Search - Go-Go's :: Talk Show

Turn To The Go-Go's

Thomas Magnum | NJ, USA | 12/14/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"After the hit or miss affair that Vacation was, the Go-Go's finally took a break from their rigorous touring schedule. They returned back on the top of their game with Talk Show. The album combines their punkish attitudes with a slick pop production. The pounding piano on "Head Over Heels" practically begs you to get up and dance. "Forget That Day" shows Belinda Carlisle's ability to perfectly portray the girl with the wounded heart. "Yes Or No" & "Beneath The Blue Sky" or good pop songs as is "Capture The Light". The highlight of the album, and possibly their career, is "Turn To You". The song is a perfect synthesis of their early punk rocking days and their recorded pop sheen. The song has a frantic driving guitar and slamming drums, but it also has a stop and go sound with perfect harmonies. A true triumph. Unfortunately the band imploded after this release, but they did leave behind three great albums."

Best for last--Go-Go's 3rd album was their best

Daniel J. Hamlow | Narita, Japan | 08/22/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"When Universal Records wisely decided to reissue Vacation and Talk Show, I was elated. Given the hard-driving punk/surf guitar/new wave sound of their third album, they should've been going strong. They feel stronger here than their first two albums, and as a result, I say this is the best album they ever released."Head Over Heels" alternately charms with the ongoing piano and really packs a punch with the lead heavy rock guitar. The heavy clap that sounds in the chorus is kinda neat too in this hard-driving track.Belinda tries to coax someone scared of love in the equally driving "Turn To You." There's even a Beatles-like "ooh la la" mixed in there. "You think falling in love means falling to ruin" sings Belinda, explaining a flaw present in both sexes. The strong surf-punk sound gives the chorus an extra punch."You Thought" has a lot more spit and grind than its cousins "Lust To Love" and "Fading Fast" from Our Lips Are Sealed.Kathy Valentine's pulsing bass sets the rhythm for "Beneath The Blue Sky". The blue sky is the illusory calm that hides the stormclouds brewing between two people. Wonderful guitar solo and rhythm guitar work from Jane in this singleworthy tune.Rhythm guitar and piano underscore the sad "Forget That Day" about trying to forget a lost opportunity: "I can only kneel and pray/try and try to forget that day." Why do those days have to be rainy days?The grinding and snarling guitars make "I'm The Only One" the "We Got The Beat" of this album, complete with a drums and vocals section just like that song."Yes Or No" sort of slows the pace, although the same sound is present. "Capture The Light" recaptures the chugging rhythm guitar and tells how everybody wants their own piece of happiness. In one inspiring part, Belinda sings how "[I] used to hunt for darkness/and it would follow me/wherever I'd go/now I'm looking up again/I got no more time for feeling low."The last two songs, "I'm With You" and "Mercenary" are slower, but still have a strong sound permeating throughout the rest of the album.After Talk Show, first Jane Wiedlin, replaced by Paula Brown, then Belinda Carlisle left the fold, and the Go-Go's were no more until God Bless The Go-Go's in 2000. What's important is that each member of the band did their own thing. Belinda Carlisle had the best solo career of the lot, followed by Jane Wiedlin who also did some acting. Gina Schock did the short-lived House Of Schock, Kathy Valentine had the Delphines, and Charlotte Caffey teamed up with Meredith Brooks and Gia Ciambotti for the Graces. And there aren't too many other groups who do that."

Let's talk; "Talk Show" is a 5-star album!

James W. Tinder | Stockton, CA USA | 03/17/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Following the disappointing reviews of their second album, "Vacation," the Go-Go's took some deserved time off - but not by their own choice. Guitarist Charlotte Caffey developed a hand problem (now known as Carpal Tunnel Syndrome) and the Go-Go's as a group encoutered problems with their manager and record label.



At the end of 1983, they got back together to work on a new album ("Talk Show") with a new producer (Martin Rushent). The happy result was a stronger and more vibrant album than "Vacation," showing the Go-Go's as a band that could withstand tough times.



The hit "Head Over Heels" starts the album off, providing a piano hook by Caffey and one of the Go-Go's most memorable songs.



The follow-up hit, "Turn to You," shows off the guitar chops of Caffey and Jane Wiedlin and the new, assertive production style of Rushent.



"You Thought" is a pleasant surprise, penned by drummer Gina Schock and bassist Kathy Valentine. The result is one of "Talk Show"'s most memorable album tracks, demonstrating Belinda Carlisle's emerging, confident vocals.



"Beneath the Blue Sky" reminds us of the Cold War and its insanity; one may have to read the lyrics to fully understand the concept of this fine Valentine/Wiedlin effort.



"Forget that Day" is perhaps the finest album track, and the source of irritation among band members. Author Wiedlin wanted to sing lead, but the rest of the group nixed that notion. This was probably the final straw for Wiedlin, who left the group after finishing their concert tour in October 1984. This does not, however, detract from the song's quality.



"I'm the Only One" is a rollicking effort, the only detriment possibly being a heavy guitar mix over the vocals.



"Yes or No" was written by Wiedlin with the Mael brothers from Sparks. This was the last charted single for the Go-Go's in their 80s incarnation.



If there is a weak song on the album, "Capture the Light" might be it. Perhaps it only seems weak in the wake of so many fine songs that came before it on the album.



"I'm With You" is a fine love song by Schock and Wiedlin, with emotion fully captured in Carlisle's vocal.



"Mercenary" is a finely written tune, and somewhat sad, considering it was the last track on the last Go-Go's album in the 1980s.



It's too bad that personal problems and infighting destroyed the group within a year of this album's release. "Talk Show," however, stands as testimony to the Go-Go's fine songwriting and proves that they could cut a rock album as good as anyone else at the time."