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| Walhello -> Knowledge Base -> CDs -> D -> David Bowie Earthling |
| David Bowie - Earthling Band: David Bowie Tracks: - Little Wonder - Looking for Satellites - Battle for Britain (The Letter) - Seven Years in Tibet - Dead Man Walking - Telling Lies - Last Thing You Should Do - I'm Afraid of Americans - Law (Earthlings on Fire) Still cool at 50 This was one of those albums I had to listen to about 5 times before I decided whether or not I loved it or absolutely hated it. Already a huge Bowie fan, I eventually chose love, but the oddness of the album made it a difficult decision. This album is nothing like any music Bowe wrote before it. In typical Bowie fashion, he takes an experimental stab at both techno and industrial music and creates an album utilizing newer trends and his own amazing voice and unique lyrics.<BR> Although critically panned (of course) the album offers several great songs. "I'm afraid of americans" was both a radio and MTV hit... almost unheard of for a 50-something artist. "little wonder" gets the album off to a great start, "satellite" has quirky lyrics, but a great beat, and my personal favorite "dead man walking" is just plain haunting. Although several tracks are rather lengthy, there's no filler material on this album, and you can be assured of a great listen throughout. I strongly reccomend this album to anyone who likes harder music with great lyrics, combined with the amazing originality of David Bowie. Bowie's Best Of The 90s David Bowie was always one of those artists who is far far better on anthologies/greatest hits/singles/ compilations like "Changesbowie" or "The Singles: 1969-93", which make him seem like the grand chameleon he is always portrayed as, without having to wade through the boring dross which takes up the majority of his albums, particularly after 1976's "Low". With that said, "Earthling" Truly is a return to form, as if the man had woken up from a deep slumber that began in the mid 80s and suddenly decided to come out with all guns blasting again. There are many reasons why Earthling is his best album in twenty years (or more): the songs are among his best in years, the techno elements (and I'm *not* a techno fan) are incorporated ingeniously into the rock framework, and there are more than enough hints of the classic Bowie sound now and again (ie. the piano solo in "Battle For Britain" updates the one in "Aladdin Sane"). What you get here is one monster of an album, a techno-prog-pop-rock stormburner that is filled with thunderous heavy riffs and yet light on its dancing feet and pop choruses, with lots of unique sounds and experimentation. Not only that, but Bowie manages to keep up the high spirits of the majestic opening number "Little Wonder" throughout most of the rest of the album, in tracks like "Looking For Sattelites" and the wicked "I'm Afraid Of Americans". There is only *one* filler IMO, the languid "The Last Thing You Should Do"; to make a point, if I was to choose which songs would go on an anthology/compilation, I would choose *four*: "Little Wonder", "Seven Years In Tibet", "Dead Man Walking", and "I'm Afraid Of Americans". And that's leaving out "Battle For Britain!!" This just might be Bowie's best of his career, after "Hunky Dory". Still sane after all these years When I became a fan in the early days of "Aladdin Sane" (1973), I could never imagine David Bowie would go on to become such a revolutionary and long-lasting name in rock music. One aspect that I find amazing about him is that he avoids what I Call "the nostalgia act syndrome" at all costs. For instance, while most of his contemporaries just play a token selection from their latest album and fill the rest of their concerts with "greatest hits", Bowie sang all but one of the songs in "Earthling" in his 1997 tour. He did more or less the same thing in the "Outside" Tour in 1995/96. In "Earthling", Bowie does what he did with "Scary Monsters" in 1980: he takes up the latest brand of rock music and beats the new acts at their own game. In "Scary Monsters" it was new wave. In "Earthling" it is jungle/industrial music. I feel this album is somewhat underrated. Only Bowie fans seem to realize its brilliance. Any album that has "Little Wonder", "I'm Afraid of Americans", "Telling Lies", "Looking for Satellites", "The Last Thing You Should Do" and "Dead Man Walking" has to be a winner. I'm sure this album will have its importance reevaluated someday, but the 1997 tour will never come back. I saw the three shows in Brazil and I'll never forget them. Bowie has put out two little gems in the 90's: "Outside" and "Earthling". How many artists from the late 60's/early 70's are still relevant today? Buy David Bowie Earthling at Amazon.com Buy posters at Allposters.comJamster - the latest ringtones for your phone! |
