Customer Reviews

Talking Heads: Speaking in Tongues

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

After purchasing all the remastered albums and listening to both sides of these dualdiscs inside and out, I have come to the earth-shattering conclusion that SPEAKING IN TONGUES is in fact their finest achievement. Prior to these reissues, I was a devotee of FEAR OF MUSIC and REMAIN IN LIGHT, but the extraordinary remastering here reveals previously indistinct, nuanced layers. Indeed, all previous iterations of this album were compromised (especially the truncated versions of some of the songs on the original vinyl release), while this is the definitive version. Songs are finally allowed to play out as extended jams, and it adds to the overall free-form feel. Even more than REMAIN, this is their most experimental sounding album, and the tracks that I once wrote off as filler ("Pull Up The Roots," "I Get Wild/Wild Gravity") now sound both resistently enigmatic and eminently danceable. In comparison, LITTLE CREATURES sounds all the more diminished, while TRUE STORIES is, well...pretty terrible (although I'm partial to about half of NAKED). And O-U-T (but no hard feelings...)

An album that everyone but me seems to love, "Speaking in Tongues", the first Talking Heads album in three years when it came out, was also the first album since their debut not produced by Brian Eno, with the band taking over productions duties. The band proves remarkably diverse, clearly embracing many of the sounds and ideas the members explored between albums, but all in all, I find the album lacks something that the records with Eno had.

And in truth, it may have that its Eno I find missing-- it's been my assessment that in the twenty years or so Eno was involved in "art rock" records, the material he worked on was the pinnacle of the form-- his own albums in the early '70s, John Cale's mid-70s trio for Island records, David Bowie's Berlin period, the turn of the '70s Talking Heads albums, U2's mid '80s albums... all of them are pretty much universally superb and among the best (if not the best) by the artist Eno was engaged with.

But enough of my Eno love fest, as the case may be, this album is without him and the band explores programmed rhythms, dance beats and funk, as well as a number of other forms. The most noticable thing about the album is a number of the tracks are very dated-- they came from the '80s, it's pretty clear ("Slippery People", "Pull Up the Roots"). This isn't something that the Talking Heads is generally known for, their albums, particularly the early ones, have a unique timeless quality to them. On the other hand, the band is emmensely talented, and principle songwriter David Byrne endlessly inventive, and even in this sort of corner, they successfully manages to pull off at least one utterly superb piece in the form of single "Burning Down the House". Composed from a throwaway jam, the piece ends up being everything great Talking Heads is-- timeless, somewhat funky and jittery. It works entirely too well. And certainly when the band spreads their wings-- be it the slow groove of "Girlfriend is Better" (featuring one of the most self assured vocal Byrne delivered with the band), the blues ramble "Swamp" (with Byrne an octave lower than usual) and the light and delicate closer "This Must Be the Place (Naive Melody)"-- the music is superb. The latter in particular is stunning, driven by delicately bouncing synthesizers with a fantastic gentle sound and superb vocal delivery from Byrne that introduces a sense of melancholy and gentle naivette that really makes it the standout of the record, even in the presence of "Burning Down the House".

This dualdisc reissue is superbly remastered-- both the stereo CD side and 5.1 DVD side sound superb (this album in particular benefits from the additional space 5.1 allows) and a few bonus tracks are included-- each side contains an alternate mix of "Burning Down the House", the CD side adds an unfinished demo and the DVD side videos for the singles.

But you know, in the end, a lot of people like this one a lot more than I do, and there may be a reason for that. It's certainly worth investigating, but I think it pales in comparison to the three albums with Eno. Newcomers to the band might do better starting with "Remain in Light".

Brian Eno left to make some insane ambient music, titled something like Warm Green Science Tiger, and the group reformed. Their sound completely changed here, mutating themselves into a disco-funk/world music/new wave group. The lyrics are paranoid as usual, and the rhythms are great. Still, I miss Eno's weird production stuff. But it's still a great album. Everybody knows "Burning down the House", which became the group's biggest hit and justly so, combining a driving rhythm, ominous synthesizer and heavy, danceable grooves. This and the next three songs are golden: "Making Flippy Floppy" features some interesting faux-Indian keyboards in the bridge, with a first-rate guitar solo as well; "Girlfriend is Better" is pretty much just the group babbling about god-knows-what, but let's face it, few groups could do it better - besides, it's got a chorus that is physically incapable of leaving your head and a danceable rhythm; "Slippery People" has a cool call-and-response chorus, featuring some of the best backing vocalists ever to appear on any record, as well as cool percussion and weird synthesizer sounds. And try to listen to these without dancing! It's not possible. "I Get Wild/Wild Gravity" is a rather lame retread of "Making Flippy Floppy", and it slogs at five minutes; "Moon Rocks" isn't much more than trivial, underwritten funk. But "Swamp", featuring one of David Byrne's strangest and most menacing vocal performances, is a classic, anti-nuclear war country-blues-new wave stomp; and "This Must Be the Place (Naïve Melody)" is one of the few wistful songs in the group's catalogue, packing a stunning synthesized string part. No, it's not Fear of Music or Remain in Light, and virtually everything closes in on or breaks five minutes via plenty of unneeded repetition ("Pull up the Roots"). Still a pretty good record.

Stop whingeing the lot of you! These remasters are brilliant. The Digipacks are a much classier presentation than jewel cases. Maybe like me you'll want to put them in plastic sleeves to keep them pristine, but unless you treat all your possesions like dirt then they will last your lifetime. If the Dualdiscs aren't working in your gear then it's time to upgrade. The stereo remaster is as it should be, sounding full and rich and clear. Start with that to hear the album you know sound the best it ever has. Then move on to the 5.1 surround sound remixes. They are the best of their kind I have come across as they maintain the colour and texture (yes 'feel' if you like) of the original stereo mix while transporting you into a whole new world. Sometimes in surround mixes you can pick out individual sounds to the detriment of the overall blend and the ear feels let down by discovering the secret ingredients, but in the Talking Heads remixes some of those sounds are even more interesting in isolation but still entwine with everything else to preserve the intention of the stereo mix. Trying to describe how amazing this album sounds in surround is where the title of the record comes from! How lucky we are to live in these times when technology allows us to listen to great music that's nearly 30 years old and have it sound better than it ever has! And aren't we lucky to be fans of a band called Talking Heads.

During the early 80's Talking Heads were one busy bunch of people;Tina and Chris had some success a year and a half earlier with their debut with Tom Tom Club while Jerry Harrison and David Byrne both recorded solo albums. The huge tour for Remain in Light allowed for a band called the "expanded heads" to re-create live versions of the songs Eno and the Heads' fasioned in the studio;these included some very funky musicians such as keyboard/synthesizer players Wally Badarou and the one and only Bernie Worrell,along with the Brothers Johnson's Alex Weir on guitar and the percussionist Steve Scales. On this album it's back to the band themselves producting their own album;Eno is no longer involved with them at this point.And you can hear the difference. Here is where the band utilize their "expanded" touring band of largely funk-experienced musicians and created a winning,more commercially viable version of the rhythmic innovations of the previous album.And in that sense it payed off instantly with the smash "Burning Down The House"-THE ULTIMATE 80's song in the sense that it smashes any boundries of rock-based and funk-based new wave this side of the Minneapolis sound. Basically the Talking Heads have discovered "naked funk" here,as "Making Flippy Floppy","Girlfriend Is Better","I Get Wild/Wild Gravity","Slippery People" and the heavy "Swamp" all lay down extended funk grooves with Alex and Chris every so often trying to replicate Adrien Belew's "zoo guitar" which,along with Bernie's trademark colorful bass synth effects make for some surprising results."Moon Rocks" and "Pull Up The Roots" put more of a reggae spin on things which....well is pretty typical for the time.But this is Talking Heads we're talking about here;their talent lays in their ability to put their own unique trademark to even popular sounds of the day to sound fresh and different. The final song on the orginal album was...another hit of sorts."This Must Be The Place (Naive Melody)" is one of the erriest funk/reggae tunes out there,with it's dreamy,high pitched synth notes it was the perfect intro to.....the debut episode of Northern Exposure - The Complete Sixth Season,although you won't be able to hear it on the DVD version to to copywrite protection...I think.Either way it's an excellent song from this album.Rounding out this version of one of the finest naked funk recordings of 1983 are the excellent jam "Two Note Swivel",it says it's unfinished but it's sure pretty full sounding to me.The alternate take of "Burning Down The House" has a lot more of the electronics taken out to hear it more "in the process" then anything. This would prove to be the Talking Heads' last foray into funk for a number of years,as they would presue more rock-oriented pop directions in the future.But this would not be the official end.This marked the beginning of the "big suit" period for the band,as this albums tour as documented vividly on Stop Making Sense which kept the whole Talking Head's artistic and commercial expressway running full steam ahead until they made their next album.

What is arguably the very best CD of the 80's, and certainly of a career, is now out in an absolutely stirring remastering CD and DVD side. Arguments about the format notwithstanding, this is an essential disc to re-purchase. It sounds F*C%ING UNBELIEVABLE. The presence and definition on the CD side is stunning. The 5.1 separation on the DVD side will jar you. Along with REMAIN IN LIGHT, This disc remains light years ahead of anything that has come in its wake.
What was lost in the vinyl, and not all that great on the first set of CDs now makes sense. What you hear going on in the different levels will thrill you, get you dancing and have you grinning from ear to ear. The DVD side has some nice video and the packaging is up to TH trend setting standards. I still have the Robert Rauschenberg vinyl of this, and will likely never play it, but this one from an audio perspective is every bit the treasure of the RR.

By 1983, after three years away, Talking Heads achieved their first true Top 40 hit in the form of the now classic "Burning Down The House". "Speaking In Tongues" was the album that broke them into the mainstream. I find it to be one of their best recordings, and maybe their most dance-oriented. The digital remastering significantly improves the sound quality, but it's the dvd side with its 5.1 surround sound mix that really cooks. Another reviewer found "Speaking In Tongues" to be dated and without Eno's touch, but I disagree. The Heads do their own thing here and the quality isn't less than "Remain In Light" and "Fear Of Music". Many of the songs still sound fresh like "Girlfriend Is Better", "Slippery People", "Pull Up The Roots", "This Must Be The Place (Naive Melody)". However, I will say that I like the versions on "Stop Making Sense" the following year even better.

The cd side comes with "Two Note Swivel", an unfinished outtake that sounds great alongside the other songs, and an alternate version of "Burning Down The House" which is okay.

It's truly the dvd side that's worth the buy. You haven't heard this album until you've heard it in 5.1 surround. Plus, it comes with photos and two music videos for "Burning Down The House" and "This Must Be The Place (Naive Melody)". Again, no lyrics included, but you do get a comment about remastering the disc by Jerry Harrison which is interesting.

The last person you'd ever accuse of having a great sense of funk and rhythm, David Byrne, unleashed this gem after "Remain In Light", giving us the two best Talking Heads CD's (records back then) back to back. The secret weapon this time around was courtesy of keyboard funkmeister supreme Bernie Worrell, of Parliament/Funkadelic fame, and you don't get any better than that.
Worrell's bleeps, bloops and far out sounds punctuate a set that grooves so mightily it should come with its own earthquake warning.
"Burning Down The House" is the best known, but the sinister funk really starts with "Making Flippy Floppy" and doesn't quit. Again, Tina Weymouth shows why she is one of the best bassists in the world, bar none, with her lines alternately bouncing all over the place or holding down the beat and pounding you senseless with it, especially on "Moon Rock", one of the best tracks. "Swamp" sounds like George Clinton and ZZTop collaborating, and the whole thing is a joyous romp worthy of the best early '70's funk it lovingly reminds us of. Wear a neck brace for this one.

Nice job with the mastering. The fat disk has a hard time fitting into my iMac slot. The first few songs don't play well. On my CD player I can't play the first song at all.

I had exactly the same experence with "Fear Of Music". It must be a problem with the DualDisc format.

This disc and the ones that followed did not age as well as the earlier TH discs. But my main question is whether I'm the only who has had trouble playing CD side of this disc in most of my players. Regularly comes up as "Nonformatted". Beware, especially if you're buying the full "Brick" set.