This must be Talking Heads — A song by song, album by album look at their music

Latest Episodes:

22 | Feelings Jun 21, 2026

Show notes

David Byrne's 1997 solo album Feelings is a tour de force and an undeniably powerful statement. More than just a pop release, it's a deeply personal, artistic statement that still balances broad popular appeal and art rock sensibilities. Featuring collaborations with Morcheeba, Devo and more, Feelings was an attempt to reconcile once and for all the duality of artist and entertainer, and luckily David came out on top in the end.

Tracks:

Fuzzy Freaky
Miss America
A soft seduction
Dance on vaseline
Gates of paradise
Amnesia
You don't know me
Daddy go down
Finite = Alright
Wicked little doll
Burnt by the sun
The civil wars
(Untitled)
They are in love
Live cover: The Model (w. The Balanescu Quartet)

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SPECIAL | "Who Is The Sky?" album launch listen-along Sep 14, 2025

Show notes

I hope you enjoy this special presentation, an off the cuff impression of every song on the album in real time (so you can sync up your copy of the album, Pink Floyd style). Like the organic nature of the album, this is a straight reaction that's as unpolished as it gets, but I hope you've been enjoying the album and make it to the shows if there's a tour stop near you.

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21 | David Byrne Grab Bag #1 May 20, 2025

Show notes

Time to break from tradition and abandon the usual deep dive into a single album to cover a random smattering of side projects, collaborations, songs for theater and movie productions and other musical orphans. With the spin of a wheel we'll explore classics like "Don't Fence Me In", "Lazy" and "Pay Attention!"

Tracklist:

High on a rocky ledge (w. Rufus Wainwright)
Si Fulano (w. Perez and Carol C)
Don't fence me in
Santa Cruz de la Sierra (w. Nico Landa)
Speaking in tongues (w. Arcade Fire)
Lazy (w. Xpress 2)
Happy suicide (w. Vijaya Anand)
A woman's secret (Ambient mix)
How does the brainwave (w. Baby Elephant)
Rio (w. Vinicus Cantuaria)
Pay attention!
I don't remember
Just the motion
For you
Father
Statue of Liberty (w. Marissa Monte)
Fall with me (w. Paul van Dyk)
Jingo do Disco (w. Tom Ze)
Get confused (by Fischerspooner)
Fat man's comin
Live cover: Rockin' in the free world

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20 | David Byrne (self-titled) Jan 29, 2025

Show notes

By 1994 it was more important that ever that David Byrne could prove there was an audience for his unique style of art rock. After a number of high-concept albums, he returned with a more accessible yet eclectic series of tunes that not only build on the grooves on earlier projects but reach a new depth of introspection and emotional reflection.

Tracks:

A long time ago
Angels
Crash
A self-made man
Back in the box
Sad song
Nothing at all
My love is you
Lilies of the valley
You & Eye
Strange ritual
Buck naked
Live cover: Gypsy woman

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Interview | Inside the Talking Heads vault with Jason Jones Dec 11, 2024

Show notes

Meet Jason Jones from Rhino Records, he's the guy behind all your favourite Talking Heads reissues from the last few years. I pepper Jason with nerdy questions about how he approaches standard album reissues as well as expanded ultra-deluxe packages full of rarities like the newly released Talking Heads: 77 boxset that he manifested into reality. A condensed version of this interview can also be found on my newly updated YouTube channel, so check that out and stay subscribed for lots more!

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19 | Uh-oh Oct 01, 2024

Show notes

David Byrne's follow up to Rei Momo, the 1992 LP "Uh-oh" co-incided with the official end of Talking Heads. A new producer helped bring a clean, commercial sound to David's oddball instrumentation and left of center lyrics. While the songs were still like children to him, the overall album needed to walk the line of appealing to his previous Talking Heads audience while also showing that he wasn't taking himself too seriously and didn't mind whether you liked it or not.

Tracks:

Now I'm your mom
Girls on my mind
Something ain't right
She's mad
Hanging upside down
A walk in the dark
Twistin' in the wind
The Cowboy Mambo (Hey lookit me now)
Monkey Man
A million miles away
Tiny Town
Somebody
Live cover: Who were you thinking of (w. Richard Thompson)

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Interview | Michelangelo Carubba on touring "Remain In Light" with Jerry Harrison and Adrian Belew Aug 26, 2024

Show notes

For Mikey, the last few years have been a wild ride to say the least. When the opportunity of a lifetime presented itself and his band joined Jerry Harrison and Adrian Belew to tour for the 40th anniversary of Remain In Light it should have been a high point of his career. Instead, it triggered a tailspin that saw his band disintegrate and strained the relationships with the bandmates and collaborators that had become like family. Mikey's story goes far beyond music, and his continued success is a testament to his character, commitment to his craft, and belief in the potential for healing that comes with performing music you love with people you love even more.

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18 | Rei Momo May 06, 2024

Show notes

We've finally reached the first pure David Byrne solo album, no theatre soundtrack or main collaborators, David was free to do whatever he wanted and this was it. I hope this gives everyone an insight into not just the album, but a glimpse at David's genuine passion for this music, which critics at the time labelled as passion-less and uninspired. My goal, as always, is to prove that it's anything but!

Tracklist:

Independence Day
Make Believe Mambo
The call of the wild
Dirty Old Town
The Rose Tattoo
Loco de Amor
The Dream Police
Don't want to be part of your world
Marching through the wilderness
Good and Evil
Lie to me
Office Cowboy
Women vs Men
Carnival Eyes
I know sometimes a man is wrong
Live Cover: Todo Cambia

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17 | David's 80s Soundtracks and Collaborations Nov 21, 2023

Show notes

A series of featurettes outlining David's soundtracks and collaborations throughout the Talking Heads-era. I touch on everything from the beloved The Catherine Wheel, through the esteemed Knee Plays and The Last Emperor, to the surprisingly personal The Forest.

The Catherine Wheel

His wife refused
Cloud Chamber
My big hands (Fall through the cracks)
Big Business
What a day that was
Big blue plymouth (Eyes wide open)

The Knee Plays

Tree (Today is an important occassion)
The sound of business
Things to do (I've tried)
In the future

The Last Emperor

The Last Emperor (Main Theme)
Picking a bride

The Forest

Ur
Dura Europus
Ava

Live cover: The Future

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UNLOCKED | Stop Making Sense watch-along commentary Sep 10, 2023

Show notes

Why watch it alone? Previously released to supporters of the podcast, to mark the theatrical release of the remastered edition of Stop Making Sense, enjoy this bonus episode featuring Rodney's watch-along commentary for the film.

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