# Talking Heads vs. Roxy Music **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 5, 2018, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/talking-heads-vs-roxy-music/805934 "2018-01-05T18:22:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Lamoral](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lamoral/32/16078_2.png) [@Lamoral](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamoral)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2018, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/talking-heads-vs-roxy-music/805934/1 "2018-01-05T18:22:04Z")
The two bands have a similar style. But which do you prefer? I love them both, but I give the edge to Roxy Music. I think their overall musicianship is better; they were more innovative (they came first) and more experimental; and I think Bryan Ferry seems like a cooler guy than David Byrne and also has a better voice. But it’s close. Like I said, I love them both. They’re both awesome bands. ---
**Author:** ![WOOKINPANUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wookinpanub/32/132_2.png) [@WOOKINPANUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WOOKINPANUB)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2018, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/talking-heads-vs-roxy-music/805934/2 "2018-01-05T18:30:44Z")
Other than being popular during the same general time and both being “alternative” for the time, I’ve never considered their styles similar. I wasn’t a huge fan of either but off the top of my head I’d say I enjoyed TH more. They have many more songs I like, however none of them compare to _Slave to Love_, one of my all time favorites. ---
**Author:** ![Lamoral](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lamoral/32/16078_2.png) [@Lamoral](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamoral)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2018, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/talking-heads-vs-roxy-music/805934/3 "2018-01-05T18:33:05Z")
_Slave To Love_ is a Bryan Ferry solo song, not a Roxy Music song. But it’s a great song with a great video too. ---
**Author:** ![Derleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Derleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Derleth)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2018, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/talking-heads-vs-roxy-music/805934/4 "2018-01-05T18:35:30Z")
Talking Heads has more range than I’ve observed from Roxy Music, probably because I own multiple Talking Heads albums from different points of their career and only one Roxy Music album. Which is a strong indication of which I prefer, anyway. The upshot is, Talking Heads did _Stop Making Sense_ and that alone tilts things so far in their favor it isn’t even close. ---
**Author:** ![x-ray\_vision](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/x-ray_vision/32/351_2.png) [@x-ray\_vision](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/x-ray_vision)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2018, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/talking-heads-vs-roxy-music/805934/5 "2018-01-05T18:37:08Z")
As a non-musician, I’m not very good at comparing what musicians have better skills, more range, talent, etc. than another, but since you’re just asking who we prefer, it’s TH hands down. I just can’t get into the sound at all of RM. I don’t see them as very similar, but I know they are often compared. > [@WOOKINPANUB](#): > > They have many more songs I like, however none of them compare to _Slave to Love_, one of my all time favorites. On preview I see Jacquernagy beat me to it. ---
**Author:** ![gregorio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/fbc32d/32.png) [@gregorio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gregorio)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2018, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/talking-heads-vs-roxy-music/805934/6 "2018-01-05T19:14:28Z")
They both got Brian Eno. It’s a wash. ---
**Author:** ![Greg\_Charles](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/839c29/32.png) [@Greg\_Charles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Greg_Charles)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2018, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/talking-heads-vs-roxy-music/805934/7 "2018-01-05T19:34:10Z")
I definitely was a bigger fan of Talking Heads than Roxy Music back in the day. Also, Rolling Stone once called them [America’s Best Band](https://img.wennermedia.com/660-width/rs-28770-22933_lg.jpg)! I have all or most of their albums, but I rarely listen to them anymore. I still like _Fear of Music_ the best. I have a Roxy Music/Bryan Ferry greatest hits album, and it’s good, but somewhat homogenous. Maybe that’s just how greatest hits albums are. ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2018, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/talking-heads-vs-roxy-music/805934/8 "2018-01-05T19:35:45Z")
Talking Heads had a better-looking bass player. ---
**Author:** ![jaycat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jaycat/32/3015_2.png) [@jaycat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jaycat)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2018, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/talking-heads-vs-roxy-music/805934/9 "2018-01-05T19:45:39Z")
I never got into Roxy’s early stuff. I do like Manifesto and Flesh and Blood. Talking Heads is (are?) among the 80s groups I loved at the time, but who nowadays get on my last nerve. Also included: Timbuk 3 and They Might Be Giants, among others. ---
**Author:** ![Mister\_Rik](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mister_rik/32/491_2.png) [@Mister\_Rik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mister_Rik)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2018, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/talking-heads-vs-roxy-music/805934/10 "2018-01-05T22:55:01Z")
I was a teenager in the 1980s, and while I have _heard of_ Roxy Music, I cannot honestly say that I’ve ever knowingly heard one of their songs. I was at least aware of Talking Heads’ hits. ---
**Author:** ![Lamoral](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lamoral/32/16078_2.png) [@Lamoral](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamoral)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2018, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/talking-heads-vs-roxy-music/805934/11 "2018-01-05T23:27:36Z")
You’ve probably heard _More Than This_ and _Love Is The Drug_, but maybe without knowing who did them. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2018, 11:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/talking-heads-vs-roxy-music/805934/12 "2018-01-05T23:36:41Z")
Love both groups, and their stuff is in regular rotation around Casa Silenus. Entirely depends on my mood which group is “best.” **Derleth** and **blondebear** also make good, but opposing points. In the end, I’m going to go with which group gets turned up LOUD when the mood hits, so Talking Heads it is. ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2018, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/talking-heads-vs-roxy-music/805934/13 "2018-01-05T23:42:21Z")
Two great bands who are barely within the same generic category of rock, let alone have similar styles. I took time to get into Roxy Music, or maybe it’s that their music changed over time, becoming more orchestral by the end. _Avalon_ is flat out one of the great albums, timeless excellence. Phil Manzanera and Andy Mackay are fantastic musicians. Check out _Live at the Apollo_ for what they were capable of. David Byrne is obvious a quirky genius, but he was never trying to be a rock god the way Brian Ferry was, and the rest of the band weren’t either. There were perfect for the sound they wanted and created a sensibility all their own. Roxy Music, who put out eight top ten albums out of eight, still hasn’t been inducted into the Rock Hall of Fame. This has to look insane to people from Britain. And if turn up loud is the criterion, try “My Only Love.” ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2018, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/talking-heads-vs-roxy-music/805934/14 "2018-01-05T23:53:55Z")
Without Byrne, Talking Heads was the Tom Tom Club, and they were fine. Without Eno, Roxy Music was still the same, but most of the interesting stuff filtered away. First two albums were great, but while Avalon is the most popular I just think it’s merely okay. A little bit too slow jam for my taste. ---
**Author:** ![Patx2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/73ab20/32.png) [@Patx2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Patx2)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2018, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/talking-heads-vs-roxy-music/805934/15 "2018-01-06T00:23:22Z")
I always preferred The Talking Heads, love ‘em in fact. ---
**Author:** ![China\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/779978/32.png) [@China\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/China_Guy)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2018, 2:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/talking-heads-vs-roxy-music/805934/16 "2018-01-06T02:18:22Z")
Roxie was much more popular than the talking heads earlier. Psycho killer was the first Talking Heads song I ever remember hearing and that hit the sorta alternative FM radio in 1978 IIRC. Love is the Drug came out in 1975 and Roxie was big time. ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2018, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/talking-heads-vs-roxy-music/805934/17 "2018-01-06T02:27:45Z")
Roxy Music put out a pretty good live DVD “At The Apollo”. Talking Heads put out “Stop Making Sense”. Advantage: Heads. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2018, 2:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/talking-heads-vs-roxy-music/805934/18 "2018-01-06T02:29:18Z")
Doesn’t count. “Stop Making Sense” had so much post-concert “sweetening” as to make it a studio album. ---
**Author:** ![eschereal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschereal/32/18939_2.png) [@eschereal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschereal)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2018, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/talking-heads-vs-roxy-music/805934/19 "2018-01-06T02:32:12Z")
Just give me Eno. He is the musical genius, and everyone knows it. Those other bands (I am looking at you too) were just session support for him. Side gigs. ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2018, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/talking-heads-vs-roxy-music/805934/20 "2018-01-06T02:47:10Z")
Was definitely more of a fan of Roxy back then, and still have more of their albums than TH. Never saw them live, tho, and TH put on a hell of a show. Never woulda thought to compare the 2. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/talking-heads-vs-roxy-music/805934.md?page=2)