Soldier-Talk

In 1977, band leader Mayo Thompson moved from Houston to London where he partnered with drummer Jesse Chamberlain.{{cite book |last=Reynolds |first=Simon |author-link=Simon Reynolds |year=2006 |title=Rip It Up and Start Again: Postpunk 1978-1984 |publisher=Penguin Group |isbn=9780143036722 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=LlZQpWBFbHcC |access-date=December 10, 2014}}
- {{cite book |last=Buckley |first=Peter |title=The Rough Guide to Rock |year=2003 |publisher=Rough Guides |isbn=9781858284576 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Fie47qSuTsoC |access-date=December 10, 2014}} The band signed to Radar Records, and they started touring Europe.{{cite book |last=Thompson |first=Dave |author-link=Dave Thompson (author) |year=2000 |title=Alternative Rock |publisher=Miller Freeman, Inc. |isbn=9780879306076 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZHP-r9-eqdAC |access-date=December 10, 2014}} Thompson met Pere Ubu, who were touring in support of The Modern Dance, and struck up a friendship. Thompson recruited Pere Ubu for this album project, and also Lora Logic of X-Ray Spex/Essential Logic.

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 militarism.{{cite book |last=Taylor |first=Steve |title=The A to X of Alternative Music |date=September 27, 2006 |publisher=Continuum International Publishing Group |isbn=9780826482174 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=KPOsu8JOHO8C |access-date=December 10, 2014}}{{cite web |url=http://wwwfurious.com/perfect/redcrayola.html |title=Perfect Sound Forever: Red Crayola/Red Krayola |last=Nichols |first=David |date=April 2007 |website=Perfect Sound Forever |access-date=December 10, 2014}}

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 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 the United States, the cover of which referenced Soldier-Talk.

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.{{cite web |url=http://forestroxx.blogspot.com/2012/02/mayo-thompson-interview-1997.html |title=Mayo Thompson Interview [1997] |publisher= |website=FORESTROXX |date=April 11, 1997 |access-date=August 21, 2012}} He also became a member of 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.

{{Music ratings

| rev1 = AllMusic

| rev1score = {{rating|3|5}}{{cite web |url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/soldier-talk-mw0000577583 |title=Soldier Talk – The Red Krayola |last=Jurek |first=Thom |website=AllMusic |access-date=December 10, 2014}}

| rev2 = Pitchfork

| rev2score = 5.3/10{{cite web |url=http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/9938-soldier-talk/ |title=The Red Crayola: Soldier-Talk |last=Wolk |first=Douglas |date=April 2, 2007 |website=Pitchfork |access-date=December 10, 2014}}

|rev3 = Spin Alternative Record Guide

|rev3score = 8/10{{cite book |title=Spin Alternative Record Guide |date=1995 |publisher=Vintage Books |page=322}}

}}

The Harrow Observer wrote that "this is undisciplined, wild-running, absolutely anarchic music... Listen, and be devastated."{{cite news |last1=Clerk |first1=Carol |title=Devastating new wave |work=Harrow Observer |date=12 Jun 1979 |page=2}}

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

The bass guitarist Mike Watt named Soldier-Talk one of his favorite rock albums.GUI@B (October 2003). [https://web.archive.org/web/20060220210505/http://www.iggy-pop.com/intw/watt.htm "Interview {{sic|wh|ith|nolink=y}} Mike Watt"], Iggy Pop.com. Retrieved March 15, 2014.

{{track listing

| headline = Side A

| all_writing = Mayo Thompson, except "On the Brink" by Thompson and Jesse Chamberlain

| title1 = March No.12

| length1 = 2:01

| title2 = On the Brink

| length2 = 2:55

| title3 = Letter-Bomb

| length3 = 2:03

| title4 = Conspirator's Oath

| length4 = 2:41

| title5 = March No.14

| length5 = 1:22

| title6 = Soldier-Talk

| length6 = 7:06

}}

{{track listing

| headline = Side B

| title1 = Discipline

| length1 = 3:25

| title2 = X

| length2 = 3:13

| title3 = An Opposition Spokesman

| length3 = 5:02

| title4 = Uh, Knowledge Dance

| length4 = 2:57

| title5 = Wonderland

| length5 = 3:00

}}

{{Col-begin}}

{{Col-2}}

; The Red Crayola

• Mayo Thompson – vocals, guitar, production
• Jesse Chamberlain – drums

; Additional musicians

• Dick Cuthell – trumpet
• Tom Herman – guitar
• Scott Krauss – drums
• Lora Logic – saxophone
• Tony Maimone – bass guitar
• Allen Ravenstine – keyboards
• David Thomas – vocals

{{Col-2}}

; Additional personnel

• Christine Thompson – additional vocals

; Technical

• Bob Broglia – engineering, mixing
• Alan Jakoby – engineering
• Stephen Lipson – engineering
• Geoff Travis – production

{{col-end}}

{{Reflist}}

• {{Discogs master|90302}}

{{Red Krayola}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:1979 albums

Category:Drag City (record label) albums

Category:Radar Records albums

Category:Red Krayola albums

Category:Albums produced by Mayo Thompson