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American Utopia#Broadwayshow

{{for|the film|American Utopia (film)}}

{{Use list-defined references|date=July 2024}}

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{{Infobox album

| name = American Utopia

| type = studio

| artist = David Byrne

| cover = David Byrne - American Utopia.jpg

| border = yes

| alt = A crude painting outlining a human body overlooking skyscrapers

| released = {{start date|2018|3|9}}

| recorded =

| studio = {{hlist|DB Spare Bedroom (New York City)|Reservoir Studios (NYC)|Oscilloscope (NYC)|XL Studios (NYC)|Crowdspacer Studio (NYC)|Livingston Studio 1 (London)}}

| genre = {{hlist|Art pop|art rock}}

| length = {{duration|m=37|s=17}}

| label = {{hlist|Nonesuch|Todo Mundo}}

| producer = {{hlist|David Byrne|Brian Eno|Rodaidh McDonald}}

| prev_title = Brass Tactics

| prev_year = 2014

| next_title = American Utopia on Broadway

| next_year = 2019

| misc = {{Singles

| name = American Utopia

| type = studio

| single1 = Everybody’s Coming to My House

| single1date = January 8, 2018

| single2 = This Is That

| single2date = January 31, 2018

}}

}}

American Utopia is the eighth studio album by Scottish-American rock musician David Byrne, released on March 9, 2018 through Todo Mundo and Nonesuch Records. The release is his first solo studio album since 2004's Grown Backwards, and serves as a musical component of a larger multimedia project titled Reasons to Be Cheerful, which attempts to spread positivity. Byrne announced the album and released its lead single, "Everybody's Coming to My House", on January 8, 2018. A second single, "This Is That", was released on January 31.

Recording and release

The album is part of a larger multimedia project titled Reasons to Be Cheerful which aims to give reasons for being happy and optimistic in spite of political strife and environmental problems. The title is derived from the Ian Dury song "Reasons to Be Cheerful, Part 3".

Reception

=Critical reception=

{{Music ratings

| ADM = 7.0/10

| MC = 72/100

| rev1 = AllMusic

| rev1Score = {{rating|3.5|5}}

| rev2 = The A.V. Club

| rev2Score = B

| rev3 = The Daily Telegraph

| rev3Score = {{rating|4|5}}

| rev4 = Entertainment Weekly

| rev4Score = B+

| rev5 = The Guardian

| rev5Score = {{rating|2|5}}

| rev6 = Mojo

| rev6Score = {{rating|4|5}}

| rev7 = NME

| rev7Score = {{rating|4|5}}

| rev8 = Pitchfork

| rev8Score = 5.8/10

| rev9 = Q

| rev9Score = {{rating|4|5}}

| rev10 = Rolling Stone

| rev10Score = {{rating|3.5|5}}

}}

American Utopia received generally positive reviews from critics. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, the album has an average score of 72 based on 32 reviews, indicating "generally favorable reviews". The Arts Desk's Howard Male gave the album a positive review calling it a "a muscular and quirky return to form". Erik Adams of The A.V. Club gave the album a B, calling the album an uneven "mixed bag" but praising the album's themes.

=Commercial reception=

American Utopia became Byrne's first top 10 album on the Billboard 200, debuting at No. 3 with the equivalent of 63,000 copies sold in the United States.

Tour

The release of the album was backed by the American Utopia Tour, that lasted from March to November 2018. The elaborate concert featured an empty stage surrounded by metal chains and a cast of twelve musicians, including Byrne himself, sporting bare feet and wearing identical gray suits. Cutting-edge technology in wireless audio, MIDI, lighting and real-time tracking was used to totally untether the musicians from any cables, allowing free movement and complex choreography (developed by Annie-B Parson) like in Byrne's previous tours. In addition to songs from American Utopia, the setlist incorporated material from Byrne's solo catalogue, several hits by Talking Heads and a cover of Janelle Monáe's "Hell You Talmbout".

Other media

=Broadway show=

In September 2019, an altered version of the concert was previewed at the Colonial Theatre in Boston. It featured small changes to the setlist and to the structure to achieve a format closer to that of a musical stage production. It premiered on Broadway at the Hudson Theatre in previews on October 4, 2019 and officially on October 20, closing on February 16, 2020. A second run, scheduled to start in September 2020, was postponed by the COVID-19 pandemic. It was eventually moved to the St. James Theatre, where it started on September 17, 2021 and ended on April 3, 2022.

=Cast recording=

A live recording of the Broadway production titled American Utopia on Broadway was released in 2019 and received a Grammy Award for Best Musical Theater Album nomination.

=Film=

A film version of the Broadway play was produced and directed by Spike Lee as a documentary/concert film, released in late 2020. debuting on HBO.

=Picture Book=

An homonymous picture book was released in late 2020, intended to be a companion piece to the Broadway show. The book includes words and lyrics by Byrne and illustrations by Maira Kalman.

Track listing

All songs written by David Byrne and Brian Eno, except where noted.

  1. "I Dance Like This" – 3:33
  2. "Gasoline and Dirty Sheets" – 3:19
  3. "Every Day Is a Miracle" – 4:46
  4. "Dog's Mind" – 2:29
  5. "This Is That" (Byrne, Daniel Lopatin) – 4:31
  6. "It's Not Dark Up Here" – 4:10
  7. "Bullet" – 3:09
  8. "Doing the Right Thing" – 3:38
  9. "Everybody's Coming to My House" – 3:29
  10. "Here" (Byrne, Lopatin) – 4:13

Personnel

Personnel according to David Byrne's homepage.

  • David Byrne – vocals, guitar (tracks 1–3, 6–10), keyboards (1, 2, 7, 9), pads (9)
  • Rodaidh McDonald – arrangements (2–5, 10), (additional) keyboards (1–3, 6, 8, 9), drum programming (2–9), "verse percussion" (1), bells (6), strings (7)
  • Daniel Lopatin – keyboards (4, 5, 8, 10), drums (4, 5, 10), synthesizers and bass (4), processing and textures (8, 9), strings (8)
  • Brian Eno – drum programming, vocoder, background vocals and "prog ride tracks" (1), keyboards (6, 8), percussion (6, 9), voice effects, whistling, celeste and brass (6), drums (8), "robot rhythm guitar" (9)
  • Thomas Bartlett (Doveman) – Mellotron (1, 2, 7, 9), piano (1)
  • Joey Waronker – tom and snare (1)
  • Alex Epton – drum programming (2, 6, 8), choir programming (2), synthesizer stabs (3), bass (7), cymbals (8), shaker (9)
  • Jack Peñate – keyboards (2, 3, 7), backing vocals (2, 7), textures (2), drums, bass and shaker (3)
  • Happa – drum programming (2, 9), electronics and drums (3), synthesizer solo (9)
  • Jaakko Savolainen – guitar, bass and synthesizer (2), keyboards (3)
  • Isaiah Barr – saxophone (2, 9)
  • Jamie Edwards – sitar samples (2)
  • Nathan Jenkins – harmonica solo and voices (2)
  • Ben Reed – live bass (3, 9)
  • Magnus Bang Olsen – piano (3)
  • Jam City – synth stabs, guitar and drums (3)
  • Koreless – drums (3)
  • Ben Anderson – cymbal (3)
  • Joe Williams – harp (5)
  • Mauro Refosco – percussion (6–9)
  • Ariel Rechtshaid – flexatone (6)
  • Airhead - drums (7)
  • MMPH - main orchestral arrangement and sounds (8)
  • Brian Wolfe - drums (8)
  • Sampha – piano (9)
  • Ethan P. Flynn – "middle 8 section synthesizer" (9)

Production

  • David Byrne, Rodaidh McDonald and Patrick Dillett – production
  • Brian Eno – original tracks
  • Alex Epton, Matt Cohn and Patrick Dillett – recording engineers
  • Gabriel Schuman - additional engineering (5)
  • David Wrench – mix and additional programming
  • Marta Salogni, Jack Sugden and Tuck Nelson – mix engineers
  • Greg Calbi – mastering
  • Purvis Young – cover art

Charts

{{col-begin}}

{{col-2}}

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"

|+Weekly sales chart performance for American Utopia

scope="col"| Chart (2018)

! scope="col"| Peak

scope="row"| Australian Albums (ARIA)

| 82

{{album chart|Austria|22|artist=David Byrne|album=American Utopia|rowheader=true|accessdate=March 22, 2018}}
{{album chart|Flanders|19|artist=David Byrne|album=American Utopia|rowheader=true|accessdate=March 17, 2018}}
{{album chart|Wallonia|88|artist=David Byrne|album=American Utopia|rowheader=true|accessdate=March 17, 2018}}
{{album chart|BillboardCanada|2|artist=David Byrne|rowheader=true|accessdate=March 20, 2018}}
{{album chart|Czech|37|date=201811|rowheader=true|accessdate=April 8, 2019}}
{{album chart|Netherlands|43|artist=David Byrne|album=American Utopia|rowheader=true|accessdate=March 17, 2018}}
{{album chart|France|129|artist=David Byrne|album=American Utopia|rowheader=true|accessdate=April 3, 2018}}
{{album chart|Germany4|31|id=349339|artist=David Byrne|album=American Utopia|rowheader=true|accessdate=March 16, 2018}}
{{album chart|Ireland2|18|artist=David Byrne|rowheader=true|accessdate=March 17, 2018}}
{{album chart|Italy|32|artist=David Byrne|album=American Utopia|rowheader=true|accessdate=March 17, 2018}}
{{album chart|Oricon|213|M|url=https://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/111272/products/1272202/1/|title=David Byrne|publisher=Oricon|rowheader=true|accessdate=September 13, 2020}}
scope="row"| New Zealand Heatseeker Albums (RMNZ)

| 2

{{album chart|Portugal|10|artist=David Byrne|album=American Utopia|rowheader=true|accessdate=April 3, 2018}}
{{album chart|Scotland|14|date=20180316|rowheader=true|accessdate=March 17, 2018}}
{{album chart|Switzerland|21|artist=David Byrne|album=American Utopia|rowheader=true|accessdate=March 21, 2018}}
{{album chart|UK2|16|date=20180316|rowheader=true|accessdate=March 17, 2018}}
scope="row"| US Billboard 200

| 3

{{album chart|BillboardRock|1|artist=David Byrne|rowheader=true|accessdate=August 1, 2020}}

{{col-2}}

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"

|+Annual sales chart performance for American Utopia

scope="col"| Chart (2018)

! scope="col"| Position

scope="row"| US Top Rock Albums (Billboard)

| 74

{{col-end}}

References

{{reflist|refs=

{{cite web |url=http://anydecentmusic.com/review/9195/David-Byrne-American-Utopia.aspx |title=American Utopia by David Byrne reviews |publisher=AnyDecentMusic? |accessdate=September 8, 2019}}

{{cite web |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/american-utopia-mw0003140887 |title=American Utopia – David Byrne |last=Deming |first=Mark |publisher=AllMusic |accessdate=January 30, 2019}}

{{cite web|url=https://www.auspop.com.au/2018/3/aria-chart-watch-464/|title=ARIA Chart Watch #464|publisher=auspOp|date=March 17, 2018|accessdate=March 17, 2018|archive-date=December 24, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191224133141/https://www.auspop.com.au/2018/3/aria-chart-watch-464/|url-status=dead}}

{{cite web |url=https://www.avclub.com/david-byrne-can-be-your-guide-to-an-uneven-american-uto-1823592815 |title=David Byrne can be your guide to an uneven American Utopia |last=Adams |first=Erik |work=The A.V. Club |date=March 8, 2018 |accessdate=September 8, 2019}}

{{cite web |url=https://www.avclub.com/david-byrne-s-first-solo-album-in-14-years-is-coming-th-1821884891 |title=David Byrne's first solo album in 14 years is coming this March |last=Adams |first=Erik |work=The A.V. Club |date=January 8, 2018 |accessdate=September 8, 2019}}

{{cite magazine |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/chart-beat/8251069/logic-bobby-tarantino-ii-debuts-no1-billboard-200-chart |title=Logic Scores Second No. 1 Album on Billboard 200 Chart With 'Bobby Tarantino II' |last=Caulfield |first=Keith |magazine=Billboard |date=March 18, 2018 |accessdate=March 19, 2018}}

{{cite magazine |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/chart-beat/8251070/david-byrne-american-utopia-billboard-200-albums-top-10 |title=David Byrne Achieves First Top 10 Album on Billboard 200 Chart with American Utopia |last=Caulfield |first=Keith |magazine=Billboard |date=March 18, 2018 |accessdate=March 19, 2018}}

{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2018/top-rock-albums|title=Top Rock Albums – Year-End 2018|magazine=Billboard|accessdate=August 1, 2020}}

{{Cite web|title='American Utopia' Book Argues For The Reincarnation Of Hope In The American Project|url=https://www.npr.org/2020/10/26/927775770/american-utopia-book-argues-for-the-reincarnation-of-hope-in-the-american-projec|access-date=2021-03-09|website=npr.org|language=en|archive-date=March 9, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210309163606/https://www.npr.org/2020/10/26/927775770/american-utopia-book-argues-for-the-reincarnation-of-hope-in-the-american-projec|url-status=live}}

{{cite web |url=https://consequence.net/2018/01/david-byrne-collaborates-with-oneohtrix-point-never-on-new-song-this-is-that-stream/|title=David Byrne collaborates with Oneohtrix Point Never on new song 'This Is That': Stream|last=Kaye|first=Ben|work=Consequence|date=January 31, 2018|access-date=July 14, 2024}}

{{Cite web |url=http://davidbyrne.com/explore/american-utopia/lyricscredits |title=Credits (and Lyrics) to American Utopia |publisher=David Byrne |accessdate=October 20, 2020}}

{{cite web |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/music/what-to-listen-to/david-byrnes-american-utopia-another-glittering-offering-old/ |title=David Byrne's American Utopia is another glittering offering from an old master – review |last=McCormick |first=Neil |authorlink=Neil McCormick |work=The Daily Telegraph |date=March 8, 2018 |accessdate=September 8, 2019}}

{{cite magazine |title=David Byrne: American Utopia |last=Greenblatt |first=Leah |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |date=March 16, 2018 |page=107}}

{{Cite web|title=Jagged Little Pill, American Utopia, Soft Power & More Earn Grammy Nominations|url=https://www.broadway.com/buzz/200165/jagged-little-pill-american-utopia-soft-power-more-earn-grammy-nominations/|access-date=2020-11-30|website=Broadway.com|language=en|archive-date=December 1, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201201212638/https://www.broadway.com/buzz/200165/jagged-little-pill-american-utopia-soft-power-more-earn-grammy-nominations/|url-status=live}}

{{cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2018/mar/09/david-byrne-american-utopia-review-anxiety-dreams-from-centrist-dad |title=David Byrne: American Utopia review – anxiety dreams from centrist dad |last=Beaumont-Thomas |first=Ben |work=The Guardian |date=March 9, 2018 |accessdate=September 8, 2019}}

{{Cite web |language=en-US |date=June 17, 2020 |access-date=June 17, 2020 |publisher=The A.V. Club |last=Hayes |first=Britt |title=HBO Will Premiere David Byrne's American Utopia, Filmed by Spike Lee |url=https://www.avclub.com/hbo-will-premiere-david-byrnes-american-utopia-filmed-1844066282}}

{{Cite web|url=https://www.broadway.com/buzz/197347/david-byrnes-american-utopia-gets-monthlong-extension-on-broadway/|title=David Byrne's American Utopia Gets Monthlong Extension on Broadway|website=Broadway.com|language=en|access-date=2019-12-30}}

{{cite web |url=http://www.metacritic.com/music/american-utopia/david-byrne |title=American Utopia by David Byrne Reviews and Tracks |publisher=Metacritic |accessdate=March 7, 2018}}

{{cite journal |title=David Byrne: American Utopia |last=Segal |first=Victoria |journal=Mojo |issue=293 |date=April 2018 |page=95}}

{{cite web |url=https://www.nme.com/reviews/david-byrne-american-utopia-review-2254603-2254603 |title=David Byrne – 'American Utopia' Review |last=Cochrane |first=Greg |work=NME |date=March 5, 2018 |accessdate=December 18, 2019}}

{{cite web |url=http://www.nonesuch.com/journal/david-byrne-american-utopia-due-march-9-nonesuch-records-announced-2017-01-08 |title=David Byrne's New Album, American Utopia, Due March 9 on Todomundo / Nonesuch Records |publisher=Nonesuch Records |date=January 8, 2018 |accessdate=January 8, 2018}}

{{cite web|url=https://aotearoamusiccharts.co.nz/archive/albums/2018-03-16|title=NZ Heatseeker Albums Chart|publisher=Recorded Music NZ|date=March 19, 2018|access-date=March 16, 2018}}

{{cite web |url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/david-byrne-american-utopia/ |title=David Byrne: American Utopia |last=Rytlewski |first=Evan |work=Pitchfork |date=March 12, 2018 |accessdate=September 8, 2019}}

{{cite journal |title=Dream Team |last=Doyle |first=Tom |journal=Q |issue=383 |date=April 2018 |page=114}}

{{cite magazine |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-album-reviews/review-david-byrne-throws-a-weird-party-in-his-mind-on-american-utopia-200968/ |title=Review: David Byrne Throws a Weird Party in His Mind on 'American Utopia' |last=Hermes |first=Will |authorlink=Will Hermes |magazine=Rolling Stone |date=March 9, 2018 |accessdate=September 8, 2019}}

{{Cite magazine |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/spike-lee-david-byrne-american-utopia-broadway-film-946549/ |language=en-US |title=Spike Lee to Direct Film Version of David Byrne's American Utopia Broadway Show |last=Krep |first=Daniel |date=February 1, 2020 |accessdate=May 23, 2020 |magazine=Rolling Stone}}

{{cite web |url=http://theartsdesk.com/new-music/cd-david-byrne-american-utopia |title=CD: David Byrne – American Utopia |last=Male |first=Howard |publisher=The Arts Desk |date=March 3, 2018 |accessdate=March 3, 2018}}

}}

External links

  • [https://www.reasonstobecheerful.world Official website of the "Reasons to be Cheerful" multimedia project]
  • [https://davidbyrne.com/explore/american-utopia/lyricscredits Credits and lyrics from David Byrne's site]
  • [http://www.nonesuch.com/albums/american-utopia American Utopia on Nonesuch Records]
  • [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=adUtlz0GcCg Lecture Byrne gave at The New School announcing the project]
  • [https://soundcloud.com/nonesuchrecords/david-byrne-everybodys-coming-to-my-house/s-nKBUp Stream for "Everybody's Coming to My House"]
  • [https://www.gq.com/story/david-byrne-talking-heads-icon-profile "This Must Be David Byrne"] from GQ
  • {{YouTube|1_sT6kw6aRk|David Byrne – "Every Day Is a Miracle"}}

{{David Byrne}}

Category:2018 albums

Category:David Byrne albums

Category:Todo Mundo albums

Category:Albums produced by David Byrne

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Category:Albums produced by Rodaidh McDonald

Category:Albums produced by Brian Eno