Reviews (page 4 of 14)
Fun record
Four talking heads albums on this site, had never heard this one before, really liked it. "Find yourself a city to live in", Took decades, but I did just that. Madison WI ✔️4 stars
The start of the album is really strong but the last 3 kind of tail off for me. You can hear their sound really changing on this album and going in a more afro-beat direction which they'll do even better on future albums. 8/10
Rhythm monster of an album.
A really good talking heads album! Experimental, yet with some really catchy songs.
4/8
I still and forever have just so much admiration for Tina Weymouth
Pretty solid, great hits, second half drags a little - on the higher side of 3 but lower side of 4
I haven't listened to this album in its entirety yet. It is very good. I had heard a handful of the songs before on the live Talking Heads vinyl I have, and I don't know if it's because I am already familiar, but I think I like the live versions better. Regardless, this album has a great experimental and funky feel and deserves more listens.
Love Talking Heads but had never listened to this album in full before. Really loved it plus it has one of my favourite Talking Heads songs of all time on it (Heaven)
Heaven might be my favourite Talking Heads song
Byrnes vocals are such a compliment to the quirky music
Another great Talking Heads album. I’m only really familiar with their first four albums, but they are all good. One band worthy of having more than one album on this list.
Like pretty much every David Byrne album, this gets better with every re-listen.
This record is a lot of fun, at times the songs sound like they could be from a Tim & Eric sketch, but then the band snaps back into it and they hit something like Life During Wartime. Not the best Talking Heads record, but a fun ride.
respect to Talking Heads for keeping it weird. they could have easily embraced more approachable, pop-adjacent music to build off earlier releases, but Fear of Music is delightfully off-kilter. Brian Eno introduced David Byrne to the album "Afrodisiac" by Fela Kuti in 1977, and you can hear that influence on the excellent "I Zimbra" -- but that sound wouldn't come back around as strong until their next album. I really enjoyed the opening two tracks, the run of "Life During Wartime" - "Memories Can't Wait" - "Air", and then the closer, "Drugs"; the rest of the album was fine but didn't stand out (kinda felt like songs that would hit harder live but didn't translate as well to the studio). my main gripe with this has more to do with the production, and it seems to apply to a lot of recordings from this era (post-punk / post-punk adjacent / late '70s - '80s). the vocals take up so much space in the mix, and that can lead to songs not having the impact they may have had with increased presence of the instruments. David Byrne's a great vocalist and writer, so no slight to him, but his voice would still do just as well closer in volume/presence with the rest of the group. "Drugs" breaks that tendency to great effect, and it's a big reason why that song works so well. again, this isn't exclusive to Talking Heads, but a recurring issue across many recordings from that time. compare the sound of the original release of "Tim" by The Replacements and then the "Tim: Let It Bleed Edition" that came out in 2023 for a perfect example of how the production/engineering/mixing of that era held bands & albums back.
Love “Cities,” “Heaven,” and “Life During Wartime,” but as a whole this album is well-constructed but a bit lifeless. Also, remember how that Simply Red album had a cover of “Heaven” on it? Huge drop off in quality on that cover. Perhaps one of the biggest ever.
Jeg er stadig ret pjattet med Talking Heads lyd og ikke mindst David Byrnes vokal. Det er helt klart en diskografi jeg skal dyrke meget mere efter dette projekt.
Fun listening experience, great production and the album was the perfect length, kept my attention the whole way through, also has one of their biggest songs on the album too. Whilst I did enjoy it and I’m glad I listened to it I’m not sure this will be one I will revisit a lot in future, it just didn’t have the same enjoyment as some as the others I’ve listened to so far. Still good though
Love the talking heads! This was a great album!
Tältä levyltä ei löydy Talking Headsin isoimpia hittejä, mutta tykkäsin tästä silti.
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.
So good.
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
Hey! That's pretty good!
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
Feels challenging, but is surprisingly listenable.
One of their best, but better was to come.
There's something that I don't get about this. I appreciate it but don't necessarily like it. I'll probably come to really like it eventually though. Will need to listen a bunch of times to get there though
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
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