More graduates of the CBGB club, Talking Heads could perhaps be more accurately described as “art-pop” than the punk/post-punk/new wave style of many of their CBGB fellow performers (Ramones, Blondie et al.). Frontman David Byrne's slightly neurotic stage appearance, coupled with his quirky vocal stylings, make them seem like the awkward nerds in the room of cool kids.
Arguably their sound is heavily reliant on the husband-and-wife rhythm section – Chris Frantz on drums and Tina Weymouth on bass, Weymouth being pretty much a pioneer for female bass-players who basically stepped in from being Frantz’s girlfriend and van driver for the band to learn the bass and fill a niche. She mixes steady lock-step beats with funky breaks, one of those bassists that’s easy to overlook until you listen to what they’re doing and realise how versatile they are. What’s rather refreshing as well after a realm of other artists that feature chaotic, messy bad boys, pressure-cooker tempers and acrimonious break-ups immortalised in embittered songs, is that she and Frantz are still together to this day.
All the hallmarks of Talking Heads songs that I know from owning later albums (Little Creatures, which I hope is on this list; True Stories; Stop Making Sense, which also ought to be on here if other live albums are). Byrne’s odd little chirrups and throat noises. Frantz and Weymouth’s beats; less so on here are Jerry Harrison’s keyboards which are most prevalent on Stop Making Sense. Even certain melodic phrases appear – I got a little hint of And She Was from the guitar motif of New Feeling (a good example of Weymouth’s funky bass driving the song), and of Little Creatures from the chorus of Tentative Decisions (not to mention Frantz’s drums on this track sounding like Road To Nowhere).
Byrne’s quirky lyrics, often about mundane things but with a satirical edge are prevalent. Don’t Worry About The Government, for example, has a chirpily optimistic narrator that declares that:
“Some civil servants are just like my loved ones
They work so hard and they try to be strong
I'm a lucky guy to live in my building
They own the buildings to help them along”
They work so hard and they try to be strong
I'm a lucky guy to live in my building
They own the buildings to help them along”
A little like Earl in The Lego Movie, perhaps he’s just a little bit too acquiescent and happy with the status quo – the song is bouncy and light, but you get the sense that it’s tongue in cheek throughout. Maybe he cracks and becomes the Psycho Killer later on. Which is a fantastic version of the track, Weymouth’s bass really killing it once again (no pun intended).
Even though at times it sounds like rough drafts for later Talking Heads songs, compared to its contemporary music it’s pretty unusual. Maybe it’s a little like what Bowie was creating at this time, maybe a little like Sparks, but still very much its own thing.
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