10 Near Perfect New Wave Albums With One Bad Song
3. Fear Of Music - Talking Heads (1979)
The Talking Heads' back catalogue is so packed full of stellar records, that singling out any for being less the perfect is a tough exercise. They all merge into a tapestry of engaging rhythms, erratic vocals and dance hook beats, that don't let up for a moment.
Fear Of Music, explored themes of a dystopian future, with David Byrne referencing apocalyptic cityscapes, in tracks like, Cities. Byrne exhibits his unrivalled stream of consciousness, with lyrics that jump around from place to place. Life During Wartime, contains distinctive blues influences, with an overriding guitar riff, inspired by southern boogie rock. It's one of the few Talking Heads numbers that follows any kind of conventional song structure. Memories Can't Wait, feels like a tripped out, drug induced paranoia, with the narrator ultimately surrendering to the madness.
Heaven is one of the more laid back tracks the Heads have ever written. It humorously describes the after life as a dingy and dull bar, where nothing much ever goes on. But the song, much like the place Byrne is referencing, is an equally dull affair. The Heads are at their best when they're playing with scatty melodies that surprise you at every turn. Heaven just fell flat...