The other interesting aspect of this re-issue is the video DVD side. On it, you’ll find a couple of live performances which feature ‘80’s guitarist extraordinaire Adrian Belew and a fine line up of touring pick up musicians who fill some dangerously sparse parts of the compositions admirably. However, where this end falls apart is with the still photos offered with another play of the entire album. Maybe some ‘Heads fans would enjoy these, but for me, it was kind of weird to have static images going along with the meaty and bouncy music of the group, especially on the highly danceable songs “I Zimbra” and “Life During Wartime.” Maybe they just had space to fill on the disc, I don’t know. But it seems like an odd idea to me.
Rhino has released the entire ‘Heads catalogue, and if any of you are interested in discovering why the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Phish and Radiohead site this band as an influence, I highly recommend you check out this album. It is a lasting tribute to a musical era filled with experimentation and risk, things we don’t find much of anymore in pop music.
Edited: [!-GH--]
Article comments
1 - Gordon Hauptfleisch
Good review. Pretty historic show for you: CBGB's, TH, Patti Smith & Television. I saw them with Iggy Pop in LA, and I remember one review describing Talking Heads as "resembling Young Republicans."
2 - Steven Hart
You saw Television, Patti Smith and Talking Heads on the same night at CBGB's? Talk about being present at the creation!
If I remember correctly, the Heads (or at least Byrne) set out to make Fear of Music sound as weird as possible after the relative (I repeat, relative) sweetness of More Songs About Buildings and Food. It was also the first album in which the other band members started to get steamed about the way music developed through group jams always seemed to end up credited to Byrne. Credit disputes seem to have killed off plenty of great bands in their prime.
3 - Jon Sobel
But the Heads weren't killed off by internal struggles, fortunately for us - although there was bad blood later, their classic body of work is substantial.
I was a tad too young to catch them when they started, but made up for it by excessive listening in the 80s. One of my favorite bands ever.
4 - Larry A. Sakin
Gordon and Steven- Yes, seeing the 'Heads, Television and Patti Smith on the same bill seems like a huge thing now, but at that time such sets in the New York punk scene were rather common. Both Max's and CB's had similar lineups, and they were cheap- three bands, ten bucks.
Jon- I agree, we're fortunate that the 'Heads continued as long as they did with the problems that developed. From what I understand, Byrne developed more of an interest in world music and wanted to pursue it full time, while Weymouth and Frantz's commitment to Tom Tom Club was taking up more of their time, and the inevitable split occured. Still, the body of work they left is outstanding, and still holds up well today. That can't be said about a lot of bands.
5 - Al Barger
You got to see the Talking Heads at CBGB's in 1976? With Television and Patti Smith? Oh, I hate you so much.
Fear of Music is right up there, isn't it? I'll run that up with your Sgt Peppers and Born to Runs.
Personal point of shared resentment with Mister Byrne: "Animals think they're pretty smart. They shit on the ground and see in the dark."
6 - Larry A. Sakin
Oh Al, you'd really hate me if you knew all the bands I was able to see while living in NYC during the '70's. If I ever review a Ramones album, I'll write about seeing them live at Max's with Lou Reed and Johnny Thunders and the Heartbreakers.
7 - Connie Phillips
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