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By titling their third album Fear of Music and opening it with the African rhythmic experiment "I Zimbra," complete with nonsense lyrics by poet Hugo Ball, Talking Heads make the record seem more of a departure than it is. Though Fear of Music is musically distinct from its predecessors, it's mostly because of the use of minor keys that give the music a more ominous sound. Previously, David Byrne's offbeat observations had been set off by an overtly humorous tone; on Fear of Music, he is still odd, but no longer so funny. At the same time, however, the music has become even more compelling. Worked up from jams (though Byrne received sole songwriter's credit), the music is becoming denser and more driving, notably on the album's standout track, "Life During Wartime," with lyrics that match the music's power. "This ain't no party," declares Byrne, "this ain't no disco, this ain't no fooling around." The other key song, "Heaven," extends the dismissal Byrne had expressed for the U.S. in "The Big Country" to paradise itself: "Heaven is a place where nothing ever happens." It's also the album's most melodic song. Those are the highlights. What keeps Fear of Music from being as impressive an album as Talking Heads' first two is that much of it seems to repeat those earlier efforts, while the few newer elements seem so risky and exciting. It's an uneven, transitional album, though its better songs are as good as any Talking Heads ever did.
© William Ruhlmann /TiVo
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Robert Fripp, Guitar - Greg Calbi, MasteringEngineer - Rod O'Brien, Engineer - JERRY HARRISON, Producer, Guitar, Keyboards, Backing Vocals - Brian Eno, Producer, Guitar, Piano, Writer, Synthesizer - Kooster McAllister, AssistantEngineer - Dave Hewitt, AssistantEngineer - Julie Last, Backing Vocals, AssistantEngineer - David Byrne, Producer, Guitar, Lead Vocals, Writer - Chris Frantz, Producer, Drums - Tina Weymouth, Producer, Bass Guitar - Talking Heads, MainArtist - Phil Gitomer, AssistantEngineer - Hugo Ball, Writer - Assane Thiam, Percussion - Abdou M'boup, African Percussion, Djembe - Chris Martinez, AssistantEngineer - Joe Barbaria, RecordingEngineer - Gene Wilder, Congas - Ari Wilder, Congas - Neal Teeman, Engineer - Tom Heid, AssistantEngineer - Hassam Ramzy, Surdo - Fred Ridder, AssistantEngineer
© 2006 Sire Records. Manufactured & Marketed by Rhino Entertainment Group. A Warner Music Group Co. ℗ 1979 Sire Records Company
Greg Calbi, MasteringEngineer - Rod O'Brien, Engineer - JERRY HARRISON, Producer, Guitar, Keyboards, Backing Vocals, Writer - Brian Eno, Producer, Guitar, Piano, Synthesizer - Kooster McAllister, AssistantEngineer - Dave Hewitt, AssistantEngineer - Julie Last, AssistantEngineer - David Byrne, Producer, Guitar, Lead Vocals, Writer - Chris Frantz, Producer, Drums - Tina Weymouth, Producer, Bass Guitar - Talking Heads, MainArtist - Phil Gitomer, AssistantEngineer - Chris Martinez, AssistantEngineer - Joe Barbaria, RecordingEngineer - Neal Teeman, Engineer - Tom Heid, AssistantEngineer - Fred Ridder, AssistantEngineer
© 2006 Sire Records. Manufactured & Marketed by Rhino Entertainment Group. A Warner Music Group Co. ℗ 1979 Sire Records Company
Greg Calbi, MasteringEngineer - Rod O'Brien, Engineer - JERRY HARRISON, Producer, Guitar, Keyboards, Backing Vocals - Brian Eno, Producer, Guitar, Piano, Synthesizer - Kooster McAllister, AssistantEngineer - Dave Hewitt, AssistantEngineer - Julie Last, AssistantEngineer - David Byrne, Producer, Guitar, Lead Vocals, Writer - Chris Frantz, Producer, Drums - Tina Weymouth, Producer, Bass Guitar - Talking Heads, MainArtist - Phil Gitomer, AssistantEngineer - Chris Martinez, AssistantEngineer - Joe Barbaria, RecordingEngineer - Neal Teeman, Engineer - Tom Heid, AssistantEngineer - Fred Ridder, AssistantEngineer
© 2006 Sire Records. Manufactured & Marketed by Rhino Entertainment Group. A Warner Music Group Co. ℗ 1979 Sire Records Company
Greg Calbi, MasteringEngineer - Rod O'Brien, Engineer - JERRY HARRISON, Producer, Guitar, Keyboards, Backing Vocals - Brian Eno, Producer, Guitar, Piano, Synthesizer - Kooster McAllister, AssistantEngineer - Dave Hewitt, AssistantEngineer - Julie Last, AssistantEngineer - David Byrne, Producer, Guitar, Lead Vocals, Writer - Chris Frantz, Producer, Drums - Tina Weymouth, Producer, Bass Guitar - Talking Heads, MainArtist - Phil Gitomer, AssistantEngineer - Chris Martinez, AssistantEngineer - Joe Barbaria, RecordingEngineer - Neal Teeman, Engineer - Tom Heid, AssistantEngineer - Fred Ridder, AssistantEngineer
© 2006 Sire Records. Manufactured & Marketed by Rhino Entertainment Group. A Warner Music Group Co. ℗ 1979 Sire Records Company
Greg Calbi, MasteringEngineer - Rod O'Brien, Engineer - JERRY HARRISON, Producer, Guitar, Keyboards, Backing Vocals, Writer - Brian Eno, Producer, Guitar, Piano, Synthesizer - Kooster McAllister, AssistantEngineer - Dave Hewitt, AssistantEngineer - Julie Last, AssistantEngineer - David Byrne, Producer, Guitar, Lead Vocals, Writer - Chris Frantz, Producer, Drums, Writer - Tina Weymouth, Producer, Bass Guitar, Writer - Talking Heads, MainArtist - Phil Gitomer, AssistantEngineer - Chris Martinez, AssistantEngineer - Joe Barbaria, RecordingEngineer - Gene Wilder, Congas - Ari Wilder, Congas - Neal Teeman, Engineer - Tom Heid, AssistantEngineer - Fred Ridder, AssistantEngineer
© 2006 Sire Records. Manufactured & Marketed by Rhino Entertainment Group. A Warner Music Group Co. ℗ 1979 Sire Records Company
Greg Calbi, MasteringEngineer - Rod O'Brien, Engineer - JERRY HARRISON, Producer, Guitar, Keyboards, Backing Vocals, Writer - Brian Eno, Producer, Guitar, Piano, Synthesizer - Kooster McAllister, AssistantEngineer - Dave Hewitt, AssistantEngineer - Julie Last, AssistantEngineer - David Byrne, Producer, Guitar, Lead Vocals, Writer - Chris Frantz, Producer, Drums - Tina Weymouth, Producer, Bass Guitar - Talking Heads, MainArtist - Phil Gitomer, AssistantEngineer - Chris Martinez, AssistantEngineer - Joe Barbaria, RecordingEngineer - Neal Teeman, Engineer - Tom Heid, AssistantEngineer - Fred Ridder, AssistantEngineer
© 2006 Sire Records. Manufactured & Marketed by Rhino Entertainment Group. A Warner Music Group Co. ℗ 1979 Sire Records Company
Greg Calbi, MasteringEngineer - Rod O'Brien, Engineer - JERRY HARRISON, Producer, Guitar, Keyboards, Backing Vocals - Brian Eno, Producer, Guitar, Piano, Synthesizer - Kooster McAllister, AssistantEngineer - Dave Hewitt, AssistantEngineer - Julie Last, AssistantEngineer - David Byrne, Producer, Guitar, Lead Vocals, Writer - Chris Frantz, Producer, Drums - Tina Weymouth, Producer, Bass Guitar, Backing Vocals - Talking Heads, MainArtist - Phil Gitomer, AssistantEngineer - Laura Weymouth, Backing Vocals - Chris Martinez, AssistantEngineer - Joe Barbaria, RecordingEngineer - Neal Teeman, Engineer - Tom Heid, AssistantEngineer - Lani Weymouth, Backing Vocals - Fred Ridder, AssistantEngineer - The Sweetbreaths, Backing Vocals
© 2006 Sire Records. Manufactured & Marketed by Rhino Entertainment Group. A Warner Music Group Co. ℗ 1979 Sire Records Company
Greg Calbi, MasteringEngineer - Rod O'Brien, Engineer - JERRY HARRISON, Producer, Guitar, Keyboards, Backing Vocals, Writer - Brian Eno, Producer, Guitar, Piano, Synthesizer - Kooster McAllister, AssistantEngineer - Dave Hewitt, AssistantEngineer - Julie Last, AssistantEngineer - David Byrne, Producer, Guitar, Lead Vocals, Writer - Chris Frantz, Producer, Drums - Tina Weymouth, Producer, Bass Guitar - Talking Heads, MainArtist - Phil Gitomer, AssistantEngineer - Chris Martinez, AssistantEngineer - Joe Barbaria, RecordingEngineer - Neal Teeman, Engineer - Tom Heid, AssistantEngineer - Fred Ridder, AssistantEngineer
© 2006 Sire Records. Manufactured & Marketed by Rhino Entertainment Group. A Warner Music Group Co. ℗ 1979 Sire Records Company
Greg Calbi, MasteringEngineer - Rod O'Brien, Engineer - JERRY HARRISON, Producer, Guitar, Keyboards, Backing Vocals - Brian Eno, Producer, Guitar, Piano, Synthesizer - Kooster McAllister, AssistantEngineer - Dave Hewitt, AssistantEngineer - Julie Last, AssistantEngineer - David Byrne, Producer, Guitar, Lead Vocals, Writer - Chris Frantz, Producer, Drums - Tina Weymouth, Producer, Bass Guitar - Talking Heads, MainArtist - Phil Gitomer, AssistantEngineer - Chris Martinez, AssistantEngineer - Joe Barbaria, RecordingEngineer - Neal Teeman, Engineer - Tom Heid, AssistantEngineer - Fred Ridder, AssistantEngineer
© 2006 Sire Records. Manufactured & Marketed by Rhino Entertainment Group. A Warner Music Group Co. ℗ 1980 Sire Records Company
Greg Calbi, MasteringEngineer - Rod O'Brien, Engineer - JERRY HARRISON, Producer, Guitar, Keyboards, Backing Vocals, Writer - Brian Eno, Producer, Guitar, Piano, Synthesizer - Kooster McAllister, AssistantEngineer - Dave Hewitt, AssistantEngineer - Julie Last, AssistantEngineer - David Byrne, Producer, Guitar, Lead Vocals, Writer - Chris Frantz, Producer, Drums - Tina Weymouth, Producer, Bass Guitar - Talking Heads, MainArtist - Phil Gitomer, AssistantEngineer - Chris Martinez, AssistantEngineer - Joe Barbaria, RecordingEngineer - Neal Teeman, Engineer - Tom Heid, AssistantEngineer - Fred Ridder, AssistantEngineer
© 2006 Sire Records. Manufactured & Marketed by Rhino Entertainment Group. A Warner Music Group Co. ℗ 1979 Sire Records Company
Greg Calbi, MasteringEngineer - Rod O'Brien, Engineer - JERRY HARRISON, Producer, Guitar, Keyboards, Backing Vocals - Brian Eno, Producer, Guitar, Piano, Writer, Synthesizer - Kooster McAllister, AssistantEngineer - Dave Hewitt, AssistantEngineer - Julie Last, AssistantEngineer - David Byrne, Producer, Guitar, Lead Vocals, Writer - Chris Frantz, Producer, Drums - Tina Weymouth, Producer, Bass Guitar - Talking Heads, MainArtist - Phil Gitomer, AssistantEngineer - Chris Martinez, AssistantEngineer - Joe Barbaria, RecordingEngineer - Neal Teeman, Engineer - Tom Heid, AssistantEngineer - Fred Ridder, AssistantEngineer
© 2006 Sire Records. Manufactured & Marketed by Rhino Entertainment Group. A Warner Music Group Co. ℗ 1979 Sire Records Company
Greg Calbi, MasteringEngineer - Rod O'Brien, Engineer - JERRY HARRISON, Producer, Guitar, Keyboards, Backing Vocals, Writer - Brian Eno, Producer, Guitar, Piano, Writer, Synthesizer - Kooster McAllister, AssistantEngineer - Dave Hewitt, AssistantEngineer - Julie Last, AssistantEngineer - David Byrne, Producer, Guitar, Lead Vocals, Writer - Chris Frantz, Producer, Drums, Writer - Tina Weymouth, Producer, Bass Guitar, Writer - Talking Heads, MainArtist - Phil Gitomer, AssistantEngineer - Chris Martinez, AssistantEngineer - Joe Barbaria, RecordingEngineer - Neal Teeman, Engineer - Tom Heid, AssistantEngineer - Fred Ridder, AssistantEngineer
© 2006 Sire Records. Manufactured & Marketed by Rhino Entertainment Group. A Warner Music Group Co. ℗ 2005 Warner Records Inc.
Greg Calbi, MasteringEngineer - Rod O'Brien, Engineer - JERRY HARRISON, Producer, Guitar, Keyboards, Backing Vocals, Writer - Brian Eno, Producer, Guitar, Piano, Synthesizer - Kooster McAllister, AssistantEngineer - Dave Hewitt, AssistantEngineer - Julie Last, AssistantEngineer - David Byrne, Producer, Guitar, Lead Vocals, Writer - Chris Frantz, Producer, Drums, Writer - Tina Weymouth, Producer, Bass Guitar, Writer - Talking Heads, MainArtist - Phil Gitomer, AssistantEngineer - Chris Martinez, AssistantEngineer - Joe Barbaria, RecordingEngineer - Gene Wilder, Congas - Ari Wilder, Congas - Neal Teeman, Engineer - Tom Heid, AssistantEngineer - Fred Ridder, AssistantEngineer
© 2006 Sire Records. Manufactured & Marketed by Rhino Entertainment Group. A Warner Music Group Co. ℗ 2005 Warner Records Inc.
Greg Calbi, MasteringEngineer - Rod O'Brien, Engineer - JERRY HARRISON, Producer, Guitar, Keyboards, Backing Vocals - Brian Eno, Producer, Guitar, Piano, Synthesizer - Kooster McAllister, AssistantEngineer - Dave Hewitt, AssistantEngineer - Julie Last, AssistantEngineer - David Byrne, Producer, Guitar, Lead Vocals, Writer - Chris Frantz, Producer, Drums - Tina Weymouth, Producer, Bass Guitar - Talking Heads, MainArtist - Phil Gitomer, AssistantEngineer - Chris Martinez, AssistantEngineer - Joe Barbaria, RecordingEngineer - Neal Teeman, Engineer - Tom Heid, AssistantEngineer - Fred Ridder, AssistantEngineer
© 2006 Sire Records. Manufactured & Marketed by Rhino Entertainment Group. A Warner Music Group Co. ℗ 2005 Warner Records Inc.
Greg Calbi, MasteringEngineer - Rod O'Brien, Engineer - JERRY HARRISON, Producer, Guitar, Keyboards, Backing Vocals, Writer - Brian Eno, Producer, Guitar, Piano, Synthesizer - Kooster McAllister, AssistantEngineer - Dave Hewitt, AssistantEngineer - Julie Last, AssistantEngineer - David Byrne, Producer, Guitar, Lead Vocals, Writer - Chris Frantz, Producer, Drums - Tina Weymouth, Producer, Bass Guitar - Talking Heads, MainArtist - Phil Gitomer, AssistantEngineer - Chris Martinez, AssistantEngineer - Joe Barbaria, RecordingEngineer - Neal Teeman, Engineer - Tom Heid, AssistantEngineer - Fred Ridder, AssistantEngineer
© 2006 Sire Records. Manufactured & Marketed by Rhino Entertainment Group. A Warner Music Group Co. ℗ 1979 Sire Records Company
Album review
By titling their third album Fear of Music and opening it with the African rhythmic experiment "I Zimbra," complete with nonsense lyrics by poet Hugo Ball, Talking Heads make the record seem more of a departure than it is. Though Fear of Music is musically distinct from its predecessors, it's mostly because of the use of minor keys that give the music a more ominous sound. Previously, David Byrne's offbeat observations had been set off by an overtly humorous tone; on Fear of Music, he is still odd, but no longer so funny. At the same time, however, the music has become even more compelling. Worked up from jams (though Byrne received sole songwriter's credit), the music is becoming denser and more driving, notably on the album's standout track, "Life During Wartime," with lyrics that match the music's power. "This ain't no party," declares Byrne, "this ain't no disco, this ain't no fooling around." The other key song, "Heaven," extends the dismissal Byrne had expressed for the U.S. in "The Big Country" to paradise itself: "Heaven is a place where nothing ever happens." It's also the album's most melodic song. Those are the highlights. What keeps Fear of Music from being as impressive an album as Talking Heads' first two is that much of it seems to repeat those earlier efforts, while the few newer elements seem so risky and exciting. It's an uneven, transitional album, though its better songs are as good as any Talking Heads ever did.
© William Ruhlmann /TiVo
About the album
- 1 disc(s) - 15 track(s)
- Total length: 00:57:21
- Main artists: Talking Heads
- Composer: Various Composers
- Label: Rhino - Warner Records
- Genre: Pop/Rock Rock
© 2006 Sire Records. Manufactured & Marketed by Rhino Entertainment Group. A Warner Music Group Co. ℗ 2006 Sire Records. Manufactured & Marketed by Rhino Entertainment Group. A Warner Music Group Co.
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