Reviews (page 5 of 14)
Started well, but lost interest as it went on...
- 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
A few good songs, but a lot of David Byrne shouting over funk guitar. Just gets old after a while. Standout Tracks: I, Zimbra, Life During Wartime, Heaven
3/10
This is my second talking heads album and I like it but it gets repetitive
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
This entry is leagues better than the last one we got but I am still just not a fan. Its just too zoinky and wacky weird overall for me. Also the vocals just grate on me something fierce. However the song compositions are pretty fun outside the more outlandish stuff. Life During Wartime sounds fun and funky, but again, those vocals take me right out. Overall thats my biggest gripe I suppose, great aspects taken down a notch by strange noises and off kilter voice affectations.
Another great album by Talking Heads. I Zimbra is such an iconic song to open the album with and the stellar songwriting doesn’t let up. Cities, Life During Wartime and Animals were stand outs. Heaven is my favorite TH song although I prefer the Stop Making Sense version more. The rearrangement of the lyrics in the live version makes the last verse hit even harder. All in all this is a great album
Was revolutionary, now passe
This is my 3rd and hopefully final Talking Heads album. Genuinely don't get the hype and acclaim with this band.
Here's another album that is unabashedly itself. David Bryne's vocals and lyrics lead the way through this album, but not in a way that resonates with me. It feels like an album that you really need to pay attention to. There wasn't anything on here that I was itching to skip through, but I don't think there was much of an earworm anywhere either. I'll kick a couple of the hits around, but otherwise I think this will blend into the background of this list for a while. Highlight: Life During Wartime Lowlight: Electric Guitar Surprise Hit: Cities
It was fine. Very standard sound for Talking Heads, but nothing I super loved
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.
The Talking Heads continue to just not do it for me. This album blows
Always love me a Talking Heads album! Don't think I've heard this before, but it delivers as expected: lots of quirky tunes, some really good and some less! One thing I appreciate with Talking Heads is you never know what's going to show up next, but it's guaranteed to be weird, and almost always pretty good. 'Life During Wartime', 'Cities', and 'Air' stood out as the more stellar tracks to me. More up-tempo with rememberable and cool grooves. Overall there were a tad too many songs, and it could have been condensed a bit to make it tighter. Not their best album, but fun to listen to as always!
A thing I’ve learned on this list is that Talking Heads is always a good time. They consistently give out good albums. I hadn’t heard any of the songs on this album and I still enjoyed it. It still feels fresh, whimsical and fun. No big hitters and it does feel a bit long (Did “Electric Guitars” really need to be on the list?) but still a good time. The start with “I Zimbra” and “Cities” felts stronger than the end. Mid 3.
Pretty good a little long and compared to remain in the light this ain’t shit but still really good and I love the vocals.
Easy
Man I usually love the talking heads but this one was too frantic and disjointed for me. I need the grooves not the Ritalin.
I usually like TH, but this didn't really grab me immediately apart from the hits. Maybe another listen at a different time
Sorry but didn’t care for tgis
OK background music, expected more out of them.
Feel like they will have albums I prefer more
I want to be david byrne when i grow up
It’s a rock album.
Great album, great sound. Not my favorite from them, but easy to listen to a couple times.
if it's first 5 albums of Talking Heads you better believe it's a 5
It’s the best I’ve heard from them but I still don’t particularly like it
Listen to this album a third time this year? Sure, why not!
Dull, except for Tina's playing
Solid enough
Discazo. Los Talking Heads son el mejor grupo de la historia. I Zimbra como origen del Remain in light es un temazo histórico. Todo buenísimos temas me ha encantado. Siempre le di más a otros discos suyos y me ha encantado poder prestarle esta atención exclusiva. Cities y Mind diría que son mis favoritos del disco son de lo mejor que hicieron.
As with every Talking Heads record, it gets wierd and experimental.
"Fear of Music" is dance music. Themes of fear, paranoia and dystopia transformed into rhythmic motion. And when you tap into the rhythms, it's impossible not to get completely immersed in it. We always said that we were going to get ridiculously fit, just by copying David Byrne's dance moves throughout "Stop Making Sense". The art rock fitness routine. His energy and movement just doesn't let up for the whole gig. Much like this album. "Fear of Music" is an album of rhythm and texture. Every song brings something unique to build this rhythmic force. "I Zimbra" brings Afrobeat, Fela Kuti vibes, and guitars acting as percussion. "Mind" brings layers and layers to a simple melody. "Paper" brings frenzied guitars that get more frenzied as it goes on. "Cities" goes so hard that Byrne's voice breaks down at the end. "Air" brings b-movie sounds to dystopic topics. "Animals" brings a mix of unease and release to dissonant sounds. "Electric Guitar" brings Eno-esque, nuttiness. "Drugs" brings experimental vocals and atmosphere. "Memories Can't Wait" bring Heroes-era Bowie influences. It's dark, brooding and then morphs into that incredible ending. "Life During Wartime" brings the energy, with that relentless unbroken beat, and the incredible shift from verse to chorus. "Heaven" brings a genius concept. The concept of heaven, this place of perfection, being incredibly boring. What's interesting about going to a bar where nothing happens? "Fear of Music" seems more interested in rhythm than melody, but everything is somehow still catchy as hell. It's a masterpiece, the stuff of genius. By the end of it all, you feel like you've gone through a sort of religious experience. Like you've been to one of those megachurches. A preacher screams in your face, you start convulsing, speaking in tongues, and everyone starts screaming and dancing around the place in excitement. You're wrecked, but cathartic. Like the demons have just been expelled from your body through a strange and brilliant shamanic ceremony of rhythm.
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
It's listenable
Thought this was decent but it’s not something I would normally pick
" 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.
Some great songs: Heaven, Life During Wartime. Tina Weymouth's bass lines contribute so much to the songs. There are a few skips here.
not a fan
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.
Paper🥵
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
incrivelmente bom? porra os outros que vieram aqui tavam numa preguiça do carai, esse parece que simplesmente ligaram o motor e fizeram música bruta. brabo.
depois que escutei o speaking in tongues deles eu finalmente entendi a pira. e esse aqui eh o primeiro da run dos 3 melhores albuns deles!! dá pra ver o caminho que eles começam a traçar aqui mas sem perder o art punk maluco deles. bom DEMAIS, não economizarei eh 5 estrelas nessa porra. eu sempre fico PUTO porque Psycho Killer é a PIORZINHA deles e a que mais fez sucesso. mto paia.
not my vibe
Funky. Cool
Increible disco lleno de éxitos.
Talking heads are like.... a car wash. Always around, nice to do once in a while, but not something I'm interested in doing all the time.
this ain't no party!!!!! this ain't no disco!!!!!!
not so fearful tbh 3.5
Es el disco más oscuro y experimental que escuché de Talking Heads. Que banda del carajo!! Es realmente bueno.
a very funky album with random sounds an structures that weirdly works in some songs, tbh it’s not my type of album however i liked some songs on it like drugs! i guess it depends on what u like but found some songs all over the place with some rhythms not easy listen but overall it was ok! ill check out more music from the talking heads tho favs: cities - drugs
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.
The beginning was OK, but I really did not care for the vast majority of this.
I don't think this is their best music, but I definitely bobbed my head to a few of these.
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
Decent but not the most enjoyable Talkings Heads I've ever listened to. Kinda abrasive 5.9/10
I know Talking Heads are legendary but everytime I listen to one of their albums I just don't care about it. Definitely a band I only really love a few songs from. It's just so......meh
Some good moments in this, Cities and Life During Wartime in particular, but also it does just ramble on a bit, and I don't rate David Byrne as a singer.
<3
🤩🤩🤩
Hadn’t heard any of this album before although I’m very familiar with a couple of their more commercially popular albums. Maybe it was the lack of a familiar tune or two but the whole thing didnt really do much for me. I could tell it was Talking Heads but I was wishing for a song I knew.
A little upbeat for my mood (I was sick)
A lovely album. Fun bops. A few bangers.
African rhythms. Darker than the others.
I appreciate this is experimental but I struggled to enjoy it.
none of their good songs, but nothing bad
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
початок не поганий ех ну мелодія ж та класна!!!! аое от виконання текстуууу аааааа
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.
Pretty good album, it was very experimental and funky in a good way. I really liked heaven, air, and mind. I really disliked animals and electric guitar tho as those aren’t songs I would listen to. I really liked I Zimbra which I don’t usually like instrumentals but it was probably the best I have heard. The first and middle of the album was the best and the end was weak other than drugs.
Slightly pretentious lyrics, weirdly funk sounds, the more funky they get, the less cool it becomes. Cool is highly subjective, but I thought the album came across as uncertain as to its maturity.
Enjoyable listen. Not a huge talking heads fan
6.5/10
Meh
really enjoyed the vibe to this. some songs with a bit of spookiness in it was fun. animals is the true standout for me. david byrne is that diva.
Perfect pick up mid morning.
Songs are ok for passive listening but I wouldn't actively listen to
Vibes: 4 Instruments: 3 Production: 3 Emotional Value: 2 Storytelling: 3 AC: 0 Stand Outs: Heaven, Air Overall: 3 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I've heard a lot about Talking Heads, this is my first real listen to them. I liked their unique style and some of the songs really stood out to me emotionally, but I can't say the same about the album (I might need to listen to some of their other albums to get a more accurate read though).
Eh, it sound like Talking Heads. Life During Wartime is a classic of theirs...
Okay HERE WE GOOOOO, I love the song "Heaven"! It was featured at the end of an ESPN documentary about, among other things, the OJ Simpson Bronco chase and all the other sports stuff that happened on that day... maybe the Houston Rockets winning some important game? I think it was in June.... idk. In any case I became obsessed with that song and the line "heaven is a place where nothing ever happens." OK "Mind" fucking rips. I love that weird opening riff!
Songs were hit or miss, fairly middle of the road album for me.
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.
At the moment, nothing really stands out. Maybe if I would listen to it more often one or two songs make it to the playlist. But I think, for now, I would not really listen to it again.
I don't understand how this got on the list. It doesn't belong here. This is album 1083 for me. The 4th Talking Heads album. That's too many. Two would have been very generous. Most albums on the list are better. There are lots of better albums that didn't even make the list. This is the worst one of their four entries. Like their other albums, it's very monotonous. It doesn't have any of their signature songs. What a waste of time. Not bad enough for 1 star though.
Juste non ??
Really good, I enjoyed listening to it!
Everyone loves Talking Heads. When someone tells me they love Talking to me Heads, I give them the ol' Side Eye and Wide Berth combo. Before starting this journey I only really knew 2 songs by them, hated both. And the silly dancing and clothes, which I hate more than Mussolini. I have since heard one of their albums, can't remember which one it was, and I think I gave it three stars. I've already forgotten everything about it, beyond not hating it. Perhaps I... Have a... FEAR OF MUSIC. I don't though, that would be ridiculous. I just don't like shit music. This isn't bad in and of itself. Make no mistake - it isn't great - it's more that you can smell all the artists and music this influenced, and almost none of that was good. The world would surely be a better place today if this did not exist, such is the tripe which came in the aftermath of this album and this band. Too jangly, too dance-oriented, too confidently up itself without warrant. The opening song...no need for it to be over a minute long. The second track, looping and irritating, great production except for the fact that the vocals are too low in the mix. But then you remember the vocals are bad, so maybe this flaw benefits the listener. Track three - guitars and drums are good in isolation, shame they're part of such a junk song. Talky-singy is a big no no for me. Four - the minor chord moments are nice, otherwise this is more jangly dance clown music. Fifth would be okay without the silly vocals. Drums getting repetitive now. Sixth song is pretty cool. Seventh is almost funny with its Carny 'come this way if you fancy a handjob ' spooky vibes, but once more the vocals are an atrocity. The eighth song is genuinely good, ruined of course by the vocals and tainted by those same familiar drum loops (buh-tih, buh-tih, buh-tih, tiddleliddle-tih - EVERY SONG). The one after is the sort of discordant nonsense that New York Art types lap up with their monocled teets. Next one sounds like the Bully videogame soundtrack and the last one is, appropriately, repetitive experimental wank. Look, I like weird shit. I have no problem with it. But the vocals are bad. Nothing to do with how zany they are, how many grunts and pronunciation quirks there may be... It's that they are flat, tuneless, ultimately lifeless. The music is largely dull but you can tell the band is talented. Same with the production - wrapping a dog turd in chocolate still doesn't make it edible. It is not for me, and while I accept I'm in the minority, I don't accept that as many people who claim to love this actually do.
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.
1. Paper 2. Life During Wartime 3. Memories Can’t Wait I don’t really know enough about Talking Heads to fully comment on this, but I did quite like it. From what I gather, it’s quite different to their previous albums. I liked the instrumentals and the lyrics seemed more geared towards storytelling than repetitive phrases. It’s different to what I usually listen to but it was interesting. I don’t like that the voice has that same tone that I can’t quite describe but similar to Dire Straits, Bob Dylan, Velvet Underground that I find irritating. But apart from that, pretty good.
freaky, I like it
This project is making me into a Talking Heads fan for sure. I knew them from their hits and once dove into More Songs About Buildings and Food, so I knew I liked the deep tracks there. Buy this is also quite enjoyable to me as a whole. Love the jangle pop turn on “Heaven” … “Life During Wartime” has long been a fav and sadly seems more relevant than ever.
Decent 3,5
Loved first half, second was just good
Bass player needs a raise I see why people would like this but I don’t it’s to weird for me Life during wartime is good
Good, few saves
This was ok. Some tracks are amazing and other sound like David Byrne nonsense. The issue is probably I haven’t heard the nonsense tracks enough to like them.
Probably mid 3s for me. Some very good songs (Heaven, which may be my favourite TH track, Life During War Time).
I think I get it. David Byrne's endless musing over obsessive Afrobeats. They shouldn't work together, but the album is delectable.
Not bad, just not my thing. I lost interest in it after a couple of tracks. Also didn't know any of them. Remus Lupin approved, though.
ummmm not terrible but not great like not my vibe
pretty good sounds like rocky horror
Talking Heads are a national treasure
Page is a nonce
It was good. Not bad, but good.
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.
While I recognized the Talking Heads credit to some of their hits, I’m sorry to say that this is the second album I’ve gotten of theirs and I become less impressed with the band the more I listen to them. Seems their sound is one I’d prefer to consume in much smaller quantities.
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 think if 90 percent of artists were to make this same album I would find it unlistenable. Through some alchemy Talking Heads and Brian Eno make it not only listenable but amazing.
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.
2/3. Weird ass music but I liked it; only a few songs immediately grabbed me, but as a whole it had such a unique and cohesive sound. There’s such a feeling of tension and anxiety through it all, but not in a terrifying way, more in a can’t sit still nervous energy way. Definitely an album worth revisiting, greater than the sum of its parts.
A janky, angular development of their original sound with the funky and world music influence starting to show
Started pissing me off around Paper. It’s albums like this that make me really question this list.
Somehow, every song sounds the same.
...
A one note album. Felt like 40 minutes of the same song.
loved it so much, a diff kinda vibe
Very fun
Some good tunage!
I first heard Cities aged 14 on a local radio station's "alternative" show. I saved up my pocket money and bought Fear of Music. I was a weirdo then. I still am. Fuck the straight world with its boring music. I ain't got time for that now.
Pretty good, like David Byrne’s voice but it’s not a 5/5
I like memories can't wait and enjoyed most of it
It's okay ish 2
Heard it before. I like Talking Heads but god, there are too many albums from them on the list. And most of the albums here are bad choices. This is one of them, maybe just 3 good songs on the entire thing 2/5
It insists on itself.
I'm not a big fan of Talking Heads, but this album was fun
Like most Talking Heads album, one or two good songs and the rest of the album.
Every time I listen to them I think okay that’s a step forward with one song but then the next song is a step back. They are mediocre
Talking Heads are a lot like Peter Gabriel or Devo for me. They’ve got a couple nice, accessible songs, and then the rest is just artsy, boring, annoying stuff that’s just all over the place. This album had a lot of the latter.
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
3.5
didn’t expect to see this talking heads album on the list but I am having fun with it
Much like, a sexy conspiracy theorist, I would’ve liked it more if they would’ve kept their damn mouth shut.
I can see how it's influential, but I also find it annoying. I think I'd like it more if they didn't do the 80's YELLING THING
Manche Songs klangen schon nervig und mit dem ständig repititiven Text hats mich nicht abgeholt
Not a fan
So not even 60 albums in and I get the first three Talking Heads albums in chronological order over the last few weeks. This is the one album that I’d heard from these guys many years ago, before the start of this listening project I remember thinking back then, within the first few opening notes of the album, how it sounded like King Crimson, then finding out that Robert Fripp is on the first track! I dug King Crimson back then so I was immediately sucked in but I remember the album petering out from that first track and I’m starting to get the same feeling on this listen. The production is sounding better but the songs feel a bit half cooked. David Byrne in particular doesn’t seem to click for me as much on this album. The vocal production could be better so I don’t know if that’s affecting my judgement but he is a very wild and unique singer! But the band does groove like hell throughout this whole album! I have a feeling their best album is coming up in their career so I hope they show up on this list!
Aika tasapaksuja biisi. Ei ollut hittibiisejä. Soitto kulki jatykkään David Byrnen äänenväristä.
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)
Nice and chill. Fun for background music, but not my usual type of music. Think I liked the alternate versions better.
Funky and fun beats. Lots of songs sounded very sinilar to me.
I like talking heads but had not yet listened to this album. I liked it
I couldn't get into the unique rhythm, but not painful to listen to.
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.
Talking Heads are very hit-or-miss for me; the opening two tracks were musically interesting and were things I was happy to listen to. But then we got into what I consider the “usual” sound of the Talking Heads: David Byrne drone-talk-singing over music that does just enough to drown out any attempt to understand what he’s actually saying. And that just doesn’t work for me. This almost inches to 3 stars just for the first two tracks and the final track…but the middle is just too Talking Heads for my tastes.
Since I really like David Byrne, I've dedicated many hours to understanding talking head's hype. I just don't get it man. Most song sound the same, and none of them are my type at all
ok, few good songs
I prefer other Talking Heads albuns...
good album but was not in the mood for upbeat music
T1 that was an experience, some cool key changes T2 T3 T4 starting to see this is a concept album for sure. This song has that same chord progression used throughout most of Pink Floyd’s animals. Also hear dogs barking now, is that Seamus? T5 beginning of this sounds like Morrison singing and the beat itself sounds like the doors. Yeah this for sure sounds like something straight from L.A Woman T6 ‘Take a walk through peaceful meadows.. try not to look so disappointed’ is straight out of the doors by the doors, specifically the song ‘the end’. Got a bunch of different sounds going on in this one, think I might actually kinda like it. Didn’t love the intro but all these weird sounds are kinda coming together. T7 alr let’s get weird. At 2:55, that show the good place on Netflix stole this riff completely. Also I was wondering what the deal was with those weird cool echo sounds and I looked it up and it’s Brian eno, legend. Surprised to learn he produced this record and 2 other talking head albums (remain in light, and more building about buildings and food). Very cool. T8 feels like a reprise of Mind or Paper? Not sure, sounds better though. Relistening now @10am: Following day, think this is a 2.5/3 outta 10
Weird music from the weirdos
Not my favourite talking heads
I kinda grew on this - I don't think I'll delete it.
Pretty good and varies
jamás reseñaré mal un disco de talking heads, incluso si no ha sido mi favorito
Unfortunately all of these songs are better performed on Stop Making Sense
4/5
Nice catchy tunes thx!
Kinda meh
Classic David Byrne. Love that guy.
Ein bisschen maniac, aber eigentlich ganz cool
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
gotta relisten - a lot of to unpack.
4.4 has some good moments but lacks consistency
Don’t think it’ll be on high rotation for me but it’s ok
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.
David Byrne you’ve done it again
It's all very "Jack White" and over-engineered. His competence is on full display, but there is a veneer to his solo work that I just can't get past. As much as I loved The White Stripes, his solo work just never jives for me. I won't ever listen to this album again.
Pretty good, but not as good as my previous two albums by them.
I got two Talking Heads in a row - not my favorite band by any stretch, but I found this album more enjoyable than Remain in Light.
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.
This album was fine - I’d say I was neutral positive on it. When their songs are fully fleshed out, they are brilliant. Too often they aren’t. There’s a lot of interesting and compelling music here overall.
Smooth
No thank you
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.
Is the first song English? It’s a bop but a little repetitive.
meh
Talking Heads are revered by many. After multiple listens at various times I don't get what the buzz is about. Decent music but doesn't really move the needle for me.
Mere punket end jeg er vant til fra dem. Life during wartime er et af deres bedste numre
Talking Heads havde et utroligt run fra 1977-1984. Remain in light var den bedste plade, men det her var måske den mest spændende
Fine, nothing special.
Upbeat almost pop like. Not bad 6/10
I have noticed that so many albums from the 70's and 80's just dont stand the test of time Listening to the Talking Heads now in 2025, things are hitting very differently from how it did back in the day Never a huge TH fan, but hearing this again is a little underwhelming
As someone who has felt like an alien in disguise during every social interaction, the Talking Heads is the music of my people. Especially the last few tracks on this album.
Funky
Es triste, bastante triste pero lo salva las dos rolas de funk
Just an album that's not for me.
great listen, some very bizarre stuff in here that sounds sick.
Really good but didn't grip me like some Talking Heads albums do
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
Fun album. I was out until Animals came on.
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
Dette høres fortsatt ferskt ut idag! Like energisk, original, og rytmisk pop-musikk skal man lete lenge etter. Har alltid holdt en knapp på dette som den sterkeste Heads skiva, til tross for at den Eno-produserte Remain in Light ofte regnes som deres magnum opus. (Fear of Music har kanskje ikke et spor som er like sterkt som The Great Curve, men Light mister på en måte piffen i andre halvdel.) Må innrømme at jeg var veldig i tvil om denne skulle få 5, men når jeg tenker over hvor mange sterke spor det er her -- Mind, Cities, Life During Wartime, Air, Heaven -- og hvor lett det er å sette på skiva gang på gang, så snakker det for seg selv.
Har hørt mest på 77, og selvfølgelig Norges svar på Talking Heads: deLillos. Men Fear of Music var et gledelig gjenhør. Dette er en new wave-klassiker, og artrock? Vet ikke, men man kan høre at bandet har sugd til seg innflytelser som en svamp. Åpenbart allerede fra "I Zimbra", men for eksempel "Memories Can't Wait" låter som om Kraftwerk skulle spilt inn en låt med ekte instrumenter. Plata groover godt, kanskje takket være sugerøret inn i "verdensmusikken". Jeg tenker at det ikke er feil å kalle Talking Heads og The Police for New wave-søskenbarn sånn sett, kanskje til og med brødre. Men Talking Heads er i høyeste grad et band for seg selv, og som er vanskelig å gjenskape. Once in a lifetime, med mindre du er deLillos.
Umiddelbart positivt overraska over hvor lite poppa det er. Jeg trodde talking heads var et reint 80 talls popband. Men dette albumet kom jo forsåvidt ut i 79, så det er på grensa Jeg kommer på nå at jeg blander Talking Heada og Tears for Fears. I mitt hode har de alltid vært samme band. Alt i alt syns jeg dette har vært et fint album. Men det har vært dritt og, på godt og på vondt
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.
Omatakeista
I sadly did not enjoy this album. I was very interested in Talking Heads too.
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
A 3.
As quirky and zany as you'd expect from Talking Heads but they don't leave you with much to sink your teeth into here. Felt like they said "guys our songs are TOO catchy, let's ditch that this time" Also the end of the album with Heaven -> Animals -> Electric Guitar -> Drugs felt like a schizophrenic break
Talking Heads are great, but kind of challenging to listen to as an "album band". This one is full of discordance and paranoia and leaves the listener on edge and wanting more melody. Genius, but not altogether pleasant.
Learned to love Talking Heads from a friend/superfan, although my introduction was to a recording of one of their live shows. So it's honestly hard for the audio-only releases to stack up. This is right on the edge of four stars, but it didn't wow me enough.
Pretty good
Favorite Track: Mind
Strange, messy and bizarre in the best way possible
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.
My god. Can they not do better? I'm being told these are key albums but they are fucking awful.
This update is crazy y'all. Anyways, Fear Of Music is my second favorite Talking Heads album. For a long time, I had some weird hesitation to check out Fear Of Music. I thought it wasn't going to be as good as R.I.L, but boy, that kid was stupid. I personally see Fear Of Music as a concept album displaying various phobias. Fear of Mind, Fear of Cities, Fear of Animals, Fear of Drugs, Fear of Air, etc. There's a lot of paranoid feeling in David Byrne's delivery and lyricism. Hearing him yell about how animals are useless over a fairly catchy backing track is quite the groove. My two personal favorite tracks display just how great the band had gotten by this point: Memories Can't Wait and Heaven. Heaven is one that I've heard for years because of its inclusion in Stop Making Sense early on, but Memories Can't Wait was one that took me by high surprise when I first heard it in full. That outro section where the title comes in and Jerry Harrison joins in is incredibly cathartic to hear. Add in the fact that Eno produced it and Fripp played on it and you have even more of a reason for me to love this album. While Remain In Light is relatively more groundbreaking, this record set them up to be the legends they are in my life. Why was I so fearful at first? (9/10, 5/5 on this scale)
Ohhh this is one all my Talking Heads favourites are from.
Talking heads dont have a bad album
No so much
This is why I live this challenge. I've been listening to these guys for almost 40 years and while spinning this I said "Have you ever listened to this?". I know every song. I'm sure I have. Probably many times, but I just can't remember. Either way, it's fucking brilliant.
It was fine
It’s pretty tough to not like Talking Heads for me. This is probably not one of their better albums, and I still kinda like it. It’s weird but catchy. I know they're capable of better, but even their worst is better than a lot of artist's best. 3.5/5
Not super captivating. Lacks a certain "punch". The song Drugs is an interesting piece of music. I enjoyed the alternate versions that the deluxe offered. 2.7 outta 5
The first 2 songs were terrible. Overall, it’s hard to listen to David Byrne strain and whine. He’s an interesting song writer, completely unique really. But that doesn’t mean I like it.
4.5 - Great
Decent - enjoyed, but not grabbed
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.
Meio chato, não consegui terminar... e tanto faz também, não voltaria nele.
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.
Brilliant album, I’ve only every heard Talking Heads 77 before, 4 stars, but I think I prefer this one. They’re a band I really must go through the discography of at some point. Top Track - Life During Wartime
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.
This album captures the vibe of a high school nerd strutting into school on Monday morning, having just lost his virginity the weekend before. He is gonna flex on his friends as chess club so fucking hard at lunch.
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.
Once again, I can't quite externalize what it is about TH that I don't resonate with, as they are excellent musicians and their records still sound fresh. Just not for me, I guess. I still do recognize it is a very good record
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.
Building up to greatness, but not quite there yet.
Amazing album from an amazing band. It starts off huge with “I Zimbra” and doesn’t stop until it’s over. Some of my favorite songs from the greatest band to come out of Punk/New Wave. 10/10 Favorite Tracks- “IZimbra” “Heaven” “Drugs”
I don't hate this
Ol’ sour puss Brian Eno strikes again.
I really enjoyed this one. Quirky and intense.
I saw talking heads and thought “oh yeah this’ll be a good album - I know a few of their hits” and this just kinda disappointed me cause theres just nothing of substance to this album - maybe I’m just looking into it wrong tho.
This album is definitely a post-punk new wave album, which is a genre that has never piqued my interest. However, this more funky take on the genre is certainly more palatable to my tastes. Especially the hits of Cities and Life During Wartime that are the highlights of this album.
2 - TERRIBLE
Funky, groovy, lyrics are pretty repetitive and not very interesting. They are actually largely nonsense. I like the lyrics to Wartime (Alternative Version). LCD Soundsystem does the speak-singing better. But Cities is also ok lyrically.
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!
Talking heads are different and quirky. I like it in small doses but it started to feel long
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
The first song was incredible but the rest of the album didn't hold up.
Heaven Cities Mind The highlights of the album Overall 3.5/5
Not my style, but good sound.
On top of this being just an amazing album, this holds a ton of meaning to me. During the pandemic, we had twin two year olds and a 4 year old. This album was on almost daily for months and it would incite and immediate dance party for my kids.
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.
The Talking Heads' third album again finds them trying out new ideas, often with exceptional results but with a few misfires along the way. At the risk of making lists of songs, "I Zimbra", "Cities", "Life During Wartime", "Memories Can't Wait" and "Drugs" are all stellar. At the other end of the spectrum, "Animals" and "Electric Guitar" are awkward; Byrne sounds like he's deliberately trying to be weird and both of those are clunky as a result. The remainder of the songs are just OK; the sonic treatments on these songs are interesting but the writing isn't top-drawer.
want to like this band more than I do. David Byrne seems like a nice gent, but I'll let others enjoy his music without me.
This album reminded me of David Bowie. Learning that there is a connection, it will gain them one more star.
I'm largely a novice when it comes to Talking Heads - I like, and own Remain in Light on vinyl but have never dived any deeper than that. On my first listen to this one, I think I prefer it over the latter. A consistently weird and angular, yet strangely inviting album in some respects. The funky, rhythmic bass is to die for, there is a paranoia hanging over it that keeps me intrigued and on edge at all times, and the well-pronounced production allows the songs to come to life. I've just ordered it on vinyl and can't wait to explore further.
I love their music but David’s vocals start to wear on me after a while.
3/5
This is a very good album.
This is a mixed bag of taste kind of band. I like some of their tracks but others are just annoying. Overall, an OK 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
Did connect to lyrics or the music really. I enjoyed the instruments and favourite song was Drugs which is the last song.
Carino, sound variegato. Ma non mi ha lanciato.
This one will be easy, glad I got into TH seriously a year or two ago. Out of 11 songs, 10 are in my Talking Heads playlist and I like 8 so this is easy 5 stars for me. Great, great album with clear influence from Fela Kuti and of course produced by Mr. Eno.
FAVOURITE GROUP
esp. cities and life during wartime good, rest…
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.
Not a huge fan of the alternative takes on the deluxe version of this, but that album itself is FAN FUCKING TASTIC. Loving the subtle disco rhythm section
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.
Cities, Heaven, and Life During Wartime.
Taliking Heads twice in one week a bit much. Maybe unfair as a result.
yes. nice african feeling
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” 💀
God so damn good. It has always been my second fav TH album. So many great songs and the production is a great amalgamation of the early talking heads and remain in light. Studio Heaven is kinda goofy I will say lol
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
Never vibed with Talking Heads when younger and I get why now. Favourite song was 'I Zimbra' which sets a tone but then it slowly falls flat.
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
First listening - very 1970s, very few tracks rise above their time. "Heaven" is the only one. "Life during wartime" is described as the standout track. Wasn't for me - most of the tracks were very "dirgy" and nothing reached the heights of "Psycho Killer". Gave up after a while.
Pretty solid