A downright interesting and amazing funky cd. Jerry Harrison is really 'on point' on Casual Gods (1988).
Radio hits were 'Rev It Up' & 'Man With A Gun'
Album highlights for me include:
Let It Come Down
Cherokee Chief
A Perfect Lie
Are you Running?
We're Always Talking
This cd is so good I would rate it up there with the Talking Heads best albums!
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CD Reviews
TRACK LISTING and info
Tigger64 | Syracuse, NY | 09/13/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Amazon doesn't seem to have the track listing:
1. Rev it up
2. Song of angels
3. Man with a gun
4. Let it come down
5. Cherokee chief
6. A perfect lie
7. Are you running?
8. Breakdown in the passing lane
9. A.K.A. Love
10. We're always talking
11. Bobby
12. Bobby (extended mix)
I'm not sure if all versions have track 12. Sire Records, 1987."
Glad I tracked it down.
H3@+h | VT | 10/16/2005
(3 out of 5 stars)
"I began my search for "Casual Gods" when I heard the song "Man With A Gun" at the end of the movie "Two Moon Junction". I had that track in my head for weeks before I finally got this album in the mail, and I think the song is hypnotic, sexy, excellent, and worth the purchase alone. "Rev It Up" is another great track, and I believe was a single. A few of these songs have a subtle Talking Heads vibe, especially during the "keyboard solos", but I suppose that's unavoidable since he was in that band. In the track "We're Always Talking" I even hear some "Roxy Music" influence. Others worth a mention are "Song Of Angels" and "Let It Come Down". I'd say the first half of the album is a bit stronger overall. It's too bad all his stuff is out of print since it's quite good. Worth getting like I said, whether you're a fan of Talking Heads, the late 80's, or just good tunes."
Not Kenny Logins
john | The District | 09/29/2003
(3 out of 5 stars)
"Anyone that is just looking for hits probably won't be reading this (they're on a page just buying one of the Best of Talking Heads collections or (worse) their soundtrack of the 80's was written by Kenny Logins). Even if you are just counting hits, this album also includes "Man With a Gun" which got just as much or more airplay than "Rev it Up" at the time. As for the whole disc, like the the Talking Heads, the tracks are driven with a very danceable bassline, but with plenty of guitar/synth grinding that churn the songs along. There's a good deal of overdubbing that reminds me of other discs of the time (e.g. Robbie Robertson, David & David, etc.). His vocals are not as strong (or quirky) as David Byrne's but the effort is enjoyable. In fact, the only failure on the disc is the last song which is the most like the Talking Heads offerings. But then an album is more than just one song.The cover art, which has photos of thousands of men literally scraping a living out off the cliffs of a mine in Brazil, IS powerful stuff. Even with the LP, it takes a moment to realize the antlike figures are actually men."