We are only tourists in this life/ Only tourists but the view is nice
The name of David Byrne is often replaced with the name Talking Heads, but this man is so much more than a new wave phenomenon. With Oscar, Grammy and Golden Globe in his pocket, this name remains unrecognizable by the fans of the cult band. It wasn't until the band was dismantled that David Byrne could fully realize his potentials in movie, photography, fiction and opera. After a fourteen year hiatus, David Byrne is giving us another product of his brilliant mind. American Utopia was highly anticipated album, and it is part of the project Reasons To Be Cheerful which aim is point finger at numerous reasons for happiness despite the socio-economic-political context.
As If he did not want to scare us right away, Byrne says hello with polite, controlled vocal. Yet, the first song I Dance Like This shows that this is not going to be one of those tragic-comic attempts the return to the scene way pass the expiration date. The track combines piano tones with drums and distortions, and the lyrics summarize the main idea of the record - society with two left legs and mechanical dance moves that freaks out when you are dancing with authenticity.
Gasoline and Dirty Sheets calls out marketing, capitalism and consumerism in a friendly manner. Everyday is A Miracle describes life through the eyes of chicken and other citizens of animal kingdom. In Dog Mind, we hear similar theme. Byrne is castigating society ensnared by obligations, expectations and roleplay and compares a man to the dog.
This Is That is my personal favorite - sedative, hypnotic and dreamy - an unique intersection of the Eastern vibrations and lucid lyrics. Bullet is a story about a murder from the perspective of a bullet. Dope, right? It's Not Dark Up Here is full of groove, and Doing The Right Thing initiates a bunch of questions and provides the ultimate answer - you are always doing the right thing, whether deliberately or not.
With American Utopia, you can not tell whether 65 year old David Byrne is at the peak of his creative catharsis or If this was always his natural state.
