David Byrne

David Byrne - The Knee Plays (2007)



Talking Heads fans sometimes have mixed reactions to David Byrne's solo work, complaining that it lacks the quirkiness and edge of classic Heads material. Those fans will have reason to take notice of the 2007 CD release of THE KNEE PLAYS, Byrne's score for Robert Wilson's opera THE CIVIL WARS. Originally recorded in 1985, THE KNEE PLAYS was Byrne's second solo outing, following THE CATHERINE WHEEL (an instrumental score for a dance production) and preceding his Latin experiments on REI MOMO.

Its position in his discography means THE KNEE PLAYS still bears the residue of Byrne's Heads aesthetic, namely in the spirit of its genre-mixing eclecticism. New Orleans brass band sounds form the skeleton of Byrne's score, with gospel, classical, and avant stylings mixed in. (Byrne provides wry, spoken word recitations for several pieces in the manner of Heads track "Seen and Not Seen".) Inventive and engaging throughout, THE KNEE PLAYS is a worthy addition to the Heads/Byrne catalogue. The CD release appends eight bonus tracks.


Song Title

1. Tree (Today Is an Important Occasion)
2. In the Upper Room
3. Sound Of Business, The
4. Social Studies
5. (The Gift Of Sound) Where the Sun Never Goes Down
6. Theadora Is Dozing
7. Admiral Perry
8. I Bid You Goodnight
9. Things To Do (I've Tried)
10. Winter
11. Jungle Book
12. In the Future
13. Tree (Reprise) - (instrumental)
14. I've Tried (Things To Do) - (instrumental)
15. Tic Toc 2 (In the Future) - (instrumental)
16. Whisper - (instrumental, Kabuki)
17. Misterias - (instrumental, Kabuki)
18. Faust Dance - (instrumental, Kabuki)
19. Ghost - (instrumental, Kabuki)
20. Super Natural - (instrumental, Kabuki)

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