Talking Heads – “Fear of Music” (1979)

I now and then heard the Talking Heads album Speaking in Tongues being played on the stereo in the house where I grew up, it was my older brother who owned it and it was a record I liked. If there was one person behind the name Talking Heads or ten-man-band, I had no idea. In my early self-centered teenage years, I thought because this record was the only one I had heard with TH, it was the only album they had made. This was so obvious I never even reflected on this idea. Imagine then my surprise when I as a 14-year-old visited the record store Tropez Records in Uppsala (Sweden) and found an ink black album with TH called Fear of Music. My world tumbled when I got the life-changing insight that Talking Heads, and thus probably many other bands, had a history! It was something of a shock and a new world, or many new worlds opened up. The wallet also had to open up. Damn!

As you often did in those days I listened to the record in the store and I thought it was fantastic. Especially the second track Mind blew my mind and I spontaneously felt that it was one of the best songs I've ever heard. Back home from the store and proudly showed my brother the new record. I remember how he lay on the living room floor and listened to the album in headphones. When he was done, he gave the album thumbs up and mentioned that he had really liked the song Memories can’t wait. It felt good that my brother, who had introduced TH in my life, also liked the album.

Fear of Music was Talking Head’s third album and Brian Eno was again the producer. The basics for the album was recorded with Eno for two days in drummer Chris Frantz’s and bassist Tina Weymouth’s loft in New York. The cover was designed by keyboardist/guitarist Jerry Harrison, he’s also the one who came up with the album’s title. Most songs were created by the band jamming together, however, the singer/guitarist David Byrne has got most of the credits concerning the songwriting. Byrne has written the texts except to the opening song I Zimbra. When the record was released it got a positive respons from the general public and critics.

Personally I think this is a very good album, one of Talking Heads best, if not the best. Just like the album cover the sound is relatively dark, it's not a depressing album but I can’t call it uplifting. There are not many records out there where all the songs are good, but Fear of Music is one of them. Almost. All tracks are of very high quality but if I must break it down to controlled enthusiasm and unconditional love the songs I Zimbra, Paper and Cities have always belonged to the B-team. Animals is the only song I’ve had a hard time with (except the last part which is fun). Other songs are gems. Heaven is the most "normal" song on the album and probably the only one who could work in the repertoire of a cover band playing at a 50th birthday party. Life During Wartime is a favorite of many fans and one of TH's more famous songs. Yeah, OK, that one could problably work in the reperiore of a cover band also.

Over the years, Fear of Music has received lots of top spots in lists like the best album of 1979, best album ever, the best album in the last 20 years, best album of the 70s, etc. (How many lists can be created anyway?).

Favorite Songs

Mind

Memories Can’t Wait

Air

Electric Guitar

Drugs

 

Tracklist

Side A

1. I Zimbra 3:09

2. Mind 4:13

3. Paper 2:39

4. Cities 4:10

5. Life During Wartime 3:41

6. Memories Can't Wait" 3:30

Side B

1. Air 3:34

2. Heaven 4:01

3. Animals 3:30

4. Electric Guitar 3:03

5. Drugs 5:10

 

Memories can’t wait

 

Air