Albums of the Week: Pretenders, Hermeto Pascoal, Talking Heads
Thoughts on my recent album discoveries and rediscoveries.
𝗣𝗥𝗘𝗧𝗘𝗡𝗗𝗘𝗥𝗦, Learning to Crawl (Sire, 1984)
After a brief hiatus and the tragic passing of two founding members of the band, Chrissie Hynde returned with a new Pretenders lineup. Amidst the emergence of synth pop, Hynde remained loyal to her rock roots on Learning to Crawl, which included the quintessential "Back on the Chain Gang," complete with one of the most remarkable rock riffs of the era. The album's sound is noticeably more American in style, especially on tracks like "Thumbelina" and "My City Was Gone," and Hynde's songwriting has gracefully evolved, exploring personal themes inspired by her motherhood, her failing relationship with Ray Davies and environmentalism, among others. (And a great cover of "Thin Line Between Love and Hate," further expanding the scope of the Pretenders' sound.)
𝗧𝗢𝗣 𝗧𝗥𝗔𝗖𝗞𝗦 | "Middle of the Road," "Back on the Chain Gang," "Show Me," "My City Was Gone"
𝗥𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚 | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
𝗛𝗘𝗥𝗠𝗘𝗧𝗢 𝗣𝗔𝗦𝗖𝗢𝗔𝗟, Zabumbê-bum-á (Warner Bros., 1979)
Despite lacking structural cohesion, Zabumbê-bum-á is a musically diverse album that showcases the limitless creativity of Hermeto Pascoal. Through drawing inspiration from traditional and environmental sounds, as well as exploring new sonic possibilities, the album seamlessly navigates across different genres such as spiritual jazz, fusion, free jazz, and experimental music. To top it off, the album also includes a straight-ahead number. Ultimately, Zabumbê-bum-á has something to offer every listener.
𝗧𝗢𝗣 𝗧𝗥𝗔𝗖𝗞𝗦 | "Sao Jorge," "Pimenteira," "Santo Antonio"
𝗥𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚 | ⭐⭐⭐⭐
𝗧𝗔𝗟𝗞𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗛𝗘𝗔𝗗𝗦, Speaking in Tongues (Sire, 1984)
Speaking in Tongues is a unique party album that combines raw rhythms with quirky new-wave electronic experimentation. Through this record, David Byrne and crew expanded their musical range, intensified the funk and minimized social commentary. The result was a groundbreaking recording that solidified their status as pioneers in the fusion of pop music and high art. In addition to showcasing some of their most iconic tracks, including "Burning Down the House" and "This Must Be the Place," this was the album of the Talking Heads' iconic Stop Making Sense tour, famously documented in a film by Jonathan Demme, which added to the iconic status of the band.
𝗧𝗢𝗣 𝗧𝗥𝗔𝗖𝗞𝗦 | "Burning Down the House," "Girlfriend Is Better," "Moon Rocks," "This Must Be the Place (Naive Melody)"
𝗥𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚 | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐