[TR24][OF] Talking Heads - Naked - 1988 / 2011 (Synth-pop, Indie Rock, New Wave)

David Byrne – vocals, guitar, keyboards, toy piano, slide guitar
Chris Frantz – drums, keyboard percussion
Jerry Harrison – french piano, keyboards, tambourine, guitar, slide guitar, backing vocals
Tina Weymouth – bass, keyboards, electric organ, backing vocals
Additional musicians
Johnny Marr – guitars on "Ruby Dear", "(Nothing But) Flowers", "Mommy Daddy You and I", and "Cool Water"
Brice Wassy – percussion on "Ruby Dear", "(Nothing But) Flowers", "The Facts of Life", and "Big Daddy"
Abdou M'Boup – percussion, talking drum, congas, cowbell on "Blind", "Mr. Jones", "Totally Nude", and "(Nothing But) Flowers"
Yves N'Djock – guitar on "Blind", "Totally Nude", and "(Nothing But) Flowers"
Eric Weissberg – pedal steel guitar on "Totally Nude" and "Bill", dobro on "The Democratic Circus"
Mory Kanté – kora on "Mr. Jones" and "The Facts of Life"
Wally Badarou – keyboard on "Blind" and "The Facts of Life"
Manolo Badrena – percussion, congas on "Mr. Jones" and "Mommy Daddy You and I"
Sydney Thiam – congas on "The Democratic Circus", percussion on "Bill"
Lenny Pickett– saxophones on "Blind" and "Big Daddy"
Steve Elson – saxophones on "Blind" and "Big Daddy"
Robin Eubanks – trombone on "Blind" and "Big Daddy", "Mr. Jones"
Laurie Frink and Earl Gardner – trumpets on "Blind" and "Big Daddy"
Stan Harrison – alto saxophone on "Blind" and "Big Daddy"
Al Acosta – tenor saxophone on "Mr. Jones"
Steve Gluzband – trumpet on "Mr. Jones"
Jose Jerez – trumpet on "Mr. Jones"
Bobby Porcelli – alto saxophone on "Mr. Jones"
Steve Sachs – baritone saxophone on "Mr. Jones"
Charlie Sepulveda – trumpet on "Mr. Jones"
Dale Turk – bass trombone on "Mr. Jones"
Moussa Cissokao – percussion on "Ruby Dear"
Nino Gioia – percussion on "The Facts of Life"
Philippe Servain – accordion on "Totally Nude"
James Fearnley – accordion on "Mommy Daddy You and I"
Phil Bodner – cor anglais on "Cool Water"
Don Brooks – harmonica on "Big Daddy"
Kirsty MacColl – backing vocals on "(Nothing But) Flowers" and "Bill"
Alex Haas – whistling on "Bill"

Talking Heads' last proper studio album before their protracted breakup finds them returning to the dynamic that produced their best work, with inspired results. As swan songs go, Naked proves to be a pretty good one: Alternately serious and playful, it once again allows frontman David Byrne to worry about the government, the environment, and the plight of the working man as it frees up the rest of the band to trade instruments and work with guest musicians. It's closest in spirit to Remain in Light -- arguably too close: The first side is a collection of funky, syncopated, almost danceable tunes; the second, a murky, darkly philosophical rumination on identity and human nature. The major difference is a Latin influence replacing Light's African rhythm experimentation, most evident on the album openers "Blind" and "Mr. Jones," as well as in drummer Chris Frantz's decision to use brushes and softer percussion instruments (as opposed the big beat sound he offered up on Little Creatures and True Stories). With the venerable Steve Lillywhite behind the boards and such luminaries as Johnny Marr, Kirsty MacColl, and Yves N'Djock punctuating the credits, the album sounds technically perfect, but there's little of the loose, live feel the band achieved with former mentor Brian Eno. It's quite a feat to pull of a late-career album as ambitious as Naked, and the Heads do so with style and vitality. But no matter how much the liner notes may boast of free-form invention and boundless creativity, the album's elegiac, airtight tone betrays the sound of four musicians growing tired of the limits they've imposed on one another.