Reviews (page 7 of 14)
my favorite album of the Berlin trilogy, an extremely experimental album like usual with bowie. most of the album is ambient tracks, which i still enjoy but i wish bowie had a stronger presence on the album, every time he shows up he makes the track even better
On the first listen, I thought this album was O.K., but not my favorite Bowie. I listened to it a couple more times and started to love it. He really plays around with a lot of different styles and emotions. It starts with more commercial rock and pop influences, but then starts to evolve into something more experimental and introspective, closing with an almost trance- like meditation.
Great, really great Side one is brilliant and side two is beautiful. Second best bowie so far. Very very high 4 that will eventually be a 5
‘Our conceptual parameters are not that dissimilar. Brian would often set tasks which would define the movements of the day and then we would work according to that plan, which he would redefine in the studio... Brian’s thing is to break the structure from the beginning of the day and enter into a feeling of improvisation from new places.’ David Bowie in an interview with Paul Gormanis, 1995. Highlights: Speed of Life, Breaking Glass, Sound and Vision, Be My Wife, A New Career in an Old Town, Warszawa, Subterraneans. In a nutshell: the bleak, atmospheric first chapter of the Berlin Trilogy. The quote above is necessary context for creating the Berlin Trilogy (Low, “Heroes” and Lodger). David Bowie meeting Brian Eno and Tony Visconti was one of the best things that happened to Bowie’s career. You can hear some of the rock/funk elements that remain (Sound and Vision). I can feel the sense of displacement- émigré - off A New Career In A New Town, Warszawa and Subterraneans. Low is contemplative. It won’t be for everyone. Give it a chance because Bowie dared himself to try making different music. Overall: 8/10
Bowie’s got those apple bottom jeans and the boots with the fur.
This sounds like it’d be a side 2 of a double album for Labrynth . I have mad respect for Bowie and most of the time I put on one of his albums, I’m left saying to myself “what the fuck are we doing here”? As in I have no idea what direction this album is going and I have no idea how he released a song that sounds like utter trash to me. Not this album. I really enjoyed this one. Warzawa…..not good Choice cut: Sound and Vision
I really liked the first half of this. The second half is a little too Tangerine Dream for me. I read the summary on Apple Music so I understand what Bowie was doing. I just don’t really take to that type of music. Would have been 5 star for me if the second half followed the first.
Genious Artist, verry interesting.
Cool and ambient but not peak Bowie.
Nice ambient/electronica sound, Bowie never ceases to surprise, with each record different from the other, yet distinctly Bowie.
- The second half of this album, which contains the moody, almost entirely instrumental tracks, is divine. It starts strongly with "A New Career in a New Town" and ends strongly with "Subterraneans" and everything in-between is worth listening to. If the entire album sounded like this, then five stars. - The tracks on the first side are fine, even more than fine, and they have way more heart and charisma than the previous album (Station to Station). (This is particularly true of "Speed of Life.") But it just does not match up to or totally coherent with the second half.
A bit haunting but interesting
This is not a criticism, but when we wonder now how David Bowie could put out three albums in two years (the Berlin Trilogy) knowing this album contains 11 tracks and 6 of them are mostly instrumental can help to provide an answer of sorts. Also, drugs. The instrumentals are also not bad. "Speed of Life" is a jam even without words and the feel of the instrumentals does compliment the overall sound of the album. I really like the shorter track times (not just because they are short) as it seems to pack a lot of good music in a small run time. Bowie was incredibly talented at pivoting his sound. I get the feeling Bowie wanted to make music but he was having difficulty expressing himself lyrically. This is my 6th David Bowie album and I have found I enjoy his work much more than I thought I would.
Lots of instrumentals, quite ambient / ethereal.
Original - totalement inconnu (jamais entendu à la radio à l'époque). 4eme album généré pour moi, mais premier que j'aurais envie d'écouter de nouveau. J'aime bien les pistes instrumentales. 14/20
3.5
Had to skip Warszawa but other than that I enjoyed the journey.
Low was very good, though I think it kind of fell off a bit near the end, sadly.
Going into this album I didn't expect to like it terribly much. After all, there was a line on its Wikipedia page about how much it influenced post-punk bands. I haven't disliked every post-punk album I've heard, but I sure as well haven't had a clean track record with it either, so I didn't have exactly high hopes. But then at the beginning of side two, there was this moment where I had to just... Stop what I was doing. Stop, close my eyes, inhale deeply through my nostrils... I have to give all the credit in the world to Brian Eno and the influence he had. Even on an album this gloomy and dark, there are moments in the soundscape I found kind of beautiful, actually. Really, it's a similar reaction I had to the two Eno album my group's gotten before, and it proves I really shoulda paid more attention to the "electronica" genre credit on Wikipedia. HUNKY DORY, largely because I've spent so much time with it, is still my favorite Bowie album, so that's why I'm not giving this a five. However, just the fact alone that it made such a strong case for that spot is incredibly noteworthy.
Bowie is always a nice treat and this album doesn't disappoint. From the instrumental opener, even lacking words, you know this is a Bowie album. His style is very unique and timeless. Definitely an album you can listen to front to back without any regrets. Just great bangers. Standout Tracks: Speed of Life, Breaking Glass, Sound and Vision
Liked it much better than I thought I would
This is such a good listen, but not because it’s a Bowie record. It’s just a very atmospheric and ambient record, unlike anything I’ve ever heard before. I love Bowie, and I honestly knew none of these songs going into this listen. It’s concise, but all of the tracks bleed together and meld so pleasantly that I couldn’t often distinguish one track from the next. I think Bowie was just so in his flow when he was creating this album. It really shows what a unique artist he was, with such nuanced sensibilities. Not my favourite Bowie tracks, but the artistry is undeniable here.
os riffs de guita mt fodas
Interesting album that was very original at the time a highly influential to many genres to follow.
This shit is just so good
Especially those ambient tracks at the end
Another icon and another easy one. I was brought up on Bowie and whilst this doesn't get the full marks, it was a joyous listen.
GUY JUST DOESNT KNOW HOW TO MISS
I always forget just how good this is when considering Bowie’s discography - I guess because other than Sound and Vision it doesn’t feature the big singles that Ziggy and Hunky Dory have in spades. It’s a fantastic set of tracks though - some ambient and immersive; some fleeting - and despite a range of genres they all flow together like a strange opera. It tails off slightly towards the end for me, but is an otherwise fantastic entry to a ridiculously strong body of work
pretty good mostly instrumentals
Familiar with the name but not any of his tunes. I looked up his discography and I do know Fame.
Very mystical project. Half of it is basically all instrumental. Sounds like a movie soundtrack if they were trying to make electronic music sound orchestral. I liked it, and I feel like another listen would give me more appreciation for the album. I can’t say whether or not I wanted more of Bowie’s singing on it, as I feel the album succeeds at what it set out to do. Standouts: Sound and Vision, Always Crashing in the Same Car, A New Career in Town, and Subterraneans.
3.5/5 Best Track: Sound and Vision
This is the first Bowie album I've listened to in full. I'm surprised it's taken me so long to get to but I'm not disappointed. I'm not usually a fan of too many instrumental tracks but I did like these. Favourite track: Sound and Vision
The first Bowie I've actually liked!
This is not one album but two half-albums. The first is decently experimental, and its good even though not to my liking. But I can't even start to find words to describe the second part. Fantastic would be an understatement, mind-blowing, out of this world and yet so familliar. I think Bowie, Eno and others at that time invented the music of the future (which is part of the music of our days now), and allowed to take a small glimpse into it. I wish it was not so small, but that is the only negative thing I can say about the second part.
Oh, I'm so conflicted about this record. The first seven songs are fantastic, ambient art rock that's very danceable and Bowie-esque. It's crazy that this was influenced by Neu! and Kraftwerk, because those guys are pretty horrible but this album rocks. And then... I reach the 8th track, Warszawa. Ah.... this is where the influence is at its peak. What was initially a fun twist on avant garde music became a slew of boring and monotonous sounds. What a shame! Oh well. We'll always have Breaking Glass, Sound and Vision, Always Crashing in the Same Car, Be My Wife, and A New Career in a New Town.
Rating: 8.5/10 Great album overall. The instrumentation and production was amazing throughout, Bowie pushes boundaries yet again on this album to mostly great results. The first half is more classic Bowie, experimental but catchy instrumentation with great vocal melodies. The second is very ambient and interesting musically, a lot of different instruments are used to create a beautiful wall of ambient sound. The second half can be a bit meandering and maybe a bit too long compared to the first but overall this album is great. Favorite songs: Speed of Light, Breaking Glass, Sound and Vision, Always Crashing in the Same Car, Be My Wife, Warszawa, Weeping Wall, Subterraneans. Worst song: What in the World.
Enjoyed it more than I expected. Weird, but listenable. The vibe: "a bunch of friends got tipsy, broke into a recording studio, and made whatever the hell they wanted." Starts loud and bombastic, but slides into dreamscape when the buzz wears off.
The first half of the album was pretty good, but I really loved the second half with its weird atmospheric tracks. Warszawa gave me some serious Final Fantasy vibes. It almost feels like two different listening experiences. I am probably going to give it a 4, but the back half is a five in my heart.
видимо, Боуи настолько пиздат, что сделал кучу разных альбомов и хоть один любимчик найдется для каждого кажется, я впервые проникся его музыкой. ничего до этого меня так не цепляло. я сомневаюсь, что услышу у Боуи что-то лучше но, извините, на 5 все равно не тянет...
Низко. Краут-роково. Смешно.
Floaty tunes, otherworldly sounds.The instrumental tracks were super interesting, possibly my favorite part of the album. I don’t know much about Bowie, looking forward to exploring more.
First half had some solid rock songs. Second half sounded like Paul Atreides was about to start a holy war.
It's good, but the changes in style and tone make it somewhat difficult to enjoy.
Upon first listen, I liked the album overall, but had to listen again to get my final rating. I was going to land on a 3 but I think I'll bump it to 4. There is something about Bowie's experimental sounds that fit so well with his voice.
The first half of this album is very strong with hits like Sound and Vision. Unfortunately, the second half is not as strong.
The first of what I suspect will be many of David Bowie’s albums on this list. Went in with fairly high expectations given that everyone raves about Bowie. Took a few songs to warm up, then Sound and Vision felt like the turning point. Quite surprised by how much of it was instrumental, and really enjoyed subterraneans at the end.
This is the one Bowie album that didn't completely do it for me, which is only disappointing because at times it's pretty damn great. Maybe there's too much Brian Eno influence.
Lovely. I've never paid much attention to the Berlin trilogy before so this was an interesting exploration, which I enjoyed a lot. For now this is definitely my favorite out of those 3 albums. I love the instrumental tracks in the second half, Warszawa is particularly beautiful. According to Wikipedia, "side two was about his musical observations living in Berlin" which I can definitely imagine living in Berlin myself nowadays
Decent, like Bowie
The context of it being in a reformative period for Bowie, Eno is involved and its setting makes this inventive and influential. Ahead of its time somewhat for ‘77 but Zappa meets Bowie, hence Eno. Best experienced with deep surround or good headphones. The $ is in the production.
Love David Bowie, sad to see him go
It's cool. I probably won't remember it later.
Some weirdness, but that's bowie. Still bowie
Rating: 8/10. Great. Listeners of genre should hear this. Genre: Synth/Glam Rock. Psychedelic/Experimental? Notes: Groovy and funky music, fun lyrics. "Cool." Unique and interesting. Feels like a soundtrack, almost psychedelic but not quite. Takes me on a journey in my mind. Started out around 6/10 but went up to 8/10 by the end. My rating has potential to go higher the more I listen to it.
A mostly calm paced, relaxed album. I like the bass highlighting, the vocals are great, though the short length of the songs kind of threw me off at the start. Otherwise a great album, but sadly not something that I'd have in my playlist, personally.
The best album from Berlin trilogy, imo. So much impact on other famous musicians. My personal favorites are Breaking Glass, Sound and Vision, Warszawa
I loved the 70s
I like this, get good vibes from the lofi style electronic elements
Not really a casual/everyday listen. Wasn’t really in the mood for it today, however, it does have some very interesting sections.
Loved the two distinct sides.
Fun listen, Bowie at his best
Eeire and Moody, loves it
Magic. 4.375.
The first half is glittery cheesy synth pop that not quite up to the standard of Bowies 80s mega catchy grooves. The second half is ambient noise and melody in a glorious blend of vibe and feel.
Decent as an album, not likeky to listen to individual songs.
Unsure after a first listen but it's great once you understand
I have never heard this album or these songs before. I thought it was really good and quite different from a lot of his other stuff. I was a little less fond of the instrumentals as they went on a bit. Listens: 2 Fave Track: Sound and Vision Rating: 4
Me gustó bastante, sigue sin ser de mis favoritos pero la calidad del sonido y de la voz de bowie están muyy bien
A trip with a couple of highlights that are revisiting worthy
While a fan of Bowie, I've never given this album much attention. I like this era of Bowie - songs are characteristic of the ones you hear on the Bowie at the Beeb recordings. Seems like there are a few instrumentals on here or at least songs with very little singing, which I find rare with Bowie albums. Glad to have 'discovered' a Bowie album this late in the game.
Seeing another David Bowie record, I always assume I'll know at least a few songs. The only song I recognized on this one was Sound and Vision, which I gotta say isn't one of my favorites. While Side A was just fine, I really got into Side B with its moody atmosphere and limited vocals.
This may be my favorite David bowie album. Very space-y. Lots of instrumentals. Would love to listen to high.
Almost feels like I need to give this two different reviews. The A and B side are vastly different, with the A side typical Bowie rock and the B-side an avant garde mini-album. Very interesting as a whole.
Really interesting album. Liked the orchestrations, but only a few tracks grabbed me.
Funk meets post rock. Two very different sides of an album. But you can here it came straight from the head of Bowie.
A bit of a hidden gem, I had not heard any songs from it before. Was surprised by the number of instrumental tracks, but very cool as part of Bowie's progression
David Bowie is proving that I might not hate electric synthy rock like I thought I did. Low is so sparse. Side 1 is very German synth rock, abusive, industrial almost, clearly a big influence Trent Raznor. Side 2 is a dreamy soundscape, a soundtrack to a post apocalyptic movie. 8.7/10
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.
I've always been a Bowie fan, but I can't figure out why this album is on the list. It's good, and interesting. However, the songs don't catch me like some of the earlier (and even later) Bowie songs do. My best guess is that the experimental elements and bits seem elemental for future music? Anyway, its fine. I probably won't revisit.
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