Remain In Light

Yell-singing,nothing to recommend itself. Even the instruments are uninteresting. 1/5

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

It's fine

Same as it ever was

Punk afro rock, funky and carefree - Once in a Lifetime is a good song - Nice beats and drums - Gets a little repeptitive

IMO the best Talking Heads album.

It’s impossible to talk about Remain in Light without talking about rhythm—layered, hypnotic, unrelenting. This isn’t just an album that flirts with Afrobeat; it fully absorbs it, reshaping itself in its image. Talking Heads fully commit, building entire songs out of restless, looping patterns that never stop moving. The opening one-two punch of Born Under Punches (The Heat Goes On) and Crosseyed and Painless is pure nervous energy, while The Great Curve is a monster—Tina Weymouth’s bass and Chris Frantz’s drums locked together like a machine, with Adrian Belew’s guitar screeching and contorting like it’s trying to escape reality itself. It’s dense, intricate, and completely hypnotic. Brian Eno fingerprints are everywhere. He didn’t just produce this record; he shaped it, layering sounds in a way that pushes Remain in Light beyond post-punk into something closer to a living organism. There’s an argument to be made that this is just as much an Eno album as a Talking Heads one, but if that’s true, it’s one of the best things either of them ever put their names on. Remain in Light never loses that Talking Head weirdness though David Byrne spends the whole record sounding like a man having a crisis, ranting about political paranoia, fragmented identity, and, in Seen and Not Seen, literally monologuing about reshaping his own face through sheer willpower. And then there’s Once in a Lifetime, the most famous track here—somehow fusing pop, anxiety and existential dread into one of the greatest singles of the ‘80s. It’s a song that feels like a nervous breakdown you can dance to. This is one of those albums that was so ahead of its time that entire genres are still catching up. There is still water flowing underground...

Certain Talking Heads songs are just incredible. But on a full album there's a lot of stuff that just isn't for me (it almost feels too spooky for me). So I am a Talking Heads fan without actually liking their albums. I'm a greatest hits simp I guess? Disappointed in myself ultimately.

2.9 stars

Boring I'm sorry... I kept zoning out. All the songs sound the same, they sound cool! But the same

Phwoarrrrrr. No notes. One of the GOATs.

might become a 10/10 someday

Very ecliptic. Good melodies with great drum beats

lets go born under punches- 8 crosseyed and painless- 8 the great curve- 7 once in a life time- 11 houses in motion- 7 seen and not seen- 7 or 8 listening wind- 7 the overload- 8

Enigmatic. Frustrating. Odd. Unnerving. Amusing. Hypnotic. Adrian Belew's solos on The Great Curve belong in a museum. Is this a magnum opus? The first three songs completely dispose of any - ANY - traditional rock format. Talking Heads and Eno reinvent rock, from what I can tell. I haven't heard anything like it. It has relationships to everything the band did before it, but they just develop their own drone-like experimental version of themselves. Even "Once in a Lifetime" is a strange new world. Weird and multi-layered. Gets better with every listen.

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

This really deserves its reputation. Absolute bop throughout with once in a lifetime and crosseyed highlights

Talking Heads' *Remain in Light* (1980) stands as a landmark achievement in modern music, blending avant-garde experimentation with infectious rhythms to create a record that transcends genre. A collaborative triumph between the band and producer Brian Eno, the album redefined post-punk and new wave through its fusion of African polyrhythms, funk grooves, and dystopian lyricism. Over eight tracks, it explores existential anxiety, societal conformity, and political disillusionment through a lens of rhythmic ecstasy and technological innovation. --- ## Musical Innovation and Production *Remain in Light* marked a radical departure from Talking Heads' earlier guitar-driven post-punk. Inspired by Fela Kuti’s Afrobeat and Eno’s ambient sensibilities, the band constructed songs through layered jams, looping rhythmic patterns, and overdubbed instrumentation. Tracks like **“Born Under Punches”** and **“The Great Curve”** showcase frenetic polyrhythms anchored by Chris Frantz’s drumming and Tina Weymouth’s hypnotic basslines, while Adrian Belew’s guitar work adds searing, synth-like textures[2][3][5]. Brian Eno’s production techniques were revolutionary. The album was built using tape loops and overdubs, creating dense sonic collages that juxtaposed organic percussion with synthetic elements. This approach is exemplified in **“Once in a Lifetime”**, where Jerry Harrison’s pulsing synths and Belew’s chaotic guitar solos coalesce into a transcendent whole[2][6]. The result is a paradoxical mix of mechanical precision and human spontaneity. --- ## Lyrical Themes and Narrative Voice David Byrne’s lyrics oscillate between paranoid introspection and wry social commentary. **“Once in a Lifetime”** remains iconic for its existential refrain (“And you may ask yourself, *How did I get here?*”), critiquing materialism and autopilot existence[1][6]. Meanwhile, **“Crosseyed and Painless”** dissects information overload with lines like *“Facts are simple and facts are straight / Facts don’t do what I want them to”*, presaging the confusion of the digital age[6]. The album’s backing vocals act as a Greek chorus, offering counterpoint to Byrne’s anxious delivery. In **“The Great Curve”**, Nona Hendryx and Eno’s harmonies soften Byrne’s apocalyptic imagery (“The world moves on a woman’s hips”), creating a dynamic tension between chaos and order[7]. This interplay elevates the lyrics from mere observations to universal meditations. --- ## Themes: Existentialism and Societal Critique The record grapples with themes of **alienation** and **identity loss** in a mechanized world. **“Houses in Motion”** uses staccato horns and disjointed rhythms to mirror its protagonist’s fractured self-perception, while **“Listening Wind”** critiques colonialism through the story of Mojique, a marginalized insurgent[3][6]. Byrne’s characters often oscillate between control and helplessness, reflecting the era’s political disillusionment post-Vietnam and Watergate. The closing track, **“The Overload”**, diverges sharply with its gothic-industrial atmosphere. Inspired by Joy Division, its murky synths and cryptic lyrics (“*A terrible signal / Too weak to even recognize*”) evoke societal collapse, serving as a haunting epilogue to the preceding rhythmic euphoria[2][4]. --- ## Influence and Legacy *Remain in Light* reshaped the trajectory of alternative music. Its rhythmic complexity influenced acts like LCD Soundsystem and Radiohead, while its production techniques became blueprints for electronic and world music fusion. Notably: - **Critical Reception**: Ranked #39 on *Rolling Stone*’s 2020 “500 Greatest Albums” list and praised as “a visionary Afrofunk synthesis” by Robert Christgau[5]. - **Genre Impact**: Pioneered the “Afropop” movement, inspiring Paul Simon’s *Graceland* and Vampire Weekend’s eclectic sound[5][6]. - **Cultural Reach**: “Once in a Lifetime” became a cultural touchstone via its surreal MTV video, cementing Talking Heads’ mainstream appeal[3][5]. --- ### Pros 1. **Innovative Sound**: Seamlessly integrates African rhythms, funk, and avant-garde electronics[2][5]. 2. **Lyrical Depth**: Combines existential philosophy with biting social critique[1][6]. 3. **Production Mastery**: Eno’s layered techniques create a richly textured, immersive experience[2][3]. ### Cons 1. **Accessibility**: The abstract structure and dense arrangements may alienate casual listeners[4]. 2. **Uneven Pacing**: Later tracks like **“The Overload”** and **“Listening Wind”** feel disjointed compared to the album’s energetic first half[2][4]. 3. **Ambiguity**: Byrne’s surreal metaphors occasionally obscure narrative coherence[6][7]. --- ## Conclusion Four decades after its release, *Remain in Light* remains a towering achievement. Its exploration of rhythm as a narrative device, coupled with Byrne’s incisive lyricism, creates a record that is both intellectually rigorous and viscerally thrilling. While its experimental nature poses challenges, the album’s willingness to interrogate modernity’s anxieties ensures its relevance in an increasingly fragmented world. A masterpiece of tension and release, it stands as Talking Heads’ definitive statement—a work where danceability and dissonance coexist in perfect harmony.

Only really listened to Talking Heads greatest hits previously. Track 1 - cool guitar work Track 2 - enjoyed Track 3 - bass and drum work very cool Track 4 - great tune, always think about the video of this song as that is how I was originally exposed to the song and the Talking Heads. Very memorable. Track 5 - a lot going on in this tune. did not really resonate with me. Track 6 - different tune. another that I don't really have an opinion on. did not move me. Track 7 - another tune that did not resonate with me Track 8 - very dark feeling tune. could see it being used in a movie to set the tone.

I LOVE THE TALKING HEADS!!!!!!!!!! And it makes me so upset that Speaking In Tongues and Stop Making Sense aren't on this list. Especially Stop Making Sense since it is one of the most critically acclaimed live events of all time, and there are plenty of subpar live albums here. Like who really cares about a live Cheap Trick album... Anyways, this album is so much fun. Great grooves, infectious melodies, and great song writing throughout. It is impossible not to sing along to the "I'm still waiting" part of Crosseyed and Painless. And don't get me started about that chorus melody. I know people don't like the 2nd half of this album as much but I love how it ends on a slow and creepy song, idk why but it just ties the album together in a really weird way for me. High 5!!!

Wow! Just the right mixture of weirdness, uniqueness and most importantly: absolute quality. 'Remain In Light' sounds awesome with so many diverse and exciting elements. I didn't expect to like it this much, but this one bangs. A strong 5.

I don’t mind a bit of talking heads every now and then but they don’t blow me away. This one was fun and funky, but I don’t think I’d go out of my way to put it on again and listen. Ether way, inoffensive and a fun morning listen!

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.

Imagine listening to Born Under Punches or Once in a Lifetime for the first time Favourite Track: Once in a Lifetime Least Fav Track: honestly? There isn’t one

One of a kind

It was short at least.

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.

This is the first album on this journey that Ive been pretty lukewarm toward but Ill listen to it a couple times bc I hate being a Hater

i just love when you can tell artists had fun making something.

mjög mjög gott, 4,5.

Amazing

Same as it ever was!

not my type...

Pretty cool, enjoyed this one.

Another very interesting album from Talking Heads.

A few bangers, a few oddities, a few that were just alright...it's definitely a Talking Heads album!

great record awesome band

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 liked it

Even the radio hit that sounds almost out of place cant force a flaw I this absolute masterpiece

I knew Talking Heads before, mostly their big hits. And I’ve listened to this album before since it’s very highly rated. I never got it. Listened to it again, I still don’t get it. I mean I’m sure it’s great and beloved by many, I just don’t see how this is fun or interesting to listen to. Incessant beats that are somehow not intuitively rhythmic, just overpowering. Disaffected vocals. Very sparse instrumentation. Feels like some sort of weird sermon. Maybe some folks get some deep emotional connection to this stuff but I don’t. I give it two stars because I can see how it might be considered a seminal work for the genre, I just don’t like listening to it.

Love it! Weird and accessible

Done

I knew the hits from it

songs are too long; talking heads has much better

I preferred their first album. This one doesn't hold as much appeal for me, although it's not bad. I gave their first album four stars, so this one gets three.

This record honestly feels like a turning point in music. They easily could’ve made a safe album and kept coasting instead they basically reinvented how they write songs. It’s not really verse–chorus rock anymore. It’s loops, layers, grooves that just keep building and mutating. A lot of these tracks feel like they started as long jams. The rhythm section pretty much becomes the main character: bass, drums, tiny guitar riffs repeating over and over while everything slowly changes. On top of that, David Byrne sounds like he’s losing his mind, paranoia, identity crisis, religion, technology all that human anxiety hiding inside these cold, machine-like grooves. It somehow feels nervous and beautiful at the same time. They pull from African rhythms, funk, and experimental studio tricks (shoutout Brian Eno), but it never feels copied. They twist it into their own weird, jittery world. The album proves repetition doesn’t have to be boring, it can hypnotize you, build tension, and hit harder the longer it goes. And yeah, I really think this influenced a lot of production-heavy music later. New wave, indie, electronic stuff even hip-hop in spirit, because it leans so much on looping and studio work instead of just “band plays song.” It’s one of those albums you don’t just listen to, you get trapped inside it for a while. And it’s the kind of thing you keep returning to, because there’s always some new detail hiding in the loops. Classic. Straight up.

3.5 didn't finish but got almost all the way and liked 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.

This was such a great album. It might be my favorite Talking Heads album although Speaking in Tongues is also amazing. I love the afro beat influence on this record and specifically the influence from Fela Kuti. The rhythms and polyrhythms and experimental nature on this album really grabbed me. I liked the instrumentals. Once in a Lifetime is an all time classic but I also really enjoyed The Great Curve. Once again, I'm realizing that LCD Soundsystem is basically just a continued Talking Heads and I love LCD Soundsystem. The Overload by Talking Heads also made me want to listen to The Overload by Yard Act. Now that I think of it.... Yard Act is also definitely inspired by Talking Heads.

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

hell yeah this is fucking cool. i just... how the fuck did they manage to make such a cool album? 5/5 (some other things about the talking heads: i was in the costume department of the school play, and the drama teacher/director asked us to design a set of costume that both looks cool and convinent for the actor to dance in. And i just thought of david bryne's big suit and made a parody of it. although it is just a not-so-oversized suit while still exaggrating the body outline. although the idea is ultimately rejected by both the actor and the director.)

Let's get one thing out of the way for starters. Could someone handling this app just erase the "contributions" of the lunatic who kept on leaving stupid salacious "stories" instead of reviews at some point -- stories such as the one currently topping this section for *Remain In Light", for instance, *this one being particularly dumb, predictable and unfunny*. For real, who "liked" that review? (sigh). You could preserve the one said deranged bloke wrote about Napalm Death's *Scum*, because it's obviously his Sistine Chapel -- very graphic and picturesque, and somehow indirectly pertaining to the actual contents of that other album, in a way, lol. But anything else can be scrapped, honestly. It's so dour and tiring. I'm all for free speech and the likes, but the man isn't even among us anymore, he left after 600 hundred albums or so. So who cares, really? OK, take this as an unfunny joke of my own... I know I'm here to review *albums*, and not to *review other reviews* anyway. The thing is, I'm not sure of what I could say about Talking Heads' magnum opus that hasn't already be written a hundred times before. "Remain In Light* is their own masterpiece, their own Afrobeat-influenced Sistine Chapel, famously pulled off with the pivotal help of genius producer Brian Eno (and also stellar musicians such as Jon Hassel or King Crimson's Andrian Belew). *Once In A Lifetime* must be among my ten favorite songs ever, so it's the obvious centerpiece here -- one I don't think I will ever be tired of listening to, because there are always some new details that bring me back to it. These days, it's the fact that Brian Eno's voice is actually so prominent alongside David Byrne's vocals for its perfect chorus, for instance... With a calling card like that, how can you *not* explore the album? And truth be told, large swaths of the whole LP reach those exact same heights. "Born Under Punches" and "Crosseyed and Painless" are infectious white funk machines with catchy hooks and a relentless groove. "Houses In Motion" or "The Great Curve" are less immediate, but they reward repeated listens. And the album's got another absolutely favorite TH song of mine, "Listening Wind", with its suddenly moving and elegiac atmosphere and its not-so-cryptic critique of American economic colonialism. Even so-called "deeper cuts" such as "Seen And Not Seen" (about the psychotic effects of consumer society) and ominous closer "The Overload" (possibly Joy Division-adjacent, or so I hear from a reviewer) are worth the detour here. I can picture myself going out from a projection of *Blade Runner* in 1981 and listening to those songs on my walkman (did they already exist, then?), my head still in the movie's hellish urban landscapes... Byrne's postmodernist imagination is also on fire for the lyrics (and as some other reviewers pointed out in here, the themes of constant simulacrum, derealization and alienation they suggest are just timeless). And sonic flourishes abound, never so prominent to distract from the overall grooves of the song, and yet still distinctively there to give the flavours needed to take those tracks to a whole other level. That studio-as-an-instrument approach did wonders here (just as it did for Byrne and Eno's collaborative album "My Life In The Bush Of Ghost", another reference point recorded in that same era that sheds light on the way *Remain In Light" was conceptualized and performed in general). Lots of genius brains involved, but lots of heart as well. You don't pull off vocals like that, or insane rhythms sections like this (the Frantz-Weymouth combo), or intricate and out-of-this-world guitar licks like that (Jerry Harrison) without giving out a little sweat. The best of both worlds, and the best album of 1980. 5/5 for the purposes of this list of essential albums. 10/10 for more general purposes (5 + 5) Number of albums left to review: around forty, as I've gone over the 1000 line and this generator is including albums from all editions of the book Number of albums from the list I find relevant enough to be mandatory listens: 459 (including this one) Albums from the list I *might* include in mine later on: 271 Albums from the list I won't include in mine: 331

Creo que me gusta más 77', pero está bueno también

Once in a lifetime is great classic. The rest was alright rock, pop mix. Whatever talking heads sound is described as

Born Under Punches (The Heat Goes On) Crosseyed and Painless Once in a Lifetime Houses in Motion

Added to my rotation

One of my favourite albums ever, didn't click on the first listen, then boy did it click after watching "Stop Making Sense" - which made it.... make... sense... Amazing album :)

Thanks ENA

Will never forget listening to born under punches for the first time while I was mean to be revising for my GCSEs. I became a talking heads aficionado soon after. I failed History.

Love this album. Big Talking Heads fan already

A very interesting album of very eclectic genres. Though they have their famous single on here. Only a handle of songs are true bangers and the others are quite esoteric.

One of my favorites and a very important and influential album for reasons most here would find too boring or weird

6/10

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

Did not like this album. The sound was very robotic and very noisy. It felt like I was hearing loud noises instead of music.

one of my all time favorites. killer from front to back

Although this is only my 2nd favourite Talking Heads album (Speaking In Tongues not being included in the book is an appalling decision), it is by far their most unique. There’s really not anything else much like this and the level of creativity on display is incredible. Only David Byrne and Brian Eno could produce something this, over 40 years ago! The run of tracks 1-5 is possibly the best 5 song run I’ve ever heard. The one negative about this album is the next 3 songs, which aren’t quite as good. But it’s still a solid 5/5.

Fantastic album, incredibly eclectic but in the best way. Front-loaded but still consistently good

Probably my favorite album of theirs. Not too weird, a good mix of pop and their brand of .

Amazing album. From "Born Under Punches" to "Houses in Motion" is up there for best song runs on an album. Appreciate the meditative later half- I kind of forgot about those songs and enjoyed the opportunity to re-listen.

Good Talking Heads album. Has Once in a Lifetime

Definitely exceptional "post-funk" statement of the politics, anxiety, absurdism and the world itself, with catchy choruses, sometimes crazy and amazing performances from Byrne and the band. May be my favourite Talking Heads studio album.

Really interesting. Haven’t heard such music before

didnt like the first talking heads album I heard. i get this one. The groove on this album is far more creative and out there, which makes for a more interesting listening experience. That solo on the first track is really cool i like it a lot. That being said I'm still a bit underwhelmed by the overall project. Its an okay album. I still really don't understand what so great about this band. This is best album I've heard from though for sure

Freking amazing. David Byrne is a genius.

It's ok.... if you like Talking Heads; not my thing.

Uskomattpman terävää menoa huhhuh

❤️

groovy

It’s good

Once in a Lifetime is by far the best song on here. The rest are ok.

When it was good it was great but when it was dragging it was a chore. I knew “Once in a lifetime” already and I really enjoy this song but overall the album did not have a ton of parts that made me want to focus in more. High 2 but a 3 doesn’t feel correct.

gonna be honest... don't particularly like the talking heads. I find their sound to be a bit odd, like they themselves can't decide what direction to go in. I'll give this one a two, because it didn't really do much for me

I like the style overall and appreciate the variety of tones throughout the album, but I can’t say anything really stuck out as amazing. My favorite song was Once In a Lifetime, which was catchy but not mind-blowing. Overall it’s an enjoyable listen though.

Too boring. Very moody but I didn’t take anything away from it.

Once in a Lifetime is a hit, but that’s really all that sticks out from this album. Better than a lot of other ones we’ve listened to, but a surprisingly bland debut album from a beloved band.

I absolutely love the song "Once In a Lifetime". It's been in my rotation for some time now, and I was excited to listen to more talking heads. I was hoping this would be an entire album of the same, but I was disappointed. I spent the first half waiting for "Once In a Lifetime" to come on, and I spent the second half wishing I was listing to it again rather than everything else. Maybe it's my bias, but the rest of the album was a bit disappointing for me.

Serviceable. Not the worst to listen to. Not a band that clicked for me.

Once in a Lifetime is a banger, rest is kinda mid honestly. Polyrhythms are dope and production is good but otherwise kinda meh.

Full-on 10/10 classic album. The first side is a masterpiece of ethnic-inspired funk, and side two is as good, with a more traditional (?) alt-rock viewpoint. Every music lover should listen to this album , at least once and at high volume.

Unconventional. A new experience.

Really really not my style. Very busy percussion in most songs.

awesomeeee

It’s Talking Heads, I was bound to like it :-) Favorite track: Once in a Lifetime

Me gusta

This is music that paints a movie in your mind. Pure symphonic composition. This band was limitless.

Great

One of the GOATs for sure. One of those albums that is so influential and yet still stands up as simply an incredible record that is inimitable.

Incredible. No other notes.

Yep, I am doing it. Out of the 33 other albums I have listened to on this list, this is my first 5 star. I ended up actually downloading 2 songs - Born Under Punches and Once In A Lifetime. The uniqueness is right up my alley.

let me preface this by saying that i’ve never liked talking heads much. i just didnt like the some of the songs at all. much prefer their other albums

Classic album Ive already listened to dozens of times.

***An ok album

Very unique and rhythmic based music highlighted with sparse guitar work for the most part. Lyrical content is really good like you'd expect from Bryne but the delivery was a change for this album, toward a more fluid almost rap style, and it worked well.

Uh, what did I just listen to?

I went in with high hopes but my hopes were dashed. I don’t even know if that’s how you use that term in a sentence. This album just plods along, one song into another. You catch yourself drifting off in thought for an unknown amount of time, only to discover that you are listening again and find that it’s a different song but same tempo. I did not turn into a fan of these guys after this album. Listen at your own risk. Choice cut: Once in a Lifetime

Talking Heads are band I’d obviously heard of a lot but never really listened to until starting this project and for someone who doesn’t love 80s music, I’ve been impressed. I was excited for Remain In Light, and shocked when hearing it My first impression was Graceland-esque. White people do African tribe music. But this isn’t half as cringe. It’s very rhythmic and repetitive. I need to listen to it again but currently don’t see the genius 5.3/10

I 🙅🏻‍♀️ don't 🙅🏻‍♀️ like 🙅🏻‍♀️ new 🙅🏻‍♀️ wave 2 ⭐️

22/12/24 I've never listened to Talking Heads before but this is a proper funky fresh album.

Good.

Loved it

Duh.

Music as drugs (compliment)

Meget ambient, lidt funk akkorder hvor de holder det same riff/groove hele vejen i gennem men mere atmosfærisk og langsommere tempo. Synes ikke det mega rockede, selvom Once in a Lifetime er en super sang

Superb!

finishing the hard day with one of my favorite albums.

Unique does not mean good. Tough listen

"Once in a Lifetime" is the first song I remember loving as a kid. This one will always have a special place.

AHEAD of its time.

For me the Talking Heads were a little too leading edge of new wave/progressive music for me. I liked some of their songs, but a lot were incomprehensible or plain weird. That being said, I enjoyed this one. Another one that I have never listened to and recognize only one song that everyone probably recognizes, Once in a Lifetime, which had some popular success and a pretty interesting video at the beginning of the MTV era. There's a lot of riffs or grooves that are just repeated over and over in songs, to nice effect. I had friends who smoked pot and listened to a lot of Pink Floyd, they probably would have liked most of this album for that purpose. Some progressive music can be difficult to listen to, but not the case here. A good album by an influential band.

One of my all time favorite albums. The inflexion point where Talking Heads became SO much more than a New York-CBGB band. David Byrne blossomed into (imho) the most creative and visionary songwriter, lyricist, musician and he guided this band onto bigger and better things. but it all started with this LP... so many great tracks -- Crosseyed and Painless (Facts are simple and facts are straight. Facts are lazy and facts are late); Once in a Lifetime (And you may tell yourself, "This is not my beautiful house, And you may tell yourself, "This is not my beautiful wife); Born Under Punches (The hand speaks, the hand of a government man) , Houses In Motion (And as we watch him, Digging his own grave, It is important to know, That was where he's at, He can't afford to stop, That is what he believe He'll keep on digging, For a thousand years.... just an awesomely ecclectic collection of indelible songs. 10 stars

I'm getting the feeling that I don't enjoy the Talking Heads. Their music is just banal to me. I do admit it's a bit funky sometimes. "The Overload" is the best song; the whole album should've been like that. In other news, I've been discovering new and better music. 2 stars for "Remain In Light".

Поёдет

When I started this list I told myself I was gonna relisten to all the albums I was already familiar with. And this is one of those I’m glad I did. Love the Heads.

Of course, the first album it generates is my favorite album at the moment.

Hell yeah

the rhythms aren't riveting, incredibly repetitive and frankly the unique sounds don't justify listening. The execution is good but their heads were in the wrong place I feel. Standout tracks: the great curve, once in a lifetime

I have no thoughtful or academic review of this album, but it's so weird and I loved it.

It's alright, nothing special.

Very fun and easy beats. Lots to dance to. Very Talking Heads, their own unique sound.

Good

Lots of interesting rhythms, a little funk, and a very international feel on most of the tracks. "Overload" had a very Doors feel to it. Unfortunately, none of this did anything for me today. It just sounded like a mess to me.

⭐️⭐️

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.

I wanna talk about head ykwims

its alright

Good, but not as good as I was expecting

IMHO the greatest TH album that blends agit pop with Africal polyrhythms. Masterful.

This is an excellent album all around, and one of the best from Talking Heads. Not a single bad track, or even mediocre track.

Good fun post punk - Talking Heads are always a good thing in my book and love this record.

Uno de mis discos favoritos de la historia, la produccion de brian eno es lo mejor de la vida

This is the weird one and that’s saying a lot. Love it!

I fell in love with this album in High-school/College, and its always been a favorite. It is top tier, interesting, funky music from the 80s that holds up through today. I don't know if its on the list, but do yourself a favor and watch the film Stop Making Sense. I don't really care for live albums/concert films, but its transcendent.

great stuff, but Once In A Lifetime is so much higher than the rest album, it's hard to compare

mmm...

The talking heads don’t miss

Enjoyable! It's weird but in a good way.

The most rhythmically complex music I’ve heard. Really fun album that gets me moving.

I was Crosseyed and Painless until this album came along. Now I’m dancing to the Double Groove.

Not really my thing.

i thought this was mostly just ok. not bad but not my thing

About average

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!

Por hora facil de escutar. Once in a Life time é literal eu. Fella Riff é outro banger. do geral HOLY SHIT A TALKING HEAD Album gostoso de ouvir, eu realmente curti ele. 10/10

Once in a Lifetime is great…and I really didn’t like the rest of the album.

A great album, not quite as good as the two preceding Eno involved albums (Fear of Music and More Songs About Buildings and Food). The first 4 tracks are stronger than the latter 4, but repeated listenings to the latter 4 reveal nuances that are quite appealing. Adrian Belew’s guitar work on several tracks adds enough to this album to bump it from a 4.5 to a 5.

I’m sure I’ve listened to this before, but it isn’t one I know well. I know I love “born under punches” and, obviously, “once in a lifetime.” I have a distinct memory of once in a lifetime coming on the radio once when my dad was driving me to school and I was like, “WHAT is this?” (I think I had a similar reaction to a Frank Zappa song on another trip to school.) Overall, just okay.

Hmmm, this was just okay. I've learned to love the Talking Heads from a friend, but this album didn't really hook me. I'd rather re-watch Stop Making Sense.

Easy 5. This record is one of very few that sounds like a bunch of non songs that are just getting along as great humable trax.

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.

Who knew I'd be so happy to get a 1980 Talking Heads album? But I really liked when that guy was on SNL recently. He's definitely got a unique voice, and there's some funny little noises here too. A little bit of a modern poetry vibe. Highlights: 'Once in a Lifetime' (obvi), 'Seen and not Seen' (like, is this a Ted Chiang short story set to music?) Lowlights: The last 4 songs are "unfinished outtakes" and mostly instrumental. They're less compelling. 'Right Start' is my favorite of the four, probably because it's extremely repetitive.

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.

What’s better than a Talking Heads LP? A Talking Heads LP that’s inspired by Fela Kuti!

last song is nice but wow was this album mid

As a casual fan, this album didn’t change that. It’s a decent listen, if you’re looking for something different. Growing up during the time when MTV was on fire (when they aired actual music videos) I was exposed to Once in a Lifetime. Houses in Motion was a sleeper track for me. 1001 album worthy: Yes - 4/6

Really great Prefer fear of music Still really good A classic really

80ies Brit Pop. For me not overwhelming

Yeah I don’t get the appeal here. The guitar was weird (yet interesting), the singing was more like slam poetry, overall it was kinda just okay. Perhaps the novelty is why this album is held in such high regard but idk

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.

I did not like this.

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.

3.4 1x catch up 12/27

Experiments with African beats and scattered vocals. Very cohesive sound scape, not single outstanding songs.

Very unique sound and starts extremely strong - Born under punches and The Great Curve are amazing. Latter part of the album may require more listens to properly understand. After another listen, I am blown away - all songs are bangers, maybe except the last one which is a bit of a weaker track. The album is so cohesive yet explores many different sounds. Fav tracks: Born under punches, The Great Curve, Houses in Motion

-houly shit ok this is definitely the best Talking Heads album I’ve heard so far. Every song feels sort of like it’s from a completely new album, or maybe even completely new universe. Both the vocals and instrumentation are so fun and interesting… The Great Curve feels like the absolute highlight. Time to binge their entire discography -Favorites are Born Under Punches, Crosseyed and Painless, The Great Curve, and Listening Wind

这个算是能接受的了，封面有点引荐

I enjoyed this album - includes the classic song Once in a Lifetime. Nothing stood out but it was fun.

Having given LCD Soundsystem a 5, I couldn't very well give Talking Heads anything less. Even if this isn't your type of music, you have to appreciate that this was released in 1980. Groundbreaking.

Flawless Victory

Day318 - i love talking heads and i rated the last album to low but ill make it up on this one

I was catching up on my list and just enjoyed "Zombie" by Fela Kuti before I listened to this album. I almost immediately felt the shared DNA, and was rather pleased with myself when I saw that his work was an influence on this album! One thing I appreciate about this list is when it adds context and meaning to music I already enjoy. I've become a big fan of the Talking Heads over the last few years, and although this isn't my favorite of their albums, I still find it excellent. It's a great display of the band's talents and each of the member's skills as a songwriter. Also, shoutout to the amazing music video for "Once in a Lifetime." I would point anyone unfamiliar with the band to that video, as I believe it is the most succinct expression of what the Talking Heads "are."

I was happy to receive this album because for several years I've had a strong aversion to David Byrne, and I was starting to wonder if it was unjust. It wasn't. Make no mistake, the Heads have a phenomenal rhythm section that drives the funky-dance aesthetic of this album. And, of course, "Once in a Lifetime" is a classic. No complaints there. But the album is otherwise overly indulgent and occasionally borderline pretentious. Certain songs are far too long, and Bryne's "I'm a funky nerd" aesthetic loses its charm over time. I get that the Heads were enormously important and influential for a generation of fans, but this band will never move me. God, I wish Tina Weymouth had been in a different band....

This is not my thing, but there are some great tracks on here that aren't as popular as Once in a Lifetime.

5 talking heads out of 10. This was really cool, I didn’t know taking heads was going to be like that. I thought they were a bit goofy and samey but I like the structure of some of their songs, they take a phrase and just keep adding to each and that’s pretty much each song. Some cool electronic music. I bet it was super fun to make.

Hands. Once in a lifetime

Not for me

Sparse and droning melodies, in-your-face spoken-word social commentary, and funk - what's not to love? I'd never heard this album and it's a fun listening experience to see how it's influenced the bands that have influenced my taste. I'd never heard 'Seen and Not Seen' before and it's been on repeat since.

Weird as fuck, but lots of interesting musical elements. I would have gone two stars, but I fuck hard with "Once in a Lifetime" and quite seriously every time I hear it it gets stuck in my head. 3 stars, weird, absolute vibe, earworm track saved it

Solid. But really only one or two songs I go back to.

Pretty good. I like their style and some of the songs were pretty familiar.

M-A-S-T-E-R-P-I-E-C-E

very experimental? there's a lot going on in every song, definitely too much going on. there's a gem or two in there but not worth the rest of the album 3/10

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

wiild

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.

Favourite songs: - Once in a Lifetime - The Great Curve - The Overload - Double Groove 10/10

Aight

风格有点迷幻？？有时候稍微有点吵了

LOVE this record.

I quite like talking heads, this is one of the weaker albums but it's still pretty solid

Really good. Some bangers.

First time listening, I did not like this album. Second time, connected with it more. I was on the wavelength they were using and, also have listened to a lot more Brian Eno (producer) since I last heard this. Probably primed my brain to accept it.

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.

Once in a lifetime - Iconic. And a bunch of other songs.

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 album is fantastic. I read about this in his book and really wanted to give it a good listen.

It's all loops and repetitive sections but each song still fascinates me. A kind of album that only a band can make. The freedom to make albums like this, and giving it a way to find an audience feels like something that's been lost a bit in music. This is a real piece of art.

Nothing remarkable as it is not the kind of music I would generally listen to. I would not seek out similar albums.

I'm about 350 albums in, and the best thing the project has given me is a total live for Talking Heads. This is my third Talking Heads album, and it's my third 5 stars. Excellent, through and through. Oh, and Once In A Lifetime is one of the best songs ever written.

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.

Great stuff. Lovely album. Such good BEATS

Love this album, but Listening Wind is a bit of a stinker.

3.6. Needs another listen

Ok, so this one blew me away. By far the best album of theirs on here. And I can really see how influential it has been. Leftfield, Massive Attack, Django Django etc. Triple whammy for Scotland also (yes I am claiming David Byrne)

one of those albums that obviously deserves a spot on this list. incredibly consistent and great the whole time

Good in places but they have better

I wanted to like it more than I did. I do like Talking Heads, but other than a couple of songs I already knew nothing else really grabbed me.

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.

Really like once in a Lifetime, the rest not so much. Talking Heads being one of the bands from whom I only like a very small part of their music. One good track can not rescue this album.

3/5

Favourite tracks: the great divide; once in a lifetime; crosseyed and painless; born under punches

YEAH!!!!

don´t like

It was okay. I liked the beginning half of the album but then lost interest as the latter half began.

Didn't like it as much as "Fear of Music" but you can say this about Talking Heads, they're unmistakably them. Felt like they were trying to get too much sound on this album though.

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

Very complex and layered production, the genre blending is crazy. It's mostly controlled chaos and it's a fun listen. The problem I have is the second half of the album, it got some real stinkers that lower my rating drastically. Best song: The Great Curve Worst song: The Overload

Great album

Who doesn’t like Afrobeat inspired polyrhythmic 80’s pop. Great album..

Remain in Light is both a feat and feature of postmodern vertigo, and David Byrne is all of us losing our shape trying to act natural. The Talking Heads, in collaboration with Brian Eno burst from the post-punk confines of New York City's CBGB club into an uncertain yet thrilling soundscape where the old maps are useless and the boundaries of genre are permeable. "The world is near, but it's out of reach." The spaces and places that used to ground us are unmoored, and we may ask ourselves, "How did I get here?" What's the soundtrack to the collapse of overarching frames of reference? It is something like this: frenetic, driving and looping polyrhythms, afrobeats and electronic droid speak, and the specter of Byrne's rootlessness. This album sees the maturation of the band's art rock into global ambitions. Our musical horizons burst open, and we found no firm place to stand, but plenty of room to dance. "My God, what have I done?"

YES great day! Such an amazing album, and I felt like I was discovering it anew today. I had My Life in the Bush of Ghosts not so long ago, which Eno and Byrne recorded prior to recording Remain In Light. I've loved Talking Heads for some time now, but I'm really gaining appreciation for Eno as well through this project, and you can really hear how close together the albums were recorded. I've also had two albums by Fela Kuti, whose music hugely influenced this album. The timing of this album generating after those others has really allowed me to treasure Remain In Light even more. Also, Angélique Kidjo has an absolutely brilliant track by track tribute album that came out in 2018. It's an homage that celebrates the African musical styles which make up the backbone of the original tracks. I can't recommend it enough if you love both this album and African music in general.

An excellent album containing a variety of Afro-rhythms which the band combines in a highly effective way with Byrne's lyrics.

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.

A good listen, but I probably won't comeback to it. Fun, weird, artsy.

Okay, so there are some intriguing songs but the overall vibes of the album are just a bit too weird and there's a lot of repetition. Not too bad as a background listen but not too great.

Started promisingly, got a bit dull, Once In A Lifetime!!! Dullness resumed.

Just a few days ago, I got Talking Heads ‘77 as my album of the day. While I didn’t dislike the album, the difference in quality between Psycho Killer and the rest of the album was pretty clear. Remain In Light, however, does not suffer the same issue. Each song is as bizarre and interesting as the last. Usually I’m more privy to paying attention to the sound of an album over its lyrical content, but the lyrics here are really interesting. I’m sure someone with a more attentive mind and less sleep deprivation could discern the greater theme of the album. “Listening Wind” was particularly intriguing. Cool album. Odd in the best way.

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.

Not their best.

Langweilig.

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.

Such a classic and my favourite talking heads album. Polyrhythmic and influenced by fela. The lyrics are insightful (‘lost my shape trying to act casual’). I could go on but I’m going back to listen again.

Okay, so this is one of those 'put everything down and listen to me' albums. And I want to listen more and more. It draws you in and plays tricks with your mind. It sounds like a bit of madness: when you get all these good ideas and put them together and realise you have the answer to everything. And nothing. Two sides of the same coin. And an amazing (heart) beat running through it all. I shall listen to this more and more. I like to be immersed in music ... be it soft, be it loud, or be it just something that makes you feel removed ... yet very present. Same as it ever was. I can't really take any stars away from something like this.

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. :)

Top notch. Really unique sound, so many layers and intriguing sounds going on. I love the fast, frantic pace of the first half of the album. It’s almost like house and dance music, pulls you into a trance.

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.

David Byrne is innovative and able to create well outside the box, but when you swing big sometimes you miss big. There's some big hits and some big whiffs on here.

Not what I expected. From a musical point of view probably not too bad, but I didn't like it.

I love Talking Heads ❤️

Talking Heads is always a good listen.

Very cool

Timeless, relentlessly weird but in all of the good ways. I knew this one before starting the tour, but running into so many failed ' experimental' albums shows why Talking Heads are Talking Heads. Once in a Lifetime is still the most pop-like of the album, but the way the all songs come together to form a relentless march forward of uniqueness is amazing.

Immaculate vibes. I knew of many of the more popular Talking Heads songs already, but there is a number on this album I can see joining my playlist.

The only thing that would make this album better is more Eno!

A perfect album.

A good talking heads album, unique, but with minimal hooks.

Funky, energetic, and offbeat, it’s fun if maybe a bit too eccentric. The front half of the album carries quite a lot of the weight while the back half kind of drags on. I think the following quote from another reviewer sums it up well: “Innovative? Yes. Influential? Eh, maybe. Throw it on the heap of albums that are notable, but not necessarily a great listen.”

Groovy

Interesting. It sure how I feel about it. I should listen again under different conditions. I just couldn’t connect with it today, but feel it is worth trying again.

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

One of my favorite Talking Heads albums.

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.

Experimental rock. Weird af. not a fan

Can’t deny that Once in a Lifetime is a phenomenal song. There’s other good stuff here as well. 3.5 stars.

Great album. I love the funky, experimental jive of this record. I am a fan of Eno's work and I can definitely hear his influences here. The musicianship is top-notch. This is one of my favorites!

Quite the trip.

Weird, but I'm a good and interesting way. I liked it. 4/5

Really enjoyed 'The great curve' jam..and the classics obvs! Some not so much. 2.5x

Brilliant album!

Their best after fear of music

Fairly good album. No favorite-able songs, but I didn’t skip any. Was kinda funky which I liked. Favorite song: Born Under Punches (the heat goes on)

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.

Terrible.

Better than the previous one

Ok, but not more

I mean, it’s alright. Too much like old style cafe background music for my taste.

Still feels fresh after 40 year

The beginning of a decade brings along great promise and frenetic potential that buzzes in the air. In the case of Talking Heads, not only did that ring true but it brought forth perhaps the greatest forty minutes of the decade in Remain in Light. The perfect distillation of all they've learned in the last three years and all they've absorbed, Remain in Light jitters, skewers, jives, mellows and ultimately permeates in the body of the listener in what is an unforgettable listening experience. Talking Heads had crafted, with their greatest album, a body of work that would serve as a bridge to many musical styles that was alluded to but never fully explored until then. And it was a bridge that served its purpose in garnering mainstream infiltration for the band with the masses, for afterwards it would only make sense to stop making sense and it can all be pinpointed here.