Reviews (page 7 of 14)
Two David Bowie in a row lol. I knew nothing of this album before listening. It's by far the most interesting Bowie album I've heard yet. Very atmospheric, some great tracks. Is it Ziggy stardust? Probably not but I really enjoyed it
This was not what I expected but it was a good listen nonetheless! Heavily instrumental and experimental but super accessible. I was not blown away but it was fun.
Listening to this coincided on going to what I knew was a sure thing breakup. The sounds just hit perfectly for what I was feeling at the time. I can’t stress how much I love David Bowie.
Classic DB album fro the Berlin/Eno trilogy. It oozes class even though the record company initially hated it. A couple of the 2nd side mood pieces sag a bit. 4.2
During Summer of Bowie two years ago, I tried to listen to every album 2-3 times. This one was not my favorite. But today I liked it a little more. Perhaps with each revisit it will grow on me a little more. The second half doesn’t do it for me … yet.
The first side is brilliant, angular, funky and intelligent. Breaking Glass, Sound And Vision and Always Crashing are superb. The second side I appreciate more now that I’m older. I always found the Berlin stuff a bit too chilly and detached when I was younger, but this has grown on me over the years, now I think it’s a clever evocation of a strange time and place. It’s still not my favourite Bowie album, but it could be in a few years at this rate.
This was fun
the instrumental tracks are awesome
great, love the shift in the second half, Eno's additions are brilliant, my favourite Bowie album
Bastante chulo
cool sound, create, interesting, and calming I suppose... easy to put on in the background
Bought this album a long time ago, lured in by Breaking Glass then expanding into the rest of the playlist! And of course - Sound and Vision.
Surprised by this one. Other Bowie records I've tried have mostly felt like "the hits and a bunch of other shit". Reminded me of Teenager of the Year somehow. Similar synth sounds maybe.
I dont know if this scores as the best Bowie album, but its definitely up there. 4/5
😱😱😱
It was not my cup of tea in 1977…today I appreciate it as a step in the development of a unique artist who, like Ray Charles somewhat, was always reinventing his art, his style, himself
Song: Sound and Vision David Bowie never really misses—I don't usually seek out his music, but I'm never upset to hear it. This was a solid track with a good groove and a cool, funky instrumental. I like Bowie's low register a lot, too, it sounds great. All in all, this was a good song that I'd listen to again.
idk how to feel about it. Solid 3.5
smooth album with nice instrumentals and very different vibe
This album is very different from other David Bowie albums I've listened to. Seems to me like he did some experimenting in the recording of this album. I get a futuristic vibe. Overall, not a bad album.
Classic, iconic Bowie!
Feels like I'm in an superhero action movie, also great music to work to. Focus seemed to increase while listening.
I remember lying in the dark with my turntable and three foot speakers. This album was a beautiful journey every time.
Great!
Love David Bowie
Much more atmospheric than I was expecting. Enjoyed it! Good to hear saxophones, add to the chill feel.
difrent style of music that I’m not used to but might listen again :))
Possibly includes my favourite (or close to) Bowie song in Sound and Vision, one of the most excellent songs to strut to and a track that floats absently into my head during quiet, positive moments. The rest is all very well although descends into proggy cul-de-sacs for limited purpose in my view. Still, generally fine but not as groundbreaking as it clearly wants to be during those moments. Almost gets a five for Sound and Vision alone but I will restrain myself this once
Techno sad boy
Great Bowie album!
A bit dramatic, had to get into it but it is a beautiful album. 4/5
Nice, enjoyed this the last few tracks being a bit weird is much appreciated
:)
Classic album
Favorite Tracks: Sound and Vision Warszawa
Not a Bowie album I know well. I only know Sound and Vision coming into the listen. Standouts: Sound and Vision, Breaking Glass, 3.5
Het klinkt allemaal nogal spacy deze keer, vooral plaatkant B. Heeft David een keyboard gekocht en vervolgens een boel Vangelis geluisterd? O wacht, slaapliedjesgrossier Brian Eno heeft meegedaan, vandaar. Kant A heeft wat meer pit, en het geheel is allemaal best relaxt.
I really enjoyed the start of this, but by the end I was starting to get very bored. It was fantastic and a vibe all the way through, but only side one brought excitement. It’s not for me, but I still understand it’s a great project. 4/5
Not my favorite Bowie record, but still solid. Lots of atmospheric Eno rock. Good to space out to.
8/10 Highlights: Sound and Vision Speed of Life Always Crashing in the Same Car
4 - sound and vision is so good. I’m quite tired so haven’t got much coming to mind. Bowie good
Wow, this took a left turn I didn't expect. After the first few tracks I was already mentally assembling my comments about how Bowie is a great singles artist, but maybe his albums are overrated, but the second half of this album flipped that narrative completely for me. Some tracks like Warszawa and Art Decade I thought were really beautiful in a way I've not heard from this era of Bowie before. If you played me the intro to Weeping Wall by itself and asked me to guess the artist I'd never get to Bowie. Subterraneans sounds like a The Comet is Coming song, I'm just flabbergasted that this is a DB album. I love that there are fully instrumental tracks here, even though at times they feel like they could be enhanced even further with Bowie's voice on top. Still, I liked this a lot, particularly the second half. 4.3/5
I could take or leave the first half. Got interesting in the second half.
I mean it's David Bowie! It's not gonna be bad! That said I didn't like any particular songs on this so it's not a 5
Loved it. Instant classic. Perfect mix of quiet and non-invasive but also instantly gripping you want to keep listening.
Great electrosynthpop side one, a must hear. Side 2 is interesting and enjoyable but felt bland at times. Almost I all a great suprise.
Experimental Bowie i can fw it. Listening again today bc i feel like i tuned a lot of it out yesterday
Too much Brian Eno, not enough David Bowie.
I have this on vinyl so got to spin it instead of streaming. First half is great Bowie pop but the second half is what makes it unique. Some very long synth soundscapes with very minimal vocals. Not the most listened to Bowie in my collection...but I always forget how much I love to get lost in the sounds on this one
Were good late listening vibe
Pretty good for 1977 lol
Interesting album, especially the back half. No standout song but as a whole, very good
None of Bowie's super hits, but a very listenable, dark, groovy album
Never listened to this, and was surprised by it. Much more instrumental than I had thought. I liked it.
class
Not as much a fan of the uppy songs but man the songs that really feel Low are 😭🤌
This is like two different albums. I prefer the ambient second half. Subterraneans brings this from a 3 to a 4
-more instrumental/ambient than expected (not a bad thing) -the first few songs are somewhat experimental electronic -overall a good listen
The rise and fall of Ziggy Stardust vond ik een heel erg goed album, dus ben ook wel heel erg benieuwd naar dit album! Merk meteen dat dit album veel instrumentaler is dan dat andere. Zo is er bijvoorbeeld Waszawa, echt een prachtig nummer overigens, wat een 6 minuten lange instrumentale trip is. Echt heel vet! Totaal anders dan het vorige album maar daarom ook wel heel interessant! FAVO: Sound and Vision, Always crashing in the same car, Warszawa, Subterraneans
Really interesting album that I had never listed to before, although I was familiar with a couple of the songs (Sound and Vision, Be My Wife). Love the ambient vibe to the second half and the way he uses his voice as an instrument. Definitely an introspective Bowie album.
All time favorite
Some wild sounds in these tracks.
Pretty good. I’ll go to 4 stars given it’s importance
In general I haven't been too impressed with the David Bowie singles that I've heard and could never figure out what the big deal was, but this album was pretty good.
“Low” is on the more experimental end of Bowie’s music although there’s still a big emphasis on melody, especially on the first half which is made up of relatively straightforward rock songs. I really like the first half and the way the music works strange sounds and styles into the songs. I can’t get enough of “Breaking Glass.” “Sound and Vision” is the only song I was previously familiar with because it’s on the Greatest Hits and it’s definitely the closest to straight-up pop. Great funky sound. The second half is a little more hit or miss for me but it’s also the more challenging half. It leans toward ambient music and experimental rock. I’m not sure when I’ll ever really want to listen to a song like “Warszawa.” In addition to being a dramatic movie score-type track, it’s a little cheesy. “Art Decade” is beautiful though and “Weeping Wall” has a trancelike vibe. “Subterraneans” is excellent too. I like that Bowie uses his vocals on this one for a few minutes before he sings any words. Interesting album. I listened to it twice and it definitely got better the second time. I’ll let this one continue to sit with me.
Seems like Bowie was sad when he made this. My fav was sound and vision
Innovative and different, a great album
cool 70s songs, i think it’s interesting how there were a lot of instrumental songs toward the end of the album kinda a vibe
Pretty good, not a lot of singing
This album is the perfect encapsulation of who Bowie was. Someone capable of reinventing himself personally and professionally while simultaneously trailblazing a new path for popular music. It’s an album that requires a dedicated ear to uncover its true merit, but one that is so rewarding. It’s one of the purest examples of the value of experimentation and innovation. I’m not sure it’s my favorite Bowie album, but it’s definitely my most revered.
Warzawa, sound and vision, be my wife
Apparently David Bowie is better with less David Bowie.
Chill and weird
4/5
Enjoyed the groove of this album!
Fun album. Second half is a synthy sound track, instrumental
I need to spend more time with this album.. feels like it gets more rewarding with every listen.
Very interesting album, back half is very conceptual and hauntingly beautiful
Very nice overall, but did not like all of the songs
Instrumentals build an atmosphere and make whenever Bowie starts singing on the album feel like a moment.
Hate to say; I’ve become quite an Eno-head over the years. Very interesting record, the first half is that classic Bowie sound mixed with some more contemporary elements. The second half is real out there, ambient and experimental. I’m glad I had the weekend with this one because at first it didn’t really click but I got the picture after giving it another go. Certainly not my favorite Bowie record by any means but it is fascinating hearing him involved in such an experimental project and churning out a sound I would never have associated with him.
Love David Bowie, but not favorite Bowie Album
Hell yeah I fuckin love bowie
I like toevallig dit hele album nog nooit geluisterd dus leuke ervaring
Blind album, didn't even know it existed in his discography. Very funky right off the bat and different from what I hear when I think Bowie. Groovy, and funky, and I love it. The 2nd half of this album sounds like an entirely different album though...
Some albums are perfect examples of what they set out to do, and this album is a perfect example of an Album of Two Sides, because these two sides are two sides to the same story, A being the sounds of the surface, the story you tell everyone, the one exposed to those around you, and so the songs are more poppy yet retaining a visionary, experimental edge; then side B delves below the surface, into the realm of haunting synthesizers, darkly lit by the mood of Bowie's recovery from a crippling cocaine addiction.
Really enjoyable sound. Hard to believe it came out in 1977. Sounds ahead of its time.
Not my favorite David Bowie album but still Bowie
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=skfQZLlDJ1w
swell! Sound and vision hits hard!
Good stuff, hope to find a hidden gem i liked but no surprises sound and vision is the song here
Instrumental focus, making it good to work to. Really enjoyed.
With the number of Bowie albums served to me here getting close to 2 digits, one thing that's dead obvious is that there's too much Bowie here (regardless of how good Bowie was). As for this particular album: it's pretty good! Not as good as Bowie's best, but given the variety of styles here it can't be boring, either. Clearly ahead of its time.
I enjoyed the first half more than the second, but it was all very modern sounding. Not what I was expecting from 1977 Bowie.
Not too bad: This review may be a little controversal but honsestly I don't think this album is all that. This album is amazing don't get me wrong but it isn't a unanimous 5/5. There are some classics on this record which I loved but I felt the sheer amount of instrumental pieces took away from the lyrcal creativity of the sung songs. It's close to a five but not quite there.
4 for sound and vision
This is not the David Bowie I knew from pop rock songs about space but I still liked it a lot. He experiments with sound in a way I really didn’t expect from him and it all fits together nicely.
Ei kannata viettää liikaa aikaa henkilön kanssa.. rakastuminen.. unobjectivevism rising up.. push down.. alas bowneri... Nimittäin jo daavidin poppi osio herätti haluja... Kun päästiin side 2... Jo oli hard ass shit... hard as 5 grams fibre a day 200 grams of protein cutting and not hydrated.. Weeping wall biisissä tajusin.. kaveri esittää.. liattana paketin pystyyn hätähousussa aina turvaudutaan samoihin likkeihin.. bowien litkuttelut... Hyi...... ei käy... Ja kun ei pystytä lauttamaan likkejä.. kun ei osata tehdä musiikkia.. käy näin.. Kappaleessa tapahtuu hyvin vähän.. ja unohtuu albumin kauneus kokonaisuutena.. Vaikka biisi taisteli ja oli melkein ihan albumiin kuuluva.. ehkä jopa oli... .... ... .....Silti huomaa... .... ... Paskaahan tämä viakka parasta bowie sontaa mitä kuunneltana tähän asti..
Not one of his best, but still has some great tracks.
Really good,I enjoyed it a lot even though it was a bit odd at times.I think David Bowies voice really elevates it.The albums good but not perfect as a lot of it is kinda experimental instrumental and not very catchy.Sound and vision is still amazing tho.
Iconic and revered but quite a difficult listen. It’s Bowie so it is littered with genius but it’s also dark and moody.
I liked this, a lot actually, though perhaps it felt a little fragmentary and unfinished.
This is just a great "album" listen. The sum is definitely greater than its parts. I can see why it is so influential. 4/5
Side B heeft een aantal fantastische Eno tracks en een aantal mindere. Be My Wife is suf. De overgang tussen de regels "Blue blue electric blue" en dan "That's the color of my room" is erg jarring. Fantastische plaat, maar niet perfect.
Wow so Bowie CAN be good. The man sings a little less and creates an album like this damn. Loved it
Two mini-albums in one. You get to decide if you like Art Rock Bowie or Ambient Bowie-- personally, I prefer Ambient Bowie, but that's because I'm a devotee of one of the other big contributors to this album. Holy shit, does Brian Eno really flex his magic all over this thing. You can feel just his whole gradual transition from Warm Jets-style janky guitars and strange synths (Speed of Life, What in the World) to Another Green World and the Airports' lovingly textured ambience (Warszawa, Subterraneans) here. Those two should have collaborated a LOT more often, honestly. An electric blue 4/5.
Je connaissais rien mais j'ai beaucoup aimé
il me faudra relancer j'étais distraite mais j'ai des bons souvenirs
A quieter album from David Bowie, but still a great one. I liked more of the instrumental side of it.
Weird, but good weird, Bowie’s usual. Solid album, but not his best IMO.
yay dovid bowie
Good Berlin Bowie
Very layered, varied and interesting album.
Becoming convinced Bowie was a bit of a Da Vinci. Would have excelled in most any creative direction.
Great
27th June 2023 Listened during the day while working from home in the kitchen. Watched Glasto highlights and took the kitchen cupboards out. Bowie showing his duality side by side. Pop star and artist. 4.5 if I could.
Stellar
Proof that Bowie's earlier stuff is better than later. Enjoyed the listen on this
Taiteellisempaa Bowieta, ja berliinitrilogiasta itseasiassa itselle se vähiten kuunneltu. Kyllä tää on hienoo 4/5
Makeita ambient-juttuja tällä levyllä! Kyllä David on osannut pohjallakin tehdä mainoita musaa. 4/5
I didn't like either the Bowie or the Eno records I got before very much. But this one is alright. They obviously bring out the best in each other. The best thing is, Bowie doesn't sing much. Favorite song: a new career in a new town.
I'm not really a big fan of Bowie, but this turned out to be rather enjoyable. I think the main reason I liked this so much was because it was more like a Brian Eno album with Bowie singing on only a couple of tracks here and there. Overall it was very relaxing and nice to listen to in a laid back way.
I mean it’s Bowie. The king of ambiance. Pretty good.
Quite the experimental record. Electronic and avant-garde and the b side of course large ambient with help from Brian Eno. Favourites so far are Speed of Life, Sound and Vision, as well as Warszawa. Warrants multiple listens to fully comprehend and appreciate the compositions
Not his best, but definitely not his worst
Finally a Bowie album. And a damn good one. More avant-garde and experimental thanks to Brian Eno's influence and inspiration. Bowie is trying hard to get clean here and it shows in the more atmospheric, instrumental tracks that resemble Tangerine Dream. Not perfect but a great listen.
feels like... early Bowie? not terribly experimental?
This is musically a great album. I wish more of these songs hit the prime rotation. The second side is a little slower and moody but still some good stuff.
First side a 5, second side a 3. Averages out to a 4!
This is the kind of Bowie I don't hear much on the radio, maybe with the exception of Sound and Vision, which I've heard a couple of times. Got very atmospheric and kind of spooky into the second half. This was a very interesting and varied album, and while it's not my favourite thing Bowie made, I thought it was pretty good. Favourite: Subterraneans
I’m a big Bowie fan and also Krautrock bands like Tangerine Dream so it’s not surprising that I love his Berlin trilogy that was produced by Tony Visconti and features Brian Eno. Side 2 is a nice experimental diversion from the usual Bowie rock numbers
Nice background music, some slow soundscapes and more intstrumental than I thought
Favorite Songs: N/A (they all blended together lol). This has been my favorite Bowie album so far (I’ve gotten three in the past week or so). Heavy Pink Floyd vibes, which I love. Also cool that he didn’t sing too much.
Berlin. 1976. Trying to kick a coke habit. Iggy Pop just released The Idiot and things are starting to fall into place. Brian Eno on production, a myriad of new influences, and David Bowie's legacy. This is the album of the 70's.
Oddly relaxing
Définitivement l'un des meilleurs albums de Bowie j'ai entendu à date. Dans les mêmes rangs que Heroes et Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust. Un autre album qui se fait ressentir comme un oeuvre complète qui s'écoute du début à la fin comme une histoire. 9/10
Album uit Bowie's "Berlin Trilogy". Sterk beinvloedt door Berlijn en krautrock staat de tracklist vol met elektronische, veelal instrumentale nummers over enerzijds Bowie's terugblik op zijn verslavingsjaren in L.A. en anderzijds zijn ervaringen in Berlijn en Warschau. Tikkeltje desolaat, maar uniek en tijdloos album. leukste nummer: Sound and Vision Ondanks gemixte recensies bij uitkomst wordt "Low" nu als een van de beste albums van David Bowie gezien. Als mijlpaal in de post-puk scene wordt het album gezien als een invloed op Joy Division, Arcade Fire, OMD, Ultravox, en Radiohead tot Phil Collins en Duran Duran.
Sounded good. Need to listen more.
The Berlin session continues. I enjoyed the Iggy album a bit less than this one. The ambient tunes were a fresh change
Still gets better energy listen
Weird but good weird. Never paid Bowie too much attention before but I definitely need to listen to this one again.
A five star artist who made albums that usually had one or two unlistenable songs on each.
Wasn’t familiar with this album. It was different that expected with almost a ‘Pink Floyd’ vibe in places
3.5/5
Precies niet het beste dat ik van Bowie ken. Maar wel een mijlpaal in z'n muziek
David Bowie does so much crack cocaine that he accidentally ends up writing Final Fantasy dungeon music. That's truly what being German is all about.
Not as good as I expected, given the reputation this has. Still good, but not great.
albumissa kaksi osiota. ensimmäinen poppia.. sound and vision (mainstream hitti VITTU VITTU VITTU) biisistä tykkäsin selvästi enemmän.. muuten kolmosen ehkä kakkosen arvosta kamaa... toinen puolisko alkaa kunnianosoituksella puolaan.. hymni ambienttia huhhuh hullumpaa osiota.. warszawa
Ooooh one of the Berlin triptych, honestly Eno never really does it for me but this collab is a worthwhile listen. Bowie is one of the few artists I've gotten since joining so far whose entire discography I've listened to previously, so I feel a bit more confident evaluating it. Not my absolute favorite album of his but I CAN appreciate why its included in the list, and I appreciate that he knows not to make the songs overstay their welcome. Listening to these three records and Black Star as it came out while walking around Berlin in 2013 is a treasured memory for me. Low is def my fave of this era. Sound and Vision is obviously the stand out but Be My Wife is great and I find especially the second half of the record gets better the more exposure you have with it. 4
I liked this a lot more this time around than I did when I first heard it a while back. More of a vibe than an album, but in a good way. Refreshing. Sounds and Vision was great.
Another ambitious and interesting David Bowie album I’ve never heard before. Even if I wouldn’t listen to this again, I’m starting to understand why so many people lose their shit over this man and his music. It’s not like anything else I’ve ever heard.
I was unfamiliar with this album by David Bowie, as well as all of the songs on it. Turns out, I'm not really informed on the "Berlin era" of Bowie, so this album is the first I've heard from that era, both in and out of the scope of this project. I really enjoy artists who go through self-defined eras and phases and reinvent themselves musically, so I was eager to dive in here. You really can get a sense of the electronic inspiration that influenced this album. What normally feels glam and sparkly feels a bit more space age and moody here. Bowie is definitely one to take his inspiration and go further with it and make it his own, so what you end up with here is something that is ambient, electronic and a bit experimental, but still undeniably Bowie. Side B consists of instrumentals which I would say is where the album arguably shines the most. Removing the need for these songs to be lyrical allowed for some very creative results. The only "vocal" content found here are ambient voice sounds and the occasional incoherent word; Bowie's ethereal voice is perfect for that kind of use on these tracks. These tracks are ambient, dark, mysterious, and perfectly sci-fi in nature. Out of all of the Bowie I've heard on this project thus far, some of which I already knew, some of which I was less familiar with, this is probably leaning toward my favorite yet. Like "Hunky Dory", this is not quite a 4, but the experimentation heard here pushed it close enough for me.
Very interesting and different. I enjoyed the sounds on this a lot.
Mais uma vez confirmou que finalmente estou em condições de escutar de fato o Bowie. O lado B com as faixas de música ambiente é espetacular.
This album was recorded during a tumultuous period in Bowie's life when he was battling drug addiction and struggling with personal issues. The album is split into two distinct parts, with the first half featuring mostly instrumental tracks that are moody and atmospheric, while the second half features more conventional rock songs. One of the most striking aspects of "Low" is Bowie's use of electronic music, which was still a relatively new genre at the time. Bowie collaborated with producer Brian Eno, who had worked with him on previous albums, to create a sound that was ahead of its time. The album's use of synthesizers, drum machines, and other electronic instruments was groundbreaking and helped pave the way for the rise of electronic music in the years to come. It’s a fantastic album and quite different compared to Bowie’s more famous works. Definitely deserves a listen in case you haven’t heard it.
cool concept, might be a 5 if i listen more
Not at all what I expected, but it was still very good!
Needed more sax
It's Bowie. Sound and Vision easily the stand out track.
can hear the distinctive "bowie" sound in here, but with some really interesting ambient / electronic textures, and classical sounding progressions at times. Enjoyed this
I liked it! Not as much as you two Bowieners, but overall it was a good time with an album I had zero familiarity with going in. “Sound and Vision” was the clear winner in my book, but I appreciated the experimentation here throughout more than I have on some of the other Bowie records on this list. A song like “Subterranean” feels pretty wild for 1977 in some ways.
Никогда особо не любил музыку Боуи, но могу представить, какой бомбой был этот альбом в 77м году
Love Bowie though this isn’t my fave album.
Inte alls vad jag förväntade mig. Känns som plattan saknar hits men det är ändå ett väldigt bra album.
.much better than I thought
Sound akd vision!!
I like this. Maybe not the one filled with catchy pop hits but the sonic palette is insane.
good and weird, great soundcapes in the latter half, didn't vibe much with the lyrical songs, I'd have to read the words
I have a decent handful of friends who claim this as their favourite Bowie album. I've only listened to it a half dozen or so times and it has definitely not clicked into the favourite zone for me - which almost seems odd because it contains so many elements I love, but just doesn't come together to astound me. That's not to say I don't like the album, I definitely do like it, just not to the point of favourite territory. But my journey with Bowie has also been erratic, manic and very non-linear so I recognize there is a lot of context to the album that doesn't hit me the way it might ought to. I should definitely do a chronological pass-through of his catalogue at some point. "Speed Of Life" definitely grabs my attention to open the album, and "Sound and Vision" would be in my top 20 Bowie songs, were I ever to take on such an endeavour. But really it's the second side that shines for me - even more so on this listen than ever before. "Warszawa" reminds me a bit of some of my favourite Dead Can Dance, the cello in "Art Decade" is exquisite and I don't think I realized (or remembered) that the saxophone on this album was played by Bowie himself. The album is still not rocketing to my top spot in the Bowie catalogue, but I love that it seems to be unfolding a bit more and more for me each time I visit it, which I plan to continue doing. I don't know if it's a good one or not, as the quality of the series can be hit or miss, but I reckon I'll grab myself a copy of the 33 1/3 book for Low at some point as I continue to dig deeper.
p380. 1977. 4 stars. This is a strange one. First side is classic Bowie, great songs and delivery, with Tony Visconti on top form. The second side is a suite of electronic ambient tracks, this time with Brian Eno on top form. Not easily accessible but repays repeated listening.
Great to hear this album in full. Sound and Vision is one of my favourites (influenced by Luke there!) and is such a feel good fun song. The more ambient end could seem unexpected given some of the more jaunty tracks, but I think it works really well. Winds down the album and some of the instrumentals are so beautiful. Warszawa is brilliant.
I really enjoyed this, I liked the tranquil ending
Revolutionary in all the best ways.
An album that's a breath of fresh air. The sounds are strange and enigmatic in a way that makes this a great listen.
Another classic from David Bowie, this one preceding Heroes. So much experimentation here with the synths, percussion and overall ambience of the sound but he hit the mark in what he was trying to express. I couldn’t help but to immerse myself in the music.
Great album, absolutely adore instruments Bowie
Quirky and bold
Great album. Sound and vision is my fav track.
At the same time Bowie wrote and recorded Low, he starred in The Man Who Fell To Earth, and the two projects are unmistakably intertwined. I might be biased by a recent viewing of the film, but to me there is a strong recurring theme of loneliness and alienation in both projects. This is especially felt during the second, mostly instrumental, side of the album. Released in 1977, it's a rare album that still sounds impressively fresh to this day while showing full transparency in its inspiration from krautrock. It really doesn't sound dated in any way.
Side A
What the fuck? A David Bowie album I actually liked? Thanks to Brian Eno, no doubt. Having just suffered through Ziggy Stardust last week, I’m shocked I actually liked this. I did prefer the first seven songs much more, though. Everything after A New Career in Town was a bit too Bowie-esque for my likings, but wow. What an interesting start to my day. Huh, what do you know. Me, liking Bowie. A Christmas miracle?
Classic Bowie. Not an album I revisit often, but always nice when I do.
While I'm still waiting for some Ziggy Stardust Bowie to show up on the list, this might be my favorite of the Bowie we've gotten so far. Even the weird stuff in the second half worked for me. It's not an album I would put on often, but it's good.
Solid album start to finish.
Very moody and surprisingly heavy on the instrumentals. Less spacey and more grounded Bowie
Like a post-punk ambient record. Cinematic in a way - like the soundtrack to a Dario Argento softcore. Standouts on first listen are "Breaking Glass", "A New Career in a New Town," "Warszawa", and "Subterraneans".
Quirky and good. Not for everyone
Interesting combination of short song material with longer instrumental tracks.
Bowie + Eno = vanguardia absoluta. Pero también es cierto que el disco está dividido en dos partes muy distintas una de la otra. Obviamente voy a inclinar mi gusto por el lado A, el de las canciones por sobre el lado cósmico instrumental.
This album is very cool, especially when you realize it came out in 1977. Definitely on the cutting edge at that time. I love the exploration of electronic and ambient sounds. Overall the album is a bit downbeat and at times, sad, speaking to David Bowie's personal struggles. I find it slightly disjointed as an album, but that may have been intentional. A great album, albeit not one of my personal all time favorites.
I love the ambient work on here
David Bowie, a man ahead of his time
I love the ride this album takes me on. It's like we're gliding through space on a ship that is adding and shedding components all the time - a synth here, a vocal there. It's surprising and wonderful.
Funny enough one of the first Bowie albums I listened to in full a while ago. It definitely feels like a bit of an experimental album, possibly more than the other two entries of the "Berlin Trilogy". There isn't a single "anthem" song that sticks out, but it's all still interesting. Especially for the time it was released.
Was minding my business, listening through this, not getting much out of it, then suddenly caught myself....is this an instrumental album? I was on "Warszawa," which is the first track on the ambient half of the album. The first side breezed by me like a silent fart, and the back half put me in a chokehold. I loved and was gripped by the amazing instrumentals for the entirety of side B, but couldn't name one word sung on the front half to save my life, what does that say about me? Not sure. I'm really not a huge Bowie fan though, this album challenge is teaching me that. But this was a collab with Brian Eno, who I've learned through our journey that I really dig. Bowie must be HIGH thinking I'd rather listen to him than some ambient tracks. [Worth noting here that I listened to the front half again to see if I was tripping, and the only track I liked was Sound and Vision, which is also kind of just an instrumental.] I have to rate this highly for the strength of the back, but know that if he instead made this a 6-7 track ambient album it would easily be my favorite Bowie project so far (not a high bar tbh, it's probably there anyway) and quite possibly pushing a 5 star rating. Favorite tracks: Warszawa, Subterraneans, Art Decade, Weeping Wall. Album art: Definitely a cool one that I've seen around before. Colors are great, it's a simple side profile portrait shot but it works. Given how I feel about the album, I'd say revise the cover for an instrumental project by removing Bowie from the middle and keep everything else the same, just a wall of orange cloud. 4/5
Liked the songs with actual singing on them, disliked the ones that didn't have singing.
Aparte combinatie van popmuziek en vage muziek. Melodie'tjes zijn steengoed, uitvoering is goed, maar als geheel heb ik zo mijn twijfels.
very instrumental and not what i really expect from Bowie. fun. I think I enjoyed the first half of the album a lot more than the second
Easy listening
Knew Bowie had to be on this list... surprised they went for Low... but yup, still a fan.
Love Bowie but this isn't my favorite album. Very creative and experimental for the time, but it lacks the magic of Bowie's voice.
Needs a re listen
Stuart Maconie put it best when he said that even 45 years on, Low still sounds like music from the future. Tremendous. Even with the saxophone in Subterraneans. I always feel that Bowie's sax playing is the price we have to pay for the rest of his wonderful music. Favourite tracks: Speed of Life, Breaking Glass, Warsazwa and Art Decade Incidentally, as I always say with Bowie, let's not forget the crucial input of his collaborators, including Brian Eno, Tony Visconti, George Murray, Dennis Davis and Carlos Alomar.
Lots of interesting sounds here. Got more experimental and ambient as it went on. Really great; stuck between 4 and 5. Will return
Kind of feels like a soundtrack. Especially side 2 Art decade has some wild futuristic science-y sounds Gated snare on new career sounds crazy Haven’t read reviews yet but I bet this was negatively reviewed when it was released and positively reviewed in hindsight.
Apocalyptic sci-fi meets pop? Interesting.
Hiwa.
*NOT A FIRST LISTEN* Not my favourite Bowie, but still very good. One of Bowie's best album covers. Feels very different to every other album he's ever made. Perhaps it would be more accurate to describe this as a combined work of Eno and Bowie's? Alien sounding. Reminscient of early electronic music. Weeping Wall particularly captures that alienating, haunting, disturbing quality. Some songs are bathed in melancholy - be my wife,sound and vision, Always crashing in the same car Would probably sound ten times better on drugs. I first heard this album when I was about 17 so can't help being biased in my review. Nice to come back to the album again. The only song I really re-listen from the album these days is Speed of life.
He don't miss rlly
There is a ton of David Bowie's music with which I am entirely unfamiliar, and this album is in that category. Not really intentional; I've always liked Bowie but for some reason never collected any of his albums or sought him out. So, once again, this project helps to introduce me to so much new music (as in music that is new to me), including music by artists I know and like but haven't explored enough. I do know that Bowie is one of those artists who was always experimenting and evolving, and I hear that here. Some very interesting tracks with a lot of intriguing layers, textures, and contrasts. A few get a bit grating and harsh for my own personal tastes, but the level of musicianship remains excellent throughout. The instrumental tracks are at times exquisite.
I like it.
Interesting, short, will listen to more Bowie.
Fun hearing this stage of David’s evolving career.
4.75
Wow… banger
Great split release
Vackert!
Bowie Lowie, Eno ELow.
getting high to getting low
Heard before: yes First half of the album was awesome, second half was good. I don’t think I *love* Bowie when he’s being ‘experimental’ - I much prefer him when he’s being pop. Case in point, Suffragette City started playing just after the album finished, and I much preferred it to anything on here. Favourite songs: Breaking Glass, Sound and Vision Least favourite songs: Weeping Wall
Someone mentions avant guarde and I usually cringe because it has been done so badly. Bowie makes the unusual, alien, and sudden acccessible. Like he knows all those weird parts of each of us and can use that to interface with all the wider weird.
Not my favorite Bowie album. Not one of my 5 favorite Bowie albums. Side 1 is great, but Side 2 is overrated. Too much art, not enough Bowie. Still a very good album, just not that good.
Pretty damn good
Half experimental art rock album. Half dark Brian Eno-esque ambient album (which makes sense since Eno is a producer). Not sure if the two halves create a satisfying whole, but I can easily appreciate the beauty of each side on its own; the former a bit more so than the latter. Second Listen?: Definitely Favorite Tracks: Sound and Vision, Speed of Life, Breaking Glass, Always Crashing in the Same Car
Been a few years since I've heard it. Certainly belongs on the list.
70s Bowie with lots of interesting instrumentals.
Pretty interesting. I think I will like it more and more
Muy bueno
Vrainent un bon album avec beauxoup d'experimentatione t des sons de malaxes. J'adore 4.70
Dobar je
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DKoY1fw7yCo sori idiot sam mozak mi je spržen od ispita.
Chill Bowie vibes. Perfect for a lazy Sunday afternoon. Best track: Sound and Vision
This album isn't what I usually think of from Bowie. Almost all of these songs could easily have been in FFVIII
There's a frantic energy to this album. It's a little messier and unpolished than some Bowie albums are. That being said, it's undeniably catchy. The opening instrumental is surprisingly engaging. The album is also very bass-forward. Sound and Vision is the only song on here that I knew already, which is not really that indicative of the rest of the album. It continues Bowie's inter-galactic, alien, space kind of vibe, but it's hardly stale. Interesting listen.
Some good tracks in here. Best Bowie I've heard yet.
not my favorite Bowie it's solid as always.
Crazy how all of David Bowles album sound ahead of their time, futuristic, and emblematic of the time it was made all at once
Loved SOond and Vision
A great start.
People used to give David Bowie crap about being thin all the time, but he just broke through their false barriers. Then he was hounded by the 'false music paparazzi.' The media monkeys and the junky junkies all invited Bowie to play at the plastic pantomime. But, he just threw their invites away and reinvented himself. Two words: eye patch. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yc4efBM_9JM
More of a dramatic cinematic soundtrack than album but not in a bad way. Again not my favourite Bowie but still incredible enough to justify his placement on the wall with the other gods of good tunes
An interesting and experimental Bowie sound that stays pretty strong for the first 2/3rds. Around Warszawa we get a bit more atmospheric and electronic, but it becomes a bit less interesting and doesn't quite keep up the momentum of the earlier album. Still enjoyable.
4 bowie
Waswazta
Love it, its not what I listen to normally, but I will definetely get on vinyl when my record player arrives. Its an incredible album and I will definetly be listening to the whole thing again.
7/10 interesting album, the atmospheric instrumental parts were nice
7/10. Pleasant album, but a bit boring, at least for driving. So far, definitely a low for David Bowie albums on this list.
A strange spot in Bowie's discography. It's solid but not really special. 7/10
Synth driven instrumentals stand out. Grows on you.
I've always listened to Bowie's earlier eras of music - though, of course, I've heard this album or at least many of the songs on it. This is an interesting transition from the earlier, glam stuff. I love the moody, atmospheric stuff on here. Seems fitting for the soundtrack of Bladerunner. It's a great album that continues to show Bowie's musical depth
What a jam! Fairly straightforward rock on this album (with a couple strange signature Bowie tracks). Loved Breaking Glass! Not his best album ever, but I liked it.
This album (along with Heroes, Lodger, and Lou Reeds’ Berlin) was responsible for me hitchhiking across Europe to Berlin in the summer of 1984.
The third 1977 album I’ve been served this week! And turns out to have been a hell of a fitting followup to Kraftwerk, given some of the production history stuff, influences, etc. Bowie’s another of my major blind spots, and I suspect this might not have been the best jumping-in point if I’m going to be lazy and only learn about him at the pace of the 1001 albums generator. I'm sure I'll get another shot soon.
A lot of fun, I wonder if Trent reznor and Atticus Ross were Bowie fans.
Great mixed album from DB.
Not the most accessible album by Bowie but an interesting sonic exploration - this one needs more than a day to savour but clearly a lot of pedigree
Really enjoyed this. I like Bowie but I enjoyed the instrumentals and wouldn’t necessarily known it was him. Some were contemporary symphonies. 4*
I love this period of Bowie....the Berlin period. And Low is generally regarded as the masterpiece from the Berlin period. But I actually prefer both Station to Station and Heroes. I acknowledge that Low is the more unconventional and atmospheric of the three, but I find myself wondering what the point of songs like; Art Decade and Weeping Wall. Having said that Low is one of the greatest post-punk / New wave albums of all time. Considering that it was released in 1976 three years before post-punk was invented that's something. 4 5 🌟
My brain may be addled, because I find it impossible not to hear Dune in Warszawa and Blade Runner in Art Decade. And in that light, Low is a slightly disjoint effort by Bowie. The goofy hair weirdness is gone from this music, vocal shrieks replaced by guitars. It's a wonderful choice, as the abstraction and applied effects are only really effective on instruments. I am sure that there is a sample or quote of New Career on Blackstar. The weirdness here is more outsider, more Trout Mask Replica. I love it, and the instrumentals somewhat less. Low's a better album than many 4s on this list.
listened to again nice and chill, cool sonic exploration
mais ou menos, boazinha mas não é algo que eu vou pensar “nossa tava afim de ouvir um low by david bowie”
needs more listens, sound is stunning
Second track, I'm looking in the mirror lol Be my wife is sweet I like the synth, very alien along with the cover of the album. Evokes curiosity and exploration a lot of instrumentals which makes for ambient bowie noise Subterraneans interesting, kind of ominous and like a death march on Mars. would make a great soundtrack
Listened to this for the first time when I was 15, after Bowie had passed away. Most recent time was this past Saturday. The album dips a bit towards the end with all the instrumentals, but I've never been big on instrumental music anyway. It took a second listen to really appreciate and feel the emotion of all of them. Tracks like Be My Wife, Sound and Vision, Speed of Life and What in the World are brilliant, and for me it made sitting through Warszawa worth it. Bowie's Berlin period (and the album Station To Station, which preceeded it) was fantastic and it broke ground for the genres of post punk, new wave and 80s indie music. It also appeared to be necessary for Bowie's life in general as it was this period in his life that helped him overcome his crippling addiction to cocaine.
It wasn't the best David Bowie album but it was in fact a David Bowie album which means it was still pretty darn good. I did love the instrumental tracks.
The finest of Bowie’s Berlin trilogy
Could this be the Bowie album for listeners who are not Bowie fans? I've tried (admittedly not *that* hard) over the years to like Bowie, or even "get" him - but aside from a few cuts (mostly Ziggy Stardust) here and there I never enjoyed him and if I could pick only one reason it'd probably be his voice. No getting around his voice, really... unless... he recorded an album that sounded a lot like a focused Brian Eno record (hmm...) and he didn't sing a lot on it and when he did it was mixed down low with every other instrument.... Low! Eno worked on this record with him a lot which after listening to 3 early Eno records over the past few months it's not hard to pick out the similarities. But as referenced above, this is more focused (at least on the first half!). The first "half" (7 songs) are tight songs that are nonetheless not predictable; a lot of which has to do with lack of vocals or even just not having them come in when one might traditionally expect. That second half is weird and I love it - put on some headphones and turn out the lights and you can lose yourself in the sounds; I'd hesitate to call most of these "songs" but there is melody and depth to them. Shocking to me that this is the same guy that sang "Fame" or "Young Americans" - at any rate, the 2nd side is like a different album entirely, yet still fits under the same experimental melodic umbrella. A lot can be read about the production techniques on the album; especially the drum sounds on a few songs; they have a crunchy gated effect that suits the music really well. I enjoy the mix as well (again: headphones). This one surprised me - I saw David Bowie and thought "meh" but what a great surprise and a keeper. 8/10 4 stars.
David Bowie is a weird dude. But as I got into this album, I realized how hard I was vibing with it. Loved how instrumental it was, more listens on the way.
his music has always kinda either grabbed me or missed me entirely; no in-between. but even the stuff i don't care for is amazing, even if it's not to my taste. this album is great, though, from start to finish.
Cet album doit en grande partie sa réussite à l'absence de Bowie près du microphone.
-chill and funky but good to do homework to -not too many words which was unexpected -first time listening to David Bowie 6/10 -2 skips
David good
Here's a question - does the medium of how you listen to an album change your experience of it? ( and by extension, your level of enjoyment). I don't necessarily mean the sound quality of the medium : I just mean your experience in the sense of commitment. For example, when you play a record (or a CD for that matter), you are playing "my" copy, whereas streaming your playing "a" copy; sort of "borrowing it" - so there's perhaps less of an obligation to enjoy it (or even play it all the way through). Anyway that preamble has some context. I recently inherited a bunch of LPs from my late uncle, and Low was one of them. After I cleaned it up, I played it, loved the sound and the gothic texture of the synths and thought it was fabulous record. It transported.e somewhere else. A great experience was had listening on headphones and looking at the artwork. It felt personal. Fast forward a few months and I played the same album via streaming for this review and I didn't feel the same connection. Maybe there's something impersonal about streaming, playing a track that's had X million plays, which is very much a communal thing. Maybe I'm a hopeless romantic with..y love of vinyl. Anyway, it's certainly food for thought for those who care about such things.
More chill than I was expecting. I love the eccentricity.
Loved the first half of the album,not sure about the latter tho
Some classics on this album. The other tracks were pretty good too.
Good album, I only knew Sound and Vision (which I like). Warszawa has some serious Twin Peaks vibes. As many have said: not my favourite Bowie, but still enjoyable.
Haunting
hodne instrumentalek
Loved ambient section
Buenas melodías. Gran voz
a Bowie album that hits my spot a bit, but I can't help but think 5 Bowie albums in this list is a bit much... pick a lane!
Some classic tracks, but moody instrumental tracks interesting but not great
Really good album and the one before Heroes. So it's interesting to see how he developed a sounds on this album already.
8/10
Love Bowie, great songs, some not great
not bad for david bowie. 4/5
Nothing wrong with a bit of psychadelic bowie... at least he's not bad!
I did not know this album from him, but again, Bowie did not disappoint! I did not like the last song though...
Classic Bowie side one, experimental Bowie side two.
Currently at track 5 - very futuristic for the fact it was made in 1977. Bowie's vocals are good but wouldn't be a repeat listen for me as is. I read some things about this being the first of the Berlin Trilogy: I'm very excited to hear the other 2 albums because the ambiance of Subterraneans is fantastic. The general "soul" of the track, the feeling it carries with it is very good in execution. I'd rate this album a 7/10 on first listen, but I can imagine some of these tracks really growing on me soon. Looking forward to listening to the first 3 tracks of the album as I didn't like those at first.
-I like the melody rhythm in "Breaking Glass" -"A New Career in a New Town" and "Warszawa" have a pretty spooky ethereal vibe to them -Generally pretty good, just never god really epicly
Spacey and groovy A good place to start for lesser known Bowie stuff
Absolutely a classic album - who wouldn't want to listen to full Bowie album (answer - me - i'm not sure i've actually listened to anything that wasn't a greatest hits). Minimal 'hits' - i.e. Sound and Vision. It was challenging and fascinating. Look forward to the next Bowie album (must be a few more in the list!)
Top
Berlin-album, står skarpt, kan næsten ikke blive bedre
The start of this was a proper bop. Way more chill towards the end, but it still made good background music. I probably won't come back to the last few tracks though.
Enjoyed side 1; didn't enjoy the noodling on side 2.
Initially, I rolled my eyes at having to listen to a Bowie album, and one I'd never heard of at that. Surprisingly, I found myself quite enjoying it, thought it was a 3. Went back for another listen and I think it deserves more than that. Four stars - Bowie, but not as you know it, and all the better for it.
Когда не можешь сходить на Дюну - самое то