This is a great album. It was reccomended to me recently as "the best album of the 90's" and it's certainly among them. Atmospehric, experimental, and beautiful-those words describe this album perfectly. Give it a listen, you'll be amazed.

Yes!

I knew you'd respond in this thread.

I'm going to listen to this again at some point today.

Talk Talk fans better represent.



If only it weren't so late here, I'd be inclined to say the same. I'll put it on tomorrow though!

Have you checked out Spirit of Eden? Both are great.

After listening to LS and SOE, it's hard to believe this is the same group that did "It's My Life".

Laughing Stock is my favorite album of the 90s -- maybe of all-time. The album is a beautiful scene of perfection. I just love the blend of the pop and jazz, not to mention Hollis' sad and melancholic voice. The attention to detail Hollis used is incredible.

Listen to the ending of "Ascension Day"...The caving guitars that just cut off abruptly. BRILLIANT! I used to think that my album had some kind of glitch, and wondered what the hell? Ending it so suddenly was a brilliant move and a lovely moment.

One of the most important albums of all-time. If there were no Talk Talk, you wouldn't know of Hex, or Disco Inferno. The actual pioneers of what is now called "Post-rock."

There are only three Talk Talk albums worth listening to, The Colour Of Spring, Spirit Of Eden (it's right up there in brilliance with Laughing Stock). Also, if you really want to hear the last extention of these albums, you should definitely check out Mark Hollis' solo album (1998) -- another one of my favorite albums from the 90s.

Yeah, Bark Psychosis was one of the first bands I thought of listening to this. And I had been wondering if my mp3's had a glitch, thanks for the note about Ascension Day. This really is a great piece of work, and it brings back a lot of the faith in music that I thought I had lost. After just a few listens I can really feel connected to it, which is rare for me. All the instruments, the vocals, and the production make such an amazing whole.

Buck, we should talk some time, I can tell you have a great knowledge of exactly the type of stuff I want to listen to.

Wow, I'm looking into Spirit of Eden and Mark Hollis very soon. This looks like amazing stuff.

Word.

this is an album I've been meaning to check out for a while.

A good album, but honestly not as good as I was expecting. I was reminded a lot of Bark Psychosis.

That guitar line in New Grass is simply gorgeous. I shall probably listen again tonight!

Wow, check out this review, NME is horrible.

From NME, September 28, 1991

TALK TALK
Laughing Stock (Verve)
Once upon a time Mark Hollis was the intense-eyed ranting lad who shouted "All you do is talk talk !". Then he became the anthemically melancholy lad who moaned "Its my life !" and never looked back from a life of anthemic melancholy.

As time goes by, Mark Hollis' music has slipped into a vat of dark, brooding melancholy so deep that even David Sylvian would join Right Said Fred rather than partake of its glummo brew.

In despair did EMI release an anthemically melancholy singles album and in more despair an anthemically melancholy dance remix album - an act on a par with releasing an Ambient House mix of Sham 69's "Hurry Up Harry", only not as interesting.

Now Hollis has gone to Verve and recorded "Laughing Stock" with 23 acoustically-oriented bass and organ and drum people. There is a slight jazz feel to this record. There are elements of soundtrack ambience. There are songs called "After The Flood". There are lyrics like "A hunger uncurbed by nature's calling". The whole thing is unutterably pretentious and looks over its shoulder hoping that someone will remark on its 'moody brilliance' or some such. It's horrible.

(4 out of 10)

David Quantick


[So is the review mr. David Quantick - Ed.]


I enjoy the editor's note!

I haven't heard Laughing Stock, but Spirit of Eden is a masterpiece.

The NME review is strange. Allmusic was just drooling over their more experimental albums.

Man this album is so good, just getting into it recently. Just wish it was longer. I'm gonna DL Spirit of Eden.

Thanks Nate

I never got to listen to Spirit of Eden before I left, I'm sure I would've liked it.

I think Taphead is my favorite off of this one, it's so beautiful.

I finally recieved my copy of this today, and I'm really excited to hear it in pristine condition. It grows on me every time I listen to it, and I find new things to listen for in the background. My favorite thing about it is the spirituality conveyed in each track. From the first stanza in Myrrhman ("Place my chair at the backroom door/help me up/I can't wait anymore") to the last few lines of Runeii (So effortly blessed/slow to bleed fair son") it's just amazing.

Everyone should listen to this, it's unlike any other album.

One of the 5 most important albums of the 90's if you ask me.

I agree. List the others, if you don't mind.