Low

Off the cuff remark: a strange beast of an album and I don't think I recognised any of the songs which I was very confused by. I can't decide if it sounds very of its time or ahead of its time. Standout track: Sound and Vision Revisit?: it would certainly stand up to repeat listens and it might need that to get a handle on it.

Great. Those Eventide drums. Atmosphere.

Not my favourite Bowie album but it does have several outstanding tracks on it.

What a pleasure to spend my Sunday morning with Uncle David. Obviously not my first spin of this album and my listening to it is filtered through memories of people and places. Art Decade is incredibly moving. Always Crashing In The Same Car gives me shivers.

People call this a groundbreaking album, but perhaps I'm just not seeing it. Breaking glass is too short, and there's just not enough Bowie, as the entire second half is mostly instrumental. I am liking it a bit more on my second listen, so I may have to grow into it.

I don't think bowie albums can suffer too hard from a lack of Big Bangers actually. This is super coherent, lets the music do the talking. At the cost of interesting melodies? Maybe. Is that such a bad thing? Maybe. But then the tracks with no vocals at all are possibly my favourites here. And i love bowies voice so that's a feat. Everyone say thank-you Brian Eno ig. Having read about it before hearing it I was worried going in that this would be too much arty farty nonsense. It isn't. Like at all. If anything it ought to be weirder. Ah no wait it's getting arty and weird now Theres a fair chance that if I'd never heard of david bowie and brian eno I'd be like what's this shit. But I have. And it's hard to work round that. I'm enjoying it. Weeping Wall is some sonic bath. Feel like I'm at a spa.

One of the best pieces of anything ever recorded. Fireside chats, who?

Not for me

Alright

Don't think I've listened to this Bowie album before but I really enjoyed it.

I'm over Bowie on this list already. This one is the worst one so far. Only "Sound and Vision" is worth a listen. ~ No stars.

That was an unexpected Bowie album. A lot of it was very ambient, and therefore, not very interesting.

Og prototypical punk rock album. Great drums great bass and upbeat rhythm throughout.

4 star.

Overall, not bad, but I do wish there had been a bit more Bowie and a little less Eno in this one.

Love David Bowie, love Ambient, this album is for me, I love everything about this album just misses that connection for me

Maybe my favourite album. Certainly my favourite Bowie album. Well, the first side anyway. I’m not crazy about the second, ambient side - but the first side is so good. The sound of it changed music. It was the start of the eighties even though the album came out in the 70s. That first side gave birth to synth pop even though it didn’t use synthesizers. The songs are very short and have strong melodies or lyrical ideas. The rhythm section is awesome. If you haven’t heard this. Do yourself a favour.

Левиафан из глубины поп- музыки.

im sorry isaac and david

Bowie + Eno = fiyah

A new goodyear in a new town

6/10

Not a fan, but this album was better than Hunky Dory. I liked that it was mostly instrumental, and w/o counting the last three songs, I enjoyed all of them.

Just OK. I did like the instrumental tracks at the end

🖤

Very good eclectic mix from Bowie.

My favourite Bowie album.

No notes. (more Eno?)

I enjoyed it, i especially liked the last track.

It's Low by David Bowie

Superb

Pretty trippy, cool album! Need to listen to it more. Added a few to my instrumental playlist.

For being aan icon of music he can sure put out some bad albums.

Didn't expect not to hear David Bowie's voice on the second half of the album. Overall, pretty enjoyable.

Strange second half of the album, even by Bowie’s standards

I liked parts of this album. Mostly the songs where Bowie actually, y'know... sings. The rest of the album was kind of like weird mood music.

One of his best, i like how experimental he was getting

Perfect

Good album with some of my favourite Bowie songs on it, I'm not a stan so it's still a 4 star from me. Would give 3.5 if I could.

I have never been a big Bowie guy, full disclosure. I liked the first half a bit more than the ambient/electronic second half, but generally enjoyed this more than I have other Bowie records. Hoping there's one in here that ends up making his whole schtick click for me

I love Bowie but for me this was too dramatic and artsy with too many random sounds and instruments. It's risky, I just didn't like it that much. 2.5⭐️

Liked, but not likely to back to it

Cold tbf, enjoyed the ambient

This one just isn't for me I think. I mean the switch is cool and respectable, and I like some songs on it, but the overall sounds (either of them) just aren't enough my style.

The first half of this one deceived me. I didn't have a lot of context about David Bowie as a person going into this one but I could tell this was a tumultuous time for him and his creative process. That being said, the second half of this is different and incredible. While I can't see myself revisiting this whole ride, I'll definitely have the back half as something to return to.

INCREDIBLE ALBUM. Both the song-oriented A-side, full of bangers and slappers, and the ambient-oriented B-side, with its gorgeous lush soundscapes, are utterly perfect, and together they make one hell of an album experience. A must-listen.

The randomizer graced us with back-to-back Bowie albums, which had me less than enthused for today considering I didn’t love the last one. This was a lot different. I was surprised to really enjoy the A side, which had some legitimately great songs. The B side was a complete vibe shift and I would enjoy it under a different setting, but it kinda makes no sense while attached to what the album had previously going on. Completely jarring, and the only thing that takes it down to a 4 instead of a 5.

Bowie does two sides really well: the all gas no brakes first half, and the slower, provocative, soundscapey second half. There is no transition between the two. What context calls for an album sequenced like this? .....I don't have an answer. I'll instead choose to see it as two very different but delicious cakes, and in that sense this is an excellent music experience. Highlights: Sound and Vision, Subterraneans

I love an album that doesn't overstay its welcome. You have tight, interesting songwriting on the first side that is just weird enough to keep your interest. Then the GORGEOUS second side which is like Bowie showing up to take you on some kind of adventure. This is easily my favorite album of his. It could have turned into a plodding 80 minute mess, but it works.

not my fave david bowie record!

Pierwsza połowa płyty była taka 7/10. Nadal eksperymentalna, ale z mocnym wokalem, który sprowadzał ją na ziemię. Druga połowa wystrzeliła już w kosmos, a ja niestety nie jestem fanką tego rodzaju międzygwiezdnych wycieczek. Finalnie daje temu albumowi 6/10 i dużo szacunku, bo chociaż mi nie pod pasowały to lubię eksperymenty jako takie.

Classic

Lowkey oversett den her litt. Ganske bra

This was a weird one. Surprisingly little Bowie vocals for one of his albums, but his instrumental work is very interesting. Much more ambient and less structured than you would expect, but definitely worth a listen for how different it is. Top tracks: Speed of Life, Be My Wife, Subterraneans

Not as bad as the first one, kinda liked it actually I don’t have to listen to that shit piano

It was mid af

hell yeah. love the last songs. prefer the songs that are mainly instrumentals.

Bowie's brilliance is (as always) on full display. Reinventing himself with electronic sounds. How many Masterpiece records can one artist have? If that artist is David Bowie, a lot.

Liked this a lot better than Station to Station. Quite nice for a car ride.

I really liked this one, very strong album

Late 70's Bowie being experimental. Not too long with some interesting instrumental bits. Includes Sound and Vision

En lo personal los álbumes que más me gustan de Bowie parten del año 2000. Sin embargo, los temas instrumentales de este disco me parecieron alucinantes. El ambiente que generan, los sonidos y texturas, me parecieron excelentes. Brian Eno estuvo atrás de la producción del disco.

Bad

Not my favorite Bowie but has some interesting tracks.

Didn’t connect with me 4/10

Usually like Bowie but this feels like it needs multiple listens to really get. 3 stars, for now.

I have not listened to much Bowie, and I'm excited for that to change. I'm familiar with his hits, but have never given his albums a full listen. This was good, didn't initially grab me, but I didn't expect it to. We listened to this on a roadtrip, and I actually fell asleep during the orchestral last portion of the album...which is a good thing, not a negative! It was lovely. I'm giving this a 4 for now so I can spend a bit more time listening to it.

The Chameleon moniker fits Bowie really well. Really wonderful change of pace to add yet another layer to his persona.

This was OK

If this 1001 albums has taught me anything it’s that Bowie rocks

Listened to it three times. The first two didn’t do much for me and this was cruising for a 2. But I gave it another shot and paid closer attention and it grew on me a bit. I said to Carly that the one song sounded ambient like Brian eno. Lo and behold it turns out he was a major collaborator. Along with kraftwerk and neu which we had before. Still don’t love Bowie the way the diehards do but this was ok.

Some very juicy dark kinda grooves. Very enjoyable

Nothing stands out but an enjoyable tail end.

Second album in the Bowmeister chronicles. It's been a while since the last Bowie album, though I've been sidequesting in the bowntiful fields of his musical legacy in the time since then. I listened to the Bowie-produced Lust for Life along with Brian Eno's debut album, the style of which apparently informed Eno's approach with the Berlin trilogy. My first Bowie album - Heroes - surprised me with how quickly the pop rock sound shifted towards an ambient/electronic jig. I was also surprised to learn that this album... does the exact same thing. Is he like this on every release? For what it's worth, the ambient stuff is pretty competent, even if the sheer abundance of it loses me. "Warszawa" is a good song - I like the grandiose feel and the music is surprisingly intricate during the second half. I can see the Eno influence peeking through, especially on "Weeping Wall". Glad to know that this list is actually teaching me something about music. That being said, I think I prefer the ambient material on Heroes over the showings of this album - especially "Moss Garden". The beginning of side one is incredibly slow. The first three tracks slog along and don't really go anywhere thanks to their short runtimes . I do appreciate "Sound and Vision", however. That song was a good cut. "What In the World" is also a song I respect. The jittery sound doesn't quite work for me, though it's certainly unique. Gotta study for the millennium album pop quiz that I just know Mr. Dimery is gonna hit me with. That's right, I'm voluntarily committing time to reading the book like a true lame ass. Let's see. A left turn in his discography and an album which came from adversity. This was the album in which Bowie adopted a krautrock influence. Bowie considered it a high point. I mean, it belongs to one of the most famous "eras" within an artist's discography. I can't knock the inclusion of this album, even if the entry didn't do much to sell me on it.

Another trendsetting album from Bowie. You could never identify him with any particular musical niche. He was forever changing it up. Bringing in Brian Eno and Toni Visconti was just genius.

Four stars just for sound and vision, loved the first 2/3 of it. Kinda lost me a bit toward the end

i don't know how this album went under my radar as someone who really enjoys Bowie, very well crafted album, artistry is as always top notch, also it felt like listening to two different albums due to its structure

David Bowie is a hero. I think Low is far from one of his best albums. I'll go for Scary Monsters

Meget bra. Mitt favorittalbum fra Berlintrilogien

not one of his best

not much stood out to me but it also feels unfair to give this a low rating. it's very funky!

Very good and innovative

I think this album is overhyped

Album was decent for an iconic artist!

I feel like I don’t like this album but I’m probably wrong. Also this list not picking the best album by artist is 10 out of 10. Cool cover bad record.

You are not Goth until you’ve sat in the dark listening to the B-side of Low, wondering if your radiator is broken or if that’s just Warszawa humming through your bones. This album isn’t just ahead of its time—it sounds like it’s been beamed in from a cooler, lonelier dimension. The A-side gives you jagged, fractured art-pop: clipped drums, synth stabs, and vocal lines that feel like half-remembered thoughts (Sound and Vision is both catchy and existential). But then the B-side descends into ambient introspection, and suddenly you're floating through a grey Berlin morning with nothing but fog and feeling. The production from Brian Eno and Tony Visconti is genius-level. The drums have that signature Eventide-reverb punch, the synths ooze atmosphere, and Bowie’s voice becomes just another layer in the haze. It's a cold album, but in a strangely comforting way—like an emotionally intelligent robot patting your shoulder. Experimental but never pretentious, Low is Bowie at his most forward-thinking and quietly devastating

Maybe in some setting I would like this one. Didn’t work for me in rush hour.

Much more instrumental than i had expected from him

the real order of bowie albums the generator gave me : aladdin sane -> station to station -> low. probably will get heroes for my next one. and this is really good. although i still thinks that ziggy is better. 4/5

Van de 11 nummers vindt ik enkel 'Sound en Vision' mooi. Misschien moet ik het album nog een paar keer horen om tot me door te laten dringen, maar ik vindt het nu pretentieus en saai....

Rating: 2 Notable songs: Sound and Vision Strange album. Lack of songs with words. Not my cup of tea.

The ambient parts were the best. 2/5

Not his best album. Not really my style.

Just because it’s david Bowie does not mean it should be on this list

5/5 Fragmented Frequencies Because Bowie reinvented sadness with a synthesizer and a shrug. This is not an album. It’s a bleeding machine sighing in a Berlin basement.

This is not the Bowie I like and I’m not a Brian Eno fan. This is an album I’ve listened to for the first, the second and the last time. Warszawa is such a drag to get through!

I love Bowie Cool but not my fav

3.5

Not my fav

For some reason time just flies by when I listen to this. It helps that it's a perfect 38 minutes long, as with a lot of Bowie's albums. The first half sounds great, no track outstays its welcome. The second half (which I always thought begins with 'A New Life ..') introduced me to Brian Eno, so thank Low for that.

Listened to this on the plane. Majority of songs were instrumental. Not my favourite.

I come back to this one from time to time. On some days, I love everything about it, on others I much prefer the second half. Warszawa is a masterpiece. Berlin Trilogy is a thing that needs to be explored and re-visited.

Favorites: Speed of Life, Sound and Vision, Be My Wife, Warszawa, Art Decade Wow… What more could I say about this album! Absolutely timeless, and it’s insane that he made this during one of the greatest trilogy of albums of all time alongside Heroes and Station to Station. Just brilliant stuff.

Really cool, obviously influential. Casually fun to listen to but not like a blast by any means.

Two completely different sides that both rule in different ways. Eno + industrial.

Ibland väldigt intressant, främst när det är mer ambient o experimentellt, överlag lite tråkigt typiskt Bowie som jag har svårt för.

Coolt sound ju!

4.5

4.5

4.5

I'm sticking with my usual rating for this high 4-star. "Speed of Life", "Sound and Vision", and "Be My Wife" are all f'n aces with me. "Always Crashing" and "Breaking Glass" are not far behind. The only track on side two I really get into is "Warszawa" maybe to a lesser extent "Weeping Wall". The closer however sounds nice, but maybe too trance like for me. 8.8 ★★★★

Not a big Bowie fan, I prefer the ambient side, which I think is interesting. 3.5 stars

This has always been a weird album for me, because although I like Bowie a lot, it's not my preferred style of Bowie and probably my least favorite of the Berlin trilogy. It's also one of those albums where my appreciation of it sort of outweighs my enjoyment of it. If I were solely grading it on impact, influence, and importance, it'd be an easy 5, but if I totally ignored that, it's much lower (no pun intended). The first side has always been a bit easier for me to grab onto, and I do think songs like "Sound And Vision", "Always Crashing the Same Car" and "Breaking Glass" are pretty cool. The second side is a bit tougher for me, but I do think it's pretty, if not totally my thing. 4 stars.

4.5

Unlike yesterday’s Japan album, this is the real Bowie thing. Except it’s not quite the proper Bowie thing because half of it is pretty crap and cobwebby sub-Boo’s haunted mansion ambience. Some classic Bowie moments on the first half like with Speed Of Life, Sound & Vision and New Career In A New Town but second side is a vast disappointment and like a sudden album quality prolapse to the centre of the earth.

Bowie + Eno = <3. Some tracks are easy to listen to and some are like looking at a painting of something miserable and sad. It's weird, poetic, sad, desperate and worth a 1000 listens.

eh

First thought: Weird. But it's Bowie, so that's not surprising. I've heard Bowie's hits, but nothing from this album. It started as a 3 for me, then moved to a 4. I needed a second listen, and now it's a 5.

3/5 nice ambiance

Interesting album that while it didn’t grab me by the David Bowie’s straight away I feel like it is definitely a grower. Maybe a bit too much instrumental for me but it was definitely different!

This was an interesting listen, so much so that I want to listen again right away. The first half of the album was very drum heavy and punky and then it descended into the depths of chill synth-wave instrumentalism. Very cool and what a unique turn to take.

eerie, düster, melancholisch faves: Sound and Vision, Subterraneans

David Bowie's Low is a great record, no questions about it, but I like the front half, but *love* everything from "A New Career in a New Town" and beyond. I enjoy a good experiment and will generally laud praise on musicians who experiment *well*. The krautrock/ambient half of the album is definitely a successful experiment. I especially love that Bowie gets in touch this aspect of his "spaceman" persona; and the variety of sounds and rhythms prove Bowie's capability with electronic interfaces. On the first half, however, doesn't quite connect with me. This album does subtly feel like Bowie getting sober, and to some degree, it feels uncomfortable, as if you, the listener, are going through the same uncomfortable withdrawal symptoms. If the nervous, jittery plastic funk of Station to Station was Bowie at his most cold and disassociated, the first half of Low feels like he's uncomfortably, perhaps self-consciously, trying to find his voice again. There's a tension in these songs, that while interesting, causes me to want to spend less time with them. That said, I'd be lying if I said I've never caught myself humming "Sound and Vision". Highlights: The whole second half, from "A New Career in a New Town" onward.

Coked up and influenced by German bands and his friendship with Iggy Pop Bowie changes directions once again and gives the world The Thin White Duke the MC of all tomorrow's parties. Low is a spacey, electronic epic poem that is often too beautiful for words hence all the instrumentals. It's superior to anything Kraftwerk and Neu! would ever release the two bands who most influenced Low and that's not taking a dig at either band both are essential bands with ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ albums of their own that I absolutely adore but such was Bowies at his prime, surpassing his influences became the order of the day. Low would go on to influence every post punk band worth a second listen as well as the rest of the 20th century - everything from art to music to fashion to you name it. In conclusion, I liked it and think that you will too.

Se sabe que adoro a Bowie, y aunque el Low me gusta, no lo pondría entre mis favoritos ni en la mitad alta de mi top. Aún así es buen disco, las canciones son geniales y las instrumentales son super atmosféricas y me recordaron un poco a Laberinto. Pero sí, no mi favorito de Mr. Jones.

First half is brilliant. Pure Bowie genius. Second half goes strange but not super interesting - too ambient maybe? Doesn't really fit. Sound & Vision possibly my fav Bowie song though.

I hadn't heard Bowie like this before. I can appreciate the album and how groundbreaking it likely was, but it didn't arise any reaction from me.

Almost more of an Eno album than a Bowie album. Side 1 is immaculate, Side 2 is a drag.

Sound & Vision is in my top 5 Bowie songs. Album is super interesting. He was putting out so much work during this era that there were always a few gems and always a few songs that were out there but on every album. 3.5 for me.

I don't connect with this one as much as his other stuff, still it's worth a listen Will I listen to again: 50%

Very chill. Not like any other David Bowie album I've listened to. No soaring hits or catchy melodies, but mostly filled soundscapes that are great to relax to.

Interesting album that sounds very retrofuturistic due to the abundance of synths and processed drums on top of rock backing tracks. Just like Heroes the second half is moody, ambient tracks that aren't my cup of tea but the first half is great. Sound and Vision is the standout track, although the opening instrumental Speed of Life is also fantastic.

Pas le meilleu de Bowie, le deuxième coté a des moments vbraiment étrange mais pas dans le bon sens du terme. Un chef d'oeuvre. 8 out of 5

Musique prétentieuse sans prétention. Un album qui rejette toutes les conventions jusqu'au point où on se demande "y savent-tu c'qui font?". Y'as-tu vraiment du monde qui aime ça? 4.25 étoiles

Do I have to buy the DLC to listen to his voice more or?

Better than Heroes. I think Lodger is my favorite in this trilogy (bout would need to revisit it). This album is a mood, and one that I’m not always in. I gave Heroes a 3, and this was better than that, so I guess a 4? Really a 3.5 but I’ll give it the ol’ Bowie bump.

Basically the best Bowie album ever made alongside Scary Monsters

Good, enjoyed it but dont know how often ill go back to this one from bowie

Like it, but didn't love it enough to relisten to it, if i had to choose a favorite it would be breaking glass, but again, it would not be a first choice to listen to in any circumstance

9.5/10

Fav: Always Crashing In The Same Car Least Fav: Subterraneans Sound And Vision was my first Bowie song so I’m def nostalgic towards it, and I think the first half is consistently good. I do think this has the same issue as Heroes where the ambient half, whilst still good, isn’t on the same level as the first half

Not the Bowie for me. Moments I liked, but other stuff felt like theatrical filler. Prefer when he is on drugs.

The Starman gives us more score than pop music album on this as he began his sobriety with a new approach to music. It doesn’t come close to his prior work (Station to Station) which is one of my favorite albums of his.

A surprise package for me. Side A gave me what I expected, highlight being Sound and Vision. Didn't expect Side B but did enjoy it, especially Warszawa.

Brilliant album. Had this on repeat for most of the day and clearly defines what a complete album should sound like. Perfect combination of light and shade: side one's edginess countered by side two's ambience. Exquisite.

Good mid level Bowie

Not heard many songs from this album, I really enjoyed the instrumental only tracks

I’ve always found Low to be one of Bowie’s most overrated albums. It still has great moments, but I feel it doesn’t quite deserve the accolades it receives.

Two EPs really. The first one rocks - great band in a groove that wins the fight with over production. The second is Eno ambient-adjacent knob-twiddling. Not for everyone but I am into it.

This one and Station to Station (which I think came up last month) were part of the second tier of Bowie for me - not the superheavy rotation of Ziggy, Diamond Dogs, Young Americans, Hunky Dory, Heroes, but just below that. Trying to listen with fresh ears, what I mostly hear is the machine-like insistence of Bowie's band, repeating almost loops, and here Eno's pop weirdness (some of which I also really loved during the same era - there's a lot of stuff that sounds like "Before and After Science" in the background here). It's great.

Probably my least favorite Bowie album.

A tad dramatic, no? It really seems like I haven't missed anything by only knowing Bowie's singles.

LOVE IT

Great album, but to be honest the sound kind of bounces off me. The songs have a similar feel, and "ambient" is right. I feel like there must be 1001 better albums than this; for the second Bowie production I've had so far, I really am not blown away with his stuff beyond the mainline hits. It's possible that it's about the influence it's had downstream, the diversity of genres etc., but ultimately I am not saving songs off this for a future listen.

Beautiful album. Starts out very pop rock and divulges into an ambient space. Quite the journey

Lear drug use on this album lol that’s sound and vision song was amazing tho

Sound & Vision sounds like a song from Bob’s Burgers.

David Bowie made a great art rock classic? What's new?

One of many faces of Bowie. Love it.

Not super familiar with this Bowie album but loved it so much. There are weird and interesting instrumentals, things I didn't know Bowie dipped in to much. Exceeded my expectations and listened to this a few times.

Bery enjoyable

Both surprisingly good considering he was sitting on big hits as his contract ended. And yet I don’t get the whole Berlin trilogy thing. Anyway, it’s a good enough listen.

Yea hes pretty good at music

- Ach David.. weiterhin werde ich nicht so richtig warm. Aber das Album war insgesamt immerhin sehr entspannt

Bowie being Bowie, not his best but that is a very high bar

Not one of my fave Bowie albums, but it's still Bowie.

Pa lijep album, Sound and Vision mi je vrh stvar. Možda mi nije najdraži njegov, ali ga općenito rado poslušam. 3/5, 6/10

I have to admit, I don't know this album nearly as well as I should, especially considering how much I love both Bowie and Eno. Breaking Glass has a great bassline. What in the World immediately went on my "Get Weird" playlist. The ambient 2nd half of the album is largely excellent.

Really love the many moods and textures of this transitional album. Low, Heroes and The Man Who Fell to Earth all seem to be pieces of the same puzzle. Atmospheric and introspective.

Very chill, sounds like a movie tough

Never really listened to much david bowie, and I went into this wanting to enjoy it, but I just didn't really get it. It wasn't unpleasant, but none of it was very memorable. There was maybe one or two songs that I was vibing with while listening.

No, just because it's Bowie doesn't make it OK. Sound and Vision might be my favourite Bowie song but the experiment should have started and ended there.

Disappointing! The best Bowie feels modern despite its age - this does not stick out in the same way. One reasonable bop (S&V) does not a top 1001 album make.

Perhaps I am too obtuse to get understand Art but I just did not get this at all. I'm sorry Bowie 😭 too "experimental" for me

weird, ambient, fun, a collection of sounds that never lost my interest.

Hard to believe it's from 77, can hear past and future influences

It’s like a soundtrack for a lost film that no one will ever see, just haunting everyone. The synthesizers are so deeply incredible, the production is totally bottomed out on heroin, and Bowie is almost a ghost floating in and out. This one is gonna grow on me for sure. It’s so deeply 70s that it can be off putting at first but the more I listen the more I love it.

every album should just be a collection of little tunes & nothing understands that better than this

Love the Kraftwerk-esque instrumental electronic tracks; before I heard this album I hadn't realized Bowie had anything like them in his catalog. I've warmed up to some of the tracks with vocals too but it's definitely the instrumentals that make Low a 5-star album for me. Shoutout to the little "vrrrt-vvrrttt" noises in "Breaking Glass."

A really solid album from Bowie's Berlin trilogy. Special highlights to "Sound and Vision" for being just a while vibe unto itself.

Bowie blows...

So boring

This is one hell of a bowie

I like Bowie. Cannot dislike any of his stuff, however the 7 minute space music of Subterrarreans at the end was kind of funny. Makes me feel like I’m in a planetarium.

This is the best I’ve ever heard Bowie, who I of course don’t typically like. This record has a certain vitality and is quite compact. I adore the instrumental opener and the comparatively less theatrical nature of the whole thing. Standout tracks are “Speed of Life” and “Be my Wife”

Bowie is always hit/miss for me. This one worked. The last couple of instrumental songs could have not been included IMHO.

3/5 interesting sounds but not my favorite / didn’t add any songs to my playlist

I could tell that David Bowie had fun making this album, but I can't say the fun transferred to me while listening to it.

Fina flor do Bowie, fina flor do Eno

Started strong, knackered by the end.

Not his best, saved by a couple if tunes

Боуи подтвердил этим альбомом, что он внатуре инопланетное ебанько

Start of the 2nd side is weird but first half is Chad.

very weird compilation of rock and psychedelic music

One of the most insanely influential albums of all time.

what

I love Bowie, but I didn't care too much for this album. But still better than most others. 3/5

This is the second David Bowie album I have listened to in full and I LOVED it! I was surprised by how much I liked the second half. I had no idea that Sound & Vision was on this album. I really liked What in the World, the synthy and electronic elements throughout tickled my ear perfectly.

Don't Look At The Carpet, I Drew Something Awful On It 1001 Albums Generator 12 (04/18/2025) Low is the 11th album by songwriter and multi-instrumentalist David Bowie, released in early 1977. 1976 was a tough year for Bowie. It may have seen the release of his critically acclaimed Station To Station, but it also saw him at the height of his cocaine addiction, seemingly consistently in controversy that often involved views on a certain German leader and his ideology that lay far to the right of the Overton Window. In Bowie's defense, he did partially blame these comments on living in Los Angeles, which is the most hilarious defense of Nazi apologia that I could imagine. Anyway, all of this controversy led to him and Iggy Pop moving to Berlin (of all places) to get off the powder, which led to what has in retrospect been referred to as "The Berlin Trilogy", of which Low is the first album. It's time for me to admit my biases right out of the gate. Low is my favorite David Bowie album (of the four that I have heard as of writing this), and it's kind of not even close. The sound of this album is very intentionally split in two along the rim of the vinyl. The A side features krautrock-inspired electronic rock and is certainly the more accessible half. The two international singles from this album, Sound And Vision and Be My Wife, are both on this side. The B side features ambient and largely instrumental pieces. It is not at all surprising the Brian Eno was so intimately involved with this album; it has his fingerprints all over it. Side A is one of the best sides of an album I have ever heard. Every single song is fantastic and sounds contemporary today. The weird, abrupt fade in to Speed Of Life, which opens the album, catches the listener off guard, and that almost saw-like synth that plays throughout is so catchy. It feels like a precursor to the New Wave movement. Sound And Vision is perhaps my favorite Bowie tune period. George Murray should be a household name for his work on this album alone; his bass on this song (and really the entire A side) is extremely catchy and funky. Side B is what had this album at a 4.5 instead of a 5 for me for the longest time. As I mentioned before, there isn't really any rock here. All we are left with are electronic textures, ambient soundscapes, and a dark atmosphere. When I first heard this album, I didn't appreciate this, but I have come to love it just as much as the A side. The opener Warszawa is a beautiful introduction to this new sound for Bowie. More that the first half of the song is instrumental, led by Brian Eno's multi-synth arrangement, and the moment where Bowie's voice comes in is powerful. Weeping Wall, which was my least favorite track on earlier listens, has grown on me a lot. It really reminds me of some of the minimalist music that I've heard, such as Music For 18 Musicians or Terry Riley's In C. Subterraneans is a beautiful, dark finale to the album. The saxophone is haunting, and I'll be brave and admit I had no idea Bowie could play the saxophone like that. One last thing: this album is famous for having one of the most imitated drum sounds in all of rock history, and that is not without reason. Whatever black magic and crack Tony Visconti put into this drum sound, especially on the rock side, would probably be illegal if it was sold on the streets. Low marked a new era in one of the most decorated music careers in history, and it more than earns a spot on not only this list, but in the canon of Western music generally. David Bowie revolutionized popular music multiple times throughout his career, and I think this one may be my favorite. 5/5 Favs: Speed Of Life Sound And Vision Subterraneans Least Fav: Art Decade

Very instrumental. The problem is I want to hear bowie.

Classic Bowie album, it is good, but never something I would listen to again.

It may not be a strong one in terms of songwriting - despite Sound and Vision - but it is a terrific record elwhen it comes to sound choices and atmosphere. Pairing Kraut with a little funky Bowie works extremely well. A synth lovers dream, and I am such, but not a songwriting exercise. Therefore only a very good four...

I struggle a bit with this album and always have, ever since I first listened in the mid 80s. I can appreciate it in context of the time in his career and location of recording. It's an unconventional record and it's not always accessible though. What I like I really like but it's not an easy listen for me.

Not my cup of tea

A couple good songs but not something I'd listen to again

didn't make an impression, but I liked Sound and Vision

Incredible

quite good to be fair

I prefer Heroes but this is still a great record, favorite for decades

Not as good as his later music.

like a 2/10 idk this david bowie album was just not really my style/thing like the album itself is probs not bad, but i just didnt like it

3.2

just not a fan

Loved it, what a ride!

I liked the minecraft music at the end. 4/5

I liked Warszawa and the car crash one, but I don't think I'd relisten to this album.

Experimental sounds that I can just sit down and listen to the whole day. Don't understand how some people here say this is boring, to me, it's the total opposite, unique and never a dull moment.

I’m ok with an instrumental album, but this didn’t do anything for me.

turns into a john carpenter soundtrack for the second half

Amazing - one of my favourites not just of Bowie, but in general

A handful of good songs (one great) and some apparently unfinished ideas padded with some filler ambience do not make a great album in my book.

I love David Bowie's Berlin period, including the Iggy Pop albums he helped write/produce. There is something so exciting hearing an artist exploring new sounds, and this album is essentially the initial experimentations that he would expand on "Heroes". While this album lacks more of Brian Eno's presence, and is missing the amazing work by Robert Fripp, it's still phenomenal and kind of amazing that it got released. Considering how big of a start David Bowie was, releasing an experimental electro influenced album with half of the tracklist as instrumentals, in addition to the fact that he didn't tour this album, is kind of crazy looking back. I go back and forth between my favorite albums from this era, but it's all fascinating material. "Sound and Vision" is an obvious highlight, but I still love "Always Crashing in the Same Car" and "Be My Wife".

What a cool & experimental record

When this one came out, it was probably a new low for Bowie in more than one sense. Can't convince me this album would have anywhere near as many listens if it weren't for the name.

This is the first time I've listened to this album and I love it. I think this is the perfect point in my life to listen to and appreciate Low. Had I given this a spin when I was much younger, I would have most likely dismissed it as "too weird" since I would have been looking for something more like any of his previous albums. I love how this sounds both futuristic and ancient. Some of my favorites are Speed of Life, Always Crashing in the Same Car and Warszawa.

För e Potenzielli Wälreuumreis secher praktisch. Loschtigerwiis werds albom bi jedem mol Lose besser. Zerscht hani eifach ke loscht gha neui musig usezueche ond de hani halt nomol agfange ond jetzt chani fascht nömme ufhöre.

This has always been up there for my favorite Bowie album. Even before I did a postpunk deep dive and saw how often this album is referenced as an inspiration. Sound and Vision is right up there as maybe my favorite Bowie song. On the back side, it's such a unique feeling that the ambience carries me too. I feel nostalgia for it yet never heard it when I was younger. The album art as well is beautiful and my favorite of his. I got to throw Bowie a perfect rating somewhere so might as well do it here. 12th perfect rating, 645 albums in Rating: 5.0

Nearly 15 yrs ago I was in an indie band. My bandmates were obsessed with this album. Apart from Sound and Vision being a total banger, I didn't really get it. But taking an uninterrupted, considered listen, I do now. The way the record changes shape from beginning to end...the synth soundscapes...the bursts of typical Bowie melodic/pop genius amidst "futuristic" instrumentals. You can hear how certain touches like gated drums, etc, paved the way for popular production approaches in the 80s. I'll return to this one when the mood strikes, no doubt. 4/5

could use more cocaine

Dare I say my favorite Bowie album so far? I enjoyed a lot of the atmospheric instrumental moments.

I mean it’s Bowie. How could it not be perfect?

Low is an accurate description of this album.

Nothing bad about it, but nothing that great either. Whole album felt a little insincere

Always crashing in the same car - like. I can respect the album but it just isnt my vibe.

This is pretty middle of the road as far as Bowie goes

Good.

This is #day239 of my #1001albumsyoumusthearbeforeyoudie challenge, and... I'm starting to wonder what's going on with this list because here we are with my sixth consecutive 5 out of 5. Not complaining, though! It’s been a while since a Bowie record popped up. Low is from my favorite Bowie era: the Berlin years. Actually, if you look at his '70s discography, it’s wild how many incredible albums he released in just a decade. But then, at what a personal cost... I love Low. Listening to it makes me feel right at home. The experimental instrumental pieces stand out, making up almost half the album. But the avant-pop and art-rock fragments deserve equal attention, too. This album has a very distinct sound: the drums and synths show how much of a playground music was at that time. A few of my favorites include Speed of Life, Sound and Vision, A New Career in a New Town, and, of course, Warszawa. Looking forward to #day240.

Great album. You can hear the influence of this on Queens of the Stone Age for instance and countless other bands

This album has lots of snippets from different genres, there is a little hard rock on "Breaking Glass". "What in the world" has a very talking heads style vibe early on in the track. Whats up with subteraneans - real weird vibes. Does seem underground with teh chanting etc.

5/10

I actually kinda liked the bits where it got all spacey, but then he started singing again and I'm just too predisposed to hate that at this point.

There were a couple of good tracks early on, but it was really start to grate on me by the end. I had a look at the contributors and sure enough, Brian Eno was there. I'm a bit like those people that can smell cancer, in that I can hear when Eno is involved in album with a 99% success rate. That's mainly because the album sounds fucking awful. Anyway, I don't get the whole Bowie thing really. A couple of his other albums were good, but the bulk of it is just tosh to me. I amde it all the way through.... just. So it gets 2 stars.

Never listened to Bowie before. Was not expecting an eclectic synth-symphony. Interesting, sort of makes me want to sit in a hazy basement.

You can definitely see how a lot of these ideas would progress to a more 80s rock sound. Definitely ahead of its time and some really good stuff in here but for whatever reason it just doesn’t hit with me as much. I definitely understand the appeal but it’s not my favorite though it did grow on me as the album progressed. The more I think about it, you can see some industrial synth stuff in here that was definitely ahead of its time but the prog aspects seem tired to me in relation to actual prog brands from the same time.

The closest Bowie got to Laing a goth record. I love it.

It just doesn’t feel like anything particularly special. Its a lot of soft instrumental which sure is nice but doesn’t feel like particularly memorable and doesn’t evoke much other than the fact it would make decent elevator music

Total jams followed by pretty sounds. The first half of this album sounds like what you’d imagine someone from the 70’s thinks the future sounds like. It’s got some absolute jammers with a unique sound to it. Bowie has such a great voice. “Always Crashing in the Same Car” has a killer guitar riff. Not something I think is going to stick with me, but nonetheless still very good. “Be My Wife” is also a banger. The second half of the album is purely instrumental, and while it’s pretty and very well composed, is not something I’d listen to very often. First half of the album is almost perfect, but the ladder half is utterly forgettable. Still, a solid album from one of the all time greats.

gostei menos desse que dos anteriores então vou tacar um 2,5

This has been my favorite of the Bowie records on this list so far. Not a huge fan, but this one was a bit better to me.

Interesting, I never knew he did an album 😂 like this

Atmospheric and interesting, but far from my favorite Bowie.

You can see it is well done but nothing leaps over to me.

Different sound to usual Bowie. I liked the instrumentals, Sound and Vision is amazing and uplifting. I think there’s better Bowie albums out there. It reminded me of Blackstar a bit which is strange cause it’s 39 years before it Enjoyed: Speed of life Be my wife A new career in a new town Always crashing in the same car Overall I’d give it a 4.5/10

Veel instrumentaal

David, are you gonna bother to sing on the rest of these tracks? Errr…. No. You sure? Yeh. Oh. Okay. We’ll just put it out like this then? Yep. Okay!

On the fence with this one because I don't know this side of Bowie. But I wanted to wait until I was mature enough to see his artistic arch. I'll refrain from a critical analysis and just say the Bowie I know and love is certainly not this album. But this was cool. Ironically got fired from my job today and "A New Career in a New Town" came on shortly after the meeting and termination. A sign for things to come.

Visionary stuff. Strange angular plastic post-glam on one side and gleaming, synth-slathered electronic futurism on the other. Bowie spending time in Berlin in the 70s is one of those perfect instances of right person, right time, right place and Low is a tremendous document of the moment that his credentials at the forefront of modern British pop music met the 'new' European sound (Neu!, Tangerine Dream, Faust et al). As perfect as albums come. Certainly Bowie's finest hour. And look at that sleeve art. A resounding five.

Liked the spacey vibe and feel of it. Felt like I was in another world. It was relaxing yet moving. Dark and moody. Enjoyed it

Bowie will always be 5/5

I am glad for the impetus to listen to old Bowie! Some of the songs were really mind bending. I really enjoyed several listens through.

I actually enjoyed the latter half more.

Die erste Hälfte hat mich nicht gepackt, aber die Instrumentals.

I enjoy David Bowie’s works but this album just didn’t land with me.

Very nice

I tried really hard to like this. This was my second time listening to the album from start to finish. I think the thing about Bowie is that if you don’t like one album, his next album could be better. Hopefully, that’s the case.

Truthfully I was not excited for a David Bowie album today, as my mood wasn't feeling conducive to his brand of eclectic and bombastic pop/rock sound. So imagine my surprise when I found this album to be an unforeseen (to me) blend of Bowie's classic sound, and ambient/electronic sounds that give off a very haunting vibe. Coming off of hard drugs and collaborating with Brian Eno in France will do that to a man, I guess.

This is one of the better Bowie albums I've been served up on this site. Probably because it doesn't sound like the rest of them. lol

I think I wrote off Bowie because Ziggy didn’t do it for me but this was a fun ambient experience. Listened twice back to back. Think I need to change my scoring system as a result.

This for me is one of his weakest but it actually gets better as it goes on- the more ambient/eno it gets the more I enjoyed

Immediate replay for me. Initial listen while I was getting ready to go out, loved it immediately but I feel it’s an album that needs multiple listens. It’s Bowie being Bowie in the weirdest and best way. I can’t believe I’ve never heard a single track off this record. This was more of a 4.5 for me. Really wnjoyed, definitely will listen again in the future. This is a good one to find on vinyl.

My first album in this project!

Definitely in contention at the top of my list of favorite Bowie albums. Ziggy Stardust and Hunky Dory will never be topped for me, but I find myself coming back to this album almost as frequently as those two.

I’ve enjoyed every Bowie album on the list so far. Even not being my favorites still puts it above so many on this list.

Back half gets a little weird, but it’s Bowie. Still a solid album. 4 stars.

This doesn't do it for me. I'm glad Bowie got himself to a better place, rehabbing and working towards taking care of himself. But this album isn't good. The beginning was too short for anything to really stick for me, and the ideas in the second half would have been done better by someone else. Favorite Song(s): none

A side is SOOOOO good. Like insanely good. B side really just turns into a lot ominous/ambient sounds. Doesn't really hate the way I want it to especially after comnig off of such a Hot A side. But - that's ok. He's an absolute legend and this rocks. 4 starmans on this one. *a quick wikipedia lookup immediately used the word ambiant and i feel so validated for no reason.

my name is john pork and im gay and i love david bowie

I don't need to hear this again.

Side A was okay but definitely not my favorite work from Bowie. I liked some of the experimental sounds like in the beginning of What in the World, but I wish they leaned into that more. It would’ve been more interesting to me if the wubs and zaps were more present characters throughout. Side B was fine - some exciting moments, and I liked the cross-cultural soundscapes. It’s actually pretty beautiful. But really no idea why it’s paired with the first half, or even why this album is even on the list The stark contrast between the halves makes me feel like I’m missing some context to the album Since I’m not doing this for a history lesson, but rather purely on how I enjoy listening to the music, this is gonna be pretty low for me.

Our first of I assume 57 Bowie albums finally hit. As a lifelong Bowie indifferent person, this is was a great experience. God this album is so strong. The first two tracks are great, and then the Iggy Pop collab just runs away with it. I don't love Sound and Vision, Always crashing is a little sleepy but really solid, and Be my wife rules. Such a beautiful shift on A new Career where the rest of the album went almost fully ambient. It's so good. I love you, Brian Eno. Those ambient tracks are so good oh my god. I think sort of disliking one song makes this a 5, right?

Oh I think I'm starting to get this David Bowie thing. This album was so good. The composition, production, and the use of many different instruments and styles was so impressive. In the first half of the record, he was able to get me hooked on the song in such a short amount of time that it didn't feel like the songs were as short as they were. The second half took a major switch towards mostly instrumentals. This was something that I wasn't expecting, but was surprised by how beautiful and interesting they got. This guy's songwriting on this album is so good, and his use of synths and vocal layering is so cool. Breaking Glass has a super farty and fat bass. Sound and Vision is a great song all the way through. I wish this song was another minute longer. Be My Wife: another great song Warszawa is beautiful I think this might be another 5 from me. Hopefully his other albums on this list stack up.

This took multiple listens to get into. This isn’t the David Bowie I was familiar with on Ziggy Stardust and it’s kinda hard to believe that these albums are only a couple of years apart. Production on this record is great. Bass is jumping and grooving. Drums sound explosive. Synths hold up to this day. If all bajillion of the records Bowie has on this list are this high-quality, then I’m game for them. Highlights: speed of Life, Breaking Glass, Sound and Vision, always crashing in the same car, be my wife, warszawa, subterraneans Stinkers: none really - weeping wall was my least favorite though. Feeling strong 4/5. Couple more listens and this might be a 5/5 too. Mack rating prediction: 5/5

Honestly thought I'd like it a bit more then I did. Berlin Trilogy era Bowie? Art Rock? Experiments with Electronica? Honestly, going in I thought it would be a slam dunk. I mean, don't get me wrong, it's a great album and I'm glad I heard it, and I'd probably fall in love on listen 6, but on listen 1? 4.

well. um. huh. i think this was good. low 3. lots of ambiance. too much for my taste

Pre-listening thoughts: if I had a nickel for every time we got an album rated on the bottom twenty of this website immediately followed by a David Bowie album, I’d have two nickels. Which isn’t a lot but it’s weird that it happened twice. Post/during listening thoughts: the white hot spotlight starts making my face sweat profusely as I nervously clamber my way on stage. I tap the microphone and the feedback whines. I clear my throat. I can hear the impatient shuffling of people who don’t care enough to read all of this to see what my opinion is. “David Bowie’s ambient stuff is mid and the Berlin trilogy is overrated.” I say, mustering up the courage to stand up straight and look at the audience without picturing them in their underwear. All of a sudden I hear rumbling, a thousand simultaneous boos from Brian Eno dick riders. Tomatoes start pelting my skin, and I rush off stage, wondering if I stooped too Low. 5.5/10 DID I NEED TO HEAR THIS BEFORE I DIE: nope Fav tracks: Breaking Glass, Sound and Vision, Be My Wife Least fav tracks: all of side B

It's Bowie, so its gonna be good. Not his best, and a lot of pyschodelic instrumentals, but good background music.

More boring Bowie. I know it’s chalk vs cheese but he’s a comparison for you: Low is the eleventh studio album by the English musician David Bowie, released on 14 January 1977 through RCA Records… with his friend Iggy Pop to rid themselves of their drug addictions. Rumours is the eleventh studio album by the British-American rock band Fleetwood Mac, released on 4 February 1977, by Warner Bros. The band members dealt with breakups and struggled with heavy drug use. Maybe huffing copious amounts of cocaine is beneficial to the creative process? Dunno, either way, why would I want chalk on toast?

Honestly, there’s too much Bowie on this list. Low is an okay album, but it never really reaches greatness. The first half has some decent tracks, while the second half dives into an instrumental, concept-album vibe that’s more interesting than enjoyable. It’s a bold experiment, but not something you'll find me returning to.

Bowie again? Enough!!!

Until today, I thought this albmu was bad. That changed of ciurse for the first time I enjoyed the instrumental songs of the second half. Still not the greatest album of bowie for me, and probably the only one without a clear masterpiece. With all that said even a just good album of bowie is about an 8/10

This man must have utterly crushed Berlin in 1977

The instrumentals were very beautiful.

Sound and Vision is kind of transcendent. Something Lynchian about it. But I'd rather listen to The Sea and Cake all day.

Spacey, poppy and and easy to catch on to. Background music for sure.

Meh. It's Bowie, so it doesn't suck, but it's Bowie, so it's weird.

This is so good. New-wavy but still beautiful. Complex without feeling inaccessible. The album does so much in its 39 minutes. This is my kind of Bowie.

I will sit right down. Waiting for the gift of sound and vision.

Definitely an acquired taste for sonic landscapes and a bit of the avant garde. Not for everyone.

Nice album to wake up with. Nice beats

I like but don't love the Berlin Trilogy, but this is probably my fave from that period. I definitely prefer the '67-76 Bowie era the most. But I appreciate several tracks and the weird Eno-isms on this record