Not so Naked.

There's a huge amount of mixed response from people on this album- personally I love the first 5 tracks (except Ruby Dear, which is almost, like most of the tracks after this, slightly disturbing) This album had a very unique way of being made (refer to booklet on inside of CD Case that comes with Naked) First all the band members gathered in New York and created about 40 interesting tunes, sometimes with David on Bass, Tina on Guitar, Chris on Keyboards and Jerry on Drum Machine. After recording them on cassette they took them over to Paris where they changed around the tunes to suit the song it was to be- they recorded it with a rather large band and then David Byrne wrote lyrics for the songs.



I really enjoy the textured rythms of this album- especially the intro for Mr. Jones, the upbeat energy (and quirky singing style of David Byrne) on Blind and the freedom of Nothing But Flowers and Totally Nude (these songs and their style truly belong to Talking Heads). "The Facts of Life" is easy the Black Sheep of this album- it's lyrics are really cheesy and the sound is way too synthy for this album and doesn't even sound like it belongs to Talking Heads.

All in All A good album though- **** 4 Stars

Absolutely wonderful

I couldn't agree more with those who use the adjective "under-appreciated" for this superb album. Whenever I pull this baby out from my collection (or type its title out on i-tunes, hehe)I know I'm in for 52:41 of sheer enjoyment. My face goes red reading these reviews that call this richly textured, mature and witty album a fizzle at the end of an otherwise illustrious career. The songs are meticulously written and obviously benefit from David Byrne's forays into the world music scene. One of few albums that I have been able to put on again and again over the years and really enjoy.

The Musical Equivalent of the Byzantine Empire

In so many ways Talking Heads career reflects the history of Rome, and in many ways, Naked is Justinian and the Byzantine empire trying to re-capture the glory of Rome.

For those of you unfamiliar with the story of Justinian, the emperor of the Eastern Roman Empire (or at the time, because the West, or for most the true Roman Empire, had fallen, the Byzantine Empire) well after the fall of Rome and the last 'emperor of Rome'. However Justinian pooled his resources, and sent out his best general, Bellisarius to re-take Rome and Europe, and he damn near suceeds! Taking North Africa, Italy, and a large peice of Spain back from the Barbarians, and while it lasted such a small time, for a minute there, it seemed as though eveything was good like the old days again.

Sounds like this album, huh? Granted none of the real glories of Rome returned to Europe or to the Roman Empire, just as this album never returned Talking Heads to the glorious heights they had reached with Remain in Light. To put it more bluntly, Remain in Light was like the Colliseum, while Naked is like the Hagia Sophia. If you just asked yourself, "Hagia Sophia?" then you just got the metaphor, the Hagia Sophia is the epitome of Byzantine architechture, but most people have no idea what it is/was, and this album is the monolith of the Talking Heads post-Speaking in Tongues career (thats an arguable point, but whatever). Its a return to the World Music excusrsion of the Heads at their glorious height, but not nearly as good, and not nearly as lasting.

O yea, the music! Side A is generally the best here, like Remain in Light, even on CD the differences between the sides are particularly obvious, side A being more up-beat and explosive, and side B being more quiet and ambiant. And side A on this album is a damn good one! It's like a less tense, more organic Remain in Light, Afro-Latin rythms abound, and the addition of a really prominent horn section adds some umph to the songs, but they are not yet the textbook world music that would later drive Byrne to create Rei Momo. Lyrically, they retain some of David Byrne's fondness for small things, but here he is willing to bluntly discuss bigger issues, like on Cool Water, Facts of Life, and the Democratic Circus.

Unfortunatly, you can hear that the bands creative energy has slowed, and while much of the music is wonderful, there IS good reason as to why no-one remebers this record. It is nothing near as earth shattering as Remain in Light, or even Speaking in Tongues, it is however baroque and overlooked, and its not nearly as bad as True Stories. Pick this one up, but don't put it high on your list of priorities.