Reviews (page 6 of 15)
i feel like a bad art gay giving this a 2 but these things happen
THIS ALBUM IS GOOFY LMAO
9/10
this shit was trash, I mean I guess it has psycho killer and that one isn't so bad but it's still hella boring
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 saw a comment under the video for David Byrne's NPR Tiny Desk concert: It's 2025 and David Byrne is still living in the future. Well, it's 2025 and Talking Heads 77 is still the future.
Very strange, not my favorite from them. It makes sense that this is their first album, like they were still trying to find their feet a bit. "Psycho Killer" rocks though, I would be ok with just listening to that.
Didn't like this one as much as the previous one I heard on this list but it was decent I guess
I liked this better than their later, more experimental albums. 4/5
It's impossible not to listen to this in the context of the Talking Heads, rather than the 1001 albums project. So rather than hearing all the good moments, it's the uncharacteristic bad bits which jump out. And 'uncharacteristic' is exactly the problem. The first track simply doesn't belong on a Talking Heads record. No groove, no edge, just very plain. The pre-Eno production is so jingly jangly. Makes them sound like a high school indie band. And 'Psycho Killer'. Clearly a classic, but starkly atypical in their discography. A lone anthem amongst a careers worth of bangers. All in all, it jars frankly. There's more than glimpses of their quality. But it just doesn't sit right.
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
One of my favorite bands honestly, but this album could easily not be in this list, especially when they have better ones that weren’t included. They were barely getting started with letting the creativity flow here.
Fun, weird, really liked it.
Gear: Penon FAN 3s Artwork: 🍎💚🟥 Production (2005 Remaster): 🔉👂🔎 Music: 🔥🆚💤 Rating: 🎰🎰🎰(🎰)/5
Yummy stuff. One of the all-time faves. 6th form drives in Fernando with Hope vibes.
Psycho Killer saved a 2
Never listened to a Talking Heads album until now. If some of the songs had a brass section, it would have been some top ska. Great album!
Love these guys, the Heads that Talk.
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
bangers all around. nothing really to complain about here. this one was a good time, but it's not going to make any changes to the rotation probably.
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.
The Talking Heads have never clicked for me, but I’ve also never spent much time listening to their albums as a whole. I enjoyed this listen more for some reason. Byrne still chafes me a bit, though. His voice and his shtick can be a lot.
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.
5/5 talking heads not much else to say
Good funky album. Difficult to fault any element of the performance or songwriting.
I've never liked Talking Heads. Not that I've ever given them a chance. But the videos of those stupid suits and swinging arms and dances - absolutely not. The few songs I've heard - nope. But let's give them a proper go. First song is decent, but then all the vocal nonsense, tics, and jangling guitars start which takes the gloss off everything it touches. Partially a shame because there are good moments here. I say moments because good songs are few and far between. The shite overshadowed those good moments. The best songs are just about better than average, brought back down by the ridiculous vocals. No Compassion might be a great song without the jangle and crap singing. Plus marks for the lyrics, I quite enjoyed the drums...plus marks for being different in principle. I get why people are obsessed with the band, but for now, still not for me.
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
already listened to this countless times before starting this list. not much to be said except it's great Uh-Oh, Love Comes to Town - 5/5 New Feeling - 4/5 Tentative Decisions - 3/5 Happy Day - 4/5 Who Is It? - 3/5 No Compassion - 5/5 The Book I Read - 5/5 Don't Worry About the Government - 5/5 First Week / Last Week...Carefree - 5/5 Psycho Killer - 5/5 Pulled Up - 5/5 Average score: 4.5/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
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
A good album ... and "Psycho Killer" is still awesome after all these years.
already heard it, great album
Ok
If there's one thing that will prevent me from completing this list it's the volume of talking heads records punctuating it like badly used apostrophe(')s. That being said, this is the most (only) listenable of theirs I've heard so far. A band and record I should like, but just don't/can't; lyrically it's just too poorly written.
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
Eh
Nice!
Couldnt get into the jibberish
There's just something about TH that always makes me feel kinda warm inside. I'm too young to have been there when this album came out but I can imagine the HYPE
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
Talking Heads är roligt och min spontana reaktion när skivan börjar är att digga med. Tyvärr blir det för mig rätt repetativt genom albumet, dock så älskar jag Psycho Killer sedan tidigare.
Vad är detta för goofy flum?
Fun group. Not best album end to end but enjoyed it
Помню, что послушал, но не помню, что именно это было.
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.
I really like the bass lines. Vocals, not so much. I feel like you could identify the art school pretentiousness, even if you knew nothing about Talking Heads.
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.
This is a solid Talking Heads (punk pop?) album, made famous by the hit "Pyscho Killer". While that song is by far the best track on the record, the rest of the album is itself far from subpar. The music and arrangements are generally clean and fun, and the 38 minute run time did not feel like a complete slog to get through. This is not quite my cup of tea; I've never liked David Byrne's vocals, and some of the lyrical choices are strange, but as their debut album goes it is fairly good. Key Songs: "Psycho Killer", "Uh-Oh, Love Comes to Town"
Nüt krass, nüt scheisse
Whatever
I like the more beat-oriented, later versions of Talking Heads. This seems much closer to Television, which makes sense, but Television did this better.
Loved the iconic psycho killer but the rest of the album left more to be desired.
Divertido, me hizo bailar, me gustaron todos los tracks.
Psycho killer drar upp från 1 till 2. Finns en anledning man inte hört de andra. Ganska tråkigt
Aldri forstått meg på Talking Heads
Synes ikke dette var noe spennende å høre på, veldig banal tekster og det kan jo være litt gøy men det ble for det meste teit synes jeg. Favorittsangen var Psycho Killer, det var den eneste som var fengende. Men den har jeg også hørt før da. Ikke sjokker at det var den eneste.
Movano, HDH/Umgebung, Deutschland. Fantastische Platte!
3.75
5 out of 5 Enough said. Talking Heads.
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
This stuff is just so okay. It's one of those albums that is both parts forgettable and unforgettable. I always remember their general sound but outside of some highlights and "Psycho Killer" I can't remember anything specific about what I just heard a short moment ago. I think you can just listen to "Psycho Killer" and get the gist of Talking Heads 77
Fun fun fun till daddy takes the big suit away. This record is nothing but a good time. Every song is fun and energetic and werid and wild. The heads just knew how to do it. It may not be my favorite of theirs but even if its not remain in light its still excellent. Its a pretty good sign when I save more than half the tracks. And even the ones I didnt save are all great songs. I just like it as a whole. Its worth your time
Its fine
A really great album. To each their own, but I prefer it to their "masterpiece" Remain in Light. It sounds straightforward yet so fresh and quirky with lots of great songs played in their characteristic angular and precise way of riffing through them, accompanied by David Byrne's idiosyncratic and complementary vocal chops. This one is less of that funky jive Talking Heads would be known for. Some might find it uninspired, but that concrete sound of the urban east coast jungle is just what I'm looking for. New Feeling and Pulled Up is that colorful, funky NYC sound that was brewing in the cracks of the CBGB stage.
Listens: 3 Standout Tracks: Psycho Killer, Don't Worry About The Government Psycho Killer aside, I hadn't heard any of the other songs on this album. I think It's a fine album, but its just kind of weird. I don't know what to really think about it. I don't understand what any of the songs are conveying. Is the album political? About love? Are the lyrics laced with heavy symbolism or metaphor or are they literal? Don't Worry About The Government, for example. What is David Byrne trying to say? Is this song about communism? Capitalism? Low-income housing? Being stupid rich and having your pick of convenient building with all of the best amenities? Why shouldn't I need to worry about [him]? Because his housing is taken care of? Okay...
A lot of the songs were pretty much the same. Definitely a few fantastic songs though
A great way to spend 38 minutes
Great debut from a classic band
great jam, fits its era
There were definitely a few songs that saved this album
I get it - it was groundbreaking for its time, but it’s too goofy for me.
its al a bit the same sound and gets boring quickly
Feels like the 70s. Definitely a consistent sound, I feel like I'm at an arcade the whole time. I actually liked the acoustic version of Psycho Killer best, which sort of told me I just didn't enjoyed their sound that much. Definitely good, if not my thing.
Some bangers here but overall decent
Strong first outing for a band, easy to see their talent and where it will take them. Highlights include New Feeling, No Compassion, Don’t Worry…, Pulled Up, and of course Psycho Killer.
Oh man so this was one of the first CDs I ever bought; my parents’ collection didn’t have it. It isn’t my favorite Talking Heads album but it’s one I’ve listened to a lot. I think the first half is distinctly weaker, but everything between “No Compassion” and “Psycho Killer” is 5/5. “No Compassion” is a particular favorite. Talking Heads in punk band mode, a really incisive song about performative outrage and self-pity. The list seems to have a bias towards debut albums, and it’s weird to me they didn’t include Little Creatures or Speaking In Tongues. Ah well, this is still great. And it’s a really cool look at their early sound.
So many great tracks. Funky and fun and a little cynical.
In the context of 1977, I can see how this debut was revolutionary. Nowadays it's definitely less impressive. I love talking heads I don't care
Verspielt, bisschen funky, erinnert mich manchmal ein bisschen an Falco. Nervt mich stellenweise ein wenig. Mir fehlt der Punch.
This album is exactly what you'd expect from Talking Heads: art rock with the distinctive, deeply uneasy vocal delivery of David Byrne. It mostly lacks the engaging African rhythms of Remain in Light, but has the song craft to make up for it. Ultimately, it's a pretty good first outing for the Heads, with one of their signature tracks in "Psycho Killer".
The last couple of Talking Heads albums I’ve listened to over the past year didn’t really do much for me, probably because I listened to them so much when I was younger that they’ve kind of lost their thrill. Plus, I’m discovering all kinds of new styles of music and bands these days. But as for this album, I have to admit I actually enjoyed listening to it from beginning to end for old time’s sake. One thing I’ve always appreciated about the Talking Heads is their bass. They really do a great job with strong bass guitar rhythms that stand out in their music.
70s New Wave. Just kind of banal and repetitive. Only like Psycho -killer.
Hmm..I'm not quite sure I understand it. I like the instrumentals but not really a fan of David Byrne's voice.
Very similar to the other two Talking Heads albums we have done, but perhaps without quite the level of wow factor.
3.5 stars
It's good, but I don't think Talking Heads are totally my thing. This album has Psycho Killer, which is good, but the other ones were mostly just alright. Nothing on this album is bad, mind you, just not quite as good as this band had been hyped to me.
We’ve had our one album from these guys. David Byrne, the Elvis Costello of the US new wave movement is way too up himself to be taken seriously. Nowhere near as talented as his inflated ego would tell you, most of his crap is hidden by a stupendous band. Meanwhile he treats people like garbage and tells them he’s diagnosed himself with autism so he’s allowed to act like a arsehole. Fuck right off. And when you get there fuck off again. One Talking Heads album gives you the idea. One or two good to great songs. The rest is just onanistic nonsense. Would much rather Stop Making Sense or a greatest hits than this. Psycho Killer is a good song. The only good one on the album. Pfft.
I discovered More Songs About Buildings and Food first, indeed I thought it was their first record back in another time, another place 1978. It is still one of my favourite records. And so when I finally got around to 77 it was too late. I've always thought this sounds a bit twee, demo like. You can tell they've not worked out what they want to do, and that's ok too how old would they have been? So for me it suffers with comparison with what came after, unfair I know but it doesn't make for an interesting listen in anyway.
Talking Heads are one of my favourite bands and I own nearly all of their albums, but I never play this one. Psycho Killer is a banger, but the rest of this album only hints at where Talking Heads would eventually go. It's Ok, but unremarkable compared to their later output. 2.5 stars, rounding up for Psycho Killer.
Great album! Amazing it’s their debut.
My first time listening to this album in its entirety. When it comes to Talking Heads, my go to is still Speaking in Tongues, but I did enjoy this.
As a die-hard Talking Heads fan, it’s awesome to look back at 77 especially knowing it came out the same year as Suicides self-titled debut. Both albums represent two sides of the same post-punk coin, but holy hell do Talking Heads CLEAR in every single way. Where Suicide went for abrasive minimalism and anxiety, 77 channels a more cerebral, artsy vibe. The band took punk’s spirit and reshaped it into something brighter and more inviting. Their use of tight, refreshing rhythms and lighter tones marked a clear break from the aggressive sound dominating the late 70s scene. It doesn’t feel repetitive or punishing it’s more alive, soothing even. Listening to this album is like taking a cold drink of water at 3 a.m. it’s familiar, crisp, and weirdly refreshing. It’s a short album, but rewards repeated listens. The more time you spend with it, and the more you understand its context, the more its uniqueness clicks. You can actually hear the band evolving throughout the record. During the making of the album, Talking Heads added a keyboardist and even paused recording to tour Europe with The Ramones. When they returned, their sound had matured noticeably. You can feel that change between early tracks like “New Feeling” and later ones like “Pulled Up.” The first feels quirky and angular, and the second, confident and fully realized. The songs aren’t listed in order of recording, but the progression in musicianship and tone is unmistakable. While 77 isn’t my personal favorite Talking Heads record (that honor goes to Speaking in Tongues from 1983, go listen to that one if you haven’t), it’s incredible to hear the foundation for Talking Heads forming in real time. This is where their journey began, and you can already sense the brilliance that would come later on. In my opinion 77 still holds up with zero skips. “Psycho Killer” is the obvious standout, and “Pulled Up” is absolutely a hidden gem. This album’s not leaving my rotation anytime soon.
I wanted to like this more but it didn’t do much for me. Instrumentals were fun at points and vocals were here and there. Happy Day was really annoying and Psycho Killer is a classic for a reason.
My very first thought - I love the way that David Byrne sounds. He has such an engaging inflection in his tone. This is my first full-on exposure to Talking Heads and I'm loving it halfway into this first track. Obviously everyone's heard Psycho Killer, so it's not news, but the way he delivers his lyrics is really captivating. Loving the mix of funk, punk, and pop through the first three tracks. Really pushing a lot of different buttons and doing it in a way that doesn't feel forced and remains cohesive. Moving into Happy Day, it keeps an upbeat energy while slowing the tempo down in a really nice way. This album has a really consistent energy to it but each track still stands alone as great in their own right. I'm on the sixth track now and this album is smooth as butter, maintaining a consistent sound and theme without being repetitive. Songs are flowing into one another perfectly. This feels pretty polished for a debut album in that sonically nothing feels out of place, and while I'm not too familiar with the sounds of 1977 this feels really unique to me while still achieving a sound that's accessible and enjoyable to a wide audience. I'm absolutely loving the horns on First Week / Last Week, and we get some nice patented David Byrne AYAYAYAYAYAs. Really enjoyed this track. Highlights for me are New Feeling, No Compassion, The Book I Read, First Week/Last Week, and Psycho Killer (a necessary inclusion), but there are no skips on this album. I loved every song. If we're Talking Head then this must be the place, indeed. A really wonderful palette cleanser after Suicide by Suicide. If I had one huge takeaway, it'd be my first. David Byrne is a truly unique and talented artist, and his supporting cast knows how to compliment his sound perfectly. My first 5 and it was so, so easy to give.
Fire 🔥 Always a distinctive sound. Have not talked with the heads much in recent years, and there were plenty of songs I likely heard for the first time during this listen. Pleasurable listen and need to delve deeper into their discography.
Good album. Not my favorite from the Talking Heads. Good, funky stuff. 3.8/5
Pre-Thoughts: - I fucking love the Talking Heads, but as far as albums go I've done Remain in Light and Speaking in Tongues. Excited to get into some of their earlier material. - I know Psycho Killer of course, im expecting a lot here tbh During Thoughts: - David Byrne you little fucking freak I love you - Instrumentation is very lush and theres a lot of atypical instruments spread throughout that keep it interesting - Happy Day vox lowk annoying im sorry - Who Is It? is such a sick track - Dont Worry About The Government rules. Love that commentary - Hearing Psycho Killer in context of the entire album makes it slap 1000x harder - What a track to end with, maybe the best song on the album Post Thoughts: - This is an album that will reward multiple listens. Feels timeless - This is just a mf band dude, like on every level they kill it. - That head is talking fr
I really enjoyed this album. Going into it I only knew psycho killer obviously but all the songs were different sounding and fun. They have similar sound and flow to psycho killer but it was an overall solid album
Some good, groovy listening. Loved how clean the guitars sounded. Would prefer a different vocalist to accompany it but it’s tolerable….is what I would have said if I just heard the first couple songs but I found him to be more and more annoying unfortunately. His shouts are giving me flashbacks to Suicide. But enough complaining. Very bright and happy music that I enjoyed overall!
If you ain’t talking head, I don’t wanna talk. Listening to this on the Eve of no Nut November was a godsend. If I listened to this album even one day later I wouldn’t be able to contain myself. I enjoyed it but nothing revolutionary for me. Got a little bored midway through then picked back up at the end. Was planning to write a super long review over the weekend but felt uninspired after listening. Good not great… but can see why people love these guys. Would probably spin this again to give it a better chance. 3.4/5
Ok
Can never go wrong with Talking Heads
A fine album. Some bops, some bores.
Pretty certain I'd follow David Byrne anywhere, The Book I Read was mostly ululating—and saved to Liked Songs
Into it.
Psycho Killer is a classic. I like the album as a whole.
I hate the vocal
Can't stand the voice
love how unpolished they sound on this
A uniquely distinct band that I only know from the 80s and am unfamiliar with the earlier stuff from the 70s. Nice to hear the beginning of where they evolved their sound from. This album is well recorded and lays out all the quirky songs nicely in the mix. Maybe sounds a bit dry but it sure helps to highlight the great bass lines by Tina Weymouth! I’m enjoying my first spin through this but feels like it will take a few listens to really understand these interesting and creative songs. Makes me wish I was in my early 20s in 1977 and hearing this on college radio and in the nightclubs at the time!
286/1089 - Fitting to get Psycho Killer on Halloween. It'd be cool to get Thriller next year and the Specials the year after (the odds would be crazy). The Talking Heads in general are solid but a little repetitive. Definitely the case with this album.
Das Debüt der US-amerikanischen Band Talking Heads wurde 1977 in den Sundragon Studios in New York City aufgenommen. Der Klang ist kantig, rhythmisch präzise und von einer eigentümlichen Spannung getragen. David Byrnes Gesang wirkt nervös, teils ironisch distanziert, während Tina Weymouth am Bass und Chris Frantz am Schlagzeug den minimalistischen, zugleich tanzbaren Kern des Sounds bilden. Das Album gehört dem New-Wave- und Art-Rock-Bereich an, zeigt aber bereits funkige und lateinisch gefärbte Ansätze, etwa in „Uh-Oh, Love Comes to Town“. „Psycho Killer“ wurde zum bekanntesten Stück – mit seinem treibenden Basslauf und der ungewöhnlichen Mischung aus Pop, Angst und Humor. Auch Songs wie „Don’t Worry About the Government“ oder „No Compassion“ spiegeln Byrnes Beobachtungen von Alltagsmechanismen und sozialen Rollen, ohne moralisch zu wirken. „Talking Heads: 77“ ist ein aufgeräumtes, eigenwilliges Debüt, das die kreative Richtung der Band bereits klar erkennen lässt – fern vom gängigen Rockschema, aber nah an den urbanen Impulsen der späten 1970er Jahre. Bewertung: prägnantes, charakterstarkes Erstlingswerk mit deutlicher Handschrift.
You play talking heads, you know it's talking heads. Know what I'm saying? No one else sounds like them.
Great album. I liked the new music video for Psycho Killer. I had heard of the Talking Heads, but never jammed them before.
fundamental, como cualquier disco de TH. Bien es cierto que no es su mejor disco (Fear of music, Remain in Light, Speaking in Tongues...) pero todas sus señas de indentidad ya están en este debut (cambios de ritmo, voz irritante, letras chifladas, mucho ritmo, originalidad...) y sobre todo: Psycho Killer,
I did not enjoy, too weird.
Solid
Talking Heads did what few bands do: release a string of fantastic albums, each one successfully building on and expanding on their sound and vision. In their case, the first five studio albums fit that bill and then the climax is the great live production Stop Making Sense. This album is the beginning of that sequence. Punk was still in its infancy when Talking Heads introduced us to new wave, but more importantly to their unique style. It is groovy, airy, rhythmic, witty, and edgy. It is great stuff. And if you only know “Psycho Killer,” make sure to lean into “No Compassion.” And on the other hand, you can find a more conformist psychosis in “Don’t Worry About the Government.” 5/5 and play this one again.
The Talking Head's debut album is a brilliant work of punk/new wave posturing. It's the perfect album to listen to after you've gone out to a Sex Pistols concert, got amped up on anarchy, went on a bender, woke up late, and needed musical recovery on your way back to the office. They allow you to retain all of the angst and frustration with the authority, but know that the answer is more than simple ascent or full rebellion. Byrne vocals feel like they could be anyone - not rock star, but relevant. This is a great, great album. Don't miss it.
listened to again funky and cool
Not a fan of talking heads fan
5/10
I guess its 50 years too late to find a new lead singer. I really like the band, but the lead singer just does not vibe with me. Could be 4 stars with different vocals. Favorite track is no compassion.
3.6
It’s hard to imagine this coexisting with Saturday Night Fever. Like, who walked into a record store and had to have this? Who is it for? These all sound the same. Psycho Killer is cool, but it's all the same otherwise.
4.5/5
Off-kilter but still melodic, this album is quite a ride. Steel drum on the first track was wild. You can hear the beginnings of lots of different genres here: new wave, punk, art rock with a pop flair. Like The Smiths but more weird and less sad. David Byrne’s vocals can be a little much at times but you can feel the anxious energy pouring out. Great debut album for a hugely influential band.
It may be lynching talk but I've never seen talking heads as more than a novelty band. Given credibility by the scarcity of their albums and that there are one or 2 songs per album that are great. Such as psycho killer on this album. Sonically quite interesting but byrnes voice is annoying to the point of distraction
Decent, less batshit than I expected. Psycho Killer easily the standout
5 stars
I like Talking Heads, but it seems like I cannot put their albums between my favorites. It's more like I love them as a concept
10/10
Good funkynees Some unusual instruments too
Just really good.
I expectedthat one, and I expected it to be the Psycho Killer show, a dreadful one track album, but to my delight, I was dead wrong. This is a great album full of melodies, of course, killer base lines, and a diversity of sounds I didn't expect and it was quite refreshing. Most songs on there still hold up, they have things to say and places to go, and they sound quite distinct from each other still creating a somewhat cohesive sound. That is hard to do on an album and in particular in your debut album. Of course Psycho Killer is that bitch, fun and with a base that is mandatory listen for any bass player. Pulled up for example is fun, (and the guitar lick sounds like a strokes one in a crazy way ? at 1:49). The Book I read, is very cool too. Overall the hooks are very strong, and I hear a lot of the music of today here, which can only speak of it's level of influence. However, they are minuses there, some lyrics are very icky. It is not a writer's album which is fine, but please don't be problematic. Tentative Decisions is a bit old fashioned in the stereotypes it carries, girls are having a hard time following "logic", and undecisive. (They should meet a libra man) It's an otherwise fine song but the sexism gets somewhat of a pass because of the printed lyric booklet that says "Repeat with reversal of gender" indicating it is somewhat satirical. It should have been said out loud though, and the satire make more clear. That is too me, a default of writing, cause just listening doesn't carry the message too clearly. That being said, the fact that there is even a bit of satire, for 77, it's better than most. I also have other issues, (like No compassion, screams privilege also) but those are minor and I choose to not focus too much on the messages. Overall it is fun and quite interesting as a debut album!
good for a talking heads album tbhj
I've never known how to feel about this band. I don't LIKE Psycho Killer, I only like that it exists. sometimes they feel like weird for weird sake, and most of their hits i find meh. in a world where its '77 in New York and music is changing very rapidly, this speaks to that movement. would i turn this on by myself, no. but they have a following that i can't understand. as a punk kid, that must be it; that its art and it can't always conform to your sensibilities. maybe that's what i really like about it more than the record itself. its consistent, but in a way that kinda runs together. its ridiculous in moments, which takes me out of it. 3/5 and i tried to put it higher for their first album.
i wasn’t that excited but then psycho killer happened
Love this
Easy 4 this
Side 2 is a classic. Side 1 kind of grates on me and always has for some reason. Kind of a bouncy, pedantic offering, but it's a debut, and they clearly formed a sound and style shortly after this.
1 - Uh-Oh, Love Comes to Town. Textbook Bryne vocals, steeldrum, funky but could use more energy for an opening track. 2 - New Feeling. Electric guitar, head bobbing. Sounds like that Eminem parody on YouTube. 3 - Tentative Decisions. Military snare, piano, marching vibes. Fun. 4 - Happy Day. A little more disjointed, but it works. 5 - Who Is It? Knock Knock. Who's there. This short, odd song. 6 - No Compassion. Creative structure and message. 7 - The Book I Read. Why am I doing a song by song review again? 8 - Don’t Worry About the Government. 80s Capitalism, in song form. 9 - First Week/Last Week… Carefree. 10 - Psycho Killer. On the map for good reason. 11 - Pulled U. Bookender, I like the loose guitar riffs. Bryne is really feeling it here, you can tell.
Fat guy reviews: 25. Two can play at this game, Mr. Kearns. Me need money now, me sick. Is his name Burns or Byrne? Listen, this thing is off the rails anyway. All I know is that he looks like Dana Carvey in an oversized suit that would make the 2003 NBA draft blush AND I liked the last Talking Heads album. A lot. Psycho Killer tends to make the rounds near Halloween, so maybe we’re getting some early hallow’s eve prep. I don’t care. Spin up the evil corporation’s music service. The spookiest thing of all is that society rewards sociopathy and therefore the worst people in the world rise to the top and shape our very way of living! Uh-Oh, Love Comes to Town - uh oh. It’s that song “Brandy” with more steel drums. That uhh ain’t good. Step it up, lads. New Feeling - Alright! Here we god this is the quirked up, heavy shit I was hoping for. There is a rage with this that I just love. The energy is almost punk. Fantastic. Tentative Decisions - From punk to funk. This is another frantic, weird “banger.” As the kids, and now cringeworthy millennials say. The circle of life. Happy Day - Kind of listless. I still enjoy the tortured vocals. He’s just so expressive. Who Is It? - Oh hi, I didn’t see you there. I was just enjoying reviewing albums poorly at work and I thought, why am I not behind the wheel of a 2007 Kia Rio right now. It’s clear that I have made horrible decisions. Don’t be like me. Consult your nearest scrapyard today. No Compassion - Some? I like this song a lot. The Book I Read - Red you, wrote you. I got nothing else. Don’t Worry About the Government - They’re in good hands! Billionaires! People who certainly have our best interests at heart. This song is insane. I love it. Or do I hate it. It’s certainly impactful. First Week / Last Week… Carefree - Too many song titles. Just name a different song one of these names. Come on, fellas. Psycho Killer - I mean this song is ubiquitous with Halloween and movies and and and. It’s everywhere. It still rules. One of the more insane songs to reach the heights it has. Pulled Up - This is the unreleased gangsta rap track detailing a deal gone wrong, in which Mr. Byrne’s “opps” “pull up.” I ran out of gangsta terms. A bunch of Westside Gunn listening doesn’t make up for a life forged in the Canadian suburbs. Yeah these guys are great. I didn’t like this as much as “Remain in Light,” but it remains a fascinating listen nonetheless. Unhinged vocals, sharp rhythms, and an overall bizarre atmosphere kept me engaged, although I would’ve loved a bit more darkness. This one felt manic, but I was missing some of the depression. Ah well. I’ll have to somehow fill that void with uhh Bethlehem or something. Das ist gud. Or so they say. 3.5 HIGHLIGHTS: New Feeling, No Compassion, Psycho Killer
Strong 4. I like the vibe of this funky man and his funky band. Crazy that this is their debut album.
First time hearing this band. Some fun stand out tracks like tentative decisions and don’t worry about the government.
Great album. This would get 5 stars, but there are a couple better Talking Heads records, so I have to make a little room.
Don't worry about the government, psycho killer
Pleasant surprise for me; I thought it would be a 1 star for sure. Psycho Killer gets a star by itself. Influence 3. Hits 3. Quality 2. I love Psycho Killer and didn't hate the rest 3.
It's fun and super influential and it never outstays it's welcome. 4.5/5.0: Excellent
fantastic listen. short, hooky songs with just a touch of talking heads weirdness
- cooli kläng - vibe isch immer passend
They started the new wave rock movement. I'm always on the fence about it and have to be in the right mood. No Compassion is a great song, loved the lyrics, it's brutally honest and funny. The lyrics in general are entertaining.
It was good I listened to it twice without realizing it
Gotta love the talking heads.
Art Fags...Oh David Byrne, wird das hier meine 80er Wave 5 Sterne Ausnahme? Ja! c
Love
Great debut album. Enough of a Talking Heads ‘sound’ without being too repetitive. Will definitely come back to this one.
Some good instrumentation, but cannot look past his just irritating voice. Makes most of the tracks unbearable to listen to despite the potential for a few decent songs. Used to think Psycho Killer was a decent track but now all I hear is his ridiculous voice. 2/5
Chill rock, like kor tebakelent de e i måten de spille. Beste sang: Psycho Killer
Nice,a epic band at the start.
Ok but all sounded very samey apart from Psycho Killer
hurts my head to listen to why does he sound like that i think I'm gonna have an aneurysm
Always a good listen, Talking Heads, this is no exception. 3.5 stars
3.5/5
I’d long been aware of the band’s distinctive name, but I had never actually listened to their music — not even the famous Psycho Killer. After listening this album for the first time, I can see why it’s considered influential — they were already looking beyond punk when punk itself was still exploding. Still, I’ve always been more drawn to the raw, straightforward kind of rock, so this didn’t resonate with me much. Maybe it’s that eternal contrast between raw emotion and intellectual distance — and I’ve always leaned toward the former.
When Talking Heads first appeared I was 6 so I had no interest… then in the 80’s I knew of them as they had a few hits but again maybe didn’t really fit in with what I was listening too - I think maybe I wasn’t cool enough. It has taken till I am in my 50’s and a work colleague for me to finally see how damn good they are. There is better to come but this is a damn good start.
Hasn't aged well. Bit of a cacophony. Voice is awful.
Felt like it was equally fun and annoying. Not bad at all, just not totally my style
This album felt like they were just having fun, it’s playful, but pretty causal. That said I enjoyed most of it. I was already familiar with Psycho Killer which is a great song. These tracks have a similar sound to songs I love by The Proclaimers which came out about a decade after this album. I think this one is more of a 3.5/5 but I’ll round up since we can’t do half stars.
I expected more, to be honest
I didn’t realise this was the Talking Heads debut album. It has all the quirky weirdness of the their later stuff and it’s still a solid listen. Psycho Killer is such a fantastic song from start to finish and it is definitely the highlight of the album. I’m a big fan of this one!
Some good songs, but not my favorite album
Classic, more raw sound of Talking Heads
Cool
7/10
Obviously a classic, started this journey off with a banger. The best part was how pissed Scott got at me putting it on at the office
Good early work where you can hear hints of great things to come.
What a great, distinctive, groovy, catchy, angular, intelligent, listenable debut. Really benefits from listening on headphones, without distractions. They pulled so many elements together into their own sound, and you can hear their influence in so many 'indie' guitar bands that followed. Great stuff, they are all on form and David is brilliant.
Definitely not a bad album, with some groovy tunes and 80s sparkle, but this sits firmly in the shadow of Remain In Light, for me!
Didn’t love this, nowhere near as good as Remain In Light. Lyrics and singing weren’t great - not very serious, but not in a good way. However, I LOVED the last track - it was brilliant! The whole album sounds more 80s than 70s too, so I guess it’s pretty ahead of its time.
Not for me, nothing caught me
One of the best new-wave albums. Talking Heads go on to put out much better records though. 8/10
Об'єктивно в них далі будуть кращі альбоми, але мені цей теж завжди дуже подобався.
ok
good stuff!
*Fun rock music *Liked the songs with saxophone *Vocals are a little strange sounding
Fun and very progressive for the time of release
Right off the bat establishes Talking Heads style. Jam packed with ideas... they're a band that had something to say, mostly about nothing, but they said it haha. Psycho Killer banger. I'm glad I got to see David Byrne 2nd row at Shaky Knees one year!
A band I understand why people enjoy but not one for me 3*
It was good
Good
Not my favorite Heads.
Absolutely could not do this. I have been listening to alot of music outside of my genre and really pushing through the albums but this one...I absolutely cannot lol I now assume that they are called the Talking heads because they talk through music? Once again, I'm sure for lovers of this genre of music this is a great album, but I must move on. If music makes me angry it is not for me lol
I rarely listen to this album listening to their later ones more often and "Stop Making Sense" most of all. It is an impressive debut. I would like to explore some of the songs again. I'm glad to have this opportunity.
I think that the Talking Heads really came into there own with their later works in the 80s, but this is a competent debut album that gives a taste of the unique, avant-garde sound the band would develop.
The music gets a plus for being upbeat, but man these vocals suck. I think Talking Heads might have been one of those bands you had to be around to get because I’m not seeing what everyone else is.
Really liked the music, disliked the vocals quite a bit. I usually like the alternative singers like this, but it didn't have anything special going for it. Inspired me to listen to the B-52s
Psycho Killer is the big hit from this one. The rest were fine, but again vocals lack.
Psychokiller is a classic, but it's definitely still pretty weird. Everything else is easy listening though. Overall not bad.
I don't dislike it but I also don't really like it? His voice really starts to annoy me. But can't help but jam to psycho killer.
It's certainly fun.
Not my fav talking heads, some parts felt a bit repetitive
Odd to listen to knowing where the band goes to. Mix of kind of standard nu-wave like early tracks, some mediocre like the book I read and what sound alike talking heads were becoming like no compassion, don't worry about the government and ofc psychokiller.
Classic
Was about to say this is classic 80's music, but clearly it came out in '77 so I'd be wrong there. Perhaps they were ahead of their time? Pioneers to what the 80's would become? IDK. And I don't really care to dig into it. The album is pretty good. I didn't find an objectionable song. Psycho Killer is probably the winner here.
Talking Heads are weird. I like 'em, but this album isn't their best work. It gets old pretty fast.
omg i like talking heads!! this album has psycho killer on it which i really like. I didnt love the album but it was better than a lot of things ive had so 4/5
Boy, I don’t remember David Byrne being so aggravating. Ya, it has one of the three Talking Heads songs on it a non-fan could name. The rest of the album makes me want to stab needles into my ears.
*Talking Heads: 77* is widely regarded as one of the most striking and important debut albums of the punk and new wave era. While it emerged from the CBGB scene, the album doesn't sound like conventional punk rock, instead establishing a unique aesthetic of anxious energy, minimalist arrangements, and lyrical wit that would become the band's signature. | Aspect | Summary | | :--- | :--- | | **Overall Sound** | Minimalist, rhythm-driven, and tense, blending art-rock intellect with pop and funk sensibilities. | | **Lyrical Themes** | Urban anxiety, social alienation, analysis of everyday life, and love from an outsider's perspective. | | **Musical Style** | Jittery guitars, melodic and prominent bass lines, tight rhythms, and influences from pop, folk, soul, and funk. | | **Production** | Clean and lean, emphasizing the band's taut performances without excessive polish. | | **Key Influence** | Pioneered "alternative rock," proving that rock music could be intellectual, anxious, and danceable all at once. | ### 🎸 Music and Lyrics The music on *Talking Heads: 77* is defined by its taut, rhythm-centric sound. The rhythm section of Tina Weymouth (bass) and Chris Frantz (drums) provides a telepathic, indestructible foundation that is both funk-inflected and minimalist. David Byrne's guitar work is jittery and nervous, while Jerry Harrison's keyboards and secondary guitar fill out the arrangements without cluttering them. Lyrically, David Byrne serves as a uniquely idiosyncratic mouthpiece. He often sounds like an alien or a computer trying to process human emotions, approaching his subjects with a childlike, observational fascination. This results in a blend of sincerity and irony that is difficult to parse but endlessly compelling. Key tracks that highlight this interplay include: - **"Psycho Killer"**: The album's most famous track, featuring a sinister bassline and lyrics that explore a killer's psyche with a catchy, campy performance. - **"No Compassion"**: A track that lurches between tempos, with Byrne's narrator calmly rationalizing his refusal to empathize with others, embodying a cold, urban mindset. - **"The Book I Read"** and **"Don't Worry About the Government"**: These songs showcase Byrne's ability to write unconventional love songs and find optimism in bureaucratic systems, using clever metaphors free from cliché. - **"Uh-Oh, Love Comes to Town"**: The opening track that introduces the band's quirky mix of pop, soul, and unexpected steel drums. ### ✨ Themes and Influence The album's central theme is **modern anxiety**, reflecting the gritty, tense atmosphere of 1970s New York. Byrne's lyrics frequently depict a narrator who is "tense and nervous and can't relax," analyzing social interactions and emotional responses from a detached, almost clinical perspective. This creates a pervasive feeling of an individual struggling to navigate society's expectations. In terms of influence, *Talking Heads: 77* was groundbreaking. It helped create the concept of "alternative rock" and proved that rock music didn't have to be about traditional rock and roll tropes. Its wiry, wired sound was a key influence on the post-punk and New Wave movements that followed. The album demonstrated that it was possible to be an "art" band while remaining accessible, intelligent, and danceable. ### 👍 Pros and Cons **Pros:** - **A Fully Formed Debut**: The band's unique sound and perspective are instantly recognizable and remarkably confident for a first album. - **Timeless Sound**: Nearly 50 years later, the album still sounds fresh, vital, and surprisingly contemporary. - **Intelligent and Danceable**: It successfully merges intellectual lyricism with rhythmic, infectious grooves that make you think and move. **Cons:** - **Hints of Future Brilliance**: Some critics note that the album can feel like a prelude to the band's more fully realized later masterpieces, with the sounds not always cohering with the holism of subsequent albums. - **A Singular, Acquired Taste**: David Byrne's vocal style—a wobbly, anxious yelp—and the album's pervasive nervous energy can be an acquired taste for some listeners. *Talking Heads: 77* is a landmark debut that captures a band already in full command of a unique and influential artistic voice. It remains an essential and electrifying listen.
I liked the hit single, but not really anything else.
So passé. Why are we still idolizing people like him?
David Bryne and Neil Young both seem insufferable but damn I might as well just hit the 5 star button as soon as I see either of them on this list. I love this debut. It has some warts but Weymouths rock solid bass and Brynes weirdo meandering melody and lyrics just get me every time.
-----》 5 STARS -
At first, I wasn't a fan of this particular album, but the songs kept getting better as it progressed.
Still not a big Talking Heads guy. Psycho Killer is definitely my favorite song of theirs though. Uh Oh, Love Comes to Town and Pulled Up are also alright. The rest kinda give me a headache.
I think I just don’t like the Talking Heads. I have an extra star because Psycho Killer is on this album
Too slow.
Excellent!
This was great. I have enjoyed each Talking Heads album I’ve had so far.
This whole album kind of feels like Psycho Killer, just in different fonts. Really not that exciting. Favorite Song: Psycho Killer
Not sure I get the Talking Heads - liked it enough though
Art rock goodness. David Byrne is a genius.
Not their best but still awfully good.
I saw Byrne's big-band show (festival set version) a few years ago, and loved the faux-martial joyfulness of it. I guess I hadn't listened to this record for a long time, because here's that sound, right there at the start.
I don't think it's their best, but what a debut! And certainly original and influential.
It has been shown that people of all ages identify the era when they were 12-13 as the time when music was best; for those of us born in 1965 it's objectively true. My relationship with Talking Heads is complex, but I have absolutely no complaints about this album, and I think their oeuvre really does benefit from listening in order (and, like me, you will hate them by the end). But this album is all hope and promise and good ideas. (Good thing they abandoned the ska angle, though)
It's just not for me. They are clearly talented, but the vocals really rub me the wrong way.
“Psycho Killer” is a timeless banger, but the rest of the album kind of falls flat for me. The band sounds fantastic, but a lot of the lyrics feel kind of lazy. David Byrne’s vocal style has always been hit or miss to me, and it’s a miss on this particular listen. I want to be one of the cool kids who adores this band, but alas. 3.5
Classic game changing album
David Byrne, silly man. Love him.
Largely an absolute joy, and it feels harsh to not give it a five when I like every track. But Tentative Decisions is so genuinely irritating, and Happy Day I could change my mind on.
not terrible, but not me.
fantastic debut from talking heads
Not too bad.
Nope, I don’t like it. Can’t really tell you why. I think it’s his voice. Not a talking heads fan. I’ve tried three different times now, and my feelings have not changed.
I think two of my biggest takeaways from this adventure so far are that I really enjoy David Bowie and Talking Heads now. This is the second Talking Heads album we've had, and it is yet again so unique. The bass lines are great. The identity is unapologetic which I love. It's quirky, but easy to listen to. Great vibes. I'll be excited to see another album by Talking Heads pop up again.
Not the greatest debut album, hasn’t aged well. Psycho Killer the only stand out track
I really think talking heads gets a lot better after this, it still has some good songs in here but feels a bit too much of the same for me
Really interesting. David Byrne's band makes an impression with incredible bass guitar melodies, grappling lyrics that really reflect the time they were written. Themes of insecurity, independence, mocking productive capitalist stereotype of the 70's in NYC.
Everything here feels intentional and layered. Production sounds pretty great. Funky songs were really great. So why am I so lukewarm about it? Maybe not melodic enough for me?
TALKING HEADS!!!!!!!!!
Quality
That's where that song is from!
A pretty self-assured debut. A lot more hits than misses and I really enjoyed it. Favorites: New Feeling, Tentative Decisions, No Compassion, Psycho Killer, Pulled Up Would I listen to it again: Yes
I really do not love Talking Heads. The whole vibe of the music feels a bit goofy, a little off to me, but not in a way that I can jive with. I don't love David Byrne's voice, which is very distinctive but comes across to me as comical. Even "Psycho Killer," a song that I have heard a lot and find myself singing, when I really listen to it, I don't love it. Talking Heads is just not for me, but I respect that clearly they've had a significant musical impact and people do quite love it.
Yeah... this is forgettable garbage
Hype
Such a fresh take on music. David Byrne has a wild beast in him
Very distinctive sound
Already know the album and love it. Psycho killer is my all time favorite song
Great
My name is Abagail and I'm one-hundred eight years young. I live in Nebraska and as a black woman, that's not easy. I'm a strong Christian woman that loathed Satan and I won't back down from him. Back in nineteen-seventy nine, I visited Boulder, Colorado and I was stunned at its beauty and to this day, the main campus of University Of Colorado is still the most gorgeous campus that I have ever seen. Anyway, I am...
Not my favourite Talking Heads album, but still my flavour of weird.
Weird and I didn't really pay attention
I was expecting a lot more from this.it sounds like a bunch of B side demos with psycho killer thrown in. I really don't like his voice either. Maybe this is where my dislike of post punk stems from? Anyway, a few good moments at the tail end. 2/5
Psycho killer is a banger but not for me the rest of it.
Enjoyed the album especially the song psycho killer
Psycho Killer justifies this album's existence, and it's impressive how fully formed TH's sound is from the word go, but I also don't like Talking Heads that much. 3*
2.5
Nice
***A good album, great instrumentals and vocals. Too many tracks.
fun record!
nothing spctacular
I liked this album, I had only heard Psycho Killer before, but I enjoyed Don’t Worry about the Government and first week/ last week… carefree. It was upbeat and danceable.
I like “New Feeling” and “First Week/Last Week…Carefree”. “Don’t Worry About the Government” is a little crazy but I’m into it. “Psycho Killer” will get stuck in my head all day. Just a fun album to listen through. It has a unique sound and each song is distinct.
Solid album. 80s are not my favorite, but this is very tolerable
I don’t know much of their history or this type of music. I enjoyed it enough, but didn’t personally love the sound. It seems like it might be a really cool/important album for music history and maybe I just didn’t get it
Cooliiis
Lekker album, kende de topper er van natuurlijk. Maar leuk om ook de andere te horen
I got to song 5 of 36! When I realized that this was God torturing me for not believing in him. Tally Hall just does this better. I force myself through half the songs before I decided, "good enough"
The interesting sounds you expect out of talking heads in a more traditional pop flow. The whole album goes by quite fast.
Yet another band that I have wanted to hear an album by but not got round to it. Now, I didn't expect every track to be a classic like Psycho Killer. But I did expect more than the first half of the album gave. It did start to pull it back part way through, or perhaps the start just lowered my expectations. Anyway on the whole it's wasnt bad, just not as good as I expected still feel I have to give it a 3 though
Very enjoyable. Great story telling in that quirky arty unique way. I had to wait for the standout tracks, both appearing at the end of the album… the classic ‘Psycho Killer’ and the uplifting ‘Pulled up’
I now understand why I never became a Talking Heads fan. Don't get me wrong I love the singles they banged out in the late 70's and 80's, but i never scratched below the surface and listened to an album in full until starting this 1001 journey. Psycho Killer is the banger, the rest is not. Maybe i need to listen to them more to appreciatethe finer details of their work, but i probably won't.
1. Town - 1 2. Feeling - 0 3. Decisions - 0 4. Happy - 1 5. Who - 1 6. Compassion - 0 7. Book - 1 8. Worry - 0 9. Week - 0 10. Psycho - 1.5 11. Pulled - 1 12. Fire - 1 13. Say - 1 14. Killer - 1 15. Heart - 0 16. Sugar - 1 THESE GUYS SUCK
SOO GOOD!!!
Quite boring, psycho killer is good obviously, but the rest is kind of meh
This album is fantastic and iconic; it truly is a perfect classic!
I didn't give this one the focus it deserved and only listened in the shower. Definitely heard some early rock influences. Overall didn't grab me though.
Not my favorite genre but I can't deny the earworms this album is filled with. I feel like the album ends on a really strong note with the last few tracks. I especially like Psycho Killer
Wow what an amazing debut. From the first track you just get such a great introduction of the Talking Heads sound. This was my first time listening to this album cover to cover and boy does it hit on every level for me. Love the sound, in particular the prominent bass lines and unique riffs. I could see some folks not digging the vocal style and while it’s a bit unrefined it works for me. Lyrically great with one of the best rock love songs I’ve heard in awhile in The Book I Read. Some weird topics covered like civil servants and college but still well written. If I had one nit to pick it’s that the flow of the album sorta abruptly ends on an odd song for the last track - but I give it a pass as it’s a pretty heartwarming (if somewhat boring) track. Standout tracks: the album. If I had to pick a few Uh-Oh Love Comes to Town, The Book I Read, and Psycho Killer.
Favorite tracks: Tentative Decisions, Psycho Killer Overall I can't help but to feel a little bored with this album. It feels like they're trying to cater to too many genres and end up sounding a bit generic because of it. There are definitely some fun and funky elements to some of these songs, but I just can't get behind the vocalist, who is largely quiet and monotone but tries to make up for it with random scatting.
Talking Heads is a favorite of mine so I was excited to see this show up today.
Grower, bit hard for the singing part, but cool bit off tune sounding guitars and stereo sonically. Psycho killer and new feeling best songs 4
Not too shabby, some real hits on here
Psycho Killer is a classic. „Uh-Oh, Love comes to Town“ is my favorite i guess.
Best Song: Psycho Killer A great debut album from a great band. While, often times, the debut album from a band is their best stuff since they have the most time to work on it without the record company breathing down their neck, in Talking Heads case their stuff just gets better. That is not a dig on this album whatsoever, it's great. So are the albums that follow. 5/5.