More Songs About Buildings And Food
is Talking Heads second album. It was the first in a trilogy of
albums to be co-produced (with the band) by ex-Roxy Music synth layer
and ambient music pioneer Brian Eno. Eno seemed to bring out the best
aspects of the band and their interaction with one another. Eno also
played synths, keyboards, additional guitars, percussion and backing
vocals to the album.
The album more also contains more
danceable elements to the songs and rhythm section of Tina Weymouth
and Chris Frantz have become a tight unit. Jerry Harrison's role in
the band is even more developed as this point as well. David Byrne's
songs are quirky in the same way they were on Talking Heads '77,
however there is a more
seemingly organic nature to the material. All of the parts played are
extremely purposeful yet wonderfully understated.
The cover art is
comprised of 529 close-up Polaroids of the band which was done by the
late artist Jimmy De Sana. And now resides in the Rock And Roll Hall
Of Fame. The album reached #29 in the US eventually going Gold and
peaked at #21 in the UK charts.
“Stay Hungry”,
“Warning Sign”, “Thank You For Sending Me An Angel” and
especially “The Big Country” are among the bands simplest yet
somehow greatest songs, in my humble opinion. The band also achieved
their biggest chart hit to date with a Top 40 cover of the Al Green
song “Take Me To The River”. The band had previously had a minor
hit with “Psycho Killer” which only reached #92 on Billboard's
Single Charts. However “Take Me To The River” landed them spots
on American Bandstand and Saturday Night Live which formally
introduced them to America at large.
This is one of my
all-time favorite albums and I can't recommend it highly enough.
Here is the video review:
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