DAVID BOWIE DISCOGRAPHY REVIEW #27 - Endings pt.2: Starman

"Ain't that just like me?"

The final album of David Bowie, released two days before his death. His parting gift to the world. If “The Next Day” was a look back at the career of Bowie, for all its beauty, then this was a long gaze at the life of David Jones. The culmination of numerous characters, not one as incredible as the character of David Bowie himself, Jones’ greatest and longest act.

The title ... read more

DAVID BOWIE DISCOGRAPHY REVIEW #26 - Endings pt.1: The Return

"Here I am, not quite dying"

After a full decade of absence, caused by heart trouble during his last ever tour, Bowie returned with a record infused with reflection and grim subtleties. At first, I thought the album cover to be lazy, but it’s his best in decades. This is the day after he's been a "hero", fading out of the spotlight. The obscuring of him is poignant, its the first cover to not have his ... read more

DAVID BOWIE DISCOGRAPHY REVIEW #25 - Neoclassicist Period pt.3: Bring Me The Disco King

"Don't let me know we're invisible"

This album is put at an instantaneous disadvantage by its cover art. I'm sure many didn't even give it a chance, I know I almost didn't. The main issue is how it doesn't even match the environment of the album, which continues the more refined precedent that "Heathens" set, with a bit more of a rock emphasis. I love ... read more

DAVID BOWIE DISCOGRAPHY REVIEW #24 - Neoclassicist Period pt.2: New Millennium

"Like a slow burn, leading us on and on"

Breaching into the 2000s, the beloved Visconti returns to produce, his first appearance with Bowie since "Scary Monsters". It would seem that he is Bowies lucky charm, as this also marks a new, moody direction that plays really well with Bowie's maturing vocals. This feels like a man with an extensive career, pensive and wise. "Sunday" is a ... read more

DAVID BOWIE DISCOGRAPHY REVIEW #23 - Neoclassicist Period pt.1: Swing and A Miss

It would seem all his creativity was expended on "Earthling", as this is a return to the overwhelming nothingness that I hoped he'd just clambered out of. He attempts a very basic rock energy here that is just uninspired. He seems to have phoned this in a little bit. "Seven" tries to play on his classics from way back then, but it does nothing for me. I don't feel any passion in this, ... read more

DAVID BOWIE DISCOGRAPHY REVIEW #22 - Electronic Period pt.4: Bowie's Back

"I'm afraid of Americans, I'm afraid of the world"

All of his 90's experimentation was building up to this. This makes it all worthwhile. What an incredible SELF-PRODUCED project. It's completely different from anything he's attempted before, yet still so authentically him. It feels like he's in his element. Everything feels so fresh, its proudly one of my favourites. ... read more

DAVID BOWIE DISCOGRAPHY REVIEW #21 - Electronic Period pt.3: Return to Form?

"They fall on today, they beat on the outside""

A Bowie concept album? In the 90's? The Duke still has it in him after all. With the return of the renowned Eno, Bowie is back in full force. The industrial nature of this album is exciting, I finally feel intrigued by a Bowie project again. Tracks like "Outside", "The Motel" and "The Voyeur" are simply incredible, ... read more

DAVID BOWIE DISCOGRAPHY REVIEW #20 - Electronic Period pt.2: Hidden Gem

"Down on my knees in suburbia"

An often overlooked point of Bowies 90's output, this soundtrack (that isn't really a soundtrack) has a lot of unexpected highlights. The "Space Oddity" guitar break in the title track sealed the deal for me, a very solid song, one of his best in years. I also controversially love "Sex and the Church", even if i agree it overstays its welcome. The ... read more

DAVID BOWIE DISCOGRAPHY REVIEW #19 - Electronic Period pt.1: Just Married

After the downhill nature of his last few releases, Bowie took some time off, joined a band, got married and reunited with Nile Rodgers. He certainly didn't get any better at making album covers, though. The first track is fairly open with the theming here. The new electronic soundscape is refreshing, though I'm not entirely on board. At least you can tell he's clearly trying again.

I love the wailing ... read more

DAVID BOWIE DISCOGRAPHY REVIEW #18 - The 80's pt.5: He Let Us Down

The definition of average. While I could give "Tonight" a pass, there's no excuse to have kept doing this. It's more of the same standard 80's pop, and I'm getting real tired of it. Half of this doesn't even sound like him, and I could not a recall a single track for the life of me.

Favourites: N/A
Least favourites: N/A

DAVID BOWIE DISCOGRAPHY REVIEW #17 - The 80's pt.4: Journey into the Labyrinth

"You remind me of the babe, babe with the power"

This is the most 80's thing to ever 80's. Some cool instrumental cuts from Trevor Jones, with some varying performances from Bowie himself. "Magic Dance" and "As The World Falls Down" are truly great, but most of the rest just exists. I've heavy nostalgia for it, though, so it gets points there. A lot of it just ... read more

DAVID BOWIE DISCOGRAPHY REVIEW #16 - The 80's pt.3: Second Time Unlucky

This is basically "Pinups" all over again, a cover album (bar two songs) meant as rehash of a previous successful sound to tide over fans and capitalise on record sales, as per his labels demands. Bowie even later distanced himself from this and its sibling, rejecting it as part of his body of work.

Again, in similar fashion to "Pinups", it's not actually that bad of an album. It's ... read more

DAVID BOWIE DISCOGRAPHY REVIEW #15 - The 80's pt.2: Put On Your Red Shoes

"I'm lying in the rain, but I never say bye-bye"

Produced by the magnificent Nile Rodgers and with aid from his associates at Chic, Bowie decided to master the 80's pop sound just three years in. For the first time, Bowie also took more of a backseat and didn't play a single instrument. The first three tracks here are near perfect, what an intro.

Somehow, the rest almost live up to the ... read more

DAVID BOWIE DISCOGRAPHY REVIEW #14 - The 80's pt.1: Major Toms a Junkie

"I've heard a rumour from ground control, oh no, don't say its true"

Fourteen albums in and he's still got fresh ideas. Embracing the New Romantic period, characterised by eccentric fashion and flamboyancy, Bowie emerges into the 80's eager and seemingly unstoppable. The album feels almost like a homage to his 70's work to send off the decade, with many references both lyrically and ... read more

DAVID BOWIE DISCOGRAPHY REVIEW #13 - The Berlin Trilogy pt.3: Finale

"I'm not a moody guy, I walk without a sound"

To follow a giant such as "Heroes" is a difficult task, and i think Lodger unfortunately misses the mark as a finale to the Berlin Trilogy, but otherwise stands as one of his most interesting works. It would be far better received if it was viewed as a stand alone release, I think.

It's a beautiful appreciation for the world and the privilege of ... read more

DAVID BOWIE DISCOGRAPHY REVIEW #12 - The Berlin Trilogy pt.2: Just For One Day

"I, I will be king, and you, you will be queen"

A force to be reckoned with, and Bowies third masterpiece in my eyes. This feels like a more fleshed out version of the structure "Low" laid forth earlier the same year. It's almost unfair to put "Heroes" on an album. Nothing can really compete with it. Humanity's defining song. I do prefer Lows instrumental side at points, but ... read more

DAVID BOWIE DISCOGRAPHY REVIEW #11 - The Berlin Trilogy pt.1: Art Decayed

"You're such a wonderful person, but you've got problems"

With Brian Eno by his side, Bowie embraced the change of scenery from America to Europe, producing 3 electronic records. The first of which is a deeply personal one. Bowie details his efforts to become clean, his divorce, and a suicide attempt, all over sounds that stand to feel futuristic even 50 years later. The contrast is beautiful.

The ... read more

DAVID BOWIE DISCOGRAPHY REVIEW #10 - Soul, Coke and The Duke pt.3: The Return of the Thin White Duke

"The European canon is here"

The transition to his famed Berlin era. This was famously made upon a diet of red peppers, milk and cocaine, and Bowie had little recollection of even making this. There is something so brilliantly off about this, and with his fascination of the occult, fascism and black magic at the time, it makes sense why. The legendary title track feels like its ... read more

DAVID BOWIE DISCOGRAPHY REVIEW #9 - Soul, Coke and The Duke pt.2: Is It Any Wonder?

"Ain't there one damn song that can make me break down and cry?"

The best argument for cocaine to ever exist. This is a continuation of the exemplification of America, touched on by "Aladdin Sane" two years prior, this time through a self-proclaimed "Plastic Soul" lens. This may well stand as my favourite Bowie album, it's like it was made in a lab for me. His voice ... read more

DAVID BOWIE DISCOGRAPHY REVIEW #8 - Soul, Coke and The Duke pt.1: Rebellion

"This ain't rock n' roll, this is genocide"

And so the Spiders from Mars, as prophesised, were disbanded, and Bowie took up cocaine. This album, another concept album, set a contrast to "Ziggy" by means of depicting a world post-apocalypse, rather than an impending one. It's sort of a bridge between eras. I adore the Sweet Thing triplet, followed by "Rebel Rebel" itself. A ... read more