The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars

classic, legendary

Wham Bam Thank Ya Ma'am!!! This is my favorite Bowie album. It's sooooo good and so much fun. The only song I don't absolutely LOVE is "Hang on to Yourself." "Five Years" is a fantastic opener. This album is a work of art from open to close. "Starman" , "Soul Love" , and "Ziggy Stardust" are perfect and "Suffragette City" is by far my FAVORITE Bowie song

liked songs: Five Years, Starman, It Ain't Easy, Ziggy Stardust, Suffragette City Excellent. 4.5

Very good

Awful. Terrible production. Bad singing. Thin sound. Suffragette city and it ain’t easy were the only tolerable songs on the album. No surprise that one was written for someone else and one was written by someone else. Bowie’s singing is elementary school play levels of bad. I put on Bat out of Hell immediately after this to cleanse this tinny sounding trash out of my brain. Cant say enough bad things about it.

Hmmmmmm idk the album didn’t feel that special to me. I don’t have anything transformative to say The average 3 for thee!

it's a masterfully engineered album that still sounds electrifying to this day, there's later bowie works that showcase his eccentricity more but this was the beginning for sure

Bowie is a enigma to me, changing the way he sounded with the different records he made, Ziggy Stardust was the start of his chameleon era where he would make characthers for every album. Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust starts with a strong 1-2-3-4 combo and while the middle falters a bit it ends as strong as it begun. Fuck it, I'm giving it a 4.5/5 rounded up to 5 Stars https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5no3g4Xbimc

RIP David Bowie you could have been an incredible vtuber

this album is nothing short of a masterpiece, and there’s almost nothing I can fault about it. From start to finish, the record oozes creativity and raw brilliance. The songwriting and lyrics are fucking fantastic in every possible way. Each line is a vivid story, packed with emotion, wit, and a sense of otherworldly wonder that only Bowie could deliver. The production and mixing are pure bliss, pulling you straight into Ziggy’s cosmic world. Every instrument is meticulously layered, creating a vast yet intimate soundscape. The guitars stand out with raw, inventive riffs that are absolutely electrifying, adding a dynamic edge. Paired with groovy basslines and punchy drum beats, they inject an energy that makes each track feel alive and exhilarating. The result is a sonic joyride that’s both immersive and thrilling from start to finish. Whilst there’s little to criticize about this album, a minor drawback is that some transitions feel a touch abrupt. Its theatrical delivery might not be everyone’s cup of tea if you lean towards a subtler style, yet it ultimately enhances the record’s distinctive character and flamboyance. Ziggy’s bold, unapologetic persona is key to making this album truly memorable. Every element, from the spellbinding lyricism and infectious riffs to the flawless production, melds together to forge a landmark in music history. The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars transcends a mere album; it’s an odyssey into the heart of glam rock that resonates with me. For me, it’s an unequivocal 5/5, a timeless, exhilarating masterpiece.

Surprisingly only my second Bowie album - my first was Blackstar. Weird right? Lotta heat on this one and the listen, even ignoring the conceptual prowess, was fucking enjoyable and impactful. I think this guy might have a big career ahead of him not sure why just a feeling.

I listened to a lot of these songs on repeat as a child and a teenager and they still are very very good to me. I will love them because i love them and they are fun and i like them. I remember i had a david bowie best hits album wahtever it was called and it had a couple songs off of here that made me listen to the album but i only really listened to the ones that were on the greatest hits album anyway cause i liked those exponentially more. Not my favorite david bowie, but it's pretty good. I enjoy. I want crab :)

Re-read Paz's review again instead. The singles carried, but I wanted more.

10/10 While many say that Bowie’s seminal swan song “Blackstar” is his most eerily predictive and reflective work, I’d argue Ziggy Stardust is an outright autobiography of his life. The Rock Opera about an otherworldly being, a Rock God, a queer androgynous sex idol coming to save our planet from our inevitable destruction with his masterpieces, but taken from us too soon as he’s subject to the worst consequences of fame and artistry. Listening to this album is like watching a legendary film, with fantastic performances, theatrics, and storytelling, it is an absolute must for anybody. Thank you gay people

Revolutionary

Definitely unique. A few great songs and a lot of good ones.

Only like Soul Love. Not wild about other tracks

incredible drama rock, makes me feel like I’m on the space equivalent of a dirt road

Literally commmands respect as hard/glam rock, soul, folk, psychedelic masterpiece all while being one of the greatest Concept albums of all time. Looses points for a terrible cover

ZIGGY PLAYED GUITAR!!! Favourite songs: Ziggy Stardust, Suffragette City, Starman, Moonage Daydream, Star, Lady Stardust, It Ain't Easy, Five Years Least favourite songs: Soul Love 5/5

One of my favorite albums top 20 for me

So good.

Great Bowie.

Icon. Legend. RIP

The album has been showered with praise time and time again. I like David Bowie's music. I also think this album is very good. Somehow I feel a bit strange with it, but that seems to be the case with many David Bowie albums. 4/5

I'm actually surprised this album as is beloved as it is, considering how sci-fi it's theme is. But, then again, the music is damn good. Five Years is grand and amazing. I love how layered it becomes the deeper into it becomes. Most of this album was new to me, besides Starman, and I liked pretty much all of it. The first 4 songs rock, and then Hang on to Yourself, Suffragette City, and Rock 'n' Roll Suicide supports the back half. It's a short and snappy album, and an easy one to enjoy.

No notes

One of his best

Front to back bangers!

Mange bangere! Rigtig fed plade!

This is probably my favorite David Bowie record! More rock-based than many of the others.

I love David Bowie, his song Starman was made popular in meme culture and that's where I learned more about him. It's a decent album

Lol, maybe it is me but just an english dude singing. Good song Starman, but rest of album didn't do too much for me.

Masterful

First easy 5 stars. Every song on here is memorable and a bop. Love this album. Favorite tracks: moonage daydream, starman, Ziggy stardust, suffragette city, rock n roll suicide (but all are peak) Will I revisit?: high priority/already knew this album Rating: 10/10

As good as I remember it.

Ziggy Stardust is a tour de force. Anything Bowie is going to be unique, yet at only 40 minutes, it's digestible and fairly accessible to the uninitiated. The opener, the closer, front to back this is a gem. Without question, a legendary album that just plain rocks.

Masterpiece. Definetely Bowie's best album. 4,5/5 Favorite song: Starman

Legendarisch

Bowie klassieker. One of the best artists to ever do it. 4,8/5

There are three albums that I often change my opinion on being the best ever. I've had the other two (London Calling and In Rainbows) on this before, and now I've finally got the other one. I absolutely love every song on this album and Five Years is easily my favourite Bowie song (there's a lot of competition!) Perfect start to finish. Fav tracks: Five Years, Ziggy Stardust, Moonage Daydream

The individual songs on their own were excellent. As a concept album that tells a story, it fell apart for me. I wish Apple Music or any music streaming service would have a text file with the original album liner notes to accompany albums like these.

1/31/25. One of Bowie's classics, will always be able to revisit and replay this one. Fun concept album.

I don't like his voice, although the album gets +1 point for being a rock opera.

Can I rate it 6/5, just this once?

Fun, Weird, Iconic.

It's one of the most influential and greatest rock albums of all time. It's also Bowie at his best, and my personal favourite of his albums. Favourite tracks: Five Years, Moonage Daydream, Suffragette City and the closing Rock'n'Roll Suicide.

Always a big pleasure to listen to this album. Oh, Ziggy, Ziggy...

Conceptual masterpiece

great guitar

5/5. Every song is a classic, and all while still being diverse and unique. The front to back is a perfect listen, no skips. David Bowie at his best here with the pure rock genre. His ballads are highlights as well, and the themes and concepts of this album might have been weird and silly back then, it has only aged like wine with our current events. This is an anthem of being different. The king does it again. Best Song: Ziggy Stardust, Moonage Daydream, Lady Stardust, Suffragette City

There aren't enough stars to rate this There are no words to describe the sensations of only the first second of moonage daydream

A classic. Bowie at one of the several distinct peaks he reached in his career.

4/5

Classic!

Every time a Bowie album pops up and I question if he's over-represented, I love every fucking one of them. His breakthrough album and a bona-fide classic, but maybe my 4th favourite Bowie album? Still can't rate less than a 5.

Phenomenal album, so good.

I preferred black star

Otro álbum de Bowie. Me encanta Starman pero del resto no he logrado sacar gran satisfacción, quizá requiera una segunda escuchada. Nota: 3.0

A complete game changer for Bowie

Now this is a great album and a classic. Other Bowie albums we’ve had so far seem to have some good songs but not quite all the way through. This has great songs from start to finish. And whilst every song is great in its own way the album still feels like a connected body of work. Got to be 5 stars right?

Wow, what an epic album! This is peak Bowie, where he manages to balance being a cultural icon and also a wonderful musician who can pull of a concept record with ease. Most older albums on this list feel that whilst important for the time, no longer feel relevant now. This is not the case here, Ziggy would feel relevant in every decade since. Top track: Starman

For an album that has so many great individual songs (in fact are there many albums with as many), I can’t explain why, but I personally find listening to the album as a whole has a kind of mood killing vibe. For that reason I don’t revisit it like I do Hunky Dory which I find way more uplifting. Gonna have to be a 4* for that reason.

Great sounding album

Beautiful album with some hits on it. Love the energy. The whole thing feels like walking through some drug fueled paradise.

So good. This to me is when David Bowie really became the David Bowie who we all know today. The Spiders from Mars were a fantastic backup band. The songs swing well. No skippers here!

Good Bowie with deep, complex tracks.

An all time great, a masterpiece. What more can I say

From the opening bars of Five Years, to the final orchestral chords of Rock N Roll Suicide, Ziggy is the perfect glam rock album.

++*: Starman, It Ain't Easy ++: Five Years, Soul Love, Moonage Daydream, Lady Stardust, Star, Hang On to Yourself, Ziggy Stardust, Suffragette City, Rock 'n' Roll Suicide 10/10

This is where Bowie the legend begins. On fire all the way through.

OHOHOHOHO

Very Bowie; a bit decadent, laid back, rock

This flew by, there was a lot of diversity in sounds and vocal delivery that helped the album never feel stagnant. I was surprised how punk-y some of the songs leaned. Their drummer is a killer, really loved a lot of what he brought to the table.

Whole album is phenomenal, Five Years made me cry in my car yesterday.

Just a fantastic album by one strange dude. Songs on it from The Martian and Guitar Hero only sweetens the deal. No complaints.

'Five Years' is an incredible song to start the album and set the tone of the story/theme. 'Moonage Daydream' absolutely shreds. 'Starman', 'Ziggy Stardust' still hold up. 'Hang On To Yourself' and 'Suffragette City' are bops. Classic album.

This is one of the albums that I listen to and know that it's great, more than actually feeling that it's great. Nevertheless, I actually listened to Moonage Daydream, Suffragette City, and Starman multiple times and am a sucker for concept albums, even if the concept is loose. Above all, I like the vibe. Somehow weightless, dreamy and sparkling, even if I would have appreciated a little more vibrancy and less pathos in some places.

I remember 1972. My cousins in Cleveland introduced me to Bowie. My family had just moved to Flint, Michigan from Atlanta Georgia. I introduced the cousins to the Allman Brothers Band. We were all winners in the music we discovered back then!

I lime him better as David

Obviously a classic but I wasn't as blown away as I expected to be.

This is my favorite of his that I've listened to.

Classic. Even though it's the first time I've listened to it all the way through. We've all heard it thanks the James Gunn.

Such a great album! So many hits, and the secondary songs are great. I'd say 4.5 - but will round up.

Best Bowie album out there. I’M A MOMMA POPPA COMIN’ FOR YOU

Starman, Ziggy Stardust, Suffragette City. So many good tracks on this one.

Classic album

Obviously 5 stars.

Bowie gets his 5 from me. A great listen the whole way through. Need to spend some more time with it.

Definitely the best of the Bowie albums on this list. Some great rock and roll. Guitar parts are excellent.

I had only heard the hits on this album before, but the whole thing was really good. Bowie sounded surprisingly like Robert Plant to me on "It Ain't Easy". Of the songs I was unfamiliar with before, I liked "Moon-age Daydream" the best (what a guitar solo!)

Shitty day for me, personally but David seems to know how to bring my spirits up a bit. Really solid music. Really solid concept album. No issues with this beast.

Nearly every song is perfect Moonage Daydream and Starman being next to each other is such a insane thing to me.

David Bowie is a legend ans this is a good album with some outstanding and amazing tracks, however, there is also a few uninteresting songs in my opinion which lowers the score a bit.

One of my favorite albums of all time. I love to listen to Diamond Dogs while driving through Topanga Canyon in Los Angeles.

I love this kind of themed album, and it was full of excellent songs as well! I remember hearing this album for the first time when I was probably 13 or 14 and was amazed and in awe of the whole concept. Loved David Bowie ever since

I've always admired how out of the ordinary David Bowie was in his work. You can't expect anything from him because he's always one step ahead. "Ziggy Stardust" is the greatest example of this. Bringing a well-told story packed with the infectious sound of glam rock, he brings a wealth of material and gives a lesson in music. Of course, the album has many highlights, but the overall project is simply brilliant. David was already big at that time, but "Ziggy Stardust" made him gigantic!

Fine, but just fine. Bowie is my least favorite per this website so for his standards it was good lol

Unenjoyable for me, too chaotic

This album made me understand the David Bowie hype

fav tracks- moonage daydream lady stardust i had never listened to this album, or any bowie song, in full before. i dont think i wouldve liked it had i done so earlier, because of how associated these tracks have become with advertisements (mostly for movie trailers). i liked it now because i got to approach it from a blank slate.

Good, but still derivative of Marc Bolan and Lou Reed. His true masterpiece is "Scary Monsters".

Great album. Heart wrenching first song. David's signature style all the way through.

Man can be write a chorus…but everything else leaves me cold.

Top 3 Bowie for me.

Not a fan except an occasional karaoke stint with Starman 🎤

I don’t like Bowie. What I like are his greatest hits. When he’s on he’s great but when he’s off he sucks. This album has maybe four great songs and the rest I can’t skip past fast enough.

I love the singles on here, and there's quite a few of them. "Starman" has those amazing soaring vocals, featuring the full-octave jump on the first line (sounds like maybe lifted from "Somewhere Over The Rainbow", but that's just clever songwriting). The orchestration is really nice too, transitioning from glam orchestral on the chorus to that blues guitar riff, which they then double on vocals - nice trick. The title track is a classic, it just does everything right, and it could easily be the picture next to "classic rock" in the dictionary. And "Suffragette City" is just a great rock thumper, elevated by the weird bass synth riff and Bowie's "wham bam!" theatrics at the end. But the deep cuts are B-level at best, and so as a whole the CD isn't as strong as some of the other early 70s classics. They're not bad, just, fine. "Moonage Daydream" is probably the strongest of the bunch, but it suffers from being too long and a little bloated. And in particular, the whole middle of the CD (between "Starman" and the title track) kind of sags. There is a modest diversity of sound and some nice moments in there, taken as a whole. But each individual song is pretty basic on every dimension, and unlike some of the others on here, not especially catchy or energetic. I could've given this a 3 or a 4. I shaded to the lower end because the filler is just a little too long.

Rock n roll suicide felt so different than the rest of the album but I loved the vibes so much.

Better than I first thought! I understand why people were really crazy about this in the day. Quite the lyricist and so passionate

Already listened to 9.5/10

El álbum empieza increíble y después cae en un bache del que, salvo pinceladas, le cuesta salir.

Moonage Daydream was awesome. Unexpected solid album

Classic album. Bowies best in my opinion. Not a bad track on here.

I'd have a couple of bad Bowie experiences and a couple of middling to good experiences while working through this site. This album is definitely the best one yet, not quite % stars but eminently listenable.

Classic

Listened. Was kinda decent. Not really my genre but I'll revisit it a few more times to see.

Absolute classic! Moonage Daydream, Starman,...some of my all time favourite Bowie tracks.

I of course we liked it it's David bowie

perfect

After so many bad to mid David Bowie albums on this list I was tempted to give this 4 stars instead of 5. I found the albums instructions that it was "To be played at maximum volume" to still hold true however. This really is his masterpiece however and while I'll undoubtedly listen to this a hundred more times in my life I don't think I'll ever be listening to any other of his albums again as I think I've made it through all the horrible later albums and OKish early albums by him on this list.

Bra. Mer lågmält än jag väntat mig. Kan gärna stå på som bakgrundsmusik i framtiden.

Classic.

Can’t go wrong with Ziggy Stardust.

No me encanta. Quiero meterme más dentro del mundo Bowie, porque entiendo que debe ser de mucha calidad. Sin embargo, todavia no lo siento, no me llega, y no lo disfruto. Hay ciertas canciones que me llamaron la atención y que me gustaron, pero ciertas otras me parecieron aburridas, o al menos me costó sentirlas. Lo debería volver a escuchar. 4/10

I learned to play Ziggy Stardust on guitar when I was a teenager and I thought it was really cool with all this talk of spiders and crazy stuff. This is my first listen through the actual album and I was surprised to find I didn't really like it. Rating: 2

The first appearance of our friend Ziggy Stardust. This album is a trip; very fantastical, otherworldly, and sexually charged. But that's to be expected from Bowie, considering his "Ziggy Stardust" character would stay for a bit after this. Pretty versatile album too, with touches of glam rock and proto punk among others. This is mostly thanks to Bowie's wonderful backing band, as well as the acoustic guitar playing from Bowie and the electric guitar from Ronson. Probably not shocking many in saying that this is Bowie's best work. It signaled the introduction of Ziggy Stardust after all! These rock operas tend to feel a bit bloated and overblown, but in some cases they flow effortlessly and never falter, such as here. Hard to believe that I've already gotten six Bowie albums from this list, but none of the prior ones topped this, nor will any of the remaining ones. Best tracks: Moonage Daydream, Starman, Ziggy Stardust, Suffragette City

There have a couple people in my life who have resolved to this being amongst the few greatest albums in history and I've always felt bad when I've had to admit out loud that it doesn't sit that highly for me.

Hh

Certainly memorable melodies. Moonage Daydream's outro is very moving in particular. Definitely a lot of stolen blues that's so common in the 60s & 70s no doubt. Very Theatrical vocals to say the least. Lyrically it is very vivid, unfortunately this makes this all very indecipherable, however incredibly poetic. It's a very balanced push & pull between surface level lines & the larger picture in between them.

Yeah, it’s Bowie, it’s great. There’s not much that hasn’t been said about this, but I will note that I particularly liked his vocals, and that it felt surprisingly short.

Excellent album - creative, catchy, and energetic. I think I prefer Bowie's less space-y stuff, so I'll go with 4 stars here.

My anniversary! And this sums up quite nicely my one year of AYMHBYD. Like, okay, yeah, I get it. Important album, nice album even. Within the western, English music history. Is it the... 5th Bowie I've had? I've grown bored. Why am I doing this?

A solid 4.5. Had heard all the songs many times before, but this time listened through a decent set of headphones. Sounded great.

Oh man lovely start to finish - Bowie released better albums but this one is the de facto standard concept record which is also stunningly objectively awesome.

The album isn't as repetitive as most of the others I've listened to, and several recognizable songs help improve the rating.

I loved this way more than I thought. It’s such a brilliant and cohesive album. It’s not really something I would normally be interested in sound-wise, but really made an impact. Faves: five years, starman, it ain’t easy, lady stardust, rock n roll suicide.

What else really needs to be said about this one.. Fantastic album. It's recorded very well and hit's it stride when turned up to 11 on some bass heavy speakers from the 70s.

Easy 5 and one of Bowie’s best. Honestly it might be equally as much Mick Ronson’s guitar that drives the record. Highlight: Hang on to Yourself and of course Ziggy Stardust

This is my favorite Bowie album.

I think there might be too much Bowie on this list, but this is the album I've been waiting for. By far my favorite album of his, and the one I go back and listen to the most.

This is probably my favourite Bowie record, the fact that it’s such an excellent concept album really helps. It’s really well written, recorded, and performed. The vibes are decidedly immaculate. “Suffragette City” is almost a very early punk rock song, and my favourite track on the album. I don’t know if I really have a lot more to say about this record. Catchy hooks, deep verses, and it’s very entertaining. One of those albums that has the capability of holding your attention through the entire run. At 39 minutes, I found myself wishing it was longer.

I am generally not a big Bowie fan, but I do think this is one of his strongest albums. I especially like the first half. It's alright. I dunno. I think this album is a bit overhyped as revolutionary and groundbreaking because the lyrics are centered around Bowie reimagining himself as a glam androgynous alien, but the music itself is mostly a bit boring. "Starman" is easily my favorite track, though I do also like the opener. If someone put this album on I wouldn't complain, but I probably won't seek it out again. Meh/10

all-time great

I think maybe my most controversial music nerd opinion is that Ziggy Stardust isn’t a perfect album. I know, it’s blasphemy, but the three song run of It Ain’t Easy, Lady Stardust, and Star is relatively weak. I do use the term relatively extremely carefully, because they’re all still good songs, they just happen to be the three weaker links in a chain of some of the greatest Rock n Roll ever written. Even if I don’t think it’s perfect, I wouldn’t trade it for anything else

With the "Moonage Daydream" + "Starman" one-two punch, the rest of the album could be white noise and still 5/5. Yet all the rest of the tracks are great as well. Not a single bad or even mediocre song here. There are probably better concept albums out there, but musically this is unbeatable.

4.9 - This is Bowie at his top

It's a good record, and I have always loved Starman, but I do think its a bit overrated. A lot of tracks give a very similar energy, which isn't necessarily bad, but for a 5 star album I think it needs some more transcendent high points. Fave Tracks: Soul Love, Starman, Lady Stardust, Ziggy Stardust, Suffragette City 4.2/5

Really fucking cool

Banger

This is an album that's in desperate need of a remaster. I feel like the songs are so much better than the recordings on the album, the production sounds so tinny and muddy that it's very hard to fully appreciate the songs. Despite the awful production the songs are mostly great, but this is an album that is handicapped until it's remastered. Top tracks: Starman, Suffragette City, Rock 'n' Roll Suicide

It’s got this glittery, spacey vibe that’s so dramatic but somehow still grounded. Kind of like if T. Rex went all-in on a sci-fi storyline. The guitars are sharp, the vocals full of swagger. It’s fun, a little weird, and totally unforgettable

I think this the platonic ideal of a rock album

Rad

It's not perfect, but it fits the era perfectly. just a great album and a great feeling.

the dawn of wonderfully weird Bowie with the Spiders

This and Station to Station seem to me to be Bowie's major peaks. This 'hazy cosmic jive' has a lot going for it, but I'd like to think it abides b/c it has the humor and vitality that 'conceptual' projects do not always carry. This never crumbles under its own pretensions - no tedium or inanity here.

time takes a cigarette // puts it in your mouth...

5/5

A fun album with a couple of great songs!

Man this is so good. It does such a good job of keeping to the 'intergalactic' theme, while being quite diverse in its sound. Really enjoyed. Liked Five years, Soul Love, Moonage Daydream, It aint easy, Ziggy Stardust, Suffragette city, Rock n Roll Suicice Had Starman and Hang on to Yourself pre saved

✅✅ Suffragette City

I prefer Blackstar over this, which might be the most unpopular opinion of all time

El mejor álbum de Bowie, que ya es decir. Corto, increíble de principio a fin, y precioso. Gracias por tanto.

I just don’t understand the vast volumes of smoke that gets blown up Bowie’s arse. This is fine, Starman and Ziggy Stardust are good tracks, but the rest is just … there. It’s fine, but no better.

Eeehh...ya lo escuché mil veces es genial nosé que decir de este disco. Lo amaba tanto que lo escuchaba mil veces, me canso un poco y ahora nosé si lo volvería a escuchar como en ese momento puede ser que una vez más pero no me fascina como antes. Es un 5 estrellas igual.

Classic album, classic cover, classic songs. Right out of the gates with "Five Years", an underrated song, that I've heard covered by others, and it's a great tone setter to the album. Then you roll into "Moonage Daydream", "Starman", "Ziggy Stardust" and one of my all-time favorites "Suffragette City". Even the lesser known tracks are solid. "It Ain't Easy" could very easily be a new song from an act today, it holds up well. "Lady Stardust" is catchy and instantly knowable. "Hang On To Yourself" sounds like a T.Rex track or even a Dandy Warhols track from 2001. "Rock n' Roll Suicide" is a great way to cap an excellent album. It's hard to say anything negative, there are no irritating or weak tracks. It's a solid album with great songs & delivery. Definitely Top 1001.

It has been a long time since I listened to this album top to bottom and not just individual songs, and I forgot how good it is. "Five Years" is such an amazing way to start an album, and honestly might be the best song on the album. But it is so strong top to bottom, and the Ziggy Stardust story is woven so well throughout. This is definitely up there as one of Bowie's best albums, if not his very best, and one of the best of all time.

What a legend. A bit rough around the edges still. Theatrical and a bit weird, musically very rich. An absolute classic. Deeply emotional.

Love it. Although not a fan of Suffragette City

Not a huge fan of Glam Rock - but more than enough quality here to transcend the genre and ease to 5*

One of my all time faves. If we had 5 years left to listen to music, this would play a significant role

Basically a perfect album - i feel back to being 10 years old, listening to Starman

This is a classic. I wouldn't listen to it on a daily basis, but it's worth listening at least once.

All time great. Flawless.

Qué obra maestra tan rotunda. Hasta me atrasé en esta lista porque desde que me salió lo he escuchado una y otra vez sin poder pasar a otro disco. Te amo, Bowie.

Clearly well reviewed and loved. It’s a great concept album and has some excellent songs (suffragette city, star man, ziggy stardust). I’ve just never been gripped by it, feels too paint by numbers. But maybe if I’d heard this in 1972 I’d feel different. 4/5

Best album ever made imo. Every song is 5/5.

I had only heard a couple of tracks. Solid album.

whole album is insanely good

Pre-listening thoughts: ya know anything would have been a relief after Kollaps but this is just like a blessing. When people think of Bowie this tends to be the album they picture. So excited to dive into this one. Post/during listening thoughts: I’ve heard a few songs off of this before but my god this is such a treat of an album. It is so sonically cohesive but every song has such character and distinction from the last. Bowie’s lyrics are playful and vivid, while also having a story to follow about Ziggy themself. Even if the story wasn’t intentional I think it absolutely works. I listened to this one twice and I will definitely be revisiting this in the future. 10/10 DID I NEED TO HEAR THIS BEFORE I DIE: yes Fav tracks: all of them. I have a special soft spot for Moonage Daydream and Starman but this whole album is phenomenal Least fav tracks: none

Meh

5 out of 5. Higher ranked than Aladdin Sane and probably should take it's place for another artist on this list.

Bowie was one of a kind. This is one of his finest, but it's even more extraordinary how far he came from the David Jones of 1967 to this in 1972. Mainline Glam Rock.

I liked it! Now I want to wiki this album.

I can hear the work and thought that went into this masterpiece, but there wasn’t a single song I would listen to outside of this project :(

Undisputed classic. Not a regular listen for me, Bowiewise, as I tend to reach for the later 70s records or even later era records that lack the overfamiliarity that the canon records suffer from. But this is such a solid collection. It shimmers with the promise and realisation of an imperial phase commencing. Happy to revisit and I will again, many times.

So good. Interesting. Ground breaking. Hits. Deep cuts. Great songwriting. Peak Bowie, or one of his peaks anyway. Seems he knew when he peaked and moved on. Five stars.

This album was a lot of fun to listen to. I really liked that the simple acoustic rhythm guitar had a part in every song

One of the greatest and most influential albums of all time.

This would’ve been my pick for “favorite album of all time” even before starting this project. Nothing I’ve heard changed that opinion. Gotta be on the shortlist for greatest album of all time.

david bowie good

enjoyed this one, bit mad in places but was kind of expecting that. Few big hits on here but overall liked the songs I'd not heard before and was glad I listened overall

I don't know if there's a term for this kind of album. It's not quite a concept album. Persona album? Anyway, they're a good idea, an artist letting you know they are trying something different for a period of time. It seems to have died with some notably failures, like Chris Gaines and Sasha Fierce, and with artists opting to either move between acts or just embrace it without changing personas. Maybe we're in the Eras era. On the album level, it works great. It's cohesive, but not repetitive. The songs aren't his best, but they're not bad. It's the kind of album I'd vibe to, but will probably not come back to.

Bowie album no. 3, and the only one I've previously listened to. I think Moonage Daydream is my favorite song on this one. I do think this is an excellent album, absolutely 5 stars with no hesitation. I respect the hell out of Bowie, but I still haven't formed an emotional connection with his music the way I have with some of the other collectively agreed upon greats or my own personal favorites (with the exception of a few songs). I'd like to watch some live performances to see if this changes things, so I started with his Top Of The Pops 1972 live performance of Starman. The moment he points at the camera when he says "you" is iconic, and watching him on that stage really does let you in on more of his magic. I think this song will be in my head all day.

Another amazing album that I thought I knew, but actually didn’t. That’s what this project is great for

Even though there's a whole trio of Bowie albums I prefer (Station to Station - Low - Heroes), this is undeniably still a classic. Not a single weak song, the songwriting is just stellar nonstop.

Great musician

Classic, pleasantly

с другой стороны открылись песни Hang on to Yourself, классный альбом

I've listened to this album before, but I don't think I had HEARD it until today. I knew it was going to be a 5/5 from the tracklist alone, but it was even better than I had expected. The themes/story are present through most of the album, but never detract from the songs (I read some were written before the theme was decided then tweaked to fit it, which makes sense when you listen). It's grand but never over the top like I've come to expect anything called a "rock opera" to be. The songwriting is obviously amazing because Bowie, but the production is also superb, and I love how it starts and ends so strongly. Ziggy was right to be concerned - he's still blowing minds all these years later.

i have always wanted to listen to this album and i think it rlly lived up to my expectations. i really like the storytelling aspect of it and david bowie does it in such a beautiful way and true to the time. it just sounds so gorgeous and is truly such an experience. starman and ziggy stardust deserve the recognition they get and more. this album definitely deserves to be on this list.

It was good, but not as outstanding as I expected

Stone cold classic, one my favourites from Bowie

An absolute classic but it's never been my favourite Bowie era or sound. Much prefer Hunky Dory, Low and maybe one or two others

There once was a man named Bowie Who was partial to a bit of go-ey He liked ‘em young But kept it fun, Don’t worry you’re too old, Zoe

Love this. I thought I was a bit bored of it but really enjoyed listening to it. Still sounds fantastic.

This is one of those nose in the air, know all the words, sing-a-long record for me. Probably still the Bowie album I know and love best

The man cooked something special with this man. It's such an excellent listen. You get Bowie's impactful aura and presence, near-perfect production, forward-thinking vision, and perfect sequencing. Peak glam rock right here. Top 3 Favorites: Soul Love, Starman, and Five Years NO BAD SONGS 4.50-4.75/5

Majestic

Easiest 5/5 of my life. I wish I could give it a 6. I think this has to be the best first listen to an album I’ve ever had. The first song set my expectations ridiculously high and the rest of the album somehow met and exceeded those expectations. All 11 songs are so good there are no misses and my favorites were Five Years, Moonage Daydream, and Rock N Roll Suicide. Overall absolutely fantastic album and I will be listening to more David Bowie.

Ziggy, Moonage Daydream, Suffragette City, Hang On To Yourself, Starman; Ronson, Bolder, Woodie, Bowie. Apocalyptic glam. Extraterrestrial rock. Bowie’s first hit album and, as with so many of his albums, there’s an argument to be made that it’s his best. And some days it is…

So good. Best opening track and closing track of any other album, maybe ever? all the tracks in the middle are great too.

Bowie - so ahead of his time and so graceful in his execution lovelovelovehim Got to listen to Dr. Octagonacologist - that was a fun ride!

Hell, yes! This album is incredible, and who doesn’t adore Bowie? He’s one of a kind, with an amazing voice that takes you to unexplored realms in your mind.

Looking back to move forward. An album that shows you how it's done. From arrangements to songwriting, guitar tones to background vocal - this is just a complete package.

y'all already KNOW how I feel about David Bowie!, hardly a miss on this album, a few dull ish points but nothing that missed.

This album is a classic and a clear 5 out of 5. “Five Years” is one of the greatest album openers ever recorded. It builds so perfectly, drawing you into the story with tension and emotion. From there the record barely puts a foot wrong. Every track feels essential to the Ziggy narrative and the whole thing flows brilliantly. Then you get one of the strongest closing stretches on any album. “Suffragette City” explodes with energy and attitude, and “Rock ‘n’ Roll Suicide” is an unforgettable finale. Dramatic, theatrical and deeply moving, it is Bowie at his absolute best. Favourite songs: Starman, Suffragette City and Rock ‘n’ Roll Suicide Least favourite: Every song is brilliant Album artwork: An iconic cover that has become part of music history

Great set of songs. Recognize one from Guardians of the Galaxy. It Ain't That Easy is a pretty typical blues-based classic rock song. Kinda surprising for Bowie.

lol srsly

für mich der typische bowie-sound: eingängige melodien, die unverwechselbare stimme. toll!

David Bowie ist nicht eigentlich nicht so meins. Aber beim nochmaligen Hören finde ich die Platte immer besser.

As far as I’m concerned, this is THE Bowie album. 5/5 Highlights: Moonage Daydream Starman Suffragette City

senza la minima esitazione, un capolavoro

Tim: “The hit songs are amazing songs, and the entire soundscape of the record is unique and tasty. Five stars.” Lil: “Meh.”

A Rock and Roll Classic that transcends rock n roll into new avenues and stratospheres.

The strings, the rock 'n' roll piano, the guitar, the persona. A goddamn perfect album.

Someone: “There’s no such thing as a perfect rock’n’roll album.” Ziggy Stardust: *exists*

This album is perfection, starting with 5 years and ending on rock and roll suicide and with everything in between so goddamn amazing. its a rare, never skip a song, album. I was so happy it came up as its one of my all time fave albums and my 1st go to when I have a vinyl day.

Only album in this collection that I immediately listened to again. Bowies finest.

Love the guitar solos.

Еден од најдобрите албуми на сите времиња.

I don’t enjoy this album as much of some of Bowie’s later releases. Just never did much for me, maybe it’s too glam for my tastes. It’s good, don’t get me wrong, just not top-tier for me.

The first four tracks are epic, incredible bangers. And it finishes with Ziggy, Suffragette and Rock & Roll Suicide?!

This is undoubtedly a solid concept album, with a clear narrative journey and remarkable social impact, as it propelled the visibility of non-binary identities and a compassionate look at humanity in the very last years of their existence. Ziggy's character is still a wonderful and moving invention today. However, the album is not perfect, at least not in purely musical terms. Along with immediately anthemic songs ("Starman", "Ziggy Stardust") there are some uneven tracks ("Star" comes to mind as the weakest of them all). Even memorable songs like "Moonage Daydream" are inconsistent and fall into harmonic clichés in some instrumental fillers. And yet, the overall impression is still great. This is an album that requires time, careful listening, and attention to lyrics. I was particularly taken aback by the incredible ingenuity and Bowie's lyrical craft, as when the narrator involves the audience in "Five Years", or in the powerful poetry of "Soul Love" (where we move from mourning to morning, from loss to love; with a slogan speaking between mother and deceased son at a cemetery). Also, although it is not seemingly an overwhelming fan favorite, I fell immediately in love with "Starman", a song that reminds us of the power of children´s imagination and impulses to embrace again a carefree spirit. "The Rise and Fall" is also successful from a musical standpoint when Bowie produces dizzying modulations, and shortens time signatures, when he embodies a remarkable marriage between Led Zeppelin (in "It ain´t easy") and The Velvet Underground. All this considered, this is a memorable album. 8.5/10.

This should be mandatory listening to anyone younger than 30 for what real music should sound like. Perfect album all the way through. Can't Miss Songs: Five Years Starman Ziggy Stardust Suffragette City

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Now this album started off with the biggest disadvantage of any so far.all the hype and paudits for an album I had never heard. And sad to say, it totally lived up to them. It is a brilliant album. Thoroughly enjoyed it. Yes it was obviously a 70's album, the general sound and production told you that, but the songs and the performance was spot on. I truly didn't expect it to live up to its reputation, but it did. Can only be one score. 5

It’s not bad is it?

Bowie over an album can be more miss than hit. This is an exception, as its pretty good all the way through. But still I'm just not a Bowie fan and probably never will be. 3

Alright. 3

Musical dna. My favourite Bowie album. 25000 stars. The band is incredible. Mick Ronson. Trevor Bolder. Woody Woodsmansy. And I think a much better album than a lot of his later self indulgent guff. I know a lot of the criticism is that this was a poor album and of its time. Nope. Timeless and great. And the songs. You can have the best concept in the world but it won’t work without great songs. The title track is incredible. The apocalyptic Five Years feels even more relevant today. Starman was a brilliant single and an even better album track. Lady stardust - my god. Suffragette City - wham bam thank you ma’am. 30000 stars. (Also bonus points for the nutjobs who noticed he was standing under a k west sign the year Kanye was born. And tried to make something of it) 35000 stars.

Rock and roll was only about 15 years when Bowie dropped the Ziggy Stardust album, which codifies many of the legends and tropes of the rock star; the pan-sexual, androgynous, drug hoovering, alien rock god, messianic, paranoid, self-destructive, apocalyptic, prophesying and ultimately doomed ego monster. He was partly wishing himself into existence with this record, which is a key text in both Bowie's career and of rock itself. I couldn't count the number of English musicians who talk about his 1972 appearance on Top of the Pops singing Starman as a pivotal moment in their musical life, a moment when everything seemed possible. You would have to rate that appearance as one of the most important int he history of rock, up there with Elvis or the Beatles on Ed Sullivan for impact and influence. And, for all the rock opera, concept album pretention, Ziggy Stardust is a terrific listen. The songs are really, really strong. I own the 1990 reissue with a few bonus tracks, including the piano demo of Lady Stardust. You can clearly hear the Brecht-Weill influences on his songcraft. Bowie is also a lyrical magpie, picking up interesting tidbits from all over the place, cutting and pasting into an intriguing collage. And, it shouldn't be overlooked, there are a bunch of real bangers on here, too. Sophisticated as much of the songwriting might be, it all gets filtered through Mick Ronson's outstanding and unfussy band leadership. The band was tight and hard rockin', and bashed out muscular and dynamic versions of the songs in a few live takes. These songs were intended to be played live and are performed with minimal frills and overdubs, but considerable brio. To be played at maximum volume, indeed. I've been listening to this album regularly for nearly 40 years now. And it still works. I still get a thrill from the rock and roll urgency of this album, but it isn't stupid either. I still hear new and surprising ideas in it. I cannot praise too highly. This is probably in my all-time top ten albums of all time. Every home should have a copy.

peak but not his best

The beginning kinda all sounded the same, but the ending was better. Kinda liked the last song the best maybe?

I hardly need to listen to this. It's a particular favourite of mine, and rarely far from my playlist. Over fifty years old, and it still sounds fresh. There's a fine mix of song styles, and the music and lyrics are basically top quality. The band is awesome, wit Mick's guitar playing an obvious highlight. A very easy Five Star rating. Incidentally, the Easy Star All Stars have a reggae/dub version of this album which doesn't disgrace the original. Check it out ("Ziggy Stardub")

could i write poetry to this? y

I guess I'm just missing whichever chromosome makes people go nuts for David Bowie. I think his music is fine and understand why people see him as a sort of cultural touchstone. It's possible that I've just heard all these songs so many times that there is nothing new to discover in them. I do admire that Bowie was not afraid to take chances with his image and sound. Unfortunately, this brand of early-70's-British-Glam-Rock comes across as very mainstream in 2024.

Maybe his best.

Bowie bowie and more bowie. The best of the Bowie albums, but still bowie.

I wanted to enjoy this album more as the songs are good, but some of the mixes are just bad. Vocals get lost in the rest of the music sometimes and really detracts from the overall quality of this album. Still really good though. 4/5

I love this album.

I was familiar with a few songs but this is the first time I’m listening to this album. I enjoyed it. it’s a little odd at times but sounds great the whole time. Favorites: Starman It Ain’t Easy Suffragette City 5

Possibly Bowie's best album, no need for additional notes

I think this is my 32nd Bowie album. I knew a couple of the songs (Ziggy, Suffragette) and the rest sounded very similar. To me, his albums from the 70s all sound the same. It’s an ok album.

Not as even as I remembered carried on the back of 5-6 songs but damn they're good

Really pretty good. Songs sound different from each other. Several hits. Overall difficult to categorize. Much respect. Not sure how often I'd come back to the whole album though

One of Bowie's best. Legendary for good reason.

I don't think glam rock is for me.

This is one of my favorite albums that I like very much! Masterpiece!

Huge David Bowie fan and love some of the tracks, but Not my favorite overall.

I’m a fan of David Bowie but I’ve never really been a fan of his music. That said, I have enjoyed this album today overall. 3

Meh

3.5 he has better albums

Couple of good songs. Otherwise a little flat. 3/5

Unpopular opinion: Bowie just doesn’t do it for me. Especially an entire album.

Albumi #95, 31.10.2024 David Bowien viides studioalbumi ilmestyi vuonna 1972 ja on aivan kiistatta yksi koko tuotantonsa parhaista kokonaisuuksista.

Disco esencial de un artista esencial. Poco hay que hablar que no se haya dicho antes: estilo kabuki, androginia, el cartel de la peletería K. West, la aportación de Mick Ronson, la fulgurante aparicón juntos en el Top of the pops (abrazo incluido) cantando Starman, la mejor canción del disco Moonage Daydream, cómo aniquila el personaje en el siguiente disco, cómo predice el final de la música 5 años antes del 77 (Five years), el riff de Ziggy Stardust o el tremendo final que es Rock 'n' Roll Suicide... Lo mejor: darle al play una y otra vez. Otros discos del 72: Debuts de Steely Dan, Roxy Music, Paul Simon, Big Star, Neu¡, ¿Fela Kuti? y Lou Reed (además de su espléndido Transformer ) Discos expecionales como los de Todd Rundgren-Something/Anything?, Stevie Wonder – Talking Book y Music of my mind, Elton John-Honky Château, Nick Drake – Pink Moon, Yes – Close to the Edge, Miles Davis – On the Corner, Neil Young – Harvest, The Rolling Stones – Exile on Main St, Curtis Mayfield – Super Fly, Raspberries- Fresh, Genesis – Foxtrot, Van Morrison - Saint Dominic's Preview, Deep Purple- Machine Head y Made in Japan, Joni MIttchell- For the roses, Tangerine Dream - Zeit, T Rex- The slider, Kevin Ayers- Whatevershebringswesing, la banda sonora The harder they come... una cosecha excelente.

There is a reason that so many current musicians and artists (especially those who felt marginalized by mainstream society) point to the act of watching David Bowie perform "Starman" as Ziggy Stardust on the Top of the Pops show in 1972. People saw and heard themselves validated for the first time by this bold, brash artist, seemingly unafraid of the consequences of going against the norm. And "Starman" is a messianic song, an ode to being seen and affirmed by the other. The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spider from Mars is a concept album, a rock opera, and a classic testament to music's ability to lift you. Recorded after Bowie's first trip to the US, it begins and ends with show-tune anthems and, within the bookends, contains ballads, rockers, and hints of country honky tonks. It stands the test of time and never fails to lift the listener to the stars. Let all the children boogie.

Has been my favourite album since I first picked it out of my Dad's vinyl collection when I was 14. I can't be objective about an album I love this much.

The only Bowie album I have ever listened to, I remember my Gran buying me this for Christmas when I was 14 😭

Good I enjoyed - 3.5/5 Standout tracks: - It ain't easy 4/5 - Suffragette city 4/5

One of my all-time favorite albums. Such a classic. Bowie at his best!

Not bad, not great

really catchy and enjoyable album. Forgot to rate it at first, but i did like it.

Top 3: 1. Five Years 2. Soul Love 3. Hang on to Yourself Overall: 79/100, it’s a classic but there are some skips in here.

My absolute favorite Bowie album! So great!!

It’s old but good.

My dad had this album on vinyl when I was growing up so I do remember putting it on a lot. There is not a bad song on this album! One of my favourite Bowie personas. Stand out tracks: - Five years - Moonage Daydream - Starman - Star - Hang on to yourself - Ziggy Stardust - Suffragette City - Rock 'N' Roll Suicide

Great album with some of my faves.

Loved it. A lot more rock and roll than I thought it’d be.

3.5 - a few great songs, but most of it didn’t really click for me.

Most complete album outside of MBDTF. No letdowns.

Have this album - great all around

The better of the Bowie albums I've heard so far. Many hits on this one, but still not enough to really warm the cockles of my heart.

Perfection

Very enjoyable album but bowie’s voice despite being as unique as it is falls short at certain times with his vocals going out of tune every now and then. Solid 4/5.

A true classic. I might be biased in favour of it because I was repeatedly listening to it during a bumpy phase of my life, but there is no denying the musical genius of David Bowie. It's really weird because the album has so many elements that usually put me off, like the vocals or the jangly sound. But none of that spoils the listening experience and I think it's because the album doesn't seem like a human creation. Bowie entirely became Ziggy Stardust. So it's basically an extraterrestrial rock and roll album, and hence the weirdness. Its's playful, it's dramatic, it rocks hard, it's emotional, it's everything. Above all, it's immensely accessible, with a tight structure. Probably the best opening and closing tracks ever in an album. It's a celebration of rock and roll and music.

It's hard for me to relate my feelings on this one. While I enjoy the theatrics and songs on this, none of it really blows me away like it does for many. I think it may just be a generational thing, or at least a time thing, where it will just take a bit for Bowie to grow on me. I know its a concept album but half the time I have zero clue what he is on about lol. All of that aside, I really appreciate this album for its out of the box thinking for an album from 1972. Crazy to think about that. I will revisit Bowie for sure and I think this will grow on me. But for now, a 3.

7.5/10 This was good, but not fully great. Third Bowie album as part of this, and I am starting to come to the heretical conclusion that he might be overrated as an album artist. A good pile of total bangers and some genuine classics in here, but as an album it didn’t totally blow me away. Glam rock clearly influenced by the American stuff of the time. Best: Ziggy Stardust

Increíble y maravilloso Bowie como siempre

4.5/5

Loved this album, there is a lot of variety to the sound and the music is great.

Such a fun album. Another one I have on vinyl at home so I got to listen to it multiple ways and I just love it.

To quote Gordon Ramsay, finally, some good fucking music! Masterpiece of an album, something that truly deserves the moniker of an album that you absolutely must listen to before you die. I can assure you I’ll be listening to this a lot more before I die 5/5

David Bowie is great and so is this album. I have heard some songs from Bowie before (who hasn't?) but this was the first time i really listened to the songs and a whole album back to front like this and it was a great ride. Leaning back and listening to this album cured an otherwise bad day.

4eme album écouté après 'Low', 'Aladdin Sane' et 'Hunky Dory'. L'album est un peu plus rock que le précédent, j'aime beaucoup Guitare+basse et l'originalité des compositions. Par contre j'ai du mal avec les arrangements orchestraux. Je connaissais : Starman Ziggy Stardust J'ai aussi apprécié : Moonage Daydream Hang On to Yourself Suffragette City Mais moins les autres morceaux. Il ne rejoindra pas ma collection. =>3/5

Yet another banger! I remember growing up my mom loved David Bowie but never understood this album. I'm very happy to listen to it as an adult and make up for all of that.

I just don’t get the David Bowie love. This was strange, and nothing really jumped out to me as really good. Star man was the best track, but wouldn’t seek it out.

I’m sorry. I don’t love David Bowie.