Fear Of Music [DualDisc] - Talking Heads

Fear of Music on Dual Disc could be the answer? A corrugated steel looking black cover marked simply Talking Heads Fear of Music in dark green. The original of this album came out way back in 1979, the third studio release by the Talking Heads. It is now available as a dual disc separately or as part of a Box set of all 8 of the Talking Heads studio albums on Dual Disc.

CD The original album is on the CD side here with the following songs I Zimbra, Mind, Paper, Cities, Life During Wartime, Memories Can't Wait, Air, Heaven, Animals, Electric Guitar and Drugs

CD Extras are on the CD side and have alternate versions of Life During Wartime, Cities, and Mind. There is also an unfinished outtake of Dancing for Money.

DVD-Audio Side Four tracks are on the DVD side, advanced resolution 5.1 surround sound, and advanced resolution stereo for those with DVD-Audio players, and Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround sound and PCM stereo for those with ordinary DVD players. All the tracks are very well done, but my favorite is hands down the Advanced Resolution Surround Sound mix.

DVD Extras The DVD has two cool live appearances by the band on Germany's RockPop Show, Cities and I Zimbra

Jerry Harrison opined on the 5.1 Surround Sound remix Fear of Music was recorded on two Sundays at our rehearsal loft in Long Island City (a part of Queens just across the East River from Manhattan. We had to record on Sundays because it was the only time there wasn't too much truck noise. We brought in the record plant truck and recorded the album as if it were a concert. One of the concepts that inspired the early Talking Heads albums was the idea that each one should be recorded in a different way and a different place; We felt that if the process was different, the album would have an individual quality of sound as well as songwriting. There was a nice feel to the sound of Chris and Tina's loft when we rehearsed, so we thought, why move? This made remixing for 5.1 a bit difficult, as there was a little less clarity in the recordings, but I think that the new mixes have caught the mystery and darkness that makes Fear of Music one of my favorite talking heads albums (Jerry Harrison, from the liner notes included with Fear of Music).

For purposes of this review, I listened to the Surround Sound Remix in Advanced Resolution. I mean, if you are a Talking Heads fan, you already know if you like this album since it was released two decades ago. I assume you are reading to decide if you want to get the new reissue, and whether the Dual Disc (or perhaps the Brick with all Eight) is worth it.

I can assure you that from the opening chants of I Zimbra that this is a fun album. There is a lot going on in this song, and shows the world music influence. When I was young and originally listened to these albums, one of the problems was that they had so much going on musically, that it was difficult to sort the sounds out. With the Surround Sound mix, instruments are spread out across the channels which actually results in a much more listenable sound. The instruments each take on a clarity, and blend together with the others, instead of competing for the two scant channels. In short, Talking Heads is a band that Surround Sound truly benefits, since stereo barely contains their multi layered musical messages.

Mind Time won't change you! Money won't change you! I haven't got the faintest idea everything seems to be up in the air at this time I like the lyrics for this song, Byrne gently almost speaks the lyrics in this song. His voice sort of floats in the middle of the room as the band jams from all corners.

Paper sounds in the same vein as Mind, with Byrne speaking the odd lyrics against a constant strum of guitars and drums. What does this song mean? I have not the slighest clue. Its either a complex analogy for something else, or its just about a note!

City gets a bit repetitive, but the music spreads well over the room, with instruments filling the sound stage. Despite the simplistic lyrics, it's a fun catchy song, and I enjoyed the 5.1 mix.

Life During Wartime Ah, one of my all time favorite Talking Heads songs, this one is right up there with the songs from Speaking in Tongues for that driving rhythmic sound that the Talking Heads have perfected. Here it sounds even sweeter. Lived in a brownstone, lived in a ghetto I've lived all over this town This ain't no party, this aint no disco no time for dancin or lovey dovey, I ain't got time for that now

Memories Can't Wait has a great aggressive sound that benefits from the expanded mix. Guitar and sythnesizer riffs explode from anywhere over the driving undercurrent of drums. Yet, Byrne's voice can be heard clearly growling his strange lyrics from right in the middle of your head. David Byrne can never be accused of sounding like ANYONE else in music.

Air is a cool song. Soft backing vocals appear in the air softly from everywhere, and here, Byrne seems to float in the middle. I liked the way the backing vocals seemed to come from all sides balanced by Byrne's vocals from the center.

Another of my favorite Talking Heads songs and one of their better known songs also appears on this album Heaven Everyone is trying to get to the bar, the name of the bar, the bar is called heaven, the band in heaven plays my favorite song, they play it again, they play it all night long. The song has a gentle melodic tone that is perfectly captured on this mix. An echo effect is enhanced greatly with the added depth of 5.1 channels. Bryne's voice gently echoes in this song, and it feels more distant and echo like on the surround mix than it ever did in stereo. In fact, I never really noticed the faint echo on my original LP.

Animals, Electric Guitar and Drugs round out the DVD-Audio. The Surround mix of Drugs made me feel like I was on drugs, Byrne sounds nervous and paranoid, and the music darts in and out from all around you.

In just two short years, and three albums you can just hear the band grow. This is not one of my favorite Talking Heads albums, but it is in my opinion, one of the better ones, and the dense musical rhythms benefit from the Advanced Resolution Surround Sound mix.

Summary Fear of Music was a solid third album by a band that had really found their sound. You can hear it clearer than ever on the DVD-Audio side of this album. Even the remastered CD with its extra tracks shines. Fear of Music is one album worth picking up on its own if you only plan on picking up a few of the Talking Heads new Dual Discs. Otherwise, it comes nicely packaged in the Talking Heads Brick with the other 7 studio albums on Dual Disc. Fear of Music gets a solid four stars.

Recommend this product? Yes

Great Music to Play While: Cleaning the House