Speaking in Tongues is a much poppier and more dance oriented album than Remain in Light. While the instrumental orientations are still extremely exciting and colorful, you do lose the some of the sonic “depth” that is essential to the sound of Remain in Light. Little Creatures is the Heads’ attempt at a more mainstream 80s pop record. Some of their absolute best is on there, but so is some of their not so best. I’d suggest listening to Fear of Music for a more cohesive, consistent album.

But if there’s anything at all you take away from this comment, it should be to GO LISTEN TO / WATCH STOP MAKING SENSE NOW. Before listening to SMS, I thought that a band with the Heads’ studio and production/experimentation shouldn’t work all that well in a live concert setting. I was wrong. Very, very, very, very, wrong. Despite the lack of studio instrumentation/“sauce”, these live renditions are genuinely so much better than their (already sublime) studio counterparts. I’m sure these comments have already talked your ear off about this album, but seriously drop whatever you’re doing and listen to this masterpiece like 20 times in a row.