SPEAKING IN TONGUES

Musically the band could not get tighter. Their combined efforts worked seamlessley from beginning to end. Speaking in Tongues is one of the finest albums to have been released in the 80's. Brian Eno had moved on but the band did not need him. The template for warm hypnotic percussion fills, frenzied guitar riffs and just awesome bass from Tina Weymouth makes this album an excellent statement for ' uplifting 1980's' music. Often the stigma around the 80's is that it has dated more readily than say the 70's decade. This could be true and Speaking In Tongues, if it has any floor has dated ever so slightly. But it would, because it is their most commercial release, their most danceable release. Therein lies that point. " Burning Down The House" starts the album off with incredible frenzied guitars, balzing synth work from Bernie Worrell. And Byrne at his best vocally too. In fact the session players on SIT is worth mentioning because if you always reflect on the best of times for any group, the guest musicians are of the highest calibre at their peak times, Nona Hendryx, Bernie Worrell, Lakshminarayana Shankar , Alex Weir, Steve Scales and the rest. " Making Flippy Floppy" is a great visual and aural work of art. Check David Byrne in his big suit on videos if you can. The energy and vibes are just awesome. " Girlfreind Is Better" is also an excellent single off the album with great synth work again. " Swamp" has Byrne at his most menacing and theatrical and the repetitive groove created makes this song one of the highlights on the album. Last but not least one of the nicest love songs ever written " This Must Be The Place ( Naive Melody)" has Byrne reaching out from the innermost depths of his soul, vulnerbale and beautiful. Lyrics like .." I'm just an animal looking for a home, share the same space for a minute or two and you love me till my heart stops love me till I'm dead...." says it all really.

Who says the 80's was a poor decade....pffft! Far from it. Four and a half stars.