Metamatic Forums Socialising The Green Room Talking Heads

I decided to start a seperate Heads topic, after the conversations about them and David Byrne, in the "What are you listening to?" thread.

An interesting band.

I discovered Talking Heads in 1999, when their classic concert film, Stop Making Sense was re-released in cinemas and on DVD.

I went to see it at the cinema, and everything I had read about it was true – it was almost like being at an actual gig, so much so, you wanted to applaud after each song. I bought it on DVD and CD soon after... one of the best live albums and concert films.

I don't have all the Talking Heads albums, but the ones I do have I like very much. Fabourites being the excellent Fear of Music, Speaking in Tongues and Remain In Light, which is a rather unusual album.

I really like a lot of Byrne's solo work too - though there are a few albums of his that I haven't heard – Grown Backwards, Lead Us Not Into Temptation, The Catherine Wheel, In Spite of Wishing and Wanting and Music for the Knee Plays which I had never even heard of, until Rob mentioned it in the other thread!

So there's still quite a lot of Byrne to discover. Personally my favourite albums of his are David Byrne and Feelings.

I'd like to see him live. He's certainy one of a kind.

Im a really big heads/byrne fan. I would highly reccomend his look into the eyeball album. Also thats brilliant is the live dvd live at the union chapel which came out in 2005 but was filmed 2002.

I'm sad to say was really disappointed with Look Into the Eyeball when it came out.

It's good, but nowhere near the same level as his previous two albums - for me anyway. The only track that had a lasting appeal was "Broken Things".

Thugh maybe it's time for another listen.

Grown Backwards got heaps of praise and good reviews... but from the bits I heard, it just isn't to my taste.

I'd like to see the Union Chapel DVD though... I've had my eye on it for some time.

Defently get the union chapel dvd its very good. Grown backwards has alot of strings on it though to be honest i need to give it another spin. His journal on his website is an interesting read although most of the time what hes is a bit above me.

HMV.co.uk say the title is deleted... I can still see a few on Amazon though, and I guess it's still available in well stocked shops. Might add it to my birthday wishlist!

The Union Chapel is excellent - well worth watching...

Rob

I've just been looking at it online - interesting setlist. Does David perform with a full band or is it solo?

David performs will a full band. There is also violin and strings.

Right! I'm off to Virgin and HMV tomorrow lunchtime!

Try borders as well.

Amazon have copies as well...

Rob

Hmm, £6.50 might take some beating!!!

I bought Remain In Light after reading so many rave reviews about them in music mags. To be honest, it didn't grab me at all on the first few listens, but slowly but surely it snuck under my radar & now it is a classic amongst my record/cd collection.

Other Byrne/Heads cd's I have & strongly recommend are:

Songs From The Catherine Wheel - David Byrne
Music For Knee Plays - David Byrne
Stop Making Sense - Talking Heads (DVD)

I lost heart after Road To Nowhere, but The Tom Tom Club were good & I remember having a Jerry Harrison lp which I can't remember the name of.

Thanks Rob.

Ordered!! Hopefully be here for the weekend....

Here's hoping that you'll enjoy it after everyone here has sung its praises. I'm sure that you will...

Rob

Talking Heads - Great band!

My all time fave is REAMAIN IN LIGHT!
What an album....

For me it has to be Fear of Music. Fascinating electronics and fused rhythms. The highlight of the album is David gasping for Air and of course the 'Heroesesque' Heaven, a work of art. In actual fact he becomes Ferry on "....it´s hard to imagine that nothing at all...".

Chris C

When you watch the dvd tell us what you think alex. The dvd has helped me along for a while

I will! It hasn't arrived yet... I was expecting it on Saturday, so any time now I guess.

A really good friend bought me the Union Chapel DVD a year or two back. It's a fantastic show and wonderfully captured by the director - you'll be in for a treat when it turns up Alex, trust me.




EG
x

Cheers, I'll look forward to it and let you know what I think.... when it arrived!

Getting impatient now.... not that patience was ever my thing when it comes to music...!!

Last night, following a very nice Birthday meal, I settled down and watched Live at Union Chapel.

Firstly, it inspired me to listen to Look Into the Eyeball, which I'm enjoying more than I did before.

The show itself was excellent. David Byrne looks fantastic for 54/55. Much happier and comfortable on stage.

The choice of songs was quite unusual (especially the Whitney Houston cover!) but overall I thought it worked really well, with the minimal strings, guitar and percussion backing. It was pleasantly surprising to hear old Talking Heads songs reworked in this way, very successfully.

My only gripe was with the 2 'opera' tracks, which to be honest I thought were pretty bad! Byrne's frequently dischordent vocal style didn't work for me on those tracks, and I found it a bit frustrating, knowing just how darn well the man can sing, as he then proved on "Road to Nowhere".

Overall, I felt it was a very refreshing performance. He's certainly one of a kind!

Very happy I bought this :-)

Really pleased you liked the dvd alex. May check out some heads and byrne.

Like I said, that show rekindled my Interest in 'Eyeball, which I had dismissed in the past. It's a good album, when you stop comparing it to the likes of Feelings.

But anyway – thanks for the recommendation everyone. Great show. I'd love to see him live.

Have you seen Stop Making Sense Robert?

Ive only seen snippets of stop making sense. In between that and union chapel was a live film he did around 1992 called between the teeth. I think its deleted now but it may be worth checking out.

Was into Talking Heads at the beginning. Still listen to the early stuff. Great stuff!