Talking Heads had a very good run in their music career by this point. Their first three albums had been both critical and commercial successes at the time, but as the 1980s dawned, could they retain their musical consistency? This album is often seen as the best Talking Heads album and was another feather in the band’s cap after its release, so to speak. The album was quite innovative in its own way, being inspired by Rap Music and World Music, they sought to craft a new identity in the music scene that was their own. The album was produced by the legendary Brian Eno. It was recorded between July and August 1980, being released on 8 October 1980 under Sire Records. Talking Heads were: David Byrne (vocals, guitars and other instrumentation); Jerry Harrison (keyboards); Tina Weymouth (bass guitar) and Chris Frantz (drums and percussion). Let’s take a good listen to this album, and one can only hope that this has aged well enough, just like a fine bottle of wine.

1. Born Under Punches (The Heat Goes On) gets right into it, with a funky Disco inspired tune. It sounds like the sort of music that would pave the way for much of the music of the 1980s. This is worse than Michael Jackson’s efforts in this era, however. The mixture of electronics and slap bass guitar is really odd. This does prove that Talking Heads had the ability to change with the times, however. David Byrne sings well and nicely throughout. Some of the rhythms are borderline African Tribal Music as well, which the group were listening to heavily at the time. A consistent piece of music, this is more textural than lyrical, but that is fine here. This sounds extremely interesting, and some 8-bit sounding melodies throughout, which was the technology of the early era of video games at the time of the album’s release. The instrumentation and performances throughout are different. This music is extremely okay to hear and sounds electrifying and wide-ranging in its musical scope. Admittedly, the length of this tune is long and may have benefitted from some gentle editing. Even so, this music sounds strong to begin with. The outro just goes on for a bit longer than what one would hope for. Eventually, this music begins to wrap up after nearly six minutes. An okay start to this album.

2. Crosseyed and Painless begins with some more Disco Funk sounds and has some good guitar work. David Byrne sounds full of fiery passion throughout. This music is a bit of an acquired taste, however. All in all, this music is good but has not aged all that well. The lyrics are a stream of consciousness, but this music is more style over musical substance, sadly. Regardless, this is okay and the music on this album so far is average. There are some screaming guitars, excellent editing and a backing rhythm that sounds extremely good to listen to. Some chanting throughout this song makes it a bit different as well. This is the best sort of music for those of you who didn’t really get what the Sex Pistols were about. This is a good listen but is borderline 1980s Synth Pop. Which is very much a sell-out and points out the lack of inspiration in creating a specific sound. This eventually begins to approach the end of the tune with chanted vocals, Disco sounds and rhythms, before fading out.

3. The Great Curve is a longer piece at over six minutes long. Again, the Disco Music vibe is present on this album. Yes, this may have a proto-EDM feel, but it sounds rather ordinary to listen to. This is much more experimental music than anything worth hearing in the long term. Already one minute into the song, and one can get fairly sick of this music. The Fender Stratocaster electric guitar parts are frenetic and bright-sounding fills, but that’s about it. If you want Disco Music, go and listen to some of the Bee Gees stuff. By selling out completely, Talking Heads has done no good here. A weird and awful-sounding guitar solo is present after a while in the first half. It sounds like Eddie Van Halen on Angel Dust (i.e. really messed up). The song improves a little bit after that, but aside from that, this album so far is quite a failure. This has dated terribly badly. This extended piece of music is a real drag, unimaginative and disappointing all in one. Talking Heads does not prove a good point on this album. Nothing worth hearing nor is it innovative, although the music throughout is very interesting. A weird cut, this makes zero sense to listen to. Sure, Disco Music was popular from 1977-1980, but it was dying off quickly by this tune. What were Talking Heads trying to prove? Who knows. This is a very overrated and a drag of a listen. Another awful guitar solo enters towards the end as if this needed to be added again. Fortunately, Talking Heads weren’t The Beatles, and this song wraps up after nearly six and a half minutes. Thank goodness for that.

4. Once in a Lifetime is the main single from this album. It begins with some deep basslines and interesting keyboards and it sounds 100% better than what came before it. David Byrne sings nicely about our lives and our happenings, with a YOLO attitude about it. The chorus in particular is absolutely fantastic to listen to. Using a series of comparisons throughout life. Perhaps David Byrne was a Buddhist? In any case, this popular single sounds driven, energetic and fantastic throughout. No matter if you are into the concept of reincarnation or not, this is a brilliant listen. Excellent, interesting and a musically consistent song, this is a catchy, energetic and enjoyable song that deserves many repeat listens. A really cool and memorable tune with some memorable keyboards, Fender Stratocaster and rumbling basslines over steady percussion, this is a real winner. It begins to wrap up with a tripped-out electric guitar part that sounds extremely awesome. Definitely worth a listen, but the only great song from this album so far.

5. Houses in Motion begins with some weird sounds, and spoken word lyrics and launches into an ordinary song at hand. This sounds really weird, and not that good, to be honest. Again, this is an album that just doesn’t make sense at all musically. This is more wannabe Disco Music with too much style over substance and sounding again, extremely dated and just not worth it throughout. This sort of music points out the biggest mediocrity of the 1980s, and where this music kickstarted that mediocre musical trend. In short, it is definitely not worth listening to. Also, these songs are longer than they are worth. This is a bad attempt of Talking Heads trying to jump onto the Disco Music bandwagon. Too little, too late. In any case, this is music that can easily be bypassed in general. A really terrible and forgettable song, this is not what your ears deserve to hear. At the dawn of the 1980s, the music scene was being destroyed by this sort of rubbish, and it is clear to hear why so on this record. One good song (the track before this one), doesn’t cut it. Awful.

6. Seen and Not Seen is a shorter tune that actually has a good introduction to it. Some funky bass guitar emerges, followed by deadpan vocals by David Byrne. This isn’t a memorable song either, to be fair. It’s a little better but it is not an actual song. Think along the lines of The Velvet Underground’s The Gift on their 1968 White Light/White Heat album, and you have the 1980 equivalent. Still, this sounds fairly average. There is nothing worthwhile or outstanding about this song, it just sounds like post-Disco Music nonsense. Hit stop and seek out some early Punk records rather than this trash. That is advice worth taking. This song is drivel and is enough to fall asleep to.

7. Listening Wind begins with some weird African tribal percussion, and some equally weird electronics and enters into a shockingly bad piece of music. Again, this points out that the album is a piece of garbage. David Bryne sings over the top of it all, and the band have completely lost the plot with this album. It sounds like a really bad joke: lame and not worth hearing it. This tune has a sterile 1980s flavour to it, and it does not reward the listener as a result. The music present is dated nonsense, and unfortunately, Talking Heads failed miserably on this album. A poor attempt at a soundscape sort of thing, complete with bad guitar parts, this is a joke. Nothing special nor meaningful in a musical sense is here. Overall, you can skip ahead. This sounds like the worst classic album that one can potentially listen to. An eye-rolling music listening experience, this is not on. The lyrics make zero sense. Perhaps these guys needed a music reality check? This is just not good enough. Avoid.

8. The Overload is a six-minute-long piece that begins with some ghostly electronic sounds. It sounds very dark and moody indeed. It quickly launches into an absolute shocker of a piece of music, although the drumming is very good. Even what Pink Floyd was doing at the time was much better than this. A dreary, pathetic and ordinary song that sounds like a bad take on Joy Division, this is just not on. What were Talking Heads thinking at the time? In any case, the point has been made by this point of the album, in the fact that it is terrible music to listen to. If you fall asleep whilst listening to this album, you are likely not alone. Talking Heads reached a low point on this album, and the music and lyrics are both terrible and made no sense. If you want a good listen that is moody and melancholic, try Radiohead instead for a good listen. Not this, don’t even come anywhere near this album. A poor music and listening experience, this album receives an award for being one of the worst albums that has been seen as a Classic Album. Hit stop, chuck the album out of your mind and/or collection, and go and do something else. Seriously. The length of this tune is also a bit much. A genuinely unpleasant listen. Metallica would have hated this sort of nonsense. It slowly fades out at the end. Thank goodness that is over.

This is one of the most overrated and worst albums in terms of Classic Rock. Sure, there has been worse music made than this. Having said that, this is downright disappointing. Apart from Once in a Lifetime, none of the music on this album is worth your time or ears to hear. Therefore, this is not recommended, at all. If you want a better listen from this era, try some later Disco Music or something similar. At least you won’t get a headache from hearing it.

Pathetic music listening experience.

3/10