Tom Tom Club

This was awful. Straight boredom and awful, also what was that god awful version of “Under The Boardwalk”, like wtf, it would’ve been 2 stars but you can’t do that to such an amazing song and raise above 1

The Tom Tom Club makes it easy for me to rate them this time. The very first song, “Wordy Rappinghood,” combines everything that's annoying about new wave: uninspired and monotonous sequencer drums? Check! Sequencer bass? Check (although I've heard worse)! Pointlessly affected, children's song-like vocals with falsetto? Check (even with totally annoying overemphasis on “1” & “3” – that was probably really intended to get on the listener's nerves). This is followed by “Genius of Love,” which, according to Wikipedia, was also a big hit—but it also says that “Tom Tom Club” is a funk album. Let me put it this way: after listening to this album, I understand better why so many people don't want to listen to 80s music anymore.

A single idea repeated endlessly. PU

This album is most known for genius of love because it’s been in every commercial ever. But when you compile 40 minute of that bleep bloop noise garbage it becomes unbearable after a while. I’ll pass on this one.

I love this album. This is one of the best ever examples of a "rhythm section band," bands like ESG, Liquid Liquid, Pigbag, Defunkt, Konk, Maximum Joy, A Certain Ratio, Material, etc. which seem not to exist at all anymore but were prolific in the post-funk era around the turn of the 80s. I adore every groove on this record and I really wish people still made music like this.

I love this album. I challenge anyone to listen to it and not feel happy. It’s funky happy nerdy joy. Also, Chris and Tina are apparently super nice people.

Great fondness for this album and this band, who made a lot of good music over the years and were a very fun live show. In their initial form, on this album and the next, they were so distinctive -- goofy, silly, seriously funky, offbeat and creative, with a huge cast of characters, half of whom were singers. Great vibe. I always forget how good the other songs are -- it's not true, as I tend to think, that this album is Wordy Rappinghood, Genius of Love, and a bunch of silly, fun filler. Side Two (As Above through Booming Zoomin) is actually really good. Even Under the Boardwalk, which was a bonus track that would show up in various places before there were deluxe edition cd resissues, is actually pretty good. Not to overstate its merirs, but it's better than I remembered. No one bought Close to the Bone, their second album, because it had no single to get people interested in it. But it's really good, in many ways better than this album. If you like this album, you really should -- quick, before you die! -- listen to Close to the Bone.

Electronic innovations created so much musical upheaval in 1980-81! Kraftwerk's "Computer World," Gary Numan's "Telekon," Roxy Music's "Avalon," Japan's "Gentlemen Take Polaroids" and "Tin Drum..." and on. And Tom Tom Club was there as well! And calling out Hermes Trismegistus, no less! I'm enjoying this lightweight bit of postmodern play much more now than I did at the time.

The rhythm section of Talking Heads can make an interestingly strange yet incredibly groovy funk album. Good album to take drugs too. Aside from the classic Genius of Love, I really liked the haunting vocals Tina does on Lorelei. Fun weird funk record

finally some good shit

After reading the song title and listening to the first 30 seconds or so of the first track on this album I was entirely ready to write it off as annoying. I stuck it out and I believe I was greatly rewarded for that. Not long after I began to really enjoy, and perhaps even groove to, that first track. It’s high energy, funky, and genuinely a fun song to listen to. The rest of the record went by in a flurry of wild basslines, really fantastic and interesting synths, and a kind of sensibility that was extremely reminiscent of the Talking Heads. I am positive that my review partner will write a very favourable review of this one. (Editors note: after completing this review I did some googling and it turns out this is essentially the talking heads without David Byrne? I feel embarrassed that I had absolutely no idea of that fact before right now.) I was almost surprised at how much I enjoyed the entirety of this album, despite my previous complaints about certain albums being “weird for the sake of weird”, this one seemed to have some unusual and great care put into the weirdness, like the weirdness was carefully and tenderly raised in an environment perfectly suited to fostering its.. well.. weirdness. I particularly enjoyed the cover of “Under The Boardwalk” and somehow, someway, I intend to listen to this song on a beach this summer. 4.5*

Tom Tom Club was formed as a group and their self-titled debut released by Tina Weymouth and Chris Frantz of Talking Heads in 1981, just after the latter group’s three-album collaboration with Brian Eno. The culmination of this was 1980’s ‘Remain in Light’, a remarkable new synthesis of new wave, post-punk, funk, and most notably Afrobeat recorded in large part in the Bahamas. I think this background provides important context because all of these influences are so strongly evident in ‘Tom Tom Club’, as well as the obvious burgeoning influence of hip-hop seen especially on the most enduring tracks from this album, “Genius of Love” and “Wordy Rappinghood”. “Genius of Love” is an interesting case; the song itself is heavily influenced by the young hip-hop culture in NYC in 1981, but since its release, “Genius of Love” has more than given back its share of influence in the extent to which it’s been sampled and interpolated. Anyway. I think the Afrobeat influence is especially strong on “L’elephant” and “As Above, So Below”, which are also two of my favorite tracks. They make it clear that the direction Talking Heads went with the Brian Eno trilogy was not purely due to Eno and Byrne’s creative influence as many seem to believe. “Lorelei” and “On, On, On, On…” are so darkly manic and danceable and groovy and make an excellent showcase for some characteristically Tina Weymouth bass playing. I find “Lorelei” to be especially enchanting. And then we end with… a cover of “Under the Boardwalk”! Why not! The synth and steel drum reimagination of this song is a ton of fun and if it can’t coax you into some roller skates I fear the levels of whimsy in your soul are critically low. Yeah… it’s 1981 at its best. Creative and eclectic with a singular and distinctive voice while still being wholly fun to listen to and danceable. Tom Tom Club are underappreciated beyond “Genius of Love” compared to the cult status Talking Heads enjoy.

Tom Tom Club was my favorite record for quite a while when it first came out. The best New Wave records were things like this - dancey but also musically and lyrically interesting. I've always preferred the oddly powerful side 2 of this record, with the ritual chant "As Above, So Below," the mesmerizing "Lorelei," "On, On, On, On," and the marvelously weird "Booming and Zooming" closing it out. Get out of there, F104. But of course side 1 is good too. "Wordy Rappinghood" is something I'm pretty tired of at this point, but I'll admit it's fun, especially with the conga breaks that pop up in the middle and fade at the end. And of course the ubiquitous hit "Genius of Love" is fun too, especially as it slides into the percussive instrumental bit "Tom Tom Club Theme." Great to listen to this record again this morning. 5 stars

I think I enjoy this almost as much as the best of Talking Heads. Not usually a fan of the song Under The Boardwalk as a rule, but this cover won me over totally, with the extended two chord riff. And Wordy Rappinghood and Genius Of Love are fantastic.

Fantastic.

Kooky and super fun!

Nice, Genius of love alone is a 5

"Who needs to think when your feet just go?" As fun as The B-52s! Great beats from beginning to end on this brilliant debut of new wave infused hip hop, reggae & killer pop - pop dance music. Don't overthink it! Get on the dance floor and prepare for take-off!

Loved it

Now this is podrqaing. It sounds timeless to me.

Awesome

Jaooo mogu da editujemmm saddd RAAAAHHHHHH. Tom Tom Klub znači jebe kevu, Ema malo hejtuje ovo kaže brateee gde su gitaree gdee je roni radke....... Mnogo kul album, zapravo za sad jedini album koji nisam čuo ranije i da ima jake i catchy pesme. NAMERNO ĆU SAD DA STAVIM 5/5 DA POVEĆAM REJTING ALBUMAAAAAAAA

a joyful and playful masterpiece. the talking heads pedigree is obvious and important (what is this if not yet another peak autism record) but it rly allows itself to be open and even Aimless in a way talking heads would usually sharpen into a less ephemeral direction. has there ever been a more amorphous hit song than genius of love??? the songs all set the strong grabbable foundation u'd expect from tina and chris, but everything on top is swimming and splashing around like a kid in a pool, reveling in the physical sensation of how water changes your relationship to your body and your surroundings. the beautiful album cover suits this stimmy wonder perfectly. i should have heard this years ago.

Went into this blind and the first song is a trip, euro disco synths and funky bass with rapping (sort of) over it? The vocals are pretty weird in general. Some great percussion too - tom toms, I presume? I didn't know this was a Talking Heads side project and it's starting to make sense. Genius of Love is next, bouncy bass with more bleeps and bloops from the keyboards. This is so much fun and just satisfying to listen to. If the rest is anywhere near as good, I'm sold. Tom Tom Theme is a brief instrumental break and L'Elephant draws much more from world music. It doesn't feel out of place. Every track is such a neat mix of percussion and synths - it's repetive, mesmeric. Lorelei has a particularly entrancing keyboard melody and On, On, On, On is a bit different, a very catchy chorus. Under the Boardwalk has island vibes, maybe calypso influence. The one constant is the ever present bass. Calling this funk feels correct and reductive at the same time. It's brilliantly bizarre.

Loce this.

So good. I think it’s the talking heads sound I love but still this is a stand alone album that is great. The depth of sound is amazing and the almost childish lyrics and vocals sound great next to the level of depth of the music. Added all to my playlist.

i miss when life was full of colours and whimsy.

I liked this one a lot. After I finished it I went on to listen to a playlist of songs that sample genius of love

I liked it

Boosting to remind myself - reminds me of OOIOO - but yeah a bit annoying XD

The best parts of the Talking Heads became Tom Tom Club... This album is a gem.

Просто супер альбом!!! движово живо танцевально

I can’t believe this gets a 5, but it was such a delightful surprise. Cool, fun, unique sound. So glad for this randomly generated recommendation.

The best side quest since Andi went to a gym for a bit, and came back as a massive, semi mythical beast now globally known as SHACK.

Unexpected banger, loved this one. This became talking heads? wow

This album was just so much fun. It was cool to hear songs that have been sampled in other places. I loved the multitude of languages used and the cool electronic sounds. On a whole the album seems like it was made more recently than 81.

What a ride!

Super unique. Dumb but so catchy and I really liked it.

One of my favourite albums. Outstanding.

Love the bass. I can see how many bands were influenced by this one

sample heaven

# In-Depth Review of Tom Tom Club's Self-Titled Debut Album (1981) ## 🎵 Overview and Background **Tom Tom Club** (1981) is the debut album by the side project of Talking Heads rhythm section **Tina Weymouth** (bass/vocals) and **Chris Frantz** (drums). Recorded at **Compass Point Studios** in the Bahamas during a hiatus from Talking Heads, the album emerged as a vibrant, genre-blending work that contrasted sharply with their main band's art-rock intensity. The project began as a casual studio experiment but evolved into a fully realized album after Island Records founder **Chris Blackwell** encouraged them to expand their sessions into a full-length release. Featuring contributions from Tina's sisters (Lani, Laura, and Loric Weymouth), guitarist **Adrian Belew**, and Jamaican session musicians like **Tyrone Downie** (keyboards) and **Uziah "Sticky" Thompson** (percussion), the album fused funk, reggae, new wave, and early hip-hop into a playful, sun-soaked masterpiece. --- ## 🎤 Lyrics and Themes ### Playfulness and Linguistic Experimentation The lyrics on *Tom Tom Club* are characterized by their **whimsical, nonsensical, and often multilingual** approach. Unlike the cerebral, anxiety-driven themes of Talking Heads, this album embraces joy and absurdity: - **"Wordy Rappinghood"** explores the power and limitations of language, referencing everything from "pollution" to "Koko the signing gorilla". The song incorporates a childhood Moroccan chant ("A Ram Sam Sam") and typewriter sounds, creating a collage of linguistic playfulness. - **"L'Éléphant"** (sung in French) tells a fable about an elephant and hippopotamus disguised as men, with the villagers fearing human conflict more than the animals themselves—a subtle commentary on war and human nature. - **"Genius of Love"** celebrates funk and soul legends like James Brown, Smokey Robinson, and Bohannon, blending shout-outs with flirtatious boasts ("I'm in heaven / With my maven of funk mutation"). ### Repetition and Mantra-like Phrases Many tracks use **repetitive, mantra-like choruses** to create a hypnotic, dance-oriented vibe. For example, "On, On, On, On..." relies on minimalistic phrases to sustain its groove, while "Tom Tom Theme" uses percussive vocalizations to emphasize rhythm over narrative. ### Weaknesses Some critics find the lyrics **too silly or superficial**, particularly on deeper cuts like "Booming and Zooming," which features spoken-word passages about a jet pilot's crash. The playful approach may not resonate with listeners seeking deeper lyrical substance. --- ## 🎶 Music and Sound ### Genre Fusion The album seamlessly blends **funk, dub, new wave, and early hip-hop**, creating a sound that felt ahead of its time: - **Funk and Dub Foundations**: Tracks like "Genius of Love" and "As Above, So Below" feature Tina Weymouth's **syncopated basslines**, layered percussion, and dub-inspired echoes. - **Electronic Elements**: The use of **Sequential Prophet-5 synthesizers** adds squelchy, melodic hooks ("Genius of Love") and atmospheric textures. - **Tropical Influences**: The Bahamian setting infuses songs like "L'Éléphant" with Caribbean rhythms and steel drum-like guitar tones. ### Vocal Delivery The Weymouth sisters' vocals are **deliberately unpolished**, with overlapping chants, raps, and harmonies that feel more like a party than a studio performance. Tina's deadpan rap on "Wordy Rappinghood" and the group's cheerful harmonies on "Genius of Love" became defining features. ### Standout Tracks 1. **"Genius of Love"** : A funk masterpiece with a bouncing bassline, addictive synth riff, and shout-outs to funk legends. Its **103 BPM tempo** made it a slow-burning dancefloor staple. 2. **"Wordy Rappinghood"** : A quirky rap track with congas, typewriter sounds, and multilingual chants. 3. **"L'Éléphant"** : Features Adrian Belew's guitar mimicking elephant trumpets over a tropical rhythm. 4. **"On, On, On, On..."** : A minimalist funk groove highlighting Tina's bass skills. --- ## 🎛 Production Quality ### Analog Warmth and Clarity Produced by **Steven Stanley** (with Frantz and Weymouth), the album benefits from **pristine analog recording** techniques. Compass Point Studios' noise-free mixing desks and 24-track capabilities allowed for a clean, percussive sound. Key production choices include: - **Bass and Drum Separation**: Tina's bass was tuned to 150Hz to avoid clashing with the kick drum, creating a crisp low end. - **Layered Vocals**: The Weymouth sisters' harmonies were recorded with three mics and tracked three times for richness. - **Dub Techniques**: Delayed echoes and sparse arrangements on tracks like "Tom Tom Theme" showcase studio innovation. ### Collaborative Energy The production captures the **spontaneous energy** of the sessions, with improvised performances and contributions from Jamaican musicians like Sly Dunbar and Robbie Shakespeare (who were recording nearby with Grace Jones). ### Limitations Some modern listeners might find the production **too dated**, particularly the drum sounds and synthetic effects. The album's minimalistic approach also means that some tracks feel more like sketches than fully developed songs. --- ## 🧠 Themes and Conceptual Approach ### Escape and Celebration The album embodies a **vacation from the intellectualism** of Talking Heads. Themes include: - **Joy and Abandon**: Tracks like "Genius of Love" and "On, On, On, On..." prioritize danceable grooves over cerebral content. - **Cultural Fusion**: The blend of Bahamian, Jamaican, and New York influences reflects a **utopian vision of musical unity**. - **Feminine Perspective**: Tina Weymouth and her sisters bring a playful, female-centric voice to a male-dominated funk/rap scene. ### Reaction Against Talking Heads' Hierarchy Frantz and Weymouth promoted a **collaborative ethos** in contrast to David Byrne's top-down approach in Talking Heads. This album was a deliberate effort to share credit and celebrate collective creativity. --- ## 📈 Influence and Legacy ### Sampling and Hip-Hop Impact - **"Genius of Love"** is one of the **most sampled songs in history**, used by Grandmaster Flash, Mariah Carey ("Fantasy"), 2Pac, and many others. - The album helped **bridge underground new wave and hip-hop**, inspiring artists like LCD Soundsystem and !!!. ### Cultural Reach - The album reached **#23 on the Billboard 200** and went platinum. - It introduced white audiences to rap and funk, challenging racial barriers in music. ### Long-Term Impact Tom Tom Club's debut is now regarded as a **classic of 1980s pop**, appearing on *Slant* magazine's "Best Albums of the 1980s" list. Its influence persists in dance music, hip-hop, and indie rock. --- ## ✅ Pros and Cons ### Pros: 1. **Innovative Genre Fusion** : Blends funk, dub, and rap in a way that felt fresh and ahead of its time. 2. **Timeless Hits** : "Genius of Love" and "Wordy Rappinghood" remain iconic and influential. 3. **Collaborative Spirit** : The diverse musicianship creates a rich, global sound. 4. **Production Quality** : Clean, inventive analog production that still sounds vibrant. 5. **Playful Vibe** : A joyful escape from the seriousness of post-punk and art-rock. ### Cons: 1. **Lyrical Superficiality** : Some lyrics may feel too silly or nonsensical for certain listeners. 2. **Inconsistent Depth** : Beyond the hits, some tracks (e.g., "Booming and Zooming") feel underdeveloped. 3. **Dated Elements** : The early '80s production might sound thin or overly synthetic to modern ears. 4. **Lack of David Byrne's Edge** : Fans of Talking Heads' cerebral style may find the album too lightweight. --- ## 🏆 Conclusion *Tom Tom Club* is a landmark album that transcends its status as a side project. Its infectious energy, innovative fusion of genres, and historical influence make it essential listening. While not every track matches the brilliance of "Genius of Love" or "Wordy Rappinghood," the album's overall creativity and joyfulness secure its place as a classic. It remains a testament to Frantz and Weymouth's musical vision and their ability to create music that is both fun and profoundly influential.

Sososo good tres pop

Let’s go

Amazing album. Tina Weymouth and Chris Frantz without Byrne are still a great act.

Love it

Overraskende gøy

Funky shit!!!!! This was so much fun

10/10 - this album has always held a dear place in my heart it’s nice having an excuse to listen to it again :)

Weird but beautiful album. Everything that is related to Talking Heads is worth listening to. This record is no exception.

Awesome. Ive had this mix on repeat. Puts me in a great mood.

Easy 5 star

quite possibly the ultimate early 80s party album from the minds of talking heads. creative and wacky funk rock music. with its lighthearted tone, call-and-response kitschy vocals and some seriously trippy instrumentals, tom tom club stands by themselves in the sea of other rock bands... it’s like the album equivalent of the artsy kid at the party who ends up DJing and somehow everyone loves it.

Still very catchy and was very ground breaking at the time

Unfair that Tina Weymouth and Chris Frantz could just go out and do this as a side project. Insanely danceable.

genius of love is the song every artist wish they made

This album just brings happiness and joy. I'm o-o-o-over it. It's so o-o-o-over me.

Loved it. 4.5

Why is this kind of the coolest thing I’ve ever heard? It’s brimming with earnestness and enthusiasm. It’s delightfully, unapologetically weird. Good stuff.

Whenever I come across a band I've never heard of from this list, it makes me uneasy. I'm anxious and excited to see what the music has in store for me. I always try to err on the side of being prepared to dislike it. From track 1, this album had my attention. By the end of the first song, I was asking myself who was in this band. Lo and behold, it's a fucking Talking Heads side project. What a delightful little surprise. Absolute banger of an album and 39 minutes is perfect.

найс, понравилось, прикольное типо-диско. альбом сохранил. очень напомнило LCD Soundsystem. подойдет для вечеринок)

How had I never listened to this album before now? It's going in my regular rotation immediately.

AMAZING

Absolutely cracking. Start to finish, it's simple, yet complex. Lovely.

I weirdly like this a lot.

This is a big yes from me

Whoa never heard this end to end - only a few songs here and there but this one is a gem. Loved every second of it - dance-y, clever, tongue-in-cheek and fun while sounding original. Tops.

Cool, most songs could not be played but what I heard was good

God bless Tina and Chris!

cool weirdo shit

I remember this when it came out and it confused me. Since then I've heard David and Talking and Eno but this was just these two on a sabbatical. Seriously inventive and fun to listen to.

Plenty of talent to Talking Heads outside of David Byrne.

Great fun funky sounds. Bit silly but so catchy

Ooh yeah, I absolutely love Tina Weymouth and this wacky off shoot of the Talking Heads. Genius of Love is one of my fun go-to songs, and you gotta love how zany, funky, and lighthearted this is. I consider this album a treat.

Old fave

This feels like an early 90s version of Superorganism which is right up my alley. Such a delightfully joyful bop along album. Faves? All of them

Maybe the easiest 5 I've given. Fun, funky and weird and as good as any Talking Heads album.

Great album. I'd heard lots of these songs before but never listened through. It definitely sounds like Talking Heads, but weird in sort of a different way. You can hear more of this upbeat fun kind of style in their next couple albums, so I wonder if that was Chris and Tina getting a bit more creative freedom without Eno around?

Yeah, this album is still as great as it was in the 80s: two big hit singles and lots of other strong pop songs (such as On on on on, Booming & zooming). Of course, this is no Talking Heads (even though some songs like As Above So Below sound like typical TH songs) but I much prefer it over, say, My Life in the Bush of Ghosts.

Before MTV there was HBO Video Jukebox, and "Genius of Love" with its fun animated video played a lot between movies back then. I only knew the song from that context for a long time. I loved hearing the whole album today! It's fun and cool and I wish I'd listened to it long ago.

I'd been greatly looking forward to this, as I'm a Talking Heads convert and was aware of this side project from Tina Weymouth and Chris Frantz. I loved it and will definitely be keeping this on my phone. I liked all of the songs but this album deserves 5 stars for "Wordy Rappinghood" alone.

Loved this when it came out many years ago…It was fresh and revolutionary then. It remains fresh and revolutionary today.

5 stars. So good.

I could listen to this on repeat. I was familiar with Genius of Love but none of the other songs.

Like hip-hop dropped acid! So many original sounds in this album

Perfect. Listened @ FTD, perfect.

The excitement I felt when this popped up… Funky, fun, experimental and so influential. I’ll always love anything Chris, Tina, David or Jerry touch, so this is an easy perfect score in my book.

Caught Tom Tom Club at Glastonbury a few years ago and they were one of the most energetic and enthusiastic bands I saw, despite also being one of the oldest. This album transfers that feeling well; it's like you've been invited into their home and they're all giving you a big hug.

The opening bars of "Genius of Love" has to be one of the most sampled riffs ever, 20+ times by well-known bands – and the lyrics pay tribute to many of the great funk bands of the prior decades. “WordyRappinghood” is a nice bookend to Blondie’s “Rapture”, which came out a year earlier. Those were the only two songs I could name from this album, which I owned, as did my co-judge. But listening to it 40 years later, I like most of the supporting tracks as well. The production would have been quite fresh in 1981: L Elephant sounds like a Talking Heads rhythm track, especially with the addition of Adrian Belew’s guitar. They mix up the mood nicely, with dark funk like “Booming and Zooming” and Go-Go’s worthy anthems like “On On On”. The lyrics are clever, disguised by the Weymouth sisters' vocals. A catchy, well-rounded album.

This is so fun! "Wordy Rappinghood" is just a blast. I recognize "Genius of Love" a little bit, but this is just a fun little album! I like how easy it is to, like, jam to it and it is just good vibes. While a lot ended up on my Ridiculous Music playlist, that is as a positive. Sometimes it's fun to get a little funky and silly and this album really embodies that!

What a joy!

A little quirky, quite fun. I's listen again.

Похоже на talking heads, но с большей смелостью, не хватает какой-то целостности

What a party album

Talking heads adjacent tastic. You really got lost in the groove.

basses with a bounce ideas abound get moving summer is in flux

So much fun.

Very fun

This was a breath of fresh air, interesting, pleasant, fun.

Funky and weird, but in an endearing way. Obviously the rhythm section of Talking Heads would make a danceable record. 8/10

Me: this is very Talking Heads in vibes Me: (reads wiki) Me: I love being correct Great time, if too long. 4 stars for giving us one of the best sampled songs in the world, Genius of Love.

the sounds and inventive ideas on this were often more interesting and enjoyable than the songs they were working in service of. very cool but probably wouldn’t be rushing back to listen again apart from on on on on…

genius of love origin story! i loved this, great jams

This is really fun but I don’t think they’re as good as what they were as Talking Heads

What the funk?

Hade aldrig hört talas om TTC tidigare. Alltså en spin off från Talking heads. Hur som helst gillar jag vad jag hör. Lekfullt med skön rytmer. Får mig att tänka en del på Black devil disco club. De två inledande spåren är riktigt bra. Tycker inte heller att kvalitén sjunker nämnvärt längre in i albumet. Tänk om allt klassificerat som new wave låtit så här.

Fun and funky pop rock. Genius of Love is an obvious standout but also enjoyed l’elephant and As Above, So Below. Shame it’s not on Spotify

Free of Byrne’s quirk, the rhythm section is kinda great

Talking Heads' brand of funk comes through even without David Byrne, and I'm a sucker for it. Tina Weymouth has her own charm when taking the lead on most of this, on top of her already killer bass. The instrumentals themselves are meaty enough that they're allowed to ride for a couple of extra bars at the end of songs without ever really feeling repetitive or too long. I enjoyed it a lot! Standouts: Wordy Rappinghood • Genius Of Love • As Above So Below • Booming And Zooming • Under the Boardwalk

As a Talking Heads 'side project'? it's even weirder? Genius of Love is one of my favorite all time songs since it came out. Pitchfork: n/a Rolling Stone: n/a Best Songs Wordy Rappinghood Genius Of Love Lorelei

This is a fun time. Trailed off a bit toward the end but I'd listen again.

i had low expectations but this was super funky and fun. it really went all over the place. i liked it!

Deeply silly. “Genius of Love” is a banger.

jaaa tina weymouth coool! aber scho weirde scheiss. d funk drums passed irgendwie nur so halbe zum rest.. aber ich ha spass! wennses scho nöd uf qobuz git muenis halt im Pip lose ups. was wenn das d zuekunft vode musig ide schwiz isch?? bitte?? Musikvertrieb direkt is pip bitteeee. Aber anyway bin bi l'éléphant und s isch no witzig immerno und huere verspielt und schwerelos irgendwie. mags sehr. au bitz nervig halt haha. UNDER THE BOARDWAAAAAALK baaaanger. super funny cover. VIERI.

This was excellent! And so good to hear the sing that was sampled by Mariah and ODB

Arrancamos la semana con éste proyecto paralelo a Talking Heads, del que no recuerdo haber escuchado discos. O quizás si, muy por arriba y nunca de manera consciente. Hay en las canciones vibes a Talking Heads (un gran ejemplo es "As Above So Below"). Algunas más bailables que otras, pero todas muy bien. Buen lunes, gente.

Consistent tone throughout but still has variety.

Skemmtileg plata frá hliiðarverkefni Chris og Tinu í Talking heads. Létt og þægilegt.

That was unexpected. Nerdy with good grooves and cool instrumentation. Apparently they were a Talking Heads side project and it seems obvious after a listen.

I dunno, I was boppin

Excellent

אהבתי מאוד

Tina Weymouth is class. The sound throughout this album is superb

Undeniably a bop and a vibe

Nice 3.75

I really expected this to be some twee type album. Then I looked it up and found out it was... new wave art pop somehow connected to talking heads? I thought it was interesting as a concept I guess. The first minute or so sounds like proto-LCD Soundsystem, without any of the commentary on party culture or anything. It's so interesting. In fact "interesting" is one of the most said words about this album when you go to "reviews." Words.... hmm. Anyway that first track left a big impression on me, and then “Genius of Love” left a similar impression on me. I was dancing in the hallway! I guess the better word for it would be groovin, but same difference. The entire album has this vibe where you can just groove peacefully to it. Just very peaceful, wholesome, repetitive grooviness. Favorites in general include "Wordy Rappinghood," "Genius of Love," "L'Elephant," and "On, on, on, on." Very kooky. Very fun. Very entertaining. 8.3/10

This was weird and fun, I like weird. “Genius of Love” is an absolutely phenomenal headphone listen.

Genius

This is one I hadn't heard before and it stuck with me immediately regardless. Lorelei. Lorelei

Dig it

Imagine being that good at this whole 'music' thing, that you can be both Talking Heads and Tom Tom Club. Absolute top tier musicians. Genius of Love is absolutely bonkers and genius. The beats are so crisp and rhythmically on point. Occasionally it has the vibe of being a bit of a comedy record with some lyrics, but overall it holds strong.

More like Fun Fun Club.

Oh, a nice surprise. I didn't know this, but loved it - great vibe and inventiveness, and loads of fun. I guess it goes to show that the really talented one in Talking Heads was all of them.

This is incredibly good, and I’m annoyed with myself for only ever having heard the first two tracks off it and not delving further. It’s like catchy pop funk with an edgeness of strange. Everything you’d expect from a Talking Heads side project! I dont know why David Byrne didnt like this, I think it’s pretty great! 4.5

First few songs of this were really good, sort of reminded me of LCD. Think I've heard wordy rappinghood before? Very ahead of it's time for 1981. Dropped off as it went on, lost the interesting overlapping bits and regressed to being more stripped back. Still overall pretty decent, 3.5.

I did not expect to enjoy this album as much as I did. It’s playful, but macabre at times. Weird

yay lots of fun!! i believe genius of love is one of the most sampled songs of all time? i think i read that somewhere.

My first thought was "this sounds a lot like Talking Heads". Turns out it's Tina and Chris from there. Sadly this isn't on Spotify, but I thought this was pretty good! Found the groove department of the album very good. The bass and beat combination was very electric. Some fun sample possibilities on 'Wordy Rappinghood', and 'Genius of Love' is a very cool song! Probably nothing I'll return to right away as it's not easily accessible, but I really felt all songs held a high standard. Perhaps a bit too samey at times, but definitely good. 'It's Friday, Friday!' as Rebecca Black would've said, and as such I'm feeling generous. Weak 4 it is!

Het is eigenlijk maar onzinnige muziek, maar toch kan ik het tijdens het werken goed hebben. Het is een beetje dubby (die afstammeling van reggae), doet soms ook denken aan The Avalanches en aan zo'n hippe oude kerel die altijd lptjes mocht draaien op Van Moll Fest. Erg vaag allemaal, maar zoals gezegd kon ik me er (onverwacht) toch prima naar schikken. Ik zet het op een 4. Ik ben de weg eigenlijk helemaal kwijt. Amper geslapen vannacht ook, dus mocht dit kritiek opleveren dan is dat m'n belangrijkste verweer. Jammer dat het niet op Spotify staat.

I love albums by people committed to communicating the sounds in their head and heart, without artistic pretension and in total (or near total) disregard of commercial expectations. It's super creative without being stuffy; consistently interesting; and beautifully produced. Yes, please.

Intressant die Musik und Gesang, Animiert zum Tanzen

I have vivid memories of Wordy Rappinghood in my 11 year old charts before I knew the big Talking Heads tracks and this track seems fresh even now. Genius of Love was the track we got to know on 'stop making sense' (a much better version than the one on this album I find). I can't admit to finding the rest of the album as ultimately appealing as these opening two nuggets but it certainly was an excellent achievement from Tina and Chris not knowing what to do whilst 'My life in the bush of ghosts' was being made without giving a thought to them - ably supported by Adrian Belew as well.

437/1089 - Some cool songs with Lorelei and the other one but too repetitive overall. I like the live version of Genius of Love where Chris Frantz is a dorky hypeman and sounds like a PaRappa the Rapper boss.

While this album did go on a bit it was fun! I enjoyed listening to the whole thing, even though at a couple points I had to check to see if it was still the same album. It sounds pretty much what you’d expect from The Talking Heads without David Byrne. All the fun, none of the organization.

Fun album

The opening of this album really made my day. I started listening as I usually do while driving to work (15 minutes). And the quirky energy, weird lyrics and fun beats really was the energy burst I needed this day. The second song was also really good. After that the quality detoriated a little, but it was still a nice listen. I am really happy I was introduced to Tom Tom Club. Favourites: Wordy Rappinghood and Genius of Love.

This album was so fun - I came back to it a few times after listening. That first song is such a banger, and sets the rest of the album up so well. Bravo Tom Tom Club!

a ram sam sam mentioned 😭

Kinda weird, but in a good way

אלבום מאוד גופי מיוחד

I love the rubbery kid weird funk and the chanting girly singing; sure some of the songs stretch a bit, but inventive, fun, smart, danceable. Genius of Love is, in fact, genius.

Still sounds edgy and oddball and loose, all these decades later.

Ja genieten!!! Meer van deze dingen in de huidige pop graag :) zeker album dat ik vaker ga luisteren!

love dit! erg genoten

oh wat een heerlijke rare plaat. favorieten waren as above so below, on on on on (lekker gitaartje) en under the boardwalk (leuke jaren 50 rock, yellow polka dot bikini vibes)

Okay, loved.

Album #39, Tom Tom Club, Tom Tom Club ⭐⭐⭐⭐ This might not be a five star, but it might be one of my favourite albums to listen to so far. I hadn’t really heard of Tina Weymouth or Tom Tom Club before, even though I’m familiar with Talking Heads. Maybe I’m just not deep enough into Talking Heads to have come across it before. This is just a great record. I’ve only listened to it once so far, and I imagine it will grow and grow on me. I love any album where the drums feel like the main instrument. The drums here are big, the beats are big, they’re repetitive and right in your face. Then you have all these melodic bass lines and arpeggiated synths drifting in and out around the rhythm. It opens with this kind of wacky rapping vocal, which I actually thought was great, but it did make me worry that the whole album was going to be sung in that low-talker, cutesy voice style. I wasn’t really looking forward to that. Thankfully that’s not the case. Tina Weymouth’s vocals are great across the album. She moves between childish, smooth, silky, slightly sexy, and even a bit sinister at times. A lot of the tracks actually have a sinister feel to them, especially Booming and Zooming and L’Elephant. Some moments are downright spooky. And then there’s Genius of Love. I knew that song straight away. I’d heard it loads of times before but never knew who it was by or even what it was called. That might actually be the best track on the album. I love how long it is too. It just keeps going and going, and they squeeze every bit of creative juice out of that groove. Yeah, it’s a great record. I’m definitely keeping this in my rotation. I think it’s only going to grow on me the more I listen to it.

Far and away the more talented parts of Talking Heads. It’s not even close

1: Wordy Rappinghood 2: L’Elephant 3: On, On, On, On…

This gave possibly in Michigan vibes. Lorelei was a banger and everyone and their mom has sampled Genius of Love

What a blast. As the rest of the world - I know the the first two tracks but the rest of the album was a mostly new experience. Without any caveats - this album sounds great. That it came out on 1981 - it's quite radical - yet exceedingly listenable. Songs settle into a groove and let it ride. There's enough adornment to keep ones attention. Not sure I need Under the Boardwalk but it's an achievement for a side project of the rhythm section of a band on the midst of one of the great runs on rock n roll history.

Welp! Now you got me listening to Mariah. The whole time I'm listening to Genius Of Love, I'm trying figure which song Mariah sampled it from. I had NO clue that hook was a sample. Tom Tom Club is better. This was a fun & weird album that hit my music funny bone just right. The songs are a bit long but I was never felt bored. That Under the Broadwalk cover is nice. The album can be artsy fartsy at times but still good. 4

A missing link between disco and new wave. Smart and weird. I dig it.

This was honestly such a fun album to listen to!

Such a specific fun vibe

Solid album. Good tunes with cracking basslines. Was worried they may go overboard with lyrics, so was pleasantly surprised that they did not.

Had heard a few songs from this before and really liked it. Fondly remember genius of love from IASIP.

Infectiously groovy, zany and fun.

This was a lot of fun, and increased my respect for the Talking Heads so much more to learn that David Byrne wasn’t the only creative force in that band.

Genius of Love and Wordy Rappinghood are absolute bangers and there are interesting ideas here. But as someone who spent the bit in Stop Making Sense where Tina Weymouth and Chris Frantz take centre stage wondering when David Byrne was coming back, I think they probably did need a charismatic oddball out front to bring it all together.

songs i knew but didn't know they had sung them!

7/10 – Good

So much fun. Kinda can't believe this came out in '81.

Fun and good

Awesome, so many tunes I had no idea they did.

Weird in a good way. Was never sure what would come next, but it did all fit the album very well. It did fizzle out a bit on the later songs but remained enjoyable. 7/10

8/10 Fun album! would listen again

Some killer cuts and some filler, too.

Makes a terrible first impression but I’ll be honest, this won me over. The arrangements are really wonderful even if the overall aesthetic is goofy.

7/10 Favourite: Genius of Love Least Favourite: Booming and Zoomin

Felt good to listen to this. Better than the talking heads! I always thought it was a diddy song. As my dad says, it “got us through 1981”. FO

Never heard of this band. Omg these guys remind me of LCD SOUNDSYSTEM. Interesting. Did not realize it’s these guys with the sample off Genius of Love.

Really good.

4/5 The Cure se ninguém tivesse depressão. Coeso, divertido e com algumas faixas mais experimentais.

im in heaven with my boyfriend

4+/5

What are Chris Franz and Tina Weymouth gonna do when they get out of jail? They're gonna have some fun. Free from the oppressive art school tyranny of David Byrne, Franz and Weymouth recruit Prog-monster Adrian Belew to create an album that is funky and danceable, if overly cutesy. Unfortunately, the grooves often sink into monotony. Numerous references to cocaine sprinkled throughout the record offer a possible cause for the inability to succinctly end a song. Then again, it was 1981. The Disco era hadn't ended quite yet and The Tom Tom Club were offering a fresh concept to the nightclub scene.

I didn't know what to expect with this album. Certainly not a funk beat, judging by the cover. But honestly, it's a pretty dang solid lovely mesh of early electronic music and funky basslines. I'd keep this one in the rotation.

This was really good! I hadn't heard of it before, although of course I recognized some of the songs.

Weirdly accessible album that is so smooth and so fun at the same time. I really enjoyed that little new wave oddity!

Guess what— sounds like Talking Heads minus Byrne! I do like the female (Weymouth’s?) chipper vocals, and the tunes are catchy and rhythmic, but truly miss Byrne’s one-of-a-kind lyrics.

Fun

jAmEs BrOwNnNn! JaMeS bRoWnNnN! son lo más cool

That was a trip. Genius of Love is obviously just the craziest thing, and in the best way. The rest of the album is almost as fun and crazy, and at least 80% as enjoyable.

I was really dreading this album, I didn't know it, but it looks obnoxious and absurd - so much so that I took a break from the list until I was ready mentally. On coming back I was surprised to be met with such an easy listen, great vibe and not demanding at all - maybe it's the dread I felt for it at first that made me enjoy it as much as I did, but I enjoyed it nevertheless

Great fun

The amount of extremely well known samples I got slapped in the face with while listening to the first few songs is insane in the best way.

I bought this when it came out and played it a fair bit. Still really like it now all these years later especially the first two tracks.

Unexpected treat

Fantastic. This is one of those bands that I always forget about.

You can definitely see Talking Heads wasn't just a David Byrne's baby... fun and eclectic and the music history can thank for "Genius Of Love"

Upbeat, relaxed, and a bit funky weird

Cosmic!

Lovely album- really enjoyable listen

Playful and fun

the guitar and the drum...

Better than expected and a lot of fun actually.

There are some great grooves on this album. It kind of misses David Byrne on vocals though

Uneven

Genius of Love is one of my all time favorite bangers, and man this album did not disappoint

Highlights: wordy rappington, genius of love, L’elphant, Lorelei Lowlight: Tom tom theme, booming and zooming Fun Natural Fun! I loved this album. I had heard genius of live plenty of time but never got around to this whole album done by this splinter group of the talking heads Worry rappington is definitely a litmus test to see if you’ll like what this album and I was all in. Genius of love is for sure a classic banger that’s been sampled like crazy and has plenty of crazy talk and such a groovy best (my favorite line thst I live bey, “WHO NEEDS TO THINK WHEN YOUR FEET JUST GO?!”) L’elephant and Lorelei were two distinct sounds and bass heavy tracks that I find myself just getting lost in, and I really enjoyed the closer of under the boardwalk The album isn’t flawless, while I can forgive tom tom club, booming and zooming was a chore to get through after all of the radio talking happened Either way, this was a fun album that I will for sure find myself listening to post review. 4/5

this had me dancing round like i had crab infested pubes.

I just love lamb chops.

💕💕💕 2 hours of pleasure

Return of the Mack

Classic album. Has some real strong hits but also a few clunkers.

This was a really good album, which surprised me. I was well aware of 'Genius Of Love' - if you are my age it'd be almost impossible not to have heard that track, or any of the multitude of tracks that have sampled it. The rest of the album was very good. No real weak tracks. This is a big shock to me as The Talking Heads albums I've had served up have been very hit and miss (mostly miss).

Fun and energetic.

The only song I'd heard before this listen was Genius of Love, but I was very impressed with the rest of the album, very groovy. Feels very decidedly 80's but in the best way.

Amazing sample on Genius of Love! Fantasy by Mariah Carey and Big Energy by latto. Overall a pretty "talking-heads-side-project" type of album. Cool, easy to listen to, and a ton of groovers.

Talking Heads and Talking Heads accessories are great.

Booming and Zooming was a sneak fave that I was not expecting. OFC, Wordy Rappinghood and Genius of Love have been in my repeats for years, but the rest was very fun to explore.

The Talking Headless. Members of the Talking Heads make a new band minus one David Byrne. Enjoyable side project but I still prefer the original band of heads talking. One of the songs does get stuck in my head constantly though, the one about boyfriends. 8/10

Labai ilgai truko, bet dėl to, kad antram diske yra įkėlę instrumentinius dainų variantus. O šiaip patiko. Puiku užsigalvojimui.

This whole album is a vibe, and there are some great standout tracks too. Pleasantly surprised (think my expectations were low mostly due to the awful cover art).

This record sounds cool as hell; fun and funky. Genius of Love still sounds totally fresh. Can definitely do without all the bloat of the 'deluxe edition' though.

This was a very fun, quirky listen

I like the Talking Heads but I like this better. I would love to be part of the scene where this is dominating. Not perfect, but very cool.

Very fun

Joyous

Classic. Love

Fun. Really good. Lorelei, Wordy Rappinghood, Genius Of Love - all bangers.

Not something I'd normally put on, but it was fun and groovy, and unserious but still well put together

It's a 3.5, but gets rounded up to 4 on the strength of "Genius of Love." Lots of fun grooves but the "Wordy Rappinghood" rapping is bad in that 1981 sing-songy way that a lot of people who had no business rapping ended up rapping around that time.

This album didn't ring any bells, but now that I've listened to it, it has a very familiar sound.

Listened Before? N What a cool and polished new-wave album. I was unaware of the spinoff from TH until now, these guys were a pleasant surprise. Added to Library? N Songs added to playlist: Genius of Love

Haven’t heard it for a long time, but fell in love with it again

I had never heard of this, but i like Talking Heads so it is no surprise I like this one too. Very fun!

I really liked this. I've known the song Genius of Love forever, and recognized it sampled in other songs, but never realized where it originated or that it was from 1981. 4/5

Enjoyed this one. I learned a bunch of things from it: 1. Side-project of Talking Heads drummer and bassist 2. Drummer and bassist of TH are married 3. Bassist of TH is a woman Outside of that, of course I've heard Genius of Love, but found the other tracks really fun too. Good shit 3.5/5

Favourites: Wordy Rappinghood, Genius Of Love, L'éléphant, Lorelei, Under The Boardwalk

Bahahahaha fuck it, 4 stars for the Big Dick Energy sample! What a fun and silly album.

I had no idea that Genius of Love has been sampled so much in modern music! Classic tune, used in 163+ songs since it's release!!

cool

Super fun and silly and goofy and memey I'm kinda a big fan. Outside of Genius of Love which I'm sure everyone and their mother would recognize, the rest of the record is a decent listen with some funky detours and styles. 7/10

I mean everything about this is just a normal Talking Heads album, except it isn't David Byrne singing, so can't complain.

Fun album with a unique sound. 3.5/5.0: Very Good

More or less Talking Heads without David Byrne, at least in terms of personnel. That's a disservice to Chris Frantz (drums) and Tina Weymouth (bass), though: that a side project formed by 2/3 of a band would sound similar is inevitable. That it should be as infectious and interesting as this is a credit to the creative contributions that Frantz and Weymouth were clearly making to Talking Heads -- sometimes reduced by critics to a mere Byrne vehicle -- all along. Nothing here is as affecting as 'Once In A Lifetime' or 'This Must Be The Place'; the sense of melody is simpler and somewhat less emotional in Tom Tom Club than Talking Heads but this is a fun album. Hits of synth, a disconnected sort of 'world music' rhythmic influence and some electronic drum stuff all combine to make this sound like the 80's pillar that it is, but without the cold, heartless, over-reverbed schlock that ruined so many recordings as that decade wore on. It certainly didn't hurt to have the chameleon-like Adrian Belew (equally at home in King Crimson or fleshing out Talking Heads' Remain In Light) onboard for some guitar work. You already know 'Genius of Love'. As is evident from my other reviews through this project, I'm no 80's stan. This is a good album from the decade, though: it has all the weirdness, the electronic production flourishes, the laid-back vocal delivery and the subdued guitar work that could've been great on other records, but without all the racks of muddling effects that hang around the decade's music like a cursed albatross. Instead, it's gently weird, in a playful way. 4/5: check this one out.

Any album that I think is just a good background bop but then sounds better on close listen is a good album in my book. Just a fun, clever album. Plus, I automatically add a star for anything with Adrian Belew (although interestingly, he wasn't as present on this album as you'd expect, except for the obvious guitar/elephant sound...well, obvious to any King Crimson fan! I love that the blurb in the 1001 book referred to him as "stunt guitarist" Adrian Belew. EDIT: Wow, per Wikipedia, "recording engineer Steven Stanley erased the majority of Belew's solos during the mixing sessions" - so it wasn't my imagination!). Really enjoyed this album - can't call it a five, but I would definitely revisit. Favorite tracks: Wordy Rappinghood, Genius of Love (one of those "Hey, I know this one!" the moment it started), Lorelei (really liked this track - creates a cool mood).

Really enjoyed this, it is like a more comforting version of Talking Heads mixed with Stereolab. Oh wait, it is a subset of Talking Heads! 4

Jerry and Tina fly on! Genius of Love is the obvious highlight here, a song that feels like it has been around forever (although, sigh, I guess 1981 is forever now). This album feels like a direct influence on what Stereolab would end up doing in the 90's and onward, which is a great thing! I need more time with the album, because as of now, I like it but don't love it. Seems a little long, even before all the remixes and whatnot. But I do love some of the individual songs, like L'Elephant and As Above, So Below. It's a 4 for now, possible moving higher.

This is probably excellent on drugs

This is excellent on drugs

I was familiar with Genius of Love. Had heard it many times just didn’t know what it was called or who sang it. There were a lot of catchy tunes on this album. I liked Wordy Rappinghood, On,On, On, On, This Is a Foxy World, Bamboo town, I have to say that their version of Under the Boardwalk was pretty cheesy. It kind of had a Karaoke feel to it. lol I think I would listen to this album again. I didn’t know until reading other reviews that they are connected to Talking Heads, so I’m anxious to check out their music as well.

"Tom Tom Club" is the debut album by American new wave band Tom Tom Club. Funk, post-disco, new wave, dance and synth-pop are the Wiki-listed genres. That covers it. The band was formed by husband and wife Tina Weymouth (lead vocals, bass) and Chris Frantz (drums, backing vocals) as a side project from Talking Heads. The band was comprised of a loose aggregation of musicians , sound engineers and artists of the Compass Point All Stars (session and recording artists from the Bahamas' Compass Point Studios) including guitarist Adrian Belew and Tina's three sisters, Lani, Laura and Loric, on backing and lead vocals. Other bandmembers were Monte Brown (guitar), Tyrone Downie (keyboards) and Uziah Thompson (percussion). The album had favorable reviews and, commercially, reached #23 on the US Billboard 200 and #78 in the UK. A typewriter, synth and drum beat open "Wordy Rappinghood." A bass, slow synth keys and scratchy guitar are added. The music settles into a hypnotic dance groove. Tina and her sisters on vocals, chanting, rapping and singing, and a lot of repeating the word "words." A fun song. Heck, they throw in a Donald Duck voice. "Genius of Love" has the catchy synth keys, bubbly guitar and dance beat. Another great groove. Tina and her sisters in a higher voice register as they pay tribute to black musicians including Hamilton Bohannon, George Clinton, Bootsy Collins and, of course, Chris Frantz repeating "James Brown"in that weird voice. Their third single "On, On, On, On..." has synth handclaps, a steady beat, prominent bass and guitar slashes. The four women join in on lead vocals as they repeat "there's more of us coming." This is Belew's best song as he brings and edge to the guitar. This album is fun, funky and danceable. The lyrics from I can tell are nonsensical; this is a dance party. There's s great hypnotic groove to most songs especially the first two mentioned. Not all songs works but overall this is good album. The early 80's/late 70's was very fruitful for Talking Head' members with great albums from themselves, David Byrne with Eno and this one. This album is recommended alone for the first two songs.

Tom Ton Club is a very interesting side project from two of the Talking Heads band members. It's flashy, viby, and quite experimental. It has an unique feel and manages to sound different than Talking Heads, but does not surpass that group by any means.

Genius of love is a classic, but this whole album could have benefitted from slightly more refined vocals

Hoot zee nanna zinna

Tom Tom Club

I still play a lot of this album, via playlists. It's fun, silly and a total groove. The lesser known tracks are great and while some of the sister singing is a bit naff, it just does not matter. Great writing and playing, and fantastic antidote to some of David's excesses. It outsold Talking Heads for a reason: it's just straight out fun. Cool record.

Helping alt-kids dance since 1981. Alt-Dance was born with this album, and that cannot be denied. The songs are maybe on the long side and might benefit from additional mixing, but it’s classic status and importance cannot be denied.

So a side project from the Talking Heads without David Byrne is still full of funky fun

3- 4

The relentlessness of the rhythm is refreshing. Really liked this. Really consistent drive carries through while the vibe of the singing is both varied and congruent. Just really good fun high 4.

Crazy good. Genuine find. Experienced as a 4, could become a 5 with time.

fun!!

Funky and fun! I was going to give this a 3.8 but upon my second listen rounding it up to 4

In high school, I got sneered at by a cheerleader for putting on a Tom Tom Club tape at a student council Carnival Ball decorating meeting, and later in life, she became an assistant coroner and was on a short lived reality-cop show about my home town and came off seeming like a horrible person while I am a ray of sunshine, so thanks Tom Tom Club! BIT IT buh bah BIT IT forever!

Tom Tom Club sounds like the ultimate early 80s Lower East Side art-punk side project, heavily influenced by the nascent hip hop coming out of the Bronx. Which it essentially is. It’s weird, spindly and funky. Some tracks (“Genius of Love” and the dubby “L’Elephant”) sound more finished than others (“Booming and Zooming”). But in the end it’s a fun listen and is aligned with my personal musical interests.

Despite my affection for Talking Heads, I'd sort of written this Tom Tom Club off as a one hit wonder, which is a shame because I actually like a lot of this a lot. It's much more dance-cenyric and eclectic (even experimental) than Talking Heads, and it's surprising how little connective tissue there is between the bands, sonically. It almost feels more like a precursor to Gorillaz, which isn't 100% surprising, given Tina and Chris's involvement in that bands first album.

So ahead of it's time (hear shades of Le Tigre & Cibo Matto) while also cutely, quirkly early 80s in ways, too. I know David Byrne thought this was too poppy, but it blows all the Talking Heads albums we've had to date out of the water. Besides Genius of Love (rightfully sampled by everyone under the sun), I added 3 other songs to various playlists. A fun listen you couldn't ignore.

a slay

Super fun and songs I didn’t know I knew. Great 80s electronica

that one fucking funny ass tune everyone knows

so fun!!! And I've def heard some of these before.

I had zero hopes for this based on the album art. Turns out this fucking rocks.

I love the talking heads so I knew that even half of them would at least be pretty decent. first song is unlistenable but the rest is really pleasant and you can tell it's 50% of the talking heads. rather listen to the full band but it's nice to hear them play around a little and have fun. favorite song: "genius of love" overall: 7/10

That sample is iconic

Loved this. Great percussion. Quirky, weird, all around a good listen.

New wave poo

Now I know where the sample is from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-tCTm5M3Cp8

Hey it’s that sample! What this album does well is the very danceable beats and rhythms, without strictly being a dance album (maybe it is, I don’t know). Some of the songs drag on a bit but the kit and instruments are varied and fun. The singers add a nice variety to other kinds of dance music; they’re almost like the B-52’s with the double tracking. This was fun, I didn’t expect to like it as much as I did.

All praise to Tina Weymouth and anything she’s involved in! Essential new wave/punk crossbreeding here. Be still my heart.

Hm never heard of these guys. HA! This first track is funny. I like the quirkiness! Dude, this next track has some sexy Japanese vocals, and it's funky! I love it.

Oddly the link took me to REM's Automatic for the People. But I won't review that here. As for Tom Tom Club This is a lovely, frenetic groovy album with very few peers. I'm sold!

Listens: 3 Standout tracks: Genius of Love, Wordy Rappinghood, Under The Boardwalk Added To Library: TRUE My gut reaction to this was "Oh look. More New Wave...." but there's something different going on here. This is not Depache Mode or Simple Minds or some of the other music I've elected to listen to. This is more like proto-Nightmare on Wax. I get major Nightmare on Wax vibes from this album: African Pirates, Man Tha Journey, Deep Down etc. If I had just heard this album without vocals, Nightmare on Wax would have been a guess. So, all that being said, I was much more impressed with the album than I expected to be. The beat on Genius of Love is... genius (and entirely funky). The pseudo-rapping on Wordy Rappinghood is intriguing. I like how they sneak some French in there. Their cover of Under The Boardwalk is also great. Notably, the Deluxe Edition was not available on YTM, so I only listened to the regular album, plus 3 remix/long version tracks tacked on. And it was plenty. 3.5 Edit: Increase to a 4. I normally do not like New Wave, but this album has an allure to it and some incredibly catchy songs.

Okay, a lot of this is silly, but I really like it. (Love it??) “80s” in the very best way - fun, playful, funky, and somehow cool. Never a drag! Favorites: “Genius of Love,” “As Above, So Below,” “Lorelei” Played it from the start once it ended. 4.5

Between a 4-5 for me (would've been a 5 if the second half was just as fun as the first). Really really enjoyed it!

Joyful, cheerful, energetic.

Really enjoyed this... Great synths

Genius

Instantly in a good mood.

Fun and wild

Glad to finally hear this album after knowing about the Tom Tom Club for a long time - big fan of Talking Heads and of the Genius of Love segment in Stop Making Sense. Liked Under the Boardwalk and Lorelei. Some of the other songs a bit more prosaic. Don't know that I'd listen to the whole album again, but good and enjoyable listen.

I think a major reason that this album is only remembered for one or two songs is because its not Talking Heads, in fact its quite different, but I think the charm here is on par with Talking Heads, even if it is presented completely differently. Obviously the hit Genius of Love is catchy and a sampling machine, but most of the other tracks are also extremely catchy, such as Wordy Rappinghood asking "what if Blondie's rap was a whole song?" and Lorelei giving this sad edge to a still quite dance-y track, it has enough variety even in its short run time to be a really good time at points. I think the middle run on the album can tend to run too long, but the tracks at the start and finish are far too good to pass up, and Booming and Zooming is almost terrifying to me for some reason, with a eclectic yet catchy riff with dialogue just audible enough to give off a tense edge, I think its a fantastic closer. Were the album to replace some of its lesser tracks with even better runs from the time, such as Under the Boardwalk, then I could see this being a really great album from an admittedly bygone era. Unfortunately, it seems to just be remembered for the one track, and that's a shame in my eyes, because there's some great stuff here under the surface level.

This was weird, silly and fun. I need more of this in my life.

4 stars

great album, I had already listened to it. I listened it while working in the bakery.

Really bonkers album but I really enjoyed it, just something sonically and lyrically appealed to me, was almost tempted to give 5 stars but I don’t think it’s quite up to that standard but still definitely worthy of 4

Kind of corny but pretty fun. Even the songs that I didn't like at first grew on me by the end. Could easily remove half the songs though. Just below 4 stars but I'm rounding up