Huge fan of both bands, Speaking In Tongues is probably my favorite studio album but their live album Stop Making Sense is the best live album of all time.
I think that you would most like the live album The Name Of This Band Is Talking Heads. The energy and groove they bring to a lot of versions on that album remind me more of B52s than anything. (Full disclosure it's my favorite TH album.) The great thing is it will give you a taste of all the first few albums. Then I also think Stop Making Sense, their famous live concert album. Tbh those two albums are almost all you need to be a hardcore Talking Heads appreciater.
And if you're thinking "I don't know, live versions aren't really my thing" I will dispel you of your worries. Heads live albums are a different beast than the live albums you've heard before. The recordings are impeccable, the mixes are gorgeous and full.
The extended "The Name Of This Band" with more Remain in Light-era stuff is even better. Just mind-blowing stuff. They were on fire in front of a live audience.
(Also, this probably is the material a B52s fan will like best)
As a fan of both, I would say Speaking in Tongues, though that may just be because it's my favorite. But it's upbeat, kinda poppy and uses synthesizers.
honorable mention for some of david byrne's solo work as well!! a lot of it is super fun and upbeat which is my favorite part of b52s :) specifically i think his album "uh-oh" has a lot of fun stuff!
Yelpy, preacher David Byrne really kicks in with the "Fear of Music" album and continues through "Speaking in Tongues."
"Animals," "Crosseyed and Painless," "Life During Wartimes," "Making Flippy Floppy," and "Once in a Lifetime" are probably the best matches for Fred's energy.
I love both bands. I think probably the first couple albums have a lot of energetic upbeat songs that might fit the bill. Book I Read, Pulled Up, New Feeling, that kind of thing.
If I could recommend a starting place, try the live album The Name of This Band is Talking Heads. It's a chronological series of performances from their first few years and they're a bit looser and wilder than the album versions and might be what you want.
These are my first and second favorite bands. I think you have the potential to like TH just for their own vibe without any similarities to The Bs. I think they are equally weird and both new wave but totally different vibes for the most part. And that is okay! That said there are lots of Bs cross overs to look for!
Probably Speaking in Tongues and Little Creatures for their danceability and playfulness. Remain in Light and Fear of Music have an un-B-52’s gravitas.
I kind of enjoyed the B-52’s when they first came out, but in my opinion, they’re a bit of a novelty act. Talking Heads on the other hand are great band that has some humor involved. My favorites are fear of music and remain in light.
Huge fan of both bands, Speaking In Tongues is probably my favorite studio album but their live album Stop Making Sense is the best live album of all time.
Remember that David produced Mesopotamia for the B-52’s
And Charles Rocket (SNL) played accordion on the track!
I think that you would most like the live album The Name Of This Band Is Talking Heads. The energy and groove they bring to a lot of versions on that album remind me more of B52s than anything. (Full disclosure it's my favorite TH album.) The great thing is it will give you a taste of all the first few albums. Then I also think Stop Making Sense, their famous live concert album. Tbh those two albums are almost all you need to be a hardcore Talking Heads appreciater.
And if you're thinking "I don't know, live versions aren't really my thing" I will dispel you of your worries. Heads live albums are a different beast than the live albums you've heard before. The recordings are impeccable, the mixes are gorgeous and full.
Seconded. This one is underrated and often overshadowed by Stop Making Sense, but I think it's the right choice here.
The extended "The Name Of This Band" with more Remain in Light-era stuff is even better. Just mind-blowing stuff. They were on fire in front of a live audience.
(Also, this probably is the material a B52s fan will like best)
exactly!
I would say probably 77, little creatures, true stories. Maybe More Songs About Buildings and Food. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kKdOEwy_tLY&list=RDkKdOEwy_tLY&start_radio=1
Try Little Creatures, but really you'll probably like any Talking Heads album. There aren't that many.
As a fan of both, I would say Speaking in Tongues, though that may just be because it's my favorite. But it's upbeat, kinda poppy and uses synthesizers.
Cities and Life During Wartime sound quite B52s adjacent, to my ears. As mentioned above, not a coincidence that David Byrne produced Mesopotamia.
I’m biased because it’s one of my all time favorite Heads songs, but as a fan of B-52s I think you would dig “Nothing But Flowers”
I make no apologies.
(But seriously, start with 77, and you’ll be good. Happy listening!)
honorable mention for some of david byrne's solo work as well!! a lot of it is super fun and upbeat which is my favorite part of b52s :) specifically i think his album "uh-oh" has a lot of fun stuff!
Yelpy, preacher David Byrne really kicks in with the "Fear of Music" album and continues through "Speaking in Tongues."
"Animals," "Crosseyed and Painless," "Life During Wartimes," "Making Flippy Floppy," and "Once in a Lifetime" are probably the best matches for Fred's energy.
I feel like "Girlfriend is Better" has that B-52 vibes
You might get even more into tom tom club honestly
First 5 albums.
Depending on what you like about B 52s...
If it's relentless rhythm guitar, then More Songs, Fear Of Music, Remain In Light.
If its goofy danciness, TH 77, and Speaking in Tongues.
The Name Of This Band Is Talking Heads actually is what you would love. Start there then trace your fave songs to their studio albums.
I love both bands. I think probably the first couple albums have a lot of energetic upbeat songs that might fit the bill. Book I Read, Pulled Up, New Feeling, that kind of thing.
If I could recommend a starting place, try the live album The Name of This Band is Talking Heads. It's a chronological series of performances from their first few years and they're a bit looser and wilder than the album versions and might be what you want.
Don't sleep on the mid-80's "Fred Schneider & the Shake Society" album! For some reason people don't seem to know that album exists anymore.
All of them.
Their compilation Sand in the Vaseline is a good overview. If you like that, start in on full albums.
These are my first and second favorite bands. I think you have the potential to like TH just for their own vibe without any similarities to The Bs. I think they are equally weird and both new wave but totally different vibes for the most part. And that is okay! That said there are lots of Bs cross overs to look for!
Just saw David Byrne in Miami— best show of my life. All albums are incredible. And if you haven’t watched American Utopia … do it now lol
Probably Speaking in Tongues and Little Creatures for their danceability and playfulness. Remain in Light and Fear of Music have an un-B-52’s gravitas.
SMS's Girlfriend is Better has the vibe you're looking for.
to be honest i feel like the b's sound is most similar to what they did on "more sounds about buildings and food". i also recommend little creatures!!
I also like The B-52s! I started with Speaking in Tongues because it sounds like Mesopotamia (1982) and Remain in light is sort of like Wild Planet
More Songs About Buildings And Food
More songs about building and food. Specifically side 1.
i’m gonna start with this one since some people have suggested it and I have it on CD 🙏
I kind of enjoyed the B-52’s when they first came out, but in my opinion, they’re a bit of a novelty act. Talking Heads on the other hand are great band that has some humor involved. My favorites are fear of music and remain in light.