Speaking in Tongues

By the time "Speaking in Tongues" was released, Talking Heads had achieved fame three years earlier with their landmark album, "Remain in Light." They had firmly established their sound as somehow deeply rooted in funk, but also not, at the same time. "Speaking in Tongues" continues that trend of genre mixing to a dance beat. This time around, however, the Heads use more synthesizers and an overall wider range of textures than ever before.

"Burning Down the House" is Talking Heads gold. A thumping bass line and classic lyrics make this track one of their most famous. "Making Flippy Floppy" is as danceable as a song can get with cool psychedelic guitar solos and brilliant vocal delivery. "Girlfriend Is Better" is nerdy funk with choppy synthesizer lines and stereo sweeping bass. "Slippery People" has a slow samba beat and dense choral sections. "I Get Wild/Wild Gravity" is a successful attempt at integrating reggae into Talking Heads' sound. "Swamp" has Byrne's vocals take a turn towards growling and heavy rock guitars. "Pull Up the Roots" is one of the catchier, "dancier" tunes on the album with some of Byrne's most esoteric lyrics. "Once in a Lifetime (Na