Talking Heads - Talking Heads: Fear of Music
Our Price: $59.97
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Category: Music CD
See more new music releases
Buy this Music CD at online store in your country
Canadian Music Store
Canadian Music Store
Music CD Cover
Artist: Talking HeadsEdition: Music CD
Audio: English (Unknown)
Format: Dual Disc, Original recording remastered
CD Release Date: 2006-01-10
Music Label: Rhino
Soundtracks:
- I Zimbra
- Mind
- Paper
- Cities
- Life During Wartime
- Memories Can't Wait
- Air
- Heaven
- Animals
- Electric Guitar
- Drugs
- Dancing for Money [Unfinished Outtake][#][*]
- Life During Wartime [Alternate Version][#][*]
- Cities [Alternate Version][#][*]
- Mind [Alternate Version][#][*]
Free Music Notes for Talking Heads: Fear of Music
Free Music Review: What is happening to my skin?
Hit: 5 Stars
Talking Heads were, at the time of this album's original release, the hippest band in New York. The types of people who today champion bands like Animal Collective (groan...) and Gang Gang Dance (yay!) were wetting themselves over the Heads in '79-'80. I myself was too young to experience this first hand, but thanks to the magic of record stores I discovered that yes, David Byrne & co. were worth all the fuss after all. Now, thanks to the newfangled magic of dualdisc, a whole new generation can hear for themselves where today's hip bands were inspired by.
"Fear of Music" is arguably not the Heads' greatest album, but it's still my personal favorite (not coincidentally, it's also the first one I heard). While it's decidedly darker than their previous albums, it's still full of the quirky humor and quirkier rhythms that brought them earlier acclaim. FOM goes further and deeper, though. Thanks in part to producer Brian Eno* and a simple desire to experiment, the album introduces non-western music into the mix. The African rhythms inspired by Fela Kuti are all over opener "I Zimbra" like herpes on Paris Hilton's nether regions. The lyrics to that song, mistakenly thought by many to be in some sort of African dialect (pig Swahili, maybe?) are actually an old Dadaist nonsense poem. Though the African music would definitely become an integral part of the Heads' sound, it wasn't until "Remain In Light" when they really took over. As for FOM, the album marked a much greater use of synths and other weird noises. The lyrics, though for the most part no different in tone than previous efforts, definitely were a bit darker. Paranoia abounds: In Byrne's satirical world view, we should be wary of everything from "Animals" ("to trust in them/a big mistake") to "Air" ("what is happening to my skin?/Where is that protection that I needed?/Air can hurt you too"). The apex of all this is the classic, CBGB-referencing "Life During Wartime," in which the speaker seems to be trapped in the death throes of civilization itself ("The sound of gunfire, off in the distance/I'm getting used to it now"). This song was also the closest the band had come at that time to actual funk, though like everything they did, it was a funk of their own devising.
The dualdisc edition, in my opinion, is absolute aces. Some grouches may complain about the 5.1 surround mix, but I think it stays true to Eno and the band's vision for the album. Heck, it's even more claustrophobic now! Also, you have the option to listen to the album in it's original mix, albeit remastered, on the audio side as well as the DVD side. The DVD also offers a pair of cool video clips: "I Zimbra" and "Cities" performed live on a German Television show from the early eighties (the appearance was to promote "Remain In Light," and more songs from the show can be found on the dualdisc version of that album). Check out Jerry Harrison rocking a yellow shirt/red pants combination--truly, the 80's were a different time!
I will complain, although only a little bit, about the packaging. While I have no problem with Digipaks, in fact I sort of prefer them, in this case it's a step down from the vinyl edition I bought all those years ago. the cross-stitch pattern on that was raised and textured, and on the CD it's just flat, which in my opinion defeats the point. The digipak could have just as easily preserved this, so they kind of dropped the ball here. The vinyl version also included a lyric sheet; the CD booklet, though it has pictures of David Byrne's notebook from the time, omits them. Of course, that's what the internet is for, other than porn. Again, these are just little nit-picks. Taken as a whole, "Fear Of Music" is not only as good as ever, but now it may be even a little better.
*also be sure to check out the Byrne/Eno collaborative side project, "My Life in the Bush of Ghosts." It's more experimental and plays with all sorts of African and Arabic music, not to mention heavy use of tape loops that probably influenced what others would soon start doing with samplers. Not coincidentally, this has also been recently reissued, though not on dualdisc.
Alternative Rock Music CDs
Music Genres
Top music charts in Alternative Rock Music CDs
Bouncing Souls - Maniacal LaughterRelease date: 1996-01-26; Music CD
Best price: $30.00
Blondie - Parallel LinesRelease date: 1994-07-29; Music CD
Best price: $397.77
Doors - L.A. WomanRelease date: 1993-04-09; Music CD
Best price: $199.99
Amon Duul - Phallus DeiRelease date: 1997-04-08; Music CD
Price in other shops:
Tangerine Dream - MelroseRelease date: 1990-10-02; Music CD
Best price: $74.98
Tangerine Dream - Private Music of Tangerine DreamRelease date: 1992-11-10; Music CD
Best price: $8.00
Price in other shops:
![Ska Explosion [VHS] Image](/images/Ska-Explosion-VHS-6303381014-X.jpg){kind=small}
Ska Explosion [VHS]Cleopatra; Release date: 1995-02-28; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Best price: $14.99
Price in other shops:
![Little Earthquakes [VHS] Image](/images/Little-Earthquakes-VHS-6302488664-X.jpg){kind=small}
Little Earthquakes [VHS]Atlantic / Wea; Release date: 1992-11-10; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Best price: $7.00
Price in other shops:
Exileby Geoffrey Oryema
Music CD
Best price: $4.95
![Louder Than Live [VHS] Image](/images/Louder-Than-Live-VHS-6301627865-X.jpg){kind=small}
Soundgarden - Louder Than Live [VHS]A&M Video; Release date: 1991-07-01; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Price in other shops:
Top Rated Albums
![Moving Pictures - Deluxe Edition [CD + Blu-ray] Image](/images/Moving-Pictures-Deluxe-Edition-CD-Blu-ray-B004MNVKVO-X.jpg)
Rush - Moving Pictures - Deluxe Edition [CD + Blu-ray]Release date: 2011-05-03; Music CD
Best price: $21.47
Price in other shops:
Talking Heads - The Name of This Band is Talking HeadsTALKING HEADS; Release date: 2004-08-17; Music CD
Best price: $9.71
Price in other shops:
King Crimson - Discipline: 40th Anniversary SeriesRelease date: 2011-10-24; Music CD
Best price: $16.96
Price in other shops:
Talking Heads - Talking Heads: True StoriesRelease date: 2006-02-14; Music CD
Best price: $44.97
Talking Heads - Talking Heads: NakedTALKING HEADS; Release date: 2006-02-14; Music CD
Best price: $83.34
Talking Heads - Talking Heads: Speaking in TonguesRelease date: 2006-02-14; Music CD
Best price: $40.95
Talking Heads - Talking Heads: 77 Remastered & Expanded (CD + Dvd)Release date: 2008-01-13; Music CD
Best price: $16.11
Price in other shops:
Talking Heads - Talking Heads: Little CreaturesTALKING HEADS; Release date: 2006-02-14; Music CD
Best price: $7.87
Price in other shops:
Talking Heads - More Songs About Buildings & FoodTALKING HEADS; Release date: 1990-10-25; Music CD
Best price: $6.00
Price in other shops:
Talking Heads - Remain in LightTALKING HEADS; Release date: 1990-10-25; Music CD
Best price: $3.72
Price in other shops: