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Toby Keith
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Talking Heads
Looking back, it is fairly easy to rate the Talking Heads as one of the best things that happened to the 1980s. While most music from that era has aged poorly, the Talking Heads still sound fresh and compelling. The recent re-release of their catalog in dual-disc format drives this point home in undeniable fashion. “Speaking in Tongues” was the band’s fifth album of new recordings, and after twenty-some odd years (my God, where did the time go?), it still sounds great. Released after the remarkable excess of “Remain In Light,” the album initially sounded comparatively simple and direct. This lack of excess is exactly what has caused this album to age so nicely.
Kicking things off with “Burning Down the House,” the album establishes a funky groove worthy of George Clinton – (ex-Funkadelic alumnus Bernie Worrell doesn’t hurt in reinforcing this impression), less his gutter-feces ‘stink’ obsession. From there, the groove just builds and builds until it almost explodes. “Making Flippy Floppy” raises the funk ante, and “Girlfriend is Better” only solidifies the impression that “Speaking in Tongues” is perhaps the best straight-ahead funk-party album of the entire decade. “Slippery People” ends what once was ‘side one’, making for a virtually perfect half-an-album. “Side two” is marginally less compelling, but still has plenty of gritty charm to stand on its own. “Swamp” gives David Byrne the chance to augment his somewhat bizarre characterization over a loping rhythm that somehow perfectly conveys the song title, while “This Must Be the Place (Naïve Melody)” summarizes things with a comfortably mellow homegrown groove.
If you liked this album when it first came out, and now have surround-sound capabilities in your home, then buying this release is an absolute must. The mix is startlingly clear and well-defined, perfectly suited to the special features of a good surround sound system. There is also a specially-recorded extended remix of “Burning Down the House” which is intended to capitalize on this. For good measure, the disc also includes vintage videos for “Burning…” and “This Must Be the Place,” so I don’t see how you could resist. Old fans, buy this now. New fans? Don’t even think about it, just do it.
Grade: 
 
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