Music review: David Byrne – 鈥楢merican Utopia鈥�
David Byrne has always had an interesting way at looking at the world.
As the quirky frontman for the Talking Heads, Byrne has entertained and amused fans with peculiar and thought-provoking arrangements such as 鈥淧sycho Killer,鈥� 鈥淥nce in a Lifetime,鈥� 鈥淪lippery People,鈥� 鈥淟ife During Wartime鈥� and 鈥淕irlfriend Is Better.鈥�
One of my fondest memories from my college years involved taking a January weekend trip to Chicago and having the opportunity to catch the movie 鈥淪top Making Sense鈥� in the theater. Considered one of the better concert films made, my appreciation for Byrne and the Talking Heads was realized on that fateful evening while absorbing the various sights and sounds of the performance delivered by the innovative band consisting of Byrne on guitar and vocals, Chris Frantz on drums, Tina Weymouth on bass and Jerry Harrison on keyboards.
That was then. This is now.
鈥淎merican Utopia鈥� is Byrne鈥檚 first solo release in 14 years and features Brian Eno鈥檚 writing assistance on the majority of the 10 tracks.
The latest effort is the 65-year-old鈥檚 musical commentary on the confusing times we live in and the complex issues we struggle with as a society. It鈥檚 an album about overcoming our fears as we search for hope and a better tomorrow. In other words, it鈥檚 classic Byrne.
On 鈥淓very Day Is a Miracle,鈥� Byrne ponders what the world looks like from a chicken鈥檚 perspective as he sings, 鈥淭he chicken thinks in mysterious ways/But beauty is not what we鈥檙e after/Now the chicken imagines a heaven/Full of roosters and plenty of corn.鈥�
鈥淒og鈥檚 Mind鈥� continues the animal theme with Byrne comparing people to dogs enjoying a little slice of paradise in a theme park all our own.
鈥淏ullet鈥� finds Byrne taking a darker subject and transforming it into a hypnotic journey that rhythmically details the moment when life is stolen by announcing, 鈥淭he bullet went into him/Through his heart with thoughts of you/Where your kisses he inhaled/The lies and the truth.鈥�
At one time, Byrne was systematically burning down the house. With 鈥淓verybody鈥檚 Coming to My House,鈥� he鈥檚 extending an open invitation to come over and linger by announcing, 鈥淎nd everybody鈥檚 coming to my house/And they鈥檙e never gonna go back home.鈥�
Fans can catch Byrne perform on May 13 when he makes a stop at Pittsburgh鈥檚 Benedum Center.
Clint Rhodes is the 缅北禁地 music reviewer. He can be reached at clinton43@me.com.