Album Review: David Byrne - "Who Is the Sky?"

The joy and positivity across Who Is the Sky? is presented in such a forced, grinning while held at gunpoint way that it's borderline parody. The overblown, overproduced production from Kid Harpoon does not help David Byrne's tunes shine in the best light.

Matador - 2025

David Byrne needs no introduction, so I'll keep it brief. The frontman behind Talking Heads, one of the best and most influential rock bands to come out of the late 70's and 80's, Byrne is a visionary, lyricist, and avid bicyclist. He's made countless albums and projects through collaborations, whether it's with Brian Eno, St. Vincent, Fatboy Slim, and many many more. This new album I'm currently reviewing is technically his first under his own name in seven years, since the enjoyable album turned Broadway production American Utopia. I say "technically" because this is far from a solo record. Titled Who Is the Sky?, which is named after a speech to text prompt asking "who is this guy?" gone awry, this new album features numerous collaborations. Most notably, the entire record is backed by the NY based Ghost Train Orchestra and is entirely produced by pop producer Kid Harpoon, who's most known for his work with Harry Styles, Miley Cyrus, and Shawn Mendes. There are also contributions with Paramore's Hayley Williams, St. Vincent, and The Smile percussionist Tom Skinner.

In recording this album, Byrne noted he has a "don't give a shit about what people think" attitude and when listening, I can hear it through the unabashedly bright and colorful performances and production choices. The thing that stands out the most is Kid Harpoon's involvement, which includes booming, loud, and in your face production all across this album. It's a bolder, more direct pop direction that continues to highlight Byrne's ear for groove, melody and songwriting. The lush strings from the orchestra glide each song and they add dimension to the already layered instrumentals. The songs themselves are genuine David Byrne songs, in which they could easily fit onto numerous solo and collaborative projects, whether it be American Utopia, Here Lies Love, or Grown Backwards.

Where Who This the Sky? really falters is indeed this overproduced, overblown sound that seems to be helmed directly from Kid Harpoon. The songs are so loud, so in your face, with bass that is so booming, I literally thought my EQ unwillingly changed while I was listening to this in my car. Not only is this irritating, but it certainly doesn't help accompany the overall tone of this record, which feels overly optimistic and joyful to an obnoxious and aggressive degree. Depending on your mood, it can even be sickening. The singing at points sound like David Byrne on steroids, and I don't want Byrne on steroids. He doesn't need it! Despite all of this, I'm still tapping my foot to tracks like the opening single "Everybody Laughs," which is extremely hard to not like despite it being the closest thing Byrne's gotten to Target commercial music. I like the hip hop backing "When We are Singing" but not the part when Byrne is sounding like a demented warbling ghost near the back end. I don't know what's going on there? "What's the Reason for It?" has an undeniable mariachi flare and Hayley Williams' vocals are a fine addition I suppose, even if it sounds like it belongs on an Oceans Eleven soundtrack.

Byrne's songwriting is typically very simple, abstract and straightforward and I generally appreciate that. That's what makes David Byrne so compelling. But backing some of these instrumentals, when they're this overblown, it doesn't always shine in the best light. In some ways, this reminds me of Paul Simon's late career highlight Stranger to Stranger from 2016. The production is much louder, punchier, and more modern than his older records but in contrast to Byrne, the production actually supports Simon's songwriting and singing. Who Is the Sky? doesn't do that. Its quirks aren't appreciative or cute. The instrumental on "The Avant Garde" sounds way too obnoxious for a repeat and his weird little vocal exercise of a detour in the middle of "Don't Be Like That" wasn't at all necessary or kind to the ears.

Listen, I love me some David Byrne. I really do. I love many of his records, whether it's with Talking Heads, a collaborative effort, or under his own name. I really want to like Who Is the Sky? and there are still things to appreciate about it, like many of the songs themselves at their core. But wrapped around this core is this overblown, overproduced, and unashamedly in your face production that makes it very difficult to find the joy in these tunes. The joy and positivity across this record is presented in such a forced, grinning while held at gunpoint way that it's borderline parody. When you're trying to force this joy and happiness so hard on the listener, I just unfortunately have to go somewhere else, looking for joy that's unfiltered, raw, and not shoved down my earholes.

My Rating: 5 / 10

Favorite Songs: "Everybody Laughs," "When We are Singing," "What's the Reason for It?"