Talking Heads – Speaking In Tongues

Of all the studio albums that Talking Heads have ever recorded, this is one of the best here, as it simply represents the tightrope act between sophisticated underground and danceable, catchy songs.

The lyrics, which convey fear, paranoia and alienation in an abstract and associative way, are supported musically by hectic beats and garish synth sounds and the songs still hang. This sound fits just as perfectly in the New York 'No Wave' scene as it does in the clubs in London and the sound closeness to the Grace Jones productions of the early 80s is quite astonishing. A very danceable reggae / dub sound with funky guitar licks to make it a bit simpler.

In the subsequent soundtrack to 'Stop Making Sense', many of the songs on this album sound even more urgent and hectic and were sometimes arranged differently for the stage show, but the versions on this album simply make it clearer that this disc is a transition album for the Talking Heads - gone from New Wave to Pop. The following "Little Creatures" was just more pop - made for the hit parades. But this is the Talking Heads' dance album, in its quirky and intellectual style.