Reviews (page 11 of 15)
Heard of David Bowie before this and a lot of praise showered in him. Unfortunately even though I really liked the record, it just didn't click with me. I though his voice was really bland and mind you I'm not hating in any way. A few favorites include "Kooks" , "Fill your Heart" and the wonderful closer "The Bewlay Brothers" .
Fantastic album. Bowie is weird in a very special way
not the best bowie album but it’s up there
So many great songs on here. There are a few that don’t grab me but still five stars overall.
It sort of went downhill after the first song, Changes. This album was just sort of ho hum. The previous Bowie album was much better.
I mean he’s alright. He just is weird especially by having songs titled about other artists. He should have listed them in the lyrics or something else. That is very minor though. I don’t know what else to say besides repeating he’s weird
Eh. I'm still not a Bowie fan, this album hasn't changed that. I just don't really like his voice and his stuff is so pop it's just not really my style. His eyes look cool though.
still not a fan of his voice; however, the piano on this one was really nice
Incredible collection of Bowie's amazing song writing skills culminating in a short contemporary rock album for its time. Legendary song Changes still acts as a beacon song for generations! My personal favorite is Queen Bitch, it was one of the great songs from childhood I heard in a video game.
Top class from Bowie on this one.
First album doing this that I’ve not heard before and absolutely loved. Obviously I know Changes and Life on Mars and Queen Bitch. Beautiful, smart and really fun album.
I can never decide if I really like Bowie. Sometimes his voice really works well and other times it drives me crazy. Sometimes the songs sound cool while other times no real melody or form. Sometimes the lyrics are deep and meaningful and poetic and other times just stupid. At least by having Rick Wakeman play piano there was some great keyboard work. I don’t hate David Bowie’s music…..but I don’t REALLY like it either. Coin toss.
Standard Bowie album that starts out with a timeless classic and dwindles down over the rest of the album.
As well written as the whole album is, I prefer Bowie when he gets a little weirder, like his Ziggy persona or the run of albums from 'Station to Station' onwards where he experiments more. The classics on here are classics, but the rest don't leave a huge impression on me.
I found this album on vinyl about 10 years ago. Just tremendous. Not a lot of his hits but every song was great my favorite Bowie album.
Qué mejor que después de un receso regresar a éste reto musical de la mano de David Bowie. Estoy volviendo a éste disco con 34, después de que Bowie haya sido una de las bandas sonoras de mis veintitantos. Difícil decir algo que no se haya dicho más que destacar la particularidad única de su voz, de los músicos que lo acompañan y de cómo empezaba a moldear con estos trabajos la vanguardia que significaba su trabajo futuro. Muy bien 10
The first great Bowie album, this is chock full of excellent songs - it's where he demonstrated serious songwriting talent. Big Warhol/Factory/VU influence here in some of the songs.
One of David Bowie's better albums. The B-side isn't as good as the A-side but it's hard to top "Life on Mars?".
This one is easy. One of my favorite albums, period, and one of the essential albums of the early 70's. I love it when Bowie gets even weirder, but this album is just infectious hits straight through. And there's still plenty of weirdness starting to show too. I guess I always have a soft spot for these "transitional" albums when an artist is developing the sound/style they'll be most known for.
That was one of the better David Bowie albums I've listened to. It also showed me that I never knew who actually sang the song "Changes" until I heard it on this album.
The best of his many great albums
A fascinating lad
He’s a superstar.
This is not my favorite of Bowie’s discography, but it is still great! “Changes” and “Life on Mars” are all time great songs. I know people rag on “Kooks” but my toddler loved it and was dancing to it, so it’s endeared to me.
I enjoyed this but nothing really stood out to me, apart from Changes, so I really can't give this anything more than a 3.
Interesting artistic album, I liked it. Maybe I got used to Bowie a bit, or maybe it's the shocking streak with garbage albums speaking from me, but I think a 4 with some goodwill is fair here. Most songs are at least decent, with a couple all time bangers. Best song for me is probably 'Life On Mars?'
Y'know, I wanna try something different here. I'm gonna comment on each song on the album. And this decision, by the way, has nothing really to do with the album itself; I just feel like it, mostly. So, to get down to it: "Changes": The song from the album I recognize the best thanks to the cover in SHREK 2 that Bowie features on. And in fact, I like that cover a bit better? A lot better, actually. I credit it mostly to how much older Bowie sounds there. I mean, of course after 30 years he would sound older, but seriously. Maybe it's the nostalgia talking, too, I'll fully admit that, but I really think I'm being genuine here. Even with that, that's not to knock the original here. "Oh! You Pretty Things": During all of the listening I did today, this is the one I came back to the most. I kept getting the title line stuck in my head. Although, of the album's first three main songs, I think I'd put it third of three. I mean, come on, it's just hard to compare when you're standing next to two giants. "Eight Line Poem": Oh, yeah, this. This is one of those "flow over" tracks I have, where I'm pretty likely to zone out during it when I'm doing full album listens. It can be a nice listen; I just don't think it's really worth listening to outside of the full album context or as a coda to "Oh! You Pretty Things". "Life On Mars?": Best song on the album, full stop. I remember the first couple of times I heard it. I probably had the wrong expectations because I kept hearing it described as a parody of "My Way", and I was disappointed when it didn't really sound anything like it, even in a broad "pastiche" sense. I've since gotten over that, and it's just **so good**. I've naturally memorized more lyrics from it outside of its chorus than I thought I would, which means a lot, believe. And for the record: yes, I **do** believe there's life on Mars—in the metaphorical sense this song means it in, anyway. "Kooks": It surprised me to read reviews here and keep seeing people say "Oh, I don't hate 'Kooks'; it's not **that bad**." Like, I'm not sure what I'd consider the "worst song" on the album, but I never thought it'd be this one. I've always liked it, at least because it's fun to sing with the "hung up on romancin'" line. Like, I'unno. It's just a nice, cute song. And a nice little break before what comes directly next, too. "Quicksand": OK, I know I just said I don't know what I'd call the worst song on the album, but if I were hard pressed... I mean, I don't even wanna say this one, 'cuz I know I'd just be saying it only because I find it the hardest song on the album to understand. Taking a guess, I thought it was about that feeling you get when you're lacking inspiration, but it might actually be about not knowing what happens after you die? Something about the "great beyond?" I really don't know, and I'm not terribly equipped to analyze poetic lyrics like this. I like the "Don't believe in yourself" refrain, anyway. "Fill Your Heart": If there's anything I wanna comment on here, it's the same thing Abigail Devoe pointed out when she talked about this song: how Bowie jumps into his falsetto during that last "free-EEEEE." Such a joy. "Andy Warhol": Most of the time I think about this song, it's about how Metallica later quoted it during "Master Of Puppets". And about how I can't **really** hear it? I'm sure it is, but sometimes I'm bad at picking up melodic references like that. Also just the fact that, eh, I'unno. It's fine. I like the "Andy walking, Andy tired" bit, but otherwise... Oh, and of course the chorus, too. I love me my chourses. At any rate, if I were Andy Warhol, I'd like it more than he actually didn't. "Song For Bob Dylan": One time I read on Wikipedia that this was considered the weakest song on the album, and that's how I've always thought of it. Is it really? Probably not, but of every song on this side of the record, I think I'd think about it the least. Even though I did reference/quote the opening lyrics back when I talked about HIGHWAY 61 REVISITED. I mean, you name me another song about Bob Dylan to quote, huh? "Queen Bitch": The best song on side two, hands down. "Bippity-boppity hat," I love it. One time while I was listening to this song, I imagined myself back in mid-1970's New York, dancing in a silk dress around some kind of Bohemian apartment with a glass of wine in hand. I was actually in my family's townhouse wearing a housecoat and holding a cup of water with red Kool-Aid flavoring that'd been squirted in, but, y'know, still. The spirit was there. Real lucky, that Lou Reed, to get this song made about him. "The Bewlay Brothers": The song that actually has the densest lyrics on the album, but I don't mind it as much as "Quicksand" because even Bowie himself said before recording a take not to pay attention to the lyrics. And most of the time, honestly, I don't. Before now, it's been another "flow over" track for me, where I zone out right before the final bit snaps me back in. Just like on "Eight Line Poem", I mostly blame it on the instrumental not being as attention grabbing as some of the other songs. But... Y'know, when I was relistening to this album at, like, 5AM, and I was staring into some of the dark corners of my family's townhouse... With this song filling my ears at the same time, it was actually a little unsettling, imagining what could be hiding in there. Jeez. Overall, let me say first I haven't sampled the entire Bowie ouvre. Heck, I only heard YOUNG AMERICANS just this month thanks to the generator. But I'm fairly certain that once I do, this'll still remain probably my favorite Bowie album. This or ZIGGY STARDUST. It dips a little for me on side two, but come on, it's got "Life On Mars?". Like INNERVISIONS having "Living For The City", that's worth enough points by itself.
This is a good album, but it's a bit one-sided, considering a bunch of the bigger Bowie songs are on Side 1.
I think I’m at a 4. The weird part is that I would usually round up and give an album like this a 5, but for this one, I just… don’t feel that way. It never really connected to me in that way some of the other albums I’ve given a 5 to, but it’s absolutely no less than a 4. Changes & Life on Mars are all-time classics, and I think this album supplements them with really strong stuff that just never quite hit those heights for me (save for Quicksand & Queen Bitch). It could bump up to a 5 later, but I feel pretty good with a 4.
I was never a big Bowie fan, but enjoyed the collection. Thanks.
This is what I imagined an album could be like. It's not just a random collection of pop hits, but a carefully crafted work of art.
I'm still not clever enough to really understand what Bowie's trying to do here. Some nice individual tunes, but as an album it's not for me really.
Some really solid songs - great progression beginning to end. A wonderful album.
The use of piano is nice and catchy. But that’s about it.
As expected, fantastic album
Odd and satisfying. 4/5
Does any album have a stronger opening 3 songs?
And it's still an overwhelming "OK I guess" for Bowie from me. I don't get it - why don't I get it?
An easy 5 out of 5 and that is before even pressing play again. One of my absolute favourites from one of the very greatest. Changes is incredible. It is one of the earliest songs I remember truly noticing and connecting with, and it still sounds fresh decades later. Then there is Life on Mars. A genuine masterpiece. It comfortably sits in my top ten songs of all time. Dramatic, emotional and completely unique. This album captures Bowie at his most inventive. Witty, melodic, theatrical and thoughtful all at once. The piano led songwriting gives it warmth, but there is still that unmistakable Bowie edge running through it. He blends pop, glam, folk and art rock effortlessly. There is not a weak moment here. Every track feels considered and essential. Favourite tracks: Changes, Oh You Pretty Things and Life on Mars. As good as anything you will ever hear Least favourite: Not a bad song on the album Album artwork: Perfect. That soft focus, cinematic portrait is just as iconic as the music inside
Absolute genius. I'd never listened to this album. I was obviously aware of the hits from it, but nothing more. Not only did I love it, but I really heard the genius of the man coming through.
Love this album more than most!
A familiar album that didn't disappoint.
Pas mal du tout
Still don't like his voice, but I preferred this one over Ziggy.
Best song: changes Vibes: positive, poppy, haunted, vaguely folk-y, rock Themes: growing/change/time
"Hunky Dory" by David Bowie: A three-star musical wardrobe change where Bowie can't decide if he's more Mod or Mozart. With hits like "Changes" hitting the mark, the album zigzags through genres like Bowie's shopping through personas. It’s as if he’s throwing everything at the wall to see what sticks—glam rock glitter or folky flannel? Sure, we get the genius of "Life on Mars?" but also a sense that Bowie's still rummaging in his artistic closet. A captivating preview of the chameleon to come, yet it leaves us wondering if the whole ensemble matches. Cheekily, "Hunky Dory" is the sound of Bowie checking out his reflection, pondering, "Is this my look?"
The second David Bowie album I get in this series. The first I did not know but Hunky Dory is full of great well known songs. Great to listen to and reminds one of his genius as a musician.
I like David Bowie, but never really know what to expect…which is part of what made him great. But sometimes it’s too far out there. This, however, is a solid work throughout.
More artsy and melodic compared to the Bowie works I'm used to (I believe this is directly before the Ziggy Stardust era). You can certainly hear flashes of Bowie that would come to be later in the decade following this release. Closer to a 4 than 3 if we're using the five-star scale.
My favorite Bowie. Life On Mars is his best song, but there is much more to this one
Muito bom, um clássico atemporal!!
Lekker
good
David Bowie has never really been my thing. I've always kind of considered him more style and flash over substance and this album didn't change that opinion. When trying to decide what to rate it I asked myself if I would have wanted to listen to this music if it weren't David Bowie and I was leaning toward a no. His reputation and cred in the music world pushed this one to three stars but just barely. It was interesting enough to listen to the whole thing without fast forwards but I don't think I would listen to this again.
Pretty top-notch Bowie
Some good songs but didn't really connect
Some strangeness and complexity to this album, as Bowie was known for. Unfortunately not a whole lot I plan on coming back to.
This is a good album, it may be my favorite bowie album back to front outside of Ziggy of course. There are some great hits on here and some really good b-sides too.
Weirdness at its best
Had it on as background music while shopping its fine.
Love this album.
Fantastic album.
It hits on all 70s cylinders - the piano of Billy Joel, the guitars of the Beetles, the poetry like Dylan...the flamboyance of Elton John. One of the greats
It’s David Bowie what do you expect, really fun up beat album but the end isn’t as good as the start
This was a fun record! I would say maybe I still don't fully get David Bowie 100% but I think I enjoyed this more than I expected and more than the 'later' stuff from him.
Wow i was waiting for this one, an album that i discover just last year and i became a truly jug fan of it. This album is a step a head of its time, especially on the lyrics side. Bowie initiate his Glam rock era with this album and help define his iconic sound. The album is lyricaly incredible and musicaly more oriented toward pop, with song more driven by piano thab guitar expect with Queen Bitch (the only purely rock song on the album) The cover is also very cool shown a travestite Bowie (inspired by Hollywood actress like Marlène Dietrich). The album is full of good and incredible songs here they are: Changes is simply on of the best Bowie song ever, the album start with this song and talk about reinvention a common ground in all Bowie compositions (reivente himself). Oh you pretty things is an tribute to hus brother who suffer from Schizofrenia and commit suicide. This song is piano driver and look like a britisg cabaret song Eight line poem is a simple poem with some piano note not very impactfull i think but anyway Life on Mars? Ok it will be complicated to do this because there is no words to descrive how good this song is, no doubts on of the best song by Bowie, lyricaly, musicaly, the video clip ect ect this musical hall rock is timeless. This song is accually a response or a parody of My Way by Sinatra, the simple guitar work and the climax at the chorus make it an epic song and Bowie look wonderfull in the clip filmed in 1973. Kooks seems strange to me because i didin’t know what it meant, and i discover it was written for his child whi was born the previus year, the song is cute not childish but just a father who love his chilf very very beautifull. Quicksand as some strange lyrical inspirations like occutilsm, bouddism, Aleister Crowley, Churchill ect. I’m not sure to understand the song that why i dont like it that much. Same for Fill your heart wich is a sin’ly viola and piano song not bad simply not that impactfull but very in the tone of the album. There is 3 songs in the album that where inspired by american icon that Bowie admire, This on e is about Andy Warhol, the song is accoustic and have a cool guitar riff by Mick Ronson. I enjoy it, but apparently Warhol didn’t. A Song for Bob Dylan is a tribute to Bod Dylan, he is not tryin to like parody him or do a pastiche but simply a good tribute to a musician he like. Queen Bitch, Bowie can do anything including doing a Velvet Underground song whitout the velvet Underground and while still being himself. This song is more than a tribute to his friend and inspiration Lou Reed, but a pastiche with provocative lyrics anf the spirit. The song is perhaps the only real 100% rock song on the album with one of my favorite guitar riff in Bowie carrer (inspired by Eddie Cochrane) this song is also a early taste of was Bowie’s glam rock will look like. The song is about a guy (Queen Bitch) hungry for sex, drag quens and escorts. The song combine the early punk attitude of Lou Reed but the melody of Glam rock, my favorite song in the album for that. The Bewlay Brothers, is difficult to break trough its meaning because it has not , appaently the lyrics mean nothing and althougt not a big fan of it, it still showing Bowie caracter and genius. This album Is on of the best in Bowie’s carrer, his more pop rock approche will define his song for the next years in his best musical era (Glam rock) and help him becoming a rock n roll god with Ziggy Stardust. This album have so much to offer its perhaps the best introduction to David Bowie. (I take the space here to tell that i have lut the album Ziggy stardust a 4/5 stars cause it was my first album when i start doing this, and i wasnt the crazy big Bowie fan that i im today i a truely regret it i would have put a F’N 5/5 stars to Ziggy Stradust)
One of my favourite albums of all time
So many classics on this album. I'm just not that into rock these days, even Bowie's far-out corner of it.
Sometimes sounds a bit like Elton John; weird lyrics
I’m about 40 albums into this journey, and so far, I’ve gotten THREE Bowie albums. That said, this has been my favorite one so far. Hell, I’d give it 5 stars just for “Changes.” That song holds a special place in my heart.
So theatrical & fun
A weird vibe.
Classic
Tons of great songs, love hearing it
Amazing! Infinitely Relevant. So many great songs, lyrics riffs and sounds
One of my favorite Bowie albums so may be bias
Overrated af
Your mum's favourite Bowie album
Iconic. Not his best, but certainly not the worst. ‘Life on Mars’ gave me butterflies.
the kind of idiosyncratic follow-up to smash hit record that i love. just chock full of interesting tunes that are definitively NOT the glam rock bowie was famous for
The first 4 songs are all Hall-of-Famers... after that it's a B/B+.
A pre-fame Bowie has long hair, wears a dress and writes an album that should've by rights made him the superstar he was going to become. A true classic album with not a duff track in sight. Rick Wakeman classical pub piano, Mick Ronson's sweet fat guitar and Bowie's asexual vocals are just *chef's kiss*. Shame on everyone at the time for not all rushing out and buying this album when it was orginally released. Best Tracks: Changes; Life on Mars?; Queen Bitch
Bowie thing
7/10
I was starting to feel a little silly getting 50 albums in and giving only one 5 (my first album, Beatles), but here it is. Each track is different but the whole doesn't feel disjointed. What a pleasure.
Well, there is Life on Mars? and Changes, and then there is all the rest. The former two are excellent, the latter are just OK tracks. 3/5
4 stars for life on mars alone. What a song.
Songs I knew from this beforehand were "Changes" and "Life on Mars?". It's that classic Bowie feel with something for both casual fans and ones who want a deeper dive. Great album within Bowie's catalog and in general.
Bowie before Ziggy, but the pieces are all there. Some of his best songs. Life on Mars is an all-timer, epic piece of songwriting. Loved Queen Bitch and The Bewlay Bros as well.
Great album!
Saw a few recognizable classics and cool vibe overall
Great vocals and the album that I have on Vinyl. Always good to listen
This is fun. Going to listen to more of david’s stuff
Changes Life On Mars?
Loved it. Really.like the last song.
Bowie's Pop-y glam rock is a really tight sound. It uses blues, jazz, and older rock influences to make this bright, almost optimistic sound. I really liked this album, and obviously David Bowie is a genius and one of the all time greats.
Snap crackle pop that’s stuff tickles my ear buds.
No notes❗️🧑🍳🤌💋
Would be a 5/5 but it loses some points for whatever the beginning of “Andy Warhol” is
I say about 6/10 as it's not my style but I do like some songs
He was really firing on all cylinders during this time, huh? 4.49? Or 4.51?
Really liked some songs on here. Sometimes Bowie's vocals aren't the easiest on the ears
I try and try but I just can't ever get myself to love Bowie. I like him, I respect the hell out of his talent, and admittedly he has put out some all time banger songs, but I just cannot love him as a whole. It just isn't my vibe. I want to love him, but watching Labyrinth too young probably is what soured me on him forever.
already heard this album a few times. the dawn of glam pop arises.. i like the piano melodies and his bizarre lyricism. really forgot about a lot of these songs that i used to love, like oh you pretty things and changes. there are some odd slow bits that definitely feel more like his first album but overall very interesting and its better knowing how revolutionary this would become. i need to get more into bowie in general. 7.5/10 fav tracks: oh you pretty things, life on mars?, changes, eight line poem
the best
I can't stand Bowie, and reading all the gushing just makes me dislike him more.
I think I’m just not a Bowie girlie because the album didn’t wow me. Some iconic singles but the rest of the album was just ok for me 3/5
ooh, early Bowie! Probably the most consistent album from him I've heard so far, there's some great highs, and nothing that I'd really call a stinker on here. Makes me more excited for ziggy stardust/aladdin sane era, which I've never listened to
Creative, one of a kind.
Great album
i didn't really listen intently, album didn't grab my attention super well
The king
saw someone say this is Ziggy stardust before he became Ziggy stardust and that is the perfect way to describe this album 8/10
Life on Mars is one of the greatest songs of all time, and Changes is pretty damn good too. But there was a lot of filler in here that I didn't love listening to. 6.5/10
Pretty great but wasn't mindblowing. - 8/10
Some good songs, some boring. In addition to the two popular songs I liked tracks 2, 5, and 6.
Pretty good. I fell asleep the first time I listened so had to re listen. 8/10
David Bowie on this album is like the Dua Lipa of 70s pop. He cracked the code with songs that were just predictable enough but just exciting enough to be the perfect pop listen. 8.5/10
6/10 - I know David Bowie is supposed to be like fantastic and revolutionary but it was just kind of ok. Better than average but not like fantastic. Changes and Life on Mars? I had heard before and Kooks was pretty good.
"Don't believe in yourself" is a great line, really good album overall, love life on mars 8.5/10
Iconic album, but didn't really blow me away. 7.5/10
The lead hit is all I really know. Never been a true fan. Mid rating.
One of my favorite Bowie albums. I even like Kooks!
What a f*cking great record. Maybe my favorite Bowie album. Lyrically, vocally, musically, production - everything is what you want from Bowie.
Really strong start. Life on Mars is an amazing song. Got a little weird on the back half.
I think this is my second favorite Bowie album. The songwriting is excellent here. And Changes is a flat out great song. Will gladly put this one on, pretty much anytime.
Strangely enough, even though it holds some of my favorite Bowie songs, I hadn't listened to Hunky Dory in full before. Now I have, and I'm not surprised that I think it's pretty great. Highlights: Changes, Oh! You Pretty Things, Life On Mars?, Kooks, Quicksand, Queen Bitch
It's just so damn good! Enough said.
It's good, very interesting in the manner that breaks any genre conformity. It's Bowie, so I WANT to rate it more, but realistically, I won't be coming back to this much as a full album listen.
Easily my favorite of the Bowie albums we've heard so far...but for me it only gets into "good not great" territory. 3.5.
Changes, Queen Bitch, and Life on Mars are all-timers for me. Not to mention Life on Mars and Queen Bitch being a direct through point to Ziggy. Even with a few of my lesser liked Bowie songs this is a five for me.
3.5 i’ve never liked this one as much as other people seem to… but boy it’s got some classics!
Less filler than I was thinking there was going to be. Not amazing, but worthy of a strong 3.
Have it, Like it.
so Bowie.
Hatte ich mir irgendwann mal angehört und hat mir nicht so gefallen
unmemorable
There's a lot to like here. Just some absolute classics from the man. I was originally going to give it a 4 because there are a few songs that I don't love, but I'm giving it a 5 anyway because the highs are so very high.
I have never understood David Bowie or "gotten" his music until this album. Shame on me for having never listened to it beyond the couple hits I've heard. This album is a masterpiece. Loved every second of it and I think this is where you send someone like me who doesn't "get it."
not ass
I was curious if I’d enjoy this as much as I used to, it had probably been 5 years since my last full listen and it’s still great. It’s random and great, Changes and Pretty Things gets things started hot. Queen Bitch and Life on Mars are a couple of my Bowie favourites. Hunky Dory is a slight step behind Ziggy Stardust when it comes to my personal rank of Bowies work mostly bc it feels more like an album and less like a best of collection but this is still a 5 from me. 300 albums in and this is the 8th Bowie album I’ve received, I have to imagine this is the last one right? There’s no way Last Dance makes the cut right? Hunky Dory 5 stars!
Love this album, fave Bowie
best bowie
Good Bowie, but not peak Bowie. Primarily piano or acoustic-guitar led arty pop rock (turning down from the harder rock of The Man Who Sold The World), with some solid and tasteful bass lines and perhaps the start of a distinctively Bowie sound. As always for Bowie, quality vocal melodies and performances. Has a couple of all time tracks (Changes, Life on Mars?, Oh! You Pretty Things) and a handful of fine/enjoyable songs, though somewhat unmemorable. Enjoyable listen all around, but not a high impact Bowie album. I don’t see myself contemplating this album in days to come or feeling that I need to revisit often. Some of these sounds and ideas are revisited and perfected in Bowie’s subsequent album, The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars. I’ve never quite understood the critical beliefs that this is one of Bowie’s best.
mega
Great album! Life on mars is an all time great song and one of my favourites
Brilliant David Bowie ❤️
Another classic. Pushing boundaries, but not so strange as to be inaccessible or unenjoyable.
I Like this album form David Bowie. It was nice to hear it again.
I like this :-)
I lovelovelove David Bowie! Hunky Dory is not necessarily my favourite album but still one I greatly love.
Not a fan
5 - no question. This is one of the greatest albums of all time and has always been my favorite Bowie album. If there’s one knock against this, it’s that the lyrics are silly at times, but this whole things start to finish is incredible. Notable tracks include changes, oh you pretty things, life on mars, queen bitch, quicksand, and the bewlay brothers. A++
very good album. Enjoyed it quite a bit. But I generally resonate with him.
Loved in
Never listened to Bowie on purpose, I thought it'd be more psychedelic... Not bad at all though.
Ch ch ch changes. Life on Mars - genius Queen bitch
Perfect, almost americana but Bowie
En "Hunky Dory Bowie renueva su visión de la música con su mirada caleidoscópica de autor. En este disco lo mismo encontramos música pop con aires clásicos neoyorquinos (extraordinaria la apertura del disco con "Changes") como canciones al más puro estilo folk ("Song for Bob Dylan"), inclasificables joyas entre le glam rock y el art pop ("Life on Mars?") o incluso coqueteos con la música dance ("Kooks"). Me gustan especialmente "Life on Mars?" (cómo no) y "Changes", pero no puedo dejar de citar "Andy Warhol", originalmente escrita para que la cantara Dana Gillespie, cuya versión, publicada dos años más tarde, me parece sublime.
Just not my thing. Idk, I wanted to like it, but I feel kinda let down. Bummer.
not ashamed to admit, but i didnt really like this Significant 36/113 Liked 17/113 Added 4/113 NNN
I like this version of Bowie (well, I'm learning I like most versions of Bowie).
Changes - 10/10 Oh! You Pretty Thing - 9/10 Eight Line Poem - 8/10 Life on Mars? - 10/10 Kooks - 8/10 Quicksand - 8/10 Fill Your Heart - 8/10 Andy Warhol - 8/10 Song For Bob Dylan - 8/10 Queen Bitch - 8/10 The Bewlay Brothers - 8/10 TOTAL - 93/110
Favourite tracks: changes; oh you pretty things; life on mars; Andy Warhol; queen bitch
Decent Bowie album if that’s your thing.
I just like Bowie, so 5 seems right
Wonderful album. I’m not sure why I haven’t listened to more Bowie. Andy Warhol was a favorite.
3.5 - I actually listened to this in 10th grade while working on a project for my creative writing class. I remember it being alright, but I was sad that I wasn't crazy about any of the deeper cuts. I was probably distracted while listening to it, so I thought it might be better this time around. I do appreciate some of the tracks more, but I am still a little bummed that I didn't like anything as much as the hits. The hits are amazing, though.
Marginally better than his other albums on here but still shit.
Already know this album but nice to listen to with a critical mindset. Probably one of my lesser played Bowie albums. Life on Mars is objectively one of the best songs ever, surely? Changes is brilliant but I think the live Glastonbury version is the elite version. I really enjoyed Kooks, it made me smile thinking about impending fatherhood. I think you start to hear different strands of future Bowie come through towards the back end of the album. Always a fan of chord progressions in Bowie songs as they’re pretty creative and unorthodox relatively speaking.
Banger
Not my cup of tea. Tho i liked some songs
Enjoyed this. There's a surprising amount of diversity on this album given the "Ziggy Stardust" persona.
But some of them are just weird.
Some decent songs. Not sure the whole album is that great.
This put me in a bad mood. I don’t see the attraction to DB.
Bleh!
Never listened to this album before. Not what I was expecting from David Bowie. Very different than his later albums and mainstream hits.
Great Album! David Bowie is great. Will have to add this album to my collection.
the first of (i assume) many bowie albums. more mellow than his later ziggy and aladdin sane records. beautiful and soulful melodies. the first half is somewhat stronger than the latter.
What a treat. Absolutely excellent.
I always have a hard time keeping the Bowie albums straight - which ones I like, which ones I'm "supposed to like" (but don't really love). After listening to this one (several times) I like it a lot. I had "Life on Mars" stuck in my head for two days.
i love you hunky dory is this a 4.5 not a 5? maybe. but that isn't going to stop me. it has life on mars? on it anyway so it's automatically 5 stars.
Said I would rate this 4 stars but I can’t do it. It’s so fucking good… life changing album for teenage Elizabeth… it’s a 4.5 star album but I must round up for personal reasons….
Liked David Bowie, but particularly the Ziggy Stardust years (72-73) This is a 71 album, so just before Ziggy. Changes - well known, well liked. Great lyrics. Bit jazzy though. Pretty Things - bit quirky/jokes, but I love it Eight line Poem - so, so Life on Mars - Utterly brilliant classic Looks - I like it Quicksand - darkly deep Fill Your Heart - so so Andy Warhol - like it Song for Bob Dylan - pretty good, but not perfect Queen Bitch - Actually about transgender. Absolutely love the track. Brilliant The Bewlay Brothers - pure brilliant Bowie It's probably a 4, but because of the presence of brilliant tracks (plural) it gets 5 stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
5 out of 5. Reminds of The Muppet Show for some reason.
Good album with a couple of GREAT songs.
Not my cup of tea but I can see how people love his music so much.
Gorgeous, wonderful, upbeat, lovely. Adding to a playlist for both cleaning and also background party music.
some classics but not my vibe
There's a reason David Bowie is awesome, and this album is one of those reasons.
it's a solid album with amazing highs like Life on Mars and Quicksand, but sometimes it does feel repetitive or forgettable in my opinion.
Probably need a few more times through to really appreciate it.
Not a fav Bowie, too folksie
I wasn’t sure if I would like this album, but I did! I liked the music and lyrics, and enjoyed listening to it.
Sparkle and very Bowie.
Just can't seem to get into Bowie. I don't find the songs enjoyable to listed to.
Psychedelic and relaxing. Some classics on there. Some I'd never heard of. I liked it a lot.
Oh joy.. Another Bowie album. Saying that... This does appear to be his best. Some great tracks, not too much filler. This might be the highest rating I can give to a Bowie album, given that I just fundamentally don't get it.
Track 1: I knew the song instantly by the chorus. Pretty good song. Track 2: I like the piano in the intro and how it sounds throughout the song. Track 3: I like the mellowness of this song but the country guitar sound is cool. Track 4: I liked the strings in this for a build up. I also like the tone of the song a lot it’s really cool for the build up to go into something crazy where the instruments have a bunch of runs. Track 5: decent song. Track 6: I like the strings and the piano in this. I also like the pocket feel in the middle of the song into a distorted sound. Track 7: I really like the sax and just the overall band feel. Track 8: I liked the guitar in this and the lyrics. Track 9: mellow guitar solo and he kinda has a bob Dylan esquié vocals. Track 10: it’s an okay song kinda seemed basic. Track 11: I like the guitar in this and the random noises in the back in the middle of the song. Overall: 7.0/10. I think this is a good album but there’s some things that I don’t like. However there are a few nice parts of the album too!
Now that we are repeating artists - ratings are more complicated. I like this one more than Heroes so have to rate it higher. If I like the next Bowie more than this - does it automatically get a ‘5’? Good songs here. Like the upbeat, jauntiness.
2015 remaster version Changes - Classic, heard before on Shrek. Oh! You Pretty Things - The piano is just fascinating. Eight Line Poem - Perfect. Life On Mars? - AMAZING, PERFECT, could be my favorite in this album if there's nothing better. Kooks - Some classic Rock for the body, beautiful. Quicksand - Makes me float on the air. Fill Your Heart - Makes me wanna enjoy life, it's a shame that I don't have one. Andy Warhol - The intro sounds like my GameBoy Advance, amazing. Song For Bob Dylan - Sounds like it's name, not into Rock Folk, but I like it. Queen Bitch - Badass, love it. The Bewlay Brothers - Experimental, surrounding, outstanding, my favorite. Top 3 The Bewlay Brothers. Quicksand. Life On Mars?
4.2. This is a good album with a couple of great songs.
The album is a teatrical piece with many instruments assembled in a sutil style.
Oh, you pretty thing! in my personal opinion, a really solid example of art-pop-rock, especially for its time. Bowie constantly pushed the narrative- especially in Changes because if his unique perspective on Nietzschean philosophy.
Great early 70s glam rock, Bowie was unique and one-of-a-kind. I liked some of his other albums more, for example Ziggy, so after listening to this twice I'll give it a 4.
Favorites: Changes, Life on Mars, Queen Bitch, The Bewlay Brothers, Bombers. Very Creative and interesting album lyrics - wise. His brand and style are unique.
Feel like he is still setting into his style
Pretty fascinating. A new sound for Bowie, to me. His sound feels like ELO, Beatles, and Bob Dylan. It feels like he is still exploring his sound and trying to find his voice. Really cool to see so many different styles from him.
Reasonable bowie. Quicksand all time banger
Love this album- have heard it many times before.
Album: Hunky Dory Artist: David Bowie Year: 1971 Genre: Art Pop Number on list: 240 Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ David Bowie has been a master of the art for his entire career. Hunky Dory is no different. His musical style is able to captivate the audience in a really special way. Fave song: Changes Would I listen again? Yes
Great! Love this one. It's maybe my third or fourth favorite Bowie album.
This was just a delight to listen to. ‘Oh you pretty thing’ absolutely SLAPS. Can’t believe I didn’t know some of these songs. David Bowie’s whole vibe is just great. Will listen again.
Life on Mars. An awesome David Bowie.
Bowie is iconic
Great use of “weird” (in a good way) vocals and instrumentals.
Revolutionary
sorry, kind of lame - definitely not as good as low
Life on Mars has so much musical umami
This one suprised me. I've never really listened to much Bowie but wow this was a good album.
I’ve enjoyed plenty of Bowie in my lifetime, but this is actually the first album of his I’ve listened to start to finish. This is great!
I like some of Bowie’s music but mostly I like the idea and persona more than the music.
A lot of his classics, a lot of other songs too.
Oh boy! Queen Bitch is one of my favorite Bowie songs! Let’s go. Changes - a good way for me to hate a pop song is to name it Changes. I’ve never liked this song. Fuck this song 0/5. Oh! You Pretty Things! - what the fuck David Bowie I thought you were a genius. Jesus 0/5 Eight Line Poem - album should have started here. It could have saved me 50 years of Changes and whatever the fuck was before this. Still only half a song. 1/5 Life On Mars - true classic. I got so much pent up aggression because of the first two songs I can’t actually appreciate this one. This album sure seems disjointed. 4/5 but it would be 2/5 if I listen to it in context of this album. Just weird placement. Kooks - punching other people’s dads! That’s worth a point. I get it now. This is show tunes Bowie. Sorry show tunes are a hard sell for me. There’s something here I like though. 2/5 Quicksand - this is a fine song. It’s much more the Bowie I’m looking for. He’s peeking out here. Give him a 2/5 Fill Your Heart - show tunes Bowie. this gives me nothing 1/5 Andy Warhol - this is a good one. Oddly doesn’t feel like a song about Andy Warhol. It’s feels a bit westerny. Alt country? Of course Bowie’s trying his hardest to be weird but he can’t help making it a jangly pop song. 2/5 Song for Bob Dylan - boy does this sound like a Bruce Springsteen song. If he just sings it with a husky voice it would be a dead ringer for 70s Bruce. Kind of proves Bowie’s genius. One of his throw-away songs is a whole man’s career. Not bad song. 2/5 Queen Bitch - here it is! This sits better in the album than Life on Mars. One of the best songs ever. Even on this terrible album. 5/5 The Bewlay Brothers - I had no idea that this song didn’t end with Queen Bitch. This one I’ve heard before, I just didn’t know it was here. Has an epic chorus. It’s a strong conclusion, to a lackluster album. I enjoy him the weirder he gets. 4/5 And that’s a wrap. How depressing this listen was. I had such high hopes. But guess what, the good songs are good and are also the ones you’ve heard bazillion times. The bad songs are soooo bad. You can feel this terrible Bowie transform into the awesome Bowie as you progress through the album. That’s a feat. But it’s really just those three songs and a lot of terribleness. I mean I would rate this album higher if it was just those three songs. 2/5 Plus what’s with all the Nazi references?
Classic David Bowie...what is not to like??
Decent
This is fun, Bowie is an icon. Not my usual style but I solid listen. I knew a few of the popular song.
Superb!
This is good but it’s not my favourite David Bowie. The track Andy Warhol made me laugh. The themes of these songs are still relevant today for new generations. Listens: 2 Fave Track: Life On Mars Rating: 3 (almost 4 but a 1-5 rating system is a blunt instrument)
Life On Mars is one of my favorite songs ever. Between that track, Changes, Queen Bitch and Oh! You Pretty Things, I can't in good conscious put this below a 5, maybe a 4.5
Another great album by David Bowie. What is there more to say? Well, maybe that 'Low' is more interesting for example. Still a great listen with the top track 'Changes'.
favourite song: oh! you pretty things long been my favourite bowie album. simply fantastic. also, do people not like kooks? kooks is great. honourable mention for favourite song to andy warhol.
Life on Mars worth the price of admission alone, but oh, you get so much more. Buy this album, please.
3/5 weak album that might have been interesting at some point but I am not going to add points for nostalgia. “Enlightened” drug addict music.
5/10. Life on Mars? and The Bewlay Brothers are the best on the album.
Nice album, I didn't know any of the tracks, but good music. Nothing extraordinary, but sweet and calmly, I liked it.
Still great, but nowhere close to Ziggy Stardust in my opinion.
Very cool album. Changes is probably my 2nd favorite Bowie song of all time. Awesome!
Changes and Life On Mars? are great and are the standout songs for me, but I also quite enjoyed Oh! You Pretty Things, Kooks, and Andy Warhol. The rest of the album can be a bit hit and miss.
Don’t like it
ch ch ch ch chaaangesss
4.6/5 Best Track: Life on Mars?
angenehm, viel Gitarre, "Andy Warhol" ist funny, insgesamt sehr schön und gefühlvoll
Bowie be best
Kuuntelin jopa kahdesti putkeen, koska parin ekan biisin jälkeen keskittyminen herpaantui täysin, ja niin kävi toisellakin kerralla. Eli: tasapaksu. Sinänsä laadukas ja on biiseissä eroja, mutta ne eivät hittejä (jotka ovat a-puolella) lukuun ottamatta erotu.
Ehkä Bowien salaisuus ei ole niinkään hänen musiikkinsa ylivertaisuudessa, vaan siinä, että hän vaikuttaa kykenevän muodostamaan kysymyksiä - ja, kuulija voi toivoa, joskus jopa vastauksia - sekä musiikillisia että temaattisia. Se, että hänen temaattiset kysymyksensä ja vastauksensa kiertävät akselilla: "erilaisuus on kivaa, maailmanloppu tulee", ei haittaa kuulijakuntaa, eikä sen välttämättä pidäkään. Musiikilliset kysymykset taas johtavat herkästi ärsyttävyyteen, jonka tässä ylittää täysin vain Changes, ja johon kaatuu Oh! You Pretty Things. Harvan levyn ärsyttävyydet ovat kuitenkaan niin hyviä kuin tällä LP:llä - tai toisin sanoen Bowie kirjoittaa koukkuja. B-puoli saisi silti olla selkeästi kiinnostavampi.
Confession time - I’ve never listened to a Bowie album, which is ridiculous. I’ve heard all the classics, including the likes of ‘Changes’ from this album, which is super. I had no expectations and have to say that I enjoyed it.
Some decent tunes but none sticking in my head or making me want to get them added to a playlist.
One of the best albums of all time
true classic
Bit boring
This era of Bowie is unbeatable, like most of them to be fair. A few songs I'm not as hot on but there's something so captivating about his music even when it's not your favourite ones
3.5
Yes
Another of the high peaks of David Bowie's career, but not the highest. It has some spectacular tracks, Life On Mars? may be one of the best tracks of Bowie's career and music in general. The album has a certain monotony that makes it feel boring as the tracks go by. Changes: 9,5 Oh! You Pretty Things: 8,9 Eight Line Poem: 8,4 Life on Mars?: 10 Kooks: 8,6 Quicksand: 9 Fill Your Heart: 9,4 Andy Warhol: 8,7 Song for Bob Dylan: 9,2 Queen Bitch: 8,2 The Bewlay Brother: 8,6
geht so aber nicht ganz meine musik
First reaction: oooh! Yay! I'm excited about this one! Upon listening: I really like this. The first song sets an excellent tone for the album. Life on Mars continues to give me goosebumps every time I hear it. Did the kooks get their name from this album? After listening: this just got better as it went on. Really enjoyed this. would definitely listen again, need to listen through headphones next time. Research notes: 4th album. Written mainly on piano (vs guitar for previous albums). Critically well received but didn't chart until after the release of his new album (which blew up). Life on mars was only released as a single 2 years after this album - wtf! The kooks did get their name from this album - that song was written for his son.
Genre: Pop Instruments: 4/5 Modern Translation: 4/5 Dance Potential: 3/5 Listening Location: Commute to work Favourite Song: Changes (this is a timeless tune) Made me feel: Smiley, upbeat and boppy. This album came at the right time because I didn't sleep well. I enjoyed dissecting the music + lyrics (i.e. he compared Bob Dylan's voice to "sand and glue", which I liked because I wasn't into like Bob's album). I also liked that the songs were all very different. I haven't listened to much Bowie and will definitely listen to more now.
Perfect
The generation that was young at the time of the release (in their 60s and 70s now) kinda fucked up, didn't they? Unfortunately no Homo Superior happened. Sorry, David. The album is nice, kinda cheesy at times (see Fill Your Heart). Is There Life on Mars is still really really good. Metallica definitely was inspired by Andy Warhol riff in their Master of Puppets:)
Mad to think it's not his best
Decent classic Bowie ride
Changes Life on Mars
The best Bowie album. I'll fight over that.
Fantastic, Changes! Life on Mars! Pretty Things! Kooks! Queen Bitch! Love love love this album. Bowie's best, and that's saying a lot!
What a fantastic and beautiful experience. I’m lucky to now discover the magic of Bowie. I was always one of those guys that knew only his hits, and loved them. But for whatever reason I never dove deeper and listened to a full album. So excited to discover it all.
#77. I guess I only know the hits when it comes to David Bowie, and I've never listened to one of his album all the way through before, but I think I expected more. 3/5: it was alright. Song added to playlist: Changes I've created a playlist on Spotify that consists of the best and/or my favorite song from each of the albums in this book. This list can be found here if you are interested: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/7MAXDGLWlwLkFLb8veGfkA?si=FqkQQPgZTFWG0jAUJXLFZA&utm_source=copy-link
I enjoyed this one enough to listen to it 3 times! I was never a huge Bowie fan, but I think I’ve grown to appreciate him more and more as time goes on. I’ve especially grown to love “Is There Life on Mars” - a song that never registered for me when I was younger.
So many David Bowie songs I had never heard and so many more to love. Brilliant & creative and every song on the album a pleasure to listen to. This album came before Ziggy Stardust! Can’t believe I did not have this album in my teen years. And of “Changes” has some of my favorite lyrics of all time…words that were used before one of my favorite movies…”The Breakfast Club” “And these children that you spit on As they try to change their worlds Their immune to your consultations They're quite aware of what they're going through”
My favorite Bowie album yet! It’s so energetic and unique.
There's a few good songs on here. Changes is the perfect soundtrack to sexy Shrek and Donkey, whilst Life on Mars? is decent. A few others I hadn't heard before were alright. But not really a fan overall, so I can't go above 3 stars for this.
A very very enjoyable listen. It was pretty much a sure fire 5-star for me until the final two songs which didn’t strike me as being too interesting. 8/10
Best Bowie album?
Some really nice songs on here and overall a really enjoyable and well produced album
It had a few oldy but goodies. Not as good as i thought it would be.
Some truly great bangers
Veit at detta e favorittalbumet til veldig mange, men syns sanga som Kooks og Fill Your Heart ødelegge litt. Ellers stort sett høgt nivå. Da e tross alt ikkje alle album som kan skilta med Life on Mars
Ganske ok. Ikkje min favvo
I didn't listen to all the songs, but a nice album
Probably not the most iconic or the subtlest of Bowie albums, but it’s still excellent. The Lou Reed/Velvet Underground influences are apparent, marking a shift in style from Bowie’s previous work.
One of his best
David Bowie is insanely talented and the master of many genres. Very entertaining and cool instrumentation. Changes is the standout hit but all the tracks are cool.
Fantastic and inventive
I don't get emotional with Bowie and without emotions all that is left for me are a few good and well known songs in a mass of ok background music.
Changes och Life on Mars är ju vassa men i övrigt finns mer att önska.
Changes - Shrek 2!!! 5/5 Oh! Pretty Things - just a rock song (4/5 i enjoyed it) Eight Line Poem - eh it’s like a sample (2/5 not bad) Life on Mars? - American Horror Story!!! 5/5 Kooks - just me and the freaks (3/5 eh) Quicksand - very dream psychedelic and less psych rock (3/5 chill though) Fill Your Heart - very show tunes (2/5 not for me) Andy Warhol - interesting (4/5 did not start strong) Song for Bob Dylan - i mean he mimicked the sound on his own style pretty well. (3/5 talent but i don’t like this) Queen Bitch - i did not feel this (2/5) The Bewlay Brothers - he was so turned on (3/5) interesting album but most of the songs were not for me. not as trippy as i wanted. so i have to give a 3/5
Good album, also not as good as Ziggy Stardust, but that's a tough one to compare too. Will I listen to again: 80%
I enjoyed this more than I thought I would. It engages me and I actively enjoy most of the songs. Changes and Life on Mars go super hard.
Shrek song shrek song Andy warhol is a cool song
Was ok
I really like the chill vibes with this. Bowie is great, as usual. Even though I like Bowie, I don’t think this is him at his best. It’s still very good. It’s just that some tracks are kind of duds compared to the rest of the tracks. Anywho, good album! You can’t go wrong with 70s Bowie.
Probably my favourite Bowie album, and it's getting a 5 if only for Changes and Life on Mars. Even discarding those tracks, Kooks, Oh You, Fill your Heart, Andy Warhol, Queen Bitch, Quicksand, basically everything is fantastic here. The piano really shines, so props to Rick Wakeman. It's fun and mischievous, a nice lighter Bowie work, like walking round a quaint but busy English town in Spring. 10/12/23
Faktiskt inte lyssnat på Bowie tidigare - bättre än väntat.
Great older Bowie. Mix of acoustic and electric.
Every song is exciting. Definitely Bowie’ top
Even some of the tracks are clearly 5, I have to save that for even greater albums…
Ch ch ch ch ch ch chaaanges
Classique, pas pour tout le monde mais agréable en fin d’après-midi.
Pas mon préféré de Bowie mais good shit quand même.