Reviews (page 6 of 14)
Enough Bowie already.
Great closer song, Time is really good, cracker actor is interesting, panic in detroit underrated
I love Ziggy Stardust, but this album feels somewhat like a faint shadow of that effort. Standout tracks for me include "Panic in Detroit" and "The Jean Genie" but they are somewhat unremarkable compared to tracks from the preceding album.
Ok so negatives upfront, biggest problem is I hate the cover. It shouldn’t matter but it looks so dry and sterile. Like I’m looking at an autopsy. The makeup is iconic but I just hate this weird portrait picture. That’s the end of the negatives cause this album is fucking sick. It shows David Bowie definitely wanted to focus on his crazy wild ballads about fictional characters (which I’m so totally here for), but he still found the nerve to give us an all time iconic classic rock song in Jean genie. Which kinda blew my mind cause I thought it was Jean Jeanie my whole life. But the star of this album, and frankly it’s the aspect of the album that ur either gunna love or hate and that’s the keyboard playing. Like holy shit it can be distracting. That’s obviously the point, the keys take center stage for a lot of the beginning tracks on this album and it’s just crazy complicated playing that’s super inventive. But I could see why people hate it. Needless to say this is a great album but definitely not David Bowie’s best, not top 3 either, definitely top 10 though.
Not his best album but it’s Bowie isn’t it
Generellt lite för glatt för mig
Haven't heard any of these songs except "The Jean Genie". The whole album is full of straight-up rockers. Pretty good.
pretty good
aladdin sane - piano is very pretty, tori-esque at times cracked actor, time - these were my tops until lady grinning soul, which is the only song from this project to make it to my saved playlist thus far "all i had to give was guilt for the dreaming"
To say Bowie had done and would go on to do more interesting things with his music would be an understatement. While the production here is colourful and varied with the fusion of pop and art-rock that Bowie was renowned for, the songs left a lot to be desired. I think it's the sort of washed-out nature of the production, and the very unfocused nature of the songs themselves, constantly hopping between (mostly promising) ideas without ever settling or building on any of them. That's sort of always been an early-Bowie thing, I understand, but it was more noticeable and irksome when compared to the masterpiece he had released just the year prior. So while, by Bowie standards, this was nothing to cry home about, it still had its fair share of highlights. I really liked the rhythms and backing vocals driving the explosive 'Panic in Detroit'. 'Time' is the Bowie staple operatic album centerpiece, which really carries over that cinematic and theatrical edge that was put on full display in 'Ziggy Stardust'. The closer was also pretty great, with a build that's so subtle yet it hits you like a truck when it hits its climax.
I bought this album several years ago when I first started getting into Bowie and having loved ...Ziggy Stardust.... It wasn't as immediate for me, it doesn't have the same kind of accessible pomp and straight out hooks that made its predecessor so easy to engage with. It's a lighter, more experimental affair all round which rewards repeat listens. Mike Garson's jazzy piano flourishes are a highlight; Trent Reznor was listening to this for sure when he recruited him to work on The Fragile. So not my fave Bowie album but there's a base level quality he offers and rarely dips below. Following the success of his previous album, this might always have been a tricky follow up, but like Bowie always does, he evolves and gives you something you maybe weren't expecting.
Nothing really grabbed me. I love some Bowie but not this one.
Solid album with many fantastic tracks!
David Bowie, isn't he good in all his incarnations? I admit "Aladdin San" isn't my favorite album, but it has its highlights. I love "Jean Genie," "Panic in Detroit," and "Let's Spend the Night Together," even though that's a cover. So all I can say is, "Watch that man." Bowie is simply something very special.
Momentami bywa średnio, ale ogólnie jest to porządny melodyjny, chwytliwy i taneczny Bowie, który potrafi zaskoczyć. Jest tu miejsce na komercyjne kawałki i na szalone, kosmiczne eksperymenty. 6.5/10 równane w górę.
Hmmm, didn't love this. Unsure why but it's not really doing it for me 3.25/5 Songs added to playlist: - Watch That Man - The Prettiest Star - Lady Grinning Soul
This album seems a bit cluttered and messy and not his best unfortunately. I have to admit I was expecting a bit more given the iconic cover and image of David but it fell a little flat for me. Never mind, I know there is better to come.
The rockers are really good, even to this day. The slower songs are dated.
Favorite tracks: Watch That Man, Cracked Actor, Time, The Jean Genie This album probably would have been 5 stars had it not been for the terrible discordant piano on the first couple of tracks. A little bit of that can make a song interesting, but it's easy for that to spill over into irritating. I will give credit that the increasingly clashing notes worked for the theme of Aladdin Sane, but I have no desire to listen to it again because of it.
This was my favorite Bowie album so far! I think I prefer the rock-leaning sound over the glam sound. Usually, David Bowie's voice is not my favorite. This album was different; his voice blended much better with the music. I especially loved the piano woven throughout.
Who Will Love Alladin Sane? 1001 Albums Generator 157 (11/07/2025) I can only imagine what it feels like to follow up something as iconic and beloved as Ziggy Stardust. While I am not as crazy about Bowie's most highly acclaimed album as everyone else is, I still recognize that something special happened on that particular record that would not be able to be replicated on its follow up. However, Alladin Sane, to my ears, is at least as good as Ziggy. The intro Watch That Man, is one of my favorite glam Bowie songs that I've ever heard and the title track then veers into some free jazz stylings that are really fucking cool. The piano on this album in general is fantastic, but especially on this song. There is a slump in quality in the middle of this album besides Time (which is flamboyant and theatrical in the best way), but then it closes out with two fantastic songs. Lady Grinning Soul in particular is up there with the best Bowie songs ever. I wish that I enjoyed glam Bowie more, but it is what it is. 3.5/5, rounded down to a 3. Favs: Watch That Man Alladin Sane Lady Grinning Soul Least Fav: Cracked Actor
Bowie seems to be able to make good music in any genre he touches, except none of it has been "amazing" to me.
Finde ihn als Kunstfigur super spannend glam heute queer toll. Das cover! Aber die Musik ich finde keinen Zugang am besten klingts für mich wenn es ein bisschen an Rocky Horror Show erinnert und ja ok China Girl. War das hier auf dem Album oder woanders ich könnte es nicht sagen…c
Interesting in spots but lacks any compelling reason to return. Some of it feels like Billy Joel, other parts Elton John. I’m a medium Bowie fan. 3/5
Solid David Bowie, continuation of the spiders of Mars sound with good hits but wouldn't be high on my list of Bowie albums.
Great music
Was very nice to revisit this one. Back in the day I had a phone card in the name of Aladdin Sane. Phone cards. lol
Title track alone is brilliant. Bunch of fantastic bangers in there too. More than just Ziggy pt. 2 to me.
This is a great record. It's catchy, well-produced and it has stood the test of time brilliantly.
130/1001 :: David Bowie - Aladdin Sane Heard before? ✅ Would I revisit? ✅ Rating: 8 Listen before you die: Yes Fav Tracks: Jean Genie, Cracked Actor, Let’s Spend The Night Together A Lad Insane is a story of artist meeting pop stardom and critical acclaim. Bowie’s 5th studio album and 2nd as Ziggy Stardust is an interesting one; way more glam and a bit more abstract than its predecessor. It’s been said that many of the tracks were influenced by America and his perceptions of the country. Bowie “was simultaneously appalled and fixated by America” something that even as an American I can relate to. While maybe not as focused an album as Ziggy Stardust this prolific era in Bowie’s career is my favorite. And Aladdin Sane has a bunch of gems. All timers like The Jean Genie, Cracked Actor and the Stones cover Let’s Spend the Night Together once showcase Bowie’s magic. And of course the cover artwork is one of the most iconic Bowie images ever. Shot by Brian Duffy, the concept image conveys Bowie’s struggle with stardom, as he’s torn with fame. The distinctive painted scar contrasted the soft, vulnerable tear and with Bowie’s eyes shut he’s unwilling to face the reality of fame he found himself trapped in. So rad.
Have listened to this many times before so will not do so again. Tbh if it wasn't for the cover this would be a very forgettable album, even as a massive Bowie fan. For the first time in his career he stays still and doesn't move forward, keeping the Ziggy persona going, which is great for those who got to see him on tour. Not great artistically however.
This was definitely a tale-of-two-sides album. While the A side was decent if unremarkable (save the title track), the B side had some of Bowie's best hidden gems in my opinion. Dazzling and mesmerizing on the whole second half with Bowie reaching the height of his ability. Very enjoyable overall. Top tracks: Aladdin Sane, The Jean Genie, Lady Grinning Soul
This was a rough one, where was popular Bowie in this album?
A Bowie album where I was more familiar with the album art than I was with the tracks on said album. I now understand why.
Typical Bowie
Not the best David Bowie but listenable.
Standouts Cracked Actor Time
own
I recently finished listening to David Bowie's discography and ranked them all, I believe I put this one at number 5. This really is one of my favorite Bowie albums, it has a playful charm that not many of his other albums have. A lot of the songs here are also really fun to sing along too, a lot of great melodies. I also really enjoy the theatrical elements of this album, especially in the song Time. High 5!!!
Best ever
non mi piace che non posso mettere mezzi voti
Cute ma la migliore è Jean Genie
More Bowie.... Whomever made this list really needs to branch out more. the best thing I can say about it, is I liked it better than I expected to. Would probably rate it a 4 on it's own, but I'm tired of finding Bowie on this list. I came in here wanting to find Albums to listen to before I die, and I think flooding the list with one artist goes against the spirit of why I'm here. In that regard, I'm dropping this to a 2. Sorry, not Sorry. Nothing stands out as a must add to the playlist, but I went with Jean Genie.
Not interesting. I tried. Twice. The chaotic piano on track 2 was not pleasant. The Jean Genie is decent track.
At first I was dissapointed to get a Bowie Album so soon again, but Aladdin Sane won me over song by song. If the quality is as high as this record, they might all be Bowie records and I wouldn't mind. Peak.
Knew most of the songs already. One of my top Bowie albums. Not usually a fan of covers unless they are drastically changed. Why is lets spend the night together here.
legend
Not my favourite Bowie album, but the cover is iconic. Songs like Time, The Jean Genie and Lady Grinning Soul are among my favourites of his, but I don’t care much for songs like Panic in Detroit or Let’s Spend The Night Together. 4/5
It does have the best opener in Bowie's discog, but it is not as strong as a whole as Ziggy Stardust
5-star album cover on a 3-star Bowie album. If he'd done the lightning bolt thing for Scarry Monsters, it'd be perfect. Otherwise, it's the most Springsteen Bowie album, even though it came out before most Springsteen albums. I suspect time travel was involved.
Aural proof of Bowie’s genius as an arranger and for surrounding himself with stellar musical talent, Aladdin Sane features yet more incredible playing from guitarist Mick Ronson and the rest of the Spiders From Mars, but it's the addition of jazz pianist Mike Garson that is especially notable. His playing on the gorgeous title track alone is sublime and foreshadows Bowie’s late-career ventures into jazz and more abstract forms. The album carries forward the dramatic and multilayered songcraft of Ziggy Stardust but drags it into a more explicitly glam-rock vein, paired with Bowie’s visceral on-the-road lyrics about a squalid early-70s America. I deduct half a star for the puzzling and wholly unnecessary Stones cover; otherwise, it’s a 5.
Bowie's Rolling Stone phase? Do not like.
Other than the unneeded Stones cover, a great peak Bowie lp. "Lady grinning soul "should be as overplayed as ziggy stardust is; it's a better song!
Before this, I knew precisely one song form Aladdin Sane, the title track. Which I bring up just so I can emphasize how weird it is that the cover of this album may be the most iconic image of Bowie *ever*. I don't think this is one of the 5 most discussed Bowie albums, and I'm *pretty* sure it barely cracks the top ten. I'm not even really sure if it has any hits. Alas, it does have this one little undeniable cultural win, which is good for Aladdin Sane. That being said, after listening through Aladdin Sane, I could do to hear a little more love for it. This was released during Bowie's classic era, and it sounds the part. The problem here isn't even really Aladdin Sane's fault. It follows Ziggy Stardust, it would have almost been impossible to truly one up it. But, while this isn't quite as immaculate as Ziggy, the highs are still very much here, and the consistency is close. The songs I'm not that into here aren't even bad, they're just not as interesting as the strongest cuts. In my eyes, these lowpoints are largely the more straightforward rock tracks, in particular The Jean Genie and Watch That Man. Also, The Prettiest Star, which I'm just not sure drives its concept home. That being said, everything else here is a mix of fascinating experimentation, marvelously executed theatrics, and classic Bowie songsmanship. Songs like Aladdin Sane, Lady Grinning Soul, and Let's Spend The Night Together are driven by Mike Garson's ingenious piano playing which fades into and out of really fascinating freeform, almost avant-garde tendencies. He gives this album a character that remains distinct in Bowie's catalog. On the other end, Panic In Detroit and Cracked Actor are two more rockin' cuts that really work for me. Enough Bowie is injected to give them some real character. Lastly, Drive-In Saturday and Time are some of this album's moments of high drama. And it works incredibly well for both of them. Drive-In Saturday captures the spirit of Ziggy moreso than any other song here. And Time is Bowie at his most theatrical. If this kind of thing were attempted by anyone else, it would be unbearable. But Bowie's raw magnetism and ear for arrangement turns this into one of the best songs of the album. A little less even-keeled than Ziggy, Aladdin Sane forges it's own path. It embraces unique textures and ideas and delivers a collection of great Bowie tunes in the process. It isn't perfect, but sometimes "very very good" is enough.
Day 109 I remember I used to be obsessed with this album early 2023, such a legendary album by darling Bowie, bangers after bangers! The first track is such a BOP and you just know you are in for an awesome ride.The instrumentals in the title track and lady grinning soul is just heavenly. Panic in Detroit and Lets Spend the Night Together are the weaker tracks for me. (4/5)
I love peak Bowie but this isn't really for me.. I know how innovative and excellent he is in theory but to my ears it's just decent to OK rock.
Not as much of a standout as Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust but still good. My favorite song was ""Watch That Man"".
Good stuff
Inte med bland mina Bowie-favoriter, men strax därunder. Några pärlor - Drive in Saturday, Time, Watch that Man, Cracked Actor ... Men också fyllnad som Let's Spend the Night Together. En stark fyra för det blir inte en femma bara för Bowie.
Good songs
This was pretty fun, and have so many fun David Bowie moments throughout. Jean Genie is the big hit from this album but I don't think it's even really the best song on the album. Time is pretty awesome (which to be fair was another single). The musicianship throughout was just awesome, and you can catch some pointed Jazz influence here and there too. It's odd to get this kind of quintessential Bowie album without really any of the songs being notable.
Some of his best, and that is saying a great deal. Mesmerizing.
Nice to finally get a Bowie album on this list. It's a solid album at the height of Bowie's glam era but I also think he has other albums that are better that I'll get to eventually.
A complete miss for me. I tried listening to full songs at first, but then just listened 1st verses and choruses and skipped. I like David Bowie as a person, and I feel that he was genuine, but I just don't get his music. I haven't remembered any of the songs. I feel uncomfortable after listening to it, because I wanted to like it
I love love love David Bowie, ever since he was the Goblin King. Let's face it, I'll never give him a bad review.
man i struggle with bowie
Not for me. Album felt like I was listening to show tunes or a musical. Favorite Song(s): Watch That Man
The album art is more iconic than the music, but it's still good.
A little campy for my taste.
Incredibly, released a year after Ziggy, the same year as Pin ups, and a year before Diamond Dogs. Young Americans followed a year after that. It goes on. An incredible run of outputs. This really isn’t as good as Ziggy Stardust….but what is?
p288. 1973. 3 stars. Not his best work, with obvious pilfering from Muddy Waters and BB King, and a redundant Stones cover. Still better than the average 70s album.
Ikke for meg, men var helt ok. Likte det bedre enn Blackstar.
Var positivt innstilt men dette var bom. Tittellåta var faktisk helt grusom.
Ganske decent, liker flere av låtene ganske godt. Gir det en 3/5, tror jeg kommer sette det på igjen en gang
Bowie really doesn't do much for me.
Ich glaub nicht mein Lieblings Album von Bowie, aber trotzdem gut
Amazing album
I feel sorry for anyone who doesn't enjoy this.
A ok album, not great. A bit overrated.
God start og et fint David Bowie album. Glæder mig til at høre mere fra ham og kan godt se hvorfor det er min fars ynglings kunstner
I don’t know what to say. It’s pretty good and not generic but doesn’t do anything all that special. The songs were catchy enough to be enjoyable, but that’s pretty much it. 7/10
I don’t think it’s David’s absolute pinnacle but it’s certainly a window into his brilliance. Overall a really enjoyable listens with some glimpses of his genius that were sandwiched between more complete work of his. I think it also highlights just how prolific he was this album only coming a year after Zig. My final thought though was that having to listen to album tracks from Bowie reminded me of my only gripe about Dave, how fantastic Mick Ronson is as a guitarist and how much of that came through on this, he is of course also bouncing off his best work too in Ziggy Stardust but still what a player. I’d like it if he got more credit. Three for you Dave but a four for you Mick. Don’t let anyone forget you.
The sound is very distinct Bowie I think, even with how experimental it is. But I just think that the record all together sounds like a pantomime or musical where you can’t really follow the story or know what’s going on. It’s just crossed that line for me. Maybe because I wasn’t around at the time to know that Ziggy was going to America, but I just think that maybe the experimentalness of the jazz and the rock have gone a little overboard to the point where I find myself confused about the plot. Still littered with good songs, but I do think the theme is lost on me a little
Not my favourite Bowie album, but I cannot rate less than a 4 for him as he is just wonderful even when not at his best. This is a weird album and is iconic for it's not caring about being weird.
This is a melancholy album. I mean, Bowie has an album about his death that is definitely more morose but Alladin Sane struck me as a sad one. I don’t know if that’s right but just my initial feeling. I want to revisit this and think about it.
I was surprised how much I liked this. Never really listened to Bowie before
A ton of good here, not a lot of great Best Song: Time Rating: 5.0/10 Stars: 3
This album feels like an echo of Ziggy Stardust, with similar riffs used in new ways. you can hear him transitioning out of that era.
Better than Heroes
It's not my favorite from this era, but this era punches most of my buttons.
I hadn't listened to this album in its entirety in years...I forgot how fantastic it was. I'd probably give it a 4.5 but since we can't do half stars then I'm going to give it a full 5.
Seriously, where is the David Bowie jukebox musical? Can't you just imagine a series of actors in various wacky costumes flying around a stage to a loosely-constructed plot, accompanied by these raging showtunes? I'm giving this one a 4, between Low and Ziggy Stardust. Only 4 to go!
You can't give Bowie anything less than a 3. Not his best album for me, but the shaping of his sound and persona. Legend.
The Motor City meets Radio City Music Hall. Despite this albums aesthetic being done to death subsequently by other bands (cue my beloved Mott the Hoople), its particular brew of raw rock guitars paired with campy Vaudevillian melodies that seem to call for a kick line sounds quirky if not, well, even a tad insane. Influential for sure, but the fact its best song, the Howlin’ Wolf quoting Jean Genie, is also by far the most basic indicates for me the Thin White Duke was trying too hard on most of these.
Shamefully, I had only really listened to the various Bowie songs that have been on the radio. Jean Genie was the only one from this album I knew. I think because of Space Oddity or Lets Dance, I thought I wasn't a Bowie fan, but these two albums over the past week have convinced me I need to listen to more of him and I quite like it
Not sure how I lived my whole life and had never heard even one song on this album that I really recall - it doesn't really have any "hits" in the classic Bowie canon but still enjoyed this overall. The remastered version sounds great, and the band seems pretty locked in - the piano playing in general stands out, and some excellent guitar riffs. Musically interesting enough but still anchored in classic rock sounds. It's glam but in sort of a sleazy way, plenty of sex/drugs/rock and roll to go around in the lyrics. Hard for me to rank this in the context of his overall discography but I certainly wouldn't put it above Ziggy Stardust, but still an enjoyable listen.
While Aladdin Sane contains a lot of energy and exciting songs, something about this character doesn't fully click for me in the music. That said Bowie still delivers an incredible performance and good album
I play da piano
Not my favorite David Bowie, but still great!
fine
Never been much of a David Bowie fan but I did like this album
6/10
3...3.5
I always weirdly think of this as a “lesser” Classic Bowie album, but bad or anything but not the best. And. Like, maybe that’s true? But also, being a lesser classic Bowie album still makes you an absolutely stellar album and better than 90% of other albums ever made lol
Might be my Bowie bias giving this 5 stars since it is probably weaker than some of his other work but I still just absolutely love this one, can’t give it any less the 5 stars
Did not like this as much as the other albums I've been assigned.
This just isn't for me. I don't know how to define my dislike. The songs are not powerful or emotional. They just drone on like background music. The band has some neat openings, and a few nice jams, but most of the time they are just there for noise. I found myself bored. With the exception of 1 or 2 songs. It reminds me a lot of "musicals" or "theater". If you like those things you might like this.
Excellent piano playing and songwriting. Stand outs, title track. Let’s spend the night together, the Jean Genie
4/5
Just didn’t quite grip me - I’d much rather listen to Ziggy if looking for this era of Bowie work. 2.5/5 ⭐️
Aight
A mediocre album with a good cover by a great artist
The first track was incredible but the rest of the album was a chore for me. I don’t get Bowie. I either love the song or can’t stand it. He must be an acquired taste.
Maybe it isn't fair, but you can't help but compare this record with Ziggy Stardust, the album it immediately followed. It does not measure up well. There is nothing as memorable here as anything on Bowie's previous record. It just doesn't stick. The hooks are not out. Listening to this while I was going about my day I noticed immediately when "Let's Spend the Night Together" came on- hey! an interesting melody! Finally! I'd have to say that song and "Lady Grinning Soul" are the standouts to me. Perhaps - the change is perspective is what makes these songs refuse to stick. Whereas "Ziggy" was an album about that character from the viewpoint of everyone else, "Aladdin" is Ziggy giving us his point of view of the rock and roll circus. And it's bleak, and alienated. Or it could be that he wrote all of these songs on tour and was running out of proverbial gas. I don't know. Either way, it's THREE STARS
7/10 Favourite: Aladdin Sane Least Favourite: Drive-In Saturday
bowie is a level on its own, i dont think this album is his best but its still really good
David Bowie at his first peak in his career.
good. i mean, is bowie? but didn't feel anything super special really.
Very unfamiliar with Bowie beyond the superhits. I enjoyed Time the most, followed by Jean Genie, but the rest felt pretty forgettable. Not really looking forward to 8 more Bowie albums if this is representative. I did not enjoy any of the songs enough to formally "Like".
A departure from Ziggy Stardust, however none the less worse for it. Aladdin Sane takes on a different form of "Heading to America" and you can hear the influence throughout his lyrics and styling. Bowie takes you through a journey as someone who is truly seeing the US in all it's gritty glory for the first time. Best: The Jean Genie Worst: The Prettiest Star 4.5 stars
Rockin’ Bowie not my favorite mode, but some gems. Drive-in Saturday, Time.
Big David Bowie fan here: even I know this genius had his highs and … slightly lower points. This album, while prettyyyy prettyyyy prettyyyy good in its own right, stands in the shadow of the Ziggy Stardust predecessor. Iconic cover aside, this album rates as a slightly lower point in his catalog, as far as my Bowie opinions go.
As good as it gets. Loved this one. 5/5
Can’t do another Bowie album
Not enjoying this one from Bowie. Iconic I know... But this feels forced. Something's just...off.
3.5
Hmmmm it doesn't quite reach up to a 4 for me but it's pretty close! He's doing cool stuff here, there's just few songs that stick with me the whole way.
Ziggy does America, and boy does he ever do it! On this album, Bowie extends the sounds of his preceding glam rock opus into a whirlwind tour of America, through the lens of hard rock, blues, and just a wee touch of jazz, courtesy of Mike Garson's beautiful and yet atonal piano playing. Another delightful collection of songs from one of the greats!
The fourth Bowie album I’ve gotten. Almost halfway through this list’s absurdly high nine Bowie albums! I was sort of expecting more from something with that album cover because it is obviously iconic. Nothing super memorable about the music itself, but it was good overall.
Lots of elements to like here, but they don't quite add up to a very memorable album in my opinion. It just coasts as a decent 3 the whole way through. I will say that I'm starting to appreciate how unique Bowie's songwriting is, there's truly nobody who sounds quite like him. This one just doesn't reach the same highs Low and Station to Station do. Standout: Drive-In Saturday
Very difficult to pick 4 or 5 here but had to go with 4 as I feel like he is unfocused at times. If he spent more time banging around on the piano I would've liked it more. This was actually an album I didn't like when I first heard it, but I like it more on every listen, so perhaps it'll grow into a 5 in the future.
Definitely sounds like the 70’s
Certified banger all the way through
The Universe flew apart when we lost Bowie. This album is a classic, however not my favorite. I prefer Diamond Dogs. And Changes One.
Good Bowie album, not a great one.
Gosh I love glam rock
Favorite Track: Watch That Man
Det är Bowie, man vill ju gärna att det ska vara svinbra. Men faktum är att det är det inte. Bowie må ha begravt Ziggy men han är fortfarande kvar i glamrocken. De två låtar som verkligen är toppen på den här skivan är också de två låtar som fjärmar sig glamrocken, titelspåret och avslutningsspåret. Jag gillar "Drive-in saturday" också, den är inte lika bra som ovan nämnda men höjer sig över allt annat. För vi ska ärliga, här finns rätt gott om riktiga bottennapp också. Vi kan börja med elefanten i rummet, den ganska fruktansvärda Stones-covern, vad håller den annars så smakfulle David på med? Men den är inte ensam "Watch that man", "Panic in Detroit" och "Cracked actor" är alla på gränsen till rent ut sagt dåliga, dom skulle kunna vara dussinlåtar på ett Gary Glitter-album. "Time" är aningen för teatral, men den och "Jean Genie" med sitt distinkta gung är ändå godkända. Kvar då "Prettiest star" som jag tycker är en ok låt men den låter dessvärre som valfritt dansband på stadshotellet i Kramfors 1976. Och då hamnar jag där igen som så ofta förut... 70tals-rockens produktion, jag har en akilleshäl där. Jag lyssnade på både en streamad version och på min tyska 1973-press. Och visst vinylen lät aningen angenämare, men nej soundet är verkligen inte min tepåse och det har åldrats så illa. Tre spår räddar den här till en svag svag trea. Glam-Bowie är inte min Bowie
Ett album möjligen mer känt för sitt ikoniska omslag än musiken. Bowies rakaste rockalbum. Glam boogie hela vägen in i kaklet. Hög lägstanivå på alla låtar utom en. Öppningsspåren är alltid bra hos Bowie, inget undantag här med Watch that man. Även om sången är väldigt lågt mixad. Hela A-sidan fortsätter i bra stil. B-sidan något svagare. Riktigt bottennapp i Prettiest star. Hur kom den med på skivan? Avslutningen magnifik med Lady grinning soul.
Det är intressant att Bowie är så pass förknippade med glamrock som han ändå är. Egentligen är det väl bara Ziggy och Aladdin som kan räknas in i kategorin. Gällande senare endast fläckvis. Det är tydligt att Bowie i vanlig ordning redan är på väg vidare. Med det sagt, när han väl gör den, gör ingen glamrock bättre än Bowie. Allra bäst blir det trots allt i titelspåret och avslutande Lady grinning soul. Starkaste fyran hittills. Samtidigt, Bowie har varit ännu bättre.
Watch that man är väl helt ok, men ser blir det bara bättre. Med Mike Garsons piano tar Bowie nästa steg bort från glamrocken., inte minst i titelspåret. En av anledningarna till att Bowie fortfarande är intressant; hans strävan att ta sig vidare. Att inte göra samma platta om och om igen.
I like Bowie a lot but I don't have a very deep knowledge of his catalog. This was one of the gaps... only a few tracks sounded familiar ("Time," "The Jean Genie," maybe "Aladdin Sane").
Never forget what they did to Nardwuar
Got this two days after Dark Side of the Moon, so I had to listen a couple times to make sure my rating was fair. I don't see how this is more than a 3. Jean Genie is just ok. Maybe best song is Time.
This was a really interesting album for me, considering I've never listened to earlier Bowie outside of singles. This is truly art, rock, with complex arrangements and very interesting choices of keys and time signatures. I especially enjoyed the piano on the title track and also how the styles switch from basic rock to something proggy and otherworldly, so unique. I can't help but think of influences when I hear Bowie during this phase of his career, so many artists cop this s***.
A classic and a Bowie album I’m not super familiar with…funny that the 2 singles are buried late on the Bside.
When I was a much younger woman, I just didn't get David Bowie. I can't really say what about him didn't click for me, it just didn't. As I've gotten older, and maybe a touch more wise, I can see the appeal to him. From what little I know of him, I really wasn't familiar with any of the songs on this album. But on the whole, I enjoyed it. It's a 3.75 stars for me, rounded up.
I was never a big Bowie fan. Still it’s impressive how transformative he was. Aladdin Sane is a bit of a mess. My favourite song is the most commercial: The Jean Genie. The “crack actor” is a powerful rocksong, also fun. I wouldn’t have recognised Bowie here.
Interesting
Några bra men mycket experimentellt Kanske köper
Is this my least favorite Bowie album so far? Yes. Is it bad? No. Still very listenable but does not have the *star quality* of the others
Standouts are "Watch That Man", "Panic in Detroit”, "Cracked Actor", "The Jean Genie" and to a lesser extent "Let's Spend the Night Together". Thought this was a much better album than Ziggy Stardust.
Bot Bowies best, however it is still David Bowie.
Bowie's the kind of artist I should love but just don't.
Iconic cover. Fine album.
An iconic artist's most iconic album cover. With Aladdin Sane, Bowie puts on a new mask and switches space operas for pure rock 'n' roll. Gone is the cosmic psychedelic sound. Instead, we get bouncy pianos, electric guitar licks, and even some blues harmonica in "The Jean Genie". Bowie seems almost possessed by the spirit of Lil' Richard as he pours his soul into some high speed glam rock. This album may not have all the hits, but it's a clear indicator that Bowie isn't a one trick pony. Also just realizing that Aladdin Sane in a play on words (a lad, insane). Wild.
Big fan.
increíble este álbum, no es mi favorito pero está súper bien, simplemente David Bowie ⚡💗
Highlights: Drive-In Saturday, Panic in Detroit
To me this is one of the better Bowie albums on the list. It's very 70s rock, and very consistent. Liked Songs Added: Panic In Detroit The Jean Genie
This list contains too many mediocre Bowie albums.
I hadn’t heard much Bowie outside of the radio until now, and I already knew he had a lot of variety, but now it feels like the man could do anything and do it well. I read that this album was inspired by the chaos and hedonism of touring in the US. You can definitely hear that all over this album. The album nails both the more commercial classic rock and the weird, experimental bits. 4/5
I now dislike Bowie slightly less than I thought, although the Jazz stylings of the title track make it almost unlistenable.
I've never really enjoyed listening to Bowie and now I just feel bad for the piano
Love Bowie but this one is not my favorite
I love Bowie, but this is so chaotic
It’s good, but it’s not *that* good
Like any Bowie album, full of wonder and melodic/harmonic intrigue. Just not his best
I love this Bowie persona, not an ultimate favourite but its not easy to compare them
Not liking Bowie is like not liking vegetables. You have to try plenty to find what you like, but you will definitely like something. If you say otherwise, I won't believe you. Sadly, this album was peas. I don't love them, but would still have them. I prefer others. Just as dinner wouldn't be complete without peas, Bowie wouldn't be complete without this iconic phase. Middle ground.
Mid at best. I think his look carried him more than anything. Not bad but not worth coming back to 3.7
It's great. "Cracked Actor" "The Prettiest Star" "The Jean Genie" and "Lady Grinning Soul" were my faves on here.
Watch That Man is fun Aladdin Sane - love the frenetic piano Drive-In Saturday - Love "She's uncertain if she likes him, but she knows she really loves him" - real 50s sound to the verses, the rhythm and backing singing. Panic in Detroit is okay - love the opening lines. Cracked Actor - really good rock Time - love the mention of quaaludes; RIP. I like the cabaret sound to the first half, and love the guitar playing in and sweet sound of the second. The Prettiest Star - love the jaunty feel. Let's Spend the Night Together is fun The Jean Genie is ok Lady Grinning Soul - really cool opening and closing, the rest is alright.
Piano in lady grinning soul was cool, but in general did not really enjoy this Bowie album. Still feels like someone I'm supposed to like, but I just like a handful of his songs.
Yup
dio can il piano nella title track penso sia rivoluzionario per il resto molto sporco come disco bravo david time è un pezzo di un esaurito disco molto plasticoso, molto cocainoiso
This was good! Probably my 3rd favorite Bowie album behind Ziggy Stardust and Young Americans. I liked the rock elements, but sometimes the jazz was a little much. This album was definitely a little out there at times aka "Aladdin Sane". Actual rating...3.5 Liked Songs: "Watch That Man" , "Drive-In Saturday" , "Panic in Detroit" , "Cracked Actor" , "Let's Spend the Night Together" , "The Jean Genie"
Good 3.5
Probably won't write much about this. Bowie is easily my favourite solo artist and already well aware of this record. One of his best for sure but just a tad short from being masterpiece for me. 4.5/5.0 but will probably round down to 4 stars. Fav tracks: The Jean Genie, Watch That Man, Drive-In Saturday and Time.
A step down from Ziggy Stardust, and really weird in places, but still an incredible album.
It took me way too long in life to realize how good David Bowie is. I'm familiar with his hits like "Let's Dance" but the only albums I've listened to start to finish are Hunky Dory and The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars. Both are beyond fantastic...masterpieces in my opinion. So naturally, I was super excited to not only get assigned a Bowie album, but to have it be both one I haven't heard before and one with iconic album art. Surely this has to be another masterpiece, right? It's good, don't get me wrong, but it's not great. The aforementioned masterpieces eclipse this one by a large margin. And that's ok...not every thing and artist makes has to be mind blowing, original, perfect, etc. It's a mid tier album for me to be sure. But I did enjoy it, especially the first two tracks (which were so good, I was convinced I was heading into yet another Bowie masterpiece). My biggest takeaway from listening to this one was how clearly he is a major influence on my favorite band Phish. Of course, it's not like this was unknown to me...they literally have a song called "David Bowie", have covered many of his tunes, and even dedicated an entire show to covering one of his albums. But I'd never heard the influence as much on the others I've heard compared to this one. So that was a cool experience amid what was ultimately a bit of a disappointment.
Iconic album art. Not an album I'd listen to again though.
Love it. Love him.
Not really sure I like David Bowie music. The album was quite rambly and I really hate jazzy piano solos where you just hit every key on the piano
I haven’t heard Bowie besides a few lines of “Let’s Dance” and Mick Jagger’s and his version of Dancing in the Street. This was boring, but solid background music for getting my work done hehe.
Good Bowie fun! Time, Panic in Detroit, Cracked Actor and The Jean Genie were my favorites.
Great Bowie album. Highlights: “Watch That Man”, “The Jean Genie”
An old friend
5 stars when listing to the extended version of the album. What a journey an album can be.
2.4 - Absolut durchschnittliches Album, an das ich mich nie wirklich erinnern werde. Highlights: Watch That Man, The Jean Genie
I don't know... it's good, not great. Right?
Очень хорошо подобраны инструменты и их звучание. Лучшие клавишные партии которые я слышал у Боуи находятся именно на этом альбоме. И прекрасно подобранный для этого альбома звук гитары
Did nothing for me. Bowie is undoubtedly a legend, but too much of his stuff on this list. No stand-outs (even when I tried Panic in Detroit about 4 times as I thought it had potential, fell short in the end).
For some reason I thought I didn’t like this album. Watch That Man is one of those all time greatest opening songs but I thought I dropped off after that. I was wrong. It’s all killer. RIP Mick Ronson 5/ 5
There are 9 albums by David Bowie on this (extended) 1001 list, tracking his career from dawn till dusk. That is about six too many, and the editor(s) really should be forced to choose which THREE really deserve to be here.. Bowie has style. My challenge is that below the styles, I’m never compelled by the substance. He has good stuff, I just wouldn’t return to much of it apart from this list… a list which works overtime to insure that I return to Bowie again and again and again and again and… Well anyway. All that said, I enjoyed this one more than a some of his other, later releases. It is a solid follow-up to Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust. I enjoy the energy and musicianship enough to recommend it for the Bowie Three. Here’s looking at you, Mr. Dimeron. 3 Stars.
David Bowie is a little bit of a mystery. When he is brilliant, he is amazing, innovative, and relevant. There are times, however, where he is enigmatic, niche, and almost contrarian. This album lands somewhere in between. Aladdin Sane is full of strong performance, big sound, and even some strong themes, but they just don't quite hit the mark. In the end, you just wondered he's convinced by his own conceit.
Just not a lot here that I enjoy. Kind of boring.
Not my favorite. Not what I think of as his classic sound.
A little bit too conventional for Bowie but still a great album
Fantastic record! Have never been a fan of the title track, but every other song is amazing.
Not as good as Ziggy Stardust but that’s setting a high bar
Très bon
Lady grinning soul, more like Bowie grinding my soul
Beaucoup de bangers, la dernière track est une des meilleures chansons que j'ai entendu de ma vie. Un petit peu moins fan de la vibe 'blues' qui reviens beaucoup mais quand même très très fort.
A brilliant listen. Another of the things white dukes re-inventions nailed it
Very coherent, consistent Bowie style glam. What’s not to love?
I love David Bowie, and while Aladdin Sane has never struck me as one of his absolute finest records, I wanted to revisit it today and see if that opinion changes. It was always going to be a tough task: following up The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars is no easy feat. That said, this is one of Bowie’s more playful albums — almost like Ziggy goes to America and discovers something new. There’s an energy here that’s fresh and adventurous, with standout tracks such as Watch That Man, Panic in Detroit, Cracked Actor, Drive-In Saturday, and of course, The Jean Genie. I also really enjoy his cover of Let’s Spend the Night Together — a bold choice that fits right into the album’s spirit. The piano work throughout is fantastic, adding another layer to the record’s character. Musically, the album feels rich and dynamic, and there are so many songs worth returning to. Favourite track: Cracked Actor — it’s always been one of my favourite Bowie songs, raw and theatrical, with Drive-In Saturday a very close second. Least favourite track: Honestly, there isn’t a bad one here. If I had to choose, I’d say Aladdin Sane itself feels slightly weaker compared to the others. Album artwork: Simply iconic. One of the most recognisable and influential album covers of all time. In short, while Aladdin Sane may not eclipse Ziggy Stardust, it stands tall in Bowie’s catalogue — bold, fun, and packed with great moments.
It's okayish. But there are better Bowie offerings, this does not need to be on the list. 2.49 rounded down to 2.
I wouldn't call it my favourite Bowie album. It's made of a combination of honky-tonk piano, theatrical rock, a bit of concept album tendencies, blues and sax. In many ways, it's a good a synthesis of all the things that make Bowie, Bowie. The album goes out in a blast though, almost makes you wonder why it didn't start with the last tracks first.
I found this one to be an enjoyable enough listen.. killer piano, and really rich vocal harmonies from Bowie and his backing singers. While I would argue his breakout 1971 album 'Rise & Fall of Ziggy Stardust' feels much tighter and more crackling with genuine energy than this one, it's still a solid work and a testament to Bowie's songwriting capabilities after being thrust into the spotlight. A fine testament to the power of glam rock (even if the album art grew to be more iconic than perhaps the songs themselves..)
The album on which Bowie took what made Ziggy Stardust great and made it rock. When it works, like on "Watch that Man," it produces some of the most infectious rock songs he ever wrote. When it doesn't, like on the Stones cover, it sounds like someone who has no business writing rock songs. But it works more often than it doesn't. The horns and piano add a ton to these songs; the horns really flesh out the opening song and the jazzy piano solo on the title track is my favorite moment on the album. It still has the grand concepts of prior albums on songs like "Drive-In Saturday" and "Time." The last three songs dip in quality a bit, but overall this is still an important part of Bowie's glam rock period. Apparently critics didn't like Bowie taking influence from American rock, but he was always a chameleon and this is just another style he took and made his own.
This was the second David Bowie project I've gotten and I like this leagues better than I did Blackstar. Time and The Prettiest Star were a couple of my favourites.
Not my favorite Bowie album. But still cool. Plus a really cool album cover.
A few songs that I really like, but also a fair bit of filler. The good ones are just about enough to make it scrape ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Good, but didnt need that much bowie
I am only a casual fan of David Bowie, but always thought he was a fascinating artist. He was constantly changing musical styles, appearance and/or personas. His work also seemed to be as much about the art as the music. I want to like his music more, I'll keep trying. This is not a bad album, Ziggy is better.
Portada icónica dónde las haya. Disco normal a más no poder y del que solo destaca «The Jean Genie» y «Let's Spend the Night Together». Vamos, pero para lo que hay en esta lista en general esto es un 3 estrellas.
Liked a couple of songs
Good album, enjoyed the groove
Qué discazo. Estoy entre las cuatro y las cinco estrellas. Esta vez me inclino por las cuatro por el pésimo cover de Let's Spend the Night Together y porque voy a reservar las cinco estrellas para Ziggy (si está este disco, va a estar el otro). Pero es un disco espectacular. Yo creo - nótese el verbo, no tengo evidencias - que Bowie se apresuró para sacar este disco porque tenía 3 o 4 TEMAZOS que quería publicar rapidamente. Porque me parece que este disco es desparejo. Tiene a una de las mejores canciones de Bowie de esta época - por no decir de todas sus épocas: Time. Una canción apropiadamente inmortal. Bowie en su lugar más histriónico. También son alucinantes la canción homónima Aladdin Sane (¡ese piano!) y el infravalorado cierre, Lady Grinning Soul. Estas tres canciones son increíbles y creo que se puede decir que superan todo o casi todo lo que Bowie hizo en Ziggy, Diamond Dogs, Hunky Dory, etc. Casi todo el resto del disco lo veo como un disco de rock and roll glam, bastante más sucio que Ziggy, bastante más interesante que Pin Ups: esto lo disco sin querer desmerecer el disco, pero un poco lo desmerece, ja: Watch That Man, The Jean Genie, Panic in Detroit, Cracked Actor son solo rock and roll. Muy buen rock and roll, pero son solo eso. De éstas, mi favorita es Cracked Actor. Definen un poco el estilo del disco (cuando pienso en Aladdin Sane primero pienso en el rock and roll; después me acuerdo que tiene Time y mi estimación sube más). El disco además tiene dos muy buenas canciones más "suaves" que tranquilamente podrían estar en Ziggy Stardust: la balada Drive-In Saturday y la poppy The Prettiest Star, que creo que debería ser más conocida. En fin, un muy buen disco, manchado solo por el cover de los Rolling Stones. Un ocho fuerte o un nueve débil.
Muy buenas canciones: Drive-In Saturday, Cracked Actor, The Prettiest Star, Let's Spend the Night Together, The Jean Genie y Lady Grinnin Soul
10
This album grew on me. Musically, it’s very good and eclectic but didn’t have any super memorable songs
Well Bowie is in a class of his own, and is probably the greatest solo act that ever was. That being said, I fully expect to see many of his albums on this list, and to spoil a little, many of his are well above Aladdin Sane in my own personal ranking. Ziggy, Hunky Dory, Heroes, and my favorite Low, and even Let's dance (sue me) are to me either better album, or have bigger hits. This one might be the apex of visual Bowie, and it's still interesting music, complicated. 10 songs is real good length, but some feel not as consequential as the others. The best part of the album is clearly the end, and the middle as a lot of filler (by Bowie standards) on it. Sonically it is interesting, straddling between a little experimentation, big pop-rock energy, and a diversity of sound that is exciting. However I don't know that this a great album, there are too many song that sound like something he has made already, or event repeated himself. As an album, it's not perfect or even coherent thematically, but there are great songs. There is none better on there than Lady Grinning Soul, which is a very unusual range of sounds, quite emotional and different, and I liked that one a lot. It would be 3,5.
Awesome
I hear there’s a lot of Bowie on this list, and I think it’s safe to say I’ve never really listened to albums of his work. I found this kind of wild and out there. Some bangers but also some weirdness like it’s finding its feet
Iconic album cover, interesting contents. Really liked "Time". Overall, just okay.
Not one of Bowies greatest, but, I mean, it;s still bowie
David Bowie is not one of my "go to" artists, but there is no doubting he has produced some great songs. This album contains several great songs ...Aladins Sane . Cracked Actor .. Drive-in Saturday Not to mention the exceptional Jean Genie. Well worth the listen
Solid I liked it
All time bangers on this but it is a bit meandering on the back half. Probably the most iconic cover art though!
no bc hearing the piano solo for the first time today? a day when i woke up and felt evil? maybe i fucked with it a little. can't help but enjoy anything with a brass/wind instrument. the drama of time was enjoyable- love a jaunty little piano moment and it felt like it could have fit into pink floyd's the wall. kind of crazy to me that of all these songs jean genie strikes me as the most boring of the bunch? it's very the sound i imagine to be bowie, but there are other songs that are more fun! liked: drive-in saturday, time, the prettiest star, jean genie
Bowie er kóngurinn en þessi plata ekki ein af hans bestu, mjög experimental og frekar whack sólóar í mörgum lögum.... hljómar eins og eitthvað jam session. Var einhvernvegin alltaf að bíða eftir að China Girl kæmi en það er víst önnur plata.
Second Bowie album in as many weeks. Great album. Varied, constantly interesting and typically Bowie. I had this on vinyl years ago and initially thought it didn’t hit the heights of some of his other output, but hearing it again today, it is strong. Lots of highlights. Thoroughly enjoyable.
good
So good. It’s hard for me to choose my favorite track after just one listen. But definitely between lady grinning soul, time, and Aladdin sane. The piano is amazing
This being one of the few Bowie albums I haven’t gotten to as of yet, I came in with really high hopes. Being a direct follow up to Ziggy Stardust, Aladdin Sane is Bowie’s first studio album where he’s releasing it after he’s finally made it big. Through his new persona, we get to see what he thinks of the rockstar life, and how it’s affected him so far. The opening song Watch That Man is such a foot tapper, and the Piano solo in the title track is so absolutely chaotic, it’s an embodiment of the anagram Bowie chose for this character, “A Lad Insane”. Time and Lady Grinning Soul steal the show for me, both songs that feel like parallels Rock n Roll suicide and Soul Love respectively: How do I not become obscure, reinvent myself with Time, and what is love and loving someone contrasting Aladdin’s urge to give in to primal desires in Lady Grinning Soul. While I can give individual songs their own praise, as a whole this album feels like a sum of its parts rather than a complete story, which is something I didn’t expect out of a Bowie release in the 70’s after both Life on Mars and Ziggy. It’s more of a concept album in my eyes, with loose themes of being a rock and roll star tying the whole thing together. The album doesn’t feel as tight as some of Bowie’s other albums, and while I currently don’t think it reaches the highs that his earlier works had, it’s still a great listen throughout its runtime, and is possibly the Black Sheep out of this era in his career.
Das war positiv überraschend, irgendwie typisch David Bowie, dann aber doch irgendwie pompöser. Hat mich gepackt.
Aladdin Sane feels like the wild, restless younger sibling of Ziggy Stardust. It keeps the glam rock swagger but twists it into stranger, sharper shapes. The title track is the perfect example, with Mike Garson’s chaotic piano solo tearing through the song like it wandered in from a jazz club on another planet. “Panic in Detroit” and “Cracked Actor” add grit and sleaze, while “The Jean Genie” is one of Bowie’s most straightforward and catchy rockers. What makes the album stand out is its unpredictability. One moment it is strutting along with glittery riffs, the next it is spiraling into something surreal and dissonant. Bowie sounds completely confident in pushing his sound forward, even when it veers close to messy. Aladdin Sane may not have the same narrative focus as Ziggy, but it makes up for it with raw energy, experimentation, and a sense that Bowie was already bored of playing it safe.
Honestly one of his weaker albums, iconic though it is.
I was interested to read that he wrote most of this album on tour in the US. I don't know if I'm reading too much into the sound of the album, but I felt that vibe. It feels like an album stuck in the middle of nowhere. Overall, it's not the Spiders From Mars, but that doesn't make it bad
I have never really listened to David Bowie, but I’m glad I have now! The complexity and diversity of this album is pretty crazy
Neat piano and bass
I think there is just (just) enough creativity and variety in here to get a 4 and even though each number in the rating system covers a broad range, this deserves more than the last album (soz Cyndi). I did find Cracked Actor and Time jarring on both the first and second listen, for whatever reason didn’t think they sat right in this album. But there’s a good beginning and end, and ultimately a number of songs I could see myself returning to.
Got off to a slow bland start but thankfully picked up from the second song with a demented frenzy on the keys which I liked (I loved all the piano work in this album top notch). For me it wasn't the end of weak songs. Drive-in-Saturday is a similar theme to the first song. Jolly but without any meaningful shift away from the mundane. There was also some odd change of gear with songs resembled a guitar power ballad which grated slightly for me. The prettiest star another mundane that linked almost all the middling ones. There are even songs I really like but they are peppered with silly repeating bits and la la lahs. It's a shame. There is absolutely nothing wrong with this album, barely any artists can nail a whole album of songs and keep it varied yet coherent. It's harsh in a way as many many albums are just middle road fodder on the same rating. I can't put ziggy out my mind as that is far superior so can't have this occupying the same space.
This album treads more softly than "Ziggy Stardust" and I think it's worse off for it. The music seems to come with more overt blues and jazz influences and fewer tracks that stand out as pure Bowie. Unusually, I found myself far more impressed by the singles than the album as a whole. I know this is sort of a transition album for Bowie and to me it sounds slightly diluted. Still some nice moments of discovery and I listened through twice.
ich bin kein bowie-fan, aber das ist einmal mehr solides handwerk!
Gefällt mir nicht, voll 70er
I’m surprised by the diversity of the music here. The opening, Watch That Man, sounds like a Stones song. Aladdin Sane follows, with some jazzy, avant-garde weirdness. Then Drive-In Saturday has roots in much older rock — it almost sounds like Do-Wop, but updated and sparkling with evolving instrumentation. A little later, The Jean Genie is really bluesy, with this strong repeating riff — again sounds a little like the Stones. But it’s all infused with a theatricality that kind of holds it together … very intriguing.
The vocals are a little quiet in relation to the music. Cool vibe. The piano solo is pretty discordant, though not unpleasant.
Glam rock with some nice variety. I absolutely LOVE the insane piano and sax solo in Aladdin Sane <3
Following up Ziggy Stardust is no easy task. And honestly? Aladdin Sane is a pleasant surprise for me. Perhaps not enough to be a Bowie great, but somewhat neglected in the public conscious (save the iconic album cover).
3.5 - Good
This is the two hundred ninth album I’m rating. After another long break I’ve come back to Bowie. Adding to my Playlist - Watch That Man, Drive-In Saturday, Panic in Detroit, and The Jean Genie. Not Adding to my Playlist - Aladdin Sane (1913-1938-197?), Cracked Actor, Time, The Prettiest Star, Let’s Spend the Night Together, and Lady Grinning Soul. All in all I liked 4/10 songs. Bowie has always been a little overrated.
a lad insane not my favourite bowie album but it has some amazing songs and i still enjoy listening to it if i put it on. the title track is sooo cool. my fave from the album is Lady Grinning Soul. 4.5/5
I have so many little conclusions I took away from this album (most of which you can get from other 70’s Bowie albums) but no big overarching summation - I’m sure there’s plenty of those already written. I think Bowie knew what he had with that piano refrain on the title track, I swear I’ve heard a million alterations of the same few notes and they all stick in my head for long periods of time. Right after on “Drive In Saturday” Bowie pulls off another emotive performance that might be one of my favorites from this record. I specifically say ONE of my favorites, because “Time” may be my real winner here; the theatric, circusy first half waltzes along. Then, suddenly, David Bowie employs a doowop-inspired-walking down of the melody, and cries out: “breaking up is hard, but keeping dark is hateful, I had so many dreams I had so many breakthroughs, But you my love were kind, But love has left you dreamless, The door to dreams was closed, Your park was real dreamless, Perhaps you’re smiling now, Smiling through this darkness, But all I have to give was the guilt for dreaming.” Can you imagine being an impressionable teen at the time and hearing that?? Maybe I’m projecting, but David is at his absolute best here, using his uncanny ability to be a voice both TO and FOR his young, impressionable, bright-eyed and/or heartbroken listeners. Generational talent. Afterwards, “The Prettiest Star” shows even more of Bowie leaning on a sound that surely inspired him in some 50’s doowop rock - complete with a play out of a chorus of guys singing a ‘ba ba badada ba’ melody. Lastly, I wanna note that Bowie basically spiritually invents the idea of sampling/remixing/nightcore in his pseudo cover of “Let’s Spend The Night Together”. I’m not even gonna go into the character/concept/iconography on this project, I’m not qualified to do so. Not to mention the most radio-popular song near the end, “The Jean Genie”! Such a fascinating album. Some songs on here that are just 3/5 material by Bowie standards, then there’s songs like “Time” that I’d give 6/5 stars to if I could. So a solid 4/5 from me
Recordings were fine, music was nonsensical and not enjoyable.
Never listened to Bowie and really enjoyed this album
Pretty cool rock album, I didn't like the more rock songs but the others sounded like nostalgic restaurant music.
I wanted to like it because Bowie’s cool. I didn’t like it. I’m sad that I didn’t.
Better than Rise and Fall! Watch that Man and Panic in Detroit are stand outs.
No standouts. Fine background vibe.
Will lose friends over this but... It's fine but I have a hard time getting excited by much of it. All of it just feels a little off. Doesn't help that the two biggest songs are two of my least favourite Bowie singles.
not my favourite bowie album but great to revisit, especially cracked actor and lady grinning soul are some of my favourites of his.
So like a sleazy rolling stones with Avant Garde piano. Sure. David Bowie never sits still. I'm not as familiar with these tracks beyond genie and the cover. It's good, the piano gives it all an unexpected edge. Makes it all feels less predictable which is a great move.
I like David Bowie. I love this album.
Not my favorite Bowie album but good nonetheless.
My favorite album from David's glam era. Even those tracks that didn't become big hits are ICONIC for me.
Really good album!
Great!
Yes
3/5
DAVID BOWIE
Ziggy Stardust comes to America and joins the hard glam rock showtune cabaret, equal parts garish theatricality and catchy refrains, yet purposefully transparent enough to show the coked-out depressive discordancy underlying it all.
Fun to listen to the whole album. I can hear influences
Not my favorite Bowie, and I honestly most respect than straight enjoy most Bowie. Good, but just not amazing for me.
My two most controversial opinions about music are that I don’t really rate the Beatles or Bowie
Hi, someone out there has said “man, I really wish I could listen to my favorite album for the first time again” about this album…and I’m that first time listener. I’m as surprised as you are. I’ve always been a fan of Bowie as a person, he’s cool and revolutionary. While this isn’t what I quite expected on first listen, giving it a 4 so I can make it a point to come back to it. I’ve already enjoyed it more upon instant repeat listen. There’s something about music in the 70s that sounds so theatrical, like it’s all a rock opera, a soundtrack to a grungy, alt-live stage show. Maybe I’m jaded by contemporary pop music, which feels like it all fits in a clear radio hit formula. These songs are unique, more complex, and kind of weird? I dig it, but I’m also surprised by it and need longer to digest.
I liked this one a lot more on a second listen. I struggled a bit with the mix, I wanted to be able to hear the vocals more clearly, but the more I listened the less that bothered me. Some parts I really didn’t like on the first listen I started to enjoy on the second, or at least not hate and there were a lot of songs I liked the first time that I loved the second time. Fav song: The Jean Genie - also liked Drive in Saturday and Panic in Detroit Least fav: Aladdin Sane
Again I know that I’ll like the other Bowie albums a better than this. Bit too horny bit too freaky for me. Also sometimes he just goes a bit all over the place on the piano and I’m not a big fan. And that is definitely a worse version of let’s spend the night together. Specific rating - 2.7 Fav song- Jean genie Least fav- panic in Detroit
the piano in the song Aladdin Sane was awful, bad enough for me to never listen to the whole album through again even though I really liked most of the other songs (not a huge fan of Time either). Favourite song: Panic in Detroit Least: Aladdin Sane
This one felt like it didn’t have the originality of the better Bowie albums. Like I could see many of the songs being made by so many other artists at that time. 4/10
Bowie makes art that happens to be shaped as music
Perhaps because I read the lyrics at the same time. I liked this album a lot.
I googled if the song Aladdin Sane is good. Gemini tried to convince me it is great but to me it sounds like the cacophony my grade six music class made when the teacher left the room. The other songs aren't as bad as that one but even the songs I like I don't really like.
I like a few Bowie song but in general it doesn’t really resonate with me. I understand he was very influential but it isn’t something I would reach to put on.
Поки кращий з альбомів Боуі, що я тут послухав. Є хіти, хороші гітари, цікаві виконання вокальні є. Взагалі цей настрій артистичного глему на альбомі подобається.
Продовжуємо рухатись по дискографії Боуі. Це альбом, на якому я знайшов ще одну його пісню, яка мені сподобалась і це власне Aladdin Sane. А так ставлю стандартні (для мене і музики Боуі) 3 зірочки.
I got 2 Bowies in a row. I'm not a big fan, but this album is good. Lots of people like his older albums better, but to me this is the first one that sounds professional. His voice blends in better, which is great, because I don't like his voice very much and it's slightly off a lot of the time. Favorite song: the Jean Genie
Last song hits so good
I'd never listened to this one. The songs seem pretty mainstream but surprisingly I only knew one of them (not including the stones cover).
Welcome back to another episode of “Do I Fucking Like David Bowie?”, where our next album is the one everyone knows the cover, but never listens to the album. Seriously, tell me I’m not the only one who thought this was the cover for Ziggy Stardust. This one was fine, but it gets kind of weird in some places, in an uncomfortable way. That piano solo in the title track is weirdly amusing, though. Outside of weird, however, it’s a little meh for me overall. The punch from Ziggy feels more like it’s in the album cover rather than the music. Favorite track: Time Other hits: Watch That Man, The Prettiest Star, Cracked Actor, Lady Grinning Soul
Such a disappointment, especially on the heels of Ziggy
you know how things are supposed to find you at a certain time? that’s kind of how this album feels to me. i first listened to “let’s spend the night together” in high school, and i found it through an 8tracks playlist for a fanfiction. i won’t tell you the fanfic pairing (destiel) but coincidentally, i also discovered my favorite band of all time (los campesinos!) on that very same playlist. it kind of made me cry about it in the car just now while listening. crying to “let’s spend the night together” directly after a pilates class on my birthday is pretty on brand i fear. this album altogether kind of the weird theater kid blueprint though. as a former weird theater kid i’m qualified to make this call. he just had to mash the fuck outta those keys every chance he got. and for that, i salute him. standouts: time, watch that man, drive-in saturday the best of the album being the hit is an anomaly these days, but “let’s spend the night together” you’ve really done it girl.
Pretty ok, some gits some misses, but has so.e REALLY interesting melodies.
Enjoyable glam rock, if not a bit strange here and there (piano solo in the title track especially so)
Interesting, like all of Bowie's work, but to be honest, he has many more interesting albums than this.
Decent singles. The ugly piano all over a few tracks sullies them. I’m still not seeing what everyone sees. Overall it’s ok. Right down the middle. 2.5
I like David Bowie but not this. It feels a though Bowie is given the benefit of the doubt just because of his other albums.
Solid Bowie album, not my favorite probably because I didn't listen to it when I was growing up. Bowie is great as always.