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No Talking, Just Head is the only studio album by the Heads, a band composed of Jerry Harrison, Tina Weymouth, and Chris Frantz of Talking Heads, joined by a variety of guest singers. Released in October 1996, the project was commercially and critically unsuccessful. The band members went on to pursue other musical interests. The Talking Heads instrumentalists began recording the album in late 1994 after spending several years trying to get vocalist David Byrne to participate. The title track was first released on the soundtrack to Virtuosity, with recording continuing through 1995, as friends and musical acquaintances filled in as guest vocalists. The album was intended to turn into a full-time project with further studio albums and a tour, culminating with a live CD/video release of the first tour, featuring performances of songs originally recorded by Talking Heads reinterpreted by the album's guest artists. However, Byrne sued the group, asserting that their name and presentation were too evocative of Talking Heads and that this release was a trademark violation. The suit was settled out of court and only the studio album was released. The band toured the US in late 1996, with Johnette Napolitano serving as the primary lead vocalist.
Rating: 8/10 Best songs: Damage I’ve done, No talking just head, No big bang, Indie hair, Only the lonely, Papersnow
An important add just for the music history alone, I didn't realize there was an LP underscoring part of the larger, acrimonious break in Talking Heads. As for the album itself, I found myself getting into the more new-wave take on what are undoubtedly Talking Heads instrumentals. The more abstract lyricism pushed this into arthouse territory at times, and while not every one of the sonic experiments here produces worthwhile results, I found more than a few tracks to return to.
some very high points, otherwise passable 3.4
I was really excited when this came out. I bought it on CD without having heard a single song. But, after listening to it a couple of times it was just sort of meh. Not bad, but just sort of average. Too bad, because there are a lot of talented people involved with this. 3 stars.
No Talking Just Head does a decent job of being weird but listenable, it's horribly 80s despite being from the mid 90s but somehow I don't hate it? I think the collaborative nature works in its favour, it keeps things fresh and interesting, production is good, I liked it enough to give it a 3/5, it's quirky and a little bit cool.
New wave, art punk. Ni fu ni fa.
Talking Heads is one of my favorite bands of all time, but I try to avoid their personal lives when it comes to their band because it really sours the reputation of all involved. They are certainly not the worst rock stars out there personality wise, but it can be rough. Luckily, their fantastic music and eccentric personalities always shined first and foremost. Not here, though. This album puts their inner turmoil front and center, making it known to the listener that David Byrne is NOT here, and they don't need him. But frankly, after listening to the whole, nearly hour long experience, it is pretty obvious that the group still needs their talker. There are slight bits of funk, but the whole album screams 90s identity crisis, and while some features make the band their own, looking at you Andy, others sound so off here you question how the connection even came to be. The whole album is needlessly angsty, and while there are some great moments (hi again, Andy) there is enough here to definitively say this isn't Talking Heads showing they don't need Byrne, but instead exactly showing why they had him in the first place. Without the context the album is okay, but with it this album is just a spiral of emotions in one mixed bag of a record. 2.5, rounding up to a 3 star.