“Who Is The Sky” David Byrne Album
David Byrne’s new album, Who Is The Sky?, perfectly blends humor and depth in a collection of songs that explore societal truths while reminding us that it’s okay to have fun.
The album was recorded in partnership with Ghost Train Orchestra, a New York-based ensemble that sounds as if it was made to work with David Byrne. The orchestra’s eclectic sound and ability to transition almost seamlessly between different styles and genres is a beautiful accompaniment to Byrne’s fantastical and oftentimes silly lyrics.
A prime example of the album’s playfulness is Byrne’s repeated theme of bringing inanimate objects to life. On “My Apartment Is My Friend”, he sings directly to his apartment walls over a pulsing beat and lively instrumental, reminiscing on the time that they’ve spent together. In the chorus, Byrne sings, “You stood by me when darkness fell / My apartment is my friend”. Despite its absurdity, this is a feeling that many of us can likely relate to. The places where we spend our time do feel like they come to life and become a part of us, and Byrne’s genius lies in his ability to recognize these universal feelings and present them in an utterly unique way. He employs the same technique on “A Door Called No”, a ballad about finding the right opportunities at the right time. The door in question speaks to Byrne, and he repeats its message to us, singing, “It said ‘Don’t open me, sir, there’s a reason I’m closed, and / And no one can enter as ev’ryone knows’”. You might think that the Alice in Wonderland-esque concept of a door speaking to a person would detract from the message of a song that is otherwise heartfelt and sentimental. But, within the context of the album, it has a unifying effect that reminds us of Byrne’s intention to bring joy and fun to sometimes challenging realities.
Some other highlights from Who Is The Sky? include “What Is The Reason For It?”, a romantic-sounding track featuring Hayley Williams of Paramore, full of stirring horns and strings that tug at your heart. Williams and Byrne ask many questions throughout the song in an attempt to explore the purpose of love and its effects on us. Despite posing questions, there’s no real resolution within the song, prompting us to discover our own meaning. This idea is repeated on the following track, “I Met The Buddha at a Downtown Party”, whose title sounds like the setup to a bad joke. David Byrne and the Buddha walk into a party, where the Buddha reveals that he doesn’t have all the answers and that he’s moving on from the "enlightenment biz”. The percussion and bass-heavy sound on this one gives it a bouncy, uplifting feel over nihilistic lyrics like, “Now I don’t exist / And neither do you / So you’re damned if you don’t / And damned if you do”. Bryne brings it back down to earth and gives us a glimmer of hope by ending the song with “Right here is nirvana / Where the little crawdads sing”. It’s Byrne’s way of saying that maybe the answer to our existential questions is right here with us on earth. Even when singing about incredibly specific and otherworldly scenarios (like the sci-fi tale told on “Moisturizing Thing”), Byrne leaves a sense of vagueness in his lyrics that makes the messages more universal and allows us to inject our own interpretations into the music. The second half of the album delves a bit more into the personal with songs like “The Avant Garde" and “She Explains Things To Me”, which explore Byrne’s role in the art world and in his own relationships.
Like the title suggests, Who Is The Sky? is an album chock full of questions with very few answers. It seems intended to promote thought and conversation about love, life, fame, and what it would be like to hang out with the Buddha. Sonically, the album is overwhelmingly pleasant despite being a bit repetitive. The orchestra is upbeat and fun, with an emphasis on interesting percussion and staccato rhythms that pair nicely with Byrne’s storytelling writing style. If you’re looking for the perfect combination of heartfelt authenticity, genuine silliness, and honest observations about life, this album (like much of Byrne’s work) is for you.
