What does it sound like?:
A chameleon changes its appearance to blend in with its background. On Blackstar, David Bowie does the exact opposite, changing those around to suit him. As long ago as 2003, he was interviewed by Paul Du Noyer in The Word. He said that his biggest mistakes were when he tried to please an audience. “My work is always stronger when I get very selfish about it.” Blackstar is the sound of the greatest pop star that has ever lived doing exactly as his fragile heart desires.
Blackstar is as full of songs as Hunky Dory, as big a step-change as Young Americans, as enigmatic as Stationtostation and as experimental as Low. Let me reiterate. Blackstar can be discussed in the same breath as Hunky Dory, Young Americans, Stationtostation and Low. More importantly, Blackstar is entirely of itself, inhabiting its own world beyond compare to anything else.
The band are all very experienced, if relatively obscure, jazz musicians. They play ‘rock’ music deliciously with an extraordinary touch. It could well be the best band Bowie has put together. The dynamic Mark Guiliana on drums shines but the real star is Donny McCaslin on saxophone. He is astonishing, providing most of the sparks to set alight Bowie’s creativity. I suspect Blackstar will probably define his career.
However, these seven tracks aren’t just ‘rock’, they are David Bowie Rock, full of weird twists and turns, wilfully obscure lyrics and glorious melodies. The production is warm and expansive. Bowie’s vocals are beautiful, the best I’ve heard since “Heroes”. He sounds calm and authoritative, a man in control. The lyrics are full of darkness, regret and anger but you can hear the twinkle in his eye. Bowie is loving every second of this album. So much so that he doesn’t allow another singer a look-in, providing all of the backing vocals himself.
The title track is ten minutes of intrigue and theatre. In the hands of this wonderful band, the souped up ‘Tis A Pity She’s A Whore is colossal, seething with disgust. Lazarus rides on a dreamy bass groove driven by a three note sax hook. Sue (Or In A Season Of Crime) is actually jazzed down compared to the previous release with a tense bass line and malevolent electronic noise. Girl Loves Me blends bewildered lyrics, a hypnotic rhythm and a tender tune. The bravado in Dollar Days is undermined by a delicately strummed acoustic and an especially vulnerable sax. The closing track, I Can’t Give Everything Away, with its echo of A New Career In A New Town, is nostalgic and wistful, ending on a hopeful tone in the only guitar solo on the whole album. All seven tracks are very different yet hang together perfectly to create an immersing album experience from beginning to end.
Blackstar isn’t personally revealing as, say, Young Americans and Low are, but it does expose David Bowie being true to himself. Most ageing rock stars retreat to a safe place as time goes by (think Rod Stewart and Bob Dylan). Bowie pushes himself to the edge, producing an album crackling with life, full of his trademark strangeness and his gift for a great pop tune. In the twilight of his career, Blackstar is the quintessential Bowie album, back to his imperious best.
What does it all *mean*?
Happy birthday, David. You’ve just released one of your best albums.
Goes well with…
Anything. I’ve put it on three iPods so I can listen to it everywhere. I don’t plan to listen to anything else for the rest of the year.
Release Date:
Might suit people who like…
Anyone who has liked any David Bowie of any kind will enjoy this.
Tiggerlion says
Girl Loves Me
Tiggerlion says
Note the lack of sax in this one, plus the use of Nadsat, the made-up language in A Clockwork Orange, and Polari, a gay slang from the seventies. The chorus seems to float completely separately to the rest of the song. Listen out for the music drifting off for a few seconds towards the end, as though Bowie loses concentration and can’t quite remember where he is. James Murphy of LCD Soundsystem makes a percussive contribution.
Moose the Mooche says
DB once said that the portraits of him and the Spiders on the TRAFOZSATSFRM album were inspired by the ‘Orange film.
Lodestone of Wrongness says
I’ve been mightily impressed by the two listens I’ve managed but I must admit to being somewhat sceptical of your no doubt heartfelt praise this soon after release.
As for “the greatest rock star who ever lived” – C’mon!
As ever a beautifully written review but surely far too early to declare it a masterpiece?
Tiggerlion says
Is there a greater pop star? Prince? Bowie is definitely my greatest pop star. His music dominated my all important teenage years.
minibreakfast says
Crikey tigs, that’s quick out of the gate. Have you listened six times since midnight or did you acquire a ‘preview’?
Great review, really hoping my CD turns up today.
Tiggerlion says
I downloaded it at midnight. The six listen rule was applied.
minibreakfast says
Then off to bed with you, young man, or you’ll be grumpy by lunchtime.
Twang says
I’m intrigued. I lost touch with DB in the early 80s and have dipped back in occasionally, and never loved him the way some do, but he’s always interesting. I’ll certainly give it a lis based on the unimpeachable cred of a Tigger thumbs up (mind you, you like that Lamar album so everyone is fallible).
JustB says
I’m very interested to hear it, but Tigs – if Bowie sampled the sound of him burping into a can, looped it for 40 mins and released it you’d say it was a superbly original new direction from the greatest ever human and has cured your elbow eczema after four listens. 😉
Twang says
Bowie is like The Beatles and the Beach Boys – a religion, the faithful see something normal mortals can’t, and any clear eyed observation of any flaw is heresy which should be met with unstoppable force.
Tiggerlion says
Funnily enough both the opening and closing tracks debunk the notion of hero worship and worship of him in particular. He is on the side of the heretics.
Tiggerlion says
Hahaha! Maybe.
I was wildly excited by The Next Day. In the seventies, my favourite Bowie was ROCK Bowie. The Next Day is a great commercial rock album.
I have tempered my language for this review, believe it or not. Blackstar is a very different type of record. He hasn’t tapped into this mood since the seventies, except for Outside and The Buddha Of Suburbia. It is Bowie being strange and wondrous, yet accessible. There is no need to call the jazz police. There is lots of lovely listening on Blackstar, juxtaposed with real WTF moments.
It’s all on YouTube. Go listen for yourself.
Diddley Farquar says
I’m not entirely convinced by the idea of Bowie as avant-garde experimentalist. I think his genius is really as hitmaker. A creator of great, catchy pop singles, except he seems uncomfortable in the role of showbiz entertainer and prefers, by his own admission, to go in a more arty, experimental direction where he feels more himself. To my mind it’s almost as if he is in denial about his real gift, yet despite this he managed to conjuor up at least one or two classic pop tunes on earlier, more ‘experimental’ albums – like Sound and Vision on Low and then the single Heroes. That’s him at his very very best. Being adventurous yet with that singalong, hummable factor. Not that other tracks on those older albums aren’t great too or lack hooks and melodies, but if Blackstar is meant to be up there with his greatest work then is there another Heroes on it, are the tunes as good as his seventies output? What I’ve read about and heard of this new record is that there are no such obvious singles so I’m a little sceptical but I’ll have to give it a proper go before saying more. Also, some of it sounds a little like parts of Kid A/Amnesiac style Radiohead – so not necessarily so unusual as has been claimed. I’m ready to be won over though.
I also think the videos are a bit iffy, his celebrated, weird perfomances I find it a bit laughable, reminiscent of his cameo in Twin Peaks the movie, which when I saw it just made me burst out laughing. It’s all a bit earnest interpretive dance for me. Good that he tries something different I suppose. The old video for Ashes to Ashes was more effective, though arty. It didn’t try so hard perhaps. He came to believe the hype that he is some kind of visual genius as well as a pop genius. There’s an expectation there. Earlier promos from the seventies were more often straight performances. I’m really not too keen on these later videos, although they matter much less than the music of course.
Tiggerlion says
I don’t hear much Radiohead. My view of the videos, especially Lazarus, is that he’s taking the piss somewhat.
I think four of the seven tracks are nicely hummable. Try this.
I Can’t Give Everything Away
Diddley Farquar says
I might be wrong.
Yes I guess he could well be taking the piss. I can imagine him having fun and being amused at the thought of people trying to make sense of it all, analysing the videos and taking them seriously. The buttons for eyes over the blindfold irritate me though. The Blackstar one is the better of the two.
Tiggerlion says
Lazarus does look as though it was shot in half of an hour of leftover time after making the Blackstar video.
ip33 says
Listened twice this morning at work and I think it’s very good. Definitely been listening to Bish Bosh I think which is no bad thing. Bowie has always been as much about his influences as himself.
Plus he gets top marks for at least pushing forward. Most of his contemporaries have been recycling the same old crap since the seventies, I’m glad Bowie refuses to do the same.
mikeyp40 says
I listened to it on the way to work this morning
The title track is magnificent, however the other 6 tracks are yet to reveal their charms . The 6 listen rule definitely needs to be applied as you won’t be whistling it whilst performing household chores after one spin.
pencilsqueezer says
Album of the year @tiggerlion? Maybe of the decade? The century?
Good review brother but a little lacking in hyperbole.?
I’ve listened to it a fair bit. I’m still mulling it over but It is far more interesting than TND which I found mundane.
pencilsqueezer says
Oh and DB is not the greatest pop star who has ever lived. All a matter of opinion of course but I’d nominate Frank Sinatra or Caruso.
Tiggerlion says
You have a point with regard to Frank. This time I figured hysterical hyperbole might put people off but I’m absolutely bubbling inside.
pencilsqueezer says
Nooooo! I love your hyperbole. Set your bubbling free.
biggles says
Only been able to listen to it through twice so far, as I queued* in my (only) local record shop this morning. Four things spring to mind at this stage:
– it really is very good, already
– it really needs to be listened to in one sitting. Last time I felt that was necessary was for “Aerial”
– thank you (again!) Mr Engel; still influencing even the greatest…
– printing lyrics in shiny black on matt black background really isn’t helpful
*not exactly. Besides the 6 (I counted ’em) members of staff, I was the only other person in the shop, so “queue” may not strictly be the appropriate word.
Formbyman says
But aren’t you the person who goes on, relentlessly, about how good “The Next Day” is (and it clearly isn’t)? How can you be trusted?
Tiggerlion says
Oh I still think The Next Day is brilliant. It is a superb rock album. Blackstar is entirely different, sonically more polished and less compressed with ‘better’ musicians. Five of the seven tracks are actually quite gentle, whereas TND is pretty full-on.
Formbyman says
We’re going to have to disagree about The Next Day – to me it just sounds like a fairly bland pop album (apart from Where Are We Now? – which is brilliant) that can be filed alongside Tonight. I’ve only heard the new one twice (I opted to sleep last night, unlike you) but I’m quite liking it. The cover’s awful though – in fact I wish he’d used The Next Day cover for this one.
Sewer Robot says
The Next Day was your big brother disfiguring your copy of “Heroes”, this one is the JAMC’s Automatic without the spotty Reid brothers shooting you in the face. If he follows this “pastiche of records you’ve already got” cover theme, there’s a chance the next two will be Dave as Kevin Rowland on My Beauty and Millie’s Back To The Shit…
Tiggerlion says
It is his first album ever without an image of him on the cover. The fragments underneath the black star are meant to spell out Bowie. I think it is a clever cover as it fits in well in a high tech society full of thumbnails. In fact, you can type the black star image as its title.
minibreakfast says
When I first glanced at the Q review, I thought they’d awarded it one star ♣
minibreakfast says
Oh, that was supposed to be a black star 🙁
dai says
So, it’s his best since Scary Monsters?
Tiggerlion says
Definitely. It well be even better than that.
dai says
Was being facetious actually. Have given it one (fairly distracted) listen so far and rather than sounding like a daring new direction it struck me as more Black Tie White Noise part 2.
chiz says
This is fun. I can’t remember the last time I bought an album on the day it was released and listened to it all morning. It was probably 25 years ago*. As with all the best Bowie, it’s intriguing and frustrating in equal measure. I find the skittish drums annoying and wouldn’t have objected to a guitar solo here and there. But, as usual, I’m warming to it and finding new textures with each listen. I think I could only get excited like this about a Bowie album. How many more has he got in him?
*Actually I have now remembered and it wasn’t. It was The Endless River.
Tiggerlion says
Absolutely. I haven’t been counting he hours until release of an album for decades. I, too, wonder how many he has left. Blackstar does feel a bit like the work of someone who knows he’s not going to make many more records. I guess, today, we should be grateful we have him and still producing such quality.
Baron Harkonnen says
“Blackstar does feel a bit like the work of someone who knows he’s not going to make many more records. I guess”. Hmm, and how do you know that tigs?
Tiggerlion says
I’m not stating a fact, just expressing a feeling. Blackstar is Bowie being selfish as I say in the OP and the tone is wistful and nostalgic. It is a mature, rich port of an album that can’t stay in the cask anymore without going off.
minibreakfast says
No CD yet, but I just noticed that the autorip has downloaded. I’m going in…
Number Six says
Listened to it on my way to work this morning. Best in 25 years!
So good that I managed to get Justin Dealey to play the Laughing Gnome on BBC Three Counties Breakfast this morning.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p03clq02
51 minutes in.. Enjoy!
minibreakfast says
First impressions: it’s a lot more rockular than I’d expected, which is a good thing as far as I’m concerned. Also, the band are absolutely ace, aren’t they? ‘Sue’ would work equally as well as an instrumental.
biggles says
…4th listen now finished – going to hit A Soul Awakening box set now.
A few more observations, if I may:
– the bass playing (at times it is like an upright) is sublime throughout
– the more I listen the more I hear (of) that bass and Middle Eastern vibes
– was wondering what may result if Bowie re-acquainted himself and collaborated again with Trent Reznor. Not a relevant thought, but it came to me, so felt it necessary to share!
Tiggerlion says
Agree about the bass. It really grows. The piano is excellent, too.
My further thought is the way he uses his voice. It is obviously thinner than it used to be but he teases a wider variety of textures from it. Compare ‘Tis A Pity She’s A Whore, where he sounds world-weary, almost drained, with I Can’t Give Everything Away where he sounds positive and full of hope, just with slight adjustments in inflection and pitch. He ‘acts’ the lyrics beautifully throughout.
Baron Harkonnen says
I`m awaiting the arrival of the ★ LP, so far I have avoided listening to anything from ★. I have no doubt after reading tigs`s review ★ will be marvelous, I love the last 5 albums and rate them higher than any of the other stuff but that is me so do not hang me.
minibreakfast says
What alt code did you use the get the black star? The one I used (I googled it) gave me an ace, which just made me look silly.
GCU Grey Area says
I thought you were making a bid of 1 club in Bridge.
Sewer Robot says
?if you like amusingly inappropriate symbols in your blogpost join mini’s ??
minibreakfast says
Join my whale?
minibreakfast says
Ah, the penny has dropped ♠♠♠♠
Sewer Robot says
Apologies, Ms B. I forgot you’re waaaaaay too young to remember the old Club Milk ad..
minibreakfast says
I remember it, it just took me a minute. The whale rather threw me.
Baron Harkonnen says
Googled how to do it but it didn`t work for me, so I just copied & paste the Black ★ Star that showed up mini ; ))
GCU Grey Area says
@minibreakfast – I might be wrong here, but the alt+four digit number in Windows (or alt+various keys in Mac OS) will access a character/glyph in the font you are currently using. If the glyph isn’t available in the font, it won’t display properly, and may put another character in – like the club. It’ll work fine on your pc in Word.
My guess is that the star displays in @andyourbirdcansing ‘s post either because its in the same font this site uses, or is in HTML. I can do very basic HTML, but I’ve not got to black stars yet. . .
minibreakfast says
@gcu-grey-area Yes, I’ve used it elsewhere with no problem. It’s not the first time I’ve tried to use an alt code on here and failed, so I’m blaming WordPress. @andyourbirdcansing copied and pasted it.
GCU Grey Area says
Yeah, he cheated.
Baron Harkonnen says
Thanks ; ))
Harry Tufnell says
It’s pretty good but it’s no “Let’s Dance”
Tiggerlion says
I’ll give you an up for the laugh!
Moose the Mooche says
I like Let’s Dance.
I like a lot of things that nobody else likes. I’ve found.
pencilsqueezer says
Righty – ho. I’ve finished having a good old mull and after a couple of dozen plays I prepared to state that it’s jolly fine.
Old Dave’s best in while.
Baron Harkonnen says
Yeah, but is it any good?
minibreakfast says
A couple of DOZEN? Are you in Australia, so have had it for several hours longer?
pencilsqueezer says
*Cough* I’ve had it ‘available’ to me for a ‘bit’ longer than a day.
Moose the Mooche says
White Duking Is Killing Music!
Twang says
That opening track is interminable. I gave up after 7 minutes. I’ll go back in once I’ve recovered.
Dogbyte says
Yeah, ‘miserable dirge’ was my initial reaction. It’s the only track I’ve heard so far I shall approach the rest with caution.
Tiggerlion says
Perhaps you should listen in reverse order. The sweeter melodies are on ‘side two’.
Track 5. Dollar Days
johnw says
Yep, I’m in your camp. Didn’t like The Next Day and this one is even duller. I think I did well making it all the way to the end and I probably won’t bother again but then I like ‘pop’ Bowie…. in fact I like pop so I’m probably not really in the Blackstar demographic.
ernietothecentreoftheearth says
A pedant writes. Polari dates back to the fifties or perhaps even earlier, as fans of Julian and Sandy will attest. My name is Julian and I was delighted when, some years ago a bloke called Sandy came to join my team. This provided the opportunity to attend a senior management team meeting and announce ” Hello, my name’s Julian and this is my friend Sandy”. Three of the attendees were reduced to helpless mirth to the utter bemusement of the others.
#onefortheteenagers.
We return you now to the scheduled programme
Tiggerlion says
Thank you. I should have looked it up!
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polari
Moose the Mooche says
Innee bollllld!
ruff-diamond says
Did you then follow up by saying how lovely it was to vada their jolly old eeks?
Tiggerlion says
Can anyone provide a translation?
Cheena so sound, so titi up this malcheck, say
Party up moodge, nanti vellocet round on Tuesday
Real bad dizzy snatch making all the omeys mad – Thursday
Popo blind to the polly in the hole by Friday
Where the fuck did Monday go?
I’m cold to this pig and pug show
I’m sittin’ in the chestnut tree
Who the fuck’s gonna mess with me?
Girl loves me
Hey cheena
Girl loves me
Where the fuck did Monday go?
I’m cold to this pig and pug show
Where the fuck did Monday go?
You viddy at the cheena
Choodesny with the red rot
Libbilubbing litso-fitso
Devotchka watch her garbles
Spatchko at the rozz-shop
Split a ded from his deng deng
Viddy viddy at the cheena
Tiggerlion says
Still hoping for a translation….
Tiggerlion says
Anybody got any ideas?
Moose the Mooche says
Most of what you need is here.
https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Appendix:A_Clockwork_Orange
There are Nadsat translators online (including one inevitably called NadsatNav) but they only seem to be good at going from English to Nadsat rather than the other way.
ruff-diamond says
Partial translation follows:
Girl so sound, something something this boy, so
cough up your money, no drugs round on Tuesday
something something making all the men mad – Thursday
Police blind to the money in the hole by Friday
(Where the fuck did Monday go?
I’m cold to this pig and pug show
I’m sittin’ in the chestnut tree
Who the fuck’s gonna mess with me?)
Girl loves me
Hey girl
Girl loves me
Where the fuck did Monday go?
I’m cold to this pig and pug show
Where the fuck did Monday go?
You look at the girl
wonderful with the something something
Making love face to face
Girl watch her something
Sleep at the police station
Split an old man from his money
look look at the girl
Tiggerlion says
Getting there, thanks @ruff-diamond. Visconti says that there are people living in that London Town who will know exactly what it means. Obviously, they don’t visit here.
Jeff says
Where the fuck did Wednesday go?
Tiggerlion says
Best so far?
Woman so together, so clean up this boy
Party up man, no drugs round on Tuesday
Awful little airhead making all the men mad – Thursday
Police have been paid to turn a blind eye by Friday
Where the fuck did Monday go?
I’m done with this circus show
I’m anti-authority and they’re coming for me
Who the fuck’s gonna mess with me?
Girl loves me
Hey woman
Girl loves me
Girl loves me
Hey woman
Girl loves me
Where the fuck did Monday go?
I’m done with this circus show
Where the fuck did Monday go?
Look at the woman
Wonderful with the red lips
Making love face-to-face
That girl, watch her foxy ways
Sleeping at the police station
Steal an old man’s money
Look, Look at the woman
Girl loves me
Hey woman
Feedback_File says
Have listened twice and suitably impressed. I was not full of hope as heard part of the opening track last year and my impression as @twang says was interminable – but I thought the video was dreadful so that tainted it for me. However the full album works really well and sounds fabulous. Yes I agree that there may be a bit of the later Scott Walker influence in the vocal stylings but it is surprisingly melodious (unlike Scott) . Probably the first Bowie album I’ve listened to in its entirety since Heroes.
madfox says
Everything you say about Bowie is correct, Tigs. Greatest indeed, taking into account his combination of poptasticness, rockularity, coolness, commerciality, uncommerciality, art, musicality, daring, singlemindedness, adaptability, flying in the face, riding the wave, squaring the circle, etc etc etc, not to mention longevity. No-one comes close.
Two slight quibbles with this album. [1] I reckon “Sue” suffers somewhat for its truncation. I think the story and Bowie’s hysterical delivery deserve a more extensive platform. [2] I would have liked to see “Dollar Days” and “I Can’t Give Everything Away” separated; as the two most sonically similar tracks on the LP, I’d have transposed tracks 5 and 6, perhaps; or better still, introduced another song between 6 and 7. Otherwise a fine effort.
Tiggerlion says
I didn’t think there was any doubt about him being the greatest pop star ever (& I’m including Frank Sinatra) for all the reasons you list and more.
I like this Sue because the playing is tighter yet more roomy and wild. It is a smaller unit doing the playing, as opposed to a ‘jazz orchestra’. I would welcome an extra minute or two, of course. ‘Tis A Pity She Was A Whore is a revelation, far better than the Sue B side.
The sequencing of Dollar Days and I Can’t Give Everything Away is quite deliberate, I’m sure. They are the only two tracks where the transition between the two is a blend. There is a message in there somewhere. I’ll have to go back and listen again to find out what.
If they are your only quibbles, you must be delighted with it.
Lodestone of Wrongness says
@tiggerlion and @madfox – before I pour more scorn on your claim can you define what you mean by “pop star”?
Tiggerlion says
A Pop Star is a celebrity because they are particularly effective at performing commercial, ephemeral and accessible music. Bowie is undoubtedly a chart success and famous. What makes him different to the pack is the way he uses his fame/infamy to push the boundaries of commercial music. The hype, the image is an essential part of the whole. His music is much more interesting too. Pop music tends to be conservative in order to appeal to the largest audience. Bowie often throws in a musical curve ball but, underneath it all, there is usually a simple tune.
For me, Pop music only really got going in the sixties. The Beatles were the masters, of course. Seventies started with Marc Bolan but Bowie dominated that decade, although Queen are a decent shout. In the eighties, Michael Jackson, Madonna and Prince. These days, the ladies rule, Nikki Minaj, Taylor Swift, Rhiannon, Adele, Kanye West. They are as much video performers as singers. Frank Sinatra was really a pre-Pop Star.
Does that help, hen?
Bingo Little says
I can exclusively reveal that Kanye West actually has a penis. In fact, it’s the primary subject of most of his lyrics.
Tiggerlion says
I try not to listen to his lyrics.
Bingo Little says
You’re a wise man.
By the way, I’m not remotely a Bowie fan, but I’ve enjoyed your review of Blackstar and found the record itself pretty good. And I seem to be alone in really liking the cover art.
Tiggerlion says
Thank you. You aren’t alone. I like the cover art too. Very modern. Very arty.
Moose the Mooche says
Is it the first proper Bowie album not to have Bowie on the cover?
(I’ve not thought about that)
I think it’s got the fewest tracks of any proper Bowie album.
(I’ve thought about that a little bit)
madfox says
I think you’ll find Station To Station has six.
Moose the Mooche says
Darn that Beckenham lad!
Tiggerlion says
Have there ever been six tracks that are so different? It is almost as though they are played by different bands; the epic opener, the smooth soul, the heartfelt manifesto, the jaunty pop, the funky rock and the torch ballad. Amazing!
Moose the Mooche says
Eee, for many years STS was my favourite. Especially when Rykodisc tacked on those brilliant live takes of Stay and Word on a Wing.
I used to think that bits of the title track sound like Pink Floyd (and I don’t mean The Pink Floyd, either). And elsewhere on that album you’ve got torch song (Wind), soul snap, funk, and even a bit of Nyorlin’ piano on TVC15. I think it follows on much better from Diamond Dogs than Young Americans (which really does sound cold).
And they say drugs are bad for you 😉
Lodestone of Wrongness says
It does indeed help – you are talking bollocks.
Elvis galvanised and energised a generation but even he palls into insignificance behind Frank Sinatra.
Frank went through the teenage adoration & hysteria then matured into one of the finest singers ever. Then he started his own record label – not some back-street operation but the mighty Reprise.
Then in a lull in his recording career he turned to acting. He won an Oscar (Mr Bowie’s film career is frankly laughable).
Then he owned half of Las Vegas, became embroiled with The Mob, shagged some of the most beautiful women in the world, thought he was JK’s best mate.
Then things went a bit a wrong so back to touring and singing. Right up to his death sell-out concerts all over the world.
I totally admire Bowie’s refusal to retread himself and keep pushing boundaries (all though for me Next Day was a mighty failure and the jury has gone for a long, considered walk re Blackstar) but get on your knees young Jones and look up at your master.
Lodestone of Wrongness says
This by the way in response to @tiggerlion and @madfox (can’t seem to manage the smiley wink on a Chromebook)
Tiggerlion says
We are in agreement, then. We are all talking bollocks.
Bingo Little says
You left out his much-overlooked Death Metal phase.
Lodestone of Wrongness says
Ah ha…who says I’m not up with the kids
?
Tiggerlion says
You have to admit Bowie wears more eye-catching clothes and writes better songs than Frank.
Lodestone of Wrongness says
Wholly agree re eye-catching clothes (although Sinatra wins every time for actual style) and song-writing (not one of Frank’s strongest assets).
You know what, someone on this thread said he doesn’t actually like Bowie’s voice. For me it mostly works but I am currently struggling with it on Blackstar.
Tiggerlion says
Don’t think of him as hitting notes. Think of him as using vocal textures and tones to evoke different moods.
After all, Frank was always flat, wasn’t he. ?
Black Type says
“Thought he was JK’s best mate”…so was he the model for Voldemort or Dumbledore, or perhaps the morally ambiguous Snape? 😉
Lodestone of Wrongness says
Winking back at ya. An edit would have allowed me an F in there.
madfox says
What Tiggerlion said.
Plus, I think what really separates Bowie out from the rest is that he is three-dimensional, versus the one or two dimensions of, say, Elvis, Jacko, Madonna or Prince.
End of the day, it’s our considered opinion, Hen. Pour as much scorn as you wish, it will run off us into the gutter, like tears in the rain.
If I were clever enough, there would be a little winky smiley yellow face here.
minibreakfast says
Semi colon, close bracket 😉
minibreakfast says
Colon, capital D 😀
pencilsqueezer says
Pointless even trying to argue a point with fans of any stripe. They are too one eyed. So I’m not going to bother.
I’ll make only one point @tiggerlion. To suggest that popular music had little or no relevance to the extreme of not even considering it is just plain wrong.
Why some folk are so intent on elevating their particular and highly subjective likes and dislikes into some sort of my pop star is greater than your pop star pantheon of greatness completely bemuses me.
I just enjoy music.
pencilsqueezer says
Sorry should have added…prior to 1960 in the second paragraph.
pencilsqueezer says
I should also add that I like Blackstar. I genuinely do. Will it be the best album I hear this year. I fuc*ing well hope not!
Tiggerlion says
I think I accepted Frank as valid. Plus, Elvis is worthy of consideration. Any backers for Little Richard?
Do you know something? I like all of their music. Well, not quite all. You know what I mean.
I still think Bowie is the consummate Pop Star.
pencilsqueezer says
And then dismissed Sinatra as valid because some of his recordings pre date 1960.
What I struggle with is why on earth does it matter who is the greatest?
It’s far to subjective to objectify.
Moose the Mooche says
Bing Crosby was the first pop star.
He was pretty f***in good as well.
Moose the Mooche says
Ba-rup-a-pum-pum
Tiggerlion says
Don’t worry, @pencilsqueezer. I’m only talking bollocks.
madfox says
Thanks, Mini.
I guess the smiley wassn’t working out for me because of my addiction to curly and square brackets. But I’m over them now. I just needed some parenthetical guidance.
😉
madfox says
It worked it worked it worked!
I <3 Mini.
madfox says
Oh. That didn’t.
Moose the Mooche says
You’re smaller than three Minis?
I am confuse.
madfox says
Also am I confuse.
Tiggerlion says
It’s simple. Mini is indeed very small. I’m easily bigger than two of her but not quite as big as three.
Locust says
Ah. I knew there was something I’d forgotten to do…
I’ve been so busy getting to know this new computer and the strange ways of Windows 10 that I’ve completely forgotten to order this album!
johnw says
I know this is a Bowie thread but if you’re struggling with Windows 10, just install ‘Classic Shell’ and it’ll ‘feel’ just the same as more familiar versions of Windows. Once you’ve got to grips with any real differences, you can migrate slowly to the new interface (or you can stay with what you know – my Windows 7 PC still looks (almost) like an XP one because that’s what I prefer and, the way I use it, I can do things quicker) at your own pace.
Mousey says
I think Blackstar is brilliant.
A lot better than “The Next Day”, which I liked, but I thought would have been vastly improved if Mike Garson had sprinkled some piano over at least half the tracks.
What I love about Blackstar is first of all the songs – Bowie has conjured some beautiful melodies, over weird harmonies, and sings beautifully, then gets this great band to play, and lets them do what they do, especially on the opening track. The drummer is astounding. This is not “jazz” as we know it Jim (if we think jazz is bebop and so on) – this is what jazz musicians are playing in NYC, and, for that matter in NZ and Australia.
Listen up folks, this is groundbreaking music.
Just what we need in the year of the 40th anniversary of “punk”, which someone reminded me of today. God help us.
David Bowie is a great composer.
Spotcheck Billy says
It’s the first Bowie album I have bought since Let’s Dance. I was intrigued by the early teasers posted on this site but, starting with Lazarus, found the video detracted from the music, so cast the ipad aside and just listened. Having bought the CD today I am really enjoying it. I agree with those who have complimented the drums, bass and sax. I also really like the guitar textures, particularly on Sue. I find the drums on ’tis pity a bit monotonous and feel the track could have done with more variety vocally too, but I’m willing to let it grow on me.
Comparisons with other albums, especially the classics, are pointless really. He hasn’t completely dispensed with traditional song form, but don’t expect to find an obvious Top 40 hit here. That said, it is melodic, rhymically engaging and well produced.
Tiggerlion says
I was hoping someone would pick me up on the comparisons. I thought long and hard but decided to throw them in as an attention grabber.
Blackstar is full of tunes and his most tuneful album is Hunky Dory.
For Young Americans, Bowie completely changed his band, employing R&b musicians to play and sing an entirely new type of music (for him). It was a step-change from Diamond Dogs like no other in the Bowie cannon. Young Americans is the only other time a saxophone is the lead instrument. David Sandborn, actually a jazz musician, played alto sax.
Stationtostation is lyrically peculiar and musically diverse with a ten minute, multi-sectioned title track. The strangest thing about it is that it hangs together as an album at all. Blackstar is actually more consistent stylistically.
Low tore up the rule book. It was quite a shock when it came out. If Blackstar hadn’t been drip-fed to us over the last couple of months, I think I would have been equally taken aback.
The point I am making is that Blackstar can happily rub shoulders with those classics and not sound out of place.
On the other hand, The Next Day is a real rock album that can rub shoulders with The Man Who Sold The World, Aladdin Sane and Diamond Dogs. Blackstar is a different class to TND.
As ever, no two Bowie albums are the same (cf Rod Stewart, Adele, Lana Del Ray….)
Jasmine Peeking says
It’s far too early (even if you have listened to it 25 times in the last 2 days) to be making proclamations that this is a classic Bowie album and can “happily rub shoulders” with his genuine classics. Bowie albums take the passage of time (in Low’s case, years) to reveal themselves and be fully appreciated. My first impressions are as The Next Day – it’s Bowie, but it’s not classic Bowie. Time will tell.
Tiggerlion says
I remember buying Young Americans, Stationtostation, Low and “Heroes” on the day of release. Straight away, I thought they were amazing, with the exception of Stationtostation, which took some time to bed in with me.
Generally speaking, I find Bowie albums improve with time and repeated listens. I wasn’t impressed with Diamond Dogs on release, for example. Sounds great now. His nineties and noughties albums all sound better today than in the year I first heard them. I now rank Buddha Of Suburbia as one of his classics but, at first, I thought it was so-so.
Moose the Mooche says
At the time I thought Buddha… was where he turned the corner after a decade in the wilderness.
I was wrong. Not long after TND I revisited Tin Machine – the first album and about half of the second one are pretty bloody good.
dai says
I think @tiggerlion really really wants to like new Bowie albums. Yes, far too early to proclaim a classic and far too for me to say its one great track and a few average Bowie by numbers songs.
I will proclaim ‘Tis a pity … to be dreadful though.
Does nobody else hear the Black Tie White Noise influences?
Tiggerlion says
When it comes to music, I do look on the positive. Music has given a huge amount of pleasure throughout my life.
I have been known to be disappointed, though. Not today. Blackstar has managed to exceed my expectations.
dai says
And it comes through in your very well written review. I will live with it for about 3 months before knowing whether it’s in the Premier League, Championship or the Conference. First impressions are different for everybody.
Moose the Mooche says
With the very greatest of love and respect to brer Tig, and I mean that, declaring an album to be A Total And Utter Classic on the day of its release in these terms is a bit Paul Du Noyer-> Be Here Now for me. But it’s a free country and enthusiasm is always funner than the opposite.
dai says
He was similarly effusive about the last one. I was pretty lukewarm, apart from the great single. He encouraged me (everybody?) to give it another chance, it did grow on me, but I never play it now. Will always reach for something like Ziggy, Diamond Dogs, Low or Lodger first when I feel like some Bowie.
Glad he’s making music again though.
Tiggerlion says
To be fair, I say Blackstar is comparable to some of his classics (and outlined how in the thread). That’s not quite the same as declaring it a Total And Utter Classic. I wish we could access my review of TND. I was enthusiastic and thrilled by its strength. I still think it’s a great Rock record, something that is highly unusual in this century. The guitars are wonderful and the compressed sound adds to the excitement. I played it again today and it is a blast.
Still. I’m enjoying Blackstar and expect to do so for a long time.
minibreakfast says
TA-DAHHHH!!! http://web.archive.org/web/20130825014903/https://theafterword.co.uk/content/david-bowie
minibreakfast says
More 2013 ‘Nights In’ here: http://web.archive.org/web/20130513145017/https://theafterword.co.uk/nights-in
Mike_H says
From the link in Mini’s reply.
“More hooks than Robson Greene’s tacklebox”.
“Public Service Broadcasting – Inform – Educate – Entertain” Submitted by Bogl.
Now there’s an Afterword T-Shirt if ever I saw one.
dai says
History is repeating itself. Both albums are the best since Scary Monsters 😉
Jasmine Peeking says
Well, you say in your “The Next Day” review (which I’ve just read) that it’s easily as good as Lodger, Scary Monsters and Diamond Dogs. And in this blog you say Blackstar is in a different class to TND. I think you need to take time out and reflect on your opinion because it’s so so wrong 😉
Tiggerlion says
I obviously don’t rate Lodger, Scary Monsters & Diamond Dogs as highly as you do.
Reading that review makes me nostalgic for the days when Nights In had strict limits on the number of characters. Certainly kept me disciplined, if excitable!
Black Type says
For heaven’s sake, it’s only an opinion about some music, not a legally binding statement of fact! He could only refer to The Next Day in terms of albums previously heard…what would you have him do? Say “I can’t really propose an opinion on this album because, knowing my luck, he’ll go and bring out another one some time in the future that will render all my previous assessments of its relative worth completely invalid, and then I’ll have to find a mirror to take a long, hard look at myself”…?!
Tiggerlion says
Thank you for your support @black-type, I really appreciate it. However, I think both Jasmine and dai have their tongues slightly in their cheeks. They both close their posts with a smiley wonky face.
Moose the Mooche says
Not at all relevant to this discussion, but this may well have been the funniest thing in the history of typing – the impressions thread.
http://web.archive.org/web/20130904160303/https://theafterword.co.uk/content/stars-their-eyes-afterword-impressions-thread
el toro says
Just given it a listening to on Spotify……
Sounds bloody good to me. I love the full, wall to wall sound he achieves.
SteveT says
Where did you spring up from? Did you lose your password? Only heard the opening track so far which I loved. Just off to order it now.
Martin S says
Is this the right place to say that I feel like I’ve walked into The Emperor’s New Clothes?
All of the music forums I’m attached to are raving over it.
I just find it dull. A “God awful small affair” if you like. What the hell am I missing?
Heard it once through but had to stop myself shouting “do some old!”
Sorry folks.
Tiggerlion says
I understand and respect this viewpoint. When he released Low, it was as though he trying to see how much he could get away with and still sell. It didn’t sell. Having proved he could make a commercial rock record with TND, he is now free to do as he pleases. My impression is that he has made Blackstar without any consideration of having to sell to an audience. Take it or leave it. Martin has decided to leave it. That’s fine.
Martin S says
There’s certainly no doubting the records sincerity and it’s absolutely worthy to be called Art. For some reason I just can’t connect with it. I’m genuinely pleased that people are enjoying music that has such challenges. Normally I’d be on board with something so adventurous, I’m surprised I’m not!
Moose the Mooche says
I’ve got the NME review of Low, by Charles Shaar Murray. It’s pretty hostile. He basically admires DB but finds the album unpleasantly antisocial and cold. And DB did go from being a pop artist to being a cult artist for a while, at least until Ashes to Ashes.
Still, Sound and Vision got to number 3 – which is pretty good going in the stultifyingly conservative charts of 1977.
Diddley Farquar says
Interesting to look at original, contemporary reviews, when these acts reputations were still up for discussion. I suspect Charlie’s revised his opinion since. Low seems a rather emotional record to me. I think at the time there was some puzzlement over what he was up to and annoyance that it seemed wilfully different for the sake of it. Certainly a much more risky venture for then than Blackstar is at the present time.
Moose the Mooche says
I’m not sure CSM has changed his mind. I think he was in that Five Years docco on Beeb 4 and actually referred to his own review. It could be like that notorious Jack Barron review of the Stone Roses’ first album, where he was just out of step with the consensus.
Fast forward to the NME’s Top 100 albums of all time poll in 1985, and there’s Low at 15, above any other Bowie album. Also, and this might have made the old Duke crack a smile, just one place ahead of the first Velvets album.
Diddley Farquar says
Also known for raving about Be Here Now. Doubt he stands by that judgement though. I saw CSM in St Ives once looking at art. Should have asked him.
Moose the Mooche says
I’ll forgive him anything for the Lennon piece he wrote in the Christmas NME of 1980, which if it hasn’t been anthologised anywhere, bloody ought to have been. Still one of the best eulogies I’ve read for any pop star.
And he liked our Colin’s ‘Vish book, so he can’t be all bad.
Diddley Farquar says
The good stuff far outweighs the odd dubious moment. Anyway it’s not what’s said it’s how it’s said that counts, especially with reviews. He’s given us a lot of very fine content over the years.
Tiggerlion says
My recollection was the shock of the sound. It was so compressed, I wasn’t sure what kind of instruments they were using. Then, there was the contrast between the two sides and the lack of lyrics. The few words used were all desperate and depressed. Hardly run-of-the-mill pop music.
Moose the Mooche says
It’s what’s done to the drums that demonstrates that.
I think I’ve said this in the old place, but DB has a largely-unacknowledged, ongoing interest in drum sounds. Of course, he’s worked with some unbelievable skinsmen, but the way drums are recorded on his best records are central to their impact. He loves a good snare does old Jonesy.
Gary says
I like Bowie the pop star’s singles and don’t much care for Bowie the avant-garde experimental artist’s album tracks. The last single I loved was Where Are We Now and before that it was Absolute Beginners. There were no great singles inbetween those two. There are no great singles on this album. But nontheless I prefer the tracks on Blackstar to the tracks (great singles aside) on any other Bowie album since Station To Station.
Black Type says
Hmmm, no great singles between 1986 and 2013? Have you tried…
Baby Universal
You Belong In Rock’n’Roll
Jump They Say
The Buddha Of Suburbia
Strangers When We Meet
Hallo Spaceboy
Little Wonder
Thursday’s Child
Everyone Says Hi
…?
Gary says
Yep. Heard them all. Not one of them gets a place on my ‘Bowie’s Amazingly Brilliant Singles’ playlist, I’m afraid.
attackdog says
Fabulous review Mr Tiggerlion, as enthusiastically considered as ever. I intend to buy then listen to the album in a month or two when the head has settled.
I will now keep my head down and admit I agree with Mr Mooche. Tin Machine 1 was pretty damn good. No, it was pretty fucking angry. Alive. Repulsive. Loud. Fast. Contrary. It was one of The Dames best moments. Just angry.
He was as fucked off with the late 80’s early nineties as many were and responded with more full on balls than, frankly, anyone in popular music.
pencilsqueezer says
Sorry if I’m coming across snotty @tiggerlion.
It’s been a pretty awful week all in all which has put me in a far from happy place.
Tiggerlion says
I’m sorry to hear that. I hope next week is better.
Twang says
I think my problem is whilst I greatly admire him as a thing, an objet d’art if you will, I just don’t like his singing. I liked it in Ziggy/Aladdin era, but I don’t now. It just sounds mannered and silly. Sorry. Love on.
Fiction Romantic says
All the comments about this being a “jazz” album put me off but @tiggerlion was so upbeat I’ve just streamed the bloody thing. It was a great relief when I discovered it is first and foremost a David Bowie album.
The rhythm section really hold the album together and this is probably the most interesting sound on a Bowie album since side 2 of “Heroes”. I shall be listening again. The title track is way too short mind. It’s just getting going and then it ends long before its time.
The Good Doctor says
It’s hard to listen to any Bowie record without the colossal weight of his past bearing down on it- so the question to ask is, if this was a record by someone you’d never heard of – would you like it? The answer in this case is a definite yes. It’s lacking in catchy songs of course – he’s allergic to choruses – although there are some ‘hooks’ – but ultimately it’s a decent record, and good to hear him at 69 still pushing and experimenting – in that sense he’s in the same ballpark as Scott Walker I think although while Scott is happy to keep it atonal and terrifying Bowie can’t help but get a groove on and slip some warmth and melody in there.
Ultimately I’ve played this 4 times now. That’s 3 times more than anything he’s done since Let’s Dance.
Tiggerlion says
Bowie makes unsettling music seductive.
Tiggerlion says
Besides, David Bowie is far too refrained for a chorus..
I’ll get me coat.
bricameron says
Dollar Days.
Beautiful tune but I find the drums a little jarring. I’d love to hear this a bit more swaying…
Spotcheck Billy says
One of the best things about this new direction is the expectation of more to come. According to this article, there are five more songs from the ★ sessions.
http://smarturl.it/LATimesMakingBS
bricameron says
Overall I think there’s strong material but I personally don’t like the production.
ip33 says
Can I congratulate @tiggerlion on simulating 152 comments (and counting), which may be a record for a Night-In post?
And after streaming it on Friday I actually handed over cash for it in Resident in Brighton yesterday, well worth every penny.
Gary says
They were simulated? Even mine? Even this one? Is that, like, allowed?
Tiggerlion says
You are all my sock puppets! Hahahaha.
@ip33, you are too kind. I suspect David Bowie is the real simulator.
Diddley Farquar says
OK, I’ve listened to it properly now without off-putting videos to watch and from beginning to end in the right order, which is necessary I think to really appreciate it, and I’d say it’s cracking. The band are superb. It rocks more than I expected. There are lots of interesting sonic touches that kept me engaged. Girl Loves Me and I Can’t Give Everything Away are my favourite two tracks at the moment. There are tunes! The first part of Blackstar is quite Radiohead-ish – mournful dirge, jittery drums – but mostly the rest of the album is not like that. Lazarus reminds a bit of The Cure at the start. In some ways parts do hark back to his nineties flirting with drum and bass but in a more gutsy, organic sort of way. Yes, I do feel it’s potentially up there with his best work.
SixDog says
Musically, it’s very ‘Kid A’.
Jitteriness drum patterns, bebop Jazz diversions and Jonny Greenwood guitar pieces.
Of course lyrically its entered a new dimension this week but musically it’s harking back to Earthling for me.
Dissecting this now though all seems just ephemeral
Rigid Digit says
That is now two full length proper listens, and still nothing is grabbing me.
Opening track is superb, but I just can’t “get” the rest.
I might be missing something (genius? subtlety?), but I’m not loving this yet.
I admit that I’m not the biggest DB fan in the world, but was hoping for something more immediate – I’ll try again tomorrow, but I fear my “Bowielove” remains rooted in the 1970-80 period (with the odd moment of exhilaration thereafter).
For some reason, I have an urge to listen to Heathen – I’ll play that, and then try this one again.
Martin S says
Ok, after today’s news and reading the lyrics of “Blackstar”, I get it now.
RIP
Locust says
I’ve ordered it, but today I listened to it for the first time(-s) on Spotify.
And I completely agree with your review, Tigger. In fact, I think it’s probably better than some of the albums mentioned. It doesn’t have any weak track at all.
They all carry the emotional baggage of time and familiarity, but in ten years time this will be up there with them IMO.
Just beautiful.
dai says
Listened again (2nd time) today and while I am still not convinced by …Whore and Sue, I think the rest is ominous and beautiful given tragic events, particularly title track, Lazarus and Dollar Days.
@Tiggerlion My earlier comment about it sounding like Black Tie White Noise made me think that it may have been somewhat on purpose as a kind of bookend to his relationship with Iman.
Tiggerlion says
I’ve finally listened again for the first time since he died.
David Bowie has always sung about death from his early cover of Jacques Brel’s My Death, performed regularly on the Ziggy tour, to Quicksand’s ‘knowledge comes with death’s release”, to Seven from Heathen (“I’ve got seven days to live my life or seven ways to die”). Almost every album touches on it. The whole of Ziggy Stardust dwells on it. However, Blackstar is the sound of a man coming to terms with his fate when death is a reality rather than an abstract. As such, the most amazing thing about the album is how exhilarating and uplifting it is.
On the title track, the music brightens and his voice rises as he sings “something happened on the day he died”. Lazarus has the most poignant lyric of all but the production and the playing is simply gorgeous, heavenly even. Dollar Days now feels like an acceptance that he isn’t going to see England again, the pause after “I’m dying to(o)” seems more like a full stop. I Can’t Give Everything Away does feel like a transition to A New Career In A New Town, tinged with regret but full of hope..
I keep getting drawn back to ‘Tis A Pity She Was A Whore. Along with Sue, it must have been written and originally recorded around the time he was diagnosed as having cancer. However, with little time left, he decided to re-record them in 2015 for Blackstar. Having been on a bit of a back catalogue binge, I’m convinced that Whore effectively updates Time from Aladdin Sane, wherein Time “flexes like a whore”. “Hold your mad hands” could be Bowie imploring Time to slow down and “that was patrol, this is war” reflects the seriousness of his situation compared to 1973. Sadly, that incessant, accelerating rhythm is irresistible.
I also have a theory why he used a jazz band. He needed a new set of musicians to keep the circle of those in the know as small as possible. Mike Garson, Earl Slick or Gail Ann Dorsey would have seen straightaway that he was sick. He also needed musicians who could record quickly and keep him fresh. He knew he couldn’t spend too long in the studio. In any case, it seems to have worked. Despite his health, he genuinely appears to be enjoying every second on this album.
It is now impossible to view Blackstar rationally. We may as well close the poll for album of 2016 right now. I felt, on release, it wouldn’t be a huge commercial success. It’s now likely to sell as much as Let’s Dance, probably more.
I do implore you to actually listen again and again. The more I listen, the more I hear. Blackstar is sumptuous, subtle and supple. It is a truly remarkable album, despite or because of the circumstances of its creation. Revisit with a glad heart. I’m pretty sure that’s what David would want. Blackstar may well have kept him going for a bit longer.
Thanks to everyone who expressed concern about me in various threads. Don’t worry. I’m fine. I’m managing to keep things in perspective.
Moose the Mooche says
Hope is right.
At the end of the album I can see him walking off into the light, not exactly swaggering, but with a steady stride, as if he’s once again going onstage at the Rainbow. Then the light is too bright to follow him, and we look again and he’s gone. But the music is still there. As it will always be.
ruff-diamond says
Let’s not be too hasty there – Kula Shaker’s new album drops in February, you know!
Bingo Little says
Two words: Disco. Elephants.
minibreakfast says
Wasn’t this meant to ‘drop’* a couple of years ago?
*like a poo
Moose the Mooche says
Pot don’t gonna boil yo. It’s the SMiLE of nu-metal.
The only way we’ll hear it is if Fred Durst teams up with The Wondermints.
Tiggerlion says
PULLEASE!! Let’s not lower the tone.
Mousey says
“Revisit with a glad heart” is a good sentiment.
bricameron says
How does the vinyl sound,anyone?
Moose the Mooche says
I’m putting it to bed until the sun comes out.
In the meantime I’m mainlining the rest of the Mainman until those songs stop hurting me and start feeling good again. Dumb, I know, but it’s rock’n’roll, not rocket science.
Tiggerlion says
I know what you mean. But, I find they hurt in a beautiful way.
Moose the Mooche says
It’s working. I had a bit of the Deram Anthology earlier and it made me smile the way it should.
Death be not proud….for those whom thou thinkest thou dost overthrow, die not.
Tiggerlion says
I’m a bit worried about you, Moose. I’d much rather you found smutty innuendo in Heathen (The Rays) than quote a Holy Sonnet.
Moose the Mooche says
Alright then:
“‘Die!’ said the general, ‘Cobblers!’ said the man”
– something from a real poet there.
Tiggerlion says
Nice choice of obscurity there. Obviously inspired almost all of Roger Waters’s lyrical themes.
Jeff says
Tiggs, you probably already know this and no doubt in more detail too, but I found it reassuring and, to be honest, comforting, actually. Admittedly, it’s The Mirror and admittedly they’re quoting “un-named sources”, “a friend” and “a pal”, but I’d be interested to know if you’ve got any more on this:
http://www.mirror.co.uk/3am/celebrity-news/david-bowie-leaves-more-songs-7192429
Tiggerlion says
There are lots of rumours and I don’t have any inside information. There seems to be plenty in the vaults that could easily be put together, for example a Young Americans box, the second Five Years, a proper release for Toy.
It appears there are five demos for a new album, rather than outtakes from Blackstar. However, everything is speculation and I’m not holding my breath.
I reckon Tony has got a job for quite a while. Hopefully, the family will trust him.
Tiggerlion says
Actually, I don’t buy this death as a work of art nonesense. It isn’t uncommon for people first diagnosed as having cancer to get busy. Treatment takes a certain toll but at least something is happening and there is hope, even if that treatment is palliative. By the time it is clear that the condition is genuinely terminal and the end is nigh, organising a five year legacy is impossible.
David Bowie was a human being just like all of us, a supremely talented human being but human nevertheless. His death was as ordinary as many thousands happening every day right across the globe. His family and friends have my utmost sympathies but his death was no work of art.
Right. Rant over. I’m off to listen to his music again. That’s where his art is.
Jeff says
*pushes hair back into shape*
DogFacedBoy says
Well discussion of his death as work of art was the end point of the podcast that we just taped. Whether it’ll make the edit (1hr 45mins!) but the separation of intent or inflection between the album and the videos is an interesting one.
I don’t know if I want to hear Tony Visconti’s take on what Bowie would have done with any remaining songs. As ‘Sue’ showed the journey between demo and fully realised track is full of infinite possibilities
Tiggerlion says
We will never know (the separation of intention and inflection, but, Christ, that Lazarus video is pretty stark!).
Clearly, the shadow of terminal illness looms over the lyrics of Blackstar but, mostly, death is in the background, as it is for all of us. Girl Loves Me seems more of a drug-addled reminiscence, for example, although Lord knows what chemical substances were pumped into him.
If he had died in 2004 of his heart attack, there are plenty of poignant lyrics on Reality and Heathen to chew over.
I wonder how many of these newspaper hacks who are nowhere saying he suddenly got religion have actually listened to Word On A Wing.
Tiggerlion says
*now* not *nowhere*
Gary says
“his death was no work of art.”
Not quite sure where you’re coming from there, Tigg me lad. So much (the lyrics, the videos, Visconti’s comments, son Duncan Jones’ comments etc.) indicate that that’s exactly what Bowie hoped to achieve with Blackstar. Moreover, I think it is that very intention -and his success in achieving it- that transforms Blackstar from being a really good album into an essential, stunning and unique work of art.
Tiggerlion says
I remain unconvinced.
I agree that Blackstar is a stunning piece of work but I thought that on the day it was released. Those videos and the album were completed months ago. My feeling (and that’s all it is because we are all simply guessing despite Duncan’s and Tony’s proclamations) is that Bowie thought or hoped there was at least one more album to come. The existence of ‘new’ demos suggest as much. I’m not entirely sure of exactly what Duncan has said but it seems to me, judging by the material I’ve read, that Tony was asked leading questions driving him towards accepting the death-as-a-work-of-art notion.
Sadly, it appears his deterioration over the last few weeks was more rapid than anticipated.
Again, I accept that all this is speculation.
Tiggerlion says
Here is a link to Visconti’s conversation with Rolling Stone.
http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/david-bowie-planned-post-blackstar-album-thought-he-had-few-more-months-20160113
Blue Boy says
Precisely my thoughts on listening to the record, reinforced by reports that he was actively talking about more records. Of course the songs must have been influenced by his illness and awareness of mortality but I don’t buy the whole ‘final message for us all’ notion.
I have listened to it a couple of times now. Early days, but it sounds genuinely impressive so far.
fatima Xberg says
I bought “Blackstar” (the German box-set edition) on the day of release, but only got a chance to listen to it after news of his death appeared. It’s a great album.
I don’t get all this “he does jazz/he does a Scott Walker” nonsense though. Anyone who listened to a Prog magazine sampler in the last few years will recognize the sound – it’s a brilliant take on current intelligent pop and thankfully discards that terrible Dad rock of “The Next Day”. And it’s fantastically produced/mixed, a real album for repeated listening, with lots of hidden pop melodies to discover in the layers of sound.
Of course you’re bound to read a lot into the lyrics after his death, but as stated above, you could do that to every one of his albums (“Pin-Ups” closing with “Where Have All The Good Times Gone”!).
It’s certainly among my favorite 5 Bowie albums – “Aladdin Sane” | “Black Tie White Noise” | “Low” | “1. Outside“ | “Blackstar“ – maybe not his “best”, but his most interesting and most rewarding for coming back to again and again.
Tiggerlion says
Interesting top five, @fatima_Xberg. I don’t think Black Tie or Outside will feature in many other people’s choices and, I suspect, Aladdin Sane would be a bit of an outsider too.
badartdog says
Aladdin Sane was the first album I bought.
In case that makes me sound super-cool, I should add that the first album I asked for was by the New Seekers.
Bingo Little says
Some good news for you, tigger: http://www.theguardian.com/music/musicblog/2016/jan/19/kanye-west-david-bowie-covers-album
You may also have noticed that the new Kanye/Kendrick tune was dropped on Soundcloud yesterday. The lyrics are the usual risible nonsense, but the beat is pretty good, albeit the work of Madlib rather than Kanye.
Tiggerlion says
Fantastic news!! At last, there is something to look forward to! Covering Bowie might solve the lyric problem, at least partially.
Bingo Little says
Yikes. Apparently the idea is that they’ll keep all the backing tracks as is and Kanye will rap over the top of them.
Tiggerlion says
Not so good news, then! ?
minibreakfast says
As predicted by the man himself in 1972. He’s been trying to tell us all along, can’t you see?
http://i1350.photobucket.com/albums/p773/minibreakfast/ZiggyStardust_zpsogefzg2n.jpg
Tiggerlion says
Never mind The Villa Of Ormen Tumblr!! That’s what I call spooky.
Moose the Mooche says
Oh that’s cheered me right up. The greatest rock star on the planet dies and we get to console ourselves with some dickwad who says he is.
minibreakfast says
Can’t stop playing this. Gave in and ordered the LP.
DogFacedBoy says
Mid Feb at the earliest for vinyl and expect them to go , like, fast, yeah?
minibreakfast says
Was given date of 10th to 17th Feb. I can wait.
minibreakfast says
It’s coming today, hurrah!
Moose the Mooche says
Did it come @minibreakfast?
(Read this post out loud. Go on. Hyuk-hyuk-hyuk)
minibreakfast says
My mistake, it’s due tomorrow. Am Sticky Fingers-ing at the moment.
Moose the Mooche says
Can’t you hear me knocking?
(hurrr)
minibreakfast says
Well it turned up. Side 2 is fine but Side 1 has a regular crackle all the way through. I gave it a clean, because the record comes in a clear PVC sleeve which it was kind of stuck to, and I thought there may be a residue causing the noise. Cleaning made no difference, so it’s being exchanged. Thank goodness I went with amazon in the end; their customer service is faultless – I’ve heard of folks returning faulty LPs up to 5 times with no questions asked. Sadly my replacement isn’t due until early March though. Argh, etc.
Tiggerlion says
This worries me. It brings back the horrors of my childhood when I had to sheepishly try to return malfunctioning vinyl. Those grown-ups could be really nasty. Apparently my needle arm wasn’t heavy enough to ride *through* the warp.
*sobs*
OK. I’m ok now. I’ve got over it.
The problem is I’ve bought the vinyl for its artefactual beauty, without anything to test it on.
minibreakfast says
Send it me tigs, I’ll test it out for you…. 😉
minibreakfast says
“to” me.
Tiggerlion says
I’ll have ton spect your equipment first. I can’t have any of your grubby bits clogging up my sleek grooves.
Tiggerlion says
*to inspect*
Moose the Mooche says
I used to attach a ha’penny with blutac to the arm. Madness, I know, but I was a wild kid.
minibreakfast says
From the look of the SH forum and relevant pages on Discogs, it seems that loads of people buying the 2nd pressing are getting surface noise, as well as defects like warping, clouding etc. I’ve just had an email saying that my replacement is now due on Monday rather than in a month’s time, but I’m not hopeful of a pristine record. Don’t ever play yours tigs, just look at it.
ruff-diamond says
I think I was lucky and got a first pressing as I don’t have any noise issues with mine. Regardless, as Mini says, just look at it because it is a thing of beauty.
Tiggerlion says
That was the plan. I’ll stick with it.
minibreakfast says
An even better Plan, tigs:
DogFacedBoy says
Wonder if they have rushed the repress a bit if there are defects. I remember before the album coming out Viscono saying that the vinyl copy was the way to go so maybe they took more care with the 1st pressing. Then again SH forums are full of nutjobs and nitpickers (pot/kettle etc)
Moose the Mooche says
Without wishing to sound like a heretic, I stopped buying new vinyl in 1991 and this is not making me nostalgic.
minibreakfast says
Replacement copy of Blackstar arrived today (on a Sunday!) and – touch wood – sounds fine. Rather than the flimsy, oily PVC clear sleeve, it’s in a rigid flipback one, so perhaps the problems were to do with the packaging rather than the pressing i.e. the PVC sticking to the record, or perhaps heat getting through it during shrinkwrapping due to the large die-cut. Phew!
Tiggerlion says
That suggests I just need to check the packaging. If it is a rigid flip-back, all is well. ?
Tiggerlion says
Neither can I, @minibreakfast. Every track serves its purpose perfectly and he overall album shimmers with beauty.
In fact, I’m listening to nothing other than Bowie. I don’t have the stomach for anything else.
Tiggerlion says
*the*
ruff-diamond says
Immediately after his passing I listened to a lot of “Imperial phase” Bowie – TMWSTW through to Scary Monsters), with a lot of emphasis on Ziggy, Sane, Low and Young Americans. As time passes, I find myself more drawn to his later period albums which I was largely unfamiliar with – Black Tie, Hours, Outside, The Buddha Of Suburbia…
In fact, this very morning while at work I listened to Outside (a masterpiece) and A Reality Tour (a fantastic live album).
Tiggerlion says
I know. Only two out of twenty-six studio albums are a bit sh*t and both of those are from his commercial peak. All his live albums are great.
Blue Boy says
Which two Tiggs?
Black Type says
Tonight and Never Let Me Down, at a guess.
Tiggerlion says
That’s right. Although, as Moose points out below, Tonight has its moments.
minibreakfast says
At the old, OLD place a lovely Word reader sent me all his old Bowie cassettes. I went to listen Tonight and NLMD this week, and the latter is so
seized up it plays at about 1/8 normal speed. No doubt due to lack of playing, as it is the pants-est of all.
I wish I could remember the chap’s name, as those cassettes have been enjoyed immensely over the years, and I’m sure he’d liked to know that they’re still being treasured and given the odd spin.
Black Type says
And generally rotten though it is, NLMD still has Time Will Crawl, Zeroes and the title track, which aren’t too shabby.
Moose the Mooche says
Me too Tiggs. I’ve been having a right old rummage in the great man’s works and turning sadness into joy. Today it was Stage – where an utterly ferocious Dennis Davis drives the band through roaring renditions of half the Ziggy album on disc 2 and elsewhere provides a pretty good entry point to Low/Heroes for those intimidated by their “difficult” reputation.
Elsewhere, Outside – which I slept on at the time – sounds better than ever, and the closest thing in his canon to Blackstar.
You’re right about his “shit” period – for me it’s not even two complete albums, as Tonight at least has Loving the Alien and Blue Jean – hardly classics, but both corking pop-rock singles. And bang in the middle of that period you get Absolute Beginners and This Is Not America (and I’m not averse to When the Wind Blows or Underground either). What lucky lucky people we have been.
Tiggerlion says
The singles in the eighties are all pretty marvellous and big sellers. Even, Under Pressure.
I see Blackstar is often compared to 1.Outside. Personally, I think it is closer to “Heroes”. 1. Outside is very dense, almost suffocating. Blackstar, thanks to the musicians, is more deft and organic. The music breathes as though it has a life of its own.
Moose the Mooche says
Dense is the right word. But it’s well worth digging at.
Apropos “the shit years”, I forgot to mention his Live Aid set which I watched yesterday. I well recognise that most Afterworders regard that day as a kind of pop Chernobyl, but I urge you to (re-)watch Bowie’s seventeen minutes of Wembley glory.
Pin-sharp professionalism, stonking charisma, a touch of genuine humility and a grade A1 trouper rising to a hell of an occasion. Plus great hair and a natty suit – a rare thing in 1985.
“We can be heroes” – you’re one already, pal.
Diddley Farquar says
We’ve been taking him for granted. Now we don’t his work sounds even better than it used to.
MC Escher says
What about the Lord’s Prayer at the Mercury concert? I recall watching it through my hands in some too-ironic too-cool-for-school manner (well I was 30 at the time) but I wonder now if it was just a friend paying tribute the best way he knew how.
As soon as I can face it, I am going to watch that.
Tiggerlion says
He said some years later that it was sincere gesture for a sick friend. There has always been a spiritual side to Mr B, rather than religious. He said there isn’t enough prayer on stage.
Rob C says
His main interests were Tibetan Buddhism, especially in his earlier years, and magic/the occult.
pencilsqueezer says
Don’t forget his dalliance with fascism.
Rob C says
Indeed. I didn’t mention that as i was referring to matter spiritual. He later put that down to too much of the Peruvian Shake n Vac.
Tiggerlion says
The dark side is there as early as 1971, sinking in Quicksand.
ruff-diamond says
I learned a fascinating thing the other day while I was flicking through my new copy of Nicholas Pegg’s “Complete Bowie’. The reference to a bardo in Quicksand (“You can tell me about it in the next Bardo”) is a reference to a Buddhist concept meaning ‘intermediate state’.
Did not know that. Now I do.
Tiggerlion says
Quicksand is an astonishing song. My interpretation is that Bowie, at the age of 24, was contemplating the afterlife. He considers several philosophies, beliefs, faiths but comes to the conclusion that there is none. Gorgeous guitars and a beautiful string arrangement, courtesy of Mick Ronson, make life, lived in the moment of listening to the song, worthwhile.
minibreakfast says
@tiggerlion I expect you’ve already ordered Wakeman’s Life On Mars/Space Oddity tribute/charity single? http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B01ATOATG6?keywords=rick%20wakeman&qid=1454063693&ref_=sr_1_1&s=music&sr=1-1
Tiggerlion says
Well, how can I not? (Says he, frantically avoiding virtue signalling in order to not upset @ianess)
Moose the Mooche says
It’s fantastic but I can’t get more than half-way through it. Well done that becaped ivory tinkler.
duco01 says
The becaped, curry-consuming ivory-tinkler. Oh yes!
ruff-diamond says
I got my copy last Friday; quite apart from being a great record it’s a beautiful artifact.
minibreakfast says
I hear that the vinyl version doesn’t suffer from the compression of the CD. Is this true, or just vinyl-wankery?
Moose the Mooche says
Vinyl-wankery? This probably isn’t the place*, but is that when you wear your special glove?
(*like there’s a place)
minibreakfast says
I think it depends on whether the hole is dinked…[THAT’S ENOUGH!!! – Ed.]
Moose the Mooche says
It takes a certain kind of mind to look at an ex-jukebox 45 single and see a glory-hole.
(Think I’ll give the stone-chucking a rest – I’m getting showered in glass here.)
Tiggerlion says
Judging by the diameter of the hole in an ex-jukebox single, I think that’s for the best.
Moose the Mooche says
A return to the brilliant Then Play Long blog, which has been dormant for a few months, brings the depressing news that Marcello has called time on this mighty project. But his last entry is a typically incendiary piece about Blackstar. Well worth a read.
http://nobilliards.blogspot.co.uk/2016/01/david-bowie-blackstar.html
badartdog says
thanks for that link, Moose. Never read the blog before, but enjoyed that. Also:
“Space Oddity” is a song which is almost certainly about Syd Barrett, although the character “Major Tom” is likely to have been inspired by Brixton music-hall entertainer Tom Major, whose son John became a Lambeth councillor and later Prime Minister.
Did everyone know that? I’ve never come across the Syd references before.
Tiggerlion says
It’s about a spaceman going to space and not coming back!!
Cuh.
ruff-diamond says
Wait – he’s DEAD?!?!?!?
Tiggerlion says
YES! Syd’s dead.
Moose the Mooche says
He can be a bit eccentric, so a pinch o’ salt please. Elsewhere in that entry *SPOILER ALERT!!* he says Billy Mackenzie (who, like Escalator Over The Hill, gets roped into every single review) was a genius, but Bowie wasn’t.
Tiggerlion says
The logic in his reasoning is interesting. Bowie thought carefully about everything he did, whereas MacKenzie just went with the flow. Therefore, Bowie wasn’t a genius…
minibreakfast says
A great read, ta for the link, Moose.
Moose the Mooche says
It’s not absolutely the best music blog out there but it ain’t bad 😉
Tiggerlion says
I find it’s much better if you scroll down his reviews to start at the halfway point.
minibreakfast says
Blackstar no longer occupies the top spot. It’s been knocked off by…. another Bowie album http://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/david-bowie-sees-off-sia-to-replace-himself-at-number-1__13758/
DogFacedBoy says
It, along with Nothing Has Changed, has been selling in Sainsburys, Tescos n Amazon for a fiver
Moose the Mooche says
I’m not sure it was worth losing David Bowie for some brief respite from the Thousand Year Reich of Adele, but fair play to Sia.
Interesting that Hunky Dory is the (second) best seller of the non-compos. Presumably because of LOM, but that’s on the compos as well. It seems to be the one DB album that most people agree is brilliant (there are Ziggy and Berlin sceptics galore)….. until Blackstar that is. For many, many years (80s-90s) DB was just a figure of fun in the UK music press but it looks like he’s having the last laugh.
Ha ha ha, hee hee hee indeed.
Tiggerlion says
I’ve never heard a bad word about Station To Station but that isn’t that high up in the charts. On another matter, nice to see To Pimp A Butterfly hanging in there!
DogFacedBoy says
Heroes was pretty high up too at one point. Apart from the title track its not his most accessible album from that period so they must just have been buying it for that
DogFacedBoy says
Oh and no-one go looking for ‘1.Outside: The Leon Suites’ aka the original concept for Outside which the record company rejected which has emerged from a slightly better source . Do not do that at all.
dai says
and @DogFacedBoy it would be simply appalling for you to hint at a place where one could find that. Despicable.
Moose the Mooche says
On a completely stupid and pointless note, in all those years how did DB avoid doing Graham Lister impressions?
“More shredding, Reeves, you workshy fop!”
Moose the Mooche says
COUGH Guitars 101 COUGH
DogFacedBoy says
Well I wouldn’t take a trip to Bowiestation or theultimatebootlegexperience
dai says
Am very glad to hear that, and neither would I. Perish the thought!
H.P. Saucecraft says
OK pop fans! Bowie was in which Jason Statham film?
NO GOOGLING.
Tiggerlion says
I’ve googled and I still don’t know!
H.P. Saucecraft says
Good quiz, innit?
Anybody?
minibreakfast says
Who’s Jason Statham?
Tiggerlion says
An extremely handsome young man (not far off your age I suspect), whose good looks are enhanced by his baldness.
Moose the Mooche says
Drives rather irresponsibly, from what I’ve seen.
Tiggerlion says
Always cashing in the same car.
Lodestone of Wrongness says
My addled brain says The Mechanic and something about Photoshop?
H.P. Saucecraft says
If this is an answer to the movie question, hen, then no.
In fact, I’ve just done a bit of research myself to be sure I’m not wasting anyone’s time here … you’re busy people and there’d be heck and high water to be paid if muggins here had got his proverbial knickers in a twist! So anyway, I just checked and it’s not Bowie at all. It’s Mick Jagger. But the question is still valid, albeit very slightly nuanced – Jagger was in which Jason Statham film?
If anything, I think this is even more fun, don’t you, readers?
Tiggerlion says
An easy mistake to make. Quite understandable, dear boy. See if your tired old eyes can distinguish Dave from Mick in this mercifully music-less, yet full of fun, clip.
Locust says
That’s hysterically funny. It almost justifies the existence of that awful cover version/video (well, originally I suppose that Live Aid justifies it…)
Moose the Mooche says
I loved that at the time being 11 and not knowing any better, partly because I thought it was funny. “Look at them dicking about!” Actually I only really knew the very solemn alien Berlin/Ashes to Ashes/”Bowie trousers” version of DB at the time, so seeing him having a laugh was a buzz. And my main knowledge of Jagger was through Freddie Starr’s impression of him – which this video tops in both comedy and preposterousness.
Tiggerlion says
Alright alright! You’ve made your point. You are incredibly young. At least for this place.
minibreakfast says
Did it also star the fucking Lighthouse Family?
Moose the Mooche says
We’re not even getting a drinks globe out of this. What’s my motivation, luvvy?
H.P. Saucecraft says
Ner-ner-ner-ner, NER-NERR … ner-ner-ner-ner, NER-NERR …
(Still no answer from the Brains Trust of The Afterword, though but)
H.P. Saucecraft says
I’d like to respectfully step over my threadkiller comment above and say that Blackstar is the best thing he’s done since the Berlin tri-ology.
– Consistent. Seemingly damning with faint praise but not at all – there’s a mood that runs right through this. Dark, unsettling, but beautiful. The album hangs together. Sounds like a real band, too.
– Adventurous. Amazing that he could still be making music “your Mum and Dad wouldn’t like”. Some of this would have definitely got the “what’s this rubbish?” reaction. And that’s good.
– Melodic. I know Tigger can hear “tunes” in The Next Day, but he can see smiles on the cover of With The Beatles. He’s bonkers. There are swoops of melody all over Blackstar, some surprisingly lovely.
– Accessible. This is art, a consciously artistic statement, but it’s also enjoyable, not hard work. It’s hardly a party album (although your parties may differ), but it all slips by nicely, with enough variety and development to reward your attention all the way through – and this is a natural to listen to all the way through. I’m still astonished that the title track lasts ten minutes – listening to it, it seems half that.
– Mysterious. There’s enough WTF? weirdness here to satisfy the most obsessive Bowie-ologist. I’ll never get over the chilling synchronicity of what the fuck happened to Monday?. The overall mood, the detail, the lyrics … there’s an entire world here, furnished with Bowie’s memories.
Nice one, Dave.
minibreakfast says
Try Where the fuck did Monday go?”, it scans a lot better.
Apart from that unnecessary pedantry from me, spot on.
H.P. Saucecraft says
My real problem with Bowie is failing memory.
Tiggerlion says
You make me smile. 🙂
Tiggerlion says
Lovely summary, H.P. My real problem for With The Beatles is failing memory. Fortunately, I listened to The Next Day again today. It’s great, just not in the same league as Blackstar. Then again, little is.
Is the answer The Bank Job?
H.P. Saucecraft says
The Bank Job it is, Tig. Nice movie.
Moose the Mooche says
I prefer It’s a Gift.
“Shades of Bacchus!”
Moose the Mooche says
Nice piece by Henry Rollins here.
http://www.laweekly.com/music/henry-rollins-bowies-blackstar-is-on-the-level-of-low-and-heroes-6481055
minibreakfast says
That was great, Moose. Ta.
Tiggerlion says
There are quite a few bright sparks in the music industry and Henry Rollins is one of them. However, the more I read about Mr Bowie, the more it appears he had a phenomenal memory and quite an intellect.
Moose the Mooche says
Rollins has never made any music that I’ve found interesting but I’m always interested in what he has to say. He writes so beautifully directly, in a way curiously reminiscent of Orwell.
Bowie dug good writers and he dug hardcore, so Hen was always going to get a good reception there. And a guy who did Cygnet Committee live a few times must have had a pretty decent memory.
The Moose pod is still being commanded by the Starman, btw….
Tiggerlion says
Same here.
Blue Boy says
That’s a lovely piece – thanks for posting
Diddley Farquar says
I don’t know, I’ve watched quite a few interviews on youtube lately and at times he comes over as quite a pseud who wants to be seen as an intellectual but doesn’t quite cut it. I suppose it’s relative. In pop star terms, where the competition isn’t that great, he was a great thinker, but you know, sometimes, the views on art and such, they were a bit dubious, verging on embarrassing. Superficial playing with expressionist and surrealist motifs in his visuals – a tradition in rock to try give yourself a bit of cultural gravitas.
Tiggerlion says
Maybe.
However, much higher up the thread, I was dismissive of the video for Lazarus, suggesting it was a mere afterthought at the end of shooting Blackstar. Now, I believe every single frame was carefully considered. He might have dipped his toe in the ‘art’ world but he brought its sensibilities, its thinking and its imagination to his real job, being a pop superstar. It all added to his mystique and his constant attraction for numbskulls like me.
Moose the Mooche says
Is the eyes thing to do with what happened to Thomas Newman’s eyes? That’s who Lazarus is in the play, right? That’s just occurred to me.
We’ll be debating this for years. As he well knew, as a student of Dylan.
Something is happening and we don’t know what it is – do we, Mr Jones?
Black Type says
Ahem, it’s Thomas (Jerome) Newton, not Newman. And furthermore, ahem – I used that Dylan quote to devastatingly prescient effect as the title of my Blackstar post back in November.
MC Escher says
You are a fellow fan of Pushing Ahead of the Dame, Moose. Have another look at what he has to say about the cover art for Heathen. Perhaps he was doing a little more of the self-referencing (like TND is smothered in, but good this time).
Oh, and the mauritzPod has been a bit broken since January, too.
Black Type says
Hmmm, not sure I agree. The guy was no dilettante – entirely self-educated, he steeped himself in knowledge of art and was sufficiently respected to be closely involved with various art-related institutions and on the editorial board of the Modern Painters periodical.
Moose the Mooche says
Good little piece by skinsman Mark Guilan.
http://www.moderndrummer.com/site/2016/02/track-by-track-mark-guiliana-on-david-bowies-blackstar/
Moose the Mooche says
EDIT! Guilana
minibreakfast says
EDIT! Guiliana
Tiggerlion says
Underlines my feeling about ‘Tis A Pity She’s A Whore. A small number of people in a room, sparking off each other, gives it such energy.
MC Escher says
Tiggerlion. While I do like your OP review, I have to take slight issue with your statement that his voice “has never sounded better.” This is clearly not the case and I think he acknowledges it and even plays with it slightly, esp at the start of ‘Tis A Pity. Not a criticism of our Dave (who was, according to Visconti, that good, he rarely had to do more than two or three takes) because as an artistic decision it is undoubtedly correct and just makes the whole record more human.
Tiggerlion says
I said it was his best singing since “Heroes”.
I guess it depends what you regard as good singing. His voice is frail and thin compared to his heyday, he isn’t as precise hitting the notes and his range is more limited. Yet. He conveys feeling superbly. He ‘acts’ these songs beautifully, changing the character of his voice for almost every song. There is everything here; fear, anger, passion, regret, hope, love, hate, joy, humour, sorrow, longing, loathing, bewilderment, impatience and serene calm. He moves me. He expresses all these emotions and more with absolute commitment, a level of commitment and emotional complexity I last heard in “Heroes”.
minibreakfast says
I got a bit emo reading that, tigs.
Tiggerlion says
Steady.
MC Escher says
Apols for the misquote, but it’s a mighty long way down rock and roll from the top of this thread.
We agree then, really.
Tiggerlion says
No worries. I’m pleased you gave it a *bump*.
Bargepole says
just spotted this news item re the cover
http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/david-bowie-blackstar-artwork-secret_uk_5729a727e4b05c31e57129f2
Arthur Cowslip says
What an album! I’m late to the party but I finally listened to Blackstar (a few times) today.
I was putting off listening to it (for over a year, yes). But that was a stupid decision. I thought it would be too hard to be objective about it, being so emotionally attached to Bowie’s music over the years. But I think now that’s kind of the point here – you can’t be objective, because this is so specifically a record made by a man knowing he’s achieved so much artistically and is now going to die.
I can’t improve on Tigger’s review, but I just love the brevity of the album, the structure and the confidence of it. It begins and ends with the nearest it ever gets to an anthemic sound, but it’s not the Heroes kind of anthemic-ness, it’s that woozy Sons of the Silent Age feel.
It’s definitely up there. A worthy last record. It took me a while to arrive, but I’m here now!
Moose the Mooche says
I came back to this album for the first time in six months about ten days ago and was actually able to really enjoy it properly and completely for the first time since, well, the first time (which was the evening of the Sunday 9th).
Look at this thread… what a funny thing the recent past is.
minibreakfast says
Looking forward to getting the 12″ Plan EP in a couple of days.
Moose the Mooche says
EDIT: No Plan
minibreakfast says
😀
Moose the Mooche says
A 12″ 45 of Plan would be ace. Because LOUD!
minibreakfast says
Agreed! One of my fave tracks from TND.
Tiggerlion says
I still listen on a regular basis. It remains stunning.
The Who Can I Be Now? box set has been released with its exquisite remastering, the Harry Maslin Station To Station remix and the disappointing Gouster. The EP of left over material has been released. I still think Visconti will be busy. The next box will be the Berlin trilogy plus and I can’t wait to shell £100 out on that. The box after that would venture into mid eighty slump territory. Fingers still crossed for Toy and there is still scope for a proper Young Americans including all the outtakes and the versions with Visconti strings. There could be an expanded Outside, who knows.
Rest In Peace David. Your music lives on.
bricameron says
It seems our Man was on top of us all…