Soldier Talk

Background

Since the release of God Bless the Red Krayola and All Who Sail With It, Steve Cunningham had left the project to pursue his own musical ambitions and had been replaced by Jesse Chamberlain. In 1978, this incarnation of the band was touring regularly and had been signed to Radar Records. While in Europe Thompson met Pere Ubu, who were touring in support of The Modern Dance, and struck up a friendship.

Composition

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 the issues of militarism and Soviet communism.

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 of interest 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 America, the cover of which referenced Soldier-Talk.

Release

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. He also became a member 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.

Reception

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. 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 is best suited for those who find Gang of Four's Entertainment! too subdued.

Legacy

Bassist Mike Watt named Soldier-Talk as being one of his favorite rock albums.

Track listing

All tracks written by Mayo Thompson, except "On the Brink" by Thompson and Jesse Chamberlain.