Review: Former Talking Heads Frontman David Byrne Returns With ‘Who Is The Sky’

On the heels of the Talking Heads releasing their new, updated More Songs About Buildings And Food – Super Deluxe, ex-Heads frontman David Byrne has released his new solo album, Who Is The Sky. You’d think the folks down at the record company would want to spread these things out more… although McCartney released his DIY debut solo album, McCartney, at roughly the same time the Beatles released Let It Be without really consulting him. I think both sides of that Beatles/McCartney thing were likely trying to piss off the other side… rock bands, they’re like families, but I digress.

Byrne’s new album is a collaboration with the Ghost Train Orchestra an avant-garde collection of musicians of about sixteen people led by a gentleman named Brian Carpenter. The Orchestra is made up of folks who play strings and brass instruments with a couple of bass players, a drummer and percussionist. The album is produced by a gentleman who goes by the name of “Kid Harpoon.” This album is the follow up to 2018’s American Utopia, the first Byrne solo album I have really just loved. That album’s tour, which was highly theatrical, was adapted for a Broadway production and eventually filmed as a documentary directed by Spike Lee, entitled American Utopia On Broadway.

Naturally I was a big Talking Heads fan, but not until I got to college. The Talking Heads with their poly-rhythmic beats and quirky lyrics just sort of fit into the ear of a college student easier than that of a high school kid trapped in the suburbs. I must admit, I really didn’t follow Byrne into his solo career which is rare for me. When I like a band if the principle songwriter/singer goes solo I tend to follow that person into their solo career. His first solo album was actually a collaboration with Brian Eno in the run up to the Talking Heads album Remain In Light. I never found My Life In the Bush Of Ghosts to be terribly accessible. I know he did some other Broadway stuff, like say, The Catherine Wheel, but I never checked out any of that stuff either… I was in college, my musical tastes were expanding but hey, even I had limits.

However, I jumped on the bandwagon after Byrne and the Talking Heads had first broken up. His first “proper” solo album was Rei Momo and I dug that album, especially the track “Dirty Old Town,” which I think I included on my Playlist: Songs About “The City.” If I didn’t, I should have. Anyway, I remember being surprised at how Latin-influenced the album sounded. Byrne will follow his muse wherever it takes him and that can lead to some exciting musical places. Frankly I think you could say his solo career has been a little inconsistent. He’s collaborated with St. Vincent (aka Annie Clark) for Love This Giant that briefly caught my attention. 2004’s Grown Backwards also caught my attention but it really wasn’t until the aforementioned American Utopia that I really connected with Byrne’s solo stuff. American Utopia was also probably his most “Talking Heads-y” sounding album he’s done.

Who Is The Sky‘s cover art is a bunch of swirling colors and I’m not sure there is an album whose cover art so perfectly matches what you’ll find inside. While accompanied by Ghost Train Orchestra, and there is a lot of lovely orchestration here, it’s not ever going to be confused with Burt Bacharach or Springsteen’s lush Western Stars. This is straightforward pop-rock with Byrne’s typical detached – one might wonder if he’s slightly autistic – world view. While there are serious subjects and slightly obscured messages to the listener this is mostly an upbeat record that in many cases sounds joyful. I love the instrumentation.

The opening track, “Everybody Laughs,” bursts from the stereo with the sound of a strumming guitar and Byrne’s voice takes us by the hand. The strings are lovely and carry the beautiful melody underpinned with great percussion. This track wouldn’t be out of place on a mid-period Heads’ album. It’s a great song. Annie Clark (aka St. Vincent) adds background vocals as well. There isn’t a bad song on this record. “My Apartment Is My Friend” may be the introvert anthem to end all introvert anthems. You have to simultaneously chuckle and just love a song about loving one’s home. When we moved inot our home, I asked the Rock Chick if we could afford a moat. Another favorite is the more somber, “A Door Called No.” Our narrator comes to the aforementioned door which say’s “no,” but then he meets a girl… and the he realizes everything is saying, “yes.” Sounds like when I met the Rock Chick.

“What Is The Reason For It” un-spools like a crazy tango and turns out to be a duet with Hayley Williams from Paramore. “I Met The Buddha At A Downtown” is another favorite. Our hero meets the Buddha at a party and watches him eating unhealthy snacks where the Buddha admits “I never had the answers…” and they share a blueberry tart. “Don’t Be Like That” is another great track driven by Byrne’s acoustic guitar. It’s damn catchy. On “The Avant Garde” Byrne seems to be taking aim at a scene that he himself probably helped make popular. When he sings, “It’s deceptively weighty, profoundly absurd, Now, it’s whatever fits, It’s the avant garde And it doesn’t mean shit…” pretty much tells me what he thinks.

Byrne even tackles the mundane on “Moisturizing Thing.” No matter what we do to our appearance, we’re all still the same person inside. “I’m An Outsider” might be Byrne’s theme song. “She Explains Things To Me” could be the description of every marriage every where. The final track is “The Truth” where Byrne sings, “”The truth, my dear,” said Norma Shearer “Is the last thing a man ever wants to hear.” Which is pretty much true for a lot of folks.

The wonderful percussion and orchestration – kudos to Ghost Train Orchestra – and Byrne’s insightful lyrics is a perfect combination. This is great music from start to finish. I’m delighted to be on the David Byrne solo train (finally). I love that he’s been so open to collaboration over the course of his career post-Talking Heads. This is one of the best albums of the year. Enjoy it loud, it’s certainly a colorful party of an album.

Cheers!