8/9/2023 0 Comments American utopia album review![]() While American Utopia is billed as a solo album from Byrne, Brian Eno is listed as a co-writer on eight of the ten tracks – and he is a performer on half of those – and the Brooklyn-based experimental electronic music producer/composer Daniel Lopatin – also known as Oneohtrix Point Never – is the co-writer on the other two songs. Among this gloominess Byrne wants us all to find reasons to be cheerful, and so his latest album, American Utopia, is a musical component of his Reasons to Be Cheerful project. Yet despite this growing sense of alienation from “the other”, Talking Heads front-man David Byrne wants all sides to recognise that the news makes us all feel like the world is falling apart, and in that lies a common humanity. FOUR AND A HALF STARS (OUT OF FIVE).ĭavid Byrne’s American Utopia opens in cinemas on November 26.In a world where political divisions run deep, where social media echo-chambers and internet algorithms seem only to reinforce each side’s prejudices and preconceptions, the gulf between the “us” and the “them” can seem to be an unbridgeable chasm. This is one concert film that will certainly get everybody talking. ![]() It makes up for its lack of bells and whistles with its powerful sense of energy and spontaneity. He also adds the names of the recently deceased George Floyd, Breonna Taylor and Ahmaud Arbery.Īmerican Utopia is vibrant, artistic and clever. Lee adds photographs, which makes for especially powerful viewing. The band’s vocals soar like a gospel choir as they sing about some of the African Americans who have been tragically killed in the US. ![]() There are many fantastic moments but the most incendiary song of the night was a cover of Janelle Monáe’s “ Hell You Talmbout.”, performed with Monae’s blessing. By showcasing his old and new material, viewers are both entertained and celebrate his journey and evolution as an artist. There are cuts from his 2018 studio album, as well as Talking Heads classics like “ Once in a Lifetime” and “ Burning down the House.” “Psycho Killer” however, failed to make the cut.īyrne’s music is amazing and speaks to the human condition. It makes you feel like you have a front row seat to this innovative show, which originally appeared on Broadway and is set to make a return in 2021.įans both old and new will enjoy the musical selection. With cinematographer, Ellen Kuras’ fine work, the band are captured from 11 different angles. Lee has done an excellent job of capturing all the different moods and textures in this piece. The stage is dressed with a backdrop that’s a similar colour to their outfits, focusing your attention solely on the performers. They shimmy, circle and sway about the stage bringing choreographer Annie-B Parson’s moves to electrifying life. ![]() This frees them up for their performance. They wear head-set mics but none of this comes at the expense of the sound, which is full-bodied, infectious and raw.īyrne and his band are all wearing the same costume: a grey suit and shirt along with bare feet. The artists all carry their own instruments, and most play a variety of them throughout the show. What was left was a tight, eleven-strong collection of musicians, singers and dancers, as well as the all important audience. The result is something that is stripped back yet ultimately brimming with authenticity.įor American Utopia, Byrne wanted to rid the stage of everything except the bare essentials – those things that really mattered. Now he stars in his very own: American Utopia, courtesy of director Spike Lee. In 1983, as frontman of Talking Heads, he appeared in the acclaimed Stop Making Sense. David Byrne is no stranger to starring in concert films.
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