Customer Reviews

Party's Over

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Came out in 1982 when I was a senior in high school, and I listened to it over and over and over again. Seems at first like catchy New Wave synth stuff, a la A Flock of Seagulls; the single "Talk Talk" is the hook to start the album. But as you listen to the whole thing you realize it is an integrated work, sad with a haunting finale in the final song "Candy". The CD is short by modern standards (around 40 mins, maybe under), and it is distinctly 80s music; but one of my all-time favorite albums.

Note that the CD unfortunately mixes up the playlist of the original LP release, which disrupts the "theme" album somewhat. Switch songs 3 & 5 ("Hate" should be #3, "Today" should be #5) to get the effect of the original. I don't know why they did that.

Mark Hollis took Talk Talk from synthpop to art rock during the 1980's and this debut album was the most electronic of them all. 80's fans will recognize the first track, "Talk Talk," the first single to get air play in America before "It's My Life" hit the top 40 a few years later. The track is a powerhouse dance classic still enjoyed today. Other fast numbers to enjoy include "Today" and "Another World" while the title track evokes a darker, more mellow side of the band.

Mark Hollis could give Bryan Ferry a run for his money on vocals, which shine throughout the album. Fantastic synths take you back to 1981 in delight.

Talk Talk's second album, "It's My Life" is a perfect follow up to this album as a continuation of the electronic style. By the third album, the band matured even more including more acoustic instruments and guest musicians like Steve Winwood.

Fans of early 80's synthpop must give this a listen. Fans of Roxy Music, Bryan Ferry, Japan and Ultravox would also do well to give it a listen.

While I love most of Talk Talk's material, this album stands out as a clear favorite. Too bad Hollis has called it quits.

Talk Talk is a group that defies conventional wisdom. This, their first outing, is an album that was derided as being not only derivative, but pretentious. Pretentious...yes. Self-absorbent...most certainly.

The beauty of Talk Talk however must be seen through the progression of their music in its entirety. Upon initial listening, this disc could defiantly be dismissed as a typical exercise in 80s synth-pop.

However, as time would have it, Talk Talk progressed as a band. With the ultimate departure from conventional pop wisdom that reared its welcome head during the group's last days, this presentation deserves a fresh look.

The truth is that the critics of this album missed something the first time. Upon second glance, this disc proves not only that Mark Hollis had an ultimate vision, but also that he charted it from the beginning.

Four fifths of this album is wonderfully indulgent. The other fifth is psychic...a demonstration of what was to come. Many believe that "Its My Life" was the first to showcase the future Talk Talk...this is inaccurate. This exercise showcases many elements that would be later found on subsequent releases.

While listening to this effort, one wonders if the group had their future vision with them all along...but was afraid to unleash their talent too early for fear of losing the opportunity to express the true "Nature" of their being.

I've been listening to this album since 1983 (ouch). When I first heard it in high school I loved all the uptempo numbers but now w/the advantage of a few years under my belt I see this album in a completely different light. Songs like Candy and The Party's Over lay the groundwork for what this band set out to accomplish on their later recordings. With the exception of the somewhat spotty Laughing Stock, Talk Talk are one of the most consistent and satisfying bands I know of... This CD is a great starting point.

I used to play this record at my work 20 + years ago when it came out. I worked at night in a the stereo department of a department store. We had a record dpartment but this was one of my faves. I listened to everything back then from The Kinks to Sex Pistols to Ultravox to on and on.

This album is still one of my favorite records. The music is almost dreamlike and Mark Hollis voice only adds to the effect. My favorite has to be Mirror Man which to this day is one of my favorite songs after say the Kinks immortal Waterloo Sunset.

I still love this album and I still don't know exactly why.

My room-mate brought home Talk Talk on vinyl from the music store he worked at. Perfect new wave, but wait...what is up with The Partys Over. For those of you that know what I am talking about, be sure to go to the depths of where this song will take you. From that moment on I got my hands on everything that I could find. My favorite band of the eighty's and still one of my pics for the top three bands that I have yet to hear. I only wish that they would put together a live compilation. In my opinion, its the only thing missing.

Among my favorite tracks are 'The Party's Over', 'Mirror Man", and 'Today'. Mark Hollis' vocals have a growing sense of urgency near the end of 'Mirror Man' and the chorus is wonderful. The flowery atmoshphere that begins 'Party's Over' gives way to a more sinister mood which is accompanied by phenomenal vocalization. 'Today' is a beacon of light! This is by far the best album!

A little known classic from the 80's. Great voice and awesome tunes. Must listen. Probably their best album.

...It's funny how fast time goes by. In 1982, I was only marginally familiar with Talk Talk; only familiar with their supposed one-hit wonder song 'Talk Talk' and nothing else, until their second hit hit our shores a few years later. Now, nearly 30 years after this album was first released, I have just a few things to say:

1. The material on this album makes more sense now than it did when it first came out. If anyone understands this, I WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU!

2. The songs 'Today' and 'Have You Heard The News?' have particular emotional meaning for me.

3. Mark Hollis has a voice that should NEVER even think about retiring. Yes, I understand he's been busy with his kids for the past 20 years or so, and I can respect that, but man the guy's voice is spectacular and his fans would LOVE to hear it again in the present day, he should know that...

4. Lee Harris - A talent, a dream, a wonder. I thank him so much for what he's done.

5. These songs are wondrous, magical... the songs that started it all. I have become a fan, so many years later; who knew something so wonderful could come into my life at this time, but this stuff just makes sense... I feel it, I sing it, I understand it, I get it.

Thanks guys!!

Better sound than the first CD issued, but I feel gyped as the title says extra tracks but there are no extra tracks as the original had 9 and so does this version.

Even the music samples indicates for those who remember the original number of tracks that were present, that in fact, no additional tracks are included whatsoever, whatever happened to truth in advertising?