Better Than True Stories
By this time, Talking Heads was less of a band than it was a group of individuals each trying to record the music that they wanted to record. Nonetheless, Talking Heads managed to put out a respectable final release in Naked. The best tracks on this album are the energetic "Blind", the well-performed "[Nothing But] Flowers", and the political "The Democratic Circus." None of this album is particularly bad but it's not terribly impressive, either. It also sounds nothing like anything else they recorded as a band, so be cautious of this one.
all over the map
rock music is the music of sincerity; you have to believe in the attitude of the lead singer or all is lost. David Byrne never bothered to create a persona- or rather, he creates a new one for each song. This probably keeps him from being as popular as he deserves to be. The main problem with "Naked" is its eclectivity (if that's a word). It has great songs on it, but it doesn't cohere as an album. If you are a Talking Heads fan, it's an essential buy, but it's not the place to start.
Absolutely wonderful
I couldn't agree more with those who use the adjective "under-appreciated" for this superb album. Whenever I pull this baby out from my collection (or type its title out on i-tunes, hehe)I know I'm in for 52:41 of sheer enjoyment. My face goes red reading these reviews that call this richly textured, mature and witty album a fizzle at the end of an otherwise illustrious career. The songs are meticulously written and obviously benefit from David Byrne's forays into the world music scene. One of few albums that I have been able to put on again and again over the years and really enjoy.
The Musical Equivalent of the Byzantine Empire
In so many ways Talking Heads career reflects the history of Rome, and in many ways, Naked is Justinian and the Byzantine empire trying to re-capture the glory of Rome.For those of you unfamiliar with the story of Justinian, the emperor of the Eastern Roman Empire (or at the time, because the West, or for most the true Roman Empire, had fallen, the Byzantine Empire) well after the fall of Rome and the last 'emperor of Rome'. However Justinian pooled his resources, and sent out his best general, Bellisarius to re-take Rome and Europe, and he damn near suceeds! Taking North Africa, Italy, and a large peice of Spain back from the Barbarians, and while it lasted such a small time, for a minute there, it seemed as though eveything was good like the old days again.
Sounds like this album, huh? Granted none of the real glories of Rome returned to Europe or to the Roman Empire, just as this album never returned Talking Heads to the glorious heights they had reached with Remain in Light. To put it more bluntly, Remain in Light was like the Colliseum, while Naked is like the Hagia Sophia. If you just asked yourself, "Hagia Sophia?" then you just got the metaphor, the Hagia Sophia is the epitome of Byzantine architechture, but most people have no idea what it is/was, and this album is the monolith of the Talking Heads post-Speaking in Tongues career (thats an arguable point, but whatever). Its a return to the World Music excusrsion of the Heads at their glorious height, but not nearly as good, and not nearly as lasting.
O yea, the music! Side A is generally the best here, like Remain in Light, even on CD the differences between the sides are particularly obvious, side A being more up-beat and explosive, and side B being more quiet and ambiant. And side A on this album is a damn good one! It's like a less tense, more organic Remain in Light, Afro-Latin rythms abound, and the addition of a really prominent horn section adds some umph to the songs, but they are not yet the textbook world music that would later drive Byrne to create Rei Momo. Lyrically, they retain some of David Byrne's fondness for small things, but here he is willing to bluntly discuss bigger issues, like on Cool Water, Facts of Life, and the Democratic Circus.
Unfortunatly, you can hear that the bands creative energy has slowed, and while much of the music is wonderful, there IS good reason as to why no-one remebers this record. It is nothing near as earth shattering as Remain in Light, or even Speaking in Tongues, it is however baroque and overlooked, and its not nearly as bad as True Stories. Pick this one up, but don't put it high on your list of priorities.
get over yourself
I picked up the Talking Heads on their last three albums. I am not weighed down by how "great" their initial albums were, only by how good the singles were prior to the final trilogy. If you "purists" had never heard a Talking Heads album and just picked up Naked and listened to on its own terms you would realize what a masterpiece it, True Stories, and Little Creatures are. So, get over yourself, close your eyes, listen to Britney, then listen to this. Your cup of appreciation will runeth over.
