Speak (The Roches album)

Speak is an album by the American musical trio the Roches, released in 1989 on MCA Records.[1][2] The album contained two singles that had accompanying videos, "Big Nuthin'" and "Everyone Is Good". Another track, "Nocturne", was included in the 1988 film Crossing Delancey, which costarred Suzzy Roche.[3]

Speak
Studio album by
The Roches
Released1989
GenrePop folk
Length50:17
LabelMCA
ProducerThe Roches, Jeffrey Lesser
The Roches chronology
Crossing Delancey
(1988)		 Speak
(1989)		 We Three Kings
(1990)

"Big Nuthin'" was a minor radio hit.[4] The trio supported the album with a North American tour.[5]

Production

The album was coproduced by the Roches; many songs were first takes.[6][7] The Roches had been singing many of the songs for years, and decided to flesh them out with drum machines and synthesizers.[8][9] The sisters shared in the songwriting.[10] "Big Nuthin'" references their appearance on Saturday Night Live.[11] The lyrics to "Cloud Dancing" were inspired by a 16th-century Chinese poet.[12]

Critical reception
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[13]
Calgary HeraldB+[10]
Chicago Tribune[14]
Robert ChristgauA−[15]
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music[16]
Ottawa Citizen[17]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide[18]
Spin Alternative Record Guide8/10[19]

The New York Times wrote: "Throughout most of the album, there is a feeling that not a note or a word has been wasted, as the trio strives toward a sparseness and clarity that underscores its exquisite vocal blend."[3] The Chicago Tribune concluded that "the Roches' intricate, artfully balanced harmonies again take center stage and are matched by finely honed, complex tales that provoke almost simultaneous laughter and tears."[14]

The Globe and Mail deemed the album "yet another collection of too-cute pop folk ditties."[20] The Ottawa Citizen determined that "the music stretches across a confessional of private thoughts to a streak of outrageous sarcasm."[17]

The Rolling Stone Album Guide noted the "electro-organic landscape."[18] The Spin Alternative Record Guide praised the "Casio-based sound the takes home cooking into outer space."[19]

Track listing
  1. "Speak"
  2. "Big Nuthin'"
  3. "Cloud Dancing"
  4. "Everyone Is Good"
  5. "In the World"
  6. "I Love My Mom"
  7. "Losing Our Job"
  8. "Person with a Past"
  9. "The Anti-Sex Backlash of the 80's"
  10. "Easy"
  11. "Nocturne"
  12. "Merciful God"
  13. "Broken Places"
  14. "Feeling Is Mutual"

Personnel
  • Produced By the Roches and Jeffrey Lesser
  • Engineered by Jeffrey Lesser
  • Executive Producer: Teddy Wainwright
  • A&R: Marty Scott
  • Jeff Lippay: Assistant Engineer / Glen Zdon: Live Sound / Mastering: Grag Calbi, Sterling Sound, Inc.
  • Recorded and Mixed at RPM Studios, New York, NY.
  • Art Director: Toni Scott / Layout: Murray Brenman
  • Photography: Timothy White / Hand Lettering: Stephen Foster / Illustrations: Terre Roche

Musicians
  • Maggie Roche: Singing, piano, synthesizers, keyboard bass
  • Terre Roche: Singing, guitars
  • Suzzy Roche: Singing, synthesizers, guitars
  • Carter Cathcart: Piano on "Losing Our Job", synthesizer strings and horn.
  • Libby McLaren: Synthesizers, keyboard bass
  • Vince Cherico: Drums, drum programming, percussion
  • Fernando Saunders: Bass Guitar
  • The Roches: Drum and synthesizer programming
  • Larry Fast: Additional synthesizer programming

References
  1. "The Roches Biography, Songs, & Albums". AllMusic.
  2. Meyer, Marianne (May 3, 1992). "The Roches Returning to Tarrytown" – via NYTimes.com.
  3. Holden, Stephen (15 Nov 1989). "The Pop Life". The New York Times. p. C24.
  4. Buckley, Peter (December 10, 2003). "The Rough Guide to Rock". Rough Guides – via Google Books.
  5. Sullivan, Jim (8 Feb 1990). "The Roches: Folk with a Touch of Humor". Arts and Film. The Boston Globe. p. 74.
  6. Heim, Chris (3 Nov 1989). "Ten years ago, three sisters...". Friday. Chicago Tribune. p. 63.
  7. Mitchell, Justin (10 Feb 1990). "'Scary' situation reaping rewards for Roches trio". Windsor Star. Scripps Howard. p. C2.
  8. Gettelman, Parry (19 Jan 1990). "Roches Have Molded Sister-Speak into Blooming Career". Calendar. Orlando Sentinel. p. 14.
  9. Takiff, Jonathan (6 Apr 1990). "Out of the Art Crowd". Features. Philadelphia Daily News. p. 52.
  10. Mayes, Alison (8 Feb 1990). "Recent Releases". Calgary Herald. p. D2.
  11. Epstein, Warren (23 Jan 1990). "Roches continue love affair with fans at Boulder concert". Colorado Springs Gazette-Telegraph. p. F4.
  12. Brown, Joe (9 Feb 1990). "Roches' 'Speak' Out with Familiar Sound". The Washington Post. p. N24.
  13. "Speak - The Roches | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic" – via www.allmusic.com.
  14. Heim, Chris (23 Nov 1989). "Rave Recordings". Chicago Tribune. p. 23I.
  15. "Robert Christgau: CG: The Roches". www.robertchristgau.com.
  16. Larkin, Colin (May 27, 2011). "The Encyclopedia of Popular Music". Omnibus Press – via Google Books.
  17. Erskine, Evelyn (19 Jan 1990). "The Roches back with folk revival". Ottawa Citizen. p. F6.
  18. The Rolling Stone Album Guide. Random House. 1992. p. 596.
  19. Spin Alternative Record Guide. Vintage Books. 1995. pp. 334–335.
  20. Niester, Alan (18 Jan 1990). "Speak The Roches". The Globe and Mail. p. C8.
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