CD Review by Doug Cornell

Bursting out of the speakers like a funky blacksploitation 70's film, "Blind" proclaims to the listener that Naked, the Talking Heads eleventh album (1988) is going to be a lively, upbeat affair.  The songwriting is firmly in the hands of the capable Mr. David Byrne, while the band, especially the rhythm section, demonstrates their ability to concoct elaborate, funky rhythms.  Brassy horns add a lively flair to most songs, while tasty bits of electric guitar accentuate the melodies.

I'll admit that I hadn't heard this album in over a decade, so this re-mastered re-issue surprised me with its overall excellent quality.  There's no denying that songs like the funky and upbeat "Mr. Jones" or "Totally Nude," with its Afrricanesque guitar melodies are among the best material that the band released over its long history.  "(Nothing But) Flowers," a minor MTV/Radio hit, features Johnny Marr on 12 string guitar and Kirsty MacColl on backing vocals.

Naked is an ambitious affair. Co-produced by Steve Lillywhite and the Talking Heads, the arrangements ar best defined as "structured clutter."  David Byrne possesses a completely unique sense of vocal melody - yet his singing is engaging and always interesting.  I've long believed that most bands are capable of producing only 4 really good albums, but Naked proves that in the right hands, certain bands are able to create quality records even when they are nearing the end of their career.

Naked's immediate predecessor, True Stories, is an album that contains versions of the songs from the David Byrne film of the same title.  A wrenching wall of sound opens "Love for Sale," which declares that the Heads want to rock out on this trip.  The textured beats have given way to crisp 4/4 drumming and simpler arrangements.  The band still likes to find a groove ("Puzzlin' Evidence") but the tunes are more immediate.  The layered vocals frequently have a Mowton vibe, but occasionally the tracks don't work, as in "Hey Now," with its coy and annoying melody.  "Wild Wild Life," which is among the bands biggest hits, still captivates and sounds fresh,  while "Dream Operator" is a pleasant ballad that smartly slows the albums pace just when you're getting tired of the sameness of the beats.  Slick steel guitars and a captivating chorus drive the excellent track, "People Like Us," and the original album closes with a slow yet steady beat and understated vocals in the track "City of Dreams."

Both re-issues include bonus tracks (re-mixes of "Wild Wild Life," "Papa Lega," and "Radio Head" on True Stores, "Sax and Violins" on Naked).  The reverse side of each CD contains a special 5.1 surround sound mix of the entire album as well as bonus music videos and photo galleries.