As funky as hell
More Songs About Buildings And Food sees the Heads moving away from their poppier first album and, under the guidance of Brian Eno, discovering that there had always been a dance element to their music. It's an inspired move - whereas before Byrne had been the focus of the band, the formidable Weymouth / Frantz rhythm section relly makes its presence felt here: from With Our Love through Found A Job up to Stay Hungry, they just keep churning out those grooves. Retrospectively, this was an element of their music that was already there just waiting to be expanded upon: several of the songs featured on the album had already been written, sometimes as long as two years before the release of the record, and were already (I think) part of the band's live repertoire. Byrne's lyrics and way with a chorus are not forgotten, however - Good Thing has an absolute monster of a chorus. Another excellent feature of the album is that many of the songs crescendo at the end with an absolutely storming vamp that you want to continue forever.
The Big Country deserves special mention because it showed that the band still had much more to explore - it's a melodic, country tinged, slightly balladic (although not actually a ballad - they didn't do one of those till their seventh album) song about an idealised American heartland; although in typical Byrne style the narrator of the song doesn't seem to find the vision particularly appealing ('I wouldn't live there if you paid me'). They wouldn't really travel in this direction again until Little Creatures, although nothing on there is as good as The Big Country.
Overall, the album is excellent. As with Fear of Music, Remain In Light and Speaking In Tongues, if you're a music fan of any sort you should consider getting it. If you scroll up you'll find some preview links - I suggest you click them.
look at my hair - I like the design
The Talking Heads have several great albums, but More songs is their best; also easily one of the greatest rock albums ever. David Byrne overflows with a paranoid nervous energy. The songs are excellent - very original, creative and, often, hilarious. Producer Brian Eno, who worked with them from 78-81, is also a great addition to this album because of the life and added dimension his production brings. This album doesn't immediately jump out and grab you (at least for me); it is pretty subtle and you grow to love it.
if you want a flawless, amazing album that's going to totally blow you away, get their first album, "77". this album doesn't compare to "77" at all.the only talking heads song that really stands out on here is "with our love", which is just plain awesome. of course, "take me to the river" stands out as well, but it's not a talking heads song.
the album begins and ends with great songs, as well, but nothing in the middle is very good (well, i suppose "the good thing" is pretty good)
in fact, "the girls want to be with the girls" is one of the most irritating and stupid songs i've ever heard. it sounds like something a 3 and a half year old would write. "and the boys say 'what do you meeean?'" it's a painful listen. the music and singing of this song (and a few others on here) is repetitive, boring, and just not so good, especially compared to the great masterpiece called "77"
so bring on the "unhelpful votes". it's worth it. 30 reviews and not one of them can admit that this album just isn't that good?
Title Is Misleading...
Though the song "Big Country" has a scene in it where people are eating, this album is surprisingly devoid of any songs about buildings OR food whatsoever! But don't worry, you are unlikely to be dissapointed by this set, regardless of your usually preferred musical genres.
This album was released the same year I was born, 1978, and it's a real time-capsule from my childhood. As another reviewer pointed out, the bass playing on this piece really holds the songs together. In fact, Tina Weymouth's bass lines are often heavily sampled and used by club spinners these days! Come and check out where some of these riffs originally came from...
David Byrne is on par with his lyrics here, fun and thought-provoking at the same time. Still, I don't quite know how to express my intuition on this one but- I don't feel the same sense of personal intimacy in the lyrics that I hear on other Talking Heads albums. The attitude is perhaps a little smug, or affected. Don't get me wrong, the songs are still brilliant, but the album feels, let's say, more like a less-witty version of The Smiths, as opposed to their usual Jane's Addiction style religious epiphany.
The musicianship is arranged with a superb sense of space and the sound has an excellent contrast between bass and treble- not to mention the patently brilliant rhythms for which the Talking Heads are known. The singing is also excellent, but the lyrics and subjects are a matter of individual taste for preference. The important thing is, this album is essentially dud-free and has a wide appeal and, at the price you can get it for- well worth the investment.
This is THE one...
There's always debate (among those who care) as to which record best captured the Talking Heads' sound. Well, my vote's with this one. It's tight, tense and nervous, but without going over the top on any element- a good balance in other words. Really it's a concept album about modern livin'. The songs may be a bit tongue-in-cheek, but it's pretty easy to tell what they're about. "Girls want to be with the girls," for example, is very perceptive- girls tend to like to socialize in groups and it leaves guys confused as to how to approach them (ladies out there: why is this?). And "Found a Job" is a great positive rocker about improving your life by finding a new career that works better for you than your old one. "With Our Love" is also very perceptive, nicely describing the modern (read: workaholic) lifestyle and its impact on relationships ("I have to go to work now"). It is all thought-provoking stuff. After this, the Heads remained brilliant through "Stop Making Sense," then lost it for the most part (Mr. Byrne: why is THIS??). But what we have here is greatness, and great fun.
Choosing former Roxy Music member and David Bowie collaborator Brian Eno to produce them, Talking Heads expanded their sound greatly for their 1978-released second album. While most associated Eno with hi-tech, electronic fare, he surprisingly brought out the more organically rhythmic side of the Heads' material. With Jerry Harrison's keyboards playing a more pronounced role--most notably on their spirited hit cover of Al Green's "Take Me to the River"--and drummer Chris Frantz and bassist Tina Weymouth powering the band through tracks like "Stay Hungry" and "Warning Sign," leader David Byrne sounded more relaxed and "normal," even as he wandered through such high-concept works as "Artists Only" and the sprawling "Big Country." --Billy Altman
