Uh-Oh was only
David Byrne's second pop-oriented solo album and his first to be released after the formal end of
Talking Heads. Though informed by his various investigations into world music, the album was a natural successor to the
Talking Heads records, relying on involved percussion tracks topped by
Byrne's quirky singing and lyrics. By this point, disaffected fans may have grown accustomed to the idea that a
David Byrne solo album could contain anything from an extended flirtation with Latin styles (
Rei Momo) to an eclectic instrumental score (
The Forest), to name only his most recent solo projects. Maybe
Byrne and his record label failed to get out the message that he was back to making
Heads-style pop/rock (he didn't organize a tour until the album had come and gone on the charts), but
Uh-Oh never reached its potential audience.
Talking Heads fans should give it a listen. ~ William Ruhlmann