#28 - Talking Heads

Is Your Music On?

Agree with me on one thing: Even if Talking Heads isn't your kind of music, they weren't derivative.

When I first read about them, circa '77, in my college paper's music section, there was a breathless veneration to the writing: this is it, our generation's answer to classic rock: New Wave.

Well, that assessment wasn't wide of the mark.  While there may have been other genres like reggae emerging at the time, Talking Heads melted together a gentle punk ("More Songs About Buildings and Food"), funky innovation and artful eclecticism, and, in what's the real surprise, kept it all accessible to a popular audience, indeed creating that new wave.

I remember reading Time's Oct. 27th, 1986 cover story: Rock's Renaissance Man, focusing on frontman David Byrne, that encouraged me, for one, to aim for a polymath's life.

And Byrne's first few albums in his solo career: Rei Momo and Uh-Oh were CDs I actually listened to and greatly enjoyed at the time.  A Talking Heads personal favorite: Wild Wild Life, for times when one fells exhilaration.

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Each band or performer is graded on four things:
  1.  Innovation
  2.  Influence in my life--as a typical American
  3.  Integrity: the band's approach to music (just making a buck or honing a craft?)  
  4.  Immortality--am I, a typical American--still eager to hear their music

8/6//8/6 = 28 out of a perfect 40

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Tidbit: the band name: Radiohead, comes from the Talking Heads' song Radio Head released in 1986.  That band's short-lived original name?  On A Friday--not exactly a catchy "REM" or anything.