Feel free to click on one of the above songs by David Byrne – which he provided for free – and read along about the former member of the Talking Heads, artist, photographer and bicycle fan.

Obviously, he is a big wheel in the world. So, thank you for posting free music for the online masses.

I’ve come across many Web sites in recent years, as I survey news, design, corporate, architecture and advertising sites.

I thought of the former Talking Heads member when I was writing about design expert Roger Black and his work with big-name media outlets.

When I saw DavidByrne.com and its bold colors and photographs, I thought: Incredible.

The design, as you can see, is simple yet inviting.

I’ve never been cool enough to follow all of Byrne’s music or video projects. I kind of lost track years ago when I last followed the Talking Heads.

What made me take a second look at Byrne’s site was his art work – especially his custom-made bike racks that were placed for a period throughout New York City.

Take a look.

He made a large dollar sign for Wall Street, a coffee cup for Amsterdam Avenue, a guitar for Brooklyn, among others.

Great stuff.

There’s a rackumentary, where the tour guides stop off for beer, and an online map, showing the location of each bike rack.

It looks like the racks were there for about a year, though.

It’s not surprising given his creativity that he attended the Rhode Island School of Design (which by the way, its president grew up in his family’s tofu factory in Seattle).

Byrne has designed chairs, including one that looks like a filing cabinet.

As he explains on his Web site:

Why chairs? Well, they have arms and legs and vaguely human scale — and shape. They’re people — they hold you, support you, elevate you or humble you. They’re funny or elegant, funky or gorgeous, social or aloof. They’re characters with lives and histories…aren’t they?

His custom-made corporate signs are hilarious because he shows that by adding one word, the context and meaning can change.

My guess is that IBM is happy with this one.

So, take a few minutes, listen to his music and cruise through his site to see what you like.

Also, the gallery which represents him – Pace/MacGill Gallery – has a nice clean Web site design, too.