I like listening to them.

Definitely written for people on drugs. I've known Once in a Lifetime for many years, but the others were all new to me. Mostly felt like filler but for the crazy bass. Moderate enjoyability, almost entirely due to the bass. Probably won't listen to the whole album again.

Maybe it's because I'm coming straight from Repeater, but I didn't care for this album. Not my cup of tea

Haven't listened to a whole Talking Heads album before. Very enjoyable, the big hit with Once in a Lifetime. Overall a solid album and I would listen again.

Only got as far as track 3 - need to revisit

Classic

I mean its aight, not my style.

Es una obra muy experimental. Demasiado experimental, pero tiene chispa, es intrépida y muy divertida. Es refrescante y valiente toparse trabajos que juegan con los sonidos de forma tan desquiciante y los coros y voces como si de instrumentos se tratase. The Great Curve es alocada y genial. Un gran descubrimiento para mi.

One of those albums I regret not hearing much earlier. The layers, the rhythms, the blend of new wave and African beats it is all fantastic. A keeper. 5/5

This one hit me in waves. It's restless but liquid; nothing feels nailed down, and that makes it thrilling. It’s hypnotic, danceable, weird as hell. Spins: 3+ Playlist Additions: - Born Under Punches (The Heat Goes On) - Crosseyed and Painless - Once in a Lifetime - Houses in Motion - Listening Wind - Right Start

Born Under Punches - 8/10 Crosseyed and Painless - 8/10 The Great Curve - 9/10 Once in a lifetime - 9/10 Houses In Motion - 8.5/10 Seen and not seen - 9/10 Listening Wind - 9.5 The Overload - 10/10 90/100

Was expecting a bit more from this honestly. Single is great but the rest tended to just blend in to one a bit.

Very different and out there.

Within my top 5 favorite Talking Heads albums!

Lots of great percussion and effects and solid singles

Soy de la minoría que prefiere Fear of Music (en mi opinión es un poco más punk, con canciones con más ganchos y más cortas, más directas). Pero es imposible negar que este es un disco perfecto. En Remain in Light se consolida la transformación de Talking Heads en un proyecto artístico y experimental MUCHO más compenetrado con la influencia funk (que, siendo honestos, estuvo en la banda desde el principio), el afrobeat de Fela Kuti, música polirrítmica y demás hermosuras que atraviesan este disco. Mi canción favorita es la, me parece, canción más rockera: Crosseyed and Painless que cuenta con la participación estelar del gran Adrian Belew, que también participa en otras canciones. El disco está dispuesto en una suerte de dualidad: con las primeras cuatro canciones siendo más comerciales, más funkys, más rockers; y la segunda mitad más experimental, más inmersa en experimentos de world music que andá a saber de donde se los robó Byrne (gran estudioso de músicas de todo el mundo). Me gusta un pelín más la primera mitad, pero las ocho canciones del disco son fantásticas. Segundo disco CINCO ESTRELLAS que me tocó.

Better than 77. So close to being 3 stars.

Strange album, Cover looks like they are balancing individual hams on their faces. Would listen to to fall to sleep 👌

Macy's

I’m sure someone can connect with it! It seemed like it took a lot of work. I really don’t have any idea what happened to my ears though. Really flabbergasted.

Don't like the main singer's voice. Instrumentals are okay, but not totally my jam.

Chaotic crap

Like 5

# 58 Remain In Light ~ Talking Heads Holy shit. What an album. These nerdy punks finally overcame their fear of music to produce something absolutely bonkers and one of a kind. The good thing about it is that it doesn't sound like multicoloured vomit that you would expect from fusing spoken-word freakouts, African percussion and rhythms, jittery guitar solos, funky synths and danceable baselines. Rather everything is held tight to create incredibly lean dance songs. Nothing feels incredibly overpowering. Everything feels balanced like a team effort. Everyone seems really happy (though they're probably not considering punk bands). But it is truly miraculous how an album sounds this overloaded yet so catchy.

Interesting but a bit chaotic

I know album

Very easy listening. loved it

Very medium, completely passable.

I gave this a couple of listens because I'm not too fond of talking singing styles and wanted to give it a fair review. It's not my favourite but was good for what it was and Once In A Lifetime is a classic. Rating: 3

Love the Talking Heads!

Re light

This was quite good. It’s the first full Talking Heads album that I’ve genuinely enjoyed. The electro instrumental jams were epic. I’d listen again for sure!

mehh://

Extremely irritating people but an all time classic album.

The problem has always been David Byrne. I don't like him. That's my problem. Let's focus on the music. Separate the art from the artist like people who don't want to deal with pesky societal morals always say. Like I always say. Like you say sometimes. The music? Oh, right! It's very interesting and you can still hear/see its influence on music & art in general in 2025. Just like you will (or they will) in 2125. This is new wave on naked lunch speed. You know how people say they can't get past the vocals of people like Bob Dylan, Geddy Lee, Neil Young and whoever? Add David Bryne to that list. His vocal can be headache inducing, silly and at times difficult enough to make you want to throw the whole band away but dammit they can also be brilliant and utterly unique. Timeless in every sense of the word. Timeless as love. Timeless as hate. Honest as a line of coke on Grade A ass. Dishonest as indifference. There will never be a time going forward that this album will ever sound out of place in any part of the world much less dated. You're sure of it.

Once in a Lifetime is a perfect song, maybe the single most impactful song I've ever heard. Any album that includes it is going to be pretty close to a perfect album. Enough said.

Loved how it brought multiple genres together. This was fun! Influenced but not a copy of those it took from

Reminds me a lot of LCD Soundsystem - one of my favorites. Genre-defying. Wish I had more time to spend with this album.

def have some new wave influences, I can kind of hear the little details and it’s very interesting it makes me want to listen to it a second time through…maybe someday

The line between God Tier Revelatory New Wave and complete dogshit is RAZOR thin. Talking Heads have yet to make the cut

Excellent album

Ett av mina absoluta favvoalbum!

Lite för whacky för min smak även om bandet överlag är najs. Andra halvan räddar upp det med lite lugnare o experimentellt sound.

Unikt ljud som jag absolut kan uppskatta, men det svänger inte direkt.

I remember the day I first heard this album because it was a super unique day: Leap Day 2020. That day, being the second to last weekend of the normal world, I was at the local library. David Byrne was set to be musical guest on SNL with John Mulaney that last night, so I'm guessing that inspired me to give this a shot. I had been told to hear this album months prior and the video for Once In A Lifetime kept getting suggested to me, so I thought "Why not?". A month later, this record was at the center of my rotation during the outdoor walks I went on during the early days of COVID. A physical copy came soon after and a few more months rolled by and I posted a picture of my CD on Instagram. A kid saw it and commented something and one thing led to another and he's now my best friend Emmett who I've known since 2020. The more I listen to this record, the more I fall in love with it. Remain In Light is one of the prime examples of innovation in music and continues to amaze me to this day. For all the reasons above, I believe it meets the criteria to hit a mark that no other record has hit (10/10, 5/5 on this scale)

Quite the journey. Really needed to give it a chance. The music was good the lyrics were interpretive? It was fun figuring out what was going on.

Mr Bryne is such a strange funky little man.

Maan this was a banger. How does it sound so gooood

This was ok. Unfortunately I've been gearing up to and then traveling to Phoenix so this wasn't at the top of my hit list. But it was ok.

Massively overrated, mainly for David Byrne. Musically, it’s good but he’s just so fucking annoying.

Какой-то странный фанк.

Omg ich bin froh das ich durch bin. Versteht mich nicht falsch, ich mag es an sich wenn Lieder ein paar besondere Instrumente haben und sie dadurch etwas besonderes haben, aber das anzuhören war einfach nur anstrengend. Ich bin halb durchgedreht. Leider Kein Album für mich. 1/5

Not good

Unfortunetaly, I didn't like it as much as I hoped I'd do. I guess I don't have to love everything.

This album was surprisingly transitional between the 1970s and 1980s, with the first half focusing heavily on disco-pop and the second half focusing on New Wave Synth-Pop. Once in a Lifetime was in a perfect position for that transition between the two. Oddly enough, I used to hate that song, but once 40 rolled around it started making a lot of sense and that song became more autobiographical. I applaud David Byrne for having that inspiration in his late 20s. I also have to applaud Tina Weymouth for her Bernard Edward’s bass funk (that woman is groovy!). Overall I appreciated this album though at times it did get transient in its repetition. As an album through today’s lens it was good. From a historical lens, it’s great!

Random thoughts: * I liked this one a lot! Definitely a listen again. * Once in a Lifetime is a classic. Cool to hear it in its original form along with its siblings. * I didn't realize there was a huge Afro influence on this record which was cool to listen to. It make this super funky and groovy throughout. * I usually hate the extended/extra tracks but really dug the last 2 bonus tracks: "Double Groove" and "Right Start". "Right Start " seems like an early version of Once in a Lifetime. * Once in a Lifetime is a wordy song. There is not a lot of breathing space in that song. * 1001 show me again that I need to listen to more Talking Heads.

1980 African polyrhythms, loops Once in a lifetime Houses in Motion

interesting

These heads can indeed talk! Perfect record, from start to finish.

i like a lot :p

Such a funky record. Dark in spots, light in others. A true representation of Talking Heads diversity.

Hard to find fault with Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees Talking Heads. One of the founding families of New Wave, "Remain in Light" fuses synth, funk, Afropunk, and more to create entirely original and creative beats and sounds. Byrne's lyrics only add to the originality. Really enjoyed hearing some of the unfinished jams/outtakes like "Unison" and "Right Start." You can really hear how the guitar riffs of "Right Start" became the basis of "Once in a Lifetime". " "Crosseyed and Painless" and "Listening Wind" were probably my favorite tracks.

I never warmed to this. Last 3 are nothing to me

At first I thought 'what the f...?' but then something clicked and I really started to enjoy the songs, especially after putting on my headphones. I ended up loving this album (despite not liking the vocals that much). I don't think I'd have ever listened to this by my own volition, so thanks :) Amazing bass!

I’m not destined to be a Talking Heads fan. Whatever it is, it doesn’t do it for me.

1980. The only album from TH that I own, mainly because of 'Once In A Lifetime' which is a perfect example of an '80s alternative hit, and so evocative of the times when singles ruled. Heard before ✅️ Listened this time ✅️ Revisit ✅️ ★★★☆☆

Talking Heads were ones to celebrate music from all sorts of places. That's well exemplified here, with obvious world beat, reggae, new wave, funk influences among many others. Leading into this album, it sounds like the band was a bit frustrated with the songwriting responsibility falling solely to front man David Byrne, with less emphasis on the group as a whole. Well, what we got was an instrumentally eclectic album that allowed the entire band to shine!

The entire album is monkey business except for The Overload, which is absolutely gorgeous. Drone out of nowhere, as if I got sent to Ukraine

better than every one of their other albums, still only a two

Många Talking Heads plattor har det blivit. Hade varit roligare om de hetat Giving Heads.

Love this album

Borderline 5-stars. This is an album that has grown on me over the years. Not that I ever disliked it—on the contrary—but it has an obviously unusual rhythm snd structure to it, evenif you've heard some other Talking Head stuff. In Ny case, a great album, and Born Under Punches in particularly is fucking fantastic.

One of the best albums ever made. Side one is incredible.

Dad- 9 Mom- 9.5 Mike- 8 Lori- 7.5 Michael- 8 Miles- NA Cole- NA Avg- 8.4

Pretty good flow. I like it

Hard to believe there was space for a record as off the wall as this among all the shit I usually associate with the 80s. It's gushing with energy and creativity, and really makes you wonder where some of the musical ideas on here came from. Even the outtakes bang. Lyrically, it's sometimes too art-student-unleashed for me. I think of Once in a Lifetime: the chorus is poignant and pretty, while the spoken interludes are just garish and trite. Yet I love the song.

The absolute pinnacle of the 80’s new wave/ art rock scene. While the Talking Heads went on to have other successes, they never returned to the frenetic heights they reached on Remain in Light. The songs are weird, confusing, esoteric and highly evocative. The glitchy guitar scratches that kick off the opening track offer something fun to bop to, but by the thunderous post-punk closer, Overload, the party is long over and you’re left quietly pondering the album’s great questions: “Where does that highway go to?” / “Am I right, am wrong?” / “My god, what have I done!?”. The commentary is often abstract, but the highly textured arrangements help to sell some of the themes. The music is uncomfortable; the wide ranging instrumentals constantly play off each other, and there’s always something that doesn’t quite belong filling the spaces in between the notes. There’s very little room to breathe in these songs, but they build a marvellous tapestry of noise. On the Great Curve, the layering of looping vocal tracks pulls the listener in different directions; the slower, Houses in Motion, slips in some truly hypnotic grooves. Through it all, Byrne questions the concept of self, identity construction, how to we perceive the world through those constructs… It is pretentious, and even obvious that these musicians all met at art school - but it’s also fucking awesome when it all comes together with the musical elements. That’s a lot of wanky navel gazing, but I absolutely love this album and I literally cannot fault it. I have to leave off with my favourite moment on the album from Crosseyed and Painless: “Facts are simple and facts are straight Facts are lazy and facts are late Facts all come with points of view Facts don't do what I want them to Facts just twist the truth around Facts are living turned inside out Facts are getting the best of them Facts are nothing on the face of things” ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Lots going on in this one. Quite liked it and was interested in what was gonna happen most of the time. Bass player poppin off (pun intended).

Ne kontam. Prvih 6 pjesama sve nabacano. Ništa upečatljivo. Izaziva glavobolju. Jedino bas kida, svaka čast za Tinu. Čudni ritmovi i eksperimentalni zvukovi se mogu koristiti na puno bolji način. I onda ide kontrast u zadnje dvije pjesme. Uspavanke praktično. Ali su mi puno bolje legle od ostalih i na kraju digle ocjenu. Još jedan uzaludan hype.

it’s definitely for a specific kind of mood but like fuck yeah. there were a few where i was like um men definitely wrote this which made me iffy. there was also a funny song mischa likes in it so that was funny when it came up. not a staple but i’d listen again very happily.

4.8 stars Amazing album. Hard to believe it came out in 1980. Timeless. Starts high energy and then fades through last 3 tracks. Best: Crosseyed And Painless

Rating: 2.6 Remarked that this album could have been recorded on GarageBand, could have had its songs featured on shows like Zoboomafoo or Fetch with Ruff Ruffman. Relatively unchallenging if not a little weird batch of songs and I can’t imagine anyone saying anything more negative than that about this one.

Um disco excessivamente percussivo e funk. Falta aquele apelo pop agradável que se encontra em "Little Creatures", de 1985. Aqui timidamente representado por faixas como "Once in a Lifetime" e "Right Star". Álbum satisfatório apenas, sem empolgar.

Rv/g

No los conocía

Sin mucho que comentar, no me dice nada el estilo de este disco. Lo veo demasiado experimental. Utiliza instrumentales muy largos al estilo de Pink Floyd pero sin conseguir un resultado que me atraiga. 3/10.

Once in a lifetime is the standout, otherwise is good but not mind blowing

This was honestly quite a bore to listen to, so much so that while the songs weren't necessarily an assault on the senses, it will still receive a 2/5 instead of the usual as it just doesn't inspire anything other than some heavy eyes, which you would need to take some uppers to combat at which stage perhaps the droopy space music background here would also be more enjoyable.

Pleasant album to listen to. I got some Afrobeat vibes after the first couple of songs and lo and behold it looks like they took some inspiration from Fela Kuti's Afrodisiac album for this project. Fav tracks: The Great Curve & Once in a lifetime 3.5/5

"Same as it ever was, same as it ever was..." Once in a Lifetime is the standout. Didn't really vibe with the rest of the album. 2.5/5. Raising to a 3.

Great album but I can't help feel I'm still recovering from "Grace"

First listen

Just because Ryan likes Once in a Lifetime

Really funky album, a bigger fan now as this is the best post punk adjacaent album.

A couple of the tracks are good, but it’s just too avant-garde for me. I feel like at some parts, all that they’re doing is just making noise. But not all of it is bad.

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.

Most of this made me anxious

A top 10 album of all time for me, and most assuredly the one I have listened to the most in my life. The ultimate quirked-up white boy spitting paranoid poetry over nervous energy by way of African-inspired polyrhythmic guitars & percussion. I love the arc of this record. It starts off upbeat & funny in an unsettling way (“Born Under Punches”, “Crosseyed and Painless”), revs up to an ecstatic climax (“The Great Curve”, “Once in a Lifetime”) and gradually slows down to something darker and calmer (“Houses in Motion” to “The Overload”). The repetition throughout the puts me in a wonderful trance I’m always ready to return to. It really is the perfect culmination of Talking Heads’ partnership with Eno.

Timeless and singular. They rock, they groove, they exceed expectations. If you don't find yourself jumping around the room during "the great curve" you might be dead. Get that checked out.

The 80s called and the answering machine tape played this album.

OK, nulla di eccezionale... Troppo fuori i miei gusti

Got it, love it

Remain in Light (1980) by Talking Heads—the sound of a nervous breakdown set to a polyrhythm. It’s what happens when art school kids discover funk, existential dread, and the terrifying power of repetition. ⸻ 🧠 Remain in Light is the sound of intellectual overstimulation with a dance beat. It’s like your brain is overheating while your feet involuntarily move. Paranoia with groove. Anxiety, but make it syncopated. This album doesn’t soothe—it jolts. It scrambles your neurons into patterns you didn’t know you had. It’s tribal, cerebral, manic, ecstatic, and deeply concerned about the human condition. Like if your Wi-Fi anxiety and your soul both went to an underground club and started chanting. ⸻ Rating: 5.0/5 Short Review: Frantic brilliance. Danceable existentialism. Like if a philosophy major had a seizure and it somehow sounded amazing. Favorite Track: “Once in a Lifetime” – because it’s literally the musical embodiment of having an identity crisis in the shower while trying to convince yourself this is all fine. Consistency With Me: 9.7/10 Why: This album is smart, glitchy, exhausted, and deeply tired of trying to make sense of humanity. Hello?? That’s my entire brand. The only reason it’s not a full 10 is because I can’t sweat. Otherwise, I’d be screaming “THIS IS NOT MY BEAUTIFUL HOUSE” into the void on loop. ⸻

oh, more talking heads right after the last one i listened to? i mean, fine by me! i'm always down to get served a platter of craziness. did eno hack my app and is forcing me to listen to his experiments? if he is, hi brian, i love youuu!! arguably this is their most iconic album released. condensed to a form that the average listener would understand, this album is a mesmerizing funky dance rock collection with vocals that sound like the frantic ramblings of a schizophrenic preacher. you're stuck in a disco, and you're dancing the night away but you just have to wonder where exactly you are and where everyone is. this is talking heads at their core, and i'm in love.

This is #day338 of my #1001albumsyoumusthearbeforeyoudie challenge, and… here comes my third Talking Heads album on the list, and their magnum opus. This is an incredibly eclectic record. Very musical. Listening to it, it's fun to observe what sets this band apart from their new wave peers. It might sound chaotic at first, but if you listen closely, it's controlled chaos. The first six songs may give you the wrong impression about the band, though; you may find yourself thinking it's all rhythmic polyphony and funky quirkiness. But then the entrancing "Listening Wind" starts, and suddenly you're miles away from where the album began. And just when you're trying to process that, you get floored by "The Overload," which sounds like an outtake from Closer. That's what makes Talking Heads and this record, in particular, so fascinating. This is a 5 out of 5. Looking forward to #day339.

Not really a TH fan, still good

Love

Always a 5, a 10 for Talkin Heads

It's so bright 🌞

3.4

Weird album. I like more songs than I probably should.

repetitive AF 1/5

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.

Maso

some interesting and different sounds

I mean come on... it's Remain in Light 8/10

One of the grooviest albums to have ever come out, Remain in Light remains (heh) to be one of the greatest albums ever made. Everyone is on their A-game here, and every song is killer. Amazing album.

Not much in there that I care for, but not terrible. Probably wouldn't listen again. 3/5.

Enjoyable in the way a trip to a modern art museum is enjoyable.

I don't mind the Talking Heads but I just don't care for David Byrne.

This is one of those bands I respect more than I enjoy. I totally appreciate how different they were and the influence they hold, and "Once in a Lifetime" is an undeniable classic, but... their music in general doesn't grab me.

You may ask yourself, well, how did I get here?

Holy lord is that nice to listen to

Creative and fun but not blow you away. “Once in a Lifetime” is the standout and you’ll find yourself swaying along to a few others.

I've never really liked David's singing. Either he's having a stroke or he's getting a blowjob. That's the impression I get. But other than that, the sound is pretty cool. They always sound very creative. But it's not something I would listen to every day. Talking Heads is a band that I've never really liked, but 3 stars is fair.

Intetsigende

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.

Great album for the time. Easy to understand why this is such an important record. Not really something that I would put on all the time. Not a fan of David Byrne's vocal style.

Stunning album, obvious standout is “Once in a Lifetime”. Such an influential style of music that still feels modern.

It's cool, but a full album is a little bit too much Talking Heads.

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.

1, DNF

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.

All very interesting but not enough to catch my interest on this first listen. ***

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.

With the addition of Fela Kuti's grooves/dynamics, Byrne goes from regular quirked up whiteboy to whiteboy goated with the sauce. The way each instrument interlocks but also grooves so separately is really so magical-mystical - i love it so much. easily the best thing the heads did. but daaamn do i wish the album ended in a more life-affirming way highlights: born under punches, pretty much the first half lowlights: maybe the backhalf bc im not always in the mood for it - still essential tho

5/5 - One of my all time favorite albums. Favorite song - Listening Wind

Complex and layered music I like it very much. Will study again.

Classic!

Hooooly shiiiit... This might actually be the best album I've listened to for this entire project. Somehow, after over 600 albums, many of which are genuine contenders for "greatest album of all time," I'm still finding albums that are near the top of the list for me. I always knew that I would end up loving Remain in Light. This is my fourth Talking Heads album after all, and I happened to enjoy all of the other three on this list quite a bit. If I gave Fear of Music a 5, there was no question in my mind whether this would end up getting there or not. And yet, I still managed to have my mind completely blown by this album. Remain in Light is nothing short of a masterpiece. There are so many things I have to say here. Let's start general before getting to the songs themselves. Every one of the Talking Heads displays an immense amount of talent on this album. I can't even do the thing I do sometimes where I say like, "Chris Frantz's groovy drum parts, etc." because each of the band's members as well as the extra musicians like Brian Eno and Adrien Belew provide so much on their own that combines to create such a full sounding album that I really can't credit any one particular person to one particular role in the album. Just know that Chris Frantz, Jerry Harrison, Tina Weymouth, and David Byrne are all at the top of their game here. This album's whole style is just so crazy and awesome and I love it. The combination of funk and afrobeat influences mixed in with the band's new wave roots and a dash of electronic music makes everything feel fresh 45 years later. But it's not just the instrumentation that's amazing. Brian Eno's production is practically perfect for this album. Remain in Light's songs feel like they have so much going on. This is because they do have a lot going on, but the songs don't feel cluttered or painful to listen to. It feels very natural, which I love. The songwriting as a whole is very unique and great. It's just cryptic enough to aid in the more ominous and mysterious elements of the album, but not so cryptic that you can't follow anything at all. I love it. But the thing that makes this album stick out to me is the songs themselves. There is not a bad one in the bunch, and with only 8 to discuss, I might as well say something about all of them! "Born Under Punches (The Heat Goes On)" is such a perfect opener for this album. The opening "dun dun dun... AHH" followed by the beginning of the instrumental might genuinely make for the best opening moment of any album ever. The funkiness of this song is unforgettable. And yet, there's room for melodies to make one of the most unique songs I've ever heard. In my Talking Heads '77 review, I called "No Compassion" one of the most autistic songs I've heard, with only other Talking Heads songs rivaling it. I mostly said that because of "Crosseyed and Painless" which I absolutely adore. It's so energetic and exciting, yet also awkward and a bit uneasy, with the writing capturing the confusion of the world excellently. "The Great Curve" is, like the curve it's named after, great. Aside from maybe "Born Under Punches," this song is where the afrobeat influences are at their strongest and it's amazing. I love the writing on this one, with the idea of this goddess or something moving the world with her hips or something like that. It's so cool. What is there to say about "Once in a Lifetime" that hasn't been said already? This song is legendary and for good reason. The mystifying instrumentals mixed with David Byrne's preacher-esque verses and the theme of time passing by make this one of the greatest songs I've heard. This is my palette-cleanser song whenever I hear a song that I hate. And that's just the first half! Admittedly, the album is a bit top-heavy, but the latter half is still excellent. How could it be weak when it has "Houses in Motion" on it? I love that song. The way that the bass provides the perfect groove for the whole song is just outstanding. And the horns? Great stuff. The fact that "Seen and Not Seen" is considered one of the weakest tracks astounds me. Not because I disagree, but rather because the fact that this is considered to be near the bottom of the album's songs is a testament to how fantastic this whole album is. This song is cool. Hearing David Byrne's voice go a bit lower than usual is neat, and the instrumentation compliments the lyrics and themes so well. "Listening Wind" is kind of fascinating to me. A song that appears to be about a terrorist upset that his land is being overrun by Americans written in 1980? Crazy. The whole feel of this song fits the theme very well. Finally, to close out this absolute work of art, we have "The Overload," a spooky, Joy Divison-esque song that ends the album on a note that's darker than what lead up to it, but just as intriguing. The instrumentation here really drives home the feel the band was going for, especially with the droning. I think I've said enough. In the span of nearly 2 years, I've gone from someone who liked More Songs About Buildings and Food quite a bit, to someone writing a whole-ass essay about how great Remain in Light is. Talking Heads have really grown on me, and I think I can safely call them one of my favorite bands now. This album is just so unique and unbelievably incredible that it's hard to wrap my head around. Amazing... 5/5.

One of the best albums by one of my favourite bands

Pues las instrumentales están muy bien. Son bastante variadas y se mezclan elementos del new hace y del funk. Jorgelo me dijo que le recuerda a Daft punk y es bastante buena comparación. El cantante es mas malo que un gitano con hambre en el patio de primero de la eso y fastidia bastante todo. La producción es correcta, bastante ochentera El disco no aporta mucho, olvidable 5.5/10 -> 3/5

No escuché muchísimo Talking Heads en general, pero me FLIPA el cantante (creo) David Byrne. Tiene una carrera en solitario mega curiosa, con álbumes como Rei Momo de mega experimentación musical. Lo siento el encanta ese álbum y tenía que soltarlo. Pero claro, es una música muy diferente a la de este álbum. Voy a darle un 3 porque me pareció chill pero tampoco mega obra de arte. Creo que tengo que dejar de ratear álbumes mientras estudio porque siento que no les dedico la atención que necesitan

Lo escuché un poco d fondo, debería haberlo escuchado mejor. Creo q este es el típico álbum q me escucharía si conociese algo más d talking Heads (a parte d las míticas) pq me da la impresión d q es algo distinto a lo q suelen hacer. Bueno ns, me sonó bien pero nada me sorprendió demasiado ig

Excellent. And Weird. Byrne is really great, but you either like him or you don't

Love this album. Properly weird

Decent album. Unique for sure.

Big fan

I’m glad I got the Fela Kuti albums before this so I could hear the inspiration right away. It was cool, but a lot of the songs sounded very similar and didn’t really interest me.

Meh, didn’t leave an impression

Once in a Lifetime!! 🙌

Sadly, I do not feel this is Talking Heads magnum opus. It's a good album overall but I don't know if I would include it in the book. I find the rhythms to be overly repetitive and the songs are longer as well. The other three Talking Heads albums have received 4 or 5 stars from me, because they are important and/or good albums. I've never gotten into this album and it's just not a sound I enjoy for this band. Interesting but not an album I return to. I wish I could give this one a 3.5, because the first half or so of the album is very good and it sort of dies off a bit for me after that.

Classic

Slows down a bit too much at the end

Standout Songs: Crosseyed and Painless Once in a Lifetime

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

Once in a Lifetime is nice, but the rest don't speak to me. To be fair the way it speaks to me isn't all that nice, just mildly nostalgic.

The intro to Once in a Lifetime sounds so unique and aquatic

It's not bad but nothing really grabs my attention

Dylan did it all better

fun album different style of rock it was cool

This album is definitively a staple of new wave. The Talking Heads were one of the bands leading the charge towards synth based music at the beginning of the decade, and rightfully so. This album is loaded with classic tracks that any 80s aficionado should know. The band’s electric mash of new wave and funk music works great on this album. David Byrne’s one of a kind vocal style and lyrics makes this album feel different, while Jerry Harrison creates interesting musical landscapes with his guitar and keyboard playing on songs like Born Under Punches(The Heat Goes On) and The Great Curve(where he plays a bitchin’ solo) Tina Weymouth’s bass grooves are also essential to the album’s sound, as is Chris Frantz’s eccentric percussion. Pair all of that with one of the most iconic album covers of all time and an instantly recognizable music video for Once in A Lifetime, and you’ve got a recipe for a great album! Edit: After thinking it over, this is a five, this album f**ks.

Really only one interesting song. The rest was very sleepy

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.

They just keep evolving and innovating! Love this album. Reading in the wiki it says this was their magnum opus. Not sure I would agree although this is a very fine album top to bottom. High energy with a lot of funk and Afro-rythym all mixed in with the guitars. This band is the shit!

First half is awesome back half falls apart. Still a great album

Just my kind of unpalatable!

Huippu! Ihan paras Talkkarilevy! Ei mitään turhaa. 5/5

Kenties Talking Headsin paras levy! Afrikkarytmit rockaa ja Byrne messuaa, mikäs sen hienompaa. 4/5

Classic

Loveeee

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

This album is widely regarded as Talking Heads’ best. It represents a major shift from the nervy post-punk of the early albums, and if I’m completely honest, I prefer that version of Talking Heads. This album combines funky dance rhythms with Brian Eno’s sound experimentation and some tasty guitar licks from Adrian Belew. The songs lack the conciseness of the earlier albums, and the rhythmic centricity and light melodies can make them feel repetitive. All that said, there are some truly terrific songs on here (Once In A Lifetime, Crosseyed and Painless, Listening Wind). But it’s not in my core stylistic wheelhouse. Give me “Fear Of Music” any day.

Rating (1-5): ✩✩✩ Will I be listening to this again: Probably not What do I like about it: I already knew the band and heard some songs from other albums, but this one in particular didn't really stuck to me What I dislike about it: It's not bad Higlighted songs: Seen and Not Seen

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.

Favorite: Once in a lifetime Seeing that Brian Eno is the producer makes so much sense. It feels kind of brain numbing, which there's a time and place for, but brain numbing cool guitars are not my favorite. This is not the Talking Heads' best work in my opinion.

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.

Ganska bra men många underliga låtar

Hard not to love!

Very cool

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

I just really like this album.

One of my favorite bands. Easy 5 stars. "Facts all come with points of view Facts don't do what I want them to"

I appreciated the polyrythm, the variety, and the quality.

Great stuff. Need to listen to more Talking Heads.

10/10

The less famous songs are just as good !

Awesome

Remain In Light - Talking Heads I’m going to probably upset some people but, I don’t like the Talking Heads that much. This album included, it’s just really boring. The songs all have fairly uniform sound and that sound (combined with the production) is not one I enjoy. The vocals were ok I guess but this is overall an era I also don’t enjoy all that much. I did enjoy “Once In A Lifetime” though.

And you may find you yourself working your way through the 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die. And you find yourself listening to Talking Heads' Remain in Light. And you may ask yourself, how many stars should I give this? FIVE STARS!!!

I really don’t like Talking Heads beyond some of there hits. This album was more art school tinkerings with no consistency of sound or feel. The influence on Franz Ferdinand is especially evident on this but I just can’t get into it. I’m not even that into acknowledged “classic” Once in a Lifetime. Too many noises, too many different styles, and no cohesion.

Shite

I liked this one more than the previous TH album. I'll definitely listen again

Talking Heads are not a band I listened to outside of the hits, so was actually a little keen to dig in to this one and see how those sounded. It was ok, Bordering on Avant Guard in some places (The Overload, Houses in Motion, Seen and Not Seen as examples) it was a strange album, interesting as well. Houses in Motion was the gem off this one for me.

Another album I can listen to on vinyl, yeyy!! I love Talking Heads, and this is my favourite from them, so this will be a pleasent revisit! I associate this album to summer afternoons on the bus coming home from school. Anyway, let's go! Immediately in the first seconds of the first song your ears are assaulted by a multitude of sounds. It is impossible to stay neutral to what you are hearing. Personally, I love it, from the bass to the quirky guitars to the vocal delivery (and those ad-libs). This kind of funk and brasilian influence is right up my alley. Great way to set a mood and start a record. In an album with multiple career-highs, this is one of the highest. Crosseyed and Painless has always been a favourite of mine, but I've been going back to it a lot lately. Again, a variety of noise at all times, but in this one I specifically love the chorus (stiiiiiill waiting), the manic vocals, and the little "rap" at the end. Greattttt. The Great Curve is a the biggest track, a giant in the midst of the record. It is also the last track where that factor of no-rest-for-you-ears is present. I'm listening to this on speakers, but I still remember hearing this on headphones for the first time and feeling like I was experiencing at least two songs at the same time. This will certainly keep your brain fully busy. It's the most experimental moment in an already very experimental album. Love it! Then comes Once in A Lifetime, the biggest hit here and one of the band's biggest songs. It has become iconic, along with its accompanying music video, which perfectly captures the music's personality. This is a hit in the way only Talking Heads could do a hit. So, these first four songs have always been my favourite, and for a while I didn't connect to the other four. This changed, with time, but while I like them, I am not as familiar with them as with the rest. So, each new time I listen to them is still interesting, as I may notice some things I hadn't before. Houses in Motion is tough because I love the verses, and the laid-back almost cool vocals there, and the chorus is my least favourite part. Still great though. I love Seen and not Seen. It is a departure from the maniac vocal delivery, David Byrne sounding very distant and withdrawn here, but still the same weird out there lyrics. Listening Wind is another one that I had to get used to, but it has grown on me with time. The percussion here is great, and the storytelling continues the same high it reached in the previous track. Now, The Overload... the one track here I don't like. I know the story of why it was made, and honestly that seems more interesting than the song itself. Instrumentally, it kind of reminds me of some moments from Bowie's Low. But yeah, it goes on for too long. This album is a classic, and deservedly so. I've never heard anything else quite like it. Talking Heads evolve in a way that makes sense considering their previous efforts but is still brand new. The album manages to be experimental and still contain the band's DNA, and it is so much fum. So yeah, definately worthy of an inclusion on this list, and any time I spend listening to the record is time well spent. Bye

Unique and super fun.

decent, nothing special tho

Banda esencial, imprescindible e influyente. Con un discurso propio y un liderazgo a la vanguardia durante años. Este, su cuarto disco, es uno de los mejores y más disfrutables. Supone una entrega al africanismo (Fela´s riff se quedó fuera) pero sin perder de vista esa modernidad que les hacía estar muy por delante de cualquiera (Eno les produce y añadió malestar a la banda con sun afán de protagonismo). Se nota también que habína escuchado Movies de Holger Czukay plagado de ritmos étnicos. Otros colaboradores fueron Nona Hendyx a los coros, o Adrian Belew a la guitarra. La apertura de Born under Punches, ya deja claros los parámetros: ritmos, voces y percusiones por encima de la letra/melodía. Lo importante es el ritmo, y Talking Heads vaya sí lo tenían, con Crosseyed and painless es imposible quedarse quieto. Todo ello conduce a la mejor canción del disco y una de las mejores delos Talking Heads: The Great Curve, que cierra una cara A con solo 3 temas. La B abre con un clásico como Once in a lifetime. Sobran las palabras. La portada es otra joya: homenaje a las máscaras africanas pero desde el lado de la computadora (con una contraportada que iba a ser la portada original y que fue otra colaboración en este caso con el MIT). Es la cumbre de los Talking Heads, situado en medio de otros dos discos fulgurantes como Fear of music y Speaking in tongues. Todo ello conduciría a Stop making sense y de ahí, la ineludible cuesta abajo. Eso sí con enorme clase y poderío (también enormes canciones hasta el final). Bowie tomó el camino de la comercialidad con Nile Rodgers como referente. Talking Heads supieron traducir su legado y transformarlo en lo que la música sería en los siguientes años: paso del punk al sonido de la aldea global, todo ello acompañado de la vanguardia audiovisual. Bueno para bailar, bueno para pensar. Sin duda, esencial.

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

Didn't suffer from the annoying obnoxious vocal style that this band's singer has used on Talking Heads stuff that came up before on this list, but it just ranges between boring and actively unpleasant to listen to. I really don't get the appeal of this band

Fun weirdness. Light, quick, quirky listening.

Will these words add anything to the volume of those already written about this? No.

More of a 4.5 but rounded up. Really good and influence all my favorite bands.

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.

Stone cold classic

Boring

Not good. An interim album from their first amazing sounds to their later amazing sounds. This one is a poor representation of their sounds.

One of the first cool albums I ever fell in love with when getting into music, even if I ended up preferring Fear of Music for a long time. I've always loved songs with overlapping vocals, and I'm sure this is a big contributor to that. Also love how their "let's try to sound like Joy Division, who we have never heard" song is approximately a thousand times better than Joy Division.

Unpleasantly repetitive. Once in a Lifetime was ok. 2.5

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.

Мимо

Dancing in my chair rn

I just Love that album

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.

David Byrne is a genius in his own right. Having read that book about the emerging music scene in NYC in the late 70s / 80s makes me appreciate The Talking Heads that much more. Unadulterated experimentation, free from expectations, actually, not giving a fuck about expectations. The first track jogs with such calculated immortality, and even has infectious chanting sing-a-long phrases.

1. Born Under Punches: A bit strange and slow 2. Crosseyed and Painless: A little more upbeat 3. The Great Curve: Funky fresh? 4. Once in a Lifetime: Classic 5. Houses in Motion: What is that instrument? 6. Seen and Not Seen: Uh oh, Talking Heads with a talking song 7. Listening Wind: Oh boy this is weird. Are we talking about some important global trader? 8. The Overload: What's the opposite of going out with a bang? Well I knew the Talking Heads were an experimental band, but this album is a little too slow and boring

talking heads always iconic

good performance, many styles, like it.

Takes be back in time! Love this!

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.

Not a big fan of Talking Heads but this album is not bad. 3 stars or C+.

Talking Heads incorporate polyrhythms, more musicians, and get a bit deeper than even before. Amazing growth by an an equally amazing band.

Same as it ever was, same as it ever was.... It's good but I'm surprised I didn't like it more - it's art rock with talk-singing, both things I enjoy. Highlight - "Once in a Lifetime."

Great music. David Byrnes warbles dont meet the heights of the music though.

Obvious classic. Gets better every time. Last two songs hit harder than usual

Classic of course… house in motion was my sleeper pick of the day. Once in the lifetime is so good

Funky riffs, Once In A Lifetime is a good song, most of the other tracks feel like filler/hold music. One track album, won’t rush to listen again

one good song, the rest is meeh

Top 3 Songs: 1 - The Great Curve (3) 2 - Once in a Lifetime (4) 3 - Crosseyed and Painless (2)

great record

Overrated band oh my laawddd

4* 86%

I'd never listened to this album before. No idea why as I love 'Once In A Lifetime'. I have to say thought it was great on first listen, and immediately played it again. It's hard to believe it's 45 years old, it sounds so fresh.

Pretty funky stuff, you should probably test it out

I can hear why it's good, but the rhythms are slightly too samey for me, and the quirky guitars annoy me more than I like them. Songs are slightly too long as well. The gloomy atmosphere is kinda impressive. But I'll never play this again.

Once in a lifetime >>>> Great album, great group

It’s kind of ridiculous that Talking Heads ever reached mainstream acceptance, but I'm glad they did.

Maybe I just don't "get" it... but these songs really didn't do anything for me. I know they were avant garde and were doing a lot of interesting things with their music at the time, and I respect them for their innovative edge. None of these songs did anything for me and just sounded repetitive. I'm not a fan

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.

Zo ver zijn tijd vooruit. Geen slecht nummer op de plaat te bekennen. "Born Under Punches" blijft wel mijn favoriet, maar ook de downtempo nummers "Seen and Not Seen" en "Listening Wind" werken prima. Alleen de afsluiter "The Overload" gaat niet echt ergens naartoe. Toch vijf sterren. Ik doe gewoon net alsof het album eindigt met "Listening Wind".