features in: Album Chart of 1978 ● Album Chart of the Decade: 1970s ● 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die  |
“When we were making this album I remembered this stupid discussion we had about titles for the last album. At that time I said, 'What are we gonna call an album that's just about buildings and food?' And Chris said, 'You call it more songs about buildings and food'” recalled bassist Tina. For their second long player, the New York four remain: David Byrne (vocals, guitars), Chris Frantz (drums, percussion), Jerry Harrison (piano, organ, synthesizer, guitar, backing vocals) and Tina Weymouth (bass guitar). Brian Eno (that man again!) is drafted into production duties and seems to do a fine job, even adding his multi-instrumentalist skills here and there. Compared to the debut it's largely a smoother ride; steady-paced, danceable, and, ultimately, equally enjoyable. The main exception to this observation is delivered right at the very start on the galloping “Thank You For Sending Me An Angel” which works well on your songs for a new baby mixtape if you'll let it. The real new-wave-funk tone of the album is set on the following track, “With Our Love”, layered with a range of lively guitar patterns. Best on side two is the aggressively funky “I’m Not In Love” which delivers the bold prediction: “There’ll come a day when we won’t need love”. Oooh, I do like it when they get all freaky. Not so weird, but quite surprising, is the appearance of a cover version, namely “Take Me To The River” (Al Green, 1974). It's a languid but cool take, and they certainly reinvent it as their own in many musical ways. Nice to see the New Wave being open to the Old Wave, especially when it's handled this well.
The Jukebox Rebel
16–Mar–2016
| Tracklist |
| A1 | [02:11]  Talking Heads - Thank You For Sending Me An Angel (David Byrne) New Wave |
| A2 | [03:30]  Talking Heads - With Our Love (David Byrne) New Wave |
| A3 | [03:03]  Talking Heads - The Good Thing (David Byrne) New Wave |
| A4 | [03:55]  Talking Heads - Warning Sign (David Byrne, Chris Frantz) New Wave |
| A5 | [02:37] Talking Heads - The Girls Want To Be With The Girls (David Byrne) New Wave |
| A6 | [05:00]  Talking Heads - Found A Job (David Byrne) New Wave |
| B1 | [03:34]  Talking Heads - Artists Only (David Byrne, Wayne Zieve) New Wave |
| B2 | [04:33]  Talking Heads - I’m Not In Love (David Byrne) New Wave |
| B3 | [02:39]  Talking Heads - Stay Hungry (David Byrne, Chris Frantz) New Wave |
| B4 | [05:00]  Talking Heads - Take Me To The River (Albert Greene, Mabon Hodges) Cerebral Pop |
| B5 | [05:30]  Talking Heads - The Big Country (David Byrne) Cerebral Pop |
