David Byrne and St. Vincent didn’t just “experiment” with brass sounds — they shamelessly crammed 45 brass specialists into “Love This Giant.”
The results were glorious.
After attending each other’s shows in New York City, 29-year-old indie charmer “St. Vincent” (Annie Clark) and Byrne, the legendary brainchild of “Talking Heads,” forged a friendship that led to special tour appearances and the eventual “Love This Giant.”
The album’s single, “Who,” stands out with its bold melody. The rest of the album relies on upbeat funk, trading away rock’s standard guitar parts for horns, bugles and trombones.
Byrne and Clark wrote many lyrics through email exchanges, which explains the album’s back-and-forth dialogue.
A departure from Byrne’s typical avant-garde lyrics, he and Clark sing about topics like war, love and religion.
Now in his 60s, Byrne uses his past to preach about life, while Clark adds a youthful enthusiasm for the future.
The final product could change one’s perspective on life, but remains jazzy enough for a pleasant evening of dinner and dancing.
By Jeff LaFave