Love This Giant

David Byrne & St. Vincent | Format: MP3 Music

Product Details

• Original Release Date: September 10, 2012
• Label: 4AD
• Copyright: 2012 4AD Ltd Under Exclusive License from Todo Mundo
• Total Length: 44:19
• Genres:
  • Alternative Rock
• ASIN: B0094OLJD0
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (72 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #7,446 Paid in MP3 Albums (See Top 100 Paid in MP3 Albums)

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

45 of 49 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Brassy and beautiful, quirky and cool September 11, 2012

By Thomas E. Davis TOP 500 REVIEWERVINE™ VOICE

Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase

I'm tired of the bland musical product that oozes through corporate pipelines. There's a deadening sameness about the fuzzy guitars and humdrum drumming and affectless vocals of contemporary pop. In this environment, the deliberate creation of an unusual album feels like a gust of fresh air.

David Byrne of Talking Heads fame has teamed up with another brilliant nonconformist, St. Vincent (Annie Clark, formerly of Polyphonic Spree), to write and record songs set to danceable electronic beats by John Congleton, accompanied by the complex, swooping, angular orchestrations of a very funky horn section. Both artists sing lyrics of ambiguity and anomie that recall some of their quirky songs as solo performers, but "Love This Giant" doesn't rehash their previous work. It's is a one-of-a-kind hybrid, and I like it.

Byrne and Clark open with the first single, "Who," a very propulsive, rhythmic track on which they duet, but then they start alternating lead vocals. Clark sings the even-numbered and Byrne the odd-numbered songs until they reach "Lazarus," when they duet again. Clark takes over for the next two tracks, while the final two belong to Byrne.

The album has an arc to it, beginning with high-energy music -- jumpy and jagged on the first three cuts (I especially enjoy "Weekend in the Dust") -- then dialing back the energy somewhat for three songs whose dreamy intros bring to mind minimalist composers like John Adams, Philip Glass, and Steve Reich, particularly on "I Am an Ape." With "I Should Watch TV," they leap back for a couple of tracks into the jangly, dissonant sounds that opened the album. When Clark takes over on "Optimist" and "Lightning" (another favorite of mine), a cool, pensive atmosphere prevails. The penultimate song, "The One Who Broke Your Heart," has a cheerful, lively tone that blends the music of two more collaborators: the soulful Dap-Kings and the afro-beat band Antibalas. The last track, "Outside of Space & Time," is simply a gorgeous love song.

There's a lot happening on this recording. It's often sharp and chaotic, yet occasionally smooth and calm, so it really calls for careful, conscious listening. I've heard it all the way through three times now, finding my interest renewed each time. I'm sure to listen several times more to absorb what's going on, which makes this release a clear "buy" for me.

21 of 22 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Odd and Cerebral: A Must-Listen for Music Lovers September 11, 2012

By T. A. Daniel TOP 500 REVIEWER

Format:Audio CD

I don't even know where to start.

It's hard not to go into this album with ridiculously high expectations. David Byrne and St. Vincent teaming up for a collaborative album? Sounds too good to be true. David Byrne, famous for his tenure in Talking Heads, has been on somewhat of a hotstreak recently with collaborations with Brian Eno (EVERYTHING THAT HAPPENS WILL HAPPEN TODAY) and David Sitek ("Apartment Wrestling"). St. Vincent (also known as Annie Clark) has established herself as a terrific singer/songwriter on her own right after a string of wonderful solo albums. The pairing of these musicians wouldn't seem likely, but they've come together to create LOVE THIS GIANT.

First things first: this isn't a Talking Heads album. It's not a St. Vincent album either. It's not even somewhere in the middle. In fact, it's probably best to just not expect anything at all. The bulk of this album is carried by a funky and jazzy horn section. Most of the guitar and bass instrumentation has been pushed aside for saxophones, trumpets, and trombones.

The album makes no attempt to hide what it is: the opening track "Who" begins with the prominent horn section before Byrne's vocals jump in. The second track, "Weekend in the Dust" serves as a early highlight, with St. Vincent's vocals bouncing around just as much as the musical accompaniment. "Lazarus" works as a duet between the two songwriters, beginning with a scholarly sounding introduction before the drums add a funky groove. By the time the noodling guitar riff supports the verse, the most of the brass has disappeared. "Lightning" has a more laid-back and jazzy feel to it - St. Vincent leads this track, and it almost sounds like it would have fit in perfect with her recent album STRANGE MERCY. The song has a jarring, disrupted chorus reminiscent of her "Chloe in the Afternoon" or "Cheerleader." The horn section erupts completely on the penultimate track "One Who Broke Your Heart," where there are times when the brass gets so chaotic, it's hard to predict just what's coming next. LOVE THIS GIANT ends with "Outside of Space & Time," where the horn section finally takes backseat to the vocals; it's a welcomed rest for an album that is so frequently busy.

Although I recognize it's not supposed to be a continuation of Byrne or St. Vincent's solo work, it's hard to not compare LOVE THIS GIANT to those high standards. And honestly, it's a little hard not to feel a bit disappointed (and I think some fans will feel a bit angered as well). I wouldn't consider this a wasted opportunity - there are plenty of high points here - but the sum of this pairing isn't that of its separate parts. The advice that I do have for this release is this: give it time. LOVE THIS GIANT will definitely grow on you if you are open to it and you give are patient enough to explore some of its more busy moments. Standout tracks for sampling/download: "Lazarus," "Lightning" and "Weekend In The Dust." LOVE THIS GIANT is too good a record to be remembered "that one album where the guy from Talking Heads and the St. Vincent lady played around with trumpets and trombones."

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant September 16, 2012

By Charles

Format:Audio CD

Absolutely beautiful, quirky, inventive and dominating horn arrangements. I love this album more with each listening. Vocally and Lyrically, David Byrne is the same master he has always been. I had not listen to very much of St Vincent before, but this is a perfect pairing. Optimist is quickly becoming an absolute favorite of mine. The Forest awakes and Dinner for Two are also standouts. I could see myself coming away with a different favorite each time I listen to it. Highly recommended for the adventurous music fan. It may not be for everybody, but it is definitely for me.