Reviews (page 6 of 8)
Most of this album sounds like that episode of Friends when Ross plays the keyboard. When I saw “Under the Boardwalk” at the end of the track listing I was expecting it would be an awful cover and it was worse than I feared. Not even “love genius” inspiring Mariah Carey’s “Fantasy” (certified banger) could push this album to a 2 for me.
3.7 Has the feeling of a group of friends, screwing around and jamming. Lots of different influences in the work. And if its got Weymouth on bass im probably going to like it
3.5 Not as good as Talking Heads but still pretty great!!!
New wave for the most part is not a genre that I genuinely enjoy. The music sounds very dated and corny as hell. There were definitely some songs that I could give a 3 or 3.5 but the rest is not very good.
Still have this. Pure joy
The beats were so good, but the lyrics were so bad. It had me dancing and jamming at the same time.
Almost offensively bland
gott grúv. ég er mjög hrifinn.
Enjoyed this. Must’ve sounded so fresh in 1981.
There are shades of Talking Heads here because 2/3 make this. Hit or miss for me
Harmless but not sure what it's doing in the 1001 to listen to before you die :/ Genius of Love is remarkable and illustrative of its time but, as an album, it's not amazing. The cover's cool.
p482. 1981. 3 stars. Average early 80s disco/dance/rap. Well done of its kind, and excellent production, but not essential listening.
Y'know, as much as I'd want to pay this group some respect by not comparing them to Talking Heads--to be judged solely on their own merits as a New Wave act, at least... I find framing my listening that way kind of unavoidable, honestly. 'Coz the only question I have going into it, really, is "What do these guys sound like when David Byrne **isn't** around?" As it turns out: "less nerdy Talking Heads." Even if it still has quite a few of those weirder edges (particularly in the back half), it's way more polished than any Talking Heads song I've heard. Heck, I'd go so far as to call them a bit more mainstream--and I don't mean that as an insult, knowing how some would use it. I mean, you just gotta look at their biggest hit, "Genius Of Love". That's such an incredible synth hook it has. It's no wonder why Mariah Carey eventually had it sampled up for "Fantasy" (and then **that** got sampled up and knocked off for "Big Energy", but let's stay on topic). It's synth-y, 80's fun, with this crazy danceable groove, and just the right amount of weirdness to give it that aforementioned edge while still keeping it commercially appealing. I'm not surprised it became **the** song people know this group for, even if the rest of their catalog's seemed to have faded away from public knowledge. And if I could bring up a deeper cut favorite... "As Above, So Below" was probably my favorite. It reminded me the most of Talking Heads, which is maybe why I like it as much as I do, though I don't think I'd ever mistake it for one. Thanks largely to Tina's vocals (which, in spots, reminded me of lower-vibe ABBA songs), it can stand on its own. Plus, hey, it's also got a good groove, so... ("Lorelei" gets an honorable mention as runner-up favorite. The "Under The Boardwalk" cover is real good, too.) There we go, then: I like this album. It's not as much of a New Wave masterwork as the last New Wave album I heard (SHE'S SO UNUSUAL), and I'm not blown away stupid by it, but it does its job well. If I have only one gripe about it, "Wordy Rappinghood" probably wasn't the **best** way to kick off the album. Sure, it has a pretty good instrumental, but... I mean, maybe I just don't like New Wave rapping? I haven't gotten to that one Blondie song everyone seems to like, so we'll see if my opinion changes, but from the ones I **have** heard... Look, all I'm saying is that interpolating "Old MacDonald Had A Farm" kinda makes your song lame. I mean, "Old MacDonald" was the lowest point of Elvis's career; you really wanna hitch onto **that** legacy? As you've seen, I've given this album a 4, but even if the rest of the material was good enough for a 5, I'd still drop it to a 4 just because this song is so lame. I mean, seriously, goodness... But let's bring it back up a positive note. As someone who's only a casual Talking Heads fan, I'm happy to've heard this. I feel like I have a new appreciation for the non-Byrne band members now. I never figured he was the sole genius behind the group, but it's nice to have evidence that the rest of them could carry their own weight. Ultimately, however, I do think I still prefer Talking Heads for its nerdier, awkward-er edges, though if you're a fan of the band, or New Wave in general, I think this is worth your time. At any rate, it's better than NO TALKING, JUST HEAD. Goodness.
A really neat side project for some Talking Heads members, but asides the big hit of the album, it kind of feels a little bland in my eyes. 3.5 bumped down to 3.
I’m at a 3.5 that I’ll bump up to a 4. It’s not necessarily a great album, but it’s a pretty damn fun one – where it lacks in some of the technical and compositional stuff, it more than makes up for in terms of vibes and enjoyment. There are lots of empty spots on this album that feels like they could be filled in by something more, but those patches of emptiness are simply a reminder that this is 1981, and the world’s not quite yet ready for a Daft Punk-esque synth solo that would break their brains. Wordy Rappinghood is fun (if a little goofy), and Genius of Love surprised me once it revealed itself is THAT song that everyone (namely Mariah Carey) has sampled, but the album definitely hits a sort of stagnant point until Lorelei for me. Tom Tom Theme is rather short, L'éléphant was just too repetitive for me to really enjoy, especially without the vocal hook or storytelling (that I could understand) to break it up, and As Above, So Below really drags out its chorus despite the rather fun instrumental. After that though, Lorelei is sort of mesmerizing, hypnotic, and mysterious in a way that sucked me in and clicked really well. On, On, On, On, while a bit culty in its lyricism, just worked for me instrumentally and tonally. Booming and Zooming is sort of weird, but its story is captivating enough that I can look past the sort of droning instrumental in the back. Under the Boardwalk feels like the first breaths of 90s Eurodance trying to come to life, and a very good way to end the album. All of that to say, I enjoyed about 2/3rds of what’s on here, but none of it was outright bad. It’s just not as concise and controlled as I think it could have been, but it’s not enough of a problem to make me think any less of the album. It’s a 3.5 that’ll go up to a 4, and a rather fun listen. I liked it.
Oh I know Genius of Love. This album has some interesting instrumental and background work going on pretty much the entire time. Feels fairly unique but it's in a genre I don't listen to a lot so I may be missing what influenced it and who it influenced. Worth a listen. Wouldn't run to turn it off but wouldn't go out of my way to put it on.
So much New Wave! I like the album art. I find the opening track grating. Genius of Love is obviously a great instrumental, but the vocals don't do anything to elevate it. Mariah Carey definitely improved it. Influential album for sure. I listened to Santogold a lot back in 2008 which has a very similar vibe. She went on to work with David Byrne in 2010. On a second listen it grew on me a little more, but not something I would recommend to anyone.
This is three stars. Listenable, but forgettable.
Never listened to this one the whole way through, but I was pretty familiar with the first 2 songs. Songwriting wise, it doesn't really compare to the best Talking Heads albums, but its better than their later ones for sure. It's also super funky, lots of fun and has been sampled so many times, it's influence is clear and it was way ahead of it's time. 7/10
Just the right amount of different to satisfy.
I listened to this a couple of times while thinking “I love how much this sounds like Talking Heads” before finally looking up that it is in fact half of Talking Heads. This came out 6 years before I was born, but I’m still not sure how I didn’t know that! Talking Heads are easily one of my top ten bands of all time, and I knew there were side projects, I just didn’t realize this was one of them. I think it’s great! Apparently David Byrne didn’t think so, but as much as I love the guy he doesn’t have the best reputation for praising his bandmates or giving them due credit. Tina’s vocals are excellent for the music, and every track is groovy. In my opinion it’s clear highlight is Genius of Love, but each track is at least solid and L’Elephant, As Above, so Below, and their cover of Under The Boardwalk (a bonus track I think but worth mentioning) are all great. It’s hard not to compare to the Talking Heads records, and while it doesn’t reach the heights of TH’s first 5 records, it’s arguably better than anything that band did after Stop Making Sense. I think it’s a great album for fans of Talking Heads and an excellent overall product of the early 80’s.
This is the album that popped up to coincide with my 900th rating. Somehow that is appropriate. This album adventure started because I was desperate to find something to fill the time on my hour-plus commute. I remain delighted to listen to the mix of old favorites, stuff that's not my cup of tea, and things I have not listened to before. The time frame for this album and me is right around post-college, when disco had not quite faded. I like the callback, and the uncomplicated rhythm of the music. No earthshaking lyrics but some times you just got to jam.
very good iconic
Really repetitive. Not sure why this is here other than an association with Talking Heads.
Who needs David? Not Tina & Chris. Good album for a side piece. “Genius of Love” is Genius, love.
Fonky
The beginning of the album has big dick energy, but unfortunately, it fizzles out as the album progresses. Favorite Track: "Genius Of Love".
When the bass player and drummer husband-wife duo get to prove their value.
This album is weird for weird's sake. Besides maybe a couple of singles, there's also no real reason for it to be on here, imo. Listen to the "hits" and move on. Favorite Song(s): Lorelei
I knew Genius of Love, but the rest of this album is just as fun! Scratches the same kind of itch as a Talking Heads album (though not just quite), while showcasing what the other members bring to the table. Will definitely listen again.
Parts sounded like a school project but grew on me
It's that one band that made that one song you thought was somebody else's.
No way hahahahaha
A great compilation to be had from 'new wave rappers' featuring Blondie, Waitresses, Malcolm Mclaren...and of course this lot. Very solid album and no problem with four stars here.
I really thought that whoever did “Rappers Delite” was the same ones that did Genius of Love. Wrong again. I don’t know what to think of this. I feel like The Avalanches were inspired by these guys, I like The Avalanches but my taste for them comes in waves I don’t know what to think of this. At times it sounds groundbreaking, other times it sounds like an interlude during Sesame Street. There’s singing, there’s sound bites, there’s odd sounding instruments. It exists . Let’s leave it at that. Choice Cut: Genius of Love
2.5/5
Another Talking Heads side project, this is much better than I remember it. Still mostly slight outside of ‘Wordy Rappinghood’ and ‘Genius Of Love’ which are the key tracks here, (and which you will recognise instantly as both have been sampled countless times) but a fun, nice, breezy little album nonetheless. It’s somewhat let down by the final track which on early pressings is ‘Booming And Zooming’, and on later pressings a throwaway cover version of ‘Under The Boardwalk’. I don’t really care for either, but don’t let that stop you listening to the rest of this, cos for the most part, it’s a good time. 3.5/5 but I’m rounding up.
Cool, most songs could not be played but what I heard was good
I found this so annoying
Delightfully strange, yet overall enjoyable. It gets a 3 rating just for the track "Genius of Love." Not sure if I would put this on again, but there's always a slim possibility.
Fine although a bit odd at times.
Ikkje så minneverdig, men bedre enn forventa
Honestly amazing album. Very experimental and quite different from talking heads. Genius of love,wordy rapping good,under the boardwalk is pretty nice
This was an interesting listen. I found Wordy Rappinghood really cringe - it was like listening to a children's program. Then to Genius of Love, which was my favorite track. So a mixed bag, but overall something different.
God bless Tina and Chris!
Less than liked.
I think this is a "time and place" album. There are a few songs I thought were pretty good, but most of it was just "fine," and I thought the first song was actively bad. However, I can see how it would be a big deal in 1981 and setup other New Wave acts. For me, though, I'd give it a 2.5, but I have to round down to 2, since I mostly didn't enjoy it.
Musically talented, but is proof they needed a frontman and vocalist with the zaniness of David Byrne to really pull it all together. Still enjoyable though.
Not bad. Not as good as Talking Heads but that's a difficult act to follow. I do understand why Tina Weymouth and Chris Frantz wanted to do this and there is some decent stuff on here. Overall, it's listenable but it lacks the tension and nervous energy that makes Talking Heads special.
Weird but interesting
Not for me
It's different. There's some heavy funk going on. But doesn't light any fires.
cool weirdo shit
to be honest i don't have anything against this album necessarily in a musical sense as it sounds alright, however, this is one of the most fucking boring albums ever. the only song that kept me listening was Genius of Love if im gonna be honest. not a bad album, just boring asf.
Holy dogshit. This is easily the worst album I've heard so far.
3.75
A little novelty at points, tho the peaks are undeniable.
This is very much topped and tailed with the catchiest tracks, but it's still a fantastic album. I much prefer this to anything Talking Heads did as a band. Worth a high 'mark' for the two classic singles, but Boardwalk is great too.
I love the innocence of the early TTC. There was a quite a scene of NYC post-punk does rap - and surprisingly rather well. The bass here is thunderous. Under the Boardwalk has a nice sugar candy feel to it. We need a return to clever pop.
Tom Tom Club is the debut studio album by Tom Tom Club, originally released in 1981. This album is strange, man. But it's also groovy. It seamlessly mixes the funk grooves from the disco era into the more experimental edge of post punk/new wave. Genius of Love is obviously the big hit here. It would go on to be sampled in multiple rap songs. To echo a sentiment that another user shared, it's easy to tell when David Byrne is involved in a new wave album. His sound is so signature, and I just end up wanting to listen to Talking Heads. This is good, but just missing that something that Talking Heads was able to deliver.
Trilha sonora para um passeio com swing bem divertido.
Not a fan of Talking Heads, do I was ready not to like this, but I was wrong. I vaguely remember Wordy Rappinghood from my youth, and something about the kooky 80s vibe spoke to me. It totally didn't speak to anyone else in my house, who all asked for it to stop, but it's not their review. Anyway, I'd listen again. Three crayon stars.
Can't decide if I like this. It's kinda new-wave, but also kinda avant-funk.
Morokkolaista lasten lauluskelu biisin pätkää heti alkuun... Vahvaa crossreferencinf ja liitoksia aikaan ja paikkaan..
Be prepared to bliss out with the 80s!
Not a fan honestly Just not my thing
Yeah, not bad. 2.75
was nice to hear several of the songs that were sampled in hip hop, but otherwise unremarkable.
Very refreshing
Lots of fun!
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.
Hey sometimes ya gotta noodle around and come up with Genius of Love and and d your kids through college
Talking heads love koppel <3 lekker album op zich, vooral Genius of Love en Wordy Rappinghood On On On On ook nog wel aardig, Under the Boardwalk ook nee lachen album, zeker leuke ontdekking alles talking heads vind ik sws geweldig natuurlijk
Ok. Good beats for '81.
Love it more than Talking Heads
Lots of weird, seemingly random things on this album that fail to resonate with me at all. There's maybe one half-decent song on here.
Plenty of talent to Talking Heads outside of David Byrne.
3/5. I do enjoy the funk and style brought from Talking Heads, with a different vocalist creating a new experience. Unfortunately, it's hard to bring a new sound when David Byrne makes the Talking Heads so much from different New Wave bands. To be fair, this is not bad, definitely a higher quality than other bands from that genre but kind of just makes me want to listen to Talking Heads. They are great musicians in their own right but it is just missing that extra kick. I would have more enjoyment if I heard this before the Talking Heads. Best Song: Genius of Love, Under the Boardwalk, Wordy Rappinghood
Tom Tom Club's self-titled album is a quirky, eclectic mix of rhythms and sounds that foreshadows a catalogue of future samples for other artists. Released in 1981, this side project by Talking Heads' members Tina Weymouth and Chris Frantz explores a more playful, funk-infused direction. Tracks like Genius of Love and Wordy Rappinghood stand out as experimental, blending new wave, funk, and early hip-hop influences. While the album is undeniably innovative and has a unique charm, it can come across as a bit too offbeat. The lyrics are whimsical and often nonsensical, which adds to the album’s quirky feel but also detracts from its accessibility. The production is crisp, and the beats are infectious, yet the overall experience feels more like a curiosity than an album you'll keep on repeat. NUMBER OF BANGERS - 1 STAND OUT TRACK - On, On, On, On...
Garbage
It all sounds the same
Je trouvais ça vraiment bizarre comme son, mais tout s'est expliqué quand j'ai appris que c'est un projet démarré par des membres de Talking Heads. Je suis content de l'avoir découvert, c'était assez unique, mais je n'ai pas tellement aimé non plus. Respectable, mais sans plus. 6.5/10
Bit repetitive melodically and the ‘wacky’ sound effects got a bit much for me. Some catchy lighthearted hooks though
Difficult to rate this particular record. On the one hand, it's not terribly groundbreaking or very complex. On the other hand, it does feature some really cool Jamaican influences, some fun rapping, and is one of the few early bands where women were clearly in charge of the overall direction. I have the vinyl and at least one 12" single with remixes in my stash. I'm going to give it four stars as it's definitely above average, whatever that means LOL
Im sure somebody's 6 year old somewhere loves this
Wordy Rappinghood is really embarrassing in 2024 Genius of Love is one of those songs you still hear on the radio so I guess you can't say they did nothing lasting Clearly one of those albums thats important to a genre that was emerging at the time it was recorded, but a genre I dont care for so its mostly lost on me
Great fun funky sounds. Bit silly but so catchy
Very good but Very immature compares to other Electronic albums previously made.
Highlights: Genius of Love, Tom Tom Theme, L’Elephant. In a nutshell: fun, boppy, quirky, wild. This side project allowed Chris and Tina to really cut loose. I’m glad they did, cos this album is a banger. Overall: 7/10
The beat on genius of love was fun for 5 seconds then everything else in the song happened, I don't what's going on or where I am
The whole album is a wild ride that goes all over the place, but maintains a fun and playful spirit throughout. David Byrne is a fascinating figure, but this really shows you how much Frantz and Weymouth brought to the Talking Heads sound. Absolutely bursting with creative energy but doesn't take itself too seriously. One of the best side projects of all time.
Sucked then. Sucks now.
It feels appropriate that I get a Talking Heads-adjacent album after I’ve called out the Talking Heads in my reviews of the last two albums. I want to say this was great. I want to say that the other Heads can do something just as good as the stuff they did with David Byrne, that they can stand alone without him. I really want to say these things. But I can’t. This was…not amazing. I’m all for experimental stuff. I’m all for weird and quirky stuff. I love shit like that when it’s listenable. This was hard to listen to at times. I found it aimless, corny, quirky to a fault, and just plain boring at times. I love the people involved. I just wish they made better music. Two stars. Also why the hell would you end the whole thing on “Booming and Zooming”? Seriously? Why? Standout Tracks: Genius of Love, L’Elephant
I really like Talking Heads, but this was not very good. Kind of a shame because Rhythm section of Talking Heads + Adrian Belew on guitar sounds amazing on paper
I enjoyed some of this album, but it didn’t really land for me overall. 3.5 stars
Fun and upbeat! I particularly love the first track and the “under the boardwalk” cover. Their association with the talking heads is apparent and boy do they miss Byrne. Great grooves though and fun bass lines.
Fun, funky album. Some iconic and recognisable hooks. Will go back to it.
Huh. Ok, I have heard a couple of these songs but never did I "hear of" the Tom Tom Club. It could be that I heard them in nightclubs or on the radio on occassion, IDK. The thing is that I like this style. It is hard to pinpoint in a way, but the beats and the energy are just easy for me to groove on. Sometimes people spend years searching for "that song" from back in the day, others, like me in this case, stumble on an older tune that they did not realize they were missing. Even better news in this case is the rest of the album is just as interesting as the stuff I was familiar with. Good find for me!
big talking heads fan here first time i heard this album rhythm section is good but the album kinda sounded the same cept for a few known songs and ran together
This kinda funky new wave album is ok, but doesn't impress me much (and I’m a Talking Heads fan). It’s got some good songs and moments, but overall feels forgettable. The playing is good, I’m just not sure most of the songs are really that good.
Twenty one years ago we went on a road trip through the Deep South. Each of us made a mixtape and the songs I remember most from that trip were “Crime in the City” (Neil Young, Howard’s choice, the song that made me realise I like NY), “The Mercy Seat” (Johnny Cash covering Cave, Simon’s choice), “Love Spreads” (the Stone Roses, my choice as I thought it would be funny to bring a Manc version of Southern Rock), and “Genius of Love” (Dinah’s choice, maybe my favourite). I bought this album when I got back and was disappointed. The first two tracks are great, the rest underwhelmed me. I’m pleased to discover today that the rest is better than I remember: throwaway, but happy. This isn’t a great album, but it’s lovelier than many better ones here.
I read somewhere that this album and the associated singles sold more copies/made more money than all of the Talking Heads work combined! It's been fun over the years hearing "Genius Of Love" re-worked repeatedly to give some substance to the current chart flavor-of-the-month. There's a 10+ minute dub version out there with ear-splittingly loud bass, a phenomenal soundtrack for a late night drive down a dark desert road.
If this album wasn't trying to be serious, it would be a lot more fun and enjoyable, but...it is trying to be serious. Of all the pretentiousness so far, this takes the crown...and it's poorly done at that. Some of the music was enjoyable, but so many misses. Also - if I have to hear that weird 'boioioioing' thing once more...
Under The Boardwalk – diese Interpretation läutete symbolisch die 80er Jahre ein. Dank an den Tom Tom Club mit seinem gleichnamigen Album. Dieses Album repräsentiert Funk in seiner unverbrauchten und witzigen Form. Elektromusik ohne zu schräge Acid-Verzerrungen, erste Stretches und Technoelemente, aber auch Avantgarde-Musik wie die B-52s oder Punk- und Wave-Elemente sind auf dem Album zu finden. “Wordy Rappinghood” persifliert Kindergeburtstagsmusik auf humorvolle Weise und ist ein cleveres Wortspiel sowie ein Vorläufer des modernen Rap. “On, On, On” ist temporeich und musikalisch gut arrangiert. “Lorelei” feiert den Riesling und bezieht sich auf die berühmte Loreley-Figur aus der deutschen Mythologie, die am Rhein lebt. Und natürlich gibt es das Kultstück “Under The Boardwalk”, das ursprünglich von The Drifters aus den 1960er Jahren stammt.
Genius of Love is a classic, quirky instrumental that has been brought back to prominence with its Latto sampling of late. The vocals on As Above, so Below reminds me a lot of Talking Heads (particularly Crosseyed and Painless). Very different song otherwise and I'm honestly all about it. Lorelai is a really cool one with some nice mixing / layering. In the background there is a constant scratchboard + bright synth line pushed into the left monitor with some little scratchy flourishes isolated to the right monitor. I could see this being distracting if done differently, but it works so well. This is among my favorites on here. On, On, On, On... actually reminds me vaguely of another 80s one hit wonder: Peter Schilling's Major Tom. This album started out on a questionable note with Wordy Rappinghood, but quickly recovered and turned into something that I really enjoyed. A lot of similarity here to Talking Heads that borders on riffing their style, but they put a spin on it all to their own. This was a pleasant surprise -- thoroughly enjoyed. High 4.
Love getting random songs that are sampled in more recent music, like with Genius of Love. One of my favorite parts about this 1001 albums jaunt. Kind of spacey pop, but nothing special. High 2 I guess.
Not at all what I was expecting from this band when the wiki labeled them as funk. Started off ultra weird but catchy with the Wordy song. Tom Tom Theme definitely sounded very familiar. That was an extremely whacky album. Had some things that I really liked with some of the fresh beats. And some things i didn't like with some of the endless repetition. Booming and Zooming to end it with the ominous spacecraft dialogue or whatever was pretty cool. Overall a fun album that lands it as a high 3.
Idk what I expected from this album but it wasn't this first song. So silly. Ok I did some digging and this is the husband and wife duo from Talking Heads. Makes sense now. Genius of Love rules I def know this song. That was so fucking weird. I loved it. High 4 close to a 5.
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.
Definitely a fun listen to start the work day. Very much enjoyed this one, as I was familiar with Tom Tom Club, I'd never heard much before now. Would listen to again for sure.
Not good, not bad.
Not available in Mexico
Its alright, not good not bad, just meh
This is obviously a classic record with some very well known tracks--one might even argue they are overplayed. I never got super in to Tom Tom Club but this is good enough and I get why it's here. Doesn't really do it for me the way you'd think it would.
Shows that David Byrne is not the whole force behind the Talking Heads sound. Very cool and Genius of Love is iconic
funny to listen to the first time, but id be totally okay never checking it out again. maybe once more in like 20 years? NNN
Other than “Genius of Love,” I wasn’t a big fan of this one. It’s definitely innovative and unique, but with a splash of appropriation. The vocals are layered without harmonies, making it sound simplistic - like it’s a group of random teenage girls with middling vocal talent singing together at an 80’s slumber party. And I hated the cover of Under the Boardwalk.
Love the concept but a bit repetitive
I think it's a solid effort. Very artsy, with some nice melodies and funky tunes. Nothing spectacular though.
This stands up pretty well to the forty odd years of history under the bridge since its release. Wordy Rappinghood and Genius of Love still stand out but it's all good.
Pretty annoying to listen to to be honest.
It's ok just a load of sound to be honest
Ouch! I won't say this was bad, but I liked nothing about it. I appreciate David Byrne even more though.
Yuck. Too techno and too repetitive for my liking.
Des percussions ludiques, des trouvailles, des mélodies décomplexées, un penchant pour la répétition, une petite transe funky
Interesting. Lots of samples and covers in here.
A mixed bag of a few good but nothing exciting.
Wait... Tom Tom Club were a Talking Heads side project? With Adrian Belew?? Why have I never known this before? Truth be told, I always knew of Tom Tom Club but never took the time to listen to them. That was definitely much better than I anticipated. I can understand now why Frantz and Weymouth always seemed annoyed to not get much credit for Talking Heads. Outside of the shadow of their larger than life frontman, they really shine as Tom Tom Club. A weird and wonderful album, pulling in influences from early electro, hip hop, disco, and reggae, firmly pulled into an art rock album. 'Genius of Love' is the stand out track but everything on here is really fun.
OK wait i am liking this so much more than I expected :D its really fucking fun i wanna boogie
I not only hated this album, I'm also now wondering if I ever really liked The Talking Heads, either
Boy oh boy did I not enjoy 80% of this. Why are the songs so long? Why is this a double album?
I like that they are weird and silly. But I don’t particularly enjoy it
Funky, groovy album with so many original sounds on it. It reminds me of Talking Heads here and there, though with more experimental and African beats. When I saw it was released on Island record in the UK I thought it can't be a bad album, and I wasn't wrong.
I think that first song is the single worst thing I've ever heard in my life... and it didn't get much better after that
Fantastic album, prefer Tina and Chris's work sans David Byrne in the Talking Heads. 4/5!
Funk lentillo. Ni fu ni fa.
It's weird & fun like the Talking Heads rhythm section. Hard to take the overly-white "rapping" seriously but then I don't think we're supposed to.
An interesting album and I definitely want to try out more songs from the artist. I really liked Genius Of Love, As Above So Below, Lorelei and On On On On....
Old fave
Talking Heads were better. But this is cool.
Ground breaking and so influential but I confess I only found Genius of Love to be an earwig that I wanted to revisit. Upvoting a star for this album’s insistent influence on hip-hop.
Honestly a vibe
A bit of fun, some experimental style. Sampled references
Quirky but a bit too self indulgent at times. Like Sly and Robbie for white people.
This here is proof that Talking Heads is more than David Byrne and his gargantuan ego. Chris and Tina definitely earned themselves the best TH alum album with TomTom Club. 4/5
What a weird ass album.
Love it! New Wave going Funkadelic. This album shows that Talking Heads is so much more than David Byrne
Alku vakuutti ja jossain kohtaa ihmettelin oliko jäänyt repeat päälle, mutta levyhän on pitkä kuin Jeesuksen selibaatti. Voi juma! Tykkäsin levyn boogiesta ja biiteistä, mutta pituutta aivan liikaa yksittäisistä biiseistä koko levyn kestoon. Viihdyin kuitenkin mukana.
Vähän kyl valahtaa jouto-osaston puolelle
This Talking Heads-adjacent group has a similar vibe, so of course it’s pretty solid. Tom Tom Club are slightly poppier while still retaining the weirdness that makes Talking Heads great. Many of these songs are incredibly groovy and easy to dance to, it’s no surprise that “Genius of Love” has been prominently sampled in pop, hip hop, and R&B songs in the decades since its release. The cover of “Under the Boardwalk” is phenomenal, they really reinvented it into their own dancey bop. I’m not a big fan of “Wordy Rappington”, their other big single from the album, but it’s a good opening song because of how weird it is with its spoken/rapped sections, typewriter sounds, and a verse in French (which is way better than David Byrne’s French). The rest of the album that follows just gets more and more fun.
They are an American band but have a song in French called L'Elephant? Some pretty decent songs, but only one that has any staying power.
This surprised me. I really didn't like Genius of Love when it was released to radio. Turn off the radio or change the station. At this point, i really like the bizarre quirkiness of this album. Wordy and Genius of Love are creative and unusual. Though not everything on the album is great, Lorelei, and On, On are pretty strong and the cover of the Under the Boardwalk is catchy. Much more exciting and interesting to listen to than expected.
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
Well damn, this was a surprise! The only Tom Tom Club track I was aware of going in was "Genius of Love", and then it wasn't the whole song - it was the sample from Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five's "It's Nasty" and it's partial use in an episode of "It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia"! 😆 Based on that, I was kinda expecting some throwaway novelty record that would almost instantly become annoying to listen to. This actually slaps, though - like a far less obnoxious Public Image Ltd in places. New wave / post-punk / disco / world music all thrown together, but it sounds like its own thing. "Wordy Rappinghood" on paper should be radioactive cringe but in practice it really works! I guess because they're riffing on early hip-hop rather than trying to actually do hip-hop? Will definitely be checking out their other albums. Fave tracks - "Wordy Rappinghood", "Genius of Love", "As Above, So Below", and probably my absolute fave goes to "On,On,On,On..." - the optimism of that song healed my soul, a little
1.5 stars, 3-4 ok songs
That was fun! I enjoyed listening to the crazy art pop music that is the early 80s. Definitely not Talking Heads but still fun.
Очень свежий бизнес-звук. С одной стороны я в офисе где работают принтеры их ходят бизнес-леди на каблуках но с другой стороны это арам зам зам звук приятный, вокал странный
I love Talking Heads, but I’ve never listened to this album before. I really like “Genius of Love” though, so I’m really excited to jump into this one. “Wordy Rappinghood” was certainly not what I expected when I jumped into this album, but I loved the typewriter sounds, the drum beats, and the funky synthesizers. Tina Weymouth’s rapping is fantastic, and this song is really weird but incredibly catchy. The segue from the opening track into “Genius of Love” is absolutely brilliant. The leap from one catchy song to one of the catchiest beats in all of music history was perfectly executed. Both of these first two songs are incredibly catchy, funky, and groovy, but they both manage to pull of those feats in completely different ways. I love the guitar and airy vocals on “Genius of Love.” The tinny drumming that kicks in later on the song is perfect as well. From there, the album keeps its overall reggae and African influenced sound, but it dives into some really different territory musically that really didn’t land with me. The vocals and lyrics from this point forward in the album weren’t my favorite, and the beats and rhythms just weren’t as fun and catchy as earlier in the album. However, I did really like “On, On, On, On..” The vocals on the chorus were fantastic, and the I liked the more guitar-forward sound. “Booming and Zooming,” while interesting in its theme of the thin line between danger and excitement, was probably my least favorite song on the album. I really wanted to love this album, and while I can appreciate its experimentation and the legacy of “Genius of Love,” this wasn’t really my cup of tea.
Literally background music to every 80s movie. Annoying without the movie part.
One hit wonders that are overplayed on Sirius 33.
I liked it a lot at first but then found it tiring and repetitive as it went on.
theres one good song
Gear: Grado Hemp Artwork: dunkle Vorahnung eines \"gude Laune auf dem Kindergeburtstag!\"-Albums Mix (2009 Re-Release): Synths kitzeln an den richtigen Stellen, Drums und Percussion (Toms!) tragen zur hohen Dynamik bei, selbstbewusst gemischte Bassläufe Musik: die dunkle Vorahnung eines \"gude Laune auf dem Kindergeburtstag!\"-Albums hat sich bewahrheitet...und es ist großartig! 🥳 Man erkennt deutlich die kreative Handschrift der erwartungsgemäß albernen wie großartigen Köpfe der Talking Heads. Eine echte Entdeckung für mich. Wertung: 🎉🎉🎉🎉/5
Eh
i so badly wanted to love this album - i generally like talking heads and, of course, i am very familiar with 'genius of love' (which i adore) and so i was hoping for more of the same. unfortunately a lot of this album did not resonate with me. it still has a lot of the same quirkiness of 'genius of love' but really not to the same level of quality for me. i found myself a bit underwhelmed and disappointed. that being said, 'wordy rappinghood' is a fun romp but outside of that, i didn't really feel a whole lot here.
Quirky funk, nice tunes
Idk man int nå vidare
Ajattelin että hei jotain kiinnostavaa, mutta jotenkin sit lässähti 2/5
Täähän oli ihan hauska ja aika bängereitä osa biiseistä. Vähän jää nelosesta silti. 3,5/5
Tää ei oikein funkahtanut itelle. Liikaa lyriikan toistoa. 2/5
Maybe the easiest 5 I've given. Fun, funky and weird and as good as any Talking Heads album.
L'elephant was super annoying! As Above So Below was also super annoying with the high pitched noises etc.. Actually, except for Genius of Love, it's all annoying. But, I'll go with two considering the excellence and innovation of that song.
Notable as the source of the “Genius of Love” sample, which is apparently one of the most sampled songs ever. You’ve heard it on Mariah Carey’s “Fantasy” among other places. That’s neat. But neat doesn’t make an album good, or a must listen. That original “Genius of Love” pales in comparison to those that used the best bits and pieces of it later, and the other hit single “Wordy Rappinghood” is right on the line of so bad it’s hilariously enjoyable. “On, On, On, On…” is one of the few good tracks to be found, for everything else I’d recommend off, off, off, off.
This album is parts fun and those that you would find in a Back to the Future history display about 80s music. It sounds dated, but kind of amazingly so at times. Wordy Rappingwood, Genius Of Love, and the Under The Boardwalk cover make me want to listen to this again. The rest of the album…well not so much.
Meh - big G
Genius of love is a great song and has made 2 other great songs. Pretty solid album way ahead of its time.
Wacky, quirky, fun, unserious, and at times catchy. I enjoyed listening to it once, but I don't think I'll ever go back to this album again; it becomes a bit repetitive when listened to as a whole. I really love this kind of funky, bass-driven sound, though. Highlights: Genius of love (iconic song!), On, on, on, on... and Wordy Rappinghood.
Better than at least two of the Talking Heads records on this list.
its quite basic asides from genius of love nothing really stood out 2.6/5
Cute
i just don’t think new wave is for me
Much prefer Talking Heads. Not bad, just a little dated.
Reading some of the reviews, I have a hard time truly believing that I listened to the same album as other reviewers. How can anyone hear this collection of sound and think anything else than "wow, this is absolute garbage" ??
When the Talking Heads lost themselves on a tropical dancefloor
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?
..
Whack whack whackity whack is how I would describe this weird ass album. Somehow they've managed to make something that feels all over the place very catchy. It's excellent for background vibes, not sure I'd want to be sitting with just this though. Fav tracks: - Genius of Love - On, On, On, On....
Tom Tom Club is The Talking Heads meets Hip Hop. I can see the influence on late Hip Hop beats. It feels significant Is it more bright and upbeat than The Talking Heads? Sure but still pretty drab. I picture I bunch people dressed ridiculous slightly dancing in a club wearing sunglasses. 4.0/10
Mental, basically. Very hard to judge this, because it so finely walks the line between absolute genius and terribly irritating, often in the same song. Three things stand out: the female vocals are from a different era to the music entirely, they should be wearing a daisy chain headband and singing about Aquarius; unexpectedly hearing the song that the gang dance to at the end of an episode of Always Sunny In Philadelphia made me LOL immediately; the cover of Under The Boardwalk is magnificent. But these are all confusing things. Ultimately, I've come down somewhere in the middle.
"I've never heard of this band..." "I guess this okay. A little relative..." "Oh. It's that song... Fuck..." "This is really relative..."
Interesting and slightly weird 80’s vibe
I have no idea what to think of this...
I really liked this. Definitely going to listen to more tom Tom club.
Proof that Talking Heads was more than David Byrne. The OTHER members keep pushing limits in what is an instrument to song composition.
When a band sings every song chorus style with no lead singer, and that band chants song choruses repetitively, it makes every song indistinguishable from the last.
Definitely getting female talking heads vibes.. really enjoyable, also notice the song that Mariah Carey sampled lol
Same beat, different day. Not my thing.
Las dos últimas canciones lo salvan de un 2. Funk sesentero de los 80.
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.
I can get on board with the grooves on several of the songs, but sometimes the music is too repetitive and the vocal parts a bit too goofy. Low end four stars.
There is definitely a groove that one can hang on to. But I don't.
I knew a couple of the songs and like those enough. The rest of the album was unremarkable. 2.5 rounded up to 3.
Except for Genius of Love, this is a pretty lame album. In the Stop Making Sense concert movie, this is performed by the whole band to give David Byrne a rest midway through and it is joyously fun.
We got off to a rough start, with one of my least favorite genres: “white person in the 80s discovers rapping” (cc Debbie Harry). But after that, I liked this.
I would describe this album as a large, bad mound of noise made by self-described "musical geniuses". There are a few tracks that are passable - namely, Genius Of Love (by far the strongest in the set), Lorelei, and On On On On. The remaining tracks straddle this weird balance of children's music and extraterrestrial "alien pop"-type stuff. It's not that good, but I don't hate it either. The texturing and production are pretty good for their time. Excluding a couple short tracks, all songs on this album go on for longer than they should, failing to introduce any new compelling musical ideas after the 1-minute mark in most cases. The lyrics are also pretty uninspiring, and often the only point of the vocal seems to be to add more noise. This idea definitely has its place (vocal solos - think Robert Plant) but it's not executed very well by Tom Tom Club. Just because something is creative doesn't mean it's necessarily good. I feel this album does not belong on this list. (Change my mind!) 2/5 Key tracks: Genius Of Love, Lorelei, On On On On...
this album was not made by TOM
Really rather enjoyed this: quirky and adventurous. Beats are groovy throughout and I love the steel drums on the Caribbean-tinged "Boardwalk". Great cover art-work, too.
Fun stuff. Genius of Love has that great hook. I wish there was a way to mark which albums I owned at one time. Less cerebral than the David Byrne stuff. Some of the songs flow into one another. 'As Above, So Below' may have been a template for a later Madonna song. Some tunes have been sampled endlessly. 3* owned
Who needs to think when your feet just go?
It was really interesting to hear this and realizing others had sampled their song. After realizing that it felt like the album was written for people to sample their songs! Good beats and melodies, but so repetitive. I can imagine a DJ listening to their songs and finding lots of opportunities to use them to tie songs together, play over or under other songs, and mix and sample. On their own though they didn't really do much for me.
Fun and funky. New York in the early 80’s must have been so wonderful to experience.
I wanted to like this, but most of it was either too weird or too boring, and Booming and Zooming was super annoying. Really dug the Under the Boardwalk cover though.
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.
Fun with that pinch of peculiarity!
Oh! This is an offshoot of Talking Heads? I didn't know but now that you say it, I can totally hear it. Genius of Love is one of the catchiest catches that's ever catched. The rest of the album is quirky and funky and fun.
I didn’t think I knew this album, but the first song was strangely familiar. I believe it was probably something a friend shared with me on a mix tape. I had no idea until after listening to this that the creators of this were members of the Talking Heads. It’s a quirky, strange, and pretty fun listen.
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.
3/5 Best Track: Lorelei - Remix
Tom Tom Club is a testament to the creative power of Weymouth and Frantz. It's a fun, funky album that stands apart from Talking Heads' work, establishing Tom Tom Club as a unique and influential force in new wave music
Blind album and artist. Some catchy songs but not above a lot of other dance albums.
good had fun
Fun
This band was created by Chris Frantz and Tina Weymouth of Talking Heads, so it's pretty similar to Talking Heads.... Really fucking weird. This may be MORE weird than Talking Heads.... That's a feat!! These guys really aren't that bad though. They're really odd, but remind me a lot of a more fucked B-52's. I can tolerate this stuff a lot more than Talking Heads stuff. I think with Talking Heads, it's moreso David Byrne's voice that I hate. ** Favourite/Least Favourite songs based on Deluxe Edition of record, which is the one linked from the generator. Favourite songs: The Man With The 4-Way Hips, Pleasure of Love, Wordy Rappinghood, Lorelei, Genius of Love, This is a Foxy World, "On, On, On, On...", L'Elephant Least favourite songs: Tom Tom Theme, Booming and Zooming, Atsababy! (Life is Great) 4/5
I don't really love the breathy woman's chorus bits, or when things are overly repetitive (Lorelei hits both with one word...). I'm usually good with the funky groove and instrumentals here, but the vocals are not quite for me in most cases. The nonsense is definitely intentional, but... eh. I agree with the commenter who said every track is about two minutes too long. Did the world really need a longer version of Genius of Love? I don't really see myself listening to this again, but I don't hate it. I can even see pieces of it in future music. I actively skipped Booming and Zooming after the first couple times through.
Boring at times and very long
It's fine -- a bit too electronic for my tastes, but fine. No real need to listen to it again.
Is Genius of Love just It's Nasty for white people? Best Song: Genius of Love Worst Song: N/A
Don't do this to me
Really fun and goofy. I love the very clear DIY aesthetic here. I recognize several of these songs from samples which is really cool, but the originals are super fun too. Definitely influential.
Damn, am I prejudiced against new UK music because of this list? I looked at the description, saw it was UK and let out a groan. I listen, and I'm hooked. These melodies and sounds are entrancing, above and beyond the famous Genius of Love. I loved Wordy Rappinghood and Lorelei. Under the Boardwalk was good too. So much ethereal music and lyrics, somehow feeling timeless. This list has done me dirty time and time again, and it will do me dirty again in the future. Today, this list has done good.
What the hell? I feel like I was struck by lightning listening to this. Stopped me in my tracks, just so cool. Didn't realize this was an offshoot of a couple Talking Heads members, but I was drawing that comparison in my head, about to say that this is better than all of the Talking Heads albums. I don't think it's better than Remain in Light, but it's not far off. Holy cow, this is just a wild ride. The opener is so funky and so funny, and then "Genius of Love" is a classic, I never knew who was responsible for that. Just a nice funky ride through and through, the back half wasn't as exciting as the first, but how could anything compare to that jolt of electricity? Really awesome album. Not a five star today, but I could definitely see this one getting there with more listens (same goes for Remain in Light). Favorite tracks: Genius of Love, Wordy Rappington, Tom Tom Theme, As Above So Below, Under the Boardwalk, Booming and Zooming, Lorelei. Album art: Really love this one, childlike artstyle (though not sure if it was actually drawn by a child). Tons to look at, great colors, no complaints here. 4.5/5
High three
Always liked this album but in truth it does sound a little dated now.
Enjoyable. Bit long but genius of love is a great song
Kind of lame. Found it boring.
I really don’t know what to make of this album. It’s weird and goofy but also serious?
A talking head spin-off it's the basis of tons of modern day samples. I get the influence for sure, but it doesn't really hold up.
Enjoyable
Wow, definitely not my thing. I am not sure if this is dance or Electronica or what it is. Apparently there is a connection the Talking Heads but theren is nothing to this at all.
I guess I need to preface that I am a huge Talking Heads fan but I have never listened to this album before. I knew Genius of Love from Stop Making Sense and I liked that song so I was excited to check out the rest of the album. However, this album is pretty rough and a lot of songs feel unfinished. The instrumentals are good for the most part, but the lyrics and singing don't feel like a finished project. It is almost charming how juvenile a lot of it sounds, but I expected more from band members that just wrote Remain In Light. Genius of Love is still a great and funky song that I will continue to come back to, but I doubt I will ever check out this album again. I am surprised that this album was even included on the list when Speaking In Tongues (my favorite Talking Heads album) didn't make the cut. 2.5 (a very generous 3)
Pros: there are some very fun, groovy moments on here. The rythym section brought it! Cons: too fucking weird. And not in a fun interesting way, in like a corny and annoying way. I know this probably hit different in the early 80s, but now it kinda just reminds me of “lolrandom” humor. Also drags in the second half - too long and samey. 2.5 rounded up to 3.
Las dos últimas canciones lo salvan de un 2. Funk sesentero de los 80.
There's a couple tracks on here I'm not too fond of, but for the most part this album showcases some of my favorite sounds and feelings of 80s music!
Yeah, no. At least these people sound like they're having fun, and I can imagine people dancing to this and enjoying it in an 80's movie or something, but this is not my jam.
Interesting, but I just don't see myself returning.
Pretty good record with one very famous stand-out. I never knew the history behind Genius of Love but it definitely sounds like a Talking Heads inspired song - as does the rest of the album. I also recall hearing Under the Boardwalk...as a cover or something? I'm not sure.
I thought these names sounded familiar! Never listened to this album and it sounds like a long lost talking heads relative, which makes sense seeing those involved. It's a very groovy sounding work, goes in a lot of different directions, but it works very well. Standout tracks: Wordy Rappinghood, Genius Of Love, L Elephant, Lorelei, Booming And Zooming 8 out of 10
#151. I was cringing so hard listening to Wordy Rappinghood I nearly turned inside out. I nearly DNF'ed this album halfway through the first song, but I skipped to the next one and surprisingly it was pretty good. It was a one off though, as the rest of the album was uninteresting. Meh. 2/5: why. Song added to playlist: Genius of Love I've created a playlist on Spotify that consists of the best and/or my favorite song from each of the albums in this book. This list can be found here if you are interested: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/7MAXDGLWlwLkFLb8veGfkA?si=FqkQQPgZTFWG0jAUJXLFZA&utm_source=copy-link
James Browwwwwwnnnn
Loved this when it came out many years ago…It was fresh and revolutionary then. It remains fresh and revolutionary today.
Love Tom Tom Club. Still crazy to me that a goofy side project maybe produced the most notable song of the Talking Heads universe. Such a talented group to do this without Byrne. 4/5
Had never heard of this band and the album is a little strange but it really grew on me. I quite liked it.
This is like Talking Heads during the Remain In Light phase, only happy and fun. I never listened to this when it was new, I think I need to rectify that.
This is an album I bought in my heavy Talking Heads phase and it's still a good listen - though it tails off after the pop songs it's still got the kind of grooves and sounds that make it interesting.
A few songs I liked, a few were meh Quirky
If you don't like this album I doubt your ability to feel joy.
One hit wonder
It was smart following up the worst song I've ever heard with that one recognizable song to try and make us forget. But I will never forget. It's terrible.
Was hesitant going in because I didn’t know what to think but then realized like every single one of these songs has been sampled in rap/hip-hop. Shoutout Return of the Mack!
Without a heavy dose of psychedelics it’s a tough listen
Just bad. Words give you a bad review.
This was a tough listen. I couldn't quite figure out what genre this would fit into (which is not inherently a bad thing), but it was hard to pick out elements that I enjoyed. The album started out mediocre and only got worse, ending on a low with "Booming and Zooming," a song consisting of a man speaking unintelligibly on a radio over a vaguely funky beat. Also, and it may have only been problem with the recording I found, but there was heavy clipping on some tracks, like "Lorelei," exacerbating an already-unpleasant experience.
5 stars. So good.
Not bad, but it seems like a disco album for people who don't want to get up.
A strange album. On one hand Tina’s bass playing is unbelievable, but on the other hand, the lyrics are sporadic and almost childish. Still a fun album. 3.5/5 Might listen again
Recognized Genius of Love from the X-Ecutioners. Really enjoy their versions, but this wasn't bad.
Not knowingly heard this band before, enjoyed the album
Not to much to like here. Too electronic and dance-y for me.
a lot of fun, songs scan drag a bit and not as refined without byrne, but good music
This was a nice surprise. I knew nothing about them, but it was nicely off-kilter. Unlike Paul, I quite enjoyed the ‘rapping’ on the opener and Genius of Love. The weird delivery and subject matter fits the music. It sounds like The Waitresses backed by Grandmaster Flash. Tom Tom Theme I could take or leave, but L Elephant is some of the catchiest art rock I’ve heard. The quality and interest remains consistent after that. Booming and Zooming ends on another high. I found yesterday’s hard going, but this flew by. It’s a shade under a four, and with repeated listens could well up its grade.
Tom Tom Club Wordy Rappinghood and Genius of Love are superb. Both are on a lot of my playlists (as well as the ODB remix of Mariah Carey’s Fantasy, which samples Genius of Love - ‘me and Mariah, go back like babies and pacifiers’) Talking Heads are one of my top 10 bands and I love Tina Weymouth’s bass playing, but aside from the two big songs I don’t think I’ve ever given this album a proper go. I’ve listened to it before, but not with real intent. L Elephant, As Above So Below, On On On On are great. I suspected I would like this as it has many elements right up my street, part of Talking Heads doing angular new wave funk and early rap influenced pop music. I really really enjoyed it and I think it’s great. I’m very tempted to go 5, but the only thing making me give it a 4 is that it does have a ‘side project’ slightness to it. Whether that’s because I know they are a side project or not I’m not sure. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Several songs missing on Spotify, but didn't seek them out due to this being over 2 hours when complete. Whew. Overall a pretty weird album, not really much that caught my attention other than Genius of Love due to the many samples other songs use from it. 2.5
Genius of love is such a vibe
Heard of them but hadn’t listened so TIL they’re an off shoot of Talking Heads and the origin of the mega sample in Genius of Love. So that was neat
Worldly and Genius are infectious hits. But the whole rest of the album failed to impress - other tracks have always felt like filler.
Just alright. I enjoyed the first track, but everything else was just slightly less good. Funny, this is the second time a cover of Under the Boardwalk is in my top 3. 7/10 Top 3: 1. Wordy Rappinghood 2. Under the Boardwalk 3. On, On, On, On…
Definitely an album for its time (the early 80's). There are a couple of tracks here that have been sampled heavily and for good reason - they've got some incredibly catchy motifs! Genius of Love has been sampled and interpolated extensively, so you'll probably recognize that one pretty quickly. You can also hear how new wave and hip hop were on a collision course at this time. The "rapping" is subpar as far as lyrical prowess is concerned, but it stands as a moment in time, alongside Blondie and Run DMC + Aerosmith, when the artistry of hip hop began to bleed over and influence other genres more heavily.
Fantastic! Standouts: Genius of Love, Wordy Rappinghood, L'éléphant, Lorelei, Under the Boardwalk, On and On and On, As Above So Below. 4/5
Wanted to love it based on Stop Making Sense but this really wasn't very good. Probably on purpose but it was way too cheesy for me.
Loved
Fun!
Really fun. Some songs i recognized i didnt know where from here. Will definitely be listening again.
This was pretty fresh and fun! Read about the connection to Talking Heads after listening and it made sense in retrospect
Enjoyed the music people sampled from this album more.
Feels like B-52s, useful for future samples. A bit droney.
The rare occasion I enjoyed the second disc of a mega album as much as the original release. Bangers everywhere. 4.4
Tolles Album. Klingt nicht wie 1981. Eine Mischung aus B52, Hip Hop, Electro, Pop,Funk. Es dürfte die Vorlage für viele kommende Bands gewesen sein. Mit seinen über zwei Stunden sehr lang
It's nice to know that Talking Heads was made up of freaks, entirely, and not just David Byrne. I appreciate the experiments happening on this record, but starting out with a rap song is something that certainly hasn't aged super well. It's fun, loose, and way out there, but doesn't really do much more for me than being just a curiosity. Favorite track: "Genius of Love"
On on on on has a good chorus, and that’s the only positive thing I have to say about this mess of an album. Congratulations, this is my first 1 star review!
Dumb
Het begint leuk, maar zakt daarna heel snel in. Na de eerste drie nummers heb je dit album wat mij betreft wel gehoord. En ik weet nu waar het SD Worx deuntje vandaan komt!
Begon echt wel nice, maar het wordt op een gegeven moment wel eenheidsworst, maar dat is wss omdat het twee uur langs is.
It was pretty fun, but there were definitely some moments I didn't enjoy as much.
I despise David Byrne, there's something I find annoying about him, almost creepy in a way. Which is great, as he's not on this album, just his rhythm section, who put together this rather quirky and funky offering. I didn't hate it and the first few tracks were great, but it did get a bit stale by the end, and it didn't seem as ground-breaking as I thought it was going to be. Smells like 3 stars to me.
Honestly, this album just kinda sucks. 1/5
This album was so different but in a good way. Fun to listen to. Favorite tracks was L'Elephant and Genuis of Love. I had no idea that Tom Tom Club was a side project. Good stuff.
Steady lightly-electronic/synth groove
A side project of the bassist and drummer of The Talking Heads. They covered "Genius of Love" in Stop Making Sense, and the first 2 tracks are among the most samples songs of all time. It's lush and atmospheric incorporating funky grooves, surreal Afrobeat instrumentation, and chill dreamy vocals. At times, reminds me of the Go-Go's. And at times, Blondie. No weak tracks, although "Booming and Zooming" is a bit too experimental for comfort.
Unique and delightful
Would not load. REM loaded instead.