American Utopia

Last updated

American Utopia
David Byrne - American Utopia.jpg
Studio album by
David Byrne
ReleasedMarch 9, 2018 (2018-03-09)
Studio
Genre
Length37:17
Label
Producer
David Byrne chronology
Brass Tactics
(2014)		American Utopia
(2018)		American Utopia on Broadway
(2019)
Singles from American Utopia
  1. "Everybody’s Coming to My House"
    Released: January 8, 2018
  2. "This Is That"
    Released: January 31, 2018

American Utopia is the eighth studio album by Scottish-American rock musician David Byrne, released on March 9, 2018 through Todo Mundo and Nonesuch Records. The release is his first solo studio album since 2004's Grown Backwards , and serves as a musical component of a larger multimedia project titled Reasons to Be Cheerful, which attempts to spread positivity. Byrne announced the album and released its lead single, "Everybody's Coming to My House", on January 8, 2018. [1] A second single, "This Is That", was released on January 31. [2]

Contents

Recording and release

The album is part of a larger multimedia project titled Reasons to Be Cheerful which aims to give reasons for being happy and optimistic in spite of political strife and environmental problems. [1] The title is derived from the Ian Dury song "Reasons to Be Cheerful, Part 3". [3]

Reception

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
AnyDecentMusic?7.0/10 [4]
Metacritic 72/100 [5]
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svgStar empty.svg [6]
The A.V. Club B [7]
The Daily Telegraph Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [8]
Entertainment Weekly B+ [9]
The Guardian Star full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [10]
Mojo Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [11]
NME Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [12]
Pitchfork 5.8/10 [13]
Q Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [14]
Rolling Stone Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svgStar empty.svg [15]

American Utopia received generally positive reviews from critics. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, the album has an average score of 72 based on 32 reviews, indicating "generally favorable reviews". [5] The Arts Desk's Howard Male gave the album a positive review calling it a "a muscular and quirky return to form". [16] Erik Adams of The A.V. Club gave the album a B, calling the album an uneven "mixed bag" but praising the album's themes. [7]

Commercial reception

American Utopia became Byrne's first top 10 album on the Billboard 200, debuting at No. 3 with the equivalent of 63,000 copies sold in the United States. [17]

Tour

The release of the album was backed by the American Utopia Tour, that lasted from March to November 2018. The elaborate concert featured an empty stage surrounded by metal chains and a cast of twelve musicians, including Byrne himself, sporting bare feet and wearing identical gray suits. Cutting-edge technology in wireless audio, MIDI, lighting and real-time tracking was used to totally untether the musicians from any cables, allowing free movement and complex choreography (developed by Annie-B Parson) like in Byrne's previous tours. In addition to songs from American Utopia, the setlist incorporated material from Byrne's solo catalogue, several hits by Talking Heads and a cover of Janelle Monáe's "Hell You Talmbout".

Other media

Broadway show

In September 2019, an altered version of the concert was previewed at the Colonial Theatre in Boston. It featured small changes to the setlist and to the structure to achieve a format closer to that of a musical stage production. It premiered on Broadway at the Hudson Theatre in previews on October 4, 2019 and officially on October 20, closing on February 16, 2020. [18] A second run, scheduled to start in September 2020, was postponed by the COVID-19 pandemic. It was eventually moved to the St. James Theatre, where it started on September 17, 2021 and ended on April 3, 2022.

Cast recording

A live recording of the Broadway production titled American Utopia on Broadway was released in 2019 and received a Grammy Award for Best Musical Theater Album nomination. [19]

Film

A film version of the Broadway play was produced and directed by Spike Lee as a documentary/concert film, released in late 2020. [20] debuting on HBO. [21]

Picture Book

An homonymous picture book was released in late 2020, intended to be a companion piece to the Broadway show. [22] The book includes words and lyrics by Byrne and illustrations by Maira Kalman.

Track listing

All songs written by David Byrne and Brian Eno, except where noted.

  1. "I Dance Like This" – 3:33
  2. "Gasoline and Dirty Sheets" – 3:19
  3. "Every Day Is a Miracle" – 4:46
  4. "Dog's Mind" – 2:29
  5. "This Is That" (Byrne, Daniel Lopatin) – 4:31
  6. "It's Not Dark Up Here" – 4:10
  7. "Bullet" – 3:09
  8. "Doing the Right Thing" – 3:38
  9. "Everybody's Coming to My House" – 3:29
  10. "Here" (Byrne, Lopatin) – 4:13

Personnel

Personnel according to David Byrne's homepage. [23]

Production

Charts

Related Research Articles

<i>Journeyman</i> (album) 1989 studio album by Eric Clapton

Journeyman is the eleventh solo studio album by Eric Clapton. Heralded as a return to form for Clapton, who had struggled with alcohol addiction and recently found sobriety, the album has a 1980s electronic sound, but it also includes blues songs like "Before You Accuse Me", "Running on Faith", and "Hard Times." "Bad Love" was released as a single, reaching the No. 1 position on the Album Rock Chart in the United States, and being awarded a Grammy Award for Best Male Rock Vocal Performance in 1990. "Pretending" had also reached the No. 1 position on the Album Rock Chart the previous year, remaining at the top for five weeks.

<i>Speaking in Tongues</i> (Talking Heads album) 1983 studio album by Talking Heads

Speaking in Tongues is the fifth studio album by the American rock band Talking Heads, released on June 1, 1983, by Sire Records. After their split with producer Brian Eno and a short hiatus, which allowed the individual members to pursue side projects, recording began in 1982. It became the band's commercial breakthrough and produced the band's sole US top-ten hit, "Burning Down the House", which reached No. 9 in the Billboard Chart.

<i>2300 Jackson Street</i> 1989 studio album by the Jacksons

2300 Jackson Street is the sixteenth and final studio album by American group the Jacksons, and their final album for record label Epic, released in the United States on May 23, 1989. The album is named after the address of their childhood home.

<i>Still Waters</i> (Bee Gees album) 1997 studio album by the Bee Gees

Still Waters is the twenty-first and penultimate studio album by the Bee Gees, released on 10 March 1997 in the UK by Polydor Records, and on 6 May the same year in the US by A&M Records. The group made the album with a variety of top producers, including Russ Titelman, David Foster, Hugh Padgham, and Arif Mardin.

<i>Soul Provider</i> 1989 studio album by Michael Bolton

Soul Provider is the sixth studio album by American recording artist Michael Bolton. The album was released on June 26, 1989, by Columbia Records/CBS. The album has sold 12.5 million copies worldwide.

<i>The One Thing</i> (album) 1993 studio album by Michael Bolton

The One Thing is the ninth album by Michael Bolton, released on November 16, 1993. Although it produced the hit single "Said I Loved You... But I Lied", which reached number 6 in the US, it did not match the sales of his previous three albums. Nevertheless, the album was still a respectable hit on its own, reaching number 3 on the Billboard 200 and being certified triple platinum in the US. It was also certified Platinum in the United Kingdom.

<i>Songs</i> (Luther Vandross album) 1994 studio album by Luther Vandross

Songs is the ninth studio album by American singer-songwriter Luther Vandross. It was released by LV Records and Epic Records on September 20, 1994 in the United States. The album, a collection of cover versions, produced the singles "Endless Love", "Always and Forever", and "Ain't No Stoppin' Us Now". According to an interview both Vandross and Mariah Carey gave in Japan following the release of their duet "Endless Love", there was mention that Carey had given advice as to what songs Vandross would cover on this album.

<i>Louder Than Words</i> (album) 1996 album by Lionel Richie

Louder Than Words is the fourth studio album by American singer Lionel Richie. It was released by Mercury Records on April 16, 1996, in the United States. The album marked Richie's debut with the record label as well as his first album of new material in 10 years after a longer hiatus during which he went through a much-publicized divorce from his first wife Brenda Harvey and the loss of his father and a close friend. Apart from chief producer James Anthony Carmichael, the singer worked with Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, Babyface and David Foster on Louder Than Words.

<i>Give Me the Night</i> (album) 1980 studio album by George Benson

Give Me the Night is a 1980 album by American jazz guitarist and singer George Benson.

<i>Upside Down Mountain</i> 2014 studio album by Conor Oberst

Upside Down Mountain is the sixth solo studio album by American musician Conor Oberst, released on May 19, 2014, through Nonesuch Records.

<i>Toto XIV</i> 2015 studio album by Toto

Toto XIV is the thirteenth studio album by the American rock band Toto. Toto released the album on March 20, 2015. It is the band's first studio album since Falling in Between in 2006.

<i>Nation of Two</i> 2018 studio album by Vance Joy

Nation of Two is the second studio album by Australian singer-songwriter Vance Joy. The album was announced on 12 January 2018. The album serves as a follow-up to his 2014 album Dream Your Life Away (2014). with Vance Joy explaining: "Nation of Two describes a perfectly self-contained couple; their world beginning and ending at the bed they share, the car they ride in, or any other place where they're together... the idea that their love for each other gives them their bearings; a point of reference that makes sense of life." The concept originally appeared in the Kurt Vonnegut novel Mother Night.

<i>Only Human</i> (Calum Scott album) 2018 studio album by Calum Scott

Only Human is the debut studio album by English singer-songwriter Calum Scott, released on 9 March 2018 through Capitol Records. The album was re-released in November 2018 as the "special edition" featuring four additional tracks.

<i>40 Trips Around the Sun</i> 2018 greatest hits album by Toto

40 Trips Around the Sun is a greatest hits album by American rock band Toto, released on February 9, 2018. The album was released in commemoration of the 40th anniversary of Toto's self-titled debut album (1978).

<i>Staying at Tamaras</i> 2018 studio album by George Ezra

Staying at Tamara's is the second studio album by English singer-songwriter George Ezra. It was released on 23 March 2018. The album reached number one in the UK as well as the top ten of several other countries including Australia and New Zealand. The album includes the singles "Paradise" and "Shotgun", which peaked at number two and number one on the UK Singles Chart, respectively.

<i>44/876</i> 2018 studio album by Sting and Shaggy

44/876 is a collaborative album by English musician Sting and Jamaican musician Shaggy, also the thirteenth solo studio album. It was released on 20 April 2018 by A&M Records, Interscope Records and Cherrytree Records.

<i>Electric Light</i> (album) 2018 studio album by James Bay

Electric Light is the second studio album by British singer-songwriter James Bay. The album was released on 18 May 2018 through Republic Records.

<i>So Sad So Sexy</i> 2018 studio album by Lykke Li

So Sad So Sexy is the fourth studio album by Swedish singer Lykke Li, released on 8 June 2018 by RCA. The album was preceded by the release of the singles "Deep End", "Hard Rain", "Utopia", "Sex Money Feelings Die" and "Two Nights" featuring Aminé. Ilsey Juber co-wrote the majority of the album, which is musically influenced by trap. Malay served as an executive producer, with further production by Li's husband Jeff Bhasker, T-Minus, DJ Dahi, Illangelo, Emile Haynie, Jonny Coffer, Kid Harpoon and Rostam Batmanglij, among others.

<i>Wasteland, Baby!</i> 2019 studio album by Hozier

Wasteland, Baby! is the second studio album by Irish musician Hozier, released on 1 March 2019 by Rubyworks Records. It is Hozier's first album since 2014. The album includes the songs "Nina Cried Power" and "Shrike" from the 2018 EP Nina Cried Power, as well as the single "Movement". It was promoted by a North American tour beginning in March 2019, and a European tour in late summer to fall 2019. Wasteland, Baby! debuted atop the Irish Albums Chart and the Billboard 200, and has since been certified gold in the US.

<i>Jordi</i> (album) 2021 studio album by Maroon 5

Jordi is the seventh studio album by American band Maroon 5. It was released on June 11, 2021, through 222, Interscope and Polydor Records. The album features guest appearances from Megan Thee Stallion, Blackbear, Stevie Nicks, Bantu, H.E.R., YG, and late rappers Juice Wrld and Nipsey Hussle. The deluxe edition of the album features additional guest appearances from Anuel AA, Tainy, and Jason Derulo.

References

  1. 1 2 Adams, Erik (January 8, 2018). "David Byrne's first solo album in 14 years is coming this March". The A.V. Club . Retrieved September 8, 2019.
  2. ↑ Kaye, Ben (January 31, 2018). "David Byrne collaborates with Oneohtrix Point Never on new song 'This Is That': Stream". Consequence. Retrieved July 14, 2024.
  3. ↑ "David Byrne's New Album, American Utopia, Due March 9 on Todomundo / Nonesuch Records". Nonesuch Records. January 8, 2018. Retrieved January 8, 2018.
  4. ↑ "American Utopia by David Byrne reviews". AnyDecentMusic?. Retrieved September 8, 2019.
  5. 1 2 "American Utopia by David Byrne Reviews and Tracks". Metacritic . Retrieved March 7, 2018.
  6. ↑ Deming, Mark. "American Utopia – David Byrne". AllMusic . Retrieved January 30, 2019.
  7. 1 2 Adams, Erik (March 8, 2018). "David Byrne can be your guide to an uneven American Utopia". The A.V. Club . Retrieved September 8, 2019.
  8. ↑ McCormick, Neil (March 8, 2018). "David Byrne's American Utopia is another glittering offering from an old master – review". The Daily Telegraph . Retrieved September 8, 2019.
  9. ↑ Greenblatt, Leah (March 16, 2018). "David Byrne: American Utopia". Entertainment Weekly . p. 107.
  10. ↑ Beaumont-Thomas, Ben (March 9, 2018). "David Byrne: American Utopia review – anxiety dreams from centrist dad". The Guardian . Retrieved September 8, 2019.
  11. ↑ Segal, Victoria (April 2018). "David Byrne: American Utopia". Mojo (293): 95.
  12. ↑ Cochrane, Greg (March 5, 2018). "David Byrne – 'American Utopia' Review". NME . Retrieved December 18, 2019.
  13. ↑ Rytlewski, Evan (March 12, 2018). "David Byrne: American Utopia". Pitchfork . Retrieved September 8, 2019.
  14. ↑ Doyle, Tom (April 2018). "Dream Team". Q (383): 114.
  15. ↑ Hermes, Will (March 9, 2018). "Review: David Byrne Throws a Weird Party in His Mind on 'American Utopia'". Rolling Stone . Retrieved September 8, 2019.
  16. ↑ Male, Howard (March 3, 2018). "CD: David Byrne – American Utopia". The Arts Desk . Retrieved March 3, 2018.
  17. ↑ Caulfield, Keith (March 18, 2018). "David Byrne Achieves First Top 10 Album on Billboard 200 Chart with American Utopia". Billboard . Retrieved March 19, 2018.
  18. ↑ "David Byrne's American Utopia Gets Monthlong Extension on Broadway". Broadway.com. Retrieved December 30, 2019.
  19. ↑ "Jagged Little Pill, American Utopia, Soft Power & More Earn Grammy Nominations". Broadway.com. Archived from the original on December 1, 2020. Retrieved November 30, 2020.
  20. ↑ Krep, Daniel (February 1, 2020). "Spike Lee to Direct Film Version of David Byrne's American Utopia Broadway Show". Rolling Stone . Retrieved May 23, 2020.
  21. ↑ Hayes, Britt (June 17, 2020). "HBO Will Premiere David Byrne's American Utopia, Filmed by Spike Lee". The A.V. Club . Retrieved June 17, 2020.
  22. ↑ "'American Utopia' Book Argues For The Reincarnation Of Hope In The American Project". npr.org. Archived from the original on March 9, 2021. Retrieved March 9, 2021.
  23. ↑ "Credits (and Lyrics) to American Utopia". David Byrne. Retrieved October 20, 2020.
  24. ↑ "ARIA Chart Watch #464". auspOp. March 17, 2018. Archived from the original on December 24, 2019. Retrieved March 17, 2018.
  25. ↑ "Austriancharts.at – David Byrne – American Utopia" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved March 22, 2018.
  26. ↑ "Ultratop.be – David Byrne – American Utopia" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved March 17, 2018.
  27. ↑ "Ultratop.be – David Byrne – American Utopia" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved March 17, 2018.
  28. ↑ "David Byrne Chart History (Canadian Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved March 20, 2018.
  29. ↑ "Czech Albums – Top 100". ČNS IFPI. Note: On the chart page, select 11.Týden 2018 on the field besides the words "CZ – ALBUMS – TOP 100" to retrieve the correct chart. Retrieved April 8, 2019.
  30. ↑ "Dutchcharts.nl – David Byrne – American Utopia" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved March 17, 2018.
  31. ↑ "Lescharts.com – David Byrne – American Utopia". Hung Medien. Retrieved April 3, 2018.
  32. ↑ "Offiziellecharts.de – David Byrne – American Utopia" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved March 16, 2018.
  33. ↑ "Irish-charts.com – Discography David Byrne". Hung Medien. Retrieved March 17, 2018.
  34. ↑ "Italiancharts.com – David Byrne – American Utopia". Hung Medien. Retrieved March 17, 2018.
  35. ↑ "David Byrne". Oricon . Retrieved September 13, 2020.
  36. ↑ "NZ Heatseeker Albums Chart". Recorded Music NZ. March 19, 2018. Retrieved March 16, 2018.
  37. ↑ "Portuguesecharts.com – David Byrne – American Utopia". Hung Medien. Retrieved April 3, 2018.
  38. ↑ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved March 17, 2018.
  39. ↑ "Swisscharts.com – David Byrne – American Utopia". Hung Medien. Retrieved March 21, 2018.
  40. ↑ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved March 17, 2018.
  41. ↑ Caulfield, Keith (March 18, 2018). "Logic Scores Second No. 1 Album on Billboard 200 Chart With 'Bobby Tarantino II'". Billboard . Retrieved March 19, 2018.
  42. ↑ "David Byrne Chart History (Top Rock Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved August 1, 2020.
  43. ↑ "Top Rock Albums – Year-End 2018". Billboard. Retrieved August 1, 2020.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.