Recommended tracks: “What Is The Reason For It?” (ft. Hayley Williams), “My Apartment Is My Friend,” “Moisturizing Thing” Similar artists: John Cale, Talking Heads, LCD Soundsystem
Seven years after the critically acclaimed American Utopia, David Byrne returns with his fourth studio album, Who Is the Sky?, and, true to form, it’s an unpredictable, genre-blurring journey only Byrne could take you on.
From his days fronting the Talking Heads to his ever-evolving solo work, David Byrne has always chased the unexpected. Whether it’s global collaborations, offbeat stage shows, or turning American Utopia into a Broadway spectacle, he’s never made the same move twice. Now, seven years after that album, Byrne returns with Who Is the Sky?, a stranger, more introspective journey that digs even deeper into the restless energy that’s always driven his work.
The album opens with “Everybody Laughs,” a song that taps into themes of unity and the messy, often overlooked parts of being human. It’s a phenomenal opener that sets the tone for the record, suggesting that we need to move through the darker aspects of ourselves to reach something more collective and hopeful. Byrne captures this beautifully in the lyric, “Everybody’s going through the garbage / Looking for inspiration / Someone found it staring at the ceiling / Of the subway station.” It’s a reminder that even in the most mundane or grim places, there’s something that connects us all.
“When We Are Singing” follows suit, and it’s nothing like I expected. Then again, with someone like Byrne, you learn pretty quickly to expect the unexpected. The track unfolds at a slow, reflective pace, diving into how music can unlock deep, layered emotions and memories, both joyful and painful. The song drifts in a hazy space between memory and reality, life and afterlife. It’s quietly powerful, the kind of track that sneaks up on you and lingers long after it ends.
“My Apartment Is My Friend” and “A Door Called No” take you on a journey through isolation, escapism, and yearning. When I first saw the tracklist, “My Apartment Is My Friend” immediately caught my eye, and it absolutely lived up to the hype. It’s a song about retreating from the outside world, using your apartment as a refuge where you can feel safe and in control. Then comes “A Door Called No,” which feels like the flip side: a track about facing rejection and closed doors, until Byrne eventually finds the love that opens them back up. Together, these songs capture that push and pull between shutting out the world and longing for connection.
My favorite track on the album, hands down, is “What Is The Reason For It?” (feat. Hayley Williams). In a recent interview, Byrne described it as “a love song—or at least it’s asking what is love, what it’s about? Why do we do this? Why do other people do it? Do we know anything about it?”
The track is already strong on its own, but when Williams enters on the second verse, she elevates the whole thing. Then the two of them go full vocal acrobatics in the chorus: “What is the reason for it? Why is it there? / Is it my body or my brain? / Nobody understands it, they all believe / That it will all make sense someday.” There’s a kind of desperate curiosity in how they deliver it, like they’re chasing after an answer they know they’ll never fully reach. It’s one of those rare collaborations that feels effortless but hits with emotional weight.
The three-track run of “The Avant Garde,” “Moisturizing Thing,” and “I’m An Outsider” dives into uncertainty, absurdity, and the struggle to access someone else’s inner world. One thing about this album is that each track has a unique and intriguing title, so when I saw “Moisturizing Thing,” I immediately thought, “What could this possibly be about?” And it’s exactly what I expected: a classic, funny Byrne track about trying a new face cream that works so well he literally “turns into a baby”: “I might look like a baby, but inside I’m a man / I think and I talk, I’m still who I am / And when we go out, they ask for ID / It’s not always easy when you look like you’re three.” That tension between how he looks and who he really is perfectly captures the awkwardness of being misunderstood or underestimated because of appearances.
Then the mood shifts with “I’m An Outsider,” in which Byrne expresses a deep longing to be seen and understood, singing: “But open the door / You will see who I am / Let me into your mind / Just give me a chance.” Together, these songs show Byrne’s knack for mixing humor with honest reflections on identity and connection.
The album closes with “The Truth,” where Byrne confronts the idea that truth can be painful and hard to accept, but ultimately it’s something we have to face if we want to grow and move forward. The track kicks off with a nod to Norma Shearer’s line: “The truth, my dear, is the last thing a man ever wants to hear.” It immediately sets the tone that truth is often unwelcome because it challenges us and forces discomfort. But Byrne doesn’t leave it there—he pushes beyond the fear and fragility, embracing truth as a source of strength and clarity. It’s a fitting finale, especially after the wild, emotional journey this album takes us on. The song reminds us that while the truth might hurt at first, it’s also what keeps us honest with ourselves and opens the door to healing.
Overall, Who Is the Sky? is another bold chapter in David Byrne’s ever-evolving story, an album that challenges, surprises, and invites listeners into a world where humor and vulnerability coexist. It’s not always an easy listen, but that’s part of its power. Byrne reminds us that life is messy, confusing, and full of contradictions, and that’s exactly what makes it worth exploring. Whether he’s poking fun at the absurdity of aging or diving deep into questions of identity and connection, Byrne’s sharp wit and keen insight shine through. For longtime fans and newcomers alike, this record offers a rich, thoughtful experience that sticks with you well beyond the final track.
