Station To Station

This is the first Bowie album I listened to over and over again, because my girlfriend at that time owned it. For the next few years I bought all his new releases and then started buying up all the older ones in my twenties. It’s an epic album, especially listened to within the context of his everchanging output from Hunky Dory to Lodger. I think that the one song he didn’t write, Wild is the Wind, is maybe his greatest vocal performance of all time and by-far the most creative interpretation of that standard (at least until Esperanza Spalding’s).

10 Albums You Actually Need to Hear Before You Die Chapter 4 It’s too late to be late again: David Bowie’s “Station to Station” As I write this review, much of the northeastern United States is engulfed in a thick, noxious plume of smoke emanating from wildfires in Canada’s Quebec province. The sky is a hazed-out, sickly orange-brown; almost Martian in appearance. There is a constant smell of charred, burning wood in the air. It’s so dense that it clings to your nasal passages and throat, leaving its scent to linger in your head well after you’ve gone indoors to escape its tyranny. On a day like today, there’s no need to ask, “Is there life on Mars?” Instead, I’m wondering if we’re only a few short years from lifeforms on some distant planet asking, “Is there life on Earth?” Are we close to becoming Thomas Jerome Newton, Bowie’s character in the film “The Man Who Fell to Earth”, who graces the cover of Station To Station? Will we soon be forced to travel great distances in order to find and retrieve the resources that we require to live? Will we have to adopt a lifestyle that is foreign and incomprehensible in order to survive? …and why does it feel like I’m the only one who can see it coming? While other people are out there acting normally, doing their jobs and taking a walk through the Canadian wildfire haze on their lunch break, I’m here trying to concentrate on work and not let the innate, internal animal instinct that screams “Danger!” overwhelm my psyche. I bet that’s how Thomas Jerome Newton’s people ended up in their predicament: they didn’t pay enough attention to the guttural instinct that was warning them that things were going off the rails, they just continued as though nothing was wrong. As I admire the once lush blue sky that has turned ghastly brown and Mars-like, the refrain at the end of the title track - repeating “it’s too late” over and over - feels like a devastating mantra. There’s an undercurrent of desolation, paranoia and uncertainty running through Station to Station. For Bowie, it was fueled by cocaine. For me, today, that desolate and paranoid uncertainty has me looking to the future, recognizing we live in a transitional period where it’s probably too late, but our lateness hasn’t fully caught up with us yet. Indeed, Station to Station was also a transitional record for Bowie: a bridge between the blue eyed soul of “Young Americans” and the experimental, synthetic rock and ambient soundscapes of “Low” and “Heroes”. On paper, with that description, you might not think it would be as engrossing and timeless as it is. At this moment, early June of 2023, in a world that literally looks desolate and with paranoia’s resonant frequency amplified in my mind, Station to Station is the perfect soundtrack for the end of the world.

On the whole I just find the whole album utterly tedious and most of the songs irritating. Opening track is ok, as is Stay, but I mean this relative to the other songs rather than being songs I want to go back to. This just isn’t for me. I feel 2 is harsh but I will never put this album on again and thems the rules

Quick and fun 38 minutes. Let's rewind. I think the Thin White Duke era could be my favorite of Bowie's. Or does the preference always Ch-ch-changes?

I'm currently in hospital after a kidney transplant and every single Bowie song makes the life I'm allowed to lead a little more worth living. I was not only given new life, but also content and joy

Only six tracks, but an impressive degree of variety. I get a good sense of Bowie's eccentricity, especially from his concluding the album with a cover of "Wild is the Wind." I'm not sure I've ever listened to a David Bowie album in full (aside from Black Star), but there are a handful of tracks from Bowie that I've grown up knowing. "Golden Years" is one of those tracks. I'm looking forward to hearing more albums from Bowie that are, no doubt, on this list. Favorite tracks: Golden Years, Word on a Wing Album art: Very cool. Love the bold, red font. Bowie stepping into some space-age studio--looks about right to me.

David Bowie, known as the Thin White Duke at the time, delivers an album heaped with emotion but also devoid of it at the same time. The Duke addresses themes of religion and love throughout this short piece of work Bowies excessive cocaine use during these sessions is well documented, and is also addressed in both the title track and stay, lamenting "its not the side effects of the cocaine" Although this addiction resulted in bowie not capable of recalling any part of his recording of this album, it is clear the effect which it seems to take on the recordings themselves, which come across with an incredible energy that doesn't stay longer than it needs to. My favourite track would have to be either Word on a Wing, which is commonly viewed as bowies cry out to God during what he recalled as "one of the darkest periods of my life", or his astounding cover of Wild is the Wind, a cover which he was inspired to record after meeting Nina Simone just a few years prior. Overall, this album was an enjoyable experience, the instrumentals were fantastic, and Bowies voice, particularly on Wild is the Wind, was brilliant.

Very overrated album. Golden years is not that good of a song.

This is one of my favorite Bowie albums, and one of the few that doesn’t have a skipable track as far as I’m concerned. I think "Word on a Wing" and "Wild is the Wind" are among some of Bowie's best vocal performances of his career. “TVC15” is a fun outlier, with some crackerjack piano playing by E Street’s own Roy Bittan. "Golden Years" is a true classic, best track of them all. Even with the 10+ minute opener, I think this is one of Bowie's more accessible albums musically. The lyrics are another matter and can be rather opaque, especially on the title track. But I honestly think a lot of what Bowie does lyrically is for effect and we're better off going along for the ride than putting too much effort into deciphering them. Much has been made of Bowie's drug use at the time, to which I say look at the product. If this is the work of an artist whose sensibilities were at all blunted by drug use, it's hard to see. Fave songs: Word on a Wing, Golden Years, Wild is the Wind

I didn't know I like Bowie until this listening project. I like Bowie. This record was terrific.

The songs are long, but the album feels short. What a treat, such a perfectly trimmed journey!

Station to Station is my favourite song of all time and this album is in my top 10 albums of all time. I LOVE IT!!! The phenomenal opener that is 10 minutes of pure art rock. Golden Years is such a beautiful funk-rock song. Word on a Wing and the album closer Wild is the Wind have a beautiful vocal performance and a very emotional songwriting. Stay is just pure rock and soooo fcking good. The only song I would say is not 100% perfect is TVC15 but still sooooo great... favourites: Station to Station, the Rest of the album least favs.: I REFUSE TO CHOOSE rating: strong 9 to light 10

Tied for my favorite Bowie record, but usually inches ahead of the others thanks to an all-killer tracklist that doesn't overstay its welcome. The hooks are here, the production is here, the experimentation is thankfully present but not drowning or too slow (I love Low but some cuts drag on). Bowie proves you can make a pop/post-punk/krautrock/dance record that appeals to normies and snobs alike.

I always thought I liked David Bowie, but this is the third album that has kinda fallen flat for me, so maybe I only like the familiar hits. It's a strange realisation!

I hate all David Bowie hits except maybe suffragette city as it’s not glitzy glam pop. I’ll never understand how we as a society take run of the mill pop and turn it into a profound artistic statement because we like the artist’s personality. However, I know he can be weird and I’m hoping this one is. 6 tracks, 38 minutes certainly tells some kind of story. This sounds like Beavis & Butthead transition music so far which is honestly far better than rebel rebel or anything of that nature. Aaaand here come the vocals. Rock opera. Ugh. There are moments where I believe this is cool. There are many others where the piano and disco kicks in. What the hell is this? Ah man. No good. Elton John piano licks without any of the fun. Is it too late to skip this? Wow guys, this disco song is slightly longer than normal AND the singer has a wacky haircut. This is equivalent to great literature. This sucks. Fuck. Riverboat music. Fat rich cottage goer tunes. I don’t think I can fairly listen to this. I just think he’s insufferable. The bad part is that there are cool ideas that I could see myself enjoying. Some of the vocal harmonies at times sound cool. Lots of sounds. There’s just a general poppiness that I can’t stand. Sounded like death grips for a second. Unfortunately it’s still me in the grip of a cruise ship based nightmare. Why is this crooning over a karaoke steely dan instrumental considered “must-hear”? Is this also Christian? Holy hell. Washed up musician having an evangelical breakdown whilst on barbiturates during a reunion show at a local casino “type beat”. Hail Satan and bring on more pedestrian tripe! Right on cue. Oh baby, the bow tie on the wedding singer is loose now. Everybody is a few loonie drinks in. Time for some more riverboat jingles. It would be fun, sort of like a massive artist, to see what I could pass off as quality based off my name alone. They have to have tried it. traaaaaaaansition. I actually don’t hate the saxophone. There’s something!!!! It’s weird and good. Stay?? Why don’t you go?? Hahahah. Man I’m good. This song has actually sent me into hysterics. These vocals can’t be real. NO. There’s no fucking way. You can’t like this. These vocals or satire. This is making fun of mid 70’s crooners right? HE CANT SING. This is one of those moments where I feel like I’m in the interstellar universe screaming at an oblivious public from behind a space/time continuum rift. This is not good and I refuse to hear arguments to the contrary. Valueless and one of the worst songs I’ve heard in many years. Thoroughly unlikeable from start to finish, this album is a mix between run of the mill and completely insufferable. Musical competency at points jumps it from zero, but the horrendous singing and pop cheese takes this thing beyond the gutter, into a vat of talentless disco-tinged slop that is gulped down by the ladle by buffoons because it has David Bowie’s face slapped on it. Worthless as a psychedelic experience, even worse as a musical one. HIGHLIGHTS: The silence following the final track.

An era perhaps best short lived given how Bowie was living at the time, but the grandeur of Station to Station is a masterstroke of The Thin White Duke which eventually led to The Berlin Trilogy. It's title track is one of the most powerful album openers in music and from there it's quality never falters. Few artist can claim multiple masterpieces, but this is definitely one of Bowie's.

Everything was perfect about this album. Perfect run time, solid production, amazing vocal performance, a unique blend of 70s music styles, progressive in its own way, and kept me intrigued from beginning to end. Bowie is a fascinating person, I really look forward to his other albums. Masterpiece.

Yes, drugs are bad. But on the other hand; Station to Station by David Bowie.

David takes a short intermission, returns to the stage wearing a cocaine white suit and opens the second set with Station to Station. How many years ago was that? Fuck if I know but I remember it like it was yesterday. During that set Mick Ronson joined the band for Jean Genie. Bowie said he invited him when he bumped into him at the Four Seasons that day. Mick wasn't prepared and didn't even bring a guitar. He grabbed Earl Slick's guitar, strummed a bit and then just swung the guitar around rather than play it. On a day when I’m not a complete Bowie cheerleader I'd admit the extended opening of St 2 St didn’t age very well. But the rest is still magic. Golden Years was the “hit” and it along w TVC15 have aged quite nicely. The timing of this album selection couldn’t be better. I’ve been listening to Wild is the Wind every day for the last week or so since I’ve been learning to play it on guitar. Bowie's vocals are on Gldn Years and Wild is the Wind are among his best. Sorry for the long review Mike but I didn’t say a thing yesterday. And this is David

I’d never listened to this one top to bottom. So good. Might be my new favorite of his, but I definitely need to go through the catalog

My ears came 6 times

I don’t want to waffle on too much about Station To Station other than to say it’s a delightful listen that doesn’t outstay its welcome. A perfect little album and a definite fast favourite.

David Bowie claims he couldn’t remember writing this album after a bender. That’s quite impressive seeing as the last bender I was on I couldn’t remember how many zinger boxes I’d consumed

Widely considered a transitional album that bridges Young Americans and the Berlin trilogy, I always viewed this as a natural evolution. Great musicians all around, although Earl Slick, Carlos Alomar and Roy Bittan are superb. Bowie shows the full range of his vocals. His cover of Wild is the Wind could be my favorite Bowie cover and perhaps favorite Bowie vocal. Bowie never embraced punk, but there are post-punk elements here before there was post-punk.

Wow. Can someone pack that much into six songs? It's funny that he was struggling with drugs a lot during this period because the music is so on point and solid. He has an incredible way, always and forever, of matching the feel of the music with the feel of the vocals (not just the lyrics but HOW the lyrics are used). I would have loved to see this played in its entirety live. Listening to this sent me on a spin of listening to Bowie albums, trying to decide if "Five Years" was indeed my favorite song. I got stuck on Hunky Dory, forgetting how perfect it is from beginning to end.

The funk is real on this one. The record that preceded the Berlin years (my favorite era of Bowie) and started his second renaissance into the public consciousness. It’s got everything, art rock, soul, funk, jazz elements, melodica for Christ sake. The birth of the Thin White Duke. It is said that Bowie sustained himself on cocaine and peppers during these sessions and was so fucked up that he didn’t remember recording this album. If I dropped this banger and didn’t remember it, I’d be pretty upset. Favorite song: Station to Station Least favorite song: Wild is the Wind (if I had to choose)

Huh. So, normally I hate Bowie. A lot. This is….interesting, though….It’s still too untethered and blatantly coke-fueled for me, and would benefit greatly from some editing, but I like it more than the pseudo-intellectual experimentation of the Berlin Trilogy, and a lot more than the gaudy theatricality of his glam rock era. It has groove, it’s sonically varied like a normal pop record but still cohesive, and it’s a little more accessible, despite its experiments. I’d be lying if I said I didn’t bob my head throughout. In the end, though, Station to Station still always goes too far for me to be sold. Just when I’m digging a chorus or a beat, there’s a change-up or sound that just gets under my skin. I just think that’s the issue with Bowie for me in general. I truly hate his vocal choices, I hate his vaudevillian aesthetic, I hate how he builds a song. For all my ADHD-fueled love of hyperpop and noise rock, I hate how so many parts here just cut in out of absolutely nowhere throughout this record. I just can’t follow the logic of these songs. Every time I want Bowie to just stay focused, he explores a new avenue, and it always takes a good idea down a bad path. Unfortunately, red and green peppers, milk, and coke will not keep you on a focused path. For many, I’m sure that lack of focus is the exact thing they find appealing about Station to Station; for me, it’s the pressure point that brings the whole album down. I can see a version of Station to Station that was made with careful precision, tighter disco-inspired grooves, and songs that were contained to 4-minute runtimes, and I imagine truly adoring that version. That’s not what I have in my hands here, though. I’m pretty close to being okay with it, but I’m just not close enough to cross that line today. But it *is* the closest I’ve come to ever liking a Bowie record to any degree, and that has to mean something. (Yes, it means I’m experiencing Stockholm Syndrome thanks to this list insisting I listen to Bowie’s entire discography against my will.)

The title track 'Station to Station' is my favourite song of all time. Additionally, Bowie is my favourite artist of all time. Therefore the album itself is also one of my favourites, in fact it's even in my Top 15, the second best Bowie album with only Low receving a higher spot. The entire album is just such a beautiful mix between Funk Rock, Soul, Art Rock and Piano Ballads with even the "worst" moments being at the top of Bowie's career. There is nothing to say against the album: songwriting, lyrics, production, ideas, experimentation, all of it is executed perfectly. It starts with the big one: 'Station to Station' starts with train imitating synths that slowly build up in a very Post-Punk fashion. It then forms itself into an operatic and anthemic "march-like" song that seems to pull together Art-Rock, Prog-Rock, Post-Punk as well as Krautrock and first hints of Funk that after an enormous and beautiful first half burst out into a Disco inspired Funk oddysey full of beautiful lyrics and deeply emotional deliveries. As I said, my favourite song ever (closly followed by 'Starless' by King Crimson). It follows the story of the Thin White Duke, a character that Bowie embodied at that time. A drug addict, full of fascist philosophy that seems to have lost touch with the real world and spirals into a deep dark of his own thoughts. It was the exact opposite of what Bowie has or wanted to be but his strong cocaine addiction that held on for years pulled him slowly into this exact person. Maybe it was a cry for help which many songs on this album seem to be but this is darkest and most grim of all of them. Even musically this is full of depth with the mix of repetitive themes and short breaks that help to both release tension and create new ones. I don't even know... This thing is the most perfect thing ever created. Maybe 'Starless' is objectively the best but for me this is. The album could've played this song 4 times in a row and it would not be boring or repetitive. I can't say it enough: Masterpiece, perfect, genre-bending, songwriter masterclass. The lead single 'Golden Years' goes deep into Soul territory with a very strong Funk additude and beautiful backing vocals in the chorus. The song shimmers with light and gold and seems to be an opposite of the previous song while still having very sentimental and thought provoking verses that tie the song together in such a cohesive and wonderful way. And even though it's the albums shortest song it features a lot of memorable moments that make a perfect follow-up to the title track. With 'Word on a Wing', the Blue-Eyed Soul gets the most prominent as of right now with a lot of piano in the forefront on which he delivers some of his strongest lyrics ever written. This is the other cry for help on the album and this time it seems to much, much more emotional about the lack of love he feels and the desire to reconnect with the world, held away by his own doings. The chorus is without a doubt the most heart-wrenching he's ever put out. One of the saddest and most emotional songs I have ever heard. I say it again: PERFECT! The second side returns to the Funk and Art Rock with a really groovy and energetic track which was written about a dream Iggy Pop had about his girlfriend being eaten by a TV which is a crazy starting point but the result doesn't fall short. It's so incredibly catchy that I don't think anyone can really dislike it and even though I think it's the "weakest" on the album because the end feels a tad bit streched, it's still so unbelivably amazing with all the arrangements and catchy play arounds both musically and of course lyrically. This is nothing short of another masterpiece. 'Stay' gets really Rock with a the Bluesy intro but there is more to it. Firstly, the percussion is just so incredibly fitting that it's genius that they thought about adding these Bongos (?). The mix of Funk Rock with Disco and Krautrock is absolutely amazing and catchy which is why it was a common song Bowie played throughout his career on live shows. Again, it's fun to listen to with a lot of energetic playing but has a certain beauty from the vocals as well as the lyrics that again return to the theme of love. Especially here, the mixing is done so incredibly well that while a lot of the stereo aspects are used, none of it feels imbalanced. Another perfect song, I'm sorry but it's just that good. The final song 'Wild Is the Wind' is very similar to 'Word on a Wing' in terms of style but also delivery. He was very influenced by the Nina Simone version of the song and it shows: This is probably his best vocal delivery ever (other options are: Life on Mars?, Teenage Wildlife, & Lady Grinning Soul). It's such a beautiful Soul song with all the inspirations from Jazz, Soul and Funk pulled together in a masterful finale that flows through your mind like only few songs do with such a finesse and Psychedelia. It's a perfect closing track and it's not even close. favourites: Station to Station, Word on a Wing, Wild is the Wind, Stay, Golden Years, TVC15 least favourites: / Rating: strong 10 https://rateyourmusic.com/~Emil_ph for more ratings, reviews and takes

Listening to Bowie’s great albums in random order and at random intervals is tremendous fun to this first time listener. So far, they’re all such complete, almost hermetic objects that thoughts of his career progression flutter off before they barely begin to form in my head. To me, this sounds like he lands on an idea, a form, embodies it utterly, and moves on. His melodic and lyric knack is constant, but at the service of whatever he has alighted on. Station to Station is a majestic title. Contents are laid back, almost bar room ballad at times, but sheathed in this clean, futurist swoosh psychedelia. TVC15 is my favourite on this listen, though the cheeky quote of Good Morning Little Schoolgirl made me uneasy given the teenage fans Bowie allegedly slept with. Of course, I returned to Stay after writing that, and maybe that’s my favourite: streamlining funk, it seems to casually invent a decadent strand of eighties pop.

My original "favorite Bowie album" after voraciously devouring various compilations. Not a minute wasted here, his band is at the top of their game and the vocals on "Word On A Wing" and "Wild Is The Wind" are for all time. The best possible advertisement for cocaine abuse - if gawky 17yo me could have obtained sufficient quantities I would have done myself serious damage in tribute. Incredible

Great, great album! Bowie is a star. Somehow the songs seem much shorter than they are, everything is still compressed, and stuff happens. Oh damn ok, "Wild Is the Wind" slaps so fucking hard. Good shit. This aged well, and I think it will age even well'er. 5 Didn't enjoy "Golden Years" as much as everyone else it seems, very overrated imo. But the whole of the album makes up for it.

6 tracks. Just under 40 minutes. Every minute is great. Sometimes David Bowie's stuff is shamelessly artistic, but comes off a bit too kooky and inaccessible. Other times he makes something undeniably catchy, but without all that depth and substance. Here, he pulls off the best of both worlds. This album grooves - the bass lines are punchy and fun, and the guitar alternates between Chic rhythm and pink Floyd lead. Great album with lots of great moments

5 stars. Probably my favorite Bowie. Progressive, moody, thoughtful. And then there’s TVC15 now that’s just entertaining.

Masterpiece.

Absolute great Album, so versatile and creative, never boring

I’d never listened to this album in its entirety before but I will absolutely be revisiting it. Frequently. An eclectic mix featuring a spectacular rhythm section.

Wild is the wind

Love this album

Amazing!

Everything has that grand piano feel. Really unexpectedly short. Very good and I finally get the station to station reference.

the opener of this album is weird i wasnt into the first half at all but the second half was so stupidly good i had to go back and check like did i miss something? was i not paying enough attention?? but no it really is just that split in quality. golden years is really good, easily the best song here imo. not a single second of wasted space which is kind of hard for a lot of 70s rock apparently. like damn a lot of songs just went on and on didnt they. its not even a bad thing just nice to get a song thats actually compressed down like that. anyway the ballads arent bad at all, i see a lot of people saying theyre the worst songs here but disagreed. theyre dramatic enough to work. also i still have trouble telling what the fuck hes saying but apparently this is just a concept album about how pathetic some fascist dude is. wild 9/10

DAVID BOWIE YIPPEEEE hes such a legend rip fr stay kind of sounds like song off the new geordie greep album (sry for making the comparisson)

Every time I get a Bowie album generated, I think something like "he's got some good hits, but listening to an entire album might drag a bit." Every single time I'm wrong! Golden Years is a stand out for me here, but Station to Station, TVC15 and Wild is the Wind are all bangers. 4.5/5

I can't stop thinking about my girlfriend fucking other men.

*I can appreciate the music of this but I'm just not a huge Bowie fan. This is fine but nothing overly incredible to me.

Average Bowie album, I read he was checked out on this one.

I don't think this is peak David. There are a couple of memorable tracks but the rest are just competent. For Bowie completists.

I can see why people like Bowie. But for me this is pretty dull. Not bad. Just a bit dull.

#285. Yet another weak ass Bowie album. This one doesn't even have any of the hits to balance out the drivel 2/5: weaksauce

The most tolerable of Bowie's I've had so far, it's basically just a bad David Byrne impression.

"Station to Station" by David Bowie is a wonderful album that I've listened to. This album was produced during Bowie's peak cocaine period. Bowie told he doesn't even remember producing the whole album. The album production level is excellent. The songs, lyrics, vocal and instrumental performance are all great. This album combine rock with funk and blue eyed soul element. The album starts with title track "Station to Station" which is like 10 minute fun long ride. This track introduces Bowie's darkest character "the Thin White Duke" who is a hollow man, a fascist, emotionally restrained, and cocaine addict. This album also feature one of Bowie's greatest vocal performances in songs like "Word on a Wing" and "Wild is the Wind ( a cover song)". This album has only six tracks and all are over 4 minutes longs and album time length is around 35-40 minutes. All the tracks are excellent with no skip. The album flow smoothly from start to end. Overall one of his masterpiece album by David Bowie. Bowie sang, "It's not the side effects of the cocaine" and yes I'll say this is the side effects of the cocaine to produce this masterpiece album. My only complaint is "WHY THE HELL ARE THERE ONLY 6 TRACKS" . I wanted more from this album.

I’m questioning some of my life choices. Why was I never into Bowie at the time? Why did I take the piss out of Dave Gill at school, when he used to bend every uniform rule possible in an attempt to look like Bowie? Although, to be fair, I’d probably still have taken the piss. I don’t think I even knew this album existed back then. By the time it entered my orbit, I had somehow convinced myself it was one of his later offerings. It’s terrific. After just one listen, “Station to Station” could already be my new favourite Bowie track — and not just because of the beginning. I loved everything on here. What a great album.

Es corto, pero transmite mucho.

Incredible album - iconic

I love this transitional album from soul/funk Bowie to krautrock Bowie, which rate as my two favourite Bowie eras. The band is tight and funky, the songs intriguing, although some of Bowie's vocal affectations are a bit strange and the cocaine-induce emotional coldness persists. I enjoy listening to this album, although I do believe Station-era Bowie was likely a terrible human being (funny how cocaine addiction can spark flirtation with fascism). 4.5 stars, rounding up

Spent all day trying to put my finger on why I love this Bowie album (maybe the most of them all). Is it performance art? Like was he actually the 'Thin White Duke'? Like was there no real pretending or character acting involved? The whole thing feels scarily real to me. And yet still it grooves and still it pops.

Music to soothe the savage beast (my overactive mind). "Station to Station" is great, "Golden Years" is obviously a classic, fun bass line in "Stay." My overall favorite was "TCV15" with its 12-bar blues composition.

PogCamp

Masterwork. Titanic. Glacial shift. A spell, an incantation.

disaffected jazzy krautrock pop by a man obsessed with cocaine. lovely tho fav track: stay

Loved it

brilliant.

(4/5) Enjoyable Bowie. I'm a much bigger fan of early, 'glam' Bowie than later 'Duke' Bowie, but that doesn't mean I hate it. This album is a good example. "Golden Years" and "TVC15" are favorites and "Station to Station" and "Stay" are good to great. It's short, so I gave my favorites a second listen, and that cemented this as a top ranking '4' for me. I enjoyed it. Too much ink has been spilled over the merits/quality of Bowie's work, so I won't bore you with the details.

Surprisingly, I am getting brainwashed on Bowie. I have to admit this early period has truly grown on me. I almost wanted to give this a 5. Crazy. Would not consider myself a fan. I have even listened to this album before, so it’s not like I’m being introduced to some unknown Bowie. But can’t deny, he’s a great musician. 4 Boolean: true

Love Bowie. This is another transitional album as he left Ziggy Stardust and became slightly more mainstream

My man sings from the depths of his cocaine-addled soul in this album. I love hearing his voice showcased - this particular Bowie phase is one of my favorites.

My first Bowie. Some phenomenal songs on here. The only other Bowie album I’ve heard is Ziggy Stardust, which is a very different album than this. Great album though. Only 6 songs, but 6 very good songs.

8/10

A manifesto for that most unmanifestable of things: unorthodoxy. Never helps to overstate the lyrics with Bowie, but certain ideas resound: "run to the shadows", "I'm trying to fit into your scheme of things", "this age of grand illusion". He's interminably travelling on the opener, wild as the wind on the closer. It's all gauche, all different, all repudiating the idea of normal. Title track starts with a coda, moves to the bridge, follows that with an intro, ends with a different song. The guitar solo at the end of TVC-15 may melt brains. Everything on Stay is gauche and two beats off. Throughout, the white freak funk combines Eno and Clinton.

One day at David Bowie's house, Iggy Pop took a bunch of drugs and hallucinated that his girlfriend was being eaten by a TV, so naturally, Bowie turned it into a song. He was so coked out while making this album that he says he only has one memory of asking for a certain guitar riff, and nothing else. I think the lesson here is, if you're going to do drugs, you should either be as talented as David Bowie or have a friend with that level of talent that can turn your experience into a trippy song. Best track: TVC 15

As a casual David Bowie fan, I found this one middling enough to enough to make me realize how much I actually liked Heroes (our first Bowie entry on this list), which I have since revisited and enjoyed quite a bit. So I went back and rounded that one up to a 4/5 with the soul purpose of rounding this one down from a 3.5/5. Outside of his obvious bangers and hits, I feel like Bowie's "second tier" material just needs to grow on you, and there's always the chance that I'll have to reevaluate this one later, as well. There's certainly good stuff here, but it doesn't immediately strike me as vital and necessary. We'll see if that holds out.

Second Bowie album from the list. First was Heroes, which also got a 3 from me. This album is getting a polite 3 from me. I enjoyed about half of this album. (Golden Years, Word on a Wind, Stay) The other half went on too long and annoyed me (TVC15 I found especially grating) It’s not unpleasant but I found it unnecessary given the man has nine albums on this list. Then I read this is considered one of his “most significant” albums. Really? I am unable to hear it. A friend told me that’s because its ahead of its time, in that it sounds very 80s-coded, but in 1976. I can respect that, but again I’m finding I may not enthusiastically enjoy it.

Liked it pretty ok, station to station's intro drags on but really liked Golden Years and Stay is bop. TVC15 is a bit repetitive. Overall solid vibe, and despite dragging in some places the album doesnt overstay its welcome. A nice burst of energy musically.

You can hear the drug-fueled, whirling dirvish stylings all over this album, as if Bowie cant keep his restless self from settling for too long. The music lurches from krautrock to disco to art rock without much care or consideration. The production on this thing is tight as ever, infectiously groovy, if sometimes a little skittish or unsettled. Bowie's voice is particularly agile on standout Golden Years, and the cover of Wild is the Wind is another stellar track.

The first song is 10 min…. Not a good first impression. So far not Bowies best. Bowie is a legend and this album is not.. bro these songs are soooo long

Meh, not my favourite Bowie record but also not the worst thing on this list

NOTE ABOUT THE LIST: I know it's pointless, but here I am once again advocating for a two-albums-per-artist limit. Yes, Bowie fans, your precious David is preventing us (and you!) from expanding our musical horizons. Heard Before? not at all, despite several attempts to get in Bowie over the years. Notes: - I appreciate the tribute to Nina Simone. it's certainly well-sung and a nice change of pace to have a well-written song with decent vocal melodies. at the same time, it doesn't touch her version. - the title track has parts i enjoy, but all of them go on too long, and the awkward melodies are awkwardly sung. it's bad when the auxiliary percussion and electronic noise are the most exciting parts. - "Stay" is fun, full-bore disco although why anyone thinks these vocals work is a mystery to me. - i can appreciate every song. i get what's going on. but i kept feeling like it was just about to get really good and it never did. - seriously, are these vocals post-ironic? Verdict: More Bowie, more persona, long songs, no reason to care. At least it was better than the atrocious and endless "Young Americans". Listen Again? Nope. I still find myself wishing i liked Bowie. I would have so much more to talk about with people.

Not his best

After 5 Bowie albums (and counting) - can confirm it's not my style. I don't really get all the hype for his music.

Not my favourite Bowie album, too much self-indulgence in those long, long tracks. Some interesting bits but overall didn't do it for me.

Что-то я совсем не вкурил (или, как в случае с Боуи, не внюхал) эту тему. Один хороший песняк - и тот оказался кавером. Вот вам и кокаиновый фанк.

Bowie has some amazing stuff and is certainly an artist that deserves multiple entries on a list like this... But "Station to Station" just doesn't cut it. It's a middling, transitional album in Bowie's extensive discography... not worth to be listed among the greatest!

Highlight: "Station to Station," "Word on a Wing," "Stay" Not much to add. I don't buy the hype. It's all over the place in genre and mood without track-to-track cohesion, and Bowie's awkward voice tramples everything in the mix no matter how big the arrangements. The lyrics are remarkably coherent and respectable for someone allegedly at the end of their rope in substance abuse. The lyrics are where this album has the most unity. The dabbling in soul and funk feels better than appropriative or gimmicky. At least another turning point for the guy we should be calling man of many faces over Dylan.

I know that I am in the minority here, but this album just didn't do it for me. I will say that I really did enjoy the song Wild Is The Wind.

Proof, if it was needed, that Bowie is more about the artist than the art

Listening to this album gives me anxiety. Musically very interesting tho obv

Nice sequence to get this after Lou Reed's Transformer. So I can stay in the glam rock vibe for another album. I thought I never listened to it as a whole, but I recognized most tracks. The album is not that long, just 38 minutes with 6 tracks, and there is no weak spot on it. Definitely going to my vinyl wish list. "Golden Years" was for me the most well-known song which I already knew from my youth—though I was only three years old when it came out (thanks to having an older brother!). The title track has a great buildup to start the album. What surprises me is how well the albums from this era are produced, with very clear separation of all the instrumentation; there is no wall of sound where individual instruments get lost. Instead, you can hear every bassline, guitar riff, saxophone note, drum fill, etc. which I really like a lot.The glam rock has matured into a nice funk-rock style which also makes it very catchy.

🥞

Not much else sounded like this in 1976 - fantastic record!

214. Station To Station - David Bowie (1976) 9.24.26 Variety: 5 Adequacy: 5 Listenability: 4 Uniqueness: 5 Emotionality: 4 = 4.6 rounded up to a 5 "It's not the side-effects of the cocaine/ I'm thinking that it must be love" Famously normal guy, David Bowie recorded this one pretty quickly after the success of Heroes ( already covered here - certified 5-stars for anyone asking - only 7 more to go after this one!), during which he perfected his cocaine addiction, resulting in him claiming to have absolutely no memory of the recording of this album. I'm glad the man powered through and had enough willpower to kick the habit in relatively short time, since he was able to give us so much more great music, but I do love the oft-repeated legend that during this time he subsisted on "red and green peppers, milk and cocaine". Legend building aside, in later years he did at least talk a lot about how wretched addiction was, and how it ruined most of his personal relationships. My experience of this album came well after I had been familiar with his hits via the lone oddball record we had in the house growing up - Changesonebowie. I'm pretty sure it was not actually my mom's as her taste tended towards Air Supply, America, and the Beatles. So was maybe something left behind by an ex maybe, with much cooler taste. But I had at least heard "Golden Years" from this album, being the lone track off that album. At the time I can say for sure that I much preferred the stuff I would have heard more heavily featured on the radio - "Space Oddity", "Changes", "Rebel Rebel", "Fame"... and only probably appreciated the other stuff more much later after I got into the man's catalogue proper. Station to Station I don't think I ever listened to all the way through until the early 2000s, when I had decided to work my way through Bowie's complete discography. I had by then heard all of Ziggy Stardust by the late 90s, probably since I had read about it being important, and over the next few years I was spurred on by both his music being featured in a bunch of magazine sampler/ tribute album CDs ( I worked at a chain bookstore in the late 90s to mid 2000s and I picked up a lot of these, which were pretty uniformly excellent samplers. I would especially recommend the Mojo magazine ones if you see them used, grab them) and stuff like Wes Anderson's The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou soundtrack. This did not end up being my favorite of the bunch, but it still ranks pretty decently. On with it! THE TRACKS Side one "Station to Station" - The opener gets touted a lot as the key track that maps out the next few albums, and I can see it I guess. But I think you do have to strain a bit. Sure the train noise that sort of disintegrates into noise leans hard right away into the experimental, and the rest of the track has the sort of avant-garde touches like the weird clicking/ spinning noise and the dramatically tortured vocals, but there's a fucking groove here that is undeniable. I think Bowie has made his live of Kraftwerk's Autobahn album pretty clear, and it's said he listened to it constantly while recording this. The mechanical, repetitious nature is definitely there. But there's also some Latin percussion, some funky as hell bass, and even some discoey cymbal stuff, especially when that second movement comes in. My favorite section starts around 6:00 when the chorus comes in. We get some funky wah-chigga-wah-wah guitar work, and the song chugs along for the remainder, soaring up and giving a sort of hurried, and upbeat feel despite the ambiguous lyrics. This is all massively entertaining, and full of such variety within the boundaries of a single song, that it feels like even though we've got a limited track listing, this is two or even three song's worth. The song fades out, and feels like a comedown, but a pleasant one where you know you'll get some real fucking good sleep out of it. "Golden Years" - I mentioned this was the lone song I was familiar with, and heard it enough as a kid to be able to sing along a bit, but it was not until I was much older than I recognized how funny it was, with the funky disco music playing out underneath the exhausted, less than enthused vocals. It feels like a song about the ultimate emptiness of the nonstop party lifestyle, where the narrator is just going through the motions, presenting all these fantastic opportunities - possibly in the role of some sort of Svengali type, making hollow promises, and living vicariously, or even more sinisterly, as a vampire off of the reflected fame and fortune. This is all just nonsense impressions I get from the song, but it's most definitely not a happy good times song like the instrumentation would have you believe. Hilariously, it's rumored to have been written for Elvis. Catchy as it could possibly be, and becomes pure musical adrenaline whenever the chorus comes in. Just try to NOT tap the beat out when you're listening to this. Handclaps, and finger snaps are just icing on the already funky cake. And whistling! By far the poppiest and most approachable song on the album, it's still got a weird vibe. "Word on a Wing" - An underappreciated song in Bowie's canon ( even by myself), this one has got a lot going for it, including some very touching lyrics, and a killer mini chorus - "Sweet name, you're born once again for me"... - nested within the verse. The chorus proper is full of desperation and pleading, that contrasts very well with the more romantic and wistful verses. The best moment is that bridge in which the narrator temporarily gains some focus and drive before falling back into despondency and anguish. As much as I dig the song it's maybe a bit too long though. The weird, churchy ending is good as well. Side two "TVC 15" - My favorite song on the album, and the one that feels most like a lark. But man is it a catchy, soulful, weird, and interesting lark. Fig that fat bass from George Murray. Actually - this is the perfect time to call out all of the players here as everyone is on fucking point. Carlos Alomar and Earl Slick great throughout on guitar, but Roy Bittan gets the starring role here with his awesome piano work. Awesome backing vocals, and more handlcaps! There's SOOOOO much to love about this song. The best part though is when that final chorus comes in and just keeps going, the sax coming in and it builds and builds... until there's no where to go but to fade out. I like to think that enough people must listen to this song enough that that chorus can just keep on going, forever and ever. "Stay" - This is our first truly SERIOUS track, with it's funky as hell blaxploitation soundtrack opening. The chicken scratch guitar is on full display here, and you can tell someone has been listening closely to some Isaac Hayes, Isley Brothers, and Curtis Mayfield and has been taking notes. The rock elements are not absent by any means though with Alomar tearing it up here, and pulling triple duty. I imagine when performed live the stage must have gotten crowded to James Brown levels with all the players that would be required. Dennis Davis deserves a special call out here for the awesome percussion work. I'm guessing those were bongos, but who knows. This song has forward drive that feels full of determination and look out if you get in its way. One thing I have not called out yet is the pacing on this album, and this one is perfect for it's spot. The penultimate expenditure of energy and life before we all get the wind down closer. "Wild Is the Wind" - I was much more familiar with Bowie's version by the time I ever heard Nina Simone's. We heard that one off of her album of the same name a while ago on the list, and I remember I called her performance of the song "god tier" or something similar. That still stands, but Bowie's is the version that lives in my brain. It's sad and epic and romantic, and I used to dislike it quite a bit. It has grown on me more and more over the years, but for someone who had heard mostly the catchy radio hits prior to this, it felt... weak somehow. I still don't completely love it, but I love it enough. HIGHLIGHTS - All of it MIDLIGHTS - LOWLIGHTS - FINAL THOUGHTS This album is an edge case for me. It's great, top to bottom, but it does have some minor flaws, and it's got 8 other Bowie albums to complete with, so as is the case with a lot of these artists taking up a huge chunk of real estate on the list, I have to grade on a curve, and I find it lacking in a few small ways. Great performances aside, as much as I like "Word on a Wing" and " Wild is the Wind" I wish that neither felt as sprawling as they do, and neither stands out as much as everything else on here. This, coupled with the still very reasonable under 38 minute run time, and the small number of tracks we get leads to a mild feeling of "that's all we get?" every time I listen to it. I would still say it's a great success overall, and a major step forward in his musical evolution. A very solid 4 that I am happy to round up. There's a LOT of stuff on this album ( recorded in 1975, mind you) that is ALL over the first half of the next decade when it comes to countless New Wave and especially Post-Punk bands, who were influenced heavily by and/ or stole liberally from late 70s Bowie. And not even just musically. Most of them aped his fashion sense ( Duran Duran, et al. ), his singing style ( Peter Murphy, et al.) or just his whole ... vibe ( Gary Numan, et al.). And that's not even considering the legit vultures like Peter Schilling with his unsanctioned Major Tom sequel song ( which I think Bowie was gentlemanly complimentary of). So for influence alone, this one deserves to be on the list. And it was Bowie's first big step towards the weird experimental phase of his "Berlin Trilogy" ( a) not all recorded in Berlin and b) not really a trilogy). For my money, I think Station to Station slots into this imagined series way better than Lodger ( not on the list), but since I guess it wasn't recorded in Europe at all its somehow disqualified? Anyway - this is still top tier Bowie, and I would say is a good jumping on point only IF you are looking to get into his artier, more experimental stuff. It's still plenty danceable in parts, and has some casually listenable material, but it's not very pop forward. For that you need to go back and listen to Hunky Dory and Ziggy Stardust. This one sits sort of in between all that stuff, and would be a horrible first Bowie experience. I mentioned it before, but it would be cool to be able to at least get albums in chronological order of release from artists when they do pop up in the list. Moving around in time I think hurts the appreciation you might pick up from hearing these people evolve over time, and can imagine it being a bit of a turn off, especially for someone who is unfamiliar with the artist's discography already. My suggestion with Bowie would be to go back and at least fill in the non-listed albums starting from David Bowie ( 1969) on. That's if you don't want to spoil future albums that are on the list. At least that way, you at least have a skeleton to work from that makes his career make a bit more sense. Possible turn-Offs might include: - long run times - avant-garde touches like abrasive, noisy and unconventional guitar tones and sound effects mixed in with the music - a possibly unexpected amount of emotionally delivered piano balladry - only one big pop hit You Might enjoy this if you: - enjoy weird takes on established genres like soul and funk - are looking for a solid middle ground between his pop stuff and his late 70s experimental stuff - love lots of varying textures in your music - are really into New Wave and. or Post-Punk and would like to trace it's influences PLAYLIST ALTERATIONS - Nope. FURTHER LISTENING Precursors: - Scott 4 by Scott Walker - Jacques Brel is Alive and Well and Living in Paris original cast recording by Various - Autobahn by Kraftwerk - Ege Bamyasi by Can - Neu! by Neu - Fresh by Sly and the Family Stone - Spinners by the Spinners Contemporaries: - Siren by Roxy Music - Another Green World by Brian Eno - Coney Island Baby by Lou Reed - Horses by Patti Smith - Radio-Activity by Kraftwerk - Ricochet by Tangerine Dream - Futuristic Dragon by T. Rex Descendants: - The Idiot by Iggy Pop - More Songs About Buildings and Food by Talking Heads - The Pleasure Principle by Gary Numan - The Scream by Siouxsie and the Banshees - Closer by Joy Division - In the Flat Field by Bauhaus - Real Life by Magazine - Duran Duran by Duran Duran - Empires and Dance by Simple Minds - Disintegration by the Cure - The Fragile by Nine Inch Nails - Sound of Silver by LCD Soundsystem - St. Vincent by St. Vincent

Beautiful album, has a number of classic songs from his catalog.

David bowie can do no wrong! this is the album with golden years on it which is my childhood as well

My favorite album from one of my favorite artists. Flawless from start to finish, keeps you on your toes, makes my dance, makes you cry, makes you sing along long after the songs are over. I can’t even pick a favorite song, depends on the time of day. Wish I could listen and fall in love with this album all over again. Lastly... props to Bowie for really going through it and coming up with a masterpiece, only he could tame monsters and carry on.

I just don’t understand how the man does it. He constantly reinvented himself and his sound. He was never doing the same thing, always something new and different, and it was always perfect or nearly perfect! I don’t understand how this man can be this creative and gifted. I’ve always loved Bowie but I never truly did a deep dive past a few albums and the hits. This man was too good for us we didn’t deserve someone this musically gifted. I don’t say this lightly, but I’d put Bowie up there with Prince when it comes to the most musically gifted artists of all time. They are totally different but they share the same insane amounts of creativity and talent. But to focus on the actual album for a minute, I have to say it’s the perfect length. It’s not too short or too long, it’s just a constant stream of genius. I’ve actually had to reevaluate my other reviews cause this ain’t his best album, but it’s definitely in the conversation so I had to make sure my previous reviews reflected that. For example, I had to raise young Americans to a 5 cause that album has really grown on me and become one of my favorites. And I’d probably put this album on that same level. I mean the man can’t even be genre defined cause it’s always alittle different even though you could say it’s all pop rock, that’s not entirely accurate. There’s pop rock, there’s art pop, there’s blues rock, and even psychedelic rock. People talk about the greatest “album runs” (like a series of album released back to back that are all time greats) and David Bowie, frankly, needs to be in that conversation. I’d still argue that nobody can touch Black Sabbath’s original 5-7 album run which are all genre defining and massively foundational to the genre they created, but Bowie is so close to accomplishing that as well (minus creating a brand new genre).

4,42 1. "Stay" 2. "Wild Is the Wind" 3. "Station to Station"

First album that I haven't listened to from this that would genuinely brilliant and you could tell after 4-5 listens I'll fall in love

Maybe this isnt a 5, but to me its just a perfect album. Sonically beautiful, and the lyrics and vocals are just astounding, I adore this album

sehr gutes album ein meister werk von bowie

I was hoping to hear more stuff like this. I know and dig Bowie, but I rarely engage with his albums. I am excited for this one. An auspicious start.. reminds me of some prog rock, just an instrumental vamp that grows over time. This is an incredible album. Funk, rock, but it sounds totally unique. Bowie is a true visionary on this one. You can HEAR IT, the author's voice. 5 out of 5, we cannot deny it.

I wasn’t familiar with this album, despite ‘Golden Years’ being one of my favourite Bowie singles. I loved listening to this and it will be played many more times I’m sure. I listened to it a second time before rating it as it all took me by surprise and the 2nd listen was worth it. Lots of great bass, and guitar work. His vocals are on point. Love the piano stuff. Superb songwriting. Has to be a surprise 5 stars. Best track ‘Word on a Wing’.