David Byrne : NPR

'American Utopia' Book Argues For The Reincarnation Of Hope In The American Project

American Utopia, David Byrne amd Maira Kalman Bloomsbury Publishing hide caption

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Bloomsbury Publishing

Review

'American Utopia' Book Argues For The Reincarnation Of Hope In The American Project

October 26, 2020 • The work is much more like reading a book-length poem than reading a play, though few poems or poetry collections come filled with charming illustrations of trees, dancers, and party-hatted dogs.

'American Utopia': David Byrne's Coming To My House, Via HBO

American Utopia, directed by Spike Lee, captures a filmed performance of David Byrne's acclaimed Broadway production. David Lee/HBO hide caption

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David Lee/HBO

Review

'American Utopia': David Byrne's Coming To My House, Via HBO

October 21, 2020 • David Byrne and Spike Lee. Two artists with very defined, very distinct, and yet very different, sensibilities — but when you put them together, it works. The theatrical concert film David Byrne's American Utopia, now streaming on HBO Max, is a career-spanning celebration of Byrne's music, both with Talking Heads and his solo work. Director Spike Lee shoots the stage of Broadway's Hudson Theater from a host of angles to capture the exuberant, rollicking — yet rigorously choreographed energy — of Byrne and his fellow barefoot, silver-gray-suited performers.

'American Utopia': David Byrne's Coming To My House, Via HBO

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On 'Para La Espera,' Silvio Rodríguez Combines The Personal And Political

Silvio Rodríguez's latest album is called Para la espera. Gabriel Guerra Bianchini hide caption

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Gabriel Guerra Bianchini

On 'Para La Espera,' Silvio Rodríguez Combines The Personal And Political

October 6, 2020 • One of Cuba's best-known singers and songwriters, Rodríguez says this pandemic-era album — whose title translates to "For the Wait" — is all about dealing with uncertainty.

On 'Para La Espera,' Silvio Rodríguez Combines The Personal And Political

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David Byrne: How Do Spaces Shape The Music We Make?

Musician David Byrne speaks from the TED stage. James Duncan Davidson/TED hide caption

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James Duncan Davidson/TED

David Byrne: How Do Spaces Shape The Music We Make?

July 24, 2020 • David Byrne says "context has a huge effect on creativity." He draws on his time with Talking Heads, as well as Bach, Gregorian chant, even birds—to show how spaces affect the music we write and play.

David Byrne: How Do Spaces Shape The Music We Make?

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Ranked: SNL's 18 Musical Performances From The 2019-20 Season

May 11, 2020 • It is vital that we reflect on the most recent season of Saturday Night Live and mean-spiritedly rank its 18 featured musical acts from worst to best.

Reasons To Be Cheerful: A Conversation With David Byrne

David Byrne performing in "American Utopia" on Broadway. Catalina Kulczar hide caption

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Catalina Kulczar

Reasons To Be Cheerful: A Conversation With David Byrne

October 3, 2019 • The Talking Head, author, cyclist and creative soul talks about "Reasons to be Cheerful," a story-based project to lift your spirits. He also talks about his "American Utopia" tour, now on Broadway.

Reasons To Be Cheerful: A Conversation With David Byrne

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Kacey, Margo And More: The Grammy-Nominated Acts That Visited World Cafe In 2018

Brandi Carlile performs a live World Cafe Session at World Cafe Live in Philadelphia. Liz Waldie/WXPN hide caption

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Liz Waldie/WXPN

Kacey, Margo And More: The Grammy-Nominated Acts That Visited World Cafe In 2018

XPN

February 8, 2019 • Listen back to sessions from 2019 Grammy nominees who have come through our doors this past year.

Brandi Carlile On World Cafe

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Bob Boilen's Top Albums And Songs Of 2018

Lucy Dacus' sophomore album, Historian, tops the list of Bob Boilen's favorite albums in 2018. Dustin Condren/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Dustin Condren/Courtesy of the artist

Bob Boilen's Top Albums And Songs Of 2018

December 20, 2018 • All Songs Considered host Bob Boilen shares the albums and songs that stood out even if some were more peaceful than explosive.

Illustration: Angela Hsieh/NPR

The 100 Best Songs Of 2018

December 5, 2018 • During a turbulent year rife with personal and political trauma, the most memorable songs pulled no punches in the pursuit of pop.

David Byrne (left) with World Cafe Host, Talia Schlanger (right) backstage at the 2018 XPoNential Music Festival. John Myers/WXPN hide caption

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John Myers/WXPN

David Byrne Digs For Wonder

August 29, 2018 • David Byrne, musician and all-around wonder archaeologist, visits the World Cafe Studios in Philadelphia to talk about animals, bicycles, civic obligations and his latest album 'American Utopia.'

David Byrne On World Cafe

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David Byrne's American Utopia comes out Mar. 9 on Nonesuch. Jody Rogac/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Jody Rogac/Courtesy of the artist

Review

Review: David Byrne, 'American Utopia'

March 1, 2018 • David Byrne's first solo album since 2004 is a brilliantly brainy attempt to make some sense of this inexplicable, mind-bending world.

All Songs Considered: David Byrne, Sylvan Esso, More

Clockwise from upper left: Darlingside, Sylvan Esso, David Byrne, Nils Frahm Courtesy of the artists hide caption

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Courtesy of the artists

All Songs Considered: David Byrne, Sylvan Esso, More

January 23, 2018 • This week's mix of essential new music includes the mind-bending sounds of pianist Nils Frahm, Sylvan Esso's electro-pop romp for the end of the world, the gorgeous harmonies of Darlingside and more.

New Mix: David Byrne, Sylvan Esso, Nils Frahm, More

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David Byrne Remembers Jonathan Demme, Collaborating On 'Stop Making Sense'

David Byrne and Jonathan Demme, who directed the Talking Heads concert film Stop Making Sense. (Photo by Nick Elgar/Corbis/VCG via Getty Images) Nick Elgar/Corbis/VCG via Getty Images hide caption

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Nick Elgar/Corbis/VCG via Getty Images

The Record

David Byrne Remembers Jonathan Demme, Collaborating On 'Stop Making Sense'

April 26, 2017 • Jonathan Demme directed Stop Making Sense, among the greatest concert films of all time, featuring David Byrne's band, Talking Heads.

David Byrne's New Doc 'Contemporary Color' Shows Off 'Art Sport' And Indie Stars

St. Vincent performs in tandem with a color guard team at the Barclays Center on June 27, 2015. Jarred Alterman and Wyatt Garfield./Courtesy of Oscilliscope Laboratories hide caption

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Jarred Alterman and Wyatt Garfield./Courtesy of Oscilliscope Laboratories

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Music Interviews

David Byrne Plays the Building

WNYC Radio

June 4, 2008 • The former Talking Heads frontman has turned the inside of a defunct ferry terminal into a giant musical instrument by retrofitting an antique organ and wiring it to the pipes, the beams, and even the plumbing of the Battery Maritime Building.

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June 28, 2004 • Legendary Brazilian songwriter and musician Caetano Veloso, often called the "Bob Dylan of Brazil," is joined on the Zankel Hall stage by Talking Heads co-founder David Byrne. Veloso's version of Nirvana's "Come As You Are" is a high point.

Review

Music Reviews

Brian Eno's Music, Reissued

Fresh Air

February 9, 2005 • Eight records by Brian Eno from the 1970s and '80s have been reissued. Critic Milo Miles has a review.

Brian Eno's Music, Reissued

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Music Reviews

Brian Eno Albums Remastered for Compact Disc

December 30, 2004 • Brian Eno is known most as a producer of other people's music: David Bowie, the Talking Heads and U2 to name a few. In the 1970s, after leaving the band Roxy Music, Eno made four now-legendary albums that have been remastered onto CD. Reviewer Mikel Jollett talks about the recordings.

Brian Eno Albums Remastered for Compact Disc

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Music News

David Byrne's PowerPoint Art

January 14, 2004 • PowerPoint, Microsofts ubiquitous slideshow program, has become part of our culture — and a way to keep folks awake during long business meetings. Now former Talking Heads musician David Byrne is using it to create art. See examples from his DVD-book project, Envisioning Emotional Epistemological Information.

David Byrne's PowerPoint Art

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Music Reviews

David Byrne

May 21, 2001 • Will Hermes reviews the new solo album by David Byrne of Talking Heads fame. It's titled Look Into The Eyeball. (4:30) The album is available on Virgin Records.

David Byrne

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