| Soldier-Talk | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 1979 | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 35:45 | |||
| Label | Radar (original UK release) Drag City (2007 US reissue) | |||
| Producer | Mayo Thompson, Geoff Travis | |||
| The Red Crayola chronology | ||||
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Soldier-Talk is the third studio album by the American experimental rock band Red Crayola. [1] It was released in 1979 by the record label Radar. [2]
In 1977, band leader Mayo Thompson moved from Houston to London where he partnered with drummer Jesse Chamberlain. [3] The band signed to Radar Records, and they started touring Europe. [4] Thompson met Pere Ubu, who were touring in support of The Modern Dance , and struck up a friendship. Thompson recruited Pere Ubu for this album project, and also Lora Logic of X-Ray Spex/Essential Logic.
Despite the presence of Pere Ubu, the music is a close continuation of the sound previously established by the Red Crayola. Soldier-Talk was conceived as a concept album dealing with militarism. [5] [6]
Chamberlain wanted to veer the music towards a more pop-oriented direction while Thompson opted to keep the sound experimental. As Thompson explained, "There wasn't much for him to do, in a way, I think he wanted to say what he felt about the record, and he wanted it closer in the direction of pop, because Jesse, that's always been one of his gifts, and I was determined to make the record work, and thought that it could, and should, and working with Geoff Travis, using his insights into the way music works, there was no other way it could be..." The conflict caused a strain on their musical partnership, although they later worked again on another record in a similar vein, Three Songs on a Trip to the United States , the cover of which referenced Soldier-Talk. [6]
Soldier-Talk was released in 1979. Around the release of the album, Mayo Thompson became an active producer for many of the bands on the Rough Trade roster, including Stiff Little Fingers, the Fall and the Raincoats. [7] He also became a member of Pere Ubu, filling the spot left after Tom Herman's departure, and recorded the albums The Art of Walking and Song of the Bailing Man with the group. [4]
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [8] |
| Pitchfork | 5.3/10 [9] |
| Spin Alternative Record Guide | 8/10 [10] |
The Harrow Observer wrote that "this is undisciplined, wild-running, absolutely anarchic music... Listen, and be devastated." [11]
Thom Jurek of AllMusic declared it "among the loopiest of the Red Krayola's offerings", and representative of "post-punk's more musically adventurous side". He gave the album three out of five stars, describing the songs as being independently compelling and engaging. [8] Mark Pytlik of Pitchfork gave the album 5.3 out of 10 and was critical towards the overall abrasiveness of the music, writing, "It's a consistently interesting album – there's something trying to get your attention at every moment, but in the manner of a beloved little sibling who won't stop poking you." He concluded that the record was best suited for those who find Gang of Four's Entertainment! too subdued. [9]
The bass guitarist Mike Watt named Soldier-Talk one of his favorite rock albums. [12]
All tracks are written by Mayo Thompson, except "On the Brink" by Thompson and Jesse Chamberlain
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "March No.12" | 2:01 |
| 2. | "On the Brink" | 2:55 |
| 3. | "Letter-Bomb" | 2:03 |
| 4. | "Conspirator's Oath" | 2:41 |
| 5. | "March No.14" | 1:22 |
| 6. | "Soldier-Talk" | 7:06 |
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Discipline" | 3:25 |
| 2. | "X" | 3:13 |
| 3. | "An Opposition Spokesman" | 5:02 |
| 4. | "Uh, Knowledge Dance" | 2:57 |
| 5. | "Wonderland" | 3:00 |
|
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Pere Ubu is an American rock group formed in Cleveland, Ohio, in 1975. The band had a variety of long-term and recurring band members, with singer David Thomas being the only member staying throughout the band's lifetime. They released their debut album The Modern Dance in 1978 and followed with several more LPs before disbanding in 1982. Thomas reformed the group in 1987, continuing to record and tour.
Red Krayola is an American avant rock band from Houston, Texas formed in 1966 by the trio of singer/guitarist Mayo Thompson, drummer Frederick Barthelme, and bassist Steve Cunningham.
Mayo Thompson is an American musician and visual artist best known as the leader of the experimental rock band Red Krayola.
New Picnic Time is the third album by American rock band Pere Ubu. It was released in September 1979 by Chrysalis Records. Reportedly the album sessions were stressful and contentious, and after touring, the group disbanded. They would reform a matter of months later, with Mayo Thompson replacing founding guitarist Tom Herman. The lyrics for the song "The Voice of the Sand" are based upon the poetry of Vachel Lindsay.
The Art of Walking is the fourth full-length album by Pere Ubu. Mayo Thompson of the Red Krayola joined as guitarist for this album and slanted the proceedings further towards deconstruction and abstraction, and away from the primal rock that former guitarist Tom Herman had facilitated. The group would record one more album with Thompson, Song of the Bailing Man, before disbanding.
Song of the Bailing Man is the fifth Pere Ubu album, released in 1982. It was the final Pere Ubu album until 1988's The Tenement Year.
Terminal Tower: An Archival Collection is a compilation album by American rock band Pere Ubu. Released in 1985, the album compiles several of the band's early singles and B-sides, including the Hearthan singles recorded with founder Peter Laughner that were initially compiled on the Datapanik in Year Zero EP, and continuing through later sides recorded with Mayo Thompson.
The Parable of Arable Land is the first studio album by the Red Crayola. The album was considered psychedelic music when it was introduced, but later assessments describe it as a forerunner to avant/noise rock. With this album as introduction, Ritchie Unterberger assessed the band as a precursor to industrial rock. The album features free improvised pieces involving industrial power tools and a revving motorcycle dubbed "Free Form Freak-Out" played by a group of over 50 people known as "the Familiar Ugly" as well as notable instrumental cameos by label mate and 13th Floor Elevators frontman Roky Erickson.
Corky's Debt to His Father is the only solo LP by Red Krayola leader Mayo Thompson. Recorded in 1970, it was released on the small independent label Texas Revolution but barely distributed at the time; some copies were made available in the 1970s via mail order.
God Bless the Red Krayola and All Who Sail With It is the second commercially released studio album by the American avant-rock band Red Krayola. It was released in May 1968 by the independent record label known as International Artists.
Corrected Slogans is a studio album collaboration between the experimental rock band Red Krayola and the conceptual art group Art & Language. It was released in 1976 by the publisher Music-Language. The album was adopted by Drag City and was re-issued on CD in 1997.
Kangaroo? is the second collaboration between the experimental rock band the Red Crayola and the conceptual art group Art & Language, released in 1981 by Rough Trade Records. The album was adopted by Drag City and re-issued on CD in 1995.
Black Snakes is a collaboration between the experimental rock band Red Krayola and the conceptual art group Art & Language. It was released in 1983 by RecRec Music. The album was adopted by Drag City and re-issued on CD in 1997.
Three Songs on a Trip to the United States is the fourth album by the experimental rock band Red Krayola, released in 1983 by Pure Freude. The album was adopted by Drag City and re-issued on CD in 1997. The album cover photos were provided by previous member Frederick Barthelme.
The Red Krayola is an album by the experimental rock band Red Krayola, released in 1994 by Drag City.
Coconut Hotel is an album originally recorded in 1967 by the American avant rock band Red Krayola. The intent was for it to be the band's second album after the release of The Parable of Arable Land, but it was rejected and shelved indefinitely by International Artists. Coconut Hotel would not hit stores till 1995 when it was finally issued by Drag City.
Introduction is an album by the experimental rock band Red Krayola, released in 2006 via Drag City.
Red Gold is an EP by the experimental rock band Red Krayola, released in 2006 by Drag City.
Five American Portraits is an album by the experimental rock band Red Krayola and the conceptual art group Art & Language, released in 2010 by Drag City.
Fingerpointing is a remix album by the experimental rock band Red Krayola, released on July 22, 2008, by Drag City. It is a remix of the album Fingerpainting, with Jim O'Rourke responsible for the new mix.
