Live from Austin, Texas

David Byrne | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 2, 2007)
• Original Release Date: 2007
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: New West Records
• ASIN: B000RHRG4Y
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #117,206 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

From the vaults of the award-winning PBS Austin City Limits TV show, this is the latest release in the acclaimed Live From Austin, TX series.

David Byrne is a modern renaissance man and that s not just a cliché. From the heady days as co-founder of the celebrated art new-wave group Talking Heads (1976-88) through his own constantly evolving and innovative solo music career, he has pursued his muse on many different artistic fronts. He s been the driving force behind a body of work that has been both intellectually daring and commercially successful...and he shows no signs of slowing down three decades later.

This performance, captured on November 28, 2001, came on the heels of his hit single, Like Humans Do and the release of the album Look Into the Eyeball, which was another typically eclectic musical stew reflecting a variety of styles and influences, from Philly soul to a D.C. Go-Go inspired groove and his first-ever Spanish composition, Descondido Soy. Critics at the time called it his best work in years, and his performance on the Austin City Limits stage shows why. Joined by Austin s own eclectic tango ensemble Tosca, Byrne takes us down many different musical roads in his ACL debut.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

32 of 33 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A juicy blend of present and past in strings..., October 3, 2007

By 

ewomack "ewomack" (MN USA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Live from Austin, Texas (Audio CD)

Some twenty years after the iconoclastic Talking Heads silently dropped their instruments and went their separate ways, their frontman David Byrne remains a fervent presence on the art and music scene. Though no longer producing mega-hits (pop music has morphed into something almost unrecognizable since "Wild Wild Life" blared from every speaker), Byrne retains a solid and dedicated following. Some ten solo albums and a handful of books and art exhibits later, the spirit of Talking Heads lives on in Byrne's solo work. "Live from Austin, TX" gives a good sample of his continued energetic output.

This CD was recorded way back in 2001, soon after Byrne released "Look into the Eyeball." So why did it take six years to release this tasty disc? First, the "Austin City Limits" show, for which this material was recorded, didn't air until early 2002. Second, the CD was "cancelled." Some time passed, Byrne recorded another full length album, "Grown Backwards," and three years later "Live from Austin, TX" appeared seemingly out of nowhere. Not a gripping tale, but not much information is available. In short, no material from "Grown Backwards" appears here. The set does contain voluminous morsels from the Talking Heads catalog set to lush string arrangements. It's as if Byrne arranged his standards to fit the mood of the sea of strings sound of "Look into the Eyeball." The results, for the most part, are fantastic.

The ensemble, referred to as "Tosca" in the liner notes, breathes new life into songs that don't need new life: "Life During Wartime," "This Must be the Place," and "What a Day that Was" swim with orchestral rhapsody. "(Nothing But) Flowers" and "And She Was" receive a paired down acoustic treatment ala the days of "unplugged." "Once in a Lifetime" was also successfully modified to fit the sound of the set. The new and the old flow together as a coherent sonic whole. This saves the set from sounding like many of the now prevalent "greatest hits" tours.

One major surprise is the chilling and staccato "God's Child," which Byrne recorded with the late Selena. The original bilingual duet appeared on Selena's 1995 album "Dreaming of You." The second biggest suprise comes at the very end: Byrne does Houston. "I Wanna Dance With Somebody" gets rearranged in like manner to the rest of the numbers. As such, it also swings with strings and fits right in. It works, really it does. Most of the non-Talking Heads material comes from "Look into the Eyeball." One song from "Rei Momo," "Marching Through the Wilderness," sneaks in.

Byrne fans will welcome this surprise since more and more time seems to elapse between each of his solo releases. But soon they will have much to succor: "The Knee Plays" will finally appear on CD this year after a long obscure life on vinyl and cassette. Also, the Talking Heads albums were reprinted with voluminous bonus material. When the future presents nothing new, revel in the past. "Live from Austin, TX" provides a great opportunity to do just that.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars If you're a fan of David Byrne, Talking Heads or like live sets, November 10, 2008

By 

P. Clarke Thomas (philadelphia, pa) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Live from Austin, Texas (Audio CD)

I highly recommend this album for fans of Talking Heads, David Byrne, or fans of live sets. I've bought a lot of music recently, and this is the best album I've bought in several months. He plays a mix of songs from the multiple groups he's played with, as well as some of his personal favorites(the last song).

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Conga Line, January 7, 2009

By 

M. J. Reid (Cleveland) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Live from Austin, Texas (Audio CD)

As an aging Talking Heads fan I was amazed at how well a small orchestra enhanced David's songs.This is a must have.
Excellent quality recording.