Hunky Dory

This album sounds like a sunny day in some unidentifiable time in the past. The songs were mostly gentle and soothing, and it was cool that there were certain songs written specifically for different people (perhaps they and Bowie were friends? I don't know enough about him to know.) Notedly this is also my first album of David Bowie, although I've listened to that one song about the sad astronaut before.

David Bowiemaista poppia :D

One of Bowie's finest. What a masterpiece of songwriting.

Not bad. Few good songs.

The only weak point of this album for me is Eight Line Poem. Changes, Oh! You Pretty Things, Life on Mars, Warhol, Dylan and Queen Bitch have all been covered so extensively that from a legacy standpoint I'm not surprised to see this album make it, given the other albums we've seen. Hunky Dory is his first absolute hit parade of an record, being preceded only by Space Oddity and the Man Who Sold the World, which don't do much for me outside of their title tracks. This is where the magic sauce starts. It's no Ziggy or Let's Dance but it's his first truly accessible pop album that just feels good to listen to. At this point I'm throwing out the rule book on what "deserves" to be on this list or not and just ranking based on my personal degree of joy in experiencing what the list has for us on a daily basis. And on that level this is another fully satisfactory experience.

The highs are so high but the b sides just don’t cut it to get it to a 5. Great listen overall though. Excellent production. I’m sure others will have more to say as I’m relatively unfamiliar with Bowie

If I was going to limit myself to one Bowie release it would not be Hunky Dory. However, it is an awesome listen and may contain his best song (Life on Mars). Changes, Oh, You Pretty Things, Andy Warhol and Queen Bitch are right behind. He was in singer-songwriter mode, but also introduced pop and cabaret music into the equation. It all works. The various styles make it a bit of a jumble to listen to, but not to the point of distraction. His first truly great album.

Not a big Bowie fan but I appreciate the impact and influence that he had on so many artists. For me, this is fine but not really special.

This is the first Bowie album we’ve heard that did not raise my appreciation for him in any way. I’m sure I’ll get hate for this but It just doesn’t speak to me lyrically or sonically in any way. I’d rather just hear the Beatles or the Kinks, as this album feels like worse version of their songs. “Queen Bitch” was a highlight for me.

Yeah I mean obviously this is amazing. I did not realise it was a bit of a flop first time round. People of 1971... You are fools. It has 50% 'Best Of' tracks and 50% the deep cuts that the cool kids like. It also has so much good variety from track to track, you just couldn't get bored. End to end brilliant.

A little annoyed by the voice, some cheesy lyrics, but otherwise sounds great. Needs more listening to really get into

Great vocals. Very emotional when mixed with the instrumentation.

It's Bowie. It's probably his best album. It has Andy Warhol and Queen Bitch on it. And the rest. What else can I say?

For some reason I use to think this was a Bowie album from the second half of the 70’s. Pulling off the feat of reinventing himself during such a short space of time is incredible. It makes this early 70’s Bowie achievement all the more spectacular. It sounds like an album from an artist who is already a star. In his own mind, he probably was. The voice has a sorrowful lull that draws you in. There’s humour as well. But it’s the quality of the songs from a relatively unknown at the time that still stand up. Remarkable.

Such a great album, and considering he brought out the rise and fall of Ziggy stardust 6 months later is insane. Need to listen to more David Bowie

Excellent album, great production, life on mars is deep .

Wonderful Bowie album! Great singles, and a few of the deep cuts hit hard, as well. Favorite tracks: Changes, Life on Mars, Andy Warhol, Song for Bob Dylan 4.5/5

Amazing Bowie album, and the one he comes alive in.

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4.5/5. Pretty good. Not my favorite Bowie album, but it's certainly a good one. I enjoyed every song off this.

he’s such a goofball

À réécouter, je n'étais pas assez attentif, mais c'est exactement le genre de son que j'aime de Bowie. Un autre album qui se fait vraiment sentir comme une oeuvre complète intégrale et non un ensemble simple de chansons. 8/10

What an album!!! I am not a Bowie fan but I love this album, it is him at his absolute best. I don’t listen to it a lot but when I find it again I have a “oh yeah” moment and I will then listen to it about 10 times on the trot. There isn’t a bad song on it, no fillers, just absolute class tracks that each stand on their own. And this was 1971!!! There are very few albums in the following 50 years that sound better or more genuine than this

3.75

I used to not like Bowie. Used to.

Such a beautiful album. Glad I had this excuse to listen to it again. Not a single miss on the entire album. Perfect from the start in lyrics, composition, instrumentation, and Bowie’s recognizable warm voice pulls it all together to deliver such a brilliant album. 5/5

Have always loved this album.

Mérité

PREFS : TOUT MOINS PREF : RIEN

I get it. Bowie is cool. Whatever. This is like the fourth album of his I've listened to. I'm not sure they all need to be on here. But, I'll give him some credit in that they are all unique (not only from each other, but from the other stuff that was out there at the time). I still can't say I'm a Bowie fan, but I have an appreciation for him.

I HATE Changes, it annoys me irrationally. The rest was good, obviously.

Great album. Here when Bowie really stood out and made a difference from the average

Elsk!

I think much of 'Hunky Dory' is best appreciated with context. I only had limited context and liked most of the songs. Some I knew and enjoyed; a couple I'd never heard were very good. As an entire album, it was just average for me though. I think after I gain more context, I likely will have greater love for it. I think younger generations may struggle with the composition of this one.

Simply another excellent Bowie album.

David Bowie showing off his skills as one of the most versatile artists who ever lived. I needed to check if I was still listening to the same album a couple of times as the songs are often so different in style and substance. "I'm closer to the Golden Dawn Immersed in Crowley's uniform" This album is a fantastic treat for fans and non-fans alike.

Well balanced and accessible (all the piano helps, no doubt), this feels considerably less contrived and thus more substantial than many other Bowie outings. It's almost as if he just wanted to make music and write songs. "Changes" is a great song and "Oh! You Pretty Things" is decent, too, but a bit too theatrical from one's personal tastes. The same is true of "Eight-Line Poem," though is noodles pleasantly (especially the guitar parts). "Quicksand" coheres credibly; its sophistication merits the lavishness (both vocally and in the strings). "Kooks" feels Kinksish, likably so, and illustrates just how more might have been less for Bowie, had it ever occurred to him to do less. (The same could be said of the intriguing closer "Bewlay Brothers"). The last few songs are interesting – if only because of their subject matter (Warhol, Dylan, Lou Reed) – but not much more than that; they might even be interpreted, given the writer, as a sort of trolling or market positioning. "Life on Mars?" largely deserves all the lauding it's received, but as a prequel to Zigggy (along with "Queen Bitch"), one starts to get a bit nervous (or feels an allergic reaction) to the many excesses of the later record and future developments. Indeed, one's always had the operating theory that ambition – which took the form of habitual reinventions – was not necessarily the friend of Ziggy/Aladdin Sane/Thin White Duke/Tin Machine head/etcetcetc. To be clear: this is a strong record and perhaps one's favorite Bowie record, though that affections doesn't preclude one from seeing in it the seeds of all that makes for one's love-hate relationship, which could be more accurately described as ranging from grudging admiration to a somewhat disdainful sense of his being-overrated (especially by the editors of this book).

I mean Life on Mars is on this.

changes is my favourite song ever

Hello, Shrek. Is that a sitar, sir? Getting Listening to Lightning vibes by Wheatus. Oh I know this one, ooo oo oooo. Quicksand? More like Slowsand. This has some bangers but also some utter trollop.

Loved! whimsical! High energy! Theatrical! Oh you pretty things was a fav! Was bopping my head and feeling fun

So many classics

Classic. Bowie rules.

Heard it before?: Yes Enjoy it?: I love this record, such a distinctively nice sound/style Favourite song: Track 4- Life on Mars?

Good stuff. Bowie is a legend for a reason.

bowie sucks

I love listening to early Bowie. It’s out there in a really interesting way.

Good album

🥲

I can really hear the influence that David Bowie had on Jack White in this album. And it does not sound like something made in 1971. It could be released today and still be just as great. Timeless album.

Hermoso. Tengo debilidad por Bowie.

My favourite Bowie has a sepia smile, sick piano melodies, and the drama of a thwarted teenage girl. This album is such a good drug.

Hunky dory!

Estupendo comienzo de viernes. Me ha encantado 🤩 (PSP) Temazos, aunque me cuesta el disco entero (LNB)

Beautiful vocals and amazing lyrics, best Bowie album on the list so far

This is rather good isn't it? Actually stuff that, this borders on brilliance.

ok álbum, não fede nem cheira, não lembro de nada.

Sinceramente, melhor do que eu achei que ia ser. Meu contato com ele, fora os maiores hits, não foi dos melhores. Segundo o wiki, esse álbum foi quando ele começou a "se descobrir" então eu diria que é possível que eu goste mais do "antigo bowie", apesar de não ter me identificado muito com nenhuma das músicas do álbum; a não ser o interesse de pesquisar mais sobre a relação dele com Bob Dylan. Especificamente desse álbum, gostei mais do A side, mas não o suficiente para adicionar algo às minhas playlists.

The balls on this guy. He just goes for it, stretching his vocal range and coming up with corny lyrics like, "ch-ch-changes!" The best way I know how to describe it is kittens singing pop songs. But I do love when that chorus comes in on "oh you pretty things"

One of Bowie's top 5 best, and the first truly great album in his discography. This is one of the Bowie albums I go back to the most often. It fits a lot of great songs into a short runtime. Nothing to complain about here.

Changes - tasty shit Oh! You Pretty Things - sounds like elton john and "i miss" by blackwave. Eight Line Poem - actually 8 lines, fun vocals Life on Mars - classic Kooks - meh Quicksand - surprisingly melancholic, love it Fill Your Heart - extreme kumbayah vibes Andy Warhol - chaos, but interesting chaos Song for Bob Dylan - cute tribute Queen Bitch - actually sounds like queen, solid The Bewlay Brothers - intriguing

The good songs are great and pure classic Bowie, the bad songs are twee and forgettable so makes the listen a slightly up and down experience

Love how David Bowie was always so willing to reinvent himself, evolve, experiment, and try new art. This album has some superb tracks on it, and overall it is composed so beautifully. The more melodic, warmer, piano-based songs are a nice departure from the harder, guitar-driven rock of his previous albums, much as I love those too. As usual, the performances are excellent. I didn’t realize Rick Wakeman plays piano on this album. Fantastic. A lot of the songs on this album are either new to me or I just don’t remember hearing them, and I will give this album more attention so I can listen to the lyrics. He’s an excellent writer.

I’ll start by saying, I actually couldn’t gauge how I felt about this album when I started the first track. Don’t get me wrong, I ABSOLUTELY love David Bowie’s music. It’s fun, energetic, raw, and most importantly it’s extremely catchy. On any other day, I would’ve been ecstatic to have this one come up. But just the night before, my next door neighbor kept my wife and I up most of the night by blasting loud, bass-heavy music that, and I quote “those darn kids love so much now a days! Dagnabit!!!” I know, I know, I sound a million years old! My apologies, old man rant over. So this morning when I turned on the album, suffice it to say I wasn’t sure if this album was gonna be my vibe. But I was wrong DEAD. WRONG. It was EXACTLY what I needed. When the first opening keys of “Changes” came on, I was instantly taken back to my days as a teenager; no bills, no rent, no responsibilities, just life at its most care-free. When your biggest worries we’re a test the next day, or what you and your friends were going to do over the weekend. Such a fun yet deep song about how life is an ever-evolving creature that feeds off what may come to be and the promise of tomorrow. But more importantly, how futile it is to fixate and focus on what may have come before, instead of embracing the possibilities, chances, opportunities that could be waiting just ahead. From there, it takes the listener on a wild journey with a multitude of different sounds, styles, and influences. From the loud highs of “Oh! You Pretty Things!”, “Life on Mars?”, “Andy Warhol”, and “Queen Bitch”; To the soft lows of “Eight Line Poem”, “Quicksand”, “Song for Bob Dylan”, and of course “The Bewlay Brothers”, this album was such a fun listen. So much so that I immediately had to listen to it again to let it all sink in further. Anyway, todays’ lesson kids: never doubt the healing power of Bowie 4.75/5⭐️- an album and it’s message that any generation can relate with;

Love Bowie but this album is quite samey, at least two really good songs on here though

Fantastic, mellow and playful. It's freakin' bowie!

⭐️Life on Mars?

Groovy

No need to say more about this magnificent album

Hits and misses. Overall, just fine. Top songs: oh you pretty things, life on mars Bottom songs: changes, kooks

The true start of an incredible run of albums for Bowie that runs not just through the 70's but up to and including Let's Dance. I also mark it as the official taking of the baton from The Beatles (the Fab 4 influence is strong with this one). It's challenging to claim which one of Bowie's albums is his best (most will just choose one that's their favorite). But most agree there are at least five of his albums in the running as his best. The fact that there are that many speaks to Bowie's legend. And however many albums are in the running, this one has to be included in the mix. I have no qualms stating this is my favorite Bowie album.

Score: 70 David Bowie has too expansive of a discog for me to know where to start so it was fun to listen to an album. I really like some of the songs on here and others kind of just didn't stick with me too long. The last song was particularly interesting with a very strange outro. I'm sure there are better bowie albums

First time listening to a Bowie album in full and knowing only his hits.. it was pretty sick. This is all very good and then you have Life on Mars? which is on another level. A cool man and a cool album. I am looking forward to more.

This could have been Life on Mars and a load of filler and I'd still give it 5 just for that extraordinary song. I didn't really get into Bowie until my middle ages and it's been an immense pleasure that I could go through his work and enjoy the changes and shifts in his songs. This is a musical opera and probably my favourite Bowie album.

Some classics but my least favourite Bowie from this era 4*

David Bowie is an absolute genius. This whole album is a masterpiece front to back. Never gets old.

Wow. The best word I can use to describe this album is just artistic. Every track is written witch such a high level of intentionality and care, it’s wonderful. I mean, starting with Changes? What an opening track! Bowie’s meticulous craftsmanship allows for so much growth. Speaking of Changes again, the changes and crescendos are what give the song so much depth. It allows for a stronger emotional impact. Specificity is a perfectly utilized gift here. Faves: Changes, Life on Mars?, Oh! You Pretty Things!, Kooks

Rating: 7/10 Best songs: Changes, Life on Mars, Queen bitch

Just love this album

My personal favourite Bowie album, changes, life on Mars queen bitch some of his best songs. Beautiful album.

Great collection of sounds with some classic Bowie

great 70s album

Liked it a lot. More of a 4.5

One of my favourite Bowie albums

One of the highlights of David Bowie's wildly diverse output! This record features some of his best known songs, but also a very comforting collection of songs. The lyrics get cryptic as you can expect on a Bowie record. And the music is excellent, very piano driven and melodic. Rick Wakeman's contributions are key. Favorite lyrics: -So the days float through my eyes. But still the days seem the same. - I'm sinking in the quicksand of my thought. And I ain't got the power anymore. Key tracks: Changes, Oh! You Pretty Things, Life On Mars?, Kooks, Quicksand, Andy Warhol, Queen Bitch, The Bewlay Brothers. 8,5 out of 10

Not my favourite Bowie album, but it’s still a Bowie album. So you know it is still good

a perfect album i love u bowie

His second best

This is one of my favourite Bowie albums. So many great songs. Quicksand may even be my favourite Bowie track. Now, let's remember the awesome Flight of the Conchords song. This is Bowie back to Bowie. I read you loud and clear man.

What a fantastic album - a genius songwriter at the peak of his powers. If someone asked me to distill Bowie into a single musical statement - this would be it.

Great album. Mick Ronson's work on guitar is great throughout. Ch-ch-ch-changes!! Life on Mars! Oh Pretty Things is good too. The album would be better without Fill Your Heart. Andy Warhol is cool. That guitar line is nifty. The Bewlay Brothers ends the album on a high note. 4.5/5

Some amazing all time classics for the young homo sapiens on any planet

It's Bowie, so it's obviously high-quality music. However! The songs are strong individually but - as someone who knows a lot of Bowie songs but has yet to listen to a full album from front to back - it feels like this would've worked better as a record with a singular theme or a more consistent sound. It's a bit disjointed, but maybe his other albums are better in that regard. Either way, I'm looking forward to hearing more of his music here. Standout tracks are Oh! You Pretty Things and Life on Mars?

Ch-ch-ch-ch-changees! Reminds me of pretty boy Shrek and donkhorse and i love it.

One of the best albums that Bowie have made. I love this album. 10/10

i love this album. Obviously, you gotta love the classics on here, life on mars, changes, etc but I discovered some others that I'm really fond of. Andy Warhol and Bob Dylan were both so good. high 4.

Just amazing album. Listened to it dozens of times. Straight 5

Changes and Life On Mars will alway be good!

Changes: very relaxing Oh! You Pretty Things: beginning is a bit whiny Eight Line Poem: ... Eh. I came to the conclusion that I'm not a Bowie fan. It's fine. I didn't hate it nor loved it. My partner was in utter shock and went through all 5 stages of grief. Our compromise is that I know have to listen to another Bowie album and they have to with me to Cats the Musical if it ever comes back. My star rating: ⭐- Hated it ⭐⭐- It was ok / meh ⭐⭐⭐- I liked it, good for background music. ⭐⭐⭐⭐-I really liked it, would recommend. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐- Best thing since sliced bread. Other people are wrong with their perfectly logical criticisms. It's part of my personality now.

Pop elegante y con el toque de Bowie. Canciones bien elaboradas y con una excelente voz. Aun así, le falta algo que me aporte más

Loved. What an excellent album, start to finish.

3/5

Classic, Perhaps his best, certainly my favourite.

Rock

pretty damn good wtf? knowing second-hand that Bowie is good is different than listening to the actual album, as it turns out. lyrical masterpiece, amazingly catchy instrumentals, and surprisingly consistent! loved this to bits :)

How is it possible to like as much the jazz-like "Blackstar" and these piano sounds at the same time? It does not matter the style Bowie decides to give to his music; I'll enjoy it any time. For personal taste, I'm still much more into the "Next Day" and "Blackstar" eras, but it's impossible not to note the high level of this one.

This has some good songs, but I'm really getting Bowied out. 🎀🏹🙇 I swear if I get Ziggy Stardust tomorrow...

very cool

I've always thought that he sounds the most like Paul McCartney with his voice on this one, but where the pop gives way to more artistic experimentation is where that small similarity ends. This is an album that is between sounds and normally those fall short for me as they're albums from musicians searching for an identity. That's not the case on this masterpiece in which each track could have made an album that was otherwise filler. This one has no filler. It has a maturity and confidence in it's dabbling with a more pop sound while refusing to just pump out another record that sounds like everything else. It's a bridge from the pop of the 60s to the brown acid hangovers of the 70s. Every song seems to have left it's mark on something that has come since. I adore the forward vocals on the album, and the separation and clarity of the instruments in the mix. I could listen to this on repeat all day and be happy.

This started to grow on me after a few listens, and there’s some killer highlights, but I’m not sure I get the hype. This often comes in the top 100 of all time lists, and gets referred to as Bowie’s ‘second best album’, but it didn’t really do it for me. Not like with Aladdin Sane, Low, Blackstar, Heroes… It’s good, but it’s not that good.

Bowie is always unique and interesting, and when the songs work they are great, but when they don't they sound ridiculous. But it's kind of cool that he puts out some complete nonsense and doesn't care. I'll never be a super fan but this album was an enjoyable listen, the guitar led stuff better than the piano ones.

I've never been a big Bowie fan. I don't think this was the album to ch-ch-ch-change that, however I enjoyed patches of it.

I had never listened to a David Bowie album before but I really enjoyed this. I recognised a lot more songs than I thought I would. I found the first half of the album to be stronger than the second. Highlights were "Changes", "Light On Mars" and "Oh! You Pretty Things".

Enjoyed that. Heard a lot of Bowie growing up. Highlights were changes, oh you pretty things, life on Mars and Queen bitch

Much more vintage bowie. Overall liked it.

Liked this much more than previous Bowie albums on the list

It's been a while since I've listened, and I like it more than I remember. I still do not think I realize how famous David Bowie was aside from his appearance in Zoolander. Favorite song is still 'Oh! You Pretty Things' though. 'Song for Bob Dylan' new to the radar. 'Life on Mars' a preview of themes to come.

I do appreciate the opportunity to go through Bowie's albums as a whole, because you get a much better understanding oh his back catalogue and get to stumble across some hidden gems beyond the greatest hits. This album has got some nice tunes in, and is way more consistent than some of his other albums. Life on Mars remains an absolute classic and is the stand-out, with Queen Bitch coming in a close second. 3.5 / 5 rounded down

Dette må være noe av det beste som er laget. Lysbildet er rikt og vakkert melodisk. Bra variasjon sangene imellom. Jeg får heller lyst til å høre denne platen igjen, enn å sjekke ut hvilken nye plate som skjuler seg i neste dags kalender

Holy shit. I've only listened to some of Bowie's most famous songs before this album and I have been missing out. From front to back, this album is emotional, beautiful, thoughtful, entertaining, fun to listen to, and unique. This is an album I will definitely be back to multiple times. I might've found a new favorite artist. Favorite Tracks: Changes, Life on Mars?, Quicksand, Andy Warhol, Song for Bob Dylan, pretty much the only track that didn't wow me immediately was Kooks.

Kooks and Queen Bitch underrated classics 👏

It was alright? I dunno

One of my favs.

i'm torn on this album. i know some random songs of david bowie, sometimes big hits and sometimes not, and a fair amount about him and his music. but i'm not the biggest fan. as such, the album wasn't amazing to me, but i can still appreciate bowie's creation and c-c-c-changes (i couldn't not). "life on mars?" in particular shows bowie's evolution toward ziggy stardust; it's a soaring epic with intense lyrics. in fact, it sounds like it belongs on that album more than hunky dory! 2.5

This marks the first David Bowie album I've received on this project, and I know there are many. This was a good first one to get, as I believe this is the oldest Bowie album on the project, and certainly the album that showed the first sign of the sensation and character that he would become. I have always associated Bowie with glam and art rock/pop, but on this album, in the songs I was unfamiliar with, I heard surprising Beatles and Dylan influences. While "Changes" is an amazing Bowie song, I didn't love this album. That said, I was glad to listen to it!

I thought I had listened to this recently, but I either hadn’t or had not listened to it properly. It’s awesome.

sonzao, grande mestre

Beh che dire

GREAT album. So many classics. The re-mastered tracks are so clear.

A hugely impactful and iconic album that sees Bowie start with stellar opening tracks before moving toward a contemplative B-Side. The catchiness of the songs can't escape the melancholy of the lyrics, but the result is an amazing blend of music.

it was good but i was not impressed

The heavy hitters keep coming this week. "Hunky Dory" is the fourth studio album from David Bowie which was primarily composed on a piano compared to his previous album "The Man Who Sold the World" which was composed via the guitar. Lots of interesting descriptions of this music and album, one of the best being, a fusion of British pop, orchestral works, art rock, folk and ballads leading to the start of glam. And, the beginning of Bowie's success and a blueprint for his future. The album actually did poorly commercially upon its initial release but that changed once 1972's "Ziggy....Mars" was released. A great album which featured besides Bowie, Mick Ronson (guitar), Trevor Bolder (bass), Mick Woodmansey (drummer) and Rick Wakemen contributed on piano. The first single and one of Bowie's most recognizable songs "Changes" starts Side One. The distinctive piano. The chorus. Melodic. Builds. Slows down. About aristic reinvention. Bowie has some very unsettling vocals on "Oh! You Pretty Things." It's piano driven. He mentions Aleister Crowley and Übermensch. I guess he talking about the occult and Nietzsche??? And, we eventually come to wonderful soaring ballad "Life on Mars." A string arrangement. Actually about the US and USSR's race to get to Mars. "Kooks" is a lighter song about the birth of his son Duncan. Love that trumpet. "Quicksand" is one the absolute album highlights for me. Trumpet. Sax. Multi-layers of guitars. Piano. About his lack of inspiration and how to access it. The second side has three tribute songs, ""Andy Warhol," "Song for Bob Dylan" and the best one "Queen Bitch" for Lou Reed. Just a killer guitar riff in "Queen Bitch." And how can you not like a lyric using "Bipperty Bopperty Hat." "The Belway Brothers" ends the album. A weird, eerie song. Cryptic lyrics which are muffled at times. Apparently about his schizophrenic brother and him. An interesting finish. "Hunky Dory" is a top three Bowie for me along with "Ziggy...Mars" and "Low." A must listen for all music fans.

Didn’t realize how much I knew! Love the funk and experimenting with other artist styles

I've always liked "Life On Mars?" and a lot of the songs on this album sound similar to that.

Not bad

Not that bad, comparable to most of his stuff

I love it, you love it, enough said.

December 14, 2022 It’s been over a year since I’ve last heard this album :/ Too long a time HL: Changes Oh! You Pretty Things Life on Mars? Kooks Quicksand Queen Bitch

This is an amazing album, so strong all the way through. I kept finding myself realizing a specific song was in fact a standout when the chorus hit. Of course the hits are incredible and some of the all time greatest songs in my opinion but nearly every song on this album is great. I love Bowie and such a solid earlier album. 5/5. Standout Tracks: Changes, Oh! You Pretty Things, Eight Line Poem, Life On Mars?, Kooks, Quicksand, Andy Warhol, Queen Bitch

Never listened to David Bowie before, but I really love his sound and the amount of passion in his voice Changes was good

Great but there are a few songs which stop me from really loving the album.

Classic Bowie starts with this album.

Ohh, you pretty things...

This was my favourite David Bowie album we’ve had so far (which is like 4), but he still isn’t my favourite. I would give this a 7/10, as a stretch. I don’t have any major complains nor compliments.

6th Bowie album out of the first 411. Come. On. I don't think I have much effort anymore with Bowie reviews; my last one (which felt like last week) was for Aladdin Sane and I made commentary about how I felt like I could copy/paste my previous Bowie review.... and since that absolutely once again applies here, I'll just *literally* copy/paste, while replacing a few specifics. I stand by it: -------copy/paste------ Without looking, I'd bet I could copy/paste my review from _Aladdin Sane_. It's a catchy-at-first early 70s rock album that I slowly get tired of because I'm just not able to really be moved by Bowie's music. It's fine - starting with "_Changes_" which is perhaps his most famous cut and deservedly-so. It's admittedly timeless and very well-crafted musically ..... And the cut "_Life On Mars?_" is a nice diversion from the initial track - but then it just gets...Bowie-ish. And if you're a Bowie fan I can see how you'd like this but his voice is always a little distracting for me. On a positive note, aside from "Low" which feels to me like an Eno record that Bowie happens to sing on, this is probably one of the more-enjoyable or perhaps immediately-accessible records of his but I'll never voluntarily put it on. It feels like I always use his voice as a cop-out because there are plenty of artists who I listen to that I don't necessarily like the singer's voice and I like the music. It's as simple as this even if I can't articulate it well: I don't connect with his music on any emotional level - can just appreciate it from a distance. -----end self-plagiarism----- TL;DR: I don't hate his music, I just don't really *like* it or ever connect with it and after so many years don't really care that much. 5/10 2 stars

Great Bowie album Loved it

I first got into David Bowie (like many other artists, unfortunately) when he passed in 2016. I had only heard his radio airplay songs at the time. Needless to say I was astounded by his creative output and his ability to utterly shapeshift both physically and musically. Hunky Dory is almost a snapshot into what his career would be. The songs jump around quite a bit in theme and sound. I like to reserve exceptional ratings for albums that follow a cohesive path from start to finish. I don't think Hunky Dory does, but it's still getting a 5 from me. Aside from Eight Line Poem, and maybe Kooks (not saying these are bad songs), every song on this album are standouts. This was a joy the first time I heard it, and many times after, in 2016. It was great to come back to this again now and it goes without saying that it is still a joy to listen to.

Probably one of the easiest 5s I'll ever give. One of the most emphatic beginnings of an album. 'Life on Mars?' is the song that first got me into Bowie, still one of my favourites. Great songwriting, if a little odd in places.

Quoi dire plus que les notes attribués et ca place dans les 1001. je ne m'attendais pas a l'aimé autant que les autres albums de Bowie que j,ai écouté mais je n'avais pas vu le tracklist.... un chef oeuvre. Écouté 3 fois en une journée...

Amazing to see how Bowie became Bowie. But this album just seems to lack the grand sound and production of later releases. There is a bit of a disconnect between the vocal track and the instrumentals, as if something has been removed. Regardless, a respectable release in a good runtime with good lyricism and charismatic vocals.

Grear album by Bowie, maybe missing the big grandeur of his later work but maybe because of that, this album feels more down to earth and personal

Life on mars?

Goated

Quite a satisfactory album.

Changes is a great opener, you know its a cultural touchstone when half of the track listing is still prevalent in modern media. Whimsical and grandiose. Also gave us life on mars so thats cool Best: Changes, oh you pretty things, queen bitch

cool to hear lots of prototypes for not only future bowie albums but many 70s rock albums. top3: Andy Warhol, Oh You Pretty Thing, Changes. Hon mention of course life on mars

I mean it's a classic for a reason. It's rare to come across something that feels plugged-in yet acoustic all the same. In fact, this may be the only mostly-acoustic glam rock album I've ever heard of. While I think that Bowie's glam peers like T. Rex still deserve just as much credit for their contributions to the industry, Hunky Dory is proof as to why the soon-to-be Ziggy Stardust is such a legend.

David Bowie est mon artiste préféré, et avec cet album il est facile de comprendre pourquoi. Sa voix unique, les textes poignants, mélodies emballantes… une réussite

David, please tell me what went through your head when you wrote Andy Warhol?

Not bad, kinda quirky. A couple of the songs stood out but that's about it.

Ch..ch..ch..chaaanges!

This is probably my favorite Bowie record. Just an amazing collection of songs: inventive, clever, interesting, and catchy at the same time.

My second favorite Bowie record. The arrangement on Life on Mars sounds like a Beach Boys song. The words to Kooks are so sweet. Queen Bitch might be the crunchiest three-chord tune ever recorded. Songs 5/5. Performances 5/5. Recording 5/5.

Fantastic album. Haven't listened straight through maybe ever, but it was well worth it. Life on Mars is still one of my favorite Bowie songs.

Un album qui m'est apparu sans grand intérêt mais il est possible que je sois en grande partie responsable de cette appréciation. N'ayant aucune estime pour l'androgyne-pop proposée par Bowie, j'ai pour habitude d'écouter les albums de ce dernier avec la même oreille inattentive que lorsque j'écoute du Penguin Cafe Orchestra. Difficile de viser plus de trois sur cinq dans ces conditions...

Enfin un bon album de l'androgyne Bowie, dont j'ai pu me délecter sur les enceintes de mon bureau. Quelques collègues sont venus se plaindre auprès de mon chef de l'ambiance beaucoup trop androgyne régnant dans l'open space par ma faute, mais aucune sanction n'a pour l'instant été prise à mon encontre.

Again with the David Bowie... it's been a lot of David Bowie on this list... I mean, it's ok, but still not my favorite.

Easily my favourite Bowie album, but I'm far from a huge fan

Ziggy, this one, Earthling, Blackstar. The man is missed. This one poppier than others but very good. 4 stars only because others are even better,

Great album! One of his finest!

This is a very good album. There are some major highlights : Changes, Oh! You Pretty Things, and Life on Mars? are very very good. The first half of the album is significantly better though, and there is a couple duds on the album

I think Bowie's use of diminished chords distinguishes him with a dramatic theatricality that's absolutely essential to his career. Favorite track: 'Oh! You Pretty Things' or 'Quicksand' Least favorite: 'Andy Warhol' or 'Song for Bob Dylan'

Changes is one of my all time favorite tracks, it's very nostalgic for me, probably the first Bowie song I recognized and being Bowie. Also love Queen Bitch and Life on Mars. The Dylan and Andy Warhol were a nice surprise also. Overall a wonderful album, easy 5.

David Bowie was clearly a creative genius. Eccentric, unique, cool. a true pop culture icon. I did not grow up listening to David Bowie and had never heard this album apart from Changes - and I usually skip it when it comes on... I am happy to have listened to this album today. It seemed to get better and better as the album played. Favourite song, probably Andy Warhol but Queen Bitch was fun.

Andy Warhol might be the badest song he made. That was a Jam..

The first of many S-tier albums from the legend.

Flawlessly conceptualized, written, and performed. Bowie's powers of oddball weirdness are growing, strengthening, blooming. He is transforming before our very eyes into the otherworldly being he was always meant to become. It's beautiful and exciting to see. He finally put all of the pieces together correctly and knows how to showcase the very best of himself to his audience. Fantastic record!

Ugh I love David Bowie's voice so much. I love his weird lyrics even when I have no idea what he's talking about, and I love the way he builds a song. At some point in college Life on Mars was my favorite song of all time. I still am awed by the piano arrangement every time I listen to it, and how perfectly it works with his singing. Changes and Oh You Pretty Things are also classics. I wish I could give half stars cause this is a 4 1/2 for me. There's too many songs in the back-half that are a little underwhelming and there's other Bowie albums I like better.

several classics! Liked it much more once I paid attention to the songwriting

I loved this Album! I especially love “Changes.” A classic, but probably the best on the album. Followed closely by “Fill Your Heart” and “Oh! You Pretty Things.” I don’t know Bowie very well, so it was fun to dive into this album and get a feel for his quirky, rocky style.

Love this album. Already loved it, and still love it. Bowie is a god. 5/5

I understand that if you’ve missed out on certain touchstones by a certain age that they won’t sound as appealing when you get to them later at life. Like how someone from the site recently tried to spin Joy Division and didn’t see the appeal compared to the many acts who emulated their sound. But I can’t imagine not being impressed with Bowie at any age. Some incredible rock and roll songwriting, the kind that absolutely elevates itself above its contemporaries. Considered giving it an A/5 stars, but “Changes” has honestly always grated on me, so I hope the minus will do.

Listen, David Bowie has too many good albums. It is completely unfair. Changes and Life on Mars? are all-timers

A classic!!! I love it!!!

me encantó ❤️‍🩹 te amamos david bowie!! 9 / 10

Meh

Not a huge Bowie fan, but he has a few songs I really enjoy. I knew this album would be different for me and it was.... Changes is a classic. Liked next 2, oh you pretty things and 8 line poem. Life in Mars was unusual in a good way. Then started to lose me until Queen Bitch. Ok, but not sure I'd add to my regular rotation. 2.5 to 3. I'll make the stars 3 because my son is a fan. :)

4 I admit that I’m not the biggest Bowie fan in the world. That’s not because I don’t like him, it’s more because he has such a vast catalogue of music that I just am not well versed. I’ve heard things here and there but I gotta admit I quite liked this. At first I was a little worried that it was going to sounds too dated but it really found a groove and mood that I dug a lot. Lyrics don’t normally jump out at me but this had a few right off the bat that had me interested. Musically it was equally interesting with a piano forward sound. I would very much like to listen to this one again.

4.5 Bowie! Having listened to the man's entire studio discography, I can confidently say this ranks among the best of his work, and in my opinion contains some of his most underrated tracks. Changes and Life on Mars? are of course great, but Kooks, Andy Warhol, and Queen Bitch are three favorites of mine I never hear get talked about - though truthfully, there's not a bad song here. This is the album that really exemplifies the shape of things to come for Bowie, and embodies all that I admire most about the man: his confident and unapologetic ability to be a freak (or a "kook") and to not only own it, but to make it his identity. I feel like he was the first artist to represent so-called outcasts and misfits, and so many other artists who would go on to do the same have him to thank for that (Nirvana covering Bowie anyone?) Anyway, while Hunky Dory isn't perfect, it's a damn good record. Rest in Peace Bowie, and I look forward to all the albums ahead on this list.

A real good journey back in time to when glam rock was born. Experimental and surprising sometimes and sometimes simple plain rock. Like saying hello to an old friend who keeps some secrets after all these years.

Unfortunately, this isn't Bowie at his best for me. Add to that the fact I've always enjoyed Bowie more as a songwriter than as a performer - in general I strongly prefer covers of his songs over the original versions. Not bad, but also not convincing enough.

Didn’t listen to Bowie until these,challenges and did get why people loved Bowie. Great record.

Super.

Nice Bowie album, never heard the whole thing in its entirety. Has its quirks! Saved songs: Changes, Life On Mars?, Quicksand, Song For Bob Dylan

One of my favourite albums of all time, and one of the first I remember loving as a young child. Not so keen on DB's later stuff, but this is pure genius.

Xlassix

Great album. Really enjoyed it.

Absolute classic

A master at work.

A true classic of singing and song making. This is the first album to really show David Bowie would be a star and its arguably his best.

Love the piano parts in this album. The song writing is pretty strong as well, but I am not the biggest fan of Bowie's whiny voice at some points.

Hunky ❤️

I know I’m supposed to like Bowie but I can never quite get there. The lyrics don’t make much sense to me but maybe that’s me not understanding. A bit sleepy at times. Like Ziggy a lot more. Changes is a great song tho.

This was the first album I bought of Bowie's, that subsequently developed in to a life long love of his music. Nuff said. Any Bowie album in this list will be an automatic 5 star for me :)

well known and much loved

A perfect example of Bowie's mastery of lyrical structure, but the crescendo of the instrument are in places to short to fully get to enjoy the beautiful guitars

I don't understand what any of the songs are about, but the music is good.

realmente lo ame, me pegó demasiado fuerte y tiene canciones icónicas

Goat

Alright, bit weird. Some great songs though

begynne å forstå greio med bowie

Veit at detta e favorittalbumet til veldig mange, men syns sanga som Kooks og Fill Your Heart ødelegge litt. Ellers stort sett høgt nivå

Hmm, it is certainly good music, but nothing I get exited about.

A classic

Iconic banger after banger.

Olin unohtanut kuinka hyvä tää levy on! Aivan nautittava - sopivasti hittiä ja sopivasti taidetta! Näin sitä pitää 5/5

Tämäkin melkein vitosen ansaitsisi, mut Bowiel on ainaki se kolme vielä parempaa levyä, niin olkoon nelonen. Pari ekaa biisiä isoja suosikkeja.

Klassikkolinja jatkuu. Loistava levyhän tämäkin on, ja laatu pysyy kautta levyn kovana.

I’m a big fan of Bowie and this album is fantastic.

beautiful.

My favorite Bowie album. My favorite version is the Ryko reissue. Bombers may be my favorite Bowie song.

Some parts I really liked, others I really didn't, so giving an averageish score.

WOW

TURN AND FACE THE STRANGE CH CH CHANGESSSSSSSS <33

Life on mars an ultimate frfr. Good stuff dave

This is classic Bowie. I love that he never just stands pat on his song writing.

There is definitely a running theme of classic albums that I had never heard before, and this can be added to that list. I did used to own a Best Of David Bowie album, so the ones I recognised are likely from that. I’m excited to listen though because I love everything I’ve heard before! Songs I already knew: Changes, Oh You Pretty Things, Life On Mars Favourite after listening: Oh You Pretty Things, Queen Bitch Overall: 10/10 I have been giving out a lot of high scores recently, but that should not detract from the perfection of this album. The version I listened to was the 2015 remaster so I can’t comment on the original version, but this was bliss from front to end. Piano is heavily featured throughout this album and is all beautifully composed. His singing, as expected, is pristine throughout but it is the songwriting that really shines for me. Would most definitely recommend to anybody, whether they enjoy this genre or not.

It has some classic tracks on it. As a whole album I enjoyed it more than the other Bowie we've had so far

Life on mars and queen bitch are timeless

Wonderful album. The first proper Bowie album in my opinion, and the first in a line of albums that is top tier until 1983's Let's Dance. Does not reach the heights of Ziggy Stardust or Aladdin Sane because there are a few tracks that just don't quite cut it. The rest are pure Bowie bliss. (4.2)

Le type est chaud

｡ﾟﾟ･｡･ﾟﾟ｡ ﾟ。 je suis en retard 　ﾟ･｡･ﾟ

Sublime 🥰 The first album I ever bought with my own money. Love it.

David Bowies voice is sick

p254. 1971. 5 stars. One of the great singer/songwriters on absolute top form. There is not a weak track on this. Exquisite musicianship and production. What's not to like?

Some of my favourite David Bowie so far, but he still doesn’t quite click for me.

Restoring the messy remains of classic rock with pop purpose lovingly swiped from Black sources, at its best this is a signpost for the road too infrequently travelled by proggers. At its worst, he proves susceptible to the same tendencies. In the middle, he pays tribute to Warhol and Dylan by name, but not to Lou Reed, even though Queen Bitch doesn't exist without the Velvets. Then again, two bouts of overt hero-worship is probably enough for one record. Freaks, kooks, and queers everywhere are addressed directly for maybe the first time ever. And how about those camped John Lennon vocals? Some of his best.

Nice to revisit

I'm not a huge David Bowie fan, I do like some of his tracks though. On this album particularly – outside of the hits – it's mostly filler for me. "Queen Bitch" is a great track. Not sure if I'll ever revisit this album in its entirety again but will definitely hear "Changes", "Life of Mars" and "Queen Bitch" because, well, life.

quite pretty good yknow solid album

good

Hunky Dory is an album that was a part of my life that I never knew existed - I'd heard a good chunk of the songs and they have been in the background but never really knowing where they'd come from. This album serves as a turning point for Bowie and his career, with his next album being Ziggy Stardust, this album was more conventional, however evolved into more of an art rock/pop sound. Best: Life On Mars? Worst: Eight Line Poem 4.5 Stars

An incredible introduction into Bowie's catalog and can't wait to get more! Favourite Tracks: - Life on Mars? - Queen Bitch - Oh! You Pretty Things - Changes - Andy Warhol - The Bewlay Brothers - Quicksand Overall Grade: 5/5 (A / A-)

You shoulda been there the first time I realized that quote from the opening of 'The Breakfast Club' was from the song 'Changes'. Haha oh boy. What a day. But really, what a bunch of great songs - Changes, Oh!, You Pretty Things, Life on Mars?, Kooks, Quicksand, Fill Your Heart, Andy Warhol, Queen Bitch... there's plenty of good stuff to go around. This one doesn't meander or, at least if it does, it comes back with something interesting.

Absolutely no way I can be objective about this as the songs filled my childhood. Not that I was around then! Rather, my dad filled our lounge and front room with the sounds of Queen, Alice Cooper, the Rolling Stones, Frank Zappa - and David Bowie. So, each and every song on this album waltzes with fuzzy, fond memories of childhood. Consequently, Hunky Dory is more than simply music; it's the soundtrack to my formative years, my own movie score if you will. I had a very happy childhood. I have grown to appreciate, in different ways, almost everything my parents played (sorry dad - I draw the line at Peter Skellern) and as such I feel this in the very marrow of my bones. Five stars.

Wow, two Bowies in one week? I think there's a Flight of the Conchords song about that. Oddly, I'd never listened to this entire album before. I really like it. Feels like it's in the same wheelhouse sonically as Elton John's Goodbye Yellow Brick Road. And maybe that's part of the reason why Bowie was so apt to change his sound so frequently. Maybe not. He seems like a weirdo, right? So who knows. But yeah, 70s piano-driven melodic rock. Why has this sound not seen a renaissance of some kind in modern music? Or has it and I just don't know about it? Kids these days...

Maravilloso. Grandes tracks como Changes. Un lujo.

Great stuff. Some bowie bangers on there.

Three great tracks, three stars.

Overrated.

I've only heard the big hits from Bowie before so it was good to be able to listen to a full album of his. Some beautiful songs, but overall I'm not sure if I would go back and listen to again? This is probably just a me problem. Songs to Add to Library: Changes Life on Mars? Queen Bitch

Loved album, adding to rotation

Reminiscing of a life long ago when Bowie was the sound

Liked the album had heard some of the songs before

Solid album

Pretty great Bowie album. HOWEVER this album is too long. Too many of the songs sound too close to the excellent opener (Changes). Cut 2 of them please. Or make more songs like Andy Worhol. 4/5

A classic. One of may favorite Bowie albums

A few notable tracks. Pretty classic Bowie before he hit his galactic phase.

Det var ett bra labum, men samtidigt kan jag inte släppa att Bowie gör lite småtråkig musik?

I want so much to like David Bowie. From time to time I try again, and I’m not sure what it, but I don’t like his musica style. I appreciate what he brought to music and RIP.

Liked the songs but just didn't speak to me like some other albums.

Hvað er hægt að segja um þetta? Bowie er einfaldlega bestur.

It has some of Pop's iconic moments, but, gosh, Daivid does guff as well

This is another no brainer for me. I wore out my 8 track version of this in high school. Interesting stories with great instrumentals behind it. Will listen to again....

Changes…had no idea that came out when I was just 2!

Really neat. As with other 1970-ish classic rock albums, a hit or two, and then a lot of avant-garde things that are kind of all over the place. Great production. Listened 2x in a row.

Not the album that will change my mind on Bowie. An artist who I just cannot get my head around sometimes. That being said, listening to this one in a more objective frame of mind, I can definitely see the innovation he brings to popular music. “Fill Your Heart” is a particular highlight for me, along with the absolute monster tune that is “Queen Bitch”. A really good album with a lot of forward-thinking songwriting but which has nevertheless been dulled somewhat by the passage of time.

Love David Bowie

Fav Tracks: Changes, Oh! You Pretty Things, Life On Mars?, Quicksand, Andy Warhol, Song for Bob Dylan It's a nice album as a whole, only problem is that Life On Mars is SO good that it makes every other song look a little weak in comparison

A really enjoyable record. Multiple times I had a feeling music from this album inpired other songs decades later. Highlights: Oh! You Pretty Things, Life on Mars?

Bowie sz, to jest całkiem dobre ;p

I’m not a Bowie fan in general, but this is my favorite album of his.

Bowie!

Clear evolution through the album into more experimental areas. Enjoyed the vocals and liked the folk-rock mixtures.

Couple of good songs, rest is meh

It has Life on Mars? Nuff said.

Not my fave Bowie.

Wonderful. The first single I ever bought was Life on Mars. Queen Bitch is a staple of my kitchen guitar sessions.

Very good songwriting and the chord changes are very unique.

what’s there not to like here favorite tracks: probably everything besides Kooks

One of my least fav Bowie albums, but it's still Bowie

Loved hearing the songs I’d never heard, like the Andy Warhol song!

Really good

Haven't really loved others by him, despite the singles and stellar reputation. this one's great start to finish. Bowie has many personas and personalities--seems like there's something for everyone and someone for all of him.

"Changes" will always remind me of joyfully singing along with friends in a car in the 80s. I had never heard this wonderful album that contains it and it was a delight for me. I want to listen again and again and discover all the things I know I've missed. Wonderful!

I guess I have always thought of myself as a just-kinda-a Bowie fan. Had I heard this album earlier in my life, perhaps I have been much more of a fan. This is a gorgeous album.

For no very good reason, I've not listened to much David Bowie aside from the hits. That's a real shame. This is stellar.

If I have ever heard this album it was a very, very long time ago. It felt familiar to me. Of course “Changes” and “Life On Mars” are deeply embedded in my psyche, but there is much else on this album to love. How incredible to be able to look back across David Bowie’s entire, incredible career at this seminal album. Really amazing and it sounds as fresh as ever!

Classic and perfect

Life on Mars is one of the greatest songs of all time and Queen Bitch invented glam rock.

Changes, oh you pretty things and Life on Mars are classics that will never die. Queen Bitch is great classic rock too. The rest are solid but not quite as memorable to me. Still a really good album and the beginning of Bowie as a musical genius

Bowie is a cool dood

I just love David Bowie, 7 of his albums are 10/10 for me, in the same league of artists for me as Bob Dylan, The Beatles, Pink Floyd, and the Grateful Dead. Just such a brilliant mind, I wish he was still around today. We miss you Ziggy.

Great album

Great album. I should listen to more old Bowie

Listened to on 7/9/22 4/5 Favorite song: changes I loved the first half of this album and then Andy Warhol took a weird turn but all in all it was perfect to jam out to and super upbeat plus changes is a BOP

Eclectic album. Favorite was Changes.

David Bowie has an unusual voice, somewhat unrefined compared to todays modern over-processed pop singers, however it’s full of character and passion for what he’s singing. There’s a bunch of very recognisable songs on here (Changes, Life on Mars). Unfortunately, there’s a few that now feel pretty dated or don’t seem like they should be taken seriously (Kooks, Fill Your Heart) On the flip side 'Queen Bitch' and 'Bewley Brothers' are full of unusual tones and ideas. Songs like ‘Song for Bob Dylan’ sung in exactly the way Bob Dylan sings sums up Bowie well, a chameleon always pushing boundaries and trying out new ideas. 7/10

8.3 rating

I wanted to dislike this because of how I've found Bowie to be too poppy, bright, quirky, ballad-y in the past. I didn't know Changes was his song, and I hadn't heard it straight through before and enjoyed it a lot. Life on Mars? is very catchy.