Reviews (page 3 of 13)
I feel like I've gotten a lot of repeat artists recently. In the past two weeks, I have gotten my second Steely Dan album, my third Pink Floyd album, my second Sonic Youth album, my third Beastie Boys album, my second Taylor Swift album, and now my second Talking Heads album. Interesting. Anyways, I really like this album! I liked More Songs About Buildings and Food, but I felt it could be improved on. Fortunately, it was improved on in its followup, Fear of Music. My two big complaints with More Songs were the singing and writing. In hindsight, I don't know why I complained about the singing. I said it was goofy, but I don't know why I had a problem with it. Maybe it just grew on me or something, but I like the singing on Fear of Music. It's fun. I complained about the writing being a bit unclear in More Songs, which was fixed in this album. These songs are quite interesting, and the writing provides some interesting messages. The songs are good, and the sound is fun. Despite the fun sound of the album, it's also weirdly dark in a way. I saw someone say that this album could also be called "Music of Fear" and I think that's pretty fitting. Songs like the closer, "Drugs" embody that very well, and the themes of songs like "Mind" and "Air" fit that as well. There's lots to say about this album, but I think I'll leave it at that. This is just an amazing album that cements my liking of Talking Heads. Light 5/5
As a King Crimson fan, I love hearing Robert Fripp's pointillist guitar work in I Zimbra. Two years before King Crimson's Discipline we get hints of what's to come (it's criminal that Discipline is not in the 1001). The classics alone on this album make it a 5 - Life During Wartime, Memories Can't Wait, and Heaven are all fantastic (and I love the line in Life During Wartime, "I changed my hairstyle so many times now I don't know what I look like"). On top of that, all the other tracks are excellent and the recording quality is outstanding. Easy 5.
The Talking Heads rock. Funky, quirky, funny at times, this was a very enjoyable album. Cities and Air were my favorites but the whole album worked for me. Definitely feels like the start of a shift in the music that came before and what would come in the 80s.
There are some Talking Heads albums that I won't give 5 stars to, but this isn't one of them. A great leap forward.
4.9 - really cool album. He really is super unique and his own thing
Great album with no skips, but also none of my very favourite Talking Heads songs. 4.5/5
Simply one of the most original and influencial band ever. The only song I didnt like and think it was just put by force was the last one all other is perfct
Every song every album. Brilliance.
A great album and one of three where Talking Heads worked well with Brian Eno producing.
I LOVE TALKING HEADS SO MUCH. This album is quite very good.
One of my favourite albums of all time. Life during Wartime and Cities are best tracks for me. Animals is ridiculous but I love it.
This is a Talking Heads stan account
Strange voice. In a good way. Lyrics sound like single words with some fluff around it. Again in a good way.
The second talking heads album in our journey, and man, I just love them. This album was such a blast to listen to.
Awesome.
Really great. Can't wait for Stop Making Sense.
genius
love the talking heads.
I’ve listened to this album four and half ish times in the past two days not knowing what score to give it. This is great. Just interesting rhythms throughout.
Is this the best Talking Heads album?
This one starts out very funky! Then it just gets quirky. Love Cities. Life During Wartime is a hell of a jam! Memories Can’t Wait has a cool post punk goth thing going… Air and Heaven both have a floaty weirdness. This might be my favorite Talking Heads. It’s a great blend of styles.
Every song comes back to that married couple rhythm section, which is ridiculous because Jerry Harrison produces all these amazing licks and David Byrne is one of the great geniuses. I love to listen to each song while concentrating on one instrument. Then repeat the song and focus on a different instrument. Memories Can't Wait is an assault on the senses, TURN IT UP!!!!!!!!!
5/5 I liked the majority of this project however, the final track; drugs did not do it for me and it left a bad taste in my mouth after the album. I liked the dark dispotian feel of the album.
There is not a single skippable song on this banger, okay??
One of my favourite albums by one of my absolute favourite bands. Talking Heads first 5 albums are so good. I love them all. In fact between their 3rd (this album) 4th and 5th album I have a hard time pinning down which one is my favourite. I was surprised to learn that their 5th album, Speaking in Tongues, isn't on this list. But yeah this album is so great.
Discobeats mit Byrne's Gesang. Und der ist einfach phänomenal.
Nice
I’d forgotten how great this album is
🌶 i zimbra mind cities life during wartime air heaven animals
Hard to pick a favourite track. My fave talking heads album. 4.7
Always down for some Talking Heads.
Best album
Very good, it’s the talking heads! Has many of their classic songs
The soundscape of this album is certainly dystopian, but there is also an odd magic to the whole thing. The rhythms are powerful, the vocals are innovative, and the fusion of sound just works. It’s crazy what people were into in the 70s that this had 3 singles and was a top 25 Billboard album, it has always seemed to esoteric to me. Really it’s an art rock masterpiece.
I love this album, always have and always willl
A fantastic mix of Brian Eno and talking heads. They are especially spacey and atmospheric here.
An amazing album, highly recommend
There are four albums by them that i would consider classics. This is one of them. Always have loved Heaven, Drugs, Memoriales Can Wait. Lyrica are wack a doodle for most songs but thats what keeps ten interesting.
Very good
Excellent!
This is their best album.
Frantic energetic uncontrollable hip movements
Starts with my favorite song of theirs.
I just love this album. But truth be told, I love all the Talking Heads' albums. This one solidified that the band is the whole deal--musicians, lyricists, and avant garde Artists. Stand-out songs on this for me are I Zimbra, Paper, Cities, Air, Heaven.
Phenomenal Album! One of Talking Heads' best
Polyrhythmic funk meets punk art rock. Fantastic sound and lyrics. The live versions of many of these songs are even more interesting as the Talking Heads had people like Adrian Belew adding to their performance.
Iconic classic makes you move what more can you want
1+1. вечер. дома догорает камин, играет патефон, я танцую босиком в темной комнате, которая подсвечивается камином. мне тепло. и все еще хорошо.
Yikes
So unique and groundbreaking. 5/5
Nice one
A classic talking heads record with some of their strongest hits! I love it a lot! Dance music for underground clubs.
I loved everything about this album and shall dance to it at any given opportunity between now and death.
As a Talking Heads fan, this is an essential album and I'm very glad that it's on this list. I remember thinking when I heard this for the fist time, "what the hell did I just listen to?" It's so weird, strange, and different than many other types of music I've listened to...Talking Heads are quite unique. A few songs did take a handful of times to listen to before I liked them, but they are all great (although some are better than others: Cities, Life During Wartime, I Zimbra, and Heaven). Favorite tracks: all of them.
Own
5 stars. Great fucking album.
One of the best bands to emerge during the most innovative period in the history of pop music. They released five consecutive masterpieces (no mean feat!). 'Fear of Music' is the third of these and a singular experience. African rhythms, twisted melodies, endless layers and textures, this album never fails to captivate
Oh look, my favorite Talking Heads album! I've already got 2 of their albums at 5* (gonna be 4 by the time we finish this 1001 thing), so you know what this is gonna be. Another absolutely effortless 5, this album kicks all kinds of ass IMHO.
I mean what did you think I would rate it
This was a great album
Cities is amazing, I love the talking heads so obvi 10/10 for me 😊
5,0
Have this on vinyl (From Jimmy Mac). Masterpiece.
This is the album that taught me that “ugly” sounds can be beautiful. At times, the album is so noisy, or David Byrne is just making weird sounds with his voice—and it’s still so excellent. There’s also the unapologetic weirdness of this album, which was so exciting and refreshing to me in high school. And all throughout, the album just moves! Talking Heads somehow manages to stay silly while being groovy and danceable. So many classic tracks: “Cities,” “Air,” “Animals,” “Memories Can’t Wait,” and “Heaven” are all favorites of mine. “I Zimbra” is one of the greatest opening tracks of all time, and “Life During Wartime” is iconic. And this album marks an important shift in their sound that culminates in my favorite album of theirs, Remain in Light. It simply is a 5/5 album, and it’s only my third favorite Talking Heads album. They’re just the best.
Lyrics: The lyrical content of Fear of Music is a compelling exploration of the human psyche, delving into themes of paranoia, alienation, and self-reflection. David Byrne's distinctive lyrical style combines abstract imagery with introspective observations, creating a unique and thought-provoking narrative. Tracks like "Life During Wartime" and "Heaven" exemplify this, as they touch upon societal anxieties and the search for meaning. Pros: Thoughtful and evocative lyrics that invite listeners to interpret and reflect on their own experiences. The use of vivid and surreal imagery adds depth to the storytelling, making the songs memorable and open to multiple interpretations. Cons: Some may find the abstract nature of the lyrics challenging to decipher, leading to potential misinterpretations. The thematic consistency may be overwhelming for listeners seeking more straightforward narratives. Music: Fear of Music presents a dynamic musical landscape that defies easy categorization. The album seamlessly blends elements of punk, new wave, funk, and world music, showcasing Talking Heads' versatility. The rhythmic complexities and experimental instrumentation contribute to the album's distinctive sound. Tracks like "Cities" and "I Zimbra" display the band's ability to create infectious grooves while maintaining an avant-garde edge. Pros: Innovative musical arrangements that push the boundaries of conventional genres. The incorporation of diverse influences creates a captivating and eclectic listening experience. Cons: The experimental nature of the music may alienate listeners who prefer more straightforward, traditional structures. Some may find the album's sonic adventurousness challenging, making it less accessible for casual listeners. Production: Fear of Music benefits significantly from the collaborative production efforts of Talking Heads and Brian Eno. Eno's influence is evident in the album's atmospheric soundscapes and experimental textures. The production choices enhance the album's thematic elements, contributing to its overall cohesiveness. Pros: Brian Eno's production elevates the album, adding a layer of sophistication and experimentation. The attention to sonic detail creates a rich and immersive listening experience. Cons: The dense production may overwhelm those looking for a more stripped-down sound. Some listeners may find certain tracks overly abstract, hindering the accessibility of the album. Themes: Fear of Music explores a range of interconnected themes, including existential angst, urban life, and societal unease. The album's title reflects a pervasive sense of apprehension and uncertainty. Songs like "Mind" and "Paper" delve into the complexities of the human mind, while "Air" captures a sense of detachment from reality. The thematic consistency contributes to the album's conceptual strength. Pros: Cohesive thematic exploration creates a unified listening experience. The album's themes resonate with the anxieties and uncertainties of the late 1970s, offering a timeless quality. Cons: The intense focus on certain themes may limit the album's broad appeal. The abstract nature of some themes may require repeated listens for a full appreciation. Influence: Fear of Music has left an indelible mark on the music landscape, influencing subsequent generations of artists. Its eclectic blend of genres, innovative production techniques, and thought-provoking lyrics have inspired musicians across various genres. The album's impact is evident in the experimental tendencies of bands that emerged in the post-punk and new wave eras. Pros: Fear of Music's influence is pervasive, shaping the trajectory of alternative and experimental music. The album's innovative approach continues to inspire artists exploring the intersection of different musical styles. Cons: Some may argue that the album's uniqueness makes it challenging for artists to replicate its success without veering into imitation. The niche appeal of Fear of Music may limit its influence on mainstream music. Conclusion: Fear of Music remains a landmark album in Talking Heads' discography, showcasing the band's willingness to push creative boundaries. The synergy between David Byrne's enigmatic lyrics, the band's eclectic musicality, and Brian Eno's avant-garde production creates an enduring work of art. While the album's abstract nature and experimental tendencies may be challenging for some listeners, its thematic depth, innovative spirit, and lasting influence make Fear of Music a timeless and essential piece of musical history.
None of my top 4 talking heads songs are on this album, but id still argue this is one of their best albums Flows really well Good vibes
Favorite
I love Talking Heads and this album.
Altbekannt!
Classic
Don't even need to listen to it again since it's been almost on repeat since I watched their live concert film 'Stop Making Sense' a couple months ago when it was in cinemas (I watched it 3 time actually). The groovy 'Life During Wartime' and melancholy 'Heaven' are both featured on there and the live performances are just as amazing as the studio versions. Other highlights on the album are 'Cities' where David Byrne sounds like he's literally going insane, 'I Zimbra' which opens the album and showcases the afrobeat influence they'd really hone in on on 'Remain in Light' after this album, and 'Mind' which has one of the stickiest melodies on the album. It's a banger front to back.
Not full of bangers compared to other releases, but solid none-the-less. Unmistakeable sounds of Talking Heads.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
It's good!
Great album
This was an excellent listen, despite including few of the Talking Heads tracks most people would be aware of. The production is great, some of the guitar sounds are superb, and the record flows really well. I expected this to be good, but not as good as it actually was. I'm thinking a low 5
awesome, stunning, gorgeous, amazing, left me with a strange need to listen to kraftwerk
"Fear of Music" is perhaps an apt title, that or, as the excellent "Life During Wartime" repeats, This ain't no party, this ain't no disco. This might be the album that signified the glammed up 70s were dead, long live the post punk, new wave, fuck your disco 80s? Anyway, this is my second Talking Heads album, and I'm a convert, a true believer. Every song brings something new and different from what came before it. This is a truly great album and anyone who says otherwise is a cop. I said what I said....
The best
5/5. A sporadic and fear-fueled album, every song you believe Byrne is truly terrified of these things. His displays of unconventional vocal prowess drives each song and I do feel concerned despite also fully investing in these feelings. Not to mention the exciting instrumentation that backs Byrne's voice, sometimes he's catching up and other times, the instruments are catching up. A wonderful, crazy album; a classic.
Favorite Talking Heads album. 4 1/2 stars
Excellent album. Funky, groovy, fun, weird, and completely uninterested with being put in a box. I have been listening to this album for years and even after all this time the album still sounds interesting and unique. From the opening moments of the surreal chanting and horns of "I zimbra" to the banger "life during wartime" and finishing with the appltyl named "drugs" I can't think of a track on this album that doesn't hold it's own.
Enjoyed listening to this one again. I really love I Zimbra. So influential. That song is a 5 and most of the rest of the album is a 4. Cities and Life During Wartime and Mind are cool too. 4.5
This is my second Talking Heads album, I love this as well. The grooves are great and the lyricism is very interesting. David Byrne and all the bandmates are stellar as well. This album is really good! I’d recommend iy.
Fantastic, grew up listening to talking heads greatest hits, and this was not a disappointment.
The album that followed this is often regarded as the high-water mark for Talking Heads, but surely Fear Of Music gives it a run for it’s money? Side 1 is particularly excellent, with the trifecta of I Zimbra, Cities & Life During Wartime. Listening to Life During Wartime is as thrilling now as it was when I first heard it. The only track on the album co-written by all four Heads, Its official title as a single, "Life During Wartime (This Ain't No Party... This Ain't No Disco... This Ain't No Foolin' Around)", makes it one of the longest-titled singles. Side 2 includes one of the most covered of the band’s songs, Heaven. One British critic suggested the song “ epitomises pop as Samuel Beckett might write it: tedious, beautiful and desperate”. It’s a great lyric. I saw them on their first tour here in June 1979, the month after they finished recording this album & two months before it’s release. And the 4 tunes they played from it were Mind, Paper, Heaven & Electric Guitar, in other words, none of the biggies on Side 1 of the album. When I saw David Byrne live in Sydney in 2018, the only track he played from this album was I Zimbra. Both concerts were to die for.
Talking Heads is a band that changed everything for me after hearing Remain in Light. Apparently, they laid down the basic tracks in two days in Chris Frantz and Tina Weymouth's loft. They were certainly a tight unit at the time. Byrne said in Rolling Stone in 1979 "We're in a funny position. It wouldn't please us to make music that's impossible to listen to, but we don't want to compromise for the sake of popularity." And I think they were successful in straddling that line. That's what I like about this album; it's gritty and stark, weird and challenging, and smart, but also has some good tunes and you can dance to it. Eno and Robert Fripp and a bunch of percussionists bring their contributions, but it is unmistakenly a Talking Heads record. This is not my favourite Talking Heads album, but it's close. I bought my copy from a bargain bin at Kmart in Ashfield in about 1985 or 1986, and I played it a _lot_ as a teenager because it was one of only 20 or so albums I owned. Some people talk about it as a transitional record leading to their masterpiece, Remain in Light (which is my favourite). But it is a bloody great record in its own right, and it is great to hear a band with a really fresh outlook and distinctive viewpoint playing so confidently. And you can dance to it! It's not quite as perfect as Remain in Light, so 4.5 stars, rounding up because I really love it.
Funky and energetic!
Excellent
It’s got a funkier vibe than I was expecting. The opening song is gibberish
Enjoyed this one more than the other Heads album from the list so far. Complicated sounds but never takes itself too seriously. I could appreciate the music without feeling I needed to be a musician to get into the rhythms.
That album highlight "Life during wartime" is still very relevant today shows how smart the observation is through the full length of this album over 40 years later. This is a fascinating, funny and entertaining loaded with anger, panic, confusion, petty annoyances, paranoia, fear all packed up into something that could be chaos but ends up being a fantastic packet of uniqueness to be treasured. A true masterpiece.
An album you must listen to 1000 times before you die.
Wild blend of industrial goth disco pop. A previously unturned rock in my Talking Heads listening, one I’m glad I got to know.
This will be an easy review as this is one of my favorite albums of all time. Classic Talking Heads-I Zimbra, Cities, Life During Wartime, Heaven-just love this album. And this band.
Heaven
Love
So good, nearly as good as Remain in Light
Can't say I know much of Talking Heads or their work but I know they're pretty revered. After this one I can certainly see why. I think this is one of the few albums here that masterfully walks the tightrope between weird and catchy. It's unhinged, it's anxiety-inducing, but it's danceable! Few albums manage to nail that balance. Some really cool new wave. Favourite: Life During Wartime
Love this album!
Très coooool d'album, comme du disco-rock avant le new-wave. Si vous aimez ça allez voir leur Remain in Light, c'est genre ça mais plus meilleurs. EDIT D’ÉMILE DU FUTUR: FEAR OF MUSIC C’EST LE BEST ALBUM OK, REMAIN IN LIGHT N’AURAIT PAS EU LIEU SANS CE BANGER D’ALBUM
I absolutely ADORE Talking Heads and new wave as an overall, so I'm very happy this was my first album to listen to! It's very enjoyable although Speaking in Tongues is definitely higher rated in my mind when it comes to Talking Heads albums.
Paper
As with most Talking Heads records, Fear of Music takes a few listens to get accustomed to. But when it finally clicks and you let yourself flow along with the impeccable groove set by the entire group, you'll never want to leave. While other bands where making rock operas and fast guitar-driven music in the late 90s, David Byrne was really out there pushing boundaries for what could be considered popular music. Thank god that Brian Eno and the rest of the band could tolerate working with him. 'I Zimbra' is an incredibly energetic starter, with 'Cities', 'Life During Wartime' and especially 'Heaven' fully living up to it.
There’s just no going wrong with Talking Heads. It’s amazing that a band can sound this odd and excluding while still feeling like a safe harbor for everyone willing to groove along.
Catchy, strange, and angular. Not for fans of straightforward pop music. A good use of repetition to keep listeners engaged while the riffs and lyrics feel all over the place. Yet somehow it works. It feels anxiety provoking without the strong bite of anxiety. There's little distortion to toughen the themes and tension, so it pulls off confusion without getting too upsetting. Its perfect for people who want weird without going avant garde.
Es una critica completa, logren que suene bien, lo tiene todo, el unico detalle es el sonido del grabado en sí pero es algo menor, el disco sigue siendo una experiencia formidable hermosa y disfrutable 9/10
El tercer álbum de los legendarios neoyorquinos Talking Heads comienza ya a ahondar en un sonido más experimental y alejado de sus coterráneos. Con repeticiones adictivas, y melodías sorprendentes, la banda construye un álbum sumamente colorido e interesante. Un indispensable de la música alternativa.
Maybe their first perfect album, and my personal favourite. Such an anxious vibe! Fitting, of course, considering the title. I once heard (though I'm unsure whether this is true) that each song title is meant to represent a fear -- fear of air, fear of cities, etc. And that fear is felt across the album; sometimes it's a heavy, suffocating sense of dread, sometimes a fast, frenetic anxiety, but definitely an uneasy feeling throughout. Musically, it's pretty weird, and I mean that as a high compliment. They really gel into a cohesive unit here; the interplay is fantastic. Some of their best hooks and riffs of their career are on this album. It rewards repeat listens, but definitely deserves to be included in conversations about which Talking Heads album is best.
This ain′t no party, this ain't no disco This ain't no fooling around No time for dancing, or lovey dovey I ain′t got time for that now Paranoia has never been so much fun. Also, mightily relieved that this brilliant album is in the 1001 after all 😅
Opus magnum! ;-)
Great songs to twitch along to. Highlights: I Zimbra, Heaven, Cities, Life During Wartime
My favourite Talking Heads album and the one I think they are their best.
Everyone is trying to get to the bar The name of the bar, the bar is called Heaven The band in Heaven, they play my favorite song They play it once again, they play it all night long One of the best of all time. 5/5
I find Fear of Music curiously hard to get into, the first few tracks are good, but kind of cold. I understand where critics of TH's sound, that it is too precise and has got no soul, are coming from although I wouldn't judge them as harshly. But, and it's a big but, I am always swept away at a point halfway through Cities all the way up to and including Animals - what a run of songs. Absolute genius. After this big chunk, the album kind of fizzles out for me before the end, which is a shame. So, a flawed classic, and a hugely important step on the road to the best TH album, Remain in Light. A second listen later in the day it's even better, right up until those last two tracks. Favourite of the rest - Mind. Favourites - Heaven, Air, Life During Wartime
Not as cohesive and maybe not a cultural statement as strong as Remain in Light, but Fear of Music makes up for it by throwing us some of the weirdest and most paranoiac new wave you'll ever get to hear. This sounds so fresh even to this day. Life is still as stressful as these songs wanted to portray.
Shimmering with originality, Talking Heads continue their music/art project with some excellently crafted tracks, brilliantly produced and played superbly. They deconstruct and then reconstruct the pop song, experimenting with lyrics, form and effects. Compelling, urgent, unique, a band who would go on to hit even greater heights.
A ridiculously good album. The '70s-'80s punk-new wave-funk is a fantastic complement to David Byrne's monotonous (but never boring) voice. And then you have experimental elements and instruments, making some songs sound like Halloween hits, some a bit more soulful, and some like drug-induced ramblings. That probably would not have worked with other artists, but Talking Heads creates magic here, that's amazingly supplemented by Brian Eno. You hear his influence all over. This album would be nowhere near as good and cohesive, despite its eclecticism, if not for his work. Standout tracks are Mind, Cities, Air, and Memories Can Wait.
One of the many perfect albums by Talking Heads. Hook it to my veins.
The 'Heads were just an album away from penning and recording their magnum opus when they released the already wonderful *Fear Of Music*. And you can feel it. Byrne was at the peak of his game during that period, and helped by Eno's production ideas, his band were firing on all cylinders. Only three tracks are *a little* underwhelming in this LP, first "Life During Wartime", to a certain extent (never understood why they picked that one as a single--it's very "linear", melodically speaking), but more specifically "Animals" and "Electric Guitars", very weird even for the band's usual standards. Fortunately, those latter two tracks are sandwiched between the perfect ballad "Heaven" and the evocative and moody "Drugs", two of my absolute favorite Talking Heads tracks. So the peaks are more significant than the valleys on side two. And the album is insanely great overall. 4,5/5, rounded up to 5 here. Number of albums left to review: 597 Number of albums from the list I find relevant enough to be mandatory listens: 193 (including this one) Albums from the list I *might* include in mine later on: 90 Albums from the list I will certainly *not* include in mine (many others are more essential to me): 120
The first five Talking Heads records are nearly a perfect output for a band, in terms of the overall output and their growth and evolution from album to album. Fear of Music is arguably the weirdest and most experimental of the five records and is likely the one I reach for least out of all of them. But this album rules and is nearly perfect and is a great listen every time.
There's just no weak spot to be found on the album. It might not get into the heights of some songs on the predecessor or on the next album, but it's unique, compelling, danceable, maniacal, creative, neurotic, funky and timeless throughout.
Черт, не знал что головы могут быть такими. Мне кажется если бы они исполняли все позже, то точно исполняли IEM. Очень интелеггентный фанк получился, но который вгоняет в тоску и паранойю от мира
Fantastic record. Perfect weird energy. Amazing performances. One of Talking Heads best.
I've mentioned this before, but Talking Heads will always get a 5 star rating from me. David Byrne is a beautiful genius, a remarkably talented and rare shiny gem among musicians, and everything he touches turns to gold. I love this album end-to-end, it is flawless. It's rock 'n' roll, but also art pop and new wave proto-everything cool in all the best ways. I fucking love it.
pretty based. not my thing usually but it's great
This is THE Talking Heads album. The one I recommended when someone asks. The one hooked me to their style. The one I always come back to. Fantastic sequencing, immaculate production, contagious rhythms. Each songs dealing with traumas and “fears” (I think I heard that you could add the prefix “Fear of” to each song to know where they were going: Fear of mind, fear of cities, fear of heaven…. -this does not apply to I zimbra) in a cathartic way. Personally, my favorite TH song is heaven. Its helplessness, hopelessness, philosophical anxiety. A passive aggressive song: heaven is a place where nothing ever happens… can you ask for more in an album?
Perhaps one of the greatest albums to ever be released! Fear Of Music Is Insane, It's like a huge melt pot of Funk, Rock, World, Psychedelic and what else is on the horizon. I love Byrne's delivery and paranoia. Definitely need to dive in their other albums! Favorite lyrics: - You make me shiver, I feel so tender. We make a pretty good team. - They think they know what's best, they're making a fool of us. They ought to be more careful, they're setting a bad example. Key tracks: I Zimbra, Mind, Paper, Cities, Life During Wartime, , Memories Can't Wait, Air, Heaven, Animals, Drugs 9 out of 10
From start with the dada reference in I Zimbra, Eno involved, and the end (Drugs!) 11 classics in a row. Music can't be much better than this, a 4.999999999. After Drugs it was high time to listen to My Live In A Bush Of Ghosts by Byrne/Eno (guess also in 1001 best albums?). BTW: Am liberal in my views normally, live and let live, but can't understand that Simply Red released/raped Heaven (a bit of self censorship does not hurt does it?)
Exceptional album
So unbelievably creative and fresh. And so unbelievably influential. I love it
Yeah, liked this more than "More Songs About Buildings And Food" - there seemed to be more oddness? Like, most songs had moments or features that made me go "Ooh, that was weird, I dig it!" Fave track - "Heaven" and "Drugs" I reckon!
Arguably their best album.
i cheered, i shouted, i fist-bumped the air beautiful
Man, how have I slept on Talking Heads for so long??? What is wrong with me? '77,' their debut album, was good, but I'm glad it's the first one I listened to, because everything I've listened to since, including the fabled live album 'Stop Making Sense,' has been fantastic, and this album is no exception. Weirdness accentuated by David Byrne's unusual voice, the album strikes a great balance between the weird and the catchy. 'Heaven,' 'I Zimbra,' and 'Life During Wartime' were standout songs for me, but the entire album rocks from start to finish.
Huge fan since 77. They always surprised with every album, this one especially.
hell yeah
My all-time favorite Talking Heads album.
Yay Talking Heads! A lot of love for this band but have listened to big hits and watched random live performances rather than listening to full albums like this. It's a really strong and classically unusual/exciting/unique opening track, It's really nice to have that African-disco inspired opener. Love that the album is quite punchy at 40 mins and the variety with it chopping and changing between tracks a lot. It holds my interest well. I love the description I will pinch from Wikipedia of "gritty weirdness". As always I really love the influence/appearance of Brian Eno in the production of the album. I LOVE where they found inspiration and the fact that their songs are written about unusual objects or based on non-sensical poetry rather than the usual themes of love drugs etc etc and it makes it very interesting to read up on the inspiration behind the songs and lyrics. Really enjoying the disco vibes throughout, super fun and dancey. Some really clever moments like the breathy vocals which sound like the word "air" at the beginning of Air.
A masterpiece, just fantastic
Loved it. I liked the talking heads already but this album was new to me. Def don't make them like they used to
David Byrne for life!
i really really like this i loved Cities and added it as the first song in Songs About Cities just a good vibe and cool sounds. i want to listen to this stoned
Yes! Never heard this before but quite brilliant. I knew Cities though, best song from a great record.
I love Talking Heads, and this record sums up a lot of what I love about them. In a time when soul, punk and glam rock seemed to dominate, you have this weird art-pop-rock collective making weird accessible music you can dance too. I just think the whole album is ace from start to finish, and even today sounds fresh and unique to me. I cant think of anyone who comes close to Talking Heads in terms of making this type of music. Strange enough to be interesting, catchy enough to catch on. Just what you’d expect from something Brian Eno has been involved in. Id love to have a pint with Brian Eno.
What I love about Talking Heads is that it's a band that can reconcile the weird, literate, often pretentious, but clever music with fun, radio-friendly, catchy music, all without ever losing their identity. This album achieves that, somewhere between enjoyable and funny (Animals is hilarious), and unsettling and nervous. The title is really fitting, as it's just about fear. Fear of achieving perfection, to urban life, to the air we breathe. 21/10/22
Like it for being mentally active😅
A really good album..
Art Rock meets African rhythms? What's not to like?
Fantastic album and their best IMO.
One of my favorite albums from one of my favorite bands. All of the quirkiness and clever lyrics.
In their top 3 for sure but not my favorite Talking Heads album. That said, 5 stars!
У нас уже был на прослушивание самый первый альбом TH, и он мне не понравился Не могу сказать то же самое об FOM — он огненный!
Banger opener
Already love Talking Heads, but I've never heard this album. It's really nice, and my favorite track was Heaven
This album makes my bussy bop. Love it.
cool
This has been a favorite of mine since highschool. Pretty experimental like on the first track with the nonsensical language.
One of my favorite Takling Heads releases. I definitely think this is the album where they truly came into their own. It's darker and more experimental than their earlier stuff, while retaining the pop sensibilities. Eno's production is fabulous as well.
Great start.
Maybe my least favorite Talking Heads album. But then it has some of their all time best songs on it, like Heaven and Life During War Time? Ah well 5 stars I guess for these fuckin' guys.
Офигенный альбом. Предтеча Discipline группы King Crimson. То, что доктор прописал. То, что я очень люблю.
Wow! I’ve always meant to listen to the Talking Heads and I’m glad this 1001 album endeavour finally forced me to. This is the first album I’m giving 5/5 because I will definitely listen to it again. When it finished playing, I let it start again. Loved it from start to finish.
"The better the singer's voice, the harder it is to believe what they're saying" - David Byrne. It doesn't ring entirely true, but goes a long way towards explaining Talking Heads' approach to music: capture a flash of inspiration, cling to the authenticity of it, worry about everything else afterwards. To me, "Fear of Music" (what a title) is when all the components of this brilliant band come together for the first time. David Byrne's unique and neurotic worldview was projecting out to everything around him, the band were starting to explore new ground and styles musically while retaining a sense of spontaneity, and Brian Eno's partnership with them was soaring to new heights. The concept of "Fear of Music" - detachment from any sense of stability, and paranoia concerning just about everything - unravels beautifully across the set of songs. We're treated to what is, in effect, a Talking Heads rulebook containing the following insights: Love is as weak as paper. Heaven is a con. Don't trust animals, they're laughing at you. Don't trust electric guitar, it's breaking the law. Don't trust the air you breathe, it can also hurt you. Bim blassa galassasa zimbrabim! Musically, they're on stellar form: Byrne and Jerry Harrison's jagged and brash rhythm guitar, Tina Weymouth's bubbling, disco-esque basslines, and Chris Frantz bringing rock-steady drum parts. Some occasional stuttering keyboard accompaniments go a long way, as does Eno's cold production. Even including the weakest link "Electric Guitar", every track is either lyrically striking, irresistibly danceable (a frenzied strut, but danceable all the same), or at least ear-grabbingly intriguing. The coda of "Animals" holds a special place in my heart. Robert Fripp's guitar cameo in "I Zimbra" is dizzying wonder. The build-up in "Memories Can't Wait" is triumphant and disturbing at once. "Heaven" sounded a lot better four years later on "Stop Making Sense", but it's still a melodic gem. Every track is completely original and arrestingly immediate. They would move onto more ambitious work immediately afterwards, but "Fear of Music" shows the band absolutely mastering three-minute songcraft.
not the best album but good
It's very difficult to give an impartial review on one of my favourite bands. An influential masterpiece, unlike anything else released at the time.
when the guitars hit during Mind... oooooooh. this album got me through an unnecessarily stressful afternoon thank you Talking Heads. 9/10.
Jagged and edgy and lived in
It's Talking Heads. I am not qualified to judge, these people are legends.
Talking Heads are an all time great. This album is a masterpiece.
loved it. talking heads 77 is better but this turned me on to a whole bunch of songs id never heard.
One of my faves- minimal and sparse at times, other times jagged and claustrophobic. Always driving rhythms and progressive. Still listen on the reg. Pulled me out of a really bad headspace at Bighorn 100, mile 72-ish. Highlights: Mind, Air, Cities, I Zimbra
You know what I love about Talking Heads? They completely existed in their own musical headspace. This is a band that basically invented their sound as they went along, frequently wandering into uncharted territory. They could draw on what was hip at the moment musically if they felt like it, but bend it into their own weird concoctions. Their music was off the wall, lyrically complex and sometimes pretty challenging. This is wickedly smart music that is also incredibly engaging and fun to listen to. There really is no other band like the Talking Heads and I live on this music. Fear of Music has everything you want or need in a Talking Heads album, full of funky grooves, offset with a little punk-tinged terseness and grit. The band is in top form with jagged, urgent guitars, frenetic drumming and some seriously funky bass. Byrne's singular vocal style lilts from whimsical to menacing and even melancholy in a sometimes surprising but always entertaining fashion. Not every song on this album is an easy listen, but the band is able to strike a balance between being adventurous and being fun, which is really hard to do. They get even better at it on the albums that come after this one. Fave Songs (All songs from most to least favorite): Cities, Life During Wartime, Heaven, I Zimbra, Mind, Memories Can't Wait, Air, Paper, Animals, Electric Guitar, Drugs
great album so much energy, i guess cocaine
Talking Heads liebe ich, schöne Melodien, gute Texte
2nd best Talking Heads album. Damn near perfect. 9-10/10 1. Life During Wartime 2. I Zimbra 3. Memories Can't Wait
-"Cities" has some great back bass and groove, but I do prefer the more intense live version on 'Stop Making Sense" -"Life During Wartime" is an awesome song -The end bit of "Animals" is really cool, with the layers and layers of David Byrne singing -Memories Can't Wait is pretty cool like psychedelic stuff kinda -Just generally solid, even if the live versions are way better
rad
I had always heard of the Talking Heads as being the “type” of band I would like, but never really listened to them. This album is really cool, and definitely seems like it was ahead of its time. Would have fit right in in the 90s. Some really good tracks on here.
Loved every minute of this.
Things what I did done learn from the 1,001 Albums: Part 4 - Talking Heads are really bloody good. No idea why I paid them so little attention before. If they were a football team, they would be Brentford (a breath of fresh air) as opposed to Burnley (Aimee Mann - a bit dull), Norwich (The Incredible String Band - really, really shit) or Man United (any jazz - loads of fellas doing loads of different playing with absolutely no cohesion).
Oh this is one of the best albums in the list. The music. The lyrics. All great from start to finish. Too bad one cannot give 10 star!
David Byrne. Genius.
This and they are genius! So ahead of the curve it’s unreal!
Excelente disco. Sin duda para escuchar antes de morir
This album is fearless. David Byrne is unafraid to toss in disco influences with rock influences and create something new but coherent. His frantic lyrics and singing add a sense of manic urgency to this album. This music is off-kilter, yet still finds a groove.
This album is great. It gets weirder and weirder the farther in you go, but they play into it and play into it extremely well. The vocals are great, the instruments are interesting to listen to, and no moment of music is wasted. This was worth listening to. Favorite track: I Zimbra
Very enjoyable. It was extremely catchy and forward thinking. I love David Byrne's voice and songwriting, and Fear of Music was a great step in the direction of Remain in Light. Highlights: 1, 2, 3, 5, and 8.
A great listen
For me a perfect album has one or 2 tracks that grab you and pull you in. Then the more times you listen the more tracks pull you in until every track is a classic. This is one many albums like that that talking heads produced in their all too short career.
Hadn’t listened to this album before but really liked it. The Talking Heads are amazing.
One of the greatest albums ever made. I need to upgrade my vinyl version.
I can imagine a large portion of first time listeners tuning out early on this album through not wanting to persevere with the somewhat ‘different’ sounding melody & vocals...they would be doing themselves and this whole album a huge disservice. As well as all the great music they would also miss the chance to go about their day whilst wearing a pair of cans & and appreciating the beautiful artistic and upbeat mastery of this whole album. They’d never know they missed out on such a caring and tender song like ‘Heaven’ for example. They would have no clue how much they would’ve felt like spontaneously breaking into dance will listening to ‘Mind’. Most of all they would miss going about their day with a music induced smile as a result of listening to these tracks. There truely is something for everyone here. Sometimes you just have to dig that bit more or scratch further away at the surface to reveal some hidden gems in life...this album is full of them. Five Stars!
right when TH hit their stride to become probably the best band of the era. weird beats and instrumentation, peak Eno ethereal production, and David Byrne delivering some of his best and weirdest vocals and lyrics. I Zimbra and Animals stood out to me as forgotten gems off this one.
Production: 15/20 Songwriting: 16/20 Innovation: 15/20 Bangers: 20/20 Emotional response: 16/20 =82 Yes please
Excellent, know this album inside-out.
With this album, TH started to separate themselves from the other "New Wave" bands. The Eno production was quite different from their earlier efforts, I Zimbra gives us a glimpse of the direction they were heading & the guitar licks on songs like Mind & Drugs where unlike anything I'd heard at that time - almost percussive. The lyics were amusing as always. All songs are not 5/5 but the great ones carry the rest.
still sounds as fresh as when I first heard it. Eno can found all over the place. masterpiece
I really like the Talking Heads and know they've had a lot of influence on other bands that came about later. I don't know if this is their first album but I think it's pretty early so I can see how this would be completely different than a lot of other stuff that was going on at the time.
Timeless.
This could definitely use another listen just to pick up on some more of the lyrics.
NIce
Зашло!
Love love love David Byrne
Not as good as Stop making sense
Very good stuff with Cities and Life During Wartime two of my absolute favourites they ever put out, but not as strong as their two opening albums.
Cocaine-fuelled paranoia and claustrophobia. Truly some of their best and most experimental work, though, on balance, I prefer their next two albums
This album is one of the best by them, though I think its due to it being a great collection of good songs. its very consistent in quality throughout. other albums have more "hits" but that's not the point. There are at least a few songs people would recognize that were played over media clips, or even as background music. Still these songs beg for repeat listens, and or at least a reason to delve further into their albums. Biggest Hit - I Zimbra Biggest Miss (if I had to choose) - Drugs Hidden Gem - Animals
Ahh!!
has a great edge to it even as it feels like a slice of ecstasy
This is my third Talking Heads album I've gotten on the list and is actually my favorite by quite a bit. Definitely the most interesting both musically and lyrically.
4/5
An album that really picks up 4 songs in, but it REALLY picks up. The first 3 songs are fine, but nothing special, really. “Mind” is pretty fucking great, but… I don’t know, I still don’t love where it’s sequenced. “Cities,” though… it’s a fucking barn-burner. So is “Life During Wartime.” It’s a 1-2 punch of actually awesome songs after a pretty disappointing start. “Cities” in particular really spoke to me, talking about the craziness of cities, talking about the circumstance of them, and the album as a whole has some outstanding lyrics (“burned all my notebooks… what good are notebooks!?”) on it. “Memories Can’t Wait” is another great one, with more great lyrics, and an awesome vocal performance from Byrne. I didn’t expect to find a commercial sounding song on here, that being “Heaven,” but that was pretty awesome too! I can’t actually tell if “Animals” is a metaphor or not, but that’s not the point because at the end of the day it’s fucking awesome. That’s kind of this whole album, actually. There’s stuff I like, there’s stuff I question, and the sequencing is weird, but at the end of the day it’s fucking awesome. 9.1/10
Maybe not my fav Talking Heads album, but still filled with such good music. I think repeated listens of this will endear it to me further and might even raise it to a 5.
How wild must have it been in 1979 to hear this nervous jittery new wave. The record is like its singer: it’s all limbs. Limbs that appear to have more knobby joints than they should. Hearing this again makes me so happy that David Byrne is alive and jittering; and how great many songs on this record sounded during his 2026 Coachella performance. It’s music that just gets better with time, and that’s so very far above a tremendous lot of pop music from 1979.
Ok I was liking this but they’re a little outside my range
I will never get tired of listening to Talking Heads. Their influence always seems to be everywhere, no matter what era of music you listen to. Even Phil Collins recently said he wishes he was David Byrne (or words to that effect). This is a record of wonderfully artful, jarring, angular, flowing, rhythmic, pop that's (evidently) really hard to describe. Byrne remains to this day a uniquely intoxicating performer. Much as I love them, this isn't my favourite of theirs - it does start to feel a bit samey - but it's a joy nonetheless.
In many ways I love Talking Heads - always original, very much ploughing their own furrow and taking onboard an eclectic range of influences. While I take my hat off to this it is occasionally a slight oddity or quirkiness that grates slightly.. but that is minimal on this off-centre piece of pop
One of their best, but better was to come.
8/10 Talking Heads are a band that traversed a number of styles and genres within their music, from funk to pop, to new wave, while adding generous sprinklings of avant garde, artsy elements to their sound. This album is no exception to that, with a number of excellent funk and almost afrobeat grooves, some excellent hooky pop melodies and some more weird, sound-design heavy moments. I think people often (as with many bands) focus on the lead singer and David Byrne is certainly a character. He’s a bit like a more consistently weird, American (yes, he was born in the UK, he’s still American) David Bowie, and it appears that both Bowie and the Talking Heads took inspiration from one another. It probably doesn’t hurt that frequent Bowie collaborator Brian Eno also produced this album. Byrne lends the band a slightly schizophrenic edge, switching between more traditional pop-rock delivery to almost psychotic moments or performances, probably best exemplified by closer Drugs. But focusing on Byrne could easily make one miss the incredible tightness of the rest of the band. Jerry Harrison, Tina Weymouth and Chris Franz are one hell of a unit, laying down infectious grooves and punchy rhythms at the drop of a hat, while also seamlessly drifting into the more dissonant and avant garde moments on the record. While Byrne is the weird cherry, the rest of the band is the oddly flavoured cake that he rests on, and if the recipe for that cake was even slightly off, the whole thing would probably just taste like shit. Luckily, it all comes together well and the band bob and weave their way through an evolving cycle of interesting and engaging songs that indulge in weirdness while largely maintaining enough focus that the record feels tonally consistent and has a strong through line that keeps the listener on the hook. There are some moments when things become a touch repetitive or lull a little too much, but with the Talking Heads, you always know something interesting and high-quality is just around the corner. I Zimbra - There’s a bit of a stripped back Fela Kuti edge to this, and you can definitely hear the rhythmic feel that went into side-project Tom Tom Club too. It’s a cool, sparse and engaging groove that manages to blend funk with a more new-wave sound palette. A good start. Mind - David Byrne very much has the feel of an American David Bowie. It’s partly his vocal delivery, which is very Bowie-esque here. The track is fairly stripped back and restrained, but carries a solid groove and the overlapping rhythms of the different parts create a shimmering, drifting movement to it. There’s a bit of a tonal development late on when the distorted guitar comes in, which is pretty good. Paper - This is a bit more front-foot with the groove than the last couple of tracks and there’s a nice switch between busy sections and slightly more rhythmically drawn out ones. There’s nothing too complex about the track, but it has a good groove and vibe to it. It threads the Talking Heads line pretty well, being danceable and funky while also having an edge of avant garde weirdness to it. Cities - The groove gets a bit more frantic now and is very insistent. There’s a much thicker blend of instrumental layers here and it all comes together to create an irresistibly danceable song with some standout bass work. It is perhaps a touch one paced, and isn’t melodically that hooky, but it’s still a really nice bit of work. Life During Wartime - As if to respond to my last comment, this track is endlessly hooky. The synth tones sound quite dated, but if anything, that just kind of adds to the charm of it. As with the rest of the album, the groove is excellent and Chris Frantz and Tina Weymouth are so deep in the pocket together that it’s no surprise they ended up married. This kind of thing is the sweet spot for Talking Heads for me: Funky and poppy with a sprinkling of weirdness. Lovely. Memories Can't Wait - The sound design on this is great. It’s cluttered and foreboding in a really effective way, with different instrumental lines sweeping in and out of the noise. There’s something quite disconcerting and creepy about it all, even in the melodic choices that Byrne makes with his vocal, which soars above that cluttered yet purposeful mix. Another solid track. Air - This opens up a bit more in the mix, but there’s still an element of the more reverb-heavy, slightly twisted core from the last track. The changes between sharp, staccato sections and the smoother sections is really nice and creates an interesting textural flow to the song. It’s got more of that slightly weird edge to it, particularly with some of the harmonic choices, but it all gels together really well into something that sounds very unique. Heaven - This is a hooky ballad with some really lovely melodic moments. The interplay between guitar and piano is beautiful, with Byrne’s vocal delivery being so emotive and pulling every bit of power out of a fairly simple but brilliant melody. The vibe of this is excellent, with a slightly dark undercurrent blended in to what is on the face of it, quite an uplifting melodic work. Animals - And we’re back to something with more of that front-foot funky groove, dusted with some more dissonant harmonic choices and a fairly avant garde vocal performance. It’s weird, but coherently and deliberately so. The underlying groove grounds the track, while the guitar and vocal try to pick it apart and drag it to pieces. The balance is excellent, as it would be easy to drag this too far in one direction, but they string it together well and pull it further into weird territory towards the end. Electric Guitar - The vibe of this is really good, but musically, it feels a bit more meandering and less grounded than the stronger work. Some of the sound design is really great, and that creepy edge is there again, but it feels like it drifts over the line into being a bit less focused and a touch too weird and repetitive for my taste. Drugs - We get a nice slow burn here, and the sound design is again lovely. The atmosphere and vive is both wide-open and somehow oppressive at the same time. It’s a creepy little number that’s very carefully balanced and laid out to keep pulling you along, pushing and pulling the instruments and effects in and out of focus in an inventive and evocative way. An excellent end to the album.
get scareddddd
I’ve heard this before. This is apparently the first time they incorporated afrobeat and disco into their sound although I feel like they already had some of those elements to their music. They still expanded their sound here and it’s interesting to think of how weird this must have been when it was released considering its influence of so much of everything that followed. This might be considered new wave but they were among he original nyc punk scene and it’s still punk rock and it’s awesome.
I already love this one. Heaven is a tune. Some weird ones here tho
Excellent.
alltid lika trevligt med pratglada huvuden :P
Ohh the good stuff.
New wave, post-punk, art rock, psychedelic funk.
Fun!
I'd obviously heard 'life during wartime', but this was my first time listening to the entire album. Steam of consciousness, oblique, storrytelling through inferrence and scene, solid guitar/drum/synth backing. Weird weird weird, but fun and with moments of brilliance and a couple of slogs.
Enjoyed this album a lot, I'm a big fan of David Byrne and his whacky vocals. Favourite track is life during wartime 4/5
Más los descubro y más me gustan. Para mí, el álbum va de más a menos y eso hace que no sea mi favorito pero posta nada lo hace un mal disco.
Talking Heads – Fear of Music (1979) This was a decent listen, definitely carrying groovy and lowkey funky undertone, all while the band's post-punk evolution was fully on display. The rhythmic pocket and experimental nature of the arrangements really give the project a distinct identity. Looking at the tracklist, the clear standouts that made the cut are "I Zimbra," "Cities," "Life During Wartime," "Heaven," and "Animals." While the entire record maintains that tight, angular groove, these specific tracks represent the absolute highlights of the experience for me. It delivers exactly what it needs to for a very solid 4/5.
Not my favorite Talking Heads album, but still great nonetheless
Definitely a distinctive band that should be checked out. Best described as art rock or post-punk. David Byrne but other great musicians (Tina Weymouth, Jerry Harrison and Tim Frantz). Really well produced (Brian Eno), still sounds current. The downtempo songs are too far out there for me.
This isn’t just good — it’s outstanding. While listening I felt constantly engaged by how rhythmic and alive the album is. It moves beautifully between different emotions, going from anxious and sad to joyful and eccentric without missing a beat. The themes are diverse and clever, covering everything from personal paranoia to society and everyday madness. David Byrne is in absolute top form, as always. His restless energy and unique voice perfectly match the band’s tight, funky, and experimental sound. The whole record feels like Talking Heads fully hitting their creative peak — bold, danceable, strange, and deeply human all at once. Fear of Music is a brilliant album. Creative, rhythmic, and endlessly replayable. One of their very best.
One of their stronger albums. On the surface it seems strange and tackles real topics like war and drugs, yet Byrnes vocals make it funny to a degree. Standouts are life during wartime (stop making sense version is much better though), memories can’t wait, air and heaven.
Good stuff, I liked the center tracks (Life During Wartime-Memories Can't Wait-Air) best
What I liked most about this album is the rhythm - that punk-funk choppiness layered with complex polyrhythms. There’s an angular groove throughout the album that’s incredibly satisfying to lock into. It stays consistent in that way from start to finish. That said, I can imagine this record being tough for some listeners. If you’re someone who prefers vocal-centric music, David Byrne’s delivery might feel challenging and off-putting. The intricate rhythms and unconventional musical textures could come across as strange, alienating and unsafe. But if you’re drawn to that funk-punk groove, you’ll likely find this album irresistible. It's not 100% my sort of thing, but I found it interesting, and the worst thing I think music can be is uninteresting.
7/10
Fantastic album, though not one I would want to listen to all the time.
"Life During Wartime" and "Heaven" are both all-time classics but this isn't one of the albums I'd select for this list. I'd hope to see something like "Speaking in Tongues" and/or the "Stop Making Sense" live album.
NOT MY FAVORITE TALKING HEADS BUT NOT BAD AT ALL. Sorry about the all caps but I'm too tired to retype that line.
The first time I listened to this album, I was resting in my car on my lunch break, but I was too tired to process most of it. I started listening to it again on my drive home and finished it during the beginning of my shift the next day. I always love seeing the way Talking Heads bring a variety of different musical influences into their work, even if the end results don't always click with me; Fear of Music sees their usual new wave sound accented with more electronic and African sounds, alongside Byrne's captivatingly unhinged vocal melodies. I came into this album already knowing Life During Wartime and Heaven, though this might have been to the detriment of the album as a whole, as these two songs set a standard that I didn't feel the rest of the album reached. In comparison to the Talking Heads studio albums I've already heard, More Songs About Buildings and Food & Speaking in Tongues, Fear of Music seems to exhibit less diversity from song to song, with many of them feeling pretty similar to each other. This album is also missing some of the freewheeling, chaotic songwriting and lyricism that I love most about the band, and some songs feel a bit like they're just spinning their wheels rather than building to a payoff. Byrne also has a tendency on some of these songs to sing in really short phrases, rather than lean into the vocal rhythms that I typically enjoy from Talking Heads songs. At the end of the day, even with some of these reservations, this is still a Talking Heads album, so it's still quite good and enjoyable; it just doesn't reach the heights of their other projects for me. Highlights: Mind, Paper, Life During Wartime, Air, Heaven, Animals
mmmm
real nice, the lead singer has such a recognizable voice and tone :)
There's a whole lot of nonsense about the Talking Heads that demands their music not to be taken seriously. But the musicianship and song craft is on point, so it's hard to hate. No depth to the songwriting. The title of each track is very literally about that thing, like Air for example. But it's lighthearted and fun and I could put this one in regular rotation for sure.
> the Beatles
Talking Heads letting loose a little and its enjoyable
Good Heads, not great Heads.
Ah Talking Heads, one of my favorites. Don’t know if this album in particular is one of my favorites from them but when they set bar that high, it’s difficult to constantly match it. However, solid 4 stars album!
super nickel !
I can sympathize with those who call this as their favorite Heads album, but unfortunately the often muddled production really puts a wrench in things for me personally. Still has some absolute bangers though like I Zimbra/Life During Wartime/Memories Can't Wait. 8.5/10.
8.5/10 I really liked this! Which shouldn't be surprising for me by now, I'd put this album slightly below MSABAF because I really like the sound, but I didn't feel as many songs stood out here.
Beautifully aggressive and psychedelic talking heads album they always blow it out of the water. I would talk about which songs I liked but that would be all of them.
What a weird band (good thing) Likes: I Zimbra; Cities; Life During Wartime; Air; Animals
tiene cositas de Bowie, se siente la influencia. Tema favorito: “Heaven”
Excellent, crazy, both melodic and in melodic, chilled and aggressive, like a tequila drunk on a special anniversary.
Its good, I prefer Little Creatures but nothing really beats the live version of Stop Making Sense with the ever growing suit jacket...... Crazy and creative in equal measure.
Really good album, some cracking songs on it
Between a 3/4 for me, I love cities, life during wartime, and heaven but I don’t think it’s my favorite talking heads album
Pre Listen: Talking Heads my beloved :D Notable Tracks: I Zimbra - What a jubilant way to start an album. Absolutely love it. Life During Wartime - My favorite track, already on my playlist before this listen. Heaven - The 'Nothing Ever Happens' theme song. Huge for those who subscribe to the nothing ever happens line of modern philosophy. Animals - My least favorite track. Even though it's my least favorite I still enjoy it. Drugs - Adding to my playlist. The lyrics are not my favorite, but the actual music behind it is so ethereal and smooth. I've overlooked this song too many times. Post Listen: I've already listened to this album on multiple occasions, and have been a Talking Heads fan for maybe a decade at this point, so I'm absolutely biased. I love David Byrne's goofy nonsensical lyrics that occasionally have something poetic hidden in the noise. The band has such a unique sound, with lopsided guitar and bass melodies pulled along by grooving synth, and kept in check by sleek drum-play. I love this band. All that said, I'm giving the album a 4/5. The Talking Heads have stronger albums in my opinion, and while this one is great, they've demonstrated better. I think my bias also plays a roll in how much I enjoy this album, if you're brand new to the Talking Heads, 80% of the songs on here probably sound like doo-doo to you.
I Zimbra: Really unique in a great way. Loved this one. Strong instrumentals. Mind: Funky; loved driving to work with this on the stereo. Biased because I was already excited to hear Byrne’s iconic voice which didn’t really get spotlighted in “I Zimbra” but he sounds as good as ever. Paper: Okay; weakest so far but it’s only ~2:30. Instrumentals were solid. Cities: Catchy: added to library. Really energetic and looking forward to driving home to this. Life During Wartime: Much like cities. Great stuff from Byrne here + “Pittsburgh, PA” Memories Can’t Wait + Air: Okay Heaven: Something a little more somber than the rest of the album; very charming. Drugs: Eh. It’s something different I guess.
Super
Another band I've meant to dive into and haven't yet, outside some hits (none from here). Great bass, fun vocals, good grooves. After the intro, everything felt like its own high point, with maybe Memories Can't Wait and Air (which at times vocally kinda reminds me of Sensor Ghost, a favorite local band) and Drugs being the highlights of the highlights
Very weird… I tried to follow the lyrics a little more closely than I usually do and I am left either laughing or slapped by serious content. The music itself is straightforward, rich with licks and weird Brian Eno sounds. Songs I liked: I Zimbra, Cities, Heaven, drugs
Feeling kind of disillusioned. Thought I liked the Heads more than I have liked the albums. I guess I just like the hits - or the Stop Making Sene live album/movie. Reluctant to make this point, but I think the Phish slow cover of Cities is better. The lyrics of the song are great, and the Heads version just feels too rushed.
This album is so quirky and crazy. Their first two albums were good, but here's where they started to get weird in a good way.
A fun, funky album. Some tracks sound African, some sound like Halloween music.
i just like david byrne’s vibes, he sounds like the inside of my skull feels like when i’m in crisis. would listen again. fav: cities
Orginally I said 'Not my fav talking heads album.' and gave it a 3 star. But ive listened to several of the tracks now multiple time and the album in full now twice. This is where a single listen format sometimes falls short. Some album are growers - like some of my favour albums today. I liked them originally but grew to love them. Talking Heads are so experimental it can take time to ' get it'. Upgrade from a 3 to 4.
All of Talking Heads best songs are spread out over several albums. This one has a handful of them. Wikipedia says it's often considered their best... and I tend to agree. This is where Talking Heads really started to hit their stride.
Decent, aged well
David Byrne a trailblazer in 70s and still going strong
Really solid
solid 4. Não é meu favorito do Talking Heads mas tem vários highlights da carreira, como cities e drugs
Reescucha, ya lo había revisado hace tiempo y me encanta, otro álbum conceptual pero no sigue una historia tan puntual como The Wall, eso no quita que tenga unos temones y que la producción sea una locura, con letras que clan hasta día de hoy, simplemente Talking Heads.
for whatever reason, and i can't tell precisely what it is, but this album is a total miss me by talking heads' standards. aside from "life during wartime" and "heat" which are pure heat (though i much prefer the energy of the 2023 remaster's live renditions as the backup vocals add a LOT), i think it's the most conventional rock basis underpining this album that doesn't work for me even though this still has all the hallmarks of talking heads that i love. it's not that i dislike the album (and actually "memories can't wait" and "air" warmed up to me a bit), plus "animals" and "electric guitar" are fucking hilarious, but it's not one that i ever think to put on. granted, it's still talking heads, so i still quite enjoy it.
my kind of fun music from the old times
Of course. Shut up.
I thought Life During Wartime would overshadow the other songs on this album but I was pleasantly surprised. I think I would probably only listen to Life During Wartime outside of this album, but I still think this album is great
오, 토킹헤즈 베스트 : I Zimbra
This is a great album, don't get me wrong, but Talking Heads sounds way better performing live than they do constrained in a mix like this. Some songs feel a bit stunted and not as full as their live countparts. Specifically, "Life During Wartime". The album mix fades the song out while Byrne is still singing. In alternate cuts and live versions there's a whole minute of lyrics and music that is just cut from the original track. It makes no sense to me at all. Favourite tracks: I Zimbra, Memories Can't Wait, Animals, Drugs 4/5
Elevator music and also very, very good pop. I've had many nice evenings with a beer and interesting conversation while Talking Heads drone, fizzle and pop away in the background so it feels like home. When you have to listen to it in detail though it feels like having to retake my masters exams. Extra 0.4 for heaven being a place... which is an all time classic 3.9
Weird theatre kid does art funk. Byrne expertly navigates the tightrope between intelligent and unhinged.
"I Zimbra" and "Drugs" are very interesting, I enjoy the sound of their music, it is very interesting. I still re-listen to some of their songs still. I love "Cities" as well.
My favorite album by a band I like, but don’t absolutely love.
stars: 3.5/4 quite trippy, almost psychedelic. reminiscent of talking heads other work if I recall. random and chaotic. i like it
Great album
I love the talking heads!!! Life during wartime is brilliant & I Zumba is a must listen. This album really marked a major growth spurt for this band out of punk-ish sound to the more sophisticated sound that became their trademark!!!
Det er ægte svært at overdrive hvor fuldstændig insane et album, det her er Det er så godt, og jeg vil så gerne give 5, men albummet er ikke engang deres eget magnum opus 4.2
Nearly their peak
Its the late 70s, its Talking Heads, it's David Byrne, its New Wave ... what's not to like? Well, I do not know if this is the best Talking Heads album, because I have never done a deep dive on the band, I just know the radio songs. But starting today, its going to be a good day to listen to all eight albums! I am going to go ahead and throw four stars on this one because its definitely a 3.5 for me, and will come back and re-evaluate once I can get the full spectrum of Talking Heads.
3.7/3.8 Very cool sound! Had only heard psycho killer from them prior to this, will be listening to more of their stuff. Memories can wait was personal fave.
Very one-note and experimental in a Bowie/Eno through-line. The more I think about it, maybe the best American band of the 70s/80s.
I know embarrassingly little about the talking heads, mostly just the iconic hits, but this was soooooo good. I love the stream-of-consciousness lyrical style. Hoping for more from them on the list soon!
It’s definitely a lyrics on type of album. Cities, Air, Animals are all just crazy rantings but I like it. The only song I knew was Life During Wartime and it’s really better than I ever knew.
I tend to enjoy most Talking Heads tunes, but there’s always a few songs that are just too far out there for me. 3.5⭐️
Even though the talking heads are up there for me, this is not my favorite record by them. There are some good songs here but alot of it feels flat. I assume thats what they are going for with a cold metal plate as the album cover but it doesnt make it that enjoyable for me. Burns vocals are always just burried in the mix and it takes away from the fun he brings. Its just not a good choice. I get the concept but should these guys be doing this concept then? Leave it to someone else. The nail in the coffin was I listened to a deluxe version with 3 alternate mixes and they all use a more traditional heads sound. And guess what? Those were all my favorite tracks here. I went and deleted the album version of the overlap cause they just are plain worse. Im harping on this very hard and I want to be clear I liked it but not even close to the same degree I would have if it wasn't so dower. And its best song life during wartime is about as good as any run of the mill heads track. It wouldnt have even been a blip on the radar on a better album. Now I still sound like i hate it hut its a 4 rather than a 5. Just venting my disappointment here
Another classic from this great band! Sometimes I get too comfy with the hits I tend to forget how incredible their albums are!
It is the first time that I listen with attention and headphones to a full Talking Heads's album. What a discovery! I prefer side A, but I'll listen to the whole album again in the future. 4.50 / 5