Fear of Music Songs Ranked

Fear of Music is the third studio album by American rock band Talking Heads, released on August 3, 1979, by Sire Records. It was recorded at locations in New York City during April and May 1979 and was produced by the quartet and Brian Eno. The album reached number 21 on the Billboard 200 and number 33 on the UK Albums Chart. It spawned the singles “Life During Wartime”, “I Zimbra”, and “Cities”. Fear of Music received favorable reviews from critics. Praise centered on its unconventional rhythms and frontman David Byrne’s lyrical performances. The album is often considered one of the best Talking Heads releases, and has featured in several publications’ lists of the best albums of all time. Here are all of Fear of Music songs ranked.

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11. Electric Guitar

“Quite honestly, ‘Electric Guitar’ used to be a favourite of mine, but has shrunk considerably. It is catchy and has a nice pace to it, with lyrics that are interesting to look over and hear presented, but despite that, it does feel like one of the weaker filler tracks. There’s not really much to it. It’s a fine track, but really pales in comparison to the rest of the album and their discography as a whole.”

10. Paper

“I think ‘Paper’ is quite a weak track for a lot of people. There’s not really much that holds the listener’s interest, but it keeps the momentum of the album flowing and doesn’t disrupt it by any means. It’s a good example of filler, for it still works in context of the album and is just there to keep things moving. As well as this, it’s a short track, so it’s not by any means something that drags or loses a listener.”

9. Air

“Air’ is another track with an eerie atmosphere, as well as eerie lyricism that doesn’t seem too understandable without reading into it a bit. The track structure stays relatively simple and doesn’t really go anywhere, but it’s a neat track that, again, fits in context of the album and carries the sound and overall environment. As well as this, the track is a pretty average length, but doesn’t feel lengthy at all, and is practically over in the blink of an eye.”

See more: Talking Heads Albums Ranked

8. Drugs

“This track will forever be one of my favourite Talking Heads songs. The sound palette on this track is simply unlike anything I’ve ever heard before, especially taking into account the time it was produced and created. The lyrics describe a bad experience with taking drugs, and the way they’re written demonstrates that simplicity is key – Byrne doesn’t write all fancy, but rather, says it how it is, making it a lot easier to connect with and understand.”

6. Memories Can’t Wait

“‘Memories Can’t Wait’ is really interesting, and that’s mainly due to the fact that it’s got what I would consider to be one of the most bombastic and intense sounds I’ve ever heard Talking Heads produce. Everything about it sounds like it could be used for James Bond, and it’s quite an eerie track that just gets better the more it progresses.”

5. Animals

“‘Animals’ is one of the best tracks on the album, and rightfully so. This song is paranoid, frantic, wide-eyed and fragile. Byrne’s vocals make him sound like he’s truly emotionally invested in the topic at hand, and it’s intense until the outro kicks in, which is, again, fun and silly, yet gives such a big sense of relief and joy to the listener.”

See more: Talking Heads Songs Ranked

4. Heaven

“‘Heaven’ is just a really stunning song. It’s beautiful, yet at the same time, it’s oh so sad. In fact, it feels almost sarcastic, in the same way that Morrissey’s lyricism in The Smiths feels sarcastic. The track gives off very cynical undertones, and works for just about any scenario – relaxing, crying, sleeping, screaming. There’s never enough praise anybody can give this track, for it’s ridiculously pretty.”

3. Cities

“This track is quite underrated within the discography of Talking Heads; hell, it might be one of the most underrated tracks in terms of just this album. Like ‘Mind’, the lyrics are of a simplistic nature, and it’s a fun, almost silly kind of track. It definitely doesn’t take it too seriously, but the track is so catchy and interesting that the fun nature of it doesn’t disturb anything. It’s fast-paced, doesn’t drag, and it’s great fun to listen to.”

2. I Zimbra

“The beginning track, “I Zimbra” perfectly establishes the schizophrenic nature of the album. Before you even know what’s happening you’re thrown into this funky bassline that is then accompanied by these manix guitars, and the entire thing keeps rising and rising and insisting upon itself, until you realize that it’s not heading anywhere really- that’s just the song.”

1. Life During Wartime

“‘Life During Wartime’ is what I’d consider to be a fan favourite, as it’s considerably fun to watch live. However, it’s also an amazing track in terms of its studio version, and it’s perfectly placed in the respective track listing. The lyrics are, as David Byrne recalls, not from a political point of view. “