1984 - EMI\EMI America
Welcome to Day 23 of Album Month - August 2022! Today I'm doing a very long overdue exploration of the band Talk Talk and their album, It's My Life. Come on with me. I have tea and chocolates.
As a child, I used to watch a lot of MTV. I recall watching at ages as young as 4, and I was fascinated with it until sometime in the mid to late 90s when it became less Music Television and more Meh TV. Over those years, one song always stood out to me, along with its music video of National Geographic-like footage of animals running throughout. That song, as you can guess, is the 80s classic, "It's My Life" by Talk Talk. Although I never explored them by album (if you've read all my Album Month posts thus far, you will notice that this is kinda of a running theme with me), I've always loved this song–and their song "Talk Talk"--and decided that this was the album in which I should jump into the musical world of Talk Talk. It was a good choice.
It's My Life doesn't necessarily feel like an 80s album despite having come out in 1984 (when I was 4 years old, interestingly enough). The production especially puts it in the era, but I feel like this album could easily be made now with only a few modern changes. It really holds up well to me, and that's not just a mark of a good album but of a great band. I am aware that they took experimental turns after this, so I think I made a good starting choice.
Although I might have switched the first track, "Dum Dum Girl" (which is NOT where the band Dum Dum Girls got their name; I had to check), with the second track in terms of song sequence, I do enjoy it a bit. The ‘dum dum girl’ refrain can easily get stuck in your head if you're not careful. *wink* It was the second track, "Such A Shame", though, that really got my attention. With its…what I would call a drawn out 'atmospheric' opening, the song seems to be pulling toward a journey of some kind when the vocal hits you as if you've gotten into the car and began the drive. That chorus, that feel… This is a stellar track that's easily one of my top favorites on the entire album. So, so good!
I'm not going to lie, but "It's My Life" is still a big favorite for me, and I feel it's definitely among the best on this album. It was a perfect single choice as it encapsulates so well what makes this album so good: great songwriting, great vocals, and great atmosphere. I will admit that No Doubt did a fantastic cover of this song, but no one would ever be able to touch the original for me. Even if after reading all I say here in this writing this song is the only reason you'd try out this album, it's a damn good reason and I implore you to do so. It's well worth it.
The stand out track for me is the excellent "Call in the Night Boy", which gave me the urge to do a full on, rocked out cover of it from first listen. I feel like it begs for it, really. The hooks are fabulous, the chorus gets stuck in your head, and the piano solo is damn fine. It just has, what I would call for this album, a little bit of a heavier feel that makes it pop out to me. A fantastic track that I can listen to on repeat.
This entire album, even with the couple songs that don't do as much for me as some others, is wonderful and well worth multiple listens. As I alluded to before, it’s full of great songwriting, wonderful vocals (RIP Mark Hollis), and new wave/synth pop goodness that I know I’ll go back to over and over. It seems true that this album doesn’t represent their overall output as a band, but no matter. It stands well on its own. And I am very excited to continue with Talk Talk and discover the rest. It shall be the best time ever.
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