Talk Talk Album: “Natural History: The Very Best of Talk Talk [Bonus DVD]”

This outstanding British art-pop band, led by singer/songwriter Mark Hollis, released five studio albums between 1982 and 1991. "Natural History" is a Best-Of collection that covers the first four Talk Talk albums, and I can most certainly guarantee that if you enjoy this disc, you'll definitely want to seek out the band's whole catalog. They only had one Top 40 hit in the States, "It's My Life" (recently covered by No Doubt), but there's a lot more intelligent, sophisticated tunes where that classic song came from. Talk Talk made GREAT music, with a grace and power in the way they used keyboards and piano, the big thumping of the drums, the cleverness of the songwriting & arrangements, the way their music could instantly grab you and hold your attention, and, of course, the distinctive, rich voice of Mark Hollis. "Talk Talk," "Such A Shame," "It's My Life," "Life Is What You Make It," "Living In Another World," "Desire"....simply wonderful songs. Thanks to "Natural History," I'm an instant fan, and I'm already seeking out the rest of the group's stuff. They never got the huge success that they so rightfully deserved, but Talk Talk was and IS a band to treasure. "Natural History" is a marvelous introduction.

Talk Talk remain a fairly obscure 80's synth band-turned-art/jazz band. Their only top 40 hit was 1984's "It's My Life", but that was a great song, and I still hear it played on 80's radio stations. The band was more sophisticated, musically, than other synth bands and they paid for it by being less commercial. I have all of their cds: "The Party's Over" (1982), "It's My Life" (1984), "The Colour Of Spring" (1986), "Spirit Of Eden" (1988) and "Laughing Stock" (1991). This hits compilation does not include anything from "Laughing Stock". Great melancholic synth-pop hits like "Such A Shame", "Dum Dum Girl", "It's My Life", "Life's What You Make It", "Today", "Talk Talk", "Happiness Is Easy", "Tomorrow's Started" and "I Believe In You" display the band's depth and range. I think this band would rank next to Echo and the Bunnymen, The Church, The Call and bands of that nature. It's a good compilation by itself, but you could just as easily buy the individual cds and be no worse off.

Talk Talk were a large part of my formative years at college in the UK and are an all time favourite. Their melancholic and ethereal compositions were in stark contrast to clubbing to the equally excellent but wholly different ABC, Pigbag and Heaven 17. Often I had (and still have to a certain extent) no idea what the lyrics are but the haunting and plaintive chord structure just tugs at something deep inside. 'Dum Dum Girl' and 'Such a Shame' stand out. This album is a fantastic introduction/nostagia trip to the beauty of Talk Talk and will undoubtedly lead the unsuspecting listener to buying their whole back catalogue. Just don't play it if you're 22, inebriated at a terrible party in Birmingham and you're relationship's just gone pear-shaped!

This is a very rare DVD featuring 9 hits of Talk Talk. The videos are clear and the sound quality is real good. There is a menu which allows viewers to jump directly to a specific video or watch all of the videos.

The video for Living In Another World is amazing. Good special effects for its time of release. There is some live footage of the band performing Give It Up. This DVD is worth the price.

I rate this classic DVD with 5 stars.

Back in the early 90's I picked up a copy of Natural History because that was the only way to get the single My Foolish Friend at the time. I already had the first three Talk Talk albums. This newer release of the compilation is missing two live tracks recorded at the Hammerlsmith Odeon: LIFE'S WHAT YOU MAKE IT and TOMORROW'S STARTED. The trade off? You get all of the music videos Talk Talk ever released on a DVD.

That's right. This one and only edition of Natural History that has a separate DVD of Talk Talk music videos. The only other place to get them was a VHS release also called Natural History, and now you have them on a digital hard copy. Better yet the VHS didn't have both versions of the video TALK TALK (just the artsy one with the people talking with their hands). How's that for best bang for the buck? Keep in mind while this is an all-region DVD it is in PAL format (the U.S. standard is NTSC). Make sure your DVD player can run PAL (I can confirm the Playstation 3 does).

This compilation is a really good representation of the band's work on their first four albums. More emphasis is on songs from their most popular albums, It's My Life and Colour of Spring. That's okay because you still get what I consider their two best songs from The Party's Over and the two most accessable songs from Spirit of Eden. I prefer having the individual albums because there are lots of greats songs to enjoy, but if you just want a sampling of the band this is the way to go. I believe the audio tracks are remastered as well so you are getting the same fidelity as the newly remastered albums have.

In conclusion if you like IT'S MY LIFE and want to hear more without investing in their five album collection AND want the best sounding versions of the songs AND like their videos this is the album to get. If you aren't into videos then go for the previously released non-import version. You would only miss the remastering on tracks from the first two albums. Plus you would get two bonus live tracks as well. All you TT fans should get this as well if just for the videos (and one of the few places you can get MY FOOLISH FRIEND) alone.