RIP David Bowie

[KevShmev]

I listened to some of it on the way home from work a bit ago, while it was snowing, and it was pretty damn great.

[Kotowboy]

Listened to Blackstar today and the title track is like a much better version of what Radiohead attempted on Kid A.

[masterthes]

The music video to Blackstar is trippy as all hell. I haven't checked out Lazarus yet

[masterthes]

So, in a dick move, I heard last night from a friend who's a KJ, that Bowie's reps are pulling all his songs from professional karaoke shows. Like, for what reason?!

[KevShmev]

Lawyers are weird about stuff like that sometimes, and now Bowie isn't alive to tell them to stop. 

Anyway, I am starting to think that Blackstar is one of his best songs ever, and yeah, that video is awesome.  Very haunting and beautiful, at the same time.

[Outcrier]

Anyway, I am starting to think that Blackstar is one of his best songs ever, and yeah, that video is awesome.  Very haunting and beautiful, at the same time.

Agreed and, for me, Lazarus is even better.

Dollar Days and I Can't Get Everything Away are pretty great too. And for fans of Low like you, Kev, there's the harmonica from "A New Career in a New Town" in the latter.

[Cyclopssss]

Been listening to some of his nineties albums lately and they are actually quite good. Very experimental, daring, very well structured. Such a loss.

[KevShmev]

I need to check out more of the 90s stuff. I only know a few songs from that decade by him.

Back to the new album, Girl Loves Me sorta snuck up on me last night on the way home from work.  Such a bizarre little song, but lots of fun. 

[Kotowboy]

I liked Blackstar. But at work we've had Bowie on repeat and I gotta say. Still not a fan of his music or his voice.

Not saying he *can't* sing or write good songs.

They just do anything for me. Like at all.

[Mladen]

Revisiting his discography over the last two weeks or so. I'm starting to gain a strong appreciation for Lodger, a very underrated album.

[KevShmev]

Lodger is on my list of ones I need to revisit more, along with Hunky Dory.  It's hard revisiting too many at once, and for me, the albums I have really hammered over the last two weeks are the new one (since buying it last weekend), Ziggy Stardust, Low and Heroes.  And of course assorted songs from other albums. 

[SebastianPratesi]

A couple of weeks ago, a friend gave me a copy of Blackstar as a late Christmas present. It's the first Bowie album I have listened.

I have to listen to it a bit more, but I like it so far. The title track reminds me of The Mars Volta (particularly "El Ciervo Vulnerado"), and "Dollar Days" is a nice ballad.

Also, I found it strange that the packaging came with a "Parental Advisory" sticker; I didn't think David swore in his songs. Reading through the lyrics, I picture a man not taking himself seriously and having fun while writing, which amazes me (considering his situation while recording the album).

[KevShmev]

Yep, despite the weirdness of it, it definitely sounds like an album Bowie had fun making.  What a record to go to your grave having just made. 

[SebastianPratesi]

Yep, despite the weirdness of it, it definitely sounds like an album Bowie had fun making.  What a record to go to your grave having just made. 

Of the earlier tracks I know from him (which are not many, I must admit), I remember I really liked "Little Wonder" on first listen - it also sounded like a man having fun in the studio.

Would you say it's a mood on most albums? I'm asking because I'm not really familiar with his work.

[Cyclopssss]

Lodger is on my list of ones I need to revisit more, along with Hunky Dory.  It's hard revisiting too many at once, and for me, the albums I have really hammered over the last two weeks are the new one (since buying it last weekend), Ziggy Stardust, Low and Heroes.  And of course assorted songs from other albums.

'Look back in anger' from Lodger: that drumwork! are you kidding me??! I'm telling you that band was no slouch.

[Nel]

"Girl Loves Me" gives me a major Peter Gabriel vibe. Just the way it's sung.

[Kotowboy]

The song Blackstar reminds me of Kid A.


Except good.

[Nel]

Me too.

Except I love both. 

[Mladen]

Yep, the song Blackstar is almost as great as Kid A. 

[KevShmev]

Yep, despite the weirdness of it, it definitely sounds like an album Bowie had fun making.  What a record to go to your grave having just made. 

Of the earlier tracks I know from him (which are not many, I must admit), I remember I really liked "Little Wonder" on first listen - it also sounded like a man having fun in the studio.

Would you say it's a mood on most albums? I'm asking because I'm not really familiar with his work.

There is still quite a bit of Bowie material I am unfamiliar with (so many albums, so little time!), but he always did a great job of moving from sound to sound, style to style, as far as I can tell. 

And it's so weird to be talking about him in the past tense now. 

[Nel]

Slowly making my way through his discography. I own about half right now, all from random points in his career.

I'm sad to find that I can't get into the "Heroes" album all that much.

[SebastianPratesi]

There is still quite a bit of Bowie material I am unfamiliar with (so many albums, so little time!), but he always did a great job of moving from sound to sound, style to style, as far as I can tell. 

And it's so weird to be talking about him in the past tense now. 

Yeah, I knew of that aspect of his work. Maybe I'll delve into it later this year, after I save some money.

[KevShmev]

Many months later, Blackstar is still freaking great. 

[pogoowner]

The soundtrack/original cast recording for his musical, Lazarus, was just released. I think any Bowie fan would appreciate it. And Michael C. Hall (Dexter) sounds surprisingly like Bowie.

[KevShmev]

Good point. A few weeks back, I saw the performance Hall did of Lazarus last winter, and it was really good. 

[red barchetta]

I had lost interest for Bowie for such a long time. His passing took me by surprise and I was very much sadden by it. I knew he was not Touring anymore and thought he was a bit retired.

I became a very big fan of him around 83-84-85 and bought a lot of records. I was singing and playing his songs on guitar and saw him in concert in 83. He was already a legend and the concert had something unique I had not experienced yet. I will miss him for sure.

[Nel]

The soundtrack/original cast recording for his musical, Lazarus, was just released. I think any Bowie fan would appreciate it. And Michael C. Hall (Dexter) sounds surprisingly like Bowie.

Are those four new songs on the second disc done by the cast, or are they just straight-up Bowie studio recordings? Because if it's the latter, I'd love to pick that up.

[seasonsinthesky]

The soundtrack/original cast recording for his musical, Lazarus, was just released. I think any Bowie fan would appreciate it. And Michael C. Hall (Dexter) sounds surprisingly like Bowie.

Are those four new songs on the second disc done by the cast, or are they just straight-up Bowie studio recordings? Because if it's the latter, I'd love to pick that up.

The bonus disc is "Lazarus" from Blackstar and then the three other songs recorded by Bowie and the Blackstar backing band during those sessions. (Note that there are also cast versions on disc 1.) They're easily just as good as the record, especially "Killing a Little Time."

I think the cast versions are awful, but it's mostly because I just don't care about the play whatsoever, and have no interest in someone who isn't Bowie singing his songs. I like that they used the Outside tour arrangement of "The Man Who Sold the World," though.

[Nel]

Yeah, that's why I didn't buy it. No interest in the cast singing, but I'd love to have those final three Bowie songs and just sort of "attach" them as tracks 8, 9, & 10 to the Blackstar record.

[KevShmev]

So yeah, I've been randomly checking out Bowie songs on YT I am unfamiliar with and then buying the ones I like from iTunes, and this one is a major winner:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VSA37Qe9Xm4 (I'm Deranged)

[seasonsinthesky]

So yeah, I've been randomly checking out Bowie songs on YT I am unfamiliar with and then buying the ones I like from iTunes, and this one is a major winner:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VSA37Qe9Xm4 (I'm Deranged)

Definitely a highlight! I'm quite partial to Outside. Another kicker from that one is "The Voyeur of Utter Destruction (As Beauty)," particularly the 50th birthday performance.

[King Postwhore]

Kev,  saw that tour with NIN.  I loved it. 

[Mladen]

Outside seems to be the go-to later-day-Bowie album for many people. Not counting Blackstar and The Next day, both of which kind of immediately achieved cult status. There's plenty of good stuff on Outside.

[pogoowner]

I really enjoy Heathen as well. I think his later work is great.

[KevShmev]

Any recommendations on songs from later albums are more than welcome.

So yeah, I've been randomly checking out Bowie songs on YT I am unfamiliar with and then buying the ones I like from iTunes, and this one is a major winner:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VSA37Qe9Xm4 (I'm Deranged)

Definitely a highlight! I'm quite partial to Outside. Another kicker from that one is "The Voyeur of Utter Destruction (As Beauty)," particularly the 50th birthday performance.

Good recommendation!  I checked it out, liked it, and bought it from iTunes.

Kev,  saw that tour with NIN.  I loved it.

Very nice!