What do you get when combining an almost hyperactive energy with anxiety-ridden lyrics and music styles that range from Rock to Punk and everything in between? The answer is the impossible-to-compare Talking Heads.
A band that emerged from the New York City Punk Rock scene during the mid-1970s alongside Ramones and Blondie, Talking Heads were unique unto themselves with a wide range of influences from Classic Rock to Soul and Funk. Quite erratic in nature, it was a fitting reflection of three art students (David Byrne, Chris Frantz, and Tina Weymouth) yearning to create without walls. Interestingly enough, originally called The Artistics before adopting the name Talking Heads in 1975, the band has a lot of history in its formative years to look back on.
As mentioned, three college mates who met at the Rhode Island School of Design in 1973, upon relocating to New York City in 1975, soon built an underground following leading up to their 1977 major-label debut album, Talking Heads: 77. An album that did not do much commercially, it did feature the legendary single “Psycho Killer,” which broke the band into mainstream visibility, peaking at 92 on the Billboard Hot 100. An album that laid a strong foundation, 1978’s More Songs About Buildings and Food found them more international acclaim, as did 1979’s Fear of Music, leading into the new decade with 1980’s Remain in Light, before their commercial peak in 1983 with Speaking in Tongues.
A wild ride that continued through their final album, Naked, in 1988, Talking Heads are among the most inventive bands ever. Most likely never reuniting, at least fans can enjoy plenty of other Talking Heads released material such as the theatrical re-release of the 1984 concert film Stop Making Sense in 2023, a music video release for “Psycho Killer” in June 2025 celebrating its 50th anniversary, along with numerous re-releases including a deluxe edition of 2LP set of Stop Making Since in 2023, Live At Wcoz 77 (which arrived as a limited edition 2LP set on Record Store Day 2024), super deluxe editions of Talking Heads: 77 in late 2024, super deluxe editions of More Songs About Buildings and Food released in the summer of 2025, and now, Tentative Decisions: Demos & Live on vinyl.
A selection for Rhino Records’ Record Store Day Black Friday 2025 releases, it arrives as a crystal-clear vinyl on November 28, 2025, with plenty of intrigue. What was once thought to be lost material, reportedly, the songs put together for this new release were discovered in the archives of the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) Museum. Hidden treasure, the LP offers rare demos recorded by the trio between 1975 and 1976, including well-known tracks like “Psycho Killer” and “Warning Sign,” plus a 1976 live recording of “Artists Only” (which ended up on More Songs About Buildings and Food).
A total of eleven tracks, ten of which are demos (including “I’m Not In Love,” “Thank You For Sending Me Angel,” and “The Book I Read”), give you a unique listen to the early development of Talking Heads and their sound. Quite intimate, in many cases, you feel like you are in the room with the band as they lay down the music. Beyond this, this 1LP set also includes a 7” record inside with two demo versions of “Psycho Killer” and “Warning Sign” when Talking Heads were still The Artistics.
All in all, it is a fine look into Talking Heads’ history and a great supplementary collector’s piece, fun to listen to. That is why Cryptic Rock gives this Record Story Day Exclusive release of Tentative Decisions: Demos & Live 4.5 out of 5 stars.
){kind=link}
No comment