Rolling Stone Album #382
Members:
David Byrne
Chris Frantz
Tina Weymouth
others
I have already done one Talking Heads album, and you may think doing another would be repetitive. The thing is More Songs About Buildings and Food shares as many similarities with Remain In Light as a fruit roll up shares with an piece of fruit. This will be my last reference to food (or buildings for that matter), so if you are here just for that it would be best to save time and leave now.
While Remain In Light is a more mature album, More Songs... displays the quirkyness that is to be expected from a bands sophomore album. Most of the songs on this record are pretty straight forward punk rock songs. Byrne's squeaky voice is either loved or hated, there really isn't any middle ground. So just a warning, if you don't like his voice in the first song, you aren't going to like it on the last song either, so get out now. Save Remain In Light and Stop Making Sense, this is my favorite Heads album. It is edgy and off the wall at times, but always fades back into comfortable hooks, and standard rock progressions. If you are a beginner, this is definately the album to start on.
Notable Songs:
Thank You For Sending Me An Angel
This song is short and sweet and gives a feeling of what is to be expected. Pretty straight forward song aside from the wacky vocals of Byrne obviously. The song is pretty much driven by just a couple of guitar riffs and vocals, and is a nice uptempo song to get the album going.
With Our Love
One of my favorites on the album here. The guitar progressions are wonderful, and there is just enough bass and drums. The two guitars mesh beautifully, and for the first time on the album Byrne sings a bit, with great results. Great punk song.
The Good Thing
The song starts off lighter than the previous two with some synthesized notes which mimic nicely Byrnes singing and the guitar riff. The first background vocals on the album come in, and it sounds like a choir supporting Byrne for a moment as the song gets a little darker for the chorus, but gets light again in no time. A great bassline at the end of the song takes the song out as it gets a bit heavier, and climaxes nicely.
Found A Job
Most people have probably heard this song, but I'll give a brief discription anyway. The shrill guitars and Byrnes shrill vocals will either get on your nerves or you will love them. The chorus is very catchy, and goes to more of a standard guitar sound. I love the bass in this song, and especially like the chorus. A piano (or keyboard) comes in at the 3 minute mark to accompany the guitar and bass for the last 2 minutes where it is just instrumental.
Take Me To the River
This song is a change of pace from the rest of the album. Most people should have heard this song too. It has a dueling bass and keyboard, joined occasionally by a guitar, but the song is basically a Byrne ballad. This song is driven by his singing and the bass. It's not really a beautiful song in the traditional way, but I like it.
This is pretty much a beginners album to get into the Talking Heads. It isn't the greatest that they have to offer, but is still a very solid rock record, and is worthy of a spot on the Rolling Stone top 500. Overall I would give this album a 4/5.
