When two music powerhouses like Talking Heads’ David Byrne and St. Vincent’s Annie Clark come together, it’s difficult to categorize the collaboration in either artist’s oeuvre. The pair’s album, “Love This Giant,” instead serves as a layered exploration of two separate influences. Clark’s quirky pop arrangements are unmistakable, and Byrne brings a “Burning Down the House” type of funk that St. Vincent could not fully achieve alone.
The opening track, “Who,” is a perfect example of the collaboration, with a brilliant horn introduction reminiscent of St. Vincent’s guitar riffs that leads into a simple, heavy kick drum and snare beat. Byrne takes lead vocals, and his robust voice is fitting for the song’s funk musing. Yet the two take turns throughout the album, and Clark’s beautiful, wispy voice is almost drowned out and fails to blend well with the accompanying music.
Ultimately, the songs featuring Byrne’s lead vocals are the strongest on the album – especially “I Should Watch TV,” the record’s best track. Here and throughout the album, the combination of Clark’s arrangement skills and an additional brass section make good songs great. But Byrne’s voice provides a certain dynamic tension that better compliments the album’s unique funk-pop.
Gravelly synth riffs start off “I Should Watch TV,” providing a background of alienation that the lyrics explore. Byrne’s commanding voice naturally complements the unsettling tone that underlies the entire album. The song’s breakdown into an overpowering minor progression seems to bring the entire album’s odd funk to a climax as Byrne eerily chants, “How am I not your brother?/ How are you not like me?”
The actual final track, however, “Outside of Space and Time,” is anything but climactic. A good stand-alone piece, it seems out of place in the album’s overall structure. The ballad’s vocal melody and song structure are the simplest on the album, and it is a bit unsatisfying as an end to such an explosive collection. The album’s horn arrangements are so strong and the funk so lively that an easy-to-swallow ’80s ballad is an odd choice to close the terrifically clamorous 45-minute set.
“Love This Giant” is a collaboration that is not as good as its components. But, it is still an unquestionably intriguing and thoroughly worthwhile set of songs that leaves one wondering how on earth an indie-pop brass section could be so good.
A version of this article appeared in the Thursday, Sept. 13 print edition. Patrick Jaojoco is a contributing writer. Email him at [email protected].
