Overdue Reviews, Part 2

The Red and the Black
by Jerry Harrison
allmusic entry (please refer to your favorite legal digital music provider for clips and the sort)

While David Byrne faffed about with Brian Eno and Tom Tom Club (Talking Heads' rhythm section: Chris Frantz and Tina Weymouth) made themselves a gold album, Jerry Harrison released his first solo album to little fanfare. Well with the influx (the albums were out within months of each other), one of those albums was bound to get lost in the hooplah. A shame though, because it is definitely not only worth checking out, but arguably one of the best albums to come from the decade of excess (and Teddy Ruxpin).

Overdue Reviews, Part 1

My Life In the Bush of Ghosts
by Brian Eno and David Byrne
Barnes & Noble link

*A long time ago, I posted this brief review (go to the near bottom) on the album. While, in a few words, it did sum up my initial feelings on the album, it wasn't enough to call it an actual review.*

Brian Eno and David Byrne had been working on the album, at least a few years, before its release in 1981. When it was unleashed onto the world, electronica music would have its solid foundation. Nothing like it was being done at the time. Eno and Byrne borrowed various samples, mostly from radio shows and old records, and created music around them. No other lyrics than what was said or sung on the tracks. The result was a feast for the ears.

A formal album review

Here Lies Love
by David Byrne and Fatboy Slim
Link to standard edition - Link to special edition

(the following review was based on the special edition, which included a DVD and a book)

Imagine this: the leader of Talking Heads and the guy responsible for songs like this one got together to make a concept album about one of Philippines' most historical political figures. Once you recover from the arduous brain power it took to consider such a reality, I present you with the result: Here Lies Love.

A super-delayed book review...

Bicycle Diaries
David Byrne
Barnes & Noble link (paperback coming this September!)

Talking Heads’ lead singer/guitarist David Byrne is no stranger to the publishing world. His earlier books go into conceptual art, especially in his last work Arboretum. If one would pick up his latest release Bicycle Diaries, one might get a jarring sensation. I mean, whoa, where did this come from? Where’s the art? Where’s the abstract thought? No worries, earlier Byrne readers. All that’s in there, but it is, as the Python boys famously said, “something completely different”.

Guess what? You get another review!

The Name of This Book is Talking Heads
Krista Reese
Amazon link

(Fun fact: I finished this book in about two hours, while waiting for an event that I was doing for my internship.)

I actually have something to review! *Gasp*

This Must Be the Place: The Adventures of Talking Heads in the 20th Century
by David Bowman
Amazon link