LITTLE CREATURES

I supposed it had to happen sometime, but ten years or so into their adventure something changed in Talking Heads that led to creative decline, though the extent of the decline is subject to debate. After the live powerhouse of 'Stop Making Sense' the band hit the showers and dried off musically. The band lost their sweat and their collective groove. Whereas the live show was the height of ecstasy and asshaking, 'Little Creatures' was sitting in the lounge chair on the sun porch enjoying a lemonade and sugar wafers. Nothing wrong with such toe-tappers of course unless you happen to like the intense buzz of the previous work. I'm guessing there was some band tension in this period and what was emerging was a band sound much more David, much more accessible, much breezier.

Like all good ear candy how good it is ultimately falls on how great we consider the songs. 'And She Was' is not a good start, a really flat single which just lays there aside from the short section of guitar that drags its sorry butt across the finish line. There are some wonderful moments however dotting this less than consistent affair. 'Road to Nowhere' and 'Creatures of Love' show a real knack for catchy choruses and vocal arrangements. Road is very cool with the opening harmonies that soar into a march-like beat. 'Perfect World' is a gem combining the smooth, lovely chorus with a grasp back to their funky sound in the guitar and bass. But Creatures is a new Talking Heads, a short lived one this time, who would begin to morph into the adult-pop of the David Byrne solo career.

It is a well crafted and often fun bunch of pop songs certainly worth checking out for Heads fans. But it's not the place to start. For while it may be pointless or unfair to compare it to their best moments, most would agree there are far more intriguing Heads albums for proggers to investigate. Despite a few good songs I can't quite rate the overall experience such.

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