Back from the dead.
Album: Remain in Light
Artist: Talking Heads
Genre: Post-Punk
Suggested by: Plainview
Familiarity: I did say I'd review albums I've heard before, did I not?
Very familiar with the first couple of songs, but the rest will involve some reminiscence.
1. Born Under Punches (The Heat Goes On) - This track is an overwhelming cascade of rhythmic tapping and beating. From Weymouth's plucky bass, to Chris Frantz' tight rhythms on the drums, to Byrne and Harrison's wacky guitar lines, the song is technical and staccato. Byrne's repetitive shouted vocals and chants are especially poigniant, while the synth solo in the middle of the song is also perfectly agitated.
2. Crosseyed and Painless - Another faster, funk-infused song driven powerfully by the Frantz-Weymouth rhythm duo. The tinkly guitar adds an extra layer to the track as well. The various effects added in by Eno serve to add texture to a song that is already great without it. And of course, the vocal lines are some of the best ever created. Byrne's lyrics are excellent as usual, really just nothing to complain about.
3. The Great Curve - Another fast funk song, this time featuring african drums as ornaments. The main pieces need no introduction, most of them are playing as normal. A solo in the style of the one on the first track appears, except this time on guitar and with considerably heavy distortion for a Talking Heads song.
4. Once in a Lifetime - This one is the big single from this one. Lots of Eno influence here in the synths, but the vocal melodies remain. Less funky stuff too. Bit more of a new wave track. Overall, I enjoy it a bit less than the others, but it's still really great.
5. Houses in Motion - Back to the funky guitars, mid tempo now. No driving drum-bass combo here, so this track is a bit more wavy and freeform. Some weird synth horn stuff here, but beyond that, nothing out of the ordinary. Not nearly as catchy as the other songs though.
6. Seen and Not Seen - Lots of Eno's ambient effects here, they add some needed texture to this otherwise simple song.
7. Listening Wind - Again, similar thing. This time it sounds sort of jungl-y with the reverberating drums. Still pretty good, though this album really lost some steam on the second half, didn't remember that from when I previously listened to it.
8. The Overload - This album just gets slower and SLOWER!!! But in this case, it's fine. Another track drenched in Eno-isms, but this one has a slow, drifting tone as well. Lots of ambient guitar drones in the background. Byrne has some great vocal lines here as well.
This is, no doubt, a very, very good album. However, I feel it is a bit shakier in the middle than I remember. Maybe it's just me, but I definitely am not as into some of the songs in the middle as others seem to be. Other than that, though, it's a great record.
OVERALL RATING: 9/10