Customer Reviews

Stop Making Sense: Talking Heads

5 star:		(19)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

When we are talking about Punk Rock Music, the genre might have been defined by Johnny Rotten and the Sex Pistols, and Hole's "Live Through This" might be my favorite Punk album, but when it is time to go before the Gods of Music I think David Byrne should stand before the Throne of Judgment and make the case for everybody else. While he is up there, the first piece of evidence he should intorduce would be the Talking Heads' soundtrack for "Stop Making Sense."

Of course, you can only listen to the soundtrack AFTER you have seen Jonathan Demme's documentary, because one of the key lessons here is that Punk music achieves full existence only in live performances. The opening track of "Psycho Killer" alone proves that, although this version of "Burning Down the House" certainly has it moments. My favorite is "Take Me to the River," but I may well be overestimating the spin the band puts on that one.

Finally, remember: "THE SPACE PEOPLE. Space People read our mail. The Space People think that TV news programs are comedies, and that soap operas are news. The Space People will contact us when they can make money by doing so. The Space People think factories are musical instruments. They sing along with them. Each song lasts from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. No music on weekends."

Here endeth the lesson.

The "live" album--music recorded from a concert rather than the studio--is such a tricky creature. In rock and roll, there's a number of live albums that have achieved classic status (those that come to mind immediately include Frampton Comes Alive, Woodstock, Led Zeppelin's The Song Remains the Same, and The Last Waltz). Of those, the last three also had documentaries associated with the concerts being recorded. And yet, when it comes to favorites, I ignore all of those in favor of yet one more documentary cum live album: Talking Heads' Stop Making Sense.

I might be using the word documentary wrong here, because Stop Making Sense is not so much about Talking Heads as it simply shows why they were such a musical force. For example, there are no talking heads in the movie--the film begins with David Byrne simply walking on-stage with a tape recorder and his guitar, introducing himself and immediately going into a solo version of "Psycho Killer." Each successive song adds a person or two, until about two-thirds through the show, the entire Speaking in Tongues era-Heads entourage are rocking out on stage. The film never breaks from the show, even as it documents how the show was put together. In true art school fashion, the show itself was organized to show how a live concert is created, piece-by-piece. Truly, this is a case of "show, don't tell."

The album made from the movie/concert does the same. Unlike some live recordings, where the audience overwhelms the music, Stop Making Sense is clean. Even in the beginning and end of songs, when applause can be heard, the mixing mutes it, concentrating instead on the, for example, wavering synthesizer and infectious drumbeat that begins "Once in a Lifetime." Within the songs, the distinctions between instruments and voices are clear as well.

And what great songs these are! I enjoy Talking Heads: 77 and More Songs about Buildings and Food, but the versions of "Psycho Killer" and "Take Me to the River" benefit from the live arrangements. "Psycho Killer," sparse to begin with, becomes even more disturbing as a solo piece, stark in its rage and eccentricity. "Take Me to the River," on the opposite side of the movie and album, equally benefits from the full-force production of fourteen people on stage, becoming a kind of New Wave gospel anthem. The other songs gain a lot from the energy of a live performance. Talking Heads was a cerebral band in the studio, especially under the helm of producer Brian Eno for Fear of Music and Remain in Light. Those albums, while wonderful, suffer somewhat from the layer-upon-layer of soundscapes favored by Eno at the time (similar to the problem of the Robert Fripp-produced Peter Gabriel album). Live, these same songs open up, becoming even more funky and weird, matching the stage antics of Byrne.

The only problem with this album was the fact that all of the songs from the movie weren't on it, including bright reworkings of "Thank You for Sending Me an Angel" and "Found a Job." Someone must have been listening, however, and for its 20th anniversary, the album was rereleased in a special edition with four more songs. Thus a great album is made even greater.

As "Life During Wartime" goes, "This ain't no party/this ain't no disco/this ain't no fooling around." Stop Making Sense shows that Talking Heads were a serious force, the true culmination of the New Wave spirit in the U.S.

Fifteen years later, this album still stands up. "Stop Making Sense" is one of the best live recordings ever released--tremendous musicianship, songwriting, energy, elan. And this recording is VERY good. The Heads were unique--amazingly tight and clean for such a large rock/pop band. The fun they had while performing this music is contagious. It's impossible to keep still while listening to this album.

It's a real shame that they haven't re-released the Heads' other live album, "The Name of this Band is the Talking Heads" (1981), another great album (with performances spanning their early days through the "Remain in Light" tour). I've heard an unreleased performance from their "Fear of Music" tour (1979); the Heads were an absolutely fantastic live band.

Your life will be complete with "Stop Making Sense."

The newly remastered Stop Making Sense just blows this one out of the water and is worth every additional penny. Really. Don't buy this one.

I'd say this is definitely an essential Talking Heads recording, successfully capturing the vibrant chemistry shared by the band's original members, Harrison, Frantz, Weymouth and Byrne. Most of their classic hits are performed in this live album; it's one of the finest concert recordings I've heard of a great rock and roll band. Whenever I listen to Talking Heads' music, this is the album I reach for first. For those who are unfamiliar with the Talking Heads, this is the soundtrack to Jonathan Demme's excellent concert film of the band, also titled "Stop Making Sense".

David Byrne (lead singer/writer for Talking Heads) will never win any awards for brilliant lyrics, deep emotional songs or, for that matter, lyrics that can be interpreted at all. But it doesn't matter, every song on this CD will have your adrenaline pumpin' and feet a tappin'. David is a master at creating these great songs. For those of you who have heard "Burning Down the House" (which should be just about everyone except my dad), the rest of the songs are just as energetic. For a CD just about as good, I highly recommend "Little Creatures."

To differentiate the truly great CDs, I have only given 15 CDs a 5-star rating. This is one of them. Click on my name above to see the rest of them. Maybe your musical taste is similar to mine and I can lead you to other awesome music.

This is essential because it draws from their very best material, and the songs have never sounded this good. "once in a lifetime" is particularly improved, giving it a harder edge compared to the studio version, but you will find all of the songs are very well arranged live. It doesn't really sound like a live album, its so good. If you are new to the band get this and the newly released The Name of the Band is Talking Heads, another great live album. Or you could opt for the Best Of disc instead. I am having a hard time deciding between the two, actually. But I have no doubt that this is a necessary musical document of the greatest band of the 80's.

The movie Stop Making Sense was an amazing chance to see one of the most creative bands of the 80's in action. This soundtrack does a good job of capturing the sound of this event, but does not quite reproduce the power of the show as well as the concert film. The band is in fine form and David Byrne's vocals are impassioned and forceful, very different from the sterility and control found on the studio recordings. A new version is available with added tracks. Fans probably should check that out as opposed to this version.

The most infectious album they ever put out. Your body doesn't stop moving until the music does. I wish the CD included all of the tracks the movie contained. I'd kill for a DVD of this event. It is what live albums are supposed to be.

This album got me through college. It is just fantastic. Live versions of their best songs provide so much energy it's awesome.