|
4.0 out of 5 stars
Good, but with serious reservations, Feb 27 2006
Once of the best bands to come out of the 70s New York punk scene was Talking Heads, and this box does a good job of illustrating that by gathering their best songs (a trademark blend of arty rock and danceable funk) and reissuing the out-of-print VHS tape containing all their groundbreaking videos (they made the best videos in the early-80s, hands-down). The essays by admirers, but also band members including lyricist David Byrne are icing on the cake.That said, this box isn't for everyone. Fans who own most or all of the studio albums won't find much new here. Of the 55 music tracks, only 5 are alternate takes or outtakes. (For comparison tally Dylan's BIOGRAPH set.) And where are the live cuts? This was a great band (check out STOP MAKING SENSE). The most common and legitimate complaint is that the 3 CDs of music really amount to a longer version of the 2-CD SAND IN THE VASELINE set. But if you're a newbie or own only the vinyl and never upgraded to CD, here's your choice to get the best of all the albums in one package. Another flaw lies with the DVD itself. The three additional videos (from NAKED) are a nice touch, but the picture quality is disappointing. I can't prove it, but I guess that this is a transfer from a VHS tape, without much or any remastering. Pourquoi, Sire & Rhino? The package itself? One very longgggg hardcover book that demands a delicate touch or else the spine will snap. I don't know who thought of this panoramic approach, but it's less than practical once the novelty wears off. But I still give this set 4 stars, simply because of the pure pleasure of listening and watching these discs. You can't argue against the selection of music itself. It is great (HEAVEN, PSYCHO KILLER, SWAMP, AND SHE WAS, etc.). The music moves, it grooves, but also makes you think. Very few bands can do that, and this box set is a testament to the genius of Talking Heads. Pity that ONCE IN A LIFETIME couldn't be better: add unreleased tracks, more outtakes, and some live cuts. And clean up the DVD. Why go to all this trouble, and why pay this much (this is an expensive item, even by box set standards) and allow such flaws? This was a missed opportunity, only partially redeemed by the quality of the music and videos.
|
See all 21 tracks on this disc
