Fear Of Music

very nerdy album. and it all made sense when i saw that brian eno produced this one with talking heads.

Som vanligt ... Inte deras bästa. De var här de började hitta sitt sound, men de följande skivorna är bättre. Bättre låtar, mer egensinnig. Nåja. Detta är ändå bra som fan. Kul är att man tydligare hör förebilderna än på senare skivor när det bara låter Talking Heads. Mycket Bowie, Roxy Music ... Byrne sjunger som alltid som en gud och det skulle inte vara Talking Heads om det inte svängde järnet. En fyra.

Overjoyed that Talking Heads on this list... David Byrne will forever be the most amazing "weird guy" in music for me; an artist true to himself. "I Zimbra" was an instant favourite, with those funky bass and guitars. From here I learnt about the existence of 'Dadaism', which has deepened my appreciation of all things Talking Heads, as this artistic concept seems to be at the root of what they do as a band. Still, in music, it still either sounds good or it doesn't in the grand scheme. With that said, "Mind" takes the album on a bit of a tumble straight after it's great opening track, with a weaker musical arrangement than it's predecessor. The vibe upticks again with "Paper" and it's tongue-in-cheek lyrics, straight into the erratic energy in "Cities", which I enjoyed as much as Zimbra. "Life during Wartime" was another miss for me, it's repetition not scratching an itch in any way. Much like the LCD Soundsystem album on this list, the whole album is very hit and miss for my ears. "Memories can't wait" was great, but the retro-alien sound of "Air" just grated me. AND again with "Heaven" and "Animals" respectively. As much as I respect and like Byrne, I have to remain objective with each album. I am glad to see that the album Remain in Light is on here, as I prefer it much more than this one. ****************************************************************************** Whilst I've mentioned LCD Soundsystem (and it's album American Dream) I have to admit that I constantly revisit "Oh Baby" and "Black Screen". I feel as though my review of that album may have been a little harsh; it's a great reminder that the music, in some respects, is only ever as good as the mood we are in when we listen to it. Some days, we are more open to something new, other days we seek comfort in what we know or what is very closely adjacent. Although I am still at the beginning of this journey, really, it is still fascinating and wonderful to see it unfold in front of you day by day.

Love this album, especially Side A (vinyl!).

This is a fun one. Actually enjoying this album more than Remain in the Light.

Ah, Talking Heads... David Byrne and his weird, funky, quirky music. I'm no expert on their music, but I always enjoy it when I hear it. A strong opener in "I Zimbra" sets the tone for a solid art rock offering that holds up to the end. I only wish it had more standout stuff on it. Can't wait to get whichever album has "Once in a Lifetime". That song slaps.

Always something a wee bit different from them. Always interesting and quirky. Remain In Light is still a firm favourite for me. This one feels like more of a grower. 3.5

For better or worse I love this little freak, even when he’s singing to me about dry ice factories. Heaven is super underrated.

Adding to my favorites

This has what is probably my favorite talking heads song in life during wartime. Heaven is another great song here - although the stop making sense version tops this.

4/8

Has a steady pushing industrial theme like waiting in a DMV line or shuffling onto a subway car. I think its going for the feeling of trying to meld into a society but not feeling internally aligned, trying to change someone's rigid views, accepting the hostile nature of your surroundings, living in the memories you hold close to while everyone else "seems" to be able to move on. They feel relatable to me while paired with somewhat initially off-putting style (especially Byrne's manic vocals) but it works for me. The music is enjoyable and well put together with some fun piano one offs and bongo drums. Particularly fond of I Zimbra, Mind, Paper and Life During Wartime.

Fear of Music is where everything really started changing, not just for Talking Heads, but for music as we know it in general. With the help of Brian Eno as producer, Talking Heads were on a path to now only define how electronics could be used but also set a standard of having more electronic components in more mainstream genres like rock or with the fresh and booming New Wave sound. Fear of Music leans more into unexplored territory as the band tinkers and toys with their instruments and David's instantly recognizable voice to create a funky and unusual experience no one was ready to hear back in 1979. I don't think this album clicked as well as I wanted because of how simple, for lack of a better term, it is. This album is super influential though and I can really appreciate that and totally see how it changed the landscape completely while also being its' own little thing. Once again Talking Heads continue to hit it out of the park by just doing their own thing and making everyone around them drop their jaws in awe.

Not my fav talking heads album, but it was the first time I've heard some of these songs. They have such a choppy, nerd punk vibe. I like it.

The older I get the more I understand this band. Being weird can be really hard to do, and artists who try often do so with an air of bitter defiance; David Byrne does it with pure love and joy. All that being said, this is a very light 4; they have far better albums.

I like the talking heads

Liked it more than expected need to explore other works

joglarisme

Eno's influence is all over it with his growing love of Fela Kuti and polyrythms - we're just one album away from peak Heads for me, Remain in Light. Fun fact: the lyrics on Zimbra are nonsense syllables based on a Dada-ist poem. Gotta love Eno.

Liked it better than the last one, still not my favorite from them. But pretty sweet overall. There are some really interesting sounds on here, definitely sounds like lots of experimentation goin on with their sound. Really liked the first song I Zimbra.

Amazing.

o nome do álbum é medo de música mas que bom q os divos foram divos e n tiveram medo algum de fazer música d vdd

I've listened to a bit of Talking Heads, but not this album. I didn't recognize any of the songs, but enjoyed it. Some good energy and musicianship throughout

It's good, I like it.

I love how many different sounds and effects they have on almost everything. Voice distortion, lots of reverb and wahhhs. I’m very impressed they mixed this all with 79 technology.

Really like this one.

No band but Talking Heads could take a song as brilliant and profound as “Heaven” and follow it up with a song about believing all animals are in a conspiracy against you.

Great album lots of classic alternative radio jams plus some solid tracks i didnt really know

Sounds like the who

It's a weird, experimental album, which only Talking Heads could pull out, and even making it (somewhat) danceable. Also, I feel safe to say Jack Stauber's melodies had some inspiration on this album, especially Mind. But, I'm not trying to fool anybody here, my favorite track of Fear of Music is definitely Heaven.

I enjoyed this album. It was fun and interesting although I found a few of the songs a bit similar. I definitely enjoyed the beginning of the album more than the end of it, but I could see myself listening to the whole album again. Fav song: Cities Least fav: Drugs

Great stuff

Disco interessante!

A great album - one of their best

Fear of Music is one of those records that feels instantly recognizable. Within seconds it’s obvious you’re listening to Talking Heads. David Byrne’s anxious vocal delivery, the band’s tightly wound rhythms, and the minimalist guitar work create a sound that is completely their own. The album leans heavily into groove, often building songs around repeating rhythmic patterns rather than traditional rock structures. Tracks like “Life During Wartime,” “Cities,” and “I Zimbra” showcase the band experimenting with funkier rhythms and global influences, pushing their sound beyond the art-punk style of their early records. The result is music that is both tense and danceable, a strange but compelling combination. Byrne’s lyrics add to the album’s distinctive personality. His observational style and slightly detached perspective give the songs a quirky intelligence that makes them memorable even when the subject matter is unusual. While the album may not have the emotional pull or polish of some later Talking Heads releases, its originality and rhythmic drive make it consistently engaging. It’s inventive, groovy, and unmistakably unique—an easy four.

its funky/groovy vibe is sooo fun!!

This was one of those albums I had to hear twice to appreciate it. I was expecting some “Once In a Lifetime” level of music. But what a creative and funky album with layers within each song, though the lyrics themselves are quite unoriginal. I see how it had a big influence on disco - there is this contagious energy that just wants you to get up and dance. Though I probably wouldn’t come back and listen to it again, and the songs aren’t that memorable compared to their other albums, I really enjoyed Life During Wartime.

4/5

To some it lives in the shadow of Remain in Light or Stop Making Sense, but this is still a great Talking Heads record, certainly one of the most diverse. Even its biggest singles can overshadow the record’s stranger corners, where the band’s nervous experimentation really takes hold, but that's what makes it great in my book.

Geniales e imprescindibles. Heaven y Life during wartime son dos pilares (mejor en directo porque con ellos todo es mejor en directo) Bueno para bailar , bueno para pensar. I Zimbra con esa base funk negroide Mind con un sonido marciano, la letra también. Aquí no hay crítica social sino introspección... el Psychokiller está reflexivo. Cities me recuerda a The B-52´s, podría encajar en ellos. Memories Can't Wait es post-punk antes del post-punk. Air... con ese bajo maravilloso de Tina (y coros) que nos conduce, con un gran solo de guitarra de por medio, a Heaven. Me gustan menos Animals y Electric Guitar, aunque Drugs vuelve por el buen camino. Por entonces ( y desde entonces) no había un grupo como ellos.

v good

Great bunch of lads

Paranoia you can move to

Unreal. Heaven makes me want to do karaoke with a load of japanese alcoholic company men

I definitely consider myself a Talking Heads fan, though I agree they can be considered a bit of an acquired taste. Fear of Music is not the album I would choose to introduce someone to their body of work. The A side is fairly accessible with the upbeat "I Zimbra" opener (later the soundtrack to the opening scene of Spider-Man: No Way Home) and the hit "Life During Wartime" but side B, to me, is some of the more abstract stuff they've released...and that's saying a lot. Still a great album, just meanders a but too much in places for me to consider it a perfect 5-star album.

Biiig classic. Probably their second best album? Not a bad track on there. Yet... Feels like a four star to me. Feels weird to describe the Talking Heads as a singles band, when they have so many great albums, but that's where I'm heading. This album doesn't really feel like it pulls together. High highs and no lows, but maybe missing that magic which makes it more than a collection of songs.

Some of my favourite talking head tracks, life during waretime, cities, air and more but not quite a 5 I don't think especially if you compare to remain in light

An exceptionally good album, and the one that hinted at the awesomeness that would be Remain In Light. The album almost runs out of steam in the end, but ...phew. What a trip.

insane that Stop Making Sense isn’t on this list

I think Talking Heads might be another band I take from this list as a favorite. I’ve always wanted to get into them but never had time to sit down. This was enjoyable, I think it was really innovative and fun to listen to. Quirky, but not obnoxious.

Classic Talking Heads album, it is unique and has that disctinctive sound. I still prefer Remain in Light to this mainly because of more melodic songs and also for the hits.

it's talking heads

Hell yeah, these guys really love walkable cities.

1. Life During Wartime 2. Drugs 3. Heaven 4. I Zimbra

Fun album :) Seems like a 70s Glass Animals

starts strong but feels a little repetitive by the end

Underrated compared to their other essential Heads’ albums. Love this record

Funky and eclectic stuff. Definitely one of their best efforts. Favorite track: Life During Wartime

I alway wanted David Byrne's masssive suit. Enjoyed this lots. Never boring.

Awesome album!!

I know this album may be overshadowed by Remain in Light... I just can't help but to find more appeal in Fear of Music. This album captivates what an "irresistible listen" is for me - it's a 5 if not for Electric Guitar. Fantastic album. 4.5

This is their album from immediately before Made in Light, and it sounds like it.

Weird and quirky with just a little bit disco. I'll take it.

Eno’s production is so good.

Don't have this Talking Heads, not sure why. It's a cool funky disco like, rock, with a load of Eno weirdness no. Gets stronger as it goes. 4.5 rounded down Heard before? Some Owned: No 48/198 (24%) Will I get: Probably

Fucks. Cums. Made a horrible day bearable

This was an easy listen. Solid jams. Really unique vocals, chaotic yet perfectly rhythmic.

fun n funky n whiny too

I love the talking heads <3 first listen through of this particular album!

I liked this. I don't even know what I would call the genre but it was fun and upbeat and funny and weird.

no se si es lo que mas me gusta de los talking heads pero tiene muchos bangers y canciones que ya conocia como Life During Wartime, sólida escucha 3.8

Sometimes Bryne feel very indulged. But Heaven is one of their absolute best and I loved the seldom seen heavyiness of Memories.

Has scho als vibebim kopf gha. Glaub 4 puntolinos lieged drinne. Obwohl ich nöd so angst vor musik und dem album han

also wenn's en talking head shot vo mir gäh würd wie ich über das album rede würdi säge, dass es mir chli weniger gfalle hed wie «more songs about buildings and food». natürli aber trotzdem guet, aber irgendwie hed mi dasmal am byrne sini theatralik chli meh gstresst, aber angst hani keini gha trotzdem 4 tropfe angstschweiss

this was so groovy!!!! this makes me wanna get more into new wave

Fear of never getting that reunion tour.

Amazing record. Only 2 songs I recognize the from radio, but this is amazing to listen to.

Great album, big fan of the band. Notable tracks include Mind, Paper, Cities, Life During Wartime, Memories Can’t Wait, Heaven.

4/5. Fear of Music is both extremely anxious and extremely groovy. post-punk that you can dance to but there’s also a sense of unease underneath the surface. you can also see the seeds that would lead to “Remain In Light” being planted here with songs such as “I Zimbra.” All that being said I tend to prefer the Stop Making Sense live versions of several songs on this album over their studio counterparts, especially “life during wartime” and “heaven.” Which is less a knock against this album and more a testament to how insanely good Stop Making Sense is

Very good

More alt, but I love them

Leuk en lekker album

Psicodelico

Love Talking Heads! I think they have always been one of the most musically creative bands out there. I love that you can't really fit them in one genre, and this album is a perfect example of what they do. Some eclectic songs. Some fun songs that you just want to tap your toes to. Some slower songs. Just a great blend and album.

Well it’s alright, last makes it a +1 for some reason.

- un son vraiment plus assumé que le premier album - give off une vibe de Bowie with punk rock influence, vraiment intéressant - meilleure chanson: mind, life during wartime

Weird, but I knew it would be with this band. I'd listen to it again.

with lyrics like: You know animals are hairy? They're living on nuts and berries there was no other way I could rate this album.

I think I really really liked it, but I'll need a few more listens to know for sure

I’m mostly familiar with Talking Heads through a hits collection I liked but never loved so I never felt the pull to delve into their albums. I’ve been enjoying a few of their songs anew again so I was happy to get this one, even though it doesn’t have any of the hits that resonated with me before. I think I like the general sound and feel of Fear of Music more than I like the individual songs, although Life During Wartime was a standout from the first half. The album starts to drag a little toward the end… especially with the song about nothing much happening in Heaven where nothing much happens. I also found Animals to be kinda annoying. Surprisingly, it saved the best for last — Drugs has some great instrumentation and atmosphere, with a synth line that sounded familiar (perhaps subconsciously lifted by Gary Numan for This Image Is)? At any rate, this was a pretty brisk listen. I wouldn’t mind hearing it again and I’ll be looking forward to getting another album by the Heads.

Listen to this album a third time this year? Sure, why not!

As with every Talking Heads record, it gets wierd and experimental.

Brilliant.

(to me) way better than the other talking heads album i listened to a week or so ago, remain in light. not sure if that’s an unpopular opinion. this one was really fun and had a lot of standout songs and moments.

Great album. Kinda upset I’ve never bothered to listen to it before. Favorites: I Zimbra, Cities, Life During Wartime, Heaven

Some how a huge Talking Heads fan one never listened to this particular album in full. Really enjoyed it, but not sure it will replace my top Talking Heads album. 4.5 stars

" heaven " is indeed one of the best songs ever heard in my life. This album has a great start with " I Zimbra " . It is really good album , will listen to more of " talking heads " albums later on

I love the Talking Heads :) Most notable song to me is Air, a goofy song about cold air and dry skin, perfect for a January listen.

Better than I remembered.

Love talking heads. Got this on vinyl but not listened to it for years. Like all their albums it’s a mixed bag but it’s fun and full of energy. Cities, life during wartime , I Zumba - all great.

Love Talking Heads, and certainly loved some of the tracks on this one. However it loses a star because i know its not their strongest album

Really enjoyed this

Funky. Cool

this ain't no party!!!!! this ain't no disco!!!!!!

𝘍𝘦𝘢𝘳 𝘰𝘧 𝘔𝘶𝘴𝘪𝘤 pushes the troupe around David Byrne into darker, sharper territory, where rhythm becomes the engine and anxiety sets the tone. The songs feel taut and urban, built on clipped guitar lines, pulsing bass figures and a kind of nervous momentum that never quite settles. Brian Eno’s production adds strange textures and mechanical edges, giving the album its tense, metallic atmosphere. Tracks like 𝗟𝗶𝗳𝗲 𝗗𝘂𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗪𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲 capture a paranoid, collapsing world, while 𝗖𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀 and 𝗛𝗲𝗮𝘃𝗲𝗻 twist everyday ideas into something uncanny. It’s a fascinating midpoint in their evolution — not as expansive as what would follow, but brilliantly focused in its own restless way.

talking peaks. peaking heads. peaking peaks. it's got some skips. I Zimbra is a dope opener, but my favorite song is Animals, maybe Cities

Rating: 8/10 I don’t think it’s peak Talking Heads but it’s pretty close. Eclectic tunes produced by Brian Eno (the 🐐) that continue to push the band in a more experimental direction, feeling like a stepping stone towards Remain in Light but still very strong on its own merits. I love Stop Making Sense so much that my favorite moments on this album are really just when I’m reminded of their live rendition, like when Tina Weymouth first joins the stage to play Heaven and just the perfect Life During Wartime

A lovely album. Fun bops. A few bangers.

Not as many "hits" as later albums of note, but still a pretty darn good listen.

some really good song like heaven or cities overall had a blast

4.5 rating loved the beginning and middle- end got a little weird for me. Would add to my playlist really interesting sounds and production. Favorites are Air and Cities.

Very cool, I already knew life during wartime and heaven and have tried to get into the talking heads a lot before as they should be right up my street but never listened to this album. I really like the blend of disco beats, additional percussion and very angular quirky guitar playing. David Byrnes vocal delivery is great too, not necessarily a great singer but a fully committed performer who is delivering exactly what they're intending too. You can definitely hear the influence it has had across multiple genres since and I can only assume it sounded pretty ground breaking when it came out.

Talking Heads is one of my favorite bands of all time, and I’m excited they’ve got some albums on this list. That being said, I’d swap this one with Speaking in Tongues. I like this album, it’s just a weaker one in their discography for me.

Really good, I enjoyed listening to it!

Great album. I was not able to appreciate this kind of stuff when it came out, but now I love it. Such a great fusion of punk/world/prog - just nothing else like it.

Loved first half, second was just good

I think I get it. David Byrne's endless musing over obsessive Afrobeats. They shouldn't work together, but the album is delectable.

pretty good sounds like rocky horror

Talking Heads are a national treasure

Talking Heads are great!

Still had the bizarre / experimental qualities of remain in light but this seems to shift between extremes more. I try to say this to mean that songs either land as slightly quirky but really catchy pop songs (life during wartime, heaven, paper) and weirder rockers (I zimbra, memories can wait). This doesn’t feel like a classic like their previous works but contains some deeper cuts for fans of the band itself.

Now I don't have many words to describe my feelings about this album, but it is really catchy and comfortable to listen I like it

I'm glad to get some new wave. I did have fun listening to it, but unfortunately he sounds way too much like the breadfish guy, so that did affect my listening, but did not prevent me from enjoying it.

A janky, angular development of their original sound with the funky and world music influence starting to show

Very fun

Some good tunage!

Pretty good, like David Byrne’s voice but it’s not a 5/5

yup-it's a Talking Heads album. has their distinct sound that doesn't really fit into any category, good lyrics, Byrne's funky talk/vocals. just not sure how it's any different from the other Talking Heads we have listened to so far on this list

didn’t expect to see this talking heads album on the list but I am having fun with it

Album really grew on me after a second listen. Even found one or two alternative versions better than the main versions (Mind comes to Mind, pun not intended)

I like talking heads but had not yet listened to this album. I liked it

Delightfully weird. Unique. It fully commits to its aesthetic, and explores an interesting array of sounds as a result. Perfectly illuminates how flat and stale yesterday's Lou Reed album proved.

4/5

Nice catchy tunes thx!

Not as magical as some of their other work. 'Love During Wartime' is great and, certainly, songs like 'I Zimbra' are good but they just don't work as well as other Taking Heads albums (I'm a big fan of Remain In Light and Speaking in Tongues). Mind you, the thing about Talking Heads, their rhythmic reliability (Weymouth/Krantz -- underappreciated rhythm section) and their weirdness is that this will have me coming back again, just to see if I missed something. I think Robert Christgau was right in saying that this album's "gritty weirdness" could use some tempering. 3.5/5

4.4 has some good moments but lacks consistency

Not my favorite Talking Heads album, but one I had not listened to. David Byrne is kind of a creative genius, and I love the weird melodies and synth combos he comes up with.

Some actual good new wave. Steady rhythm throughout, but doesn't feel repetitive. Byrne's singing is very listenable. Album is weird enough to keep things interesting without being overly distracting or disorienting. Catchy hook in "Cities" helps make it the standout.

Freaking love this band- best thing to come out of post-punk and 2nd best thing to come out of CBGBs. Not their best album imo but so solid as always.

Smooth

Though I mourned the loss of the new wave version of TH at the time, this record clearly anticipates and leads a mini revolution of sorts.

As noted earlier, my musical upbringing was very sheltered. My mother effectively only listens to Bruce Springsteen and my dad’s exploration into new music stopped around 1978 and was deeply influenced by his older brothers. So the long 80s when the talking heads, at least in the circles I’ve found myself in, largely reigned supreme are an absence in my musical upbringing. It wouldn’t be until high school that I became aware of them outside of a few songs and not until college that I’d understand their importance. A few years later, I would be kicking David Byrne out of a museum (gotta pay for your ticket, Dave) and fall in with a group of much more musically sophisticated folk. People whose musical knowledge, unlike mine, expanded beyond laurel canyon and San Francisco and who’s recent touchstones were decidedly cooler than my early teen pop-punk/hardcore obsessions. So while it would make sense for somebody my age to think of the talking heads as the most familiar of comforts, they are in many ways new to me. I’ve heard most of this album in one way or another, everything sounds familiar, but I’ve never sat down and listened to it. There’s part of me that dislikes the talking heads for sounding new compared to my folky loves. There’s part of me that dislikes the talking heads because I didn’t listen to them growing up and cooler people I met later seem to have them ingrained in their musical consciousness, and justifiably so. There’s part of me that is suspicious of the 80s—the drugs of choice changed with the cultural and political zeitgeist, all seemingly a marked step back from the acid and love fueled sixties. A cynical and necessary step forward that I partially resent. All to say that, for some deeply rooted psychological reason, the talking heads make me feel insecure. What a great album! The talking heads and David Byrne are synonymous, so I’ll talk about his contributions first while noting initially how tight the band is. I don’t really care for Byrne’s style, it feels like he did stupendous amounts of cocaine and then walked into the studio in a panic. But it is at the very least interesting writing, and he is a creative director par excellence, almost in the Bowie mold. He uses his vocal talents and quirks to maximize the impact. But let’s talk about the band. Tina Weymouth is a legend, and it’s so evident on this album. These songs have to be incredibly tight and controlled to work, and it’s her playing that holds the entire project together. Without her playing, Byrne would sound like a complete idiot. The entire band revolves around a phenomenal bass player and a drum that lives in the pocket. They create the solid foundation where David Byrne can do tons of coke and yell melodically about corporate culture or whatever and have that actually work. Byrne’s solo work proves that he doesn’t need the talking heads to be incredibly brilliant, but this album shows the brilliance of the talking heads was far more than David Byrne.

Mere punket end jeg er vant til fra dem. Life during wartime er et af deres bedste numre

Upbeat almost pop like. Not bad 6/10

Talking Heads are the perfect mix of wackiness and undeniable musical genius. And by Talking Heads I mean David Byrne. I've always dug their sound because no two Talking Heads songs sound the same, so naturally I enjoyed the variety on this album. Top tracks: I Zimbra (banger), Mind, Life During Wartime, Drugs

Back in college, I remember Alex had a book about Fear of Music and the author referred to it as "David Byrne's aspergers album." I think that could've been a pretty great title, too. A wonderful album to become increasingly paranoid and insane to. It also probably could've been called Music of Fear! I'm not sure if it's my favorite Talking Heads album (there's not really a bad one in the bunch so it's hard to pick), but it's probably their best one. Maybe? Favorite Tracks: I Zimbra, Mind, Life During Wartime, Heaven

The start of the Talking Heads' Golden Age (unless you're a big More Songs About Buildings and Food guy which, fair play). Byrne was starting to bring in more performers to the fold so that he could play in the world music sandbox & his first go-around with the idea is the dark, brooding, jagged but nevertheless still pretty poppy Fear of Music. Relative to some of the other punk and new wave works, it's a real line straddler. It's not abrasive but it isn't fully formed to say, the poppy sheen of Blondie. Byrne's voice doesn't catch or travel like any other vocalist's but the songs are built around his unique atonality. When a song does venture towards something more traditional, like Life During Wartime, it helps to highlight how angular songs like I Zimbra are. I've always found the movie to have this sort of marching, militaristic quality to it. Animals in particular has this punchiness to it. "Fear of" suggests some anxiety and the album does have this anxious register to it, it's very good music to navigate a crowd to. I read a really annoying 33 1/3rd by Jonathan Lethem about this album maybe around eight years ago. The framing device he used to talk about the book. There was a chapter dedicated to each song but every other chapter would be a rhetorical question designed to explore David Byrne & the Talking Heads more broadly. This led to the immortal chapter title "Is Fear of Music an Aspergers' Album?" I don't know Jonathan, you tell me. The entire chapter is just Lethem playing armchair psychologist on Byrne which seems like a reductive way to analyze Fear of Music. Talking Heads occupy such an interesting position in the post-punk scene and Fear of Music (and its follow-up Remain in Light) give them serious Manhattan Sad Lad credit despite the reality that they were much more suited to the lighter, art-school crowd & that Byrne was mostly putting on the SoHo dress to suit the time when he was really interested in making funk music. Favorite Tracks: I Zimbra, Life During Wartime, Memories Can't Wait, Animals

Not the best album of the Talking Heads, that would be "Remain in Light" to me, but still a refreshing sound during the punk/new wave of the New York seventies scene with the introduction of African rhythms in their (quite) manic and paranoid sound. Furthermore, "Heaven" and "I, Zimbra" are absolute classics. The album as a whole doesn't only reflect fear of music, but basically fear of anything living in a modern world as the titles of the songs reflect ("Drugs", "Cities", "Life During Wartime", or "Mind". Very decent album, 4/5

Fear of Music? Fear of Talking Heads more like. Only really knowing their poppier hits and finding Byrne quite irritating I was not really looking forward to this. That completely changed by the time I got to Mind. The album was so innovative, and though it felt so Bowiesque I can’t see that he laid a finger on it. Even more impressive.

Has any music writer ever used the line Life During Snore-time to describe a self-indulgent or boring David Byrne project? I reckon it's already been used so probably can't claim it as my own. It doesn't apply here, it's anything but boring with lots of interesting and strange moments. I'd forgotten how good Memories Can't Wait is.

I like

Pretty good

Why do I never hear these songs on the radio? This is a pretty cool album. I just didn't like Animals very much though.

Talking Heads helped lay the groundwork for New Wave, then refused to follow the genre to it's conclusion, instead deciding to follow their muse and become one of the most interesting bands of their era. Fear Of Music sees the band in a unique position. Talking Heads have one foot in '77 and More Songs... and another in Speaking In Tongues, but you can also see how they're slipping into Remain In Light on the way. The result may be the band's most eclectic album. We have more conventional "hits" like Life During Wartime and Heaven. We have the kind of jittery, angular punk-funk we've heard before from Talking Heads like on I Zimbra, Mind, Paper, and Cities. And we see Talking Heads pulling at the strings a little: figuring out how to deconstruct their music on songs like Animals, Electric Guitar and Drugs. This particular string of songs was among the most abstract, cold, and deeply weird music they'd ever put out at the time. And across the record, the band is in elite form. Everything is sold with a rare tightness and style, and David Byrne tap dances through the mazes of intricate, percussive melodies and abstract textures. The paranoia, mania, and anxiety of his delivery really comes through here. And this is another example of how much of a great lyricist he really is: straddling the mundane with the deeply abstract, he paints strage, alienating portraits. I haven't decided if this album's scattershot approach speaks to me on the level that something like Remain In Light does, but their are a few songs on here that are nearly perfect to me. Life During Wartime is a driving, funky tune, with some of Byrne's best ever lyrics. The content is so literal that it's almost surreal. Cities is a fantastic piece of "classic" Talking Heads. Memories Can't Wait embraces a strange swagger that distinguishes it in the band's discography. Then the run from Animals to Drugs is just so intriguing, exciting and daring. While not my favorite from Talking Heads, this is a really amazing project, and it's unique weirdness will probably grow on me. These songs are incredibly infectious and I can only imagine that I'll be returning to this one.

Everyone talks about Remain in Light when this band comes up, and deservedly so. When that album comes i'll rate it 5/5. But i've gott say, I revisit songs on this album alot more frequently. While i can acknowledge it being slightly worse, it has a special place in my heart. 4/5

A great album from one of my favorites. Life during Wartime is a classic and obviously the standout on this album.

Talking Heads have their own thing. There was a nice mixture of assorted sounds to highlight the post punk genre. I enjoyed it. But probably won't be returning. 4 stars.

A fun album with lots of good quirks, but keeps true to is style. The songs come across as simple pop hooks byt there are quite a few layers. Would listen again.

Alright and pretty good. I like talking heads

I've never put on a talking heads album. I now see this has been a massive blunder. I can't stop dancing!

This was funkier than a thought and was pretty cool.

Ol’ sour puss Brian Eno strikes again.

I really enjoyed this one. Quirky and intense.

The Generator gave me both More Songs About Buildings and Food and Fear of Music in close proximity. I’m struggling to decide which I like better. More Songs had the single-dom heights of “Take Me to the River,” but, especially with its persistent disco firmament, Fear of Heights may just hang together better as an *album.* It’s a tough decision. Anyway, with both “Life During Wartime” and “Heaven,” two of my favorite Heads songs, this is an easy album to love. One of the greatest bands of all time!

I love how funky this is without actually being funk.

This is a great album. Late 70’s Art funk at its best. I’ve always loved the song Mind and it’s little descending guitar lick, and the way David Byrne sings Electric Guitaaaar with such a sinister delivery is so giddylicious to me. This album is a warm up in greatness to Remain In Light, which dropped the following year. This is a band nearing the peak of their power.

This is pretty great. Talking Heads are perfectly quirky and creative and unique and David Byrne has a natural coolness to him that’s hard not to love. This isn’t the best of their best, but still had a great time with it.

Some good songs. Some not as good

Heaven Cities Mind The highlights of the album Overall 3.5/5

I've had a few other Talking Heads albums on this list, and they've all been 5 stars, but this is the first one I haven't loved. The singles are pretty strong but the rest of the album just isn't very memorable. Their other albums I've had a couple songs I put on repeat for months afterwards, but nothing from this album has the same replay value for me. "Life During Wartime" is objectively a great song, and "Cities" is fun and cheeky, but there's not much else that made me think, "wow, this is amazing! No wonder everyone loves the Talking Heads." This is a 3.5, but I'm rounding up because even though I didn't love this, 3 stars seems too low.

This album reminded me of David Bowie. Learning that there is a connection, it will gain them one more star.

This is a very good album.

Fearer of Music is darker than Talking Heads' previous albums. It deals with more serious topics such as drugs or war, but the band also finds time for more optimistic oulooks, like on Heaven. Brian Eno's production keeps everything from getting too dark and gives the album the much needed space to allow these songs to breathe. Great album. Key tracks: I Zimbra Mind Life During Wartime Heaven

Love the combination of musical genius and weird with Talking Heads. This one doesn't have one of the "greatest hits" singles, which helps me enjoy the whole even more. Great album.

Fear of Music war ein großer Schritt in der Musikgeschichte und dazu noch intellektuell eine Schritt nach vorne. Das hat damals Spaß gemacht.

So, yeah I like Talking Heads, but I got into them a little later. Hadn't really listened to the first couple of albums all the way through. Having had the opportunity now, I'll say I like it, but it does get a little annoying sometimes. The music is consistently great, but David does have a tendency to get a little whiney or screechy. I like the Living Colour version of "Memories Can't Wait" more but that's only because I heard it a few dozen times before this original version. This sounds so slow to me here. "I Zimbra" is such a funky little number. Great intro song. At the opposite end is "Drugs" which is just a terrible waste of studio time. Going to give this a 4. Some great, listenable songs with only a few weak points.

Drugs and Dancing for Money were two of my favorite tracks on the album. I have a lot of love and respect for David Byrne, knew Life During Wartime, and enjoy their music in general! However I’m also not the biggest fan usually of this “genre” so I have to give it a lower rating than I feel like this “deserves” 💀

I FEAR (haha) that I don’t like this as much as the last few talking heads albums we’ve done… it’s great obviously, but I was more excited about the fun rhythms and riffs on buildings and food than I was for the sort of more atmospheric songs here. Oh but Heaven mwah.

Groovy

Vibey, good fun times.

‘Fear Of Music’ is the bridge between Talking Heads’ earlier albums and the funkier, more danceable Remain In Light’ and ‘Speaking In Tongues’. It’s still rooted in the nervy art-rock of their early work, but points toward the dense, polyrhythmic funk and rhythm driven music that would define those later albums.

Man sings about life over sick beats and sometimes mildly trippy guitar. #Nostalgia

Pretty solid

Good album, nothing spectacular. But a four due to my love of Talking Heads.

Weird. Timeless. Edgy. Brilliant. And it’s not even the best Talking Heads album.

Listening to this album really elevated my fondness for Talking Heads. It's really an enjoyable album. Pairs well with technically challenging work or hobbies.

It seems only one album in every three or four on this website is any good. So I've got 2-3 days of crap to grind through after today.

Frantic energy from that we know and love 💞

Great disco beats made funky, some tracks that I will listen to again for sure. 4/5

much better

Schwache 4 bei mir. Bin irgendwie nicht so ganz reingekommen wie in andere Talking Heads-Platten. Könnte mir aber vorstellen, dass es ein Grower ist. Anfang stärker als das Ende.

Remain in Light hat mir besser gefallen. Trotzdem hatte ich Spaß hieran. Die zweite Hälfte mag ich lieber.

Me gustó este disco.

Mostly groove based songs, but pretty catchy.

I have a difficult time any music that has the word punk in it, in general. However, this is the 2nd Talking Heads album I've listened to - the first one was Talking Heads 77 and I gave that one a 3. I enjoyed this one actually...I expanded my mind to appreciate this pleasant cacophony of musical genius. Speaking of mind..."Mind" is hilarious to listen to if one is having marital problems. All the beats are quite catchy, infused with some funk even. Each song is so unique, it's not an album one gets bored listening to! David Byrne, you've convinced me to somewhat accept this genre with the word "punk" in it.

Very nice.

Easy listening, not my favourite lyrics or voice, but very cool instrumentals.

Another banger from Talking Heads! Not one I've revisited as much as Remain in Light, but I'm gonna have to change that - this one's just as chock-full of bangers.

I think i finally found a Talking Heads album I really like. I always understood what they were doing but this is one I would actually put on to listen to any given day. It had me both dancing and feeling nervous about the state of society which is always a great combo.

Great stuff as per. Simpsons: Yes

can never go wrong with the Talking Heads

71/100. It’s a solid post-punk record that, while not as impressive as some of their later work, still highlights the band’s distinctive sound and evolving direction.

The Talking Heads took punk to a different place... mixing in art-rock and pop and plenty of synth and keys, they made their own sound. This is a catchy record that is enjoyable to listen to.

Was amazed by how good some of the lyrics were. I find the music a bit annoying at times but this is a great album

What an album! It's not my favorite from Talking Heads, but it's still excellent work with many great songs!

David Byrne being his best self on this record!

Enjoyable record, sounds like a more polished production compared to their earlier work but still has that quintessential Talking Heads sound.

I guess I’m kind of a fan now of Talking heads. I’ve had 2 albums so far, but they never stuck with me. Now I see the appeal, this album has a lot of the funk and rhythm I was missing from some of the other albums. Solid 4, almost a 5 outside a few passable tracks.

I wish i could half vote on this because 4 feels too much but 3 feels stupidly harsh. Is it just me or is this quite disco? I also felt like I wanted to dance around the house like Hugh grant in love actually to thr entire album. Top song for me was EASILY I Zimbra. Ok im going to give a 4. 3 is too low

I know that a lot of fans of this band are gonna hate me for this. I respect Talking Head. I like them. I just don't love them. Like really love them. I heared a dozens songs from them, but never a full album. But my problem with them is still there. They're cool, engaging, versatille, but it's like some X Factor is missing from them to be as genius as most people treat this band. I had so much fun listening to them and this album in particular, but it's like 75% of their songs are missing just one part, one thing from being genius. It's like a feeling of something left unsaid is their instrument of expressing emotions. Still can't say anything bad about them. David, Tinam Jerry and Chris seem to me like a creative guys who are also fun to hang around with. Life During Wartime is probably the best lyrics about a band on tour. Also, let's face it, this is one of the coolest album titles ever. These things persuaded me towards to give this a five, but... the feeling of something unfinished is just a bit stronger.

nice songs to have on in the background. interesting music but i feel like it ran right through me

Fantastic album

Like their music.

I've never listened to this album (27). From a band I've always found a bit overated, it was better than I expected.

Heaven is all time favorite

Love the Talking Heads, love this album, love the song "Heaven", still think that the lyrics "Everyone is trying to get to the bar. The name of the bar, the bar is called Heaven" is one of the dumbest lyrics I've ever heard. 4/5

Probably don’t love this as much as I used to. However, I still really like it and can see its influence. Rhythmically interesting with interesting structures and strong melodies.

Funky, percussive, warrants repeated listens but some great nuggets to be found. Although not my favourite of theirs, where I think they peaked a few years after this, it shows the promise that they had and broke new ground in the musical structures and influences that it could manifest.

Haven't had Talking Heads in a while probably over a year. This one had some really fun ones on it especially Cities, song is whacky. Heaven is a new one that I haven't heard before and was probably my favorite on here.

Very solid Talking Heads album. Just fun af. Air was one I wasn't very familiar with and loved. Obvs the classic Life During Wartime is a jam. Heaven sounds like a Bowie song in the best way possible. I would take drugs to the song Drugs.

Talking Heads that sounds urban and downtrodden at times. It's an unvarnished sound compared to future works, less syncopated and more groovy, strummy. Great album. Will listen to again. All tracks great. Standouts: I Zimbra Cities Life During Wartime Memories Can't Wait Heaven is amazing Animals is RAW and frenetic.

The afrobeat influence is easier to see on this one than remain. Some all time great songs on this, and was Tina once bad at bass as rumored? She got so good by now! We got some groceries - some peanut butter! All I ever needed.

I really like this album though its not my favorite release of theirs. I'm always a fan of their blend of funk and anxieties. Jamming and rambling may be one of my fav genres of music ever.

Man, I love Talking Heads. Their blend of art-rock, afrobeat, funk, punk, and whatever other influences they have kicking around just speak to me. That said, I'm not sure Fear of Music is quite up to the same quality of some of their other releases - particularly in the somewhat meandering second half. There are definitely classic songs on this record; Life During Wartime, Heaven, Memories Can't Wait, but some of the rest don't hit. Sonically, the record is a winner - everything sounds great, particularly the off-kilter guitar parts. David Byrne's performances are also fantastic throughout, showcasing why he's proved to be one of the most endearing front men of his era. Not perfect, but a lot of fun and certainly head and shoulders above many of the other albums on this list.

In retrospect this feels like a build-up to the album that followed it, with the groovy jams and African influences on tracks like "I Zimbra" sitting next to the quirky new wave of their previous albums. Despite that, the songs here are strong enough to stand on their own. The jams - "Cities" and "Life During Wartime" - are the highlights, tracks that could be double their length and not get old. But the other highlight is "Heaven," which is much more subdued; the band's lyrics were always good, but this one shows they could carry a song. The last three songs are a bit weak ("Drugs" is ok as a closer, less good as a song), but everything before it is good enough for this to get a 4.

¿Cómo es que no sabía que existiese este disco?

I can’t listen to the Taking Heads without picturing David Byrne doing quirky dances. To be honest it’s a key reason why I enjoy their music and this album is no exception. His enthusiasm and sense of wonder is contagious. I love how this band seems to stumble into their most memorable songs rather than trying to make singles. In just doing what they do they always have a couple songs that stick in your head after one listen. That song on Fear Of Music is “Life During Wartime”. All around this is the typical high energy, fun Talking Heads album that I come to expect from them. Easy 4 for me.

The first half of this album is "The Talking Heads... Dance!" Great stuff. This is the Talking Heads album I wish I had heard to introduce the band to me. Still, David Byrnes style is interesting, but difficult to hear for a full album. It gets dull after a while. I think I'll stick to my Talking Heads playlist of my personal favorites. 4/5

Side A is perfect. Side B has its moments but it's noticeably weaker. Still a great record. I get goofy to this.

Avant-garde rock music. Love David Byrne and Talking Heads & Fear of Music is an example of why I love them. Nothing or nobody really sounds like them. They are a band where you pick up something new and exciting with the 1st listen as well as the 100th. This album is a feeding frenzy for "modern day" jambands, with Cities, Life During Wartime and Heaven often covered by an array of bands. Great album from a unique and truly amazing band. Besides the aforementioned tunes, I Zimbra, Air and Paper are standout songs on an album full of bangers.

A joy to listen to. Funky and fun with razor sharp production.

Very experimental pop album, stylish.

This album isn’t bad. Talking Heads has always been one of those bands where most of their tracks are just middle-of-the-road, 3 out of 5’s. However, when they do make a track that’s a 5 out of 5, they really hit the ball out of the park. Unfortunately, I wish I could have the same experience listening to them like I used to, but I’ve really just burned myself out on them over the years. For a newer and younger music critic who’s still exploring different types of music, this is definitely an essential band to check out.

I am familiar with talking heads. Never really listened to them except what played on the radio. I enjoyed this album way more than I thought I would.

Nothing sounded like Fear of Music when it came out, and it still stands completely on its own. Talking Heads and Brian Eno took paranoia, disco grooves, and post-punk anxiety and mashed them into something that shouldn’t have worked. “Life During Wartime” is an apocalypse you can dance to. “Heaven” plays like a hymn for people stuck in line at the DMV. And “I Zimbra” opens with nonsense poetry and ends up sounding prophetic. It’s jagged, it’s funky, it’s weird as hell, and David Byrne somehow makes fear sound like a party invitation. Even 46 years later, this record still feels like it’s from another planet.

Weird but strangely good. It is oddly addictive.

Creative, unique, alternative. They paved a cool path for music. I feel like I hear so many artists that took inspiration from this through both alternative and pop. Very cool.

This landed much better with me than the previous Talking Heads album I was given. A real sense of fun in the funky

top

This is one of the few times that I had no idea who the artist is or what genre this belonged to but I thoroughly enjoyed it. I liked it's ambiance and it's just an album you can chill whenever. I am a big of Duster and I would be remiss to not notice how these artists share the same mood and beats in their music. I always enjoy this type of music so I am glad I am getting exposed to more artists of this music genre. I hope they keep appearing in this 1001 album collection.

Didn't listen to a lot but the ones I did were really good

Grew up a big fan because my dad would play them in the car all the time in the mid 80's. Knew their greatest hits but it has been fun going back and listening to the albums to discover new stuff. This album was great. "Mind" "Cities" and "Heaven" were all new to me and I loved them!

The overall sound is really fun and nice to listen to, but the songs kind of blend together. Fav: memories can’t wait

This album is totally good; it’s enjoyable to listen to pretty much the whole way through, but sometimes the songs kind of just blend together. It does end on the worst tracks in my opinion. The bass playing is probably my favorite part of this album and the talking heads in general. Would definitely give it a 4.5 if I could. Standout tracks: Mind, Cities, Memories Can't Wait, Heaven 4/5 deserves to be on this list

En del jag inte hört förut faktiskt, superbra men svänger mindre än "Remain in Light"

Inte lika weird som vissa av deras andra grejer tycker jag, och överlag najs! Velar med betyget men känner mig snäll.

Riktigt cool! Svänger mer än "Remain in Light".

Good stuff, dropped off near the end but a welcome album to listen to

There's so much Talking Heads that I don't know!

Fun album to listen to

Awesome, funky album. I Zimbra, Mind, Life during Wartime are standout tracks to me.

Day 17 Brilliant album, love the basslines in a lot of these songs. 8/10 Highlights Cities Life during wartime

Cool album

Goodness this generator keeps giving me talking heads albums without a single song I’ve heard before. Just how much music did they make? Anyway this was good, felt a little ungrounded, and I think the vocals wear a bit after a while. I’m a fan though, and life during wartime stood out to me, that track was great.

7.5/10 *Obligatory comment about Stop Making Sense* Highlights: Cities Heaven Life During Wartime Animals Electric Guitar

4.0 Talking Heads are one of my favourite findings from this list. Still doesn't top More Songs.., similar to 77 or Remain.., but there's some really good tracks here. Starts really solid, but the latter half lets it down, after a few listens I still can't really get into the sequence from Air through to Electric Guitar. Last track ends on a good note though. Cities probably my fave, can see that growing and growing.

4/5

I liked the part of the track Drugs that was filmed in a Black man's basement

As pioneers of New Wave and shapers of what would become post-punk, Talking Heads were always going to be poised to play well to my tastes. Add on top of that the incorporation of a more experimental spirit and funk elements and the brew is exquisite. While I have listed to TH before, I had not made it through this entire album before this experience. I enjoyed Fear of Music from front to back, the obvious inspiration of punk groups at the time, David Byrne's vocal performance, and the diverse and varied instrumentation made it a thoughtful and engaging listen. I will be coming back, and look forward to more albums in this space to build out the picture of the evolution of the genre(s). 4.2/5

I've historically felt like I'm missing something every time I listen to Talking Heads. I think I've figured out that it's the lyrics. Their somewhat nonsensical songwriting meshes really well with the instrumentation, like a bunch of lads just having a good time and shooting the breeze. Or sitting in a circle smoking j's and going "woah dude." Life During Wartime stood out to me in its competent and emotional communication of a grim and hopeless situation despite this easygoing style. Electric Guitar stood out as being the most shameless embrace of said style.

Before listening to anything I am excited about this because there is a book I read forever ago (cannot remember the name) where an astronaut on a long space mission used Talking Heads albums to remember her humanity. This man's voice is so ridiculous but I think I love it. I enjoy the layers of instrumentation, there's always an interesting bass line or percussion fill to focus on.

Another really good Talking Heads album. I thought I was heading for a 3 when it started but it grew on me to the point where I actually listened twice through it.

A great variety of very interesting music. David Byrne is a fantastic songwriter and the album shows these talents very well. The experimentation on the album can be quirky but also be taken seriously, as it shows a lot of creativity. Byrne’s vocals are full of personality and Tina Weymouth supplies great bass playing throughout. 4/5

Talking Heads: Fear of Music: This is a really cool and funky album. The percussion and guitar work is intricate and unqiue. The songs standout throughout the album, though they do all use the exact same style. I had a great time listening to this though, reminds me of 80 king crimson in a very good way. 9/10

4.6

Very interesting rhythms on this album. My standouts were "I Zimbra" and "Life During Wartime" and to a lesser extent "Heaven". I listened to the expanded reissue so the Alternate Versions of the songs was interesting.

Great album where the original is improved by a remaster where vocals are more balanced the rest of the music.

Heaven frábært lag

I just listened to this the other day, since it was it's album release anniversary. This is a great album. 4-stars

I really liked the album, specially bc I like the band. I think its alternative, but it makes you dance, and sing

After David Bowie's Young Americans on Sunday (today is Tuesday), I'm swimming in the wellspring of New Wave this week and I'm here for it! I think I've underestimated the influence of the Talking Heads and never given them the credit they're due. All the singles (minus "Psycho Killer") predictably skew a little on the pop side, which probably kept me at a distance. The album tracks fall back into some of the punk/funk roots. Like "Psycho Killer", I love how prominent the baselines are in many of these songs (and even more-so in the 2005 remastered version) which gives tracks like "Memories Can't Wait" an ominous sense of suspense while also helping all the awkward nerds in their fanbase stay on beat during the verses. Absolutely not for everyone - it wasn't even for me until recently - but I've been having a lot of fun exploring experimental pop music, especially this throughline from David Bowie - David Byrne - Beck.

I liked this one

espero que david byrne nunca muera

Funny how even a meh Talking Heads album like this is still miles better than most peoples best. 8/10

A pretty good album comprising tracks you won’t hear on the radio unless it’s on a Sunday evening “deep dives show”. I particularly liked Heaven - very Bowie-esque, reminded me of Heroes. The link took me to the deluxe edition with the reworks and alternate versions and the album lost me there. So this rating is on the 79 track listing.

I think I made my brother dislike this album. Well, contributed to it anyway, through overplay when we were younger (what can I say, autism can have a big effect on a person). Anyway, after More Songs about Buildings and Food, Talking Heads found two things: Disco and depression. Having a theme helps give the album shape, but also risks being like marmite if the theme is divisive enough. Personally, I think it works well. Synths have been added even more to the sound palate but don't overwhelm the guitars, and the general slowing down of pace helps differentiate them from the classic new wave sound. (Though songs like Life During Warfare and Cities still bring the speed on occasion) Still, songs like Animals, Paper and Electric Guitar were always going to be a harder sell for the general populace than Take Me To the River, and I can't say I love it quite as much as I used to. Still great though. Tangent: I'm not sure if the Fripp and Eno partnership began here, but this was definitely where it began to really take shape. Favourite Song: Life During Wartime Least Favourite: Animals Strong Bad Demerit Count: 0

Twitchy and legit, plus at once moody and dancey. One's never been a full-on Heads head – more of an admirer of the effects – but digs the moods they achieved. The early records are the most interesting work they ever did, obvs (thanks to some significant degree [if not entirely] to Eno). Best songs sound like a list of all the best things in life – "Air" "Heaven" and Drugs" ("Zimbra" also good.)

It's really nice to hear some other tracks by this band that aren't 'Once In A Lifetime' (great song by the way). I enjoyed this a hell of a lot. It has these unconventional yet unswerving rhythms that are fun and funky. The whole album has an almost gritty weirdness to it. It's full of funky bass basslines and cool guitar licks and David Byrne in vocals sounds great if a little all over the place but in a good way. There's some proper footstomping tunes on this album and it's good fun. 'Memories Can Wait' gets quite heavy and almost psychedelic. Overall a very good time and I'm hoping there's more Talking Heads albums to be enjoyed on this list!

Loved it! My favorites were "Life During Wartime," "I Zimbra," and "Animals."

Funky fun stuff. Love it

We love talking heads.

Good as it ever was.

I loved this! Can't believe I didn't look up more Talking Heads after watching Stop Making Sense. I loved that concert video and it seems like I enjoy Talking Heads in general!

Turns out I've been sleeping on Talking Heads. I like everything I hear of theirs. Really enjoyed this.

Fine for Talking Heads standard, better than most. 4/5

Loved this - I’m already a big Talking Heads singles fan so knew going into this that I would probably like it. Moody and atmospheric at times, always interesting and innovative. Would absolutely listen to this again.

They are tres cool

Wow. This is my 2d Talking Heads album after getting their debut a few weeks ago. I can't believe popular music used to be able to sound so weird. I can't wait to listen again. I love the musicianship and odd rhythms.

Not one of my favorite Talking Heads records, I like Remain in Light and '77 a lot more, but still pretty great.

Though many have tried, nobody else could do what Talking Heads could because David Byrne’s combination of weirdness and sobriety is a tough one to nail. This one isn’t exactly their most accessible album, which dings it a little, but there’s good stuff here.

Interesting. Never heard ‘desert blues’ before now. Have no idea what they’re saying but the beat is good

Already have the album so I did not listen to it.

Heard a bunch of music from The Talking Heads but never listened to this album all the way through before. Quirky and weird with excellent vocals and musical structure. Really enjoyable album.

Talking Heads scare me

Enjoyed it.

Great album that I only knew one song on. Sounds precisely like David Byrne. 70s snare sound. Guitars and bass sound like they’re in my head. “Memories Can’t Wait” was a favorite on first listen.

Thoroughly enjoyed this and I'll be keeping it in my medicine kit, just in case my fear of music returns.

There were moments on this album that were very reminiscent of David Bowie's music. I enjoyed the weirdness woven throughout the album and appreciated the high energy it brought. The opener did a great job building the dark, funky, quirky ambiance. Overall, I would happily listen to this again but I don't think I would go out of my way to play it again.

Heaven Is A Place Where Nothing Ever Happens 1001 Albums Generator 73 (07/14/2025) Fear Of Music is the third studio album by new wave and art rock legends Talking Heads. This was the second album that Brian Eno worked on in collaboration with Talking Heads and the band's goal was to expand on the disco inspirations that they had toyed with on their second album, More Songs About Buildings And Food. While their first two albums saw commercial success and some critical acclaim, Fear Of Music kicked off a trilogy of Talking Heads albums that to this day are considered some of the best albums of all time. I have only heard the follow-up album, Remain In Light, which I absolutely love, so I was excited to see how Fear Of Music would compare. Listening to I Zimbra, I felt that it really reminded me of something that would be on King Crimson's Red. I guess that makes sense considering the fact that Robert Fripp is on this song lol. What a distinct player and what a fun song. The slight math rock elements incorporate with Talking Heads' funky afrobeat-inspired sound very well. Cities features David Byrne's classic half-spoken half-sung vocal style and is one of the finest songs here. The middle run of this album is fantastic. Life During Wartime is widely regarded as one of Talking Heads' best songs and one of the best rock songs in general. I can't disagree, although I think there are better songs here. Memories Can't Wait has some really strange electronic elements in the background (probably thanks to Eno) and the slower tempo works well. I love when the guitar arpeggios kind of open up during the pre-chorus. The following song Air has a similar appeal with the guitar in the chorus and features lyrics about a man so depressed that even breathing feels painful. It also has a real deal distorted guitar solo, which is kind of unusual for Talking Heads. Heaven is a beautiful, touching song that unfortunately just reminded me of the chudjak meme with its chorus, but besides that, it is really a fantastic song. Byrne's vocals on the chorus feel tortured and the bassline is great. Unfortunately, the album does not stay this strong forever. I actually don't hate Animals, but it is a little annoying. Some of the guitar parts are pretty clever and it feels like one of the most technical songs on the album. Electric Guitar is a miss to me. I don't love the slower, weird tempo and the reggae inspiration doesn't feel like it meshes well with the rest of what's going on. Drugs is also not a great song and ends the album a bit weakly. I know some people like this one, but this sound is not what I want out of a Talking Heads song. It certainly shouldn't be the longest song on the album. Despite a weak ending, Fear Of Music is fantastic album. It is not as consistent as its follow-up, but David Byrne didn't just randomly become a genius in 1980; it was clear by this point that he was something special. Fear Of Music is a 4/5. Favs: Cities Memories Can't Wait Heaven Least Fav: Electric Guitar

first, "If God don't want us to enjoy Talking Heads' music, He won't have given us mild autism." secondly, i believe in \STOP MAKING SENSE SUPREMACY/. So this is so mid. Like, if you can watch the Stop Making Sense film version of David byrne doing his autistic little dances while singing "Life During Wartime", you won’t want to come back to this. but still 4/5