SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: DAVID BYRNE – WHO IS THE SKY?

DAVID BYRNE
WHO IS THE SKY?
MATADOR RECORDS

David Byrne is best known as the frontman of the legendary band Talking Heads, who helped shape the landscape of music in the ‘80s. He is also a prolific solo artist and, with his unique artistic vision, continues to innovate his craft. With the help of Ghost Train Orchestra and producer Kid Harpoon (aka Tom Hull), Byrne returns with Who Is The Sky?, which is his first solo album in seven years.

Who Is The Sky? is filled with many gems. “Everybody Laughs” is a cheerful, feel-good tune that is bound to lift your spirits and make you dance along to its endearingly happy energy, optimistic lyrics, joyfully upbeat sound, bright summer vibes, and bouncy foot-tapping rhythm. Additionally, the chorus is an absolute gem, Byrne’s vocals are entertainingly captivating, and St. Vincent provides some fantastic backing vocals. “When Are We Singing” is an absolute stunner sonically. Ghost Train Orchestra did a marvelous job with the orchestration, and the electronica elements add a lot of pizzazz to the overall production of the track. Byrne is definitely having a wonderful time here, especially with his playful wordless vocalizations near the end. Byrne and Hayley Williams of Paramore have tremendous vocal interplay in the exuberantly snappy Latin-influenced “What Is The Reason For It?”. Meanwhile, “The Truth” sounds like a lost club/dance hit from yesteryear, with the highlight being the irresistibly groovy beat and “Don’t Be Like That” has immediate replay value, especially the super catchy acoustic guitar lines and Byrne’s charismatic vocals.

Lyrically, Who Is The Sky? is heartfelt, humorous, and quirky. “She Explains Things To Me” is a rather sweet and wholesome song in which Byrne describes how his female friends usually seem to understand what is going on between characters in a film or show faster than he can. Meanwhile, “The Avant Garde” explores in a witty and self-aware fashion the absurdity, beauty, and creativity of avant-garde art. Furthermore, the arrangement of the song is weirdly hypnotic and ranges from art pop, ‘70s hard rock, and chamber pop. Lastly, with “I’m An Outsider”, Byrne lists off several peculiar things, including a talking zebra and a man with 50 eyes, which is sure to get a laugh from listeners.

Overall, Who Is The Sky? is full of fun, whimsical individuality. It is great to see Byrne continue to put out high-calibre material.

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