How Music Works

How Music Works

Rating

9.0

The Pequod Review:

How many musicians have had a career that can compare to David Byrne’s? His first four Talking Heads albums (created over only four years) are absolute masterpieces of popular music. A year later, he collaborated with Brian Eno on another masterpiece (My Life in the Bush of Ghosts). He then launched the Luaka Bop record label where he introduced an extraordinary number of talented international artists to American audiences. And he has created some of the most exhilarating and innovative live music performances I have ever seen. 

With How Music Works, he has written an intelligent and personal book on the history of music. Specifically, he explores how music works on the brain, how music evolved to fit the spaces in which it was performed, the impact of recording technology on the creation of music, and his own history making music — including why 1970s NYC and venues like CBGBs were so conducive to the creation of innovative music. Highly recommended.