What would happen if in 15 years, someone like Michael Stipe, Bono, or Adam Duritz were to release a solo album? Would it sound anything like the bands they're historically attached to? Would anyone buy it? Would it be any good? Consider these questions when listening to David Byrne's Look Into The Eyeball. Byrne was the lead singer and mastermind behind the Talking Heads, one of the most popular and influential bands of the early '90s. About ten years ago the band split, and Byrne has pursued a solo career with mixed results.
In May of this year, he released Look Into the Eyeball, an attempt to reenter the pop music spotlight. However, sales have been quite slow and Byrne's name is certainly not one that fits into today's pop lexicon. While that answers one of the above questions, there are still the more important ones dealing with the content of the disc itself, which is a majestic recording with 12 well-crafted, sensible pop songs.
There is the usual four-piece band construction, along with the addition of strings, bongos, and horns on many of the tracks. The beats are strong, yet not dance-worthy like many Talking Heads tracks. The instruments seem to work together to create an unmistakable groove that persists from beginning to end.
Byrne masterfully uses these beats to give a strong base to his vocals, the music's focal point. Byrne's voice comes across as smooth, polished, and pretty, far different than the nervous and raw sound he gave to most Talking Heads' songs. On the opening song, "U.B. Jesus," he eerily croons "Jesus is big. Jesus is strong" over a thumping beat. It feels as if his voice is moving the music along.
At other moments in the CD, it seems as if he has taken up a new occupation as a lounge singer. On songs such as "Neighborhood," he sings a relaxed melody over a suave, jazzy beat. Imagine a singer reclining in a rocking chair, nonchalantly belting out the vocals while a jazz combo jams in the background. It's simple and soothing.
With the Talking Heads, Byrne was always credited for his intelligent, yet quirky lyrics. This skill has not left him on this solo effort. There are lyrics which will make you laugh, smile, think, or just shake your head - he tackles every subject with a tongue-in-cheek approach that allows for a non-serious, yet honest view of life. On "Neighborhood" he sums up life simply, stating that it's all "peace, love, and monkey business."
The most original lyrical effort - and consequently the best song - is "Like Humans Do." The song presents an individual learning how to fit into the life of a human. This bizarre view of personality allows for some genius lyrics, such as "I'm aching, I'm breaking, I'm shaking like humans do." and "I never watch TV, except when I'm stoned like humans do." The song offers a truly hilarious view of life and how we live it.
The album represents Byrne's talent and ambition. The lyrical style and content of the songs are very similar. And Byrne even falls into the old Talking Heads trick of singing in non-English languages ("Desconocido Soy" is sung entirely in Spanish). But this is definitely not a Talking Heads album. The style and structure of the songs is much more concise and tight, and the beats are much more laid back, and lack the funk and flair which garnered such popularity for the group in the '80s. The absence of the Talking Heads' other three members (particularly the drummer), is evident. But this is very much a David Byrne album, not a Talking Heads album. Its individuality and originality are two of the main ingredients contributing to its excellence.
It was widely speculated that the musical directions of Byrne and the other three members differed greatly and fueled the band's breakup. This album just goes to show where Byrne can go on his own. Is he better without his band? Probably not. But he's not any worse either. Byrne has fallen out of the mainstream, and this album isn't going to bring him back into the spotlight. However, Look Into The Eyeball is filled with quality songs, insightful lyrics, and soothing beats that make for a fabulous album.