Reviews (page 14 of 14)
I liked this album start to finish. Lot of songs I had not heard before. Height of Bowie and you can tell.
2.8 - decent Bowie album, but nothing seemed especially remarkable to me.
Excellent...
This is the fifth David Bowie recommendation within 244 albums so far. The track "The Jean Genie" feels like a good representation of my opinion of Bowie's music as a whole. Talent is expressed in the music and it feels like rock and roll, but I could comfortably never listen to it again. "The Jean Genie" was the only familiar track for me. Most of the album was okay, but it's hard for the album to overcome putting my least favorite track, "Aladdin Sane", as the second track on the album. The track is long, weird, and full of jumbled noises. I don't want to listen to this album again.
Nice, al vond ik de vorige beter
goeike bowie
It's Bowie, so of course it's brilliant.
mediocre, not the "101th" best album ever
One of my favorite albums ever: sound, songs, all perfect. I thought this album was seen as bit uneven but very solid Bowie album, so great that this is on the list after all.
Going into this, I thought Aladdin Sane was my favourite Bowie album, but upon listening to it again I realised that must have been mainly because of Time. Overall, I thought the album sounded rather harsh and had a bit too much dissonance for my taste. However, Time and Lady Grinning Soul are still two amazing songs that compelled me to lift my rating from 3 to 4 stars. Maybe I'll enjoy this album more on another day.
Interesting album. Liked it, didn’t love it.
6.5/10 I like the general vibe of this album, but nothing stuck out to me in particular. It was difficult to hear the lyrics so I didn't really know what the songs were about. Not a fan of the track "Aladdin Sane"--I recognize what he was doing with the piano riffs, but I personally didn't like the way it sounded.
Best cuts are All the Young Dudes, Time and The Jean Genie. The Prettiest Star has a completely different sound. More of a 50s doo-wop.
I'll admit that I have a soft spot in my heart for this, the ramshackle, obtuse, rushed follow up to its monumental predecessor. I have every expectation that another round or two of edits would have tightened up the lyrics in places, and a little more time in the studio may have yielded something (anything?) better than the embarrassing cover of Let's Spend the Night Together, but the band remains dangerous and the attitude is sharp, cutting, and intact. It sounds so much like a man lost in excess that he's lost his articulateness too, and from that point of view I'll celebrate the album's mostly-finished nature. There are some terrific tracks on here, perhaps chief among them the title track, where the narrator's broken mind is perfectly reflected in the stark, sharded piano solo. An inevitable let down from Ziggy Stardust, but what wouldn't be? Realistically, when I pick Bowie to listen to it's almost never this, but I was glad to hear it again today.
Pretty fun
David Bowie! Fun and funky. I actually favorited some songs for this album
Onirico, pungente e coinvolgente. Non il miglior Bowie però.
This was more of a rock album than many of Bowies other releases. So not as much up my alley than other albums. But, it's still Bowie before his 90s phase so it's still fantastic. I like the inclusion of a bunch of piano, particularly the solo on Aladin Sane. There are also some entertaining lyrics; "Time (falls) wanking to the floor" made me chuckle.
Review: An interesting album -- It's like a weird mix of Jazz, Classical, and Rock. Pretty good! Last track is very FOTS-like. Favorite Track: Time In one word: Wonkiness
Ok but not as amazing as everyone says IMO. I find his voice quite irritating.
Song 1 sounds like Elton John did it. Instruments almost drown out the singer. This album has become incredibly repetitive for me. Slow and non-changing drum beats in 4/4 time have me bored.
Stones cover is much better than the original. The rest is just ok. There’s so much better in his catalog!
One of Bowie's best, 'Panic in Detroit' is one of his most overlooked classics
Good rock album.
Yes
What an incredible run of albums - Hunky Dory, Ziggy Stardust, Aladdin Sane. Bowie’s consistency over this period is astounding. There are some absolute classics here - jazzy dance with a horn section on Watch That Man, nutty piano solos on Aladdin Sane, the masterful ‘50s homage Drive-In Saturday, gritty Panic in Detroit, the affecting Prettiest Star and the floor filler Jean Genie. The Bowie reinvention continues apace and he keeps you guessing.
This album was amazing from start to finish. I listened to it twice in a row, I enjoyed it that much. My highlights were Watch That Man, Aladdin Sane and The Jean Genie.
Great album
I hate to say this is my first time listening to this album cover to cover. Of course like ever other Bowie album I've listened to, its terrific.
Kolejny raz generatorowy matriks sie pokazuje, zaraz po spektaklu lazarusa losuje albumik Bowiego, przpadek, nie sadze, jest sluchane bylo drugi albumik z ery ziggiowej, mocno hamerykanski, bo pisany w trasie koncertowej po hameryce, muzycznie slychac glam rocka przeplatanego z jazzowimi influencjami granymi przez spidery z marsa, wiec znany sklad z poprzednich nagran bowiego, traki na plejke the jean genie i watch that man
6,5/10: alcune canzoni belle ma non mi è entrato nelle corde, altre canzoni mi sembravano solo un riempitivo. De gustibus
liked this a lot, surprisingly!
Bluesy and Jazzy Piano, and Guitar Riffs are contained throughout the album. Bowie's bluesiest and jazziest album as far as I have heard, but ironically it does seem like he's trying to do too much at times. But it's Bowie - so the creative effort outmatches the overstimulation to make the album worth revisiting. Favorite song: Aladdin Sane
Aladdin as twin to Ziggy: It's so clear now but I missed it until today. I hear something like Blackstar, too, but that might come down to familiarity. The alien is a bit sadder here, and the songs are more for him. A piano can't deliver as much despair as woodwinds can, but the texture is still new and affecting. The style spirals out a bit at the end, into what might be the mad space of hedonism.
4.5 | Tiene una particularidad curiosa en tanto que siendo de las portadas más icónicas de Bowie es de los discos que en mi opinión no tiene realmente canciones que se hicieron exitos de manera masiva. Creo de hecho que nunca lo había escuchado así completo al hilo como album y me dejó más que satisfecho. Es un disco muy "agil" que se va como agua en sus 40 minutos. No le falta, no le sobra. No lo considero entre sus "obras maestras" pero es un disco maravilloso.
A ratos bien, a ratos equis. No me encantó. Hay canciones muy grandilocuentes, otras más bien estridentes y no logré conectar en general con todo el disco. Lady Grinning Soul creo que fue mi favorita.
Creo que de lo (poco) que he escuchado hasta ahora de Bowie, este es el disco que me ha gustado más. Me agrada que varias de las canciones son más tipo blues, y me recuerdan algo a los Beatles (Got to get you into my life / Back in the USSR), aunque un par de canciones son más experimentales, como precisamente Aladdin Sane. A este disco le pondría 3.5 de calificación, pero en esta ocasión bajará.
Un gran disco de Bowie: entretenido, al grano, lleno de energía y de locuras (como los solos de piano en Aladin Sane). Creo que mi punto favorito es como recompone la aburrida "Let's Spend The Night Together" de los Stones y la hace una canción totalmente glam que vale la pena escuchar y bailar.
I really like David Bowie but I didn’t love this album.
It's alright! Will relisten some time.
David Bowie is best in seemingly smaller doses. Love the eccentricity, his showmanship is among the best to ever do it. Not very often does this listener feel that his music matches his ability for the dramatic and extra flair because it builds an expectation that the music would be as non-stop spectacular. Granted, very few, if any album would accomplish such high expectation, but David Bowie sells it better than anybody. The pro and con being that every song that resounds with the masses, the songs that do not exact a seemingly harder bout of disappointment. No love lost for David Bowie, "Aladdin Sane" is a fine album demonstrating a masterful discipline to staying committed to his act, if anything his consistency is the saving grace even if there is a saxophone on "Drive-in Saturday".
Listened twice. Jazz piano on Aladdin Sane wasn’t for me but I love Lady Grinning Soul. Not my favourite Bowie album but still good
Classic
It was good bowie
Glam-era Bowie - succinct and "fun", albeit dark lyrically - very listenable, but a little short of 4 stars. Iconic cover photo. Amongst the songs I wasn't already so familiar with, Panic in Detroit, Cracked Actor and Lady Grinning Soul are highlights. Mike Garson's famous dissonant avant garde piano solo in Aladdin Sane doesn't work for me. Jean Genie and Saturday Night Drive-in are rightly Bowie classics.
Not as good as Hunky Dory, but still amazing. Some great keys throughout. Fav new track: Lady Grinning Soul
este es un álbum increible, con buena música, la voz increíble de david bowie y sus composiciones hermosas, obviamente le voy a dar 5 estrellas
The piano on the title track is wild! Really cool. Overall very solid album, some interesting rock that definitely has the David Bowie vibe and flair. Very theatric at times; some moments so much so that I could've been told I'm listening to the soundtrack from an edgy Broadway musical and I would believe it. Some tracks get a little frenetic and busy for me, but I think that's quite intentional. Bowie is still very cool.
Honestly, it was a bit meh. I do like a lot of Bowie songs, but this album mad me feel like I was willing it to be good, but it just wasn't. 2/5
Wonderful album full of songs I've never heard. Definitely one to return back to.
Kind of liked it. I feel I have to listen to it more to understand it.
-Solid album all the way through -One of the better Bowie albums -Catchy, upbeat songs -Really enjoyed this album and would add songs to my current playlist -Cool album art -Didn't dislike any songs but my most favourite were Watch That Man, Drive-In Saturday, Cracked Actor, The Prettiest Star, Lady Grinning Soul -For now I will give it 4 stars but it definitely has potential for 5 the more I listen to it
Hmm not his best stuff. Quite liked the rolling stones cover but even that's not as good as the original.
Very well balanced album, brilliant from start to finish, love the jazz influences
Blown away Sounds like a modern release from the 70s
Great
First Bowie album (from this list anyway). By my count, Bowie has more albums on this list than anyone else (8 - seems high). My knowledge of this album basically boiled down to the iconic album cover, "The Jean Genie", and the cover of the Stones' "Let's Spend The Night Together". And frankly I wasn't 100% sure this was the album Jean Genie appeared on (part of me associates with the video for "Blue Jean", which is something the internet needs to make happen). Turns out that Rolling Stones' cover is the only song on this album I don't especially like. Eight is Enough/Too Many for The Thin White Duke on this list. The proper number is a debate for another day, but Aladdin Sane absolutely deserves a place here.
A nice sound, but only a couple of tracks stood out.
Don't see what the big fuss is all about with Bowie.
Good album with sine great tunes
Another album done and still don’t get the fuss
41 minutes of pure listening pleasure!
Bar band Bowie? Bowie plays the pub? I don't know what this Bowie was going for, or what phase he was in (maybe good ol classic rock?), but I guess it doesn't matter. He's a legend but this one's a miss. C-
I hated this album. One of the David Bowie Albums I haven’t listened to. After this it makes sense why he had to go to Berlin and reinvent himself steeped in minimalism. Compared to the previous 3 albums this is trash, those albums had beautiful melodies, construction, lyrics. Later albums had more edge and minimalism. This album is just a mess. It’s decadent. Too much is going on, he’s trying to do too much and sounds confused, congas, brass, backup sinners, bad jazz piano solos. He says “qualudes and red wine” in one song and I’m guessing he was on a steady diet of both when he made this album. Oddly, the face paint on this album is the iconic image everyone thinks of when they think of Bowie. This sounds like a rock opera, like The Rocky Horror Picture Show. Everything Roxy Music got right around the same tone, this album gets wrong. The cover of “Let’s Spend the Night Together” which is much worse than the original points a spotlight at the shittiness of this album. Jean Genie stands out as the only thing good in this. There were some ballady piano songs that start pretty but get fucked during the chorus by his dissonant maximalism. I love Bowie, but hate this album.
Just doesn't stand up to the glory of previous albums, sort of feels like he's riding the wave of Ziggy Stardust. A couple hits, definitely a solid album, but lacking some of Bowie's previous genius.
This didn't grab me quite as hard as Ziggy Stardust, but it's cool hearing the more experimental stuff start to creep in to his sound. "Time" made me think of It's Always Sunny's "Night Man" - I wonder if that's its source!? Fave tracks - "Panic in Detroit" maybe, or "Cracked Actor"... I feel like if I listened to this album a bunch more times that rating might climb to 5...
Not what I expected. Some disorienting lumpy jazz moments which added to the albums journey. A better understanding of the narrative would like result in a second listen being worth it.
It was okay. A couple of good songs. I would rate this a 2.5
Good listen. I can appreciate the music but it's all pretty similar. Makes more sense if it's considered a concept album but would have still liked more variety. A 3.5 because I don't feel like I need to listen to it again. But the piano solo on the title track made me want to drive off of a cliff, and the disappointing "let's spend the night together" cover have me leaning down to a 3.
4.5, rounded down unfortunately. It's a wonderful album, but when I compare it to other Bowie albums there are other ones I like more. So I have to save the 5 for those...
Good. Ok.
One of Bowie’s classics, perfect apart form a couple songs
Another Bowie classic! Good mix of songs/genres.
Bowie pulls off this trick he's done with me before where at the start I'm thinking this guy is just a rock and roller with a great makeup artist and photographer, but by the end he's sold me on the Bowie magic once again.
New to me. I'm more familiar with Bowie's Berlin trilogy than his earlier Stardust era stuff. Pretty good, I like the sort of raunchy Stones vibe but TBH I'd probably rather just listen to the Stones for that. Enjoyable album though.
New to me. I'm more familiar with Bowie's Berlin trilogy than his earlier Stardust era stuff. Pretty good, I like the sort of raunchy Stones vibe but TBH I'd probably rather just listen to the Stones for that. Enjoyable album though.
Mejor de lo que esperaba, muy escuchable. Tema preferido: Drive-In Saturday
I see the appeal, but this wasn't necessarily for me! The wild piano strokes came off as melodically (is that a word?) a bit weird, but I see how they contribute to the sound/genre!
Pretty ok
I like Bowie a lot. He’s a friggin chameleon, musically and physically. We’re still in the heyday of glam rock with this. Panic in Detroit. Jean Genie. Watch that Man. This is a good. Yeah, there’s things I’m going to skip. But its Bowie. A SOLID three stars.
This album is a staple to any David Bowie fan. When the single is featured on most greatest hits and it’s the weakest song in the album, that says something. The piano work on Aladdin Sane is stellar.
Been dodging the Bowie discography forever so I was looking forward to this album. The first track didn't grab me and "Alladin Sane" might work better as a closing track given the eerie outro jam--good tune nonetheless. "Panic in Detroit" is new to me and I dig that blend of proto-punk and talking-heads-like world percussion. Didn't think Bowie would write a gritty song like Cracked Actor--hanging out with Iggy paid off. A Stones cover seems like a strange choice here. "Jean Genie" is a bop though. Overall, prettay, prettay good. Wish the gritty theme was consistent throughout the album, but perhaps thats alot to ask of a star on Bowie's level. 🌟🌟🌟🌟
I had no idea. I think I'll be listening to more Bowie.
Another brilliant album…
Time, Aladdin Sane, the prettiest star, lady grinning soul 😫😫😫
Really good album - lots of interesting ideas and developments from TRAF
amazing album, the others all felt great to listen to but this broke that barrier and went more than great. 10/10.
A little conflicted. I think Bowie was a genius and his musical spectrum is wide and varied. Even though I hadn’t listed to this album before, I have to say I struggled with it a bit.
2.5.
Jean genieee
3 stars
Only Bowie can make this old school genre of rock feel more awesome as can be. But I think I won’t listen to it again .
Meh, not my thing
Not what I expected. Wasn't that impressed
Cracked Actor was a cool song, didn't really enjoy the rest of the album. It's weird, but not in a good way.
Bon
A really good follow up album after the extremely high bar set by Ziggy Stardust. It's not as good as Ziggy but it still holds it's own. I would have probably given it 4.5/5
Not bad. Not the best Bowie.
Ok, but I didn’t think it was as good as ziggy stardust
this is a solid album, but there are other bowie albums I enjoy a lot more.
My first full Bowie album and I’ve got to say I’m a fan now! The piano and Bowie’s vocals really set this one apart for me. “Lady Grinning Soul” is hauntingly beautiful and the title track’s piano riffage is insane.
Of the seven Bowie albums on the list, this is probably the least essential (well, this or Young Americans), but I do love it anyway. It's the sound of Ziggy Stardust coming undone, and it's a fun, wild ride.
Jean Genie is a good listen, other tracks were less memorable but enjoyable overall.
Cool
Early 70s pop thing. Quite enjoyable, strong vibes.
I'm probably not biased in this one, because Bowie is my favourite artist, but this album is a jem.
this song doesnt sound like an opener. second song is nice. oh its the title track. piano carrying this song hard by making it a lil weird and unsettling. most songs are boring not awful but boring. i've heard 'lets spend the night together' on the radio before. well im done. i liked some parts or aspects of some songs but overall i wouldnt want to listen to this again.
Loved it. Love Bowie, Love the album and the style. Honestly didn't listen to it again but hey I remember it being great...
NICEEEEE 8..5/10
7.5/10
Not real familiar with Bowie, to be honest. It has that classic rock sound that doesn't do a lot for me.
A few great songs, including my favourite from Bowie, the album's closer. Bought this one rather than it's predecessor on the strength of the two singles.
I enjoyed the album, not my normal thing to listen to, but it's got some good tracks.
I enjoyed the eclectic sounds present in this album. No two songs sounded the same. I’ve never been big on the glam but have been more appreciative of Bowie’s production genius as of late.
Had never listened to this and was really impressed by this album. It felt like there was some thought put into the full album rather than just kind of piling songs together - really enjoyed it all the way through.
false
great fucking vibes ngl te pone de buen humor high energy good for high energy focus or even exercise
Fantastic, truly.
I had always heard that Bowie was amazing, but I was kind of disappointed with this project. It was okay, not bad, but nothing special.
Me ha gustado mucho desde la primer escuchada, que buen álbum.
One of the pillars of Bowie's loft discography and possibly his most iconic album cover. All the songs here are noticeable in their own unique way.
bof on se fait chier
David Bowie had completely begun to embody Ziggy Stardust at this point and the confidence shows. While the highs aren’t quite as high as other efforts it is still solid.
Great album.
Some great guitar riffs. Not my most familiar Bowie project but enjoyable nonetheless
O Aladdin Sane curiosamente é dos melhores álbuns que ouvi do Bowie, tem um Groove é interessante, arrisca e não tem medo de ser amargo em doses agradáveis. Não quero alongar-me para além do estritamente necessário, o álbum é bom. A melhor música do álbum é o auto intitulado Aladdin Sane. Nota:8/10 Dia: 19/05/2026
I'm a fairly big Bowie fan, but imho this is among his most boring albums. Not technically his weakest or his most inconsistent... just quite a boring follow-up to Ziggy Stardust. I don't what it means to "sigh like Twig the wonderkid", but that's a top contender for Bowie's most irritating lyric. Bowie on a bad day is still worth hearing, but this is 3* or 3.5* to me, and definitely shouldn't be on this list.
I like David Bowie, not sure why they would choose this album though.
Glad I listened to this, I would've assumed that I'd really rate anythin by Bowie given how popular he is but this really isn't my kinda thing. Jean Genie is a good track but prob only cos I recognise it. 2/5
2 1/2
Ones I knew were good, eg Saturday night drive Early ones a bit too active and manic for background during work
Ok songs
.oigoigiogoig
It's Bowie. Haven't listened to this one before, only heard a bit of bowie, but its a nice album
Wekte weinig emotie op
Rock 'n Roll met stukjes Blues, Hard Rock en wat Jazz. Dit album bewijst op zich al wat een muzikale duizendpoot Bowie is. Ik dacht geen enkel nummer te kennen, tot 'The Jean Genie' begon te spelen.
Some of the songs were okay, as long as he stays away from the psychedelic intermezzos sometimes featured.
If I have to be honest, this is really not my cup of tea. No songs that gave me energy, and some songs even made me frustrated.
El bowas parteix mes la pana del que creia
Not for me
Ok, aversge
Ziggy Glam fall out. Best Tracks: Watch That Man, Drive-In Saturday, Jean Genie
So my first COVID mask (other than plain coloured Costco specials) had Bowie sporting his Aladdin Sane lightning bolt makeup. Guess you know where this rating is heading. This one of four Bowie albums that I claim is my all time favourite whenever I play it. Mike Garson's piano playing is nothing short of amazing. Highlights are the title track as well as Time and Lady Grinning Soul. I also think Mick Ronson delivers some of his strongest playing as his playing style is perfect for the raw glam sound of this album. His solo to start Prettiest Star as well as his solos on Cracked Actor and Time are quintessential Mick Ronson. His acoustic playing on Lady Grinning Soul is also impressive. Drive-in Saturday is my favourite song on the album. But like my favourite Bowie LP claims, take it with a grain of salt since it's playing as I write this. How can you not love a song that has the words like "it's a crash course for the ravers" ? Also, I have a painting of Twiggy in my living room so the words " she sighed like Twig the wonderkid" seal the deal. I also like how he sucks up to Mick Jagger in this song by referring to Mick as the sex symbol who the futuristic sexless society is trying to emulate. As is typical with great albums, it's hard to say whether side 1 or 2 is better. Side 2 starts w Time. It's pure genius how the words "sniper in the brain, regurgitating drain" capture the horror of an early demise by overdose. I suppose in another decade, the words "goddamn you're getting old; you'll sneeze and catch a cold cause you left your coat behind" will resonate more with me. I would have bet lots of money that Let's Spend the Night Together was on Pinups. Hmm. I guess its being on this album is consistent with the "sucking up to Mick J'' theme on Aladdin Sane. As is the case with all my four favourite Bowie albums, this one also ends with a ballad, Lady Grinning Soul, the beautifully haunting song about the hauntingly beautiful Claudia Lennear. It's also another connection to Mick J since he was another of this lady's grinning souls and he also wrote a song about her, although his name for her - Brown Sugar - made his song just a wee bit less romantic.
Production: 13/20 Songwriting: 16/20 Innovation: 14/20 Bangers: 20/20 Emotional response: 16/20 =79 Oooooh one mark off a 5!
I like Bowie sometimes, but this album wasn't really my taste...
Excellent. ****
Bowie! Tja, het zou briljant moeten zijn en ik hoor ook wel dat het goed is, maar ik vind er toch geen reet aan...
I love Bowie. Never paid much attention to this album though, for some reason. It's ok, but I liked the Ziggy album better.
That’s a lot of cocaine
Wonderful
Had er toch wel iets meer van verwacht.
Geen fan van Bowie, maar na dat zouteloze gezang van afgelopen dagen is dit een verademing. Fris en gevarieerd.
Interesting that the album/image I most associate with DB but I dont recognize any of the songs on the album at first glance. For someone that has 8-9 albums on this list I have high expectations for them all and this fell short. It was fine? Enjoyed it a bit more on the second listen through. Watch That Man was a solid track and gave me hope for the rest of the album, and I did recognize the Jean Genie once it came on, but once again if you are David Bowie, you have to impress me more than this
Loved it! David Bowie in the USA. From the play on words within the title I was ready to see through his eyes how America looked to a Ladd from across the pond. A beautiful cover, understandable lyrics and fun beat all worked together to make this is a great album. This is the first album I liked more that 50% of the songs. Favs were Jean Genie, Lady Grinning & AlladIn Sane. I truly enjoyed this album. He was before his time for extravagant display of art, persona and musical talent. “Ground control to Major Tom” is looking down on us all!
The day before Yesterday I randomly said to a co-worker: “I’ve never really liked David Bowie - I just don’t get it”. He agreed, and then of course we get this today. Not awful, but not my favorite. It was cutting edge in the day, so I give credit for that, and Jean Genie is a good pop song. I did like the guitar intro to “cracked Actor”. The rest of the album forgettable, and a weak effort covering The Rolling Stones = 2.5 stars. Rounding up for reputation and funky makeup.
Ziggy Stardust wrote the blueprint for David Bowie's hard-rocking glam, and Aladdin Sane essentially follows the pattern, for both better and worse. A lighter affair than Ziggy Stardust, Aladdin Sane is actually a stranger album than its predecessor, buoyed by bizarre lounge-jazz flourishes from pianist Mick Garson and a handful of winding, vaguely experimental songs. Bowie abandons his futuristic obsessions to concentrate on the detached cool of New York and London hipsters, as on the compressed rockers "Watch That Man," "Cracked Actor," and "The Jean Genie." Bowie follows the hard stuff with the jazzy, dissonant sprawls of "Lady Grinning Soul," "Aladdin Sane," and "Time," all of which manage to be both campy and avant-garde simultaneously, while the sweepingly cinematic "Drive-In Saturday" is a soaring fusion of sci-fi doo wop and melodramatic teenage glam. He lets his paranoia slip through in the clenched rhythms of "Panic in Detroit," as well as on his oddly clueless cover of "Let's Spend the Night Together." For all the pleasures on Aladdin Sane, there's no distinctive sound or theme to make the album cohesive; it's Bowie riding the wake of Ziggy Stardust, which means there's a wealth of classic material here, but not enough focus to make the album itself a classic.
Some good stuff that I hadn't heard before
Classic
I think it’s pronounced Bowie Never listened to this album before, I think I’ll give his other stuff a chance after this.
Yeah it's good, but feels like he's trying too hard if anything.
Not as good as Ziggy Stardust or Hunky Dory. But still had several good tracks on it.
Fine.
Loved every song, but it's Bowie so... that's to be expected
For me this is Bowie in his core competency. I love Ziggy, and Bowie even says this is Ziggy goes to America. I love the glitz and glamourous treatment of the gritty subject matter. A lot of very pretty music about drugs, sex and violence. You could really hear the American influence on this album. Lots of blues guitar riffs, old doo-wop melodies, and even some plunky vaudevillian piano as well. "Drive in Saturday," "Panic in Detroit," and "Jean Jeanie" were my faves. Then I heard "Lady Grinning Soul," and DAMN! Flamenco guitar all up in there, with those fluttering keys mmmmmhmm that was a special way to close it out. I really loved this album but I've got to go with a 4 because this really was Ziggy 2 but just not quite as good.
It would be hard for me to give anything but a 5 to the original material put out by Bowie between 72 & 77. I didn't like this so much when I first heard it back in the day, but I started listening to it again in the last year. The title track and erie ballads really stand out with the crazy piano playing. The glam rockers sound greasy & unpolished compared to those on Ziggy but the fact that he was listening to alot of the Stones when he was writing these songs could explain that - they have an Exile on Main Street feel. I'm disappointed that such a prolific writer would do a top 40 cover, but that's only one song, and it's a pretty good cover.
5
Pretty good! Idk I think I need it to grow on me but reminds me a lot of Queen and I like them. IDK if I like the keys too much but again I think it'll grow on me
Hi: Watch That Man, Drive-In Saturday, Time, Let's Spend The Night Together There's literally nothing wrong with this album, but as far as Bowie albums go it isn't my favorite. It's raucous and not too moody, pretty good rock n' roll Bowie album. No bad tracks, just better tracks.
The guy so nice, we get albums twice. After Bowie’s first outing I was hoping it would be longer than week before I reviewed another one but the universe has other plans. Watch That Man sounded like I was listening to the prior Stone’s album. Ok David is going pretty wild on the piano on the title track, and it sounds like how I play the piano so that’s a skipper. Drive-In Saturday sounds like the song that plays at the end of a TV show I would have turned off before the ending. Panic in Detroit had a line about a teacher wearing overalls so that’s that. Cracked Actor doesn’t sound bad but I’m getting pretty upset that so many albums so far have been three stars or below. For a “Top Albums” list, I’m wondering when we are going to get to the good stuff. Pretty funny that there is a song on this album called The Prettiest Star but his last album was Blackstar…this is rough. Let’s Spend the Night Together sounds like Saturday Nights Alright for Fighting and they are the same amount of words but I bet you can guess which I like more. Oh look he is being punny, The Jean Genie. If I had a genie right now I bet you can guess what my first wish would be. Lady Grinning Soul sounds kind of like White Rabbit. Please understand, I really like David Bowie, some of his songs are some of the best, but this is the second album of his that I have kind of to barely liked. I guess I’m just A Lad Insane.
iconic
A good album, but it takes a while to develop.
After the relative softer edge of Ziggy Stardust Bowie really rocks out with this album. I don't think it achieves the same heights as Ziggy, but it has some great tracks including Jean Genie and Panic in Detroit. I prefer Bowie's other phases: Mod/ Space oddity, and his experimental Berlin stage but this is still a pretty solid effort.
good
Classic bowie
I'm guessing there are like 6 Bowie albums on this list. Which makes sense. Include Let's Dance you cowards!
Bowie that I’ve never really listened to. I liked it.
How can one not like Bowie?
I don't particularly enjoy David Bowie but he was a huge impact in rock music
damn fantastic album
This David Bowie guys pretty good. Who woulda thunk
Typical Bowie style album with lyrics to match. A nice driving album.
I am pretty sure I’m pro-Bowie..I am not anti-Bowie or Bowie-neutral. I am however still seeking the album that REALLY gets me into Bowie. I believe I am someone who can and should be really into Bowie. Aladdin Sane is coming across my musical path I think at the right time for me to discover MY Bowie album. Is this it? Time will tell - but I am inspired now to dig back into this catalogue.
I know the cover art for this is pretty famous but it's not my favorite Bowie album.
Cool album! I personally think it says more about the rock sound at that time, than it does of Bowie, but it is still characteristic of the Bowie persona.
One of my all time favorites! I discovered Bowie in like 8th grade with Ziggy Stardust. I think I first heard Aladdin in college. Watch That Man - A driving rock opener. Simple, but gets your grooving. Shades of Rebel Rebel Aladdin Sane - Just perfection. Bowie essentially has a seizure on a piano during what is ostensibly a pop rock album. Love the screaming squeaky sax and the bass line that just repeats forever. Drive In Saturday - Bowie does Motown. This feels like it would be appropriate at a high school type dance or in a movie about a high school type dance. Sax areas the show again. Panic in Detroit - I’ll never forgive him for pronouncing Detroit wrong. But he does good guitars and bass so it’s okay. Cracked Actor - This song is filthy. Five stars. Time - Second best track. Haunting. Carnivals! Fun! Imagine what it would look like for time to “fall wanking to the floor”. It’s important to remember that Dave was surviving on a diet of milk, bell peppers, and cocaine at this time. The Prettiest Star - the only forgettable track I think. Nice. Doo-wop vibe. Let’s Spend the Night Together - The crazy piano comes back! A driving desperation throughout. Jean Genie - Bluesy as heck. Harmonica and all. I don’t know what a jean genie is but maybe you meet one after you’ve had enough milk and cocaine. Lady Grinning Soul - The piano on this and Bowie’s vocals are breathtaking. Tender and sad. Most underrated track. John I’m Only Dancing - Dumb and Fun. I like both versions, but this one is better because of the sax. All the Young Dudes - I know he wrote this for Mott the Hoople, but it’s always been Bowie’s song. This version is so much better than theirs.
beautiful
Not usually a huge Bowie fan, but this was a pretty fun listen Favorite Tracks: “Watch That Man,” “Panic In Detroit,” and “The Jean Genie”
Not my favorite Bowie, but Panic in Detroit is a great song. Good listen.
Really solid album, first time I’ve really listened to any Bowie, especially from before the 80s era. I’m excited to see where that goes
I’ll be honest, I was expecting this to be better. It was very commercial rock, still Bowie and still well done. But didn’t feel as fun or creative as hunky dory in my opinion. Enjoyable romp, cool to read about the influence of American Touring on Bowie, but not my favorite. 3.5, rounding down because I had high expectations.
Very rocky and out there, Bowie is always good
Ziggy goes to America. I love this album, I think it's my 4th favourite Bowie. A great chaotic follow-up to Spiders. The piano work is incredible.
Holy Crap David Bowie. You managed to make this, Transformer and Hunky Dory in the span of 3 years? This is wonderful, the Birth of Ziggy Stardust, the honky tonk. This is tock and roll, where hunky dory could get weird and wild this is grooving. Like a Jean Genie, I want to spend my time with aladdin sane
Laughed out loud at the off-key piano solo on the title track. Bowie truly is a lad insane. "We told David to lay on the keys and he actually did it, the absolute mad man!" Alex made the observation on Station to Station that the vocals were mixed lower than the instruments, and I think the same is true here, especially on the opener. Sometimes I can barely make out the lyrics, and as a result, I find myself paying less attention to what Bowie has to say. But that doesn't get in the way of enjoyment for me because the music is really good! Just like Station to Station, a good bit of variety here. "Jean Genie" sounds like it could've been on the Rolling Stones album we just reviewed. Like that album, this one didn't blow me away or move me too much, but it's a solid effort from the Starman. Favorite tracks: Aladdin Sane, Panic in Detroit, The Jean Genie. Album art: Definitely iconic. That lightning bolt makeup look is one of the most easily recognizable symbols in rock culture. I'm not up to speed on my Bowie lore but I thought this was Ziggy Stardust. Apparently this is a character called Aladdin Sane, who Bowie described as "Ziggy Stardust goes to America." You think it's insane to visit the Land of the Free, Mister Brit? 3.5/5
I mean, what can I say? This shit was life changing.
Always enjoy a Bowie record. Never listened to this one though, somehow. It was fine. My favorite track was "Panic in Detroit," which was funnily enough the least-streamed track of the record, on Spotify.
bat gene genie ,not a fan
3 - näher an der 2 als an der 3
Dafür, dass ich Bowie gern mag war ziemlich wüscht. Fands ned gut :(
Keine objektive Meinung möglich. Listened to it several times. Könnte aufgrund der Musik sein, könnte meine würde Schwäche für Androgynität sein? Warte, objektifiziere ich gerade David Bowie? David, we love you! You are the prettiest star! Aber lowkey Album leider nicht so geil.
Konnte kein Lied durchhören. Zu viele Intrumente die zu komische Sachen spielen, dazu immergleiches gejaule vom Bowinger. 1* würde es nie wieder hören. Entweder die Lieder schleppen sich so dahin wie eine 180 jährige mit Morbus Bechterew oder klirren in den Ohren mit dem verdammten rocknroll klavier gebimmel. Absolut schlecht. Höre jetzt wieder nen neuen edwin rosen BANGER! Den hätte Bowie mal featuren sollen.
good enough, probably wouldn't listen to again.
Bowie was always versatile - he shifts around from rock songs to more theatrical type performances. I love how he tries different vocal styles for different songs. Also love Mick Ronson’s guitar sound and his playing. Jean Genie’ and ‘panic iin Detroit’ are the 2 stand-out tracks. The stones cover and some of the theatrical pieces aren’t great: the album is a 4 but he gets an extra point because he is David Bowie - one of the greatest rock n roll stars of all time
good as you'd expect
It's epic Bowie. Glam and decadence. It's amazing how layered the rock sound is. Other than the strange Let's Spend the Night cover, it is solid and has several absolute classics.
Gotta love some Bowie
What more is there to say than it's classic bowie?
Good not great. The song I was most excited about was a suggested song after this album from a later Bowie album.
I was hearing a lot of texture in the songs, lots of layers to listen to. I like the heavy rock n roll, and simultaneous sophistication he brings to it. I haven't listened to many Bowie records front to back, really enjoying it.
David Bowie strikes again! Going back to the early 70's era of Bowie is always a treat. This album seems to be his first venture into the more bluesy American style that was prevalent in his next few albums. But what makes this album triumph againts the likes of Young Americans and Pin-ups is the perfect balance it strikes between experimental and accessible, earning it a place in the big three albums of Bowie's Ziggy Stardust days. Unfortunately, this album is the Larry Hemsworth of the Ziggy albums. Sure it's good, but Diamond Dogs and Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust are the more attractive brothers. There are definitely less iconic Bowie songs from this album, but the songs here are all really solid and work together to create a great album. Bowie's vocal performance on this album is top-notch, probably one of his best. It was much less put-on and showey, more natural but still retaining that iconic glamorous feeling. My verdict of this album is that it's totally worth listening to if you're a Bowie fan, but if you want to get into Bowie then go for Diamond Dogs, which perfects the same musical ideas presented in this album, with catchier and more thematically interesting songs. Favorite track: Time Least Favorite: The Jean Genie
Pretty good.
"Time"
the epitome of glam rock. it made me desperately want to watch him perform this live. the keys! the sax! his vocals! he's just oozing charisma that's funky, ostentatious, and wild, making you feel like if you had a night out on the town with him it would be the craziest and most fun night. some may say it's unfocused, but I think the disparate stories under this funky glam rock persona cater to Aladan Sane - he's dynamic, chromatic, fluid, and a bit mad.
Fav: Time, Lady Grinning Soul
Meh
What David Bowie sounds like in front of a great rock band, The Spiders from Mars. Particularly enjoy Mick Robson’s guitar and Mike Garson’s barking mad piano on the title track .
Production: 13/20 Songwriting: 16/20 Innovation: 14/20 Bangers: 20/20 Emotional response: 16/20 =79 Oooooh one mark off a 5!
Yeah yeah yeah yeah fine
Prima wegluister album met rock plaatjes
Enjoyed it.
Hadn't listened to this one in awhile and I really enjoyed listening to it again. Some great tracks but as an album I don't think it holds up as well as others in his catalog. My favorite track is probably "Time."
I liked more here than I thought. There's so much David Bowie blindspots I have, and while everything on this album isn't absolutely amazing, there is a lot of production and intent going on, nothing seems half-assed. I enjoyed the janky-ness of some of the playing, 3.5 up to 4.
Nice album.
Super engaging, diverse, and well-produced. More enjoyable than other Bowie I've listened to. Slaps.
A solid Bowie album, but not one of his best.
More rock’n’roll than I expected, definitely sets the Bowie style
Excellent. Classic Bowie
Holy T. Rex vibes Didn't get as into it as some other David Bowie albums, possibly because I knew them better
I thought I would like David Bowie more, but I was kinda disappointed. expected some grungy experimental feel, but instead just got old school rock and roll feel. kinda elvis-y which makes sense considering the time era. some songs were not bad though.
Panic in Detroit is one of Bowie's best songs.
Not my cup of tea. Sounds like the 70s for sure, I can definitely see why Bowie fans love the album but it doesn't pique my interest after the first couple songs so eh.
nice
At times raw and almost primal. Intense tempos and interesting lyrics.
Terrible, awful, I do not like David Bowie, as previously discussed here. Not for me.
Great album. Not much to say other than glam rock/bowie essential listening.
Could be my #1 Bowie. It’s close.
Not a Bowie fan.
Not my favorite Bowie album, with much less standout songs than previous one (Ziggy Stardust)
Bowie always great. Favorite part about doing these albums is listening to things I haven't heard from greats like him.
noice old popish
YASSSSSSSSSSSSSSS
Eh Recently listened to Ziggy Stardust, enjoyed it a lot more.
I think I liked Hunky Dory more overall, but this was still a good album. The first two tracks were great. It felt more polished than HD. I don’t have a whole lot to say about it specifically but I may revisit when I’m more familiar with Bowie’s early catalog. I feel like these discographies (for a lot of artists, not just Bowie) are so massive I want to compare the albums with each other in the context of the full career. Al this to say, fine album, better than a lot of the ones we’ve listened to, worse than others.
idk just didnt feel it
Good album but just shy of a masterpiece/5 stars
Some classics, and Bowie wierd stuff, I'll stick more to his hits.
I know this is art...but I just can‘t appreciate it for what it is.
72h myöhemmin en muista mitään levystä. Kertonee tarvittavan...
Cool as hell. Need to listen again, a little better.
It's got that make up that everyone does for Halloween on the cover lmao
Yes
test
70’er rock, nyskabende, splittet, dystopisk, velproduceret,
Solid Bowie but doesn’t hit as many peaks as his top work
Modern, kind of jazzy, chromatic.
, 8/10
1973. Key Songs: The Jean Genie, Panic in Detroit
solid bowie - got some funky, weird stuff going on, while still being accessible, but doesn't reach his typical highs
Two albums in and Ziggy Stardust was already feeling it. David Bowie knew that he needed to call time on his most indelible creation before it consumed him whole but not before he created a signpost that not only signaled the waning of an era but foreshadowed varying detours he'd take to satiate his voracious appetite. Aladdin Sane, while patchwork, showcased Bowie at the peak of his glam powers and proved that he was up for any challenge that provided bucking narratives.
didn't get a chance to listen closely, so need to go back to this one
false
I enjoyed it more than I expected. Probably closer to a 3.5/ 3.7ish.
Meh
time got my attention, it sounds like a villain song
It's not a bad album - tbh I thought it was pretty good - but again, there is too much Bowie going on here. 3/5.
Decent David Bowie album. 8/10
The Midas touch. This is Bowie in his absolute pomp… what an album!
There are some excellent moments on this album, but as a whole, I lose interest in the second half and find the lyrics not especially engaging. Good - but possibly a little overrated.