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Rating: Hearing the name Talking Heads, the first thing that comes to mind is Remain In Light, one of the best albums ever: in that 1979 masterpiece produced by Byrne and Eno, the Talking Heads revolutionized the way of conceiving Rock by mixing rock and new wave with tribal music, complementing everything with a truly unique series of overlapping voices and chants.
But I don't want to talk about Remain In Light (there would be too much to say), rather about Little Creatures, an album which I think is somewhat underrated.
The year is 1985, and the Talking Heads take another turn in their sound, giving life to nine “Little Creatures,” and the term “Little Creatures” fits just perfectly, given that they are certainly not masterpieces like “Born Under Punches” or “The Great Curve” (to name a few), but they are "just" simple songs, without those musical acrobatics... without that Funky soul that we were used to in 77 or Fear Of Music or the aforementioned Remain In Light; in short, in Little Creatures Byrne and company deliver nine clear songs, never boring, catchy, happy, and cheerful; and we happily listen to them over and over again.
In “And She Was,” the first song of the album, you immediately notice Mr. Byrne's genius, with its cheerful melody, chorus sung in unison: The world was moving she was right there within (And She Was), The world was moving she was floating above it (And She Was)... essentially a song about Suicide...
The same exact opinion applies to track4: The Lady Don’t Mind (lyrics about suicide accompanied by upbeat Pop music).
I mention last “Road To Nowhere” (not that the others don't deserve a mention… mind you, it’s because the commentary would be very similar or identical, since we are talking about a very homogeneous album), one of the most beautiful songs by the Talking Heads, a very sentimental song, talking about the hypothetical end of the world, all accompanied by relentless drumming, accordion, very hidden guitar riffs (if I'm not mistaken, the guitarist from the Smiths is supposed to be on the guitar) and lyrics sung in unison... it’s impossible not to fall in love with this song that almost sounds like a farewell.
The last thing to note is an extended mix of “The Lady Don’t Mind” on track10 lasting 6m and 50s, but it has the merit of not being boring.
So, we've come to the album's rating, I give it a 5/5… since I would have given Remain In Light a 6/5…
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
01 And She Was (03:40)
And she was lying in the grass
And she could hear the highway breathing
And she could see a nearby factory
She's making sure she is not dreaming
See the lights of a neighbor's house
Now she's starting to rise
Take a minute to concentrate
And she opens up her eyes
Chorus:
The world was moving and she was right there with it (and she was)
The world was moving she was floating above it (and she was)
And she was
And she was drifting through the backyard
And she was taking off her dress
And she was moving very slowly
Rising up above the earth
Moving into the universe (and she's)
Drifting this way and that
Not touching ground at all (and she's)
Up above the yard
Chorus:
The world was moving and she was right there with it (and she was)
The world was moving she was floating above it (and she was)
And she was
She was glad about it... no doubt about it
She isn't sure where she's gone
No time to think about what to tell them
No time to think about what she's done
And she was
And she was looking at herself
And things were looking like a movie
She had a pleasant elevation
She's moving out in all directions
Chorus:
The world was moving and she was right there with it (and she was)
The world was moving she was floating above it (and she was)
Joining the world of missing persons (and she was)
Missing enough to feel alright (and she was)
And she was (repeat x8)
08 Television Man (06:10)
I'm looking and I'm dreaming for the first time
I'm inside and I'm outside at the same time
And everything is real
Do I like the way I feel?
When the world crashes in into my living room
Television man made me what I am
People like to put the television down
But we are just good friends
(I'm a) television man
I knew a girl, she was a macho man
But it's alright, I wasn't fooled for long
This is the place for me
I'm the king, and you're the queen
CHORUS
Take a walk in the beautiful garden
Everyone would like to say hello
It doesn't matter what you say
Come and take us away
The world crashes in, into my living room
The world crashes in, into my living room
The world crashes in, into my living room
The world crashes in, into my living room
And we are still good friends...(Television man)
I'm watching everything...(Television man)
Television man...(Television man)
I'm watching everything...(Television man)
Television man...and I'm gonna say
We are still good friends...and I'm trying to be
Watchin' everything...and I gotta say
We are still good friends...You know the way it is
Television man...I've got what you need
We are still good friends...I know the way you are
Television man...I know what you're tryin' to be
Watchin' everything...and I gotta say
That's how the story ends.
09 Road to Nowhere (04:20)
well we know where we're going, but we dont know where we've been
and we know what we're knowing, but we can't say what we've seen
and we're not little children, and we know what we want
and the future is certain, give us time to work it out
yeah
we're on a road to nowhere, come on inside
we'll take that ride to nowhere, we'll take that ride
feeling ok this morning, and you know
we're on a road to paradise, here we go, here we go
we're on a ride to nowhere, come on inside
taking that ride to nowhere, we'll take that ride
maybe you want me while i'm here, i dont care
even when time isnt on our side, i'll take you there, take you there
we're on a road to nowhere
we're on a road to nowhere
we're on a road to nowhere
there's a city in my mind so come on and take the ride, and its alright, baby its alright
and its very far away, but its growing day by day and its alright, baby its alright
would you like to come along? you can help me sing this song and its alright, baby its alright
they can tell you what to do, oh god they'll make a fool of you, and its alright, baby its alright
there's a city in my mind so come on and take the ride, and its alright, baby its alright
and its very far away, but its going day by day and its alright, baby its alright
would you like to come along? you can help me sing this song and its alright, baby its alright
they can tell you what to do, oh god they'll make a fool of you, and its alright, baby its alright
we're on a road to nowhere
we're on a road to nowhere
we're on a road to nowhere
we're on a road to nowhere
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