Reviews (page 4 of 14)
I have already heard this album it is good
Un album qui m'a donné envie de conduire une décapotable en été. Je ne connaissais pas le groupe jusqu'a Psycho Killer. Plutôt bon album, psycho killer, love -> building on fire and sugar on my tongue sortent du lot, je pourrais les mettre dans une playlist.
Just a bunch of goofballs having fun with one of the best debut albums there are.
Liked it
Early Talking Heads with unique delivery and great sound
Can't imaging hearing this in 1977. I think their later stuff is better, but this is quite an opening statement.
Riktigt fett faktiskt. Blev positivt överraskad!
❣️
Bättre än jag mindes. Autistic swing
AYE YI YI YI YI 7 / 10 best track/s: First Week / Last Week, No Compassion, The Book I Read
Great instruments, beats and flow. Motivating and moving great for doing chores or a chill pool party. Reminds me of if horsey before meth
Absolutely classic!
I have never really listened to talking heads but this really surprised me. It had an absolute clasic physci killer which in my opinion is little bit overrated but the book i read and who is it were really fun songs
I sadly didn't enjoy this record as much as their second one (more songs about buildings and food) but as a debut album I really was surprised by how much of their signature stylings still remain. It is still danceable and catchy and so so fun to see where it all started. I think my biggest sticking point was the lyrics-- they almost seem too "normie" for what I'm used to when it comes to David Byrne and just being handed the mic to do whatever he wants. But at the very least, Psycho Killer is the closest they get to their sound that I'm more used to, and it's great that they evolved in the direction they did. A solid debut from one of, I can now confidently say, my favorite rock bands from the 70s. Highlights: Uh-Oh Love Comes To Town, New Feeling, Don't Worry About the Government, Psycho Killer, No Compassion. If i get a third TH album next week i will get suspicious fr.
8/10 Buen album, me gusto bastante, tiene muy buenos temas y me gusta como encaja la voz con la instrumental
My third Talking Heads album on the list, and another 4/5. A fantastic album. They certainly evolved from this, and seldom put a foot wrong. Great band. Enjoyable.
I'm a big fan of TH later records but younger me dismissed these early albums as too weird & punky. Revisiting there's the definite sense of a band trying to find it's feet but it's also apparent to older me just how extraordinary inventive & quirky this was in the context of 1977, a weird, fascinating amalgam of pop, punk and worldbeat with unique lyrical concerns about the confusion of modern culture.
The more you listen to it, the better it gets. #TrustMe
01) Uh-Oh, Love Comes to Town - 8,0 02) New Feeling - 7,0 03) Tentative Decisions - 7,0 04) Happy Day - 7,5 05) Who Is It? - 8,0 06) No Compassion - 8,0 07) The Book I Read - 8,0 08) Don't Worry About the Government - 7,5 09) First Week/Last Week…Carefree - 8,0 10) Psycho Killer - 10,0 11) Pulled Up - 8,0 TOTAL: 7,91 (79/100) Current ranking: 276/909
:)
4.5
Talking Heads are so delightfully odd, I love it. Everything they do is just slightly removed from the norm, sometimes so subtly it's barely noticeable, but it's there in all it's wonderful strangeness. This album is full of great songs, and of course Psycho Killer is a masterpiece.
4 Not quite as good as some of their later stuff but most of the songs are still pretty good and it does have psycho killer
I’m so used to their 80s work that it’s unusual to hear David Byrne sounding so… young here. This album is a little rudimentary by the standards of their later work but imaginative and crisp as a debut.
These cars never missed. Even from their very first album. The whole album is good with a couple of great spots. Especially Psycho Killer which is an absolute all timer by any standards. I will say though, I think albums that came after this feel like they have a little more bounce to them. I know they had legendary live shows, my guess is they bottled that energy a little better in the future but either way this is a must listen and an awesome debut.
I think this is the best Talking Heads album on the list. I didn't really like the other 2 that we've gotten, but there are some good songs here.
This is a very solid debut album. All the instruments work great together. The singing works for what the album is. Psycho Killer is great as always, but Who Is It? ended up being one of my favorites as well. Definitely a really good album
Good
As I said in the previous Talking Heads review, some of their songs I really like and some of the songs are really “wtf” to my ears. And this album leans to the side of the songs I like.
I wrote the following about our previous Talking Heads album (Remain in Light): "Like Bowie, another staple of early MTV that I would have had a MUCH different perception of had I been older. I'm happy I came of age when I did (and certainly don't want to be older than I am,) but I would have been a MUCH bigger fan of these guys a lot earlier if I hadn't been a little kid when I saw their videos." This was a fantastic debut album. I saw David Byrne live about a month ago and his show is still amazing.
I own a physical copy. Solid album, but Talking Heads have better in their discography in my opinion. Shit was probably pretty amazing in the late 70’s.
хел єа
The start of something special.
Tight sound tight playing cool and interesting songs, musically, thematically, lyrically.
This one will be easy to rate, I already rated it 4.0 on RYM so easy solid 4 stars here, however I would replace their debut on the list with "Speaking in Tongues" which is a superior album I think, but this is great album as well, still unpolished TH sound, and just before Eno joins them.
Este álbum tiene el sonido del rock 70 y 80 que tanto me gusta de otras bandas de su época, es muy disfrutable. . Diseño de portada: 2/5 → Portada simple, con color sólido y letras verdes, incluso en su época había portadas con más personalidad. . Canciones favoritas: "Sugar on my tongue" y "Uh-oh, love comes to town".
The weakest of Talking Heads discography, but that’s hardly saying anything because the worst Talking Heads is still better than 90% of music. Psycho Killer is a stone cold banger and is the best indication of how awesome Talking Heads would become.
I love this record. Agro and uptight music for art school nerds
Very weird and good
I love all of the 70’s CGBG era bands and artists. I worship Lou Reed. There were so much great shit happening and still Byrne’s stood out in the crowd.
I hadn't heard this album! Talking Heads are so damn good.
The Talking Heads debut is a very strong opening statement to a huge career. I love the funkiness and punkiness of this imaginative and creative songs. The band already sounds incredible here. Great foundations for a sound that will only grow in the next years. It's a solid 4. Love it. (I have to say that the cover art is some of the worst I have ever seen. Making something so simple that bad is an achievement by itself)
This album remindes me of sneaking out at 3am haha
Not my favourite talking heads album
Fun to listen to some talking heads
Nice upbeat sounds but dark subject matter
This album was psychoactive. Downright banger of an album, and I have only just recently come around to the talking heads.
Hyvähyvä. Kuuntelisin uudelleen ja mieluinen.
Psycho Killer stands out nicely. But the whole album is toe-tapping and infectious. Low 4
A solid 4 - great sound and debut. Their third best album
77 has a lot of charm. Better on 2nd listen.
Straight out the gates Talking Heads have a perfectly defined, unmistakable sound dense with detail, curious melodies and eccentric vocals. While setting some of the template for what came to be post-punk and new wave, aspects of the performance, particularly, David Byrne's uniquely strained, high in the register vocal style has never been effectively copied. Its a very exciting debut. Every Talking Heads record that follows is a variation on this theme!
So chill and oddly comforting… feels like a quiet evening inside my head.
It was an ordinary Monday morning at work when I opened 1001 and got this album.. It is a good Monday morning now.
Classic intro to the Talking Heads.
First full Talking Heads album I’ve listened to and it was better than I expected. The current average is 3.56 and that seems to be the right score to me. Some really good songs with only a little of the David Byrne weirdness creeping in from time to time.
A great combination of what makes music great. Catchy, funky, great changes, upbeat at times, but constant strange turns. Instruments, structures, chord changes you wouldn't expect etc. Byrne is weird throughout. One potential knock is I couldn't tell you what one of these songs is about. Feel like if I go 5 I'm a classic rock whore and if I go 4 I'm a coward. I'll go coward today.
Im trying to imagine myself in the 70s hearing Byrne do his “Neeuuhh neuuh neuuhh” or a “buuububbuubuu YAYAYAYAYA” live. I think I wouldve initially hated it and quickly come around to how charming it is. After writing that out, I realize I kinda reacted the same way today. Only negatives: happy day is annoying, 40 mins is plenty Talking Heads for one day Favorites: psycho killer, pull me up, who is it
Love these guys, but not their most cohesive album.
First real Talking Heads record, and to be completely honest... I don't see the crazy appeal. I mean they are good, don't get me wrong, and this is 100% a better record than some of the ones I've gotten days prior. But a lot of the songs sound the same, and I don't really enjoy the singer all that much. The only time I've heard of this band is when I am talking to someone who is a cult follower, or to someone who's listened to them once or twice and spoke on them, and then never mentioned them again. It does kind of remind me of Mr. McDermitt, my Middle School English 8 teacher, who was a splendid fellow, and was one of my first big music/literature inspirations, So it did kind of bring back some fond memories of listening to these guys in his class. Personal Ranking: 7.5/10 Favorite Tracks: Who Is It? Psycho Killer
Second Taklking Heads album in this experience. I liked this one a lot more than the first one I got. Fun and a bit goofy while at the same time being incredibly groovy. Of course "Psycho Killer" is an all timer but I think the rest of the songs aren't slouches either. 3.5/5 rounded up to a 4/5
Funky AND fresh, baby! 8/10
More like a 4.5…Psycho Killerrrrr, and killer on my tongue!!
I quite liked the album. It’s really fun and enjoyable. Def will listen again
Hell yesssss. Fave tracks are No Compassion, The Book I Read, Pulled Up. Definitely was bopping my head to most of these songs.
any shy person can feel each lyrics are toalking to them.
Tina Weymouth is astonishing on this. Well, on everything. But especially on this. Belter of a debut
Did not make the impression on me it did on others when released, but a strong debut, though not to me as interesting as what followed. At the time, I wasn’t introduced to Television’s first which I now find more exciting.
Musically, I love the Talking Heads, it has this tight, snappy feel to it. Funky without being funk. I have a love-hate relationship with Byrne's vocals though. On the one hand, Talking Heads wouldn't be Talking Heads without Byrne's instantly recognisable vocals. But... I don't like them... I find find voice not very musical (esp. in the longer notes) and in many songs the pitch is just too high for my liking. Songwriting and musicianship is is great though. Of course, Psycho Killer is a deserved classic, but I've just heard it too many times. The other songs are fine but they don't move me very much. For a moment I thought to give it a 3, but it's too good for that.
Not the stiff, nervy rock debut I expected. Talking Heads 77 is surprisingly groove-forward, stripped-back, rhythm-first, and far more danceable than I initially thought. It’s art rock shot through with punk’s DIY aesthetic and the band’s emerging funk sensibility.
I liked this but felt it could have gone further, been better. That said, I got more out of it on the second listen. Pretty solid debut
Want to love it but im in a weird mood today. Probs a 3 but its talking heads soooo… 4
Great debut from great band
lively, passionate, quirky
I have listened to this album hundreds of times. I made an effort to listen to it critically and, being honest, it does sound like a debut album. It is a taste of what is to come but not as formed as later work.
Music for the would-be rockstar that ends up working corporate ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 Highlight: “No Compassion”
Ganske bra, men er spesielt psycho killer som drar opp. Sterk 4.
Good 70s classic
Good to know they were always this weird. I can always appreciate that about this band. I feel like they didn't really reach maximum weirdness until Remain in Light, but they were always weird. Early Talking Heads has this goofy charm to it, though. It's just some happy, upbeat music about social problems and socially anxious serial killers. Normal happy topics. I got totally jumpscared by the saxophone in First Week / Last Week. I don't think saxophones when I think Talking Heads, but it works surprisingly well. Of course it does, it's a saxophone. The band only gets 10% of the credit. It gets 110% of the saxophone bonus points because I feel like it.
Maaaaaybe their second best album, maybe? Really good. Really enjoyable. Great guitar on this album. Great
Es wirkt wie ein unscheinbarer Startschuss, der erst beim genauen Hinhören seine Sprengkraft entfaltet. Das Debütalbum tastet sich mit nervöser Energie, kantigem Minimalismus und Byrne’s verschrobenem Charisma an eine neue Form des Art-Punk heran. Viele Songs wirken bewusst unspektakulär, fast skizzenhaft – doch genau darin liegt der Reiz: eine Band, die ihre Sprache erst erfindet. Und dann ist da „Psycho Killer“, der alles überragt. Der Song hebt das Album aus dem soliden New-Wave-Umfeld heraus und verleiht ihm jene ikonische Schärfe, die es bis heute relevant macht. Dank dieses Stücks wird Talking Heads: 77 mehr als nur ein ordentliches Debüt: Es wird zum Manifest einer Ära, die gerade erst beginnt, sich selbst zu begreifen.
4/5
Talking Heads are so different from their contemporaries- they remind me of Radiohead in many ways and I can see the influence from them. This album followed my general preference (best track near the end - psycho killer) but was a bit long to be truly effective. I would add to my collection for sure.
Early Talking Heads
Another banger Talking Heads album, mostly just cementing that I love Talking Heads!
It may have came out in 1977, but it sure feels timeless as hell.
Оно мне знакомо, приятно
Other than Psycho Killer I've never listened to this album. It's raw, but it is definitely Talking Heads. I like their later stuff better, but it's all good.
you cant complain about byrne going at it
only listened to psycho killer let's see 🤞 realistically happy album realised after Happy Day bouncy this is an album about a man facing the banalities and mundanities and unfairnesses of life with an upbeat spirit actually really liking this album after Happy Day lol upbeat but grounded and the instrumentation is goading him on but ALSO surrounding him No Compassion is a banger, Who Is It best song so far there's a sense of detachment in the protag, he's engaged but also checked out to the seriousness of it so he deals with it with absurdity and engages in frivolity. Psycho killer bassline is 🤌🤌🤌, keys are pristine and so fucking apt and the ending is so fucking jubilant!!!! his vocals the guitars and the drums and the bass anchoring it, there's anticipation there's buildup theres realism fuuuck solidd 4
Slippery nipples and smearing the pork loins
4 звёзды за Psyco Killer и фанковые мотивы. Альбом было приятно слушать в начале, ближе к концу он поднадоел, но в этом, видимо, и была задумка.
Not all CBGB bands were punk. Punk adjacent art school disco rock. Tina Weymouth is a bass goddess. Psycho Killer takes it to the next level.
Super cool album, very accessible. I think I could play this for my wife.
Great stuff a bit samey, talking heads just really do their specific thing which is great but it was enough by the end of the album
I'm not surprised this album made the cut. It's got that Talking Heads charm that oozes a funky, confident, touch of weird. Some songs are instant classics, others grow on you. But that's the beauty of it. It's not perfect, but it's certainly special. Spins: 2 Playlist Additions - Uh-Oh, Love Comes to Town - Psycho Killer - Love → Building on Fire - Sugar on My Tongue
Feeling generous so 4 stars it is
Not my favorite Talking Heads album, but I love it. Great band, and Psycho Killer is one of my favorite songs.
I already had a song saved. Love the Talking Heads.
Not much to say except this rules
Funky, New Wave and just a bit weird. Never a bad time for some Talking Heads
4.5
Enjoyed it Standout songs Psycho killer The book I read Dont worry about the government
Un par de canciones míticas Bien en general
Great start to a career for this band, but this is not my favorite album from them. Their timeless sound was established here and as their career went on they did not stray away from it too often. But they found a million ways to make each song unique. I could keep listening to these guys even if its not this album. Biggest Hit - Psycho Killer Biggest Miss (if I had to choose) - Happy Day Hidden Gem - Don't Worry About The Government
Jaunty, sometimes droning and repetitive. A little funk, jangly guitars, voice sounds and percussion sounds. Reminds me of TMBG in some of the music and lots of the goofy lyrics.
qu'est-ce que c'est!
an interesting insight into this band in a more stripped down timbre and approach. i like it but definitely an early effort from a group that would later reach much greater heights. "No Compassion" is the standout for me.
Simultaneously an amazing album and also Talking Heads’ worst album until late in their careers
Uh-Oh, Love Comes to Town - I love this as an opening track. An addicting guitar lick and an overall goofy mindlessness that is charming and every sense of the word. 10/10 New Feelings - This song is still good, but not quite as good as the other one. It has the same general feeling as the previous track, but succesfully stands on it own, unlike the Sex Pistols... Not quite as striking as the previous track - 8.4/10 Tentative Decisions - This song follows the status quo, but it differentiates itself brilliantly. The song's harmonies, piano, and percussion bring it all together into a beautiful piece - 9.3/10 Happy Day - This was a very relaxing piece. It may not be as memorable as the previous tracks, but it's a very pleasant song. 8.35/10 Who Is It? - This track has a funky guitar riff and is entertaining throughout. This song stands out for its "in your face energy" and the fun feeling present throughout. - 8.7/10 No Compassion - A dreamy and eerie feel at times. I love the bassline. Very "chill". 8.54/10 The Book I Read - I never felt bored throughout this song. A wonderful chord progression. An amazing use of the organ. A little hesitant on this, but I am giving this song a 10/10 Don't Worry About The Government - This song is still charming, but it doesn't have the same sense of excitement present in the previous tracks. Out of all the tracks I have listened to so far, this might be the only song I'd skip - 7.97/10 First Week/Last Week... Carefree - Not the biggest fan of this song, but I love the strumming pattern, and I do like the sax "solo". - 8.1/10 Psycho Killer - 10/10.... Need I say more? Pulled Up - Feels very similar to the opening track, but in a great and conclusive way. Considering this comes after Psycho Killer, it's this album's rainbow after the flood, so to speak. Reminds of Springsteen for some reason. Only thing is the screaming got to me. If it wasn't for that, it'd be a 10. - 9/10 Overall" 8.9/10 - Very calming and exciting album. Has a youthful, energetic, yet serene feel.
Not exactly how I expected Talking Heads to sound but damn this was good. Fun and poppy but with intricate elements. Good musicianship.
Talking Heads: '77 Overall: I kind of have a bias because I already own/love all of their albums. This is protean. It has aspects of all their later works. I just love how David Byrne sings. Just a bunch of enjoyable songs. Not all of them memorable, but I never have the instinct that I should just immediately skip to the next track. Individual Tracks: Uh-Oh, Love Comes to Town: Good strong song to start. Upbeat and easy to listen to. Tentative Decisions: Liked the marching snare in the background. Can definitely empathize with the feeling of being stuck in life decisions. Happy Day: Not upbeat sounding, which I guess is part of the point. Who Is It? That's it, that's like 80% of the lyrics. Probably could get the same experience with just listening to somebody playing peek-a-boo. No Compassion: Kind of like a prelude to Psycho Killer. A lot of the same undertones. Same kind of David Byrne "I am stuttering my emotions to you" energy. The Book I Read: Howling. Don't Worry About the Government: Manic clown energy. Thumping energy. Weirdly relevant with my feelings about changing what I can and letting go of the things I can't. First Week/Last Week... Carefree: Couldn't tell you a single thing about this song. Psycho Killer: Carries the entire album. Catchy and has the best aspects of what the Talking Heads would become musically and otherwise. Pulled Up: Also great! I liked it when he sang pulled up and it sounded just like somebody pulled him up mid-lyric.
Really enjoying this new introduction to talking heads via this project
I'm a Talking Heads super fan so...
Liked it a low!
That was really fun.
Überraschend funky. "Who Is It?" Ist jetzt in meiner Playlist.
Really fun!!
So good love talking heads
Well written, well performed and well produced. This album is a hit!
Another enjoyable outing from Talking Heads. Nervy, clever, and packed with quirky charm, with “Psycho Killer” leading the way. A lean, energetic debut that hints at the brilliance to come.
still crazy that stop making sense isn't on here
So this is the talking heads? Very nice
Funky little album I would have grooved to in college. Love the expressiveness of the singing, the nerdy post-punk energy, the unique instrumentation, and of course “Psycho Killer”.
Very passionate tracks with an almost artistic approach. It feels very old school as it is, but it feels also very new. This was before the punk we know in the 80s, a very soft sound compared to the now but insanely upbeat and quite catchy. You can say it’s a very classic type of punk. It’s a very short album though, only stretching to about 38 mins all throughout. Nonetheless, very cool and very radical for the time, it is also very cool how radiohead really liked talking heads so that’s that. Considering that this is the first Talking Heads album, it is pretty good.
This is the one with “Psycho Killer”!!!! Let’s freaking go. Finally, some good food this week. This is the second Talking Heads album I have rolled so far out of 4, following Remain in Light. Talking Heads is one of those bands where I’ve never bothered playing an album from top to bottom, but whenever I hear something new, I end up adding it to my frequent rotation. I’ve used that line a bunch already, and I’m going continue using it whenever applicable. Lucky for me, by the end of this journey, I’ll have heard at least 4 complete albums from these guys. As if to prove my point, the only song from Talking Heads 77 I’d heard of up until now is their magnum opus itself, “Psycho Killer”. Of course that one is going to have to be my favorite, I’m not insane. It’s peak music, and I even love some of the covers, especially the one by Cage The Elephant. But I’m not going to let my love for a single song sway how I rank the album as a whole. So, how is Talking Heads 77?? Let’s talk about it. Spoiler alert: It's great!! Comparable to Remain in Light, and the Deluxe Edition actually adds some of my favorite songs on the album, on top of still not even being over an hour long, which is just perfect. Any album with a Deluxe Edition that only adds a few songs is perfectly fine by me to listen to for this project. This is absolutely a Talking Heads album, complete with David Byrne's absolutely iconic vocal stims. He really does have to have one of the most recognizable voices in music, and I love him for that. Besides "Psycho Killer", my favorite songs on this album are the last 2 songs on the album, "I Feel It in My Heart" and "Sugar on My Tongue". I'm always going to be in the mood for some Talking Heads. They're the perfect example of a band that consistently put out 4 star albums. I'm always going to want to listen to it, it doesn't blow me away, but it's consistent in the fact that it's always almost perfect. That's just what I need it to be at the end of the day. Been having a rough last couple of days on the site, so this was exactly what I needed today as well. Side Note: Every time David unleashes a "YAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYA", an angel gets its wings. Peak. Psycho killer, qu'est-ce que c'est? Fa-fa-fa-fa, fa-fa-fa-fa-fa, fa, better Run, run, run, run, run, run, run away Oh-oh-oh-oh, aye-ya-ya-ya-ya
I believe a lot of the appreciation for this album comes from people wanting to see where their sound evolved from and discovering that they already had a very particular and distinguishable sound from the start. This record is a composition of very infectiously happy and sincere sounding tracks with a little touch of goofiness that makes the experience quite exciting. I think a lot of the personality comes from David Byrne's voice and lyrics, but the music also has its own uniqueness, thanks to the mixing of different genres such as funk, art and post punk. Even thought I think there are some very memorable moments, like the opening "Uh-Oh, Love Comes to Town", the incredibly catchy "Don't Worry About the Government" and the classic "Psycho Killer", there are a lot of tracks that don't really strike and are a bit flat, specially the run from "New Feeling" to "Who Is It?". Fortunately, they don't make the experience less fun and I do believe there is not a bad song. All of them show a lot of personality to some degree. In conclusion, it was super interesting to see where they came from and finding out that they were really fun to listen to in their earliest stage, regardless of not being their strongest material.
Uh-Oh, Love Comes to Town: hella groooovy. That base line is infectious. I dont know how i feel about the vocalist tho. Nevermind he hit that high-ish note hes pretty good. It just sounds like he has asthma with the way he ends his words. Oh I love the way he says the title lines that little roar was great. That ba da dam da dam with the guitar while he's saying pull me up before the refrain is wonderful. Vocalist's more relaxed tone when he says he'll eat in a while is a change but honestly thru this album his voice has been growing on me hard. New Feeling: i have a feeling this is gonna be a shit ton of groovy tracks. Damn when the vocalist isn't singing strongly i lowk dislike his voice. The guitar is flickering in both ears and is simply great. Im sortable getting the feeling that the vocalist serves as not the main focus but is sort of riding the smooth guitar work. It's very jarring but in an artistic way. Tentative Decisions: the lyrics here are banging. That marching drum is kicking in all the right ways. Might be my favourite of the first three. The intro is really good. Maybe the chorus is the back is softening the lead vocalist and his squeaking. Happy Day: intro twinkly sound immediately caught my attention. His squeaking actually really fits here and im loving it. Id summarise the sound by saying it just sounds very happy. Like... ✨️whimsy✨️. Who Is It?: whats standing out to me.is just how much the guitar work is fucking fire. Not to mention the drums and the bass. This song so far is just a showcase of all of these positives. Wow that ended abrupt- No Compassion: OOH THAT TRANSITON THOOO!!! ITS STARTING SO HARD FUCJ YEAH. "Compassion is a virtue but I don't have the time" 😭😭 real sometimes. This songs talking about people's problems and how we should just NOT. GIVE. A FUCK. its truly beautiful. Like genuinely fuck all the assholes that make their problems my problem (unless I SPECIFICALLY want to help them) like yeah BE FUCJING SELFISH. THIS SONG MAKES ME JUST HEADBANG AUGHFHDJSI. THAT DISTORTED GUITAR AND DRUM FILL !!!! Favourite song so far. The Book I Read: na na na na na na... the piano in the back is strong and sweet and im loving it. Also this is a love song and it is giving very much here comes the bride or other marriage/walking down the aisle vibes at some point. Quite like it. Dont Worry About The Government: the lingered guitar plucks in the track are electric. An ode to civil servants??? Okay pop off kings. Additionally im pretty sure his building is his government, or his ideal government/nation. He just wants to chill with his loved ones frr. This just feels like an artist trying to ask or at the very least envision a place where he can belong and all of his loved ones can too. The perfect government that you dont have to worry about. Pity the clouds mentioned have been blowing right back in the building's face as of late. Maybe a Critique on the steeple mindset? First Week / Last Week...Carefree: that bass is firing up my ears. Also the jingle in the back of the mix is not going unnoticed. Its intentionally discombobulated and awkward and wow I love that brass. Good shit. Psycho Killer: this is the albums big hit and it's already starting off with a catchy ass baseline. Oop and now its building hell yes. OOOH THAT BASE AND DRUM at the same time is mwah. OH ITS THE FAH FAH FAH FAH SONG. this is so fun and also like French. About social anxiety? Or people that just blab tf out yknow. Im feelin far better listening to this song. The "psycho killer" gets so much more frantic after talking in French. I quite like that dichotomy like a shift in mindset. Either way this song is absolutely killer. The two guitars at the end... on ultra frantic and one going crazy in the back. AH ITS JUST SO CATCHY MAN. Pulled Up: gahdamn the bass in this entire album is wonderful. I love the little riffs they have throughout the album (dunno the actually technical name) where the guitar is struck like super fast like dudududu theyre great. Awww and its an ode to parents hell tf yeah. Lowk loving how joyful ts is. I SLIPPED. AND THEN YOU PULLED. YOU PULLED ME UP, PULL ME UP AH. Wow that slight growl at the end is just is so good ah.
One of the most unmistakable bands from their era. I don’t actually listen to TH that much, but listening to this record for the first time may change that. Everyone knows Psycho Killer, but there are some other great tracks here that I’ve never heard. The Book I Read was a standout for me, along with First Week/Last Week…Carefree. The opening track grabbed me immediately. Byrnes vocals are identifiable right away with his herky jerky highs. I feel like you either love it or hate it, but the chops and melodies of this record surprised me as I always just think of Byrnes voice as the singular driver of TH, but I feel a bit differently now.
This album felt like an experience in evolution. The experimenting of each of the songs made "Psycho Killer" happen. So although most of the album was a 3-3.5 for me, the experience itself deserves 4 at least :)
Love this band
Even an average Talking Heads album is above average. This is nice, even if it doesn't set the world on fire.
high carefree energy, yelping and shouting bopping drums
Surprised by the album. Some Talking Heads music feels too esoteric and arty for me to really enjoy. This is just joyous and feels like some of David Bowie's fun albums.
To be sure, this isn't Talking Heads best album. But what a great way to introduce yourself to the world. What comes through most is the incredible personality of the band - David Byrne obviously gets a lot of attention, and his vocal theatrics are one-of-a-kind. But the rhythm section also puts in a standout performance throughout, incorporating grooving bass lines with an eclectic mix of percussion, including steel drums and xylophone. At several points during the album, I struggled to figure out just how seriously to take the band, with sunny-sounding instrumentals butting up against lyrics that could only be taken as ironic. They are clearly a smart, art-focused group, but without coming off as overly pretentious. With some lulls on the first side of the record, this album didn't reach the near-perfection of Remain in Light, but it makes a strong template to build from.
Solid 4, the duo David Byrne (voice), and Tina Weymounth (bass) is amazing and one of the best thinks i heard in this kind of music.
Really loved the heavy and fun bass lines
Album Review 075 Talking Heads 77 by Talking Heads (1988) Rating 3.5/5 Despite originating from the New York punk scene, this is very much pop. There are a few excellent tracks here including the two closers, Psycho Killer and Pulled Up, but it is a little inconsistent and doesn’t reach the heights or creativeness of their follow-ups. It’s a really strong debut though and showcases the potential of the band and their unique quirkiness.
I liked the vibe, pretty poppy, easy to listen
Good stuff
muy escuchable y disfrutable. enorme primera opción
The vocals are uniquely unsettling and the music backs that up with bravado. Favorite song: Psycho Killer (duhh)
experimental, i only love psycho killer
Love the talking heads
Solid debut. Clean sound and classic Talking Heads style. Love it.
Enjoyed revisiting this a lot because it’s not the Talking Heads I usually go for. It’s not quite the finished product but all the pieces are there.
Uh-Oh, Love Comes To Town 5/5 New Feeling 3/5 Tentative Decisions 4/5 Happy Day 3/5 Who Is It? 3/5 No Compassion 3/5 The Book I Read 3/5 Don't Worry About the Government 4/5 First Week/ Last Week Carefree 3/5 Psycho Killer 5/5 Pulled Up 3/5 Overall Album: 3.54
sinister rinky tink beach party pop music in a good way
I've Been To College And I've Been To School 1001 Albums Generator 227 (2/16/2026) Dude why is this album so fun? This is punk rock? Like I get that Talking Heads have always been more of an upbeat type of punk, but even the two other albums I've heard by them are not as relentlessly playful and bouncy as Talking Heads 77. This album's got the big hit, Psycho Killer, which is a fantastic song of course. The ending of it with the really slacky tremolo guitars is so great and one of the most pure punk moments on the album. Bon Jovi's cousin produced this album and apparently he was kind of a disinterested asshole, but drummer Chris Frantz said that at one point during the recording of this song, he gave David Byrne a knife and said to "get in character". Anyway, Byrne ended up saying that he was uncomfortable with Bongiovi there and the band decided to only record early in the morning and late at night when Bongiovi wasn't there. Bongiovi never noticed. Anyway, good album. I like it more than Fear of Music I think. 4/5. Favs: Uh-Oh, Love Comes To Town Don't Worry About The Government Psycho Killer Least Fav: No Compassion
Pretty much enjoyed every track on this album!
fa fa fa fa fa fa fa funky
Amazing set of songs, they were lively, joyful and legendary. The legacy this album and the band carries, is enormous. Loved every second of it.
Having only ever listened to a handful of Talking Heads tracks before listening to this album, I was looking forward to diving deeper into their discography and I definitely wasn’t disappointed. Psycho Killer is obviously great (being one of two tracks I’d heard before off this album along with Uh-Oh, Love Comes to Town). Having listened to ‘77’ in its entirety I would say Psycho Killer is still my favourite track on here, but No Compassion was really enjoyable as well. The Book I Read had a nice, catchy riff to it and I just wish Who Is It? was a bit longer. Overall though for my first Talking Heads album it was a really enjoyable way to start the 1001!
bah franchement c'est top, bien plus de supers titres que dans celui des tetes
Remain in Light and Speaking in tongues exist
I liked it!
already listened to this one before, inspired me to start playing bass and guitar lol track 1: great opening track track 2: love the guitar on this part track 3: nothing to hate on in this track, love the drums track 4: love the vocals a lot track 5: good track, maybe my least favorite though track 6: love the feel, amazing bassline track 7: great track 8: great track 9: great track 10: my favorite track, bass line was always stuck in my head track 11: great
This one was good!
Incredible. Uh oh love comes to town and no compassion, and obviously Psycho killer are top 3. great for when I’m in a funky music mood and I imagine it’s awesome with some b-52‘s
it was okay, psycho killer is obviously the star of the album
I like a lot of Talking Heads, but I don't have any albums that I love. Hate to be an Alan Partridge, but if you asked me for my favourite Talking Heads album I'd have to say 'The Best of Talking Heads'
Love almost every song. Lifts you with happiness and creativity. Sounds so ordinary and original at the same time. Amazing songs sounding so young and inexperienced yet years beyond what they had lived until then. Can you tell Talking Heads are one of my favorites?
Not as good as the few following albums with their world influences but still a great influential record that stands out from pretty much everything else at the time.
Undeniably the best Talking Heads album.
I enjoyed this one. I could see myself holed up in a smoky bar listening to their jangly guitars and happy vibe. I detected hints of Madness, just with guitars instead of brass, but Talking Heads would probably have predated them.
This is an immediately recognizable record, and that alone puts it in rare company. A few bars in, even without vocals, you know exactly who this is. The rhythms, the clipped guitar parts, the tense-but-controlled bass lines. It all moves with a distinct gait that no other band quite matches. What’s striking is how fully formed this feels for a debut. There’s no sense of a group still finding its voice. The aesthetic, the restraint, the nervous energy. It’s all already there. The music is smart, angular, and carefully assembled without feeling academic or showy. David Byrne’s voice will never be mistaken for a traditional strength, but it doesn’t need to be. It works because it’s precise and singular, fitting the songs rather than trying to elevate them through power or emotion. The result is something more observational than expressive, which keeps the album slightly at arm’s length emotionally. There’s plenty to admire here, and moments that truly stand out, none more than “Psycho Killer,” which distills the band’s tension and control into a perfect statement. While this doesn’t quite move me emotionally enough to reach five-star territory, it’s undeniably impressive. A confident, distinctive debut that earns its place through identity and execution rather than emotional force.
Some debut albums are instant classics, and you see artists struggle to match the heights of their first album (see The Strokes). Some debut albums are a mess, with artists still trying to find their sound (see Bowie). This one is right in the middle. The Talking Heads unique sound is pretty much fully formed - this has all the trademarks of what makes their music so great. But for the most part it's just pretty good rather than the greatness that their future albums would bring. Except for Psycho Killer, that's an undeniable classic.
Definately a post-punk feel to this one, impressive given Never Mind the Bollocks wouldn't be released for another month or so. Perhaps as a result, lacking a little of the variety that subsequent releases would have, but still a very good listen.
Review - a banging debut, although no where near as good as they'd end up 3-4 albums later. The most conventional TH album? Probably a safe assessment. Not bad. But not as interesting as they'd go on to be. Byrne's lyrics are still just as out there and his voice is expressive but he's not quite figured it out as well as he later would. Rating - 7.5/10 Need to listen? YES
Debut TH, Still finding their way Tentative decisions No compassion Psycho killer Pulled up
I like this, don't love it. David Byrne is an icon and seems genuinely cool. I like their aesthetic and the undeniable fact that they do their own thing. You can't mistake them for anything else. Still, I rarely go for the Talking heads, something just doesn't feel right, maybe you had to be there. I like this album more than their others that I've listened to in their entirety. It has a hint more of their punk roots coming through. 4 stars, seems essential but just misses for me
Quirky fun. They developed their sound on later albums, but Psycho Killer is an all-timer for sure. 7/10
I usually only like two songs on a Talking Heads album. I was pleasantly surprised that I enjoyed most of this album, shocking for a debut album. I enjoyed the disco type subtleties of the songs.
for a debut album, this was a great listen. quirky & fun, not long enough to get bored. and Psycho Killer-great track
Why does he make that weird screaming sound so much
Pretty chill, love Psycho killer so much it didn't bother me it was on twice. Did get a bit samey at the end.
The bassline for Psycho Killer alone is enough to make the record a min 4*
“My building has every convenience It’s gonna make life easy for me It’s gonna be easy to get things done I will relax along with my loved ones” Talking Heads’ debut is raw and unfocused compared to their later more critically well regarded albums. You can feel all the pieces here that the band would eventually put together to produce the undisputed high point in their discography “Remain In Light”. The themes of every day mundanity on “Don’t Worry About the Government” actually feel like a direct precursor to “Once In A Lifetime”. David Byrne is as theatrical and quirky as ever and we are gifted one of the band’s biggest hits in “Psycho Killer”. ‘77 does lose me in places around the halfway mark where some stuff feels a bit too much like filler and you can tell Talking Heads were still trying to figure themselves out. Still though a very good album that puts the rest of their career into context.
love this one
A bit repetitive, but not a bad thing
PSYCHO KILLER! Qu'est-ce que c'est??
The best thing about Talking Heads’ debut is how confident the band are in their unique sound. David Byrne wastes no time testing the waters. He’s here to tell us about all about the book he read. It’s a fantastic first outing for a band that would only grow weirder and more self assured with time. Favourite tracks are Don’t Worry About the Goverment and Psycho Killer. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Not their best, but their first!!
INPUT = {"artist": "Talking Heads", "album": "Talking Heads 77"} LINEUP = {"men": 3, "women": 1} FEATURED_ARTISTS = {"men": 0, "women": 0} TOTAL_MEN = 3 TOTAL_WOMEN = 1 WOMEN_PERCENTAGE = 25 OUTPUT = "Score adjusted accordingly. 4/5"
Great album by a great band! I love the talking heads and have forever! They have so many classic songs and this album shows that!
Primera vez que lo escucho y fue una gran sorpresa. 4.4
not my favorite TH album. some good tracks and skippers. psycho killer, don’t worry about the government, love > building on fire, thank you for sending me an angel.
Kellemes up-beat 70-es évek. Feldobja az ember napját és végtelen lazaságot kölcsönöz. Nem hallgattam előtte Talking Headset. A Psycho Killert ismertem, de nem tudtam, hogy ezen az albumon van.
8/10
1. 6/10 2. 7/10 3. 8/10 4. 7/10 5. 7/10 6. 8/10 7. 8/10 8. 9/10 9. 8/10 10. 9/10 11. 10/10 4/5
Talking Heads – Talking Heads '77 Talking Heads '77 is a solid, high-energy debut that thrives on its unique sense of "funkiness and groove." Unlike the cluttered production of other eras, this album feels "carefree" and precise, using clean instrumentation to create a "sophisticated" art-rock atmosphere. Standout tracks like "Don’t Worry About the Government" and "The Book I Read" showcase the band’s ability to blend catchy melodies with an "eerie," slightly off-kilter perspective. Of course, "Psycho Killer" remains the "immaculate" peak of the record, anchoring a body of work that is as fun as it is technically sharp. A great "all ears" experience that balances art-house intellect with a danceable, rhythmic heart.
No one does it like this anymore
I did a deep dive on the Talking Heads a few months ago and I really enjoyed what heard. Truly a revolutionary musical group that was always pushing the boundaries. Good stuff.
A classic album and for a reason. Such a good tome, a super interesting listen and some great hooks - the bassline for Psycho Killer is just chefs kiss and an all-time great.
Second TH album suggested here. Even though is way more aligned with my personal taste, is too experimental and dissonant to my ears. Psycho killer is a hit, not doubt.
Psycho killer is an all time great but the rest of the album leaves me wanting a little more. Psycho killer bumps it to a 4
Today I found out that David Byrne is a huge bike dork and cycling advocate and nothing has surprised me less.
Lowkey twitchy.
- écoute très agréable - album assez "simple", pas de gros highlight mais un très bon ensemble - aucun raté visible - 3.5/5
Not as interesting as later Talking Heads but a good start. Basically every song that’s on Stop Making Sense is better on Stop Making Sense. Ditto for American Utopia
What a fun version of Psycho Killer!
Very fun & interesting album
Could do with a remaster for better audio experience but the songs are nice listening and have a good vibe
vale aclarar q no soy muy fanatica del este genero peroooo le doy una oportunidad ;3 track 1: me gusta el tururutu del coro, la fuerza del puente tmb me gusta, LOVE COMES TO TOWNN, im not the boring people you read on books track 2: la parte instrumental esta increible, ns pq me acuerda a las escenas de los vaqueros KSJKL, el minuto 2:10 ola ?? maravilloso, im still thinking abt my friends too track 3: suena como una marcha JAJAJ, el cambio esta increible, i wanna talk track 4: q lindo suena el coro, me gusta como poco a poco se construye la cancion pq el principio es medio chill y aunque el final no es explosivo y se nota un cambio track 5: al final quien era ?? ok era yo, m gustan las guitarras, who who who track 6: el cambio en el coro, p o d e r, el instrumental y la parte vocal reflejan como ese overwhelming frente a los problemas, ese caos mental talvez ???, cada uno se hace cargo q lo q hace en resumen, 3:20 lo mejor del album si señor best one track 7: me gusta como dice book of read letters ok, OOO LIVING IN THE FUTUREEE, el piano, NANANANA track 8: pesaaa, siento q es un tema donde resalta el sarcasmo, desde la letra, hasta el instrumental donde se percibe un poco comico ??, no haciendo burla btw track 9: first week, the sax ?? niceee track 10: medio famosilla en tiktok, me gusta el bajo del inicio, esta cancion no seria nada sin el bajo y bateria, fafafafafa track 11: turuturutu (sonido de guitarra), PULL ME UP UP UP, realmente nada q no haya dicho antes uwu se alguna manera resalta la parte instrumental y vocal q en conjunto funcionan increible, sin una parte no funcionaria la otra me gusta q implementan el piano pero las guitarras son las estrellas de este album me gusta cuando en la musica la parte instrumental y vocal (especificamente las bases de estos generos) se fusionan lo dejan q cada parte brille, no me explico pero se demuestra en No Compassion kudos para el vocalista ya q hace q no se sienta aburrido el album con diferentes notas y tonos q usa, al repetir los coros la gran mayoria se diferencian ya q usa tonos mas altos o bajos es un album q se siente muy natural, q eso si tiene un trabajo detras GRANDISIMO, pero no se siente se esa manera, no se siente pesado, es bastante notorio el cariño con el q se trabajo en este album, añadiendo tmb el gran trabajo del vocalista q le añade una personalidad increible a este trabajo
1. Uh-Oh, Love Comes to Town (7.5/10) 2. New Feeling (8/10) 3. Tentative Decisions (7/10) 4. Happy Day (7/10) 5. Who Is It? (8.5/10) 6. No Compassion (9/10) 7. The Book I Read (9/10) 8. Don't Worry About the Government (8/10) 9. First Week/Last Week… Carefree (8/10) 10. Psycho Killer (9.5/10) 11. Pulled Up (8.5/10)
idk it was good nothing more to say ngl
insane debut
They are better when they are less frantic
This is not their best album, but it's still a great album. Talking Heads appeared fully formed, like Athena from Zeus's skull. It's an unmistakable, indescribable sound.
great fun album , really liked it
Upbeat
I like the sound but I think from what I know of their discography I prefer the later stuff. Great debut though
The Heads do be Talking in 1977. Great debut record! I love Remain in Light and Speaking in Tongues, but had yet to fully listen to their first album.
Talking Headsは1-4枚目までは以前に聞いたことがあるバンド。 ニューウェーヴに自分が求めているアヴァンギャルドさが十分ではなくて、若干古臭い音に聞こえるので、ファーストアルバムとしては完成度は高いと思うけどそんなに好きではないアルバム。
Right from the jump I really enjoy this. It’s a crisp sound instrumentally juxtaposed with irregular (there’s a better word for that) pauses, quick guitar strumming, idk there’s a uniqueness to the sound juxtaposed with David Byrne’s shaky and weird vocals. It’s fun and interesting with some classic songs. What’s not to like really. Would definitely come back to this!
Great 👍
A pretty solid album all the way through.
own
Good reminds me of the cadence of part time poets
Nervy, clever, and wonderfully off balance. Rating: 4.7/5 Short Review: This album feels twitchy and smart, full of anxious energy and strange charm. It is minimalist but sharp, like brainy punk with a nervous smile. Favorite Track: Psycho Killer. Catchy, tense, and weird in exactly the right way.
Okay, maybe not exactly my style but positive vibes. Maybe re-listen during summer months!
1st time listening to the album. Saved some tracks
Ba ba ba ba...4.
Personal enjoyment: 4/5 Relevance to this list: 5/5
Great Talking Heads album, they have such a unique sound. Highlights: "Once in a Lifetime" and "Houses in Motion"
liked but also some songs were just slow
4.5/5
First album from the Talking Heads, and I'm feeling a closer connection (music-wise) with bands like Devo or Band of Four. Lyrics are already as dorky/genius as they would be all the way to "Road to Nowhere" and some of the True Stories songs. Again, not my fave from the band, but still plenty good with this one! Pleasant to re-visit.
What a great debut album.
David Byrne and co. built a masterclass of an album!
This was better than the last TH album we listened to. I don't know what I gave it, but this is getting a 4 and no further review.
Like with Sonic Youth, they have have picked my two favorite Talking Heads records. It’s not a perfect album but it has a ton of cool songs and you get a glimpse into where they are eventually going.
4/5 - A “dance” album by art nerds in 1977. It’s kind of a slight collection of tracks, but it all makes sense (npi) as their debut. You can hear their future with these quirky songs. If you don’t like Byrne’s voice, I get it. If you don’t like Weymouth’s bass lines, then I can’t help you.
I was expecting more from the first three tracks, but then came, happy days, who is it, pyscho killer and pulled up (tracks 4, 5, 10, 11) which were refreshing, interesting and cool tunes, nice way to finish the albums too.
This was a fun dancey album!
What a debut…
Songs for the autist. 3.5/5
Yep. 4/5
I love a satire album that doesn’t sound bad just to make fun of you for listening to it in the first place. Good music can still be satirical, what a concept!
Bueno, tiene psycho killer, así que ya merece un lugar en mi lista, pero el resto del disco, la verdad, está muy bueno.
A great punk-funk debut album from Talking Heads. I am a big TH fan and I think this is a great start to a great discography. It isn't my favorite album but it does have a handful of hits. The whole album has a great groove to it.
It’s always so impressive to hear a band sound fully realized in its debut album. I love listening to the Talking Heads and going through more of their catalog. Best Track: Pulled Up
Always been a fan of the talking heads
Ok ok
Very funzy
Very good debut album, I like the focus on straight New Wave before the experimentation seen on later albums
Easy pleasy Bustamove Multihitter Singalong
Meio mais ou menos, me da uma vibe de que ta tentando demais
Like a more relaxed take than their later work. Into it.
싸이코킬러~
sehr mitreisender beat, fällt schwer still zu sitzen würde es auf jeden fall öfters hören,
Fresh, alive, moving. 1977 album with the sound of the 80s. Hearing sounds and songwriting that probably inspired a lot of future bands, sioxsie and the banshees and peter Gabriel off the top of my head. The kind of album that grows on you more with each listen. Plus it has psycho killer.
Great album. I think it works really well together and every song has its place and adds to the vibe. Although Psycho Killer is the big hit, I personally prefer No Compassion. The best track on the album, in my opinion. Epic instrumentals and great vocals. Very short album as well, but packs a punch.
Were it not for this album project I would not have discovered Talking Heads. I just love this band. David Byrne is so strangely magnetic. Wild, odd, & unbridled. What a unique talent and creator. They stand alone in defining their own sound.
Not the best Talking Heads record, but it’s still very very good.
Cool that these songs are probably record with minimal overdubs compared to their later music.
Talking Heads strike again. I liked this album slightly more than Fear of Music. Like Fear of Music, it has a very strong opening track (Uh Oh Love Comes to Town and that steel drum is perfect). Top tracks: Uh-Oh Love Comes to Town, New Feeling, Psycho Killer, Pulled Up
I love a bit of Talking Heads. Their debut isn't their best work for me, although it does have Psycho Killer, one of my favourites. The rest is good, but not as good as the stuff they did when Eno started working with them.
Its daring, without being too complicated. It is expressive without being too deep. It has a shallow cynism but still manages to have a frightening intensity. I have the difficulty to really appreciate the music fully, but still craving to comprehend it and therefore ending up appreciating it. The inarticulated trying to find it's way to be comprehended. I guess thats punk?
I was surprised by how many of these songs I already know - Uh-Oh, Love Comes to Town, Happy Day, Psycho Killer, Pulled Up - I had no idea all those came from Talking Heads debut album. I really enjoyed listening to it all the way through.
No. 39 Great album. Love the steel drums. Psycho Killer and The Book I Read are my favorites off the album.
8.5/10
Very strong debut album through and through. Psycho Killer and the first song are definitely standouts, but overall there’s nothing very big about this album. If anything, it sets the foundation of what’s to come with some odd songs and a driving energy throughout. Fun listen.
It feels like you’re listening to David Byrne’s inner monologue on this album, in all its anxious glory. The drums and bass are a nervous heartbeat in sync with the agitated vocals, so when you hear the steel drums or marimba on some tracks it’s a jolt. I don’t warm to this album on initially, but by the time Psycho Killer game on I couldn’t help dancing a little. It’s funny to think Talking Heads were considered punk - performing at CBGBs and supporting the Ramones - there’s a lot more going on in their songs apart from rage and angst.
Amazing album, I really love early Talking Heads. Same quirky band just a bit more raw.
Какой-то весь альбом пресный по сравнению с той самой песней
I'd never heard of Talking Heads going in to my listen. 'Uh-Oh, Love Comes to Town' is a FANTASTIC way to announce yourself and your sound. 'The Book I Read' was the one to draw me back to the album, and 'Psycho Killer' - SMASH HIT. It was so good I thought I must've heard it before. Really enjoyed that ❤️
Just so great. It just is good fun, touching in some places and still holds up nearly 50 years later. I don’t even think it’s my favourite talking heads album but it’s just so good. Would give 4.5 if I could.
Yeah this is great, just feels alive. Enjoyed every track on it. Psycho Killer I've heard before like everyone else but otherwise all new to me. I would listen again.
Talking Heads sounding incredibly like Talking Heads.
As a career civil servant, I really appreciate David Byrne’s support. It’s been a helluva year but I am working hard and trying to be strong.
Loved the sound it’s rather offbeat in a great way
Įdomus. Nieko blogo negaliu pasakyti. Pati skaniausia vis tiek psycho killer.
This one's always felt extremely similar to Marquee Moon for me, albeit less ambitious. I don't really think the ambition in Marquee Moon works for me though, so I've gotta go with this one, especially considering it's got more pop appeal. It sounds a lot more skeletal than the songs they'd be best known for, but I really love this version of Talking Heads with these intentionally anodyne lyrics about favorite laws and all that. While it's admittedly done better on the first disc of The Name of This Band is Talking Heads, I'm never going to say no to this one.
I liked this better than their later, more experimental albums. 4/5
low 4 its hard to judge the bands you like. i was a bit disappointed by this, but it being the talking heads it was still better then most.
fun stuff
Always feel like I should like talking heads more than I do, but this is still great
Yummy stuff. One of the all-time faves. 6th form drives in Fernando with Hope vibes.
Definitely a fun album, love the Talking Heads. Though, I always feel like I really need to be in the right mood to listen to David Byrne's vocals.
pretty good
Always love me some David Byrne. I didn't find this one quite as compelling as some of their later projects, but even then it's still a good mix of that delirious, trance inducing sound.
Talking Heads are the only band/artist/whatever whose entire discography I own. They're kinda like the Seinfeld of pop music, right down to the sick bass lines and all the subsequent rip-offs that make them feel less revolutionary to the uninformed. Furthering my war on asinine genre classifications, I want to question how this can be considered post-punk / new wave right in the middle of the first wave of punk; this album predates Never Mind the Bollocks by a month. There's some early installment weirdness in 77 in that they haven't yet adopted the funk/African sound that made them into icons. The lyrics are still the same type of thing that David Byrne would be putting out years later up to and including his most recent album, but instrumentally for all intents and purposes, this is a pretty straightforward rock album that actually makes sense as having come out of a CBGB band. "Psycho Killer" gets a ton of love obviously but my favorite on this album has always been "Don't Worry About the Government." So much of the appeal of this band is the lyrics about mundane shit, like buildings and food -- explorations they would further in their second LP, More Songs About Buildings and Food.
After opening for the Ramones in NYC’s punk scene in 1975 — rumored because they thought Talking Heads sucked and it’d make them look better — the band certainly left an impression. “A little-boy-lost-at-the-zoo voice and the demeanor of someone’s who’s spent the last half hour whirling around in a spin dryer.” wrote music critic James Wolcott of David Byrne at these early shows. Talking Heads aren’t for everyone! If you can’t stand this band, Walcott’s quote might capture your feelings. It conversely captures a key part of why Talking Heads are so adored. Wolcott continues that Talking Heads were “presenting a banal facade under which run ripples of frustration and squalls of violence.” Aha, now we’re narrowing in on what this debut record is all about! Sure, a couple of these tracks come across corny or too kooky to be taken seriously. I don’t love every moment of this one. But at this album’s core is a rebellious spirit, grappling with the big questions and confusions of being human. Instead of punk’s rapid, distorted chords are crisp, funky rhythms — some of my favorite guitar riffs. Talking Heads are wonderfully bizarre because of how much expression is packed into their upbeat sound, odd lyrics, and strange stage performance.
A nice treat for today, it’s not my favourite Talking Heads album but I’m still very fond of it and welcome another chance to give it a spin. There’s something about the album artwork that I really love, it’s just incredibly simple yet iconic, as is the album title and that’s something that characterises the album. It is accomplished and confident, yet it’s a debut album from a band still finding their feet and would go on to better things.
Enjoying this very British indie sound! The threads through to the post punk of early 2000s is easy to spot
This album is great. I've enjoyed it so much and the songs are all so good. It's that good that it even feels short. However, sometimes it needs something more, more great songs to make me think it's awesome. This album demonstrates how good Talking Heads are but... I still need something else. I don't know what but, even if I think everything here is very good, I'm not that convinced of loving it. So, it's great, for sure, but I'll need something more to say "I love it".
This album is very whimsical and fun. Good one to put on if I need to lighten the mood or add some pep to my step. 3.5/5
Really good album, and made me realize I only really know Fear of Music + Remain in Light. I think I like this more than Fear of Music though. I'll have to fill in more of my Talking Heads gaps. 3.75/5
Talking Heads are one of those groups I seem to be liking more and more as I keep exploring their work. This has got to be the best album of theirs I've listened thus far, which makes me excited for the others that are even more critically acclaimed.
Oh those Wacky Talking heads and their funky style. 7/10
It’s interesting to me how different bands/artists will hit different depending on what age or phase of life you’re in. The Talking Heads have become one of my favorite bands since hitting age 50, even though I mostly ignored them for the bulk of my life. This is a great album. It’s pretty sophisticated for what was I think their debut, and filled with the catchy well-paced funky that would define them in moving forward. If you’re 50 and you don’t listen to The Talking Heads, now’s your chance to feel cool again without making it weird.
Lacks the diversity their later albums have, but still a great album. 8/10 Favourite track: Psycho Killer
I'd only heard "Psychokiller" before but the whole album was interesting and a lot of fun. Glad to have heard more of this band.
Excellent debut album, which is only slightly weaker in the context of what the Heads would go onto do. It’s just a bit more straightforward and conventional compared to what came a few years later.
Excellent
1977, quelle putain d'année. Le punk a (symboliquement) tout pété à Londres, mais à New York, le cadavre du rock se fait autopsier avec une précision clinique dans un club poisseux nommé le CBGB. D'un côté, t'as les Ramones qui jouent plus vite que leur ombre, une force brute. De l'autre, Television qui récite de la poésie symboliste sur des guitares enchevêtrées. Et puis, il y a... eux. Les Talking Heads. Sur le papier, ils n'ont rien à foutre là. Ils ressemblent à des étudiants en sociologie qui se seraient trompés de soirée. Pas de cuir, pas de chaînes, pas de cheveux décolorés à l'urine. Juste des polos, des pantalons un peu trop courts, et une coupe de cheveux qui crie "j'ai un abonnement à la bibliothèque". Et pourtant "Talking Heads: 77", leur premier album, est peut-être l'un des disques les plus "punk" de l'époque, si on définit le punk comme un refus radical des conventions établies. Car les Talking Heads, en 1977, ne refusent pas seulement le rock progressif ou les dinosaures des stades ; ils refusent le cool. Ils refusent le mythe du rockeur bandant, du rebelle sans cause. David Byrne, c'est l'anti-Jim Morrison, il n'est pas le "Lizard King", il est le "Anxious Lizard". C'est un album qui suinte la nervosité, l'anxiété sociale, le malaise d'être dans sa propre peau. C'est le son de quatre intellos coincés du cul qui essaient de danser, et qui, ce faisant, inventent une nouvelle façon de bouger. Je tiens à avouer que j'ai toujours eu un petit problème avec le son "funk" des Talking Heads. Ce virage vers les rythmes élastiques et les "grooves" un peu trop évidents a toujours tendance à me faire grincer des dents. J'aime ma musique blanche, froide et nerveuse (et rien qu'à voir la liste de mes groupes préférés on comprend de quoi je parle). C'est pourquoi "Talking Heads: 77" est si précieux. Car c'est l'album avant le funk. Oh, bien sûr, il y a des rythmes, mais ce n'est pas du James Brown. C'est sec, c'est tendu. La basse de Tina Weymouth est le héros méconnu de ce disque. Elle ne "groove" pas, elle ponctue. Elle est la ligne droite sur laquelle David Byrne peut s'agiter comme un épileptique sous électrochocs. C'est une basse post-punk avant même que le terme n'existe, jouée avec une économie qui fait passer Peter Hook pour un guitar-hero bavard. "Talking Heads: 77" est l'album le moins "funk" de leur discographie, et c'est ce qui lui donne cette pureté, cette tension inimitable. C'est l'album que Joy Division aurait pu faire s'ils avaient grandi en banlieue américaine plutôt qu'à Manchester et s'ils avaient préféré l'art conceptuel à la littérature de la dépression. C'est un disque qui sonne propre. Putain, que c'est propre, la production est minimaliste, presque clinique. On est loin de la chaleur baveuse du blues-rock. Ici, tout est à sa place, chaque coup de caisse claire de Chris Frantz est chirurgical, chaque note de clavier de Jerry Harrison est un petit coup d'épingle dans le tissu sonore. Et puis il y a David Byrne. Ce mec, c'est l'incarnation de l'inconfort. Il ne chante pas, il glapit, il questionne, il panique. Quand il chante "Uh-Oh, Love Comes to Town", ça ne sonne pas comme une célébration, ça sonne comme une alerte incendie. L'amour n'est pas un sentiment romantique, c'est un problème, un truc qui vient foutre le bordel dans une routine bien huilée. Sur "New Feeling", il décrit une sensation physique avec une précision dérangeante, comme un patient décrivant ses symptômes à un médecin. C'est de l'art-rock, oui, mais c'est surtout de l'art-névrose. Et bien sûr, il y a "Psycho Killer". C'est LE morceau, celui qui les a mis sur la carte. C'est le tube parfait pour un album de post-punk intello. Une ligne de basse qui rentre dans le crâne pour ne plus jamais en sortir, cette rupture de rythme, et bien sûr, ce passage en français qui a dû faire se pâmer toutes les étudiantes en art de New York. "Psycho Killer, qu'est-ce que c'est ? Fa-fa-fa-fa...". C'est brillant parce que c'est à la fois terrifiant et complètement ridicule. C'est du "slasher movie" vu par un étudiant en sémiotique. Mais l'album ne se résume pas à ça. "Pulled Up" est une décharge de deux minutes de pure énergie nerveuse. "The Book I Read" est ce qui se rapproche le plus d'une chanson d'amour, mais même là, c'est l'amour pour un concept (le livre) plutôt que pour une personne. Ce disque capture un moment très précis : la fin de l'innocence hippie et le début de l'ère moderne, anxieuse, urbaine. C'est un album qui parle de bâtiments, de nourriture ("More Songs About Buildings and Food" viendra juste après, comme un aveu), de communication défaillante et de malaises. Je lui mets 4 sur 5, soit la même note que "Fear of Music". Car "Fear of Music" a des sommets plus hauts (bon sang, "Life During Wartime"...), mais il souffre aussi de ce "funk" que je pointe du doigt, cette production d'Eno qui commence à prendre le dessus. "Talking Heads: 77" est plus cohérent dans sa blancheur, dans sa tension. "More Songs About Buildings and Food" (un 3/5) est l'entre-deux, l'album où Eno prend ses marques et où le funk commence à diluer la névrose. "Talking Heads: 77" est le code source, c'est l'album le plus "Talking Heads" des Talking Heads. C'est le son de quatre cerveaux brillants en surchauffe dans une petite pièce, essayant de ne pas se toucher. Pour un mec comme moi, né en 1970 et biberonné au post-punk, cet album n'est pas juste un disque. C'est une pièce à conviction, c'est la preuve que le rock n'avait pas besoin de "roots" boueuses pour être pertinent. Il pouvait être intelligent, propre, distant, et pourtant te frapper en plein plexus. Un 4/5 solide ce n'est pas un chef-d'œuvre parfait (il est parfois un peu trop maniéré, un peu trop "école d'art"), mais une fondation indispensable. Car sans "Talking Heads: 77", pas de Pixies (que j'aime tant), pas de Pavement, pas de rock "indie" bizarre et intelligent. C'est le patient zéro de tout ce qu'on aime.
Movano, HDH/Umgebung, Deutschland. Fantastische Platte!
Wow! This is an incredibly strong debut! The band gels so perfectly and I'd have an easier time believing that this was their fifth or sixth studio album together, as it's just so solid. And talk about influential?! So many bands and styles took ideas from Talking Heads. Favorite tracks: "Uh-Oh, Love Comes to Town" (fantastic opener), "No Compassion" (cool guitar work and a fun "Howard Dean-esque scream at 1:08), and "Psycho Killer" (classic banger).
I like talking heads music a lot but I just can't connect with it