Pros: Great blends of funk, rock, new age, new wave and pop art.
Cons: It's only eight tracks.
The Bottom Line: Remain In Light is an essential rock album. Its influential sounds are prevalent, along with quirky melodies and a generally funky sound.
evansec's Full Review: Remain in Light by Talking Heads
I was trying to explain to a friend how he absolutely must purchase Talking Heads' best and most innovative album, Remain In Light, and his reply was: "I own Sand In The Vaseline." Implying that it, the band's greatest hits compilation, was sufficient for anyone who wants to get into the music of Talking Heads.
How sad.
Remain In Light, Talking Heads' fascinating 1980 album produced by mastermind Brian Eno, combines elements of tribal music, funk, new wave, pop, and just about every other kind of sound you could possibly imagine. The entire CD is like having an extremely surreal dream, never knowing what will happen next. The album has been critically acclaimed over the years, earning a place as one of VH1's Greatest Albums of Rock N' Roll, Rolling Stone's Greatest Albums of the 80's, and Vibe's 100 Essential Albums of the 20th Century. After listening, I can certainly see why.
Born Under Punches (The Heat Goes On) (Track 1):Well, I'm a tumbler, born under punches. I'm so thin. Definitely my favorite song on the album, it is a funky, sproingy song filled with an awesome bassline, funky guitars, and electronic sounds not unlike an early 80's video game. Think, "The electronically-powered slinky of pop songs." This is what you get. I could listen to it over and over and still not get sick of dancin' to it.
Crosseyed and Painless (Track 2):Changin' my shape, I feel like an accident. They're back to explain their experience. A more science-fiction-oriented song, this one is still extremely funky, danceable and bizarre. Lead singer David Byrne's wild and somewhat confused vocals make this one an interesting tune. The layering of instruments (so numerous I couldn't even begin to tell you) give this song an almost orchestral quality. Brilliant.
Once In A Lifetime (Track 4):And you may find yourself in a beautiful house, with a beautiful wife. And you may ask yourself, "Well, how did I get here? Obviously one of the Heads' most famous songs. Also with one of the greatest and most memorable basslines ever. Perhaps the most interesting part of the song is during the bridge, when the swirling, magical sounds are suddenly interrupted by a hard-rock guitar riff. This song is exemplary of the band's pure genius.
Seen And Not Seen (Track 6):Beady eyes, and a larger forehead. Honestly, those are the only lyrics I can decipher from this song. It isn't one of my favorites from the album; a bit slower. Although it does have a certain uniqueness about it. I've seen hints of this song in more recent bands, such as P.M. Dawn. Its droning background vocals, spoken-word lead vocals and slow beat over a background of clapping and funky music make this one sound kind of like a roller disco hit gone to the dark side. Not one of the best, but still great nonetheless.
Listening Wind (Track 7):The wind in my heart, the dust in my head. This is a song that really has the spirit of the early 1980's. It is clearly a sign of the future, when rock artists were determined that they needed to make sounds with those "futuristic-sounding" drum machines and casio keyboards. This is a beautiful, artful song with a hint of darkness and a mysterious sound with echoing effects, synthetic drums and computer-generated melodies. If this doesn't say, "1980," I don't know what does.
If you have been interested in the Talking Heads and already own some of their albums, I seriously recommend this one. If you are a novice to the band, I would suggest purchasing Sand In The Vaseline, an album that eases the listener in with familiar songs, before purchasing this one. Then go to the store the next day and buy this album. Especially if a friend recommends it.
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