Talking Heads |
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confronted many issues over the years in their lyrics, including race, gender, sexuality, and religion. The album’ s 10 diverse tracks are connected to these emotional experiences the band has endured and run the gamut of so many musical styles: rock, metal, ska, reggae, and pop. Elements of the band’ s most successful album, 1999’ s Post Orgasmic Chill, are present on several of these new tracks. The album opener,“ An Artist Is An Artist,” decorated with thumping bass lines and a hypnotic groove, is a dazzling display of Britrock. Completed by Skin’ s enticing British pronunciation, the song proves to be a great start to the album. The pulsating electronica / techno vibe of follow-up track“ This Is Not Your Life,” the reggae / ska-influenced“ Shoulda Been You,” and the melancholic-yet-uplifting ballads“ Shame” and album closer“ Meltdown” aptly shows off the band’ s musical versatility while highlighting Skin’ s dynamic soprano range. Produced by David Sitek of TV On The Radio fame, The Painful Truth is a fresh and textured album decorated with mesmerizing melodies, sharp hooks, and memorable choruses. The Painful Truth is a welcome return from one of the most successful British acts of the modern era. Skunk Anansie has channeled their creativity by writing an infectious and emotive |
slab of pop rock that will remain in the listener’ s memory long after the record is over.
– Kelley Simms
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TALKING HEADS Talking Heads: 77( Super Deluxe)( Rhino)
This vinyl LP set offers a deep dive into Talking Heads’ influential debut release. Featuring the band’ s original minimalist aesthetic
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and tight interplay, the album is remastered from the original two-track master tape. Essential singles, including " Uh-Oh, Love Comes to Town,"“ New Feeling,” and the effervescent album track“ Pulled Up,” are refreshed. The album is best remembered for the creepy no-wave funk of“ Psycho Killer.” David Byrne delivers his lyrical observations in songs like“ Don’ t Worry About the |
Government,” like a fascinated alien learning to mimic human behavior. Drummer Chris Frantz plays a taut rhythm throughout the album with a viselike grip on the tempo. Guitars skitter and ring between the hands of Byrne and Modern Lovers veteran Jerry Harrison, and Tina Weymouth plays bubbling, punchy bass lines. Fans already possessing perfectly good copies of the album |
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