Speak (The Roches album)

Speak is an album by the American musical trio the Roches, released in 1989 on MCA Records.^[2][3] 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.^[4]

Speak
Studio album by the Roches
Released	October 31, 1989[1]
Genre	Pop folk
Length	50:17
Label	MCA
Producer	The Roches, Jeffrey Lesser
The Roches chronology
Crossing Delancey (1988) Speak (1989) We Three Kings (1990)

"Big Nuthin'" was a minor radio hit.^[5] The trio supported the album with a North American tour.^[6]

Production

The album was coproduced by the Roches; many songs were first takes.^[7][8] The Roches had been singing many of the songs for years, and decided to flesh them out with drum machines and synthesizers.^[9][10] The sisters shared in the songwriting.^[11] "Big Nuthin'" references their appearance on Saturday Night Live.^[12] The lyrics to "Cloud Dancing" were inspired by a 16th-century Chinese poet.^[13]

Critical reception

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[14]
Calgary Herald	B+[11]
Chicago Tribune	[15]
Robert Christgau	A−[16]
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music	[17]
Ottawa Citizen	[18]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide	[19]
Spin Alternative Record Guide	8/10[20]

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."^[4] 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."^[15]

The Globe and Mail deemed the album "yet another collection of too-cute pop folk ditties."^[21] The Ottawa Citizen determined that "the music stretches across a confessional of private thoughts to a streak of outrageous sarcasm."^[18]

The Rolling Stone Album Guide noted the "electro-organic landscape."^[19] The Spin Alternative Record Guide praised the "Casio-based sound the takes home cooking into outer space."^[20]

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