Reviews (page 7 of 15)
I LOVE THIS ALBUM! Bowie is one of the reasons why I enjoy music so much, and why I was able to expand my taste during my teenage years. This album does so many things for me. Life on Mars? BANGER! Andy Warhol? BANGER! Changes? BANGER! You get the point by now. To me, this is essential. Bowie's build-ups to the choruses on this album are unbeaten.
Enjoyed every l second of this album, my favourite by far. I actually genuinely enjoyed listening to it and it didn’t feel like a chore.
idk clasic david bowie. sincer eu nu is un fan masiv al glam rockului. dar unele melodii chiar mi-au placut gen ultima e bun dar not my style
- Yeah, right at the beginning of an almost unmatched string of releases. -
Это несколько отличается от тех альбомов Дэвида Боуи, что мне уже подсовывал этот сайт, но полюбить его мне всё равно не удалось
This album has Life on Mars? on it. 'Nuff said. Was familiar with quite a few tracks - Kooks, Changes. I'm not the biggest Bowie person. My favorite of his is the last album he released Blackstar. Love the piano on this. Not as impactful as Ziggy Stardust.
A great Bowie album, although not a personal favorite for me. But also Bowie has like 5 albums that I think are among the best of all time so this not being one of my favorites from him doesn’t really mean much. Some all timers on here for sure and his first album that feels like he has found himself
This album was an incredible experience from start to finish. Every track had its own personality and left me wanting to see where the next one would go. The range is huge, moving from the light, upbeat feel of Fill Your Heart to the sharp, moody edge of Andy Warhol, and each style shift feels intentional rather than scattered. You can hear how well-crafted it is, with thoughtful arrangements and a clear sense of artistry behind the writing. The contrast between songs is striking, yet the album holds together as one cohesive piece. The production feels rooted in its early ’70s recording, but the ideas and delivery make it feel timeless. There’s a sense of playfulness and experimentation without losing accessibility, and it’s packed with moments that stick long after the album ends.
One of Bowie's best - a must listen
Splendid und marvellous. Great album, great lyrics, and a bunch of Bowie and his infinite creativity. I love it
Love this album. So Bowie. So rock n roll.
Hunky Dory by David Bowie feels like flipping through a scrapbook of moods and styles, all tied together by his insane songwriting. Cool folk-inspired tunes, and bursts of glam rock, but Bowie’s voice and wit keep it all grounded. Final Ranking: Lyrics: 9/10 Instrumentals:8/10 Originality: 9/10 Album Cohesion and Flow: 8/10. Vocals: 9/10 Overall: Hunky Dory is Bowie experimenting with identity through sound. Bro is pulling from folk, pop, glam, art rock, and I think cabaret (What actually definies a piece as being cabaret?.) It’s not locked into one style, but instead shows how many directions Bowie could go at once. That genre-jumping energy, paired with some of his strongest early songwriting, makes it both unpredictable and timeless. Liiterally a timeless Bowie Classic. My Highest rated Album for now. If I were to give it an overall score thoough it would haeve to be 8.5/10
Not one of his best but still a solid album
David is alway god
Good old boring stuff. I know my comment was harsh, but it’s not in my 1001 Albums list. However, the comments are interesting to read; I feel like I’m the only one who thinks so.
The arrival of a genius. He leaves behind his folky earthy songs and looks towards the stars.
Love Bowie. Top 5 Artist.
hatte gestern die ganze Zeit einen Ohrwurm von Changes. Ch-ch-ch-chaaaanges. Ansonsten ganz okay als Rockalbum. Ein paar songs haben mir mal wieder Gilmore girls vibes gegeben, das ist immer ein Plus Punkt. Lieblingssongs: Changes, The Bewlay Brothers schlimmste Lieder: Andy Warhol Würde am liebsten 3,5 Sterne geben. Aber ich glaube da ist noch Potential nach oben.
Album full of amazing timeless classics, Life On Mars? for example. You could listen to this album many times in a row and it won't get boring. Just a brilliant record from start to finish.
Nice but more of a sign of better things to come.
I love this album. It might be my favorite Bowie album.
This reminds me or a lot of albums like the Beatles or Michael Jackson,, where there’s 1-2 great songs and the rest are more there for filler, not bad but not amazing. Easy 4 stars but doesn’t quite make it up to 5/5 for me
Favourites: Changes, Oh! You Pretty Things, Life On Mars?, Quicksand, Queen Bitch, The Bewlay Brothers
J’aime Bowie. J’aime l’écouter philosopher en entrevue. Mais, ce n’est pas toute sa musique qui me fait tripper. On va voir ce que cet album me laisse comme impression. Je connaissais déjà deux chansons, deux que j’aime beaucoup. Le reste de l’album est bon, même qu’avec les écoutes supplémentaires, certaines tounes pourraient entrer dans mon best of. À suivre. Faque. Résultat final ? C’est bon, mais sans plus. Ce n’est pas ma période préférée de Bowie, mais cet album contient un peu plus de bonnes tounes que je ne le pensais. À revisiter, mais seulement par morceaux.
When it comes to Bowie’s glam rock era, this is easily one of my favorite albums. He strikes a great balance here, making music that’s accessible to a wide audience while still keeping his experimental edge intact. “Changes,” one of his most iconic tracks, is a song I still enjoy hearing to this day. One standout detail is that this album features Rick Wakeman on piano and keyboards. Not long after, Wakeman became more focused on his work with Yes, and his collaborations with Bowie tapered off. Still, the two stayed on good terms, which adds a nice touch to their story.
At a point in my life now where I can comfortably admit that I am not particularly a Bowie fan. I always thought I was, he has some good songs, but the more of them I hear the more I realise I don't actually care for much of his output. Rarely are they offensively bad, theres a quality to his songwriting that is excellent, but I don't find it gripping at all and so I wonder if maybe its just not to my taste. I will say I actually enjoyed the second half of this LP more than the first, Changes and Life On Mars being two of his singles I do not care for. Everything from Quicksand on I enjoyed a bit more.
Elevated by 2 of Bowie’s greatest songs, however loses a lot of steam in the second half. Great vocals and interesting songwriting as to be expected. One thing I’ve grown to hate is acoustic guitar in classic rock albums that were clearly recorded through a single mic and not DI’d; that washboard effect where the picking comes through louder than the actual chords being played gets grating and it’s constant in the second half of this album - surprised to say as a guitar man that the piano has a much better sound in this album. Changes (10/10) Oh! You Pretty Thing (8/10) Eight Line Poem (7/10) Life on Mars? (10/10) Kooks (7/10) Quicksand (8/10) Fill Your Heart (7/10) Andy Warhol (7/10) Song for Bob Dylan (7/10) Queen Bitch (7/10) The Bewlay Brothers (6/10) 7.6/10
4 stars. Good Bowie album!
St. Bowie.
I'd never sat and listened to this one before. I can't say it's my favorite Bowie album, but I like it better than some, and I can see where some of my favorite ones came from, now.
excited for more bowie
Awesome old school rock, fantastic writing.
No notes.
At least Bowie seemed to grow out of his offensive opinions (unlike Morrissey who grew into them), wasn’t obviously a plagiarist (unlike Paul Simon) and wrote better songs than Neil Young. But really? 3 Bowie albums is enough though if there were more than 1001 maybe I could tolerate it. Changes and the man who sold the world are truly great though. Life on Mars is wonderfully great. And maybe this album is one of the three. But there’s a bit of filler, unlike Ziggy. I’m giving this 3. Though out of the context of here it’s probably a 4.5. So ok a 4. But hold off on the Bowie.
Yes I enjoyed that. I am finally old enough to enjoy Bowie... it first happened in my 40's. He finally grew on me. Not all of it, you understand. But in so many ways he was living art, in that he was always "performing" for us. This is quote a warm lyrical album, and the preoccupations and poetry so thoroughly modern. [No, there's no Life on Mars , but its now the a planet inhabited solely by robots, searching for life. ]
The first really Bowie-like Bowie album. Contains some deadset classics (Life on Mars?, Oh You Pretty Things, Changes), plus a few grade-A quality second-string Bowie numbers (Queen Bitch, Andy Warhol). The Spiders from Mars band coming together (augmented by Rick Wakeman, playing at his career best in my opinion), with occasional glimpses of the rock monster that band would become. This is the first real glimpse of Bowie's full powers, and the beginning of his awesome run of albums through the 1970s. While this album may have a few moments of weakness, this is the real kick-off point of Bowie's extraordinary body of work, laying down many of the themes he would return to throughout his career (changes, chameleons, aliens, gender, the apocalypse, identity).
Amazing album, Bowie is one of my favourite songwriters ever, and it contains some of my favourite Bowie songs
It's worth considering the context of Hunky Dory in Bowie's discrography, particularly following his first two self titled albums, which are not that well-known beyond Space Oddity. The first one is especially quite a simple, folky album which is inoffensive but here he is really finding his creativity and leaning into the glam rock sound. In Changes and Life on Mars he wrote two of his absolute best songs which stand aside everything else in his discography and it's a strong album overall
love u bowie xx
Genre: Pop Rock A very solid, very well-produced and engineered (shoutout Beatles legend Ken Scott), and very enjoyable pop record. Bowie was hitting his stride in the early 70s, and was primed and ready to release some of the decades most influential pop and glam rock. This is an album that has some great pop classics (Changes), some great Bowie classics (Life on Mars?), and some really great deep cuts (Kooks, Andy Warhol). Really good stuff from Bowie, and it’s nowhere near his ultimate best. 4/5
One of Bowie's best. Life On Mars? is one of my favorite songs ever. 4.5/5 #144
je prépare le déménagement l'album a été un bon son de fond haha la meuf sur l'album ressemble grave à Zaho de Sagazan ça me fume
Great start to the week
rather than reheating lou reed’s nachos, bowie was kinda preheating his nachos with this album…just kidding, not everything is about lou reed. except when it is. there’s a lot going on here, and the heavy theatricality makes it feel a little silly at points. this combined with how overplayed ‘changes’ and ‘life on mars?’ are leads to a certain difficulty in taking it seriously. BUT i did enjoy it. i actually really like the warhol song—that spanish guitar is so goddamn random but ultimately quite cool—although i can’t believe that bowie actually expected warhol to not completely hate it lol. i also like the bob dylan tribute. awwww it’s kind of cute that bowie wrote all these songs about his celebrity crushes… fav tracks: oh! you pretty things; queen bitch; andy warhol; song for bob dylan; the bewlay brothers; changes
there was a time in my life where this music felt like the most interesting and weird thing I'd ever heard so I will always care about it for that reason. however I did not feel that way this time. but it is a good album. Fav tracks: Queen Bitch, Changes
I think the best thing about this list so far is that it got me to dive into Bowie's catalog, when I was only familiar with the hits before. It's funny that the tracks I like are the ones the other reviews mention. Life on Mars is the best song I have heard from Bowie. It may well be the best of the 70s. Queen Bitch is a top 10 Bowie song. Changes and Pretty Things are great, just below the other two. Everything else? Above average, some really above average, but that's it. Hunky Dory is below Station to Station and Low and below what I have heard of Ziggy Stardust and Heroes. Which still puts it above most of this list. 4.5, but I'm rounding up for Life on Mars.
BEST SONGS: - Oh! You Pretty Things - Life on Mars?
My favourite Bowie.
Super fun overall. Again an artist I know of more than I knew. I had a fun time listening to this (twice) but don't have much more to say
Brilliant. The singles are all time classics and personally some of the favourite Bowie I knew before listening to this. The other tracks build this smoothly into a really interesting statement. I don't understand how he makes such bold choices in terms of harmony and modulation and yet it sounds so natural.
David visited me in a dream once. He said, “you pretentious twat, this is the most common dream about me that posers have.” I said, “don’t be mean, some of the music is transcendent and some is artsy garble.” He said, “just for that, I’m going to sing an eight-minute song about an electric penguin that’s danceable and completely inscrutable.” And I said, “David, please, make it just six minutes.” And he then made it eleven. I love him so much.
Bowie is a favourite. This album is a bit uneven, but with great highlights! Worth a place in the «collection»
I know many of these songs, but have never listened to the album. There are several all-time classics. Best Songs Changes Life on Mars? Kooks Queen Bitch
It's an experimental, varied album with crisp, clear production touching on music hall (Fill Your Heart), acid folk (Andy Warhol), mellow country-ish rock (Song For Bob Dylan) amongst others. I like that acoustic guitars frame most of tracks and it's interesting how Bowie utilised different styles into a coherent, satisfying whole.There are of course the perennial classics (Changes, Life on Mars, Oh You Pretty Things) but pretty much every track is a winner on this turntable favourite, and probably my favourite Bowie album.
Enjoyed the couple of classic hits amidst the sea of fillers
Classic like life on mars sits in a flower bed of meh, kinda Bowie for me.
Bowie seems a tad over-represented.on this list. That said, this one belongs on it, pretty near peak Bowie for me.
Yes. Of course this is on the list. Such fine tunes.
This is the last of the Bowie albums on my 1001 albums journey, in some ways, the generator has saved the best until last. I enjoyed this much more than the other Bowie albums we've had on the list.
I still think that David Bowie is a bit overrated. Like he deserves the recognition he has, but I don't know, I don't get it. This is a good album but nothing special.
changes life on mars quicksand
Classic
Bowie! So many bangers. Practically flawless.
8/10 Favourite: Life on Mars? Least Favourite: Eight Line Poem
Enjoyed this. Probably the best Bowie album I’ve had on the list so far. The album really flows well. “Life on Mars?” is a great song. 4/5 Will listen again
Primer disco de bowie que escucho entero, tiene sus mas y sus menos pero overall me ha gustado
a lot more subdued than expected, but still catchy.
Bowie's best, hands down. Changes, Life on Mars, Queen Bitch and Pretty Things alone are all S-Tier.
A stripped back Bowie, and the first of his great albums in my opinion. Excellent
Piano led and very distinct sounding record from Bowie
I have always gravitated to the following Ziggy Stardust album, so despite being familiar with most of the track list this was my first active listen to Hunky Dory at the tender age of 32. How embarrassing, as its absolutely perfect! Its surprisingly stripped back throughout. Even songs which you would imagine are more maximalist (e.g. Changes, Life on Mars) only see new elements only see new layers being added in very cautiously. Every ingredient has its carefully considered place. Its got the hit singles but its well balanced out with finely crafted album tracks - and its not always easy to the difference between the two. The lyrics to Andy Warhol make this album track a favourite of mine "Andy walking, Andy tired, Andy take a little snooze."
Another Bowie, another 5.
A good album, really enjoyable relaxing listen all the way through, pleasantly surprised by all the songs that I'd not heard of before.
I understand that Bowie pushed boundaries here but it’s too artsy to be enjoyable. Even life on mars which I believe is the hit of this album was too experimental for me to enjoy it. I looked forward to listen to listening to Bowie. I hope there’ll be better albums of his on this list.
Junto a The Man Who Sold The World, uno de los primeros grandes discos de Bowie, que explotaría su talento en el siguiente disco. Aquí, a pesar de encontrar algunos de sus mejores temas, aún presenta los problemas de inconsistencia de su primera época. 4/5
Never was the biggest fan of 'Changes' which opens this album. Not sure why, it just isn't my favourite of Bowie's popular tracks. I find the chorus more annoying than catchy. 'Life On Mars?' however, I think is brilliant and easily one of his best. It builds up really nicely, to a fantastic chorus before starting all over again but this time the drums stay. 'Oh! You Pretty Things' is a great track which has a better chorus than 'Changes' in my opinion. 'Kooks' is a pleasant if a little bland song. I really liked 'The Bewlay Brothers' a lot though. A really nice ballad "epic" to end the record. A pretty decent, if a little all over the place album. Some hits, some misses, a bit inconsistent.
One of my favorite of Bowie’s catalog - creative and playful in all the best ways. “Life on Mars?” Is one of the all time best rock tracks in my opinion, and “Bewlay Brothers” may be one of the most underrated. The whole album blends the rock and folk aspects of his songwriting with orchestral flair in places where it fits, and sparser arrangements where it helps to create a more intimate sound. Such an amazing chronicle of an artist seeming to find exactly who they are and what they have to bring to the world.
An easy 5 stars. Bowie's first great album, a masterclass in songwriting, and an eclectic, hothouse vibe. This album has a mood and atmosphere that is just perfect. And it laid the seeds for everything that followed. My favorite songs are "Oh! You Pretty Things," "Life on Mars?", "Queen Bitch," and the haunting "Bewlay Brothers." That song used to scare the shit out of me and, lyrically, it's one of his best. And then there is "Changes." Just a perfect album.
First time I've been able to break out the vinyl on this project. My favorite Bowie album. Not as flawless as Ziggy Stardust, but I would argue more fun in its flamboyance, with super compelling lyrics and bold strides in his sound. Has some of his very best with Changes, Life on Mars, Oh You Pretty Things, and my personal favorite, Queen Bitch. Also, screw the Kooks haters, it's a lovely little ditty. Hunky Dory pays homage to Bowie's contemporaries like Dylan and Lou Reed, but the sound is singular
The album title is correct
My Bowie gateway drug. I owned Ziggy n Aladdin prior to this but after this one I was buying his stuff thick n fast, often more than 1 at a time... Great production and sound on this one, sublime piano from Wakeman. Fantastic touches throughout, right through to the overdubbed vocals at the end of Bewlay. Also love that as on many of his albums there is a hint to future direction towards the end, with the more overtly Glam Queen Bitch. 👨🎤👨🎤👨🎤👨🎤👨🎤
Definitely one of my favourite Bowie albums. An incredibly strong opening admittedly tails off a little bit in the second half, but that’s not to say there’s any duffers on here. It falls a little bit short of a five stars for me but it’s a really, really good album.
I enjoyed this David Bowie album
i listened to this album high as balls, and it was a wonderful experience. i forgot who i was and all of my problems. good listen. 3.7/5
Loved it! Life on Mars?, Queen B##ch, everything, so great. It was Bowie discovering who he was to me. Not just a musician, an entertainer and a storyteller. Rating 9.2
This album has life on mars. 92/100
This is amazing. One of my favourites
Awesome
schifo
5/5 - Pleasant, uplifting, sentimental - Airy and eclectic - Reflective pop - Folk-adjacent - Quiet power
some fun bops
It’s very good, but not in its best shape. If his voice was produced just slightly better, the entire album would have been much much more pleasant. Music wise, very enjoyable as well.
After Changes as the opener I felt like the album quickly lulled. I assumed it was just early Bowie, and while I dug the notion of a fascination with Mars, I was like oh it’s early 70’s, Bowie hasn’t gotten weird yet, he’s still a contemporary musician carving his own path. Turns out that both 1. Space Oddity predated this by 2 years. The spaceman was here all along and 2. The album gets weird in the second half. It’s a 4 objectively, a 3 subjectively as I still wanted a bit more edge from the man to be known as Ziggy Stardust. The album feels nice and fleshed out by the end and it’s got a good balance to it, I wa shuts thrown by the early pacing after starting off with a banger of an opening.
Changes is great, the rest of the album I thought was aight. Even listening to it yesterday, nothing else really stuck out to me and I’m not quite sure what I listened to
I went in with very low expectations based on some previous Bowie albums, but this one was actually pleasant. Still a little weird at some points though, and nothing blew me away as amazing.
First half started off really strong where I thought this could be 4/5 but then back half kinda struggled. Life on mars is maybe my favorite Bowie song.
I feel like I need to give this one a second listen to fully appreciate it. There wasn’t any part that I found boring or that lost my interest, but aside from Changes, there weren’t many stand-out songs. It was really easy to let this one play and enjoy as background music, but nothing blew me away.
Hot take: David Bowie is the most overrated artist of all time. I think a lot of this take comes from his explosion in pop culture after his death in 2016. I don't think he's bad, but people act like he's the most influential musician ever. Every album I've listened to of his has one or two standout songs, and the rest is pretty forgettable. This album is the same. "Changes" is a great song, and "Life on Mars?" is fun. Other than that, there's not much else going on. This is a 3.5 star album for me. I might round up due to it's brevity.
Bowie is probably over represented on this list, but one can have no complaints about Hunky Dory's inclusion. This album is Bowie's best and, conveniently for recommendation purposes, his most accessible. And is probably the single greatest piano rock album of all time. I wish the chameleon had spent a little more time operating in this shade.
Not a big Bowie fan despite him being an amazing artist.
A high 3.
Always felt like David Bowie was just a little before our time and so I never really got into him. But this is a great album.
With David Bowie, I fall somewhere on the spectrum between "just the hits" and "will dive into the classic albums." I've done the latter, but generally stick to the former. This is one of many in his string of classics, and it's one where I'm happy just to come back for "Changes," "Oh! You Pretty Things," "Life on Mars?," and "Queen Bitch."
An easy 5
One of my favourites
One of Bowie's greatest albums
Not as earth-shattering as Ziggy or Low, but still pretty damn good.
Nice
No notes
Great album. Probably my favorite Bowie album.
One of my top 5 albums.
Very glad I got this as I wanted to listen to this for a while. I think that as quite a lot of these are a bit stripped down, it shows how amazing a songwriter he was, and also as a storyteller, and also just making really catchy choruses, like in pretty much every song on here. He just has such a diverse and interesting discography that you'll never like each song or album for entirely the same reasons. Not to much else to say, just really good, some parts remind me a bit of Elton John, which I'm not sure is good or bad. Favourite songs: changes, life on Mars, Oh! you pretty things, kooks, quicksand, song for Bob Dylan, Queen Bitch, The Bewlay Brothers. Overall around 8/10
Una obra maestra
Kooky
I can’t call myself a Bowie fan, but I do like a lot of his music - usually earlier music. I thoroughly enjoyed this entire album.
The hits, awesome!
Wonderful Bowie weirdness. He’s going through ch-ch-changes alright. This record feels warm and cozy to me for some reason, I’m not sure why. Maybe it’s because it was one of the first times I understood why people love this Bowie guy so much.
Some classics but that's all very much confined to the first half, after which point this loses steam a bit. 3.5*
Agréable écoute très bon album pour un grand artiste 🙏
Das Album „Hunky Dory“ wurde 1971 in den Trident Studios in London aufgenommen. David Bowie, ein britischer Musiker, bewegte sich mit dieser Veröffentlichung stilistisch zwischen Art Rock, Glam Rock und Singer-Songwriter-Traditionen. Die Produktion zeichnet sich durch eine klare Instrumentierung aus, bei der das Klavier eine tragende Rolle spielt. Rick Wakeman, der später durch seine Arbeit mit Yes bekannt wurde, ist hier als Pianist zu hören. Zu den markantesten Titeln des Albums zählen „Changes“, das später zu einem der wiedererkennbarsten Songs Bowies wurde, sowie „Life on Mars?“, das mit seiner dramatischen Melodieführung und filmischen Anmutung auffällt. Auch „Oh! You Pretty Things“ und „Quicksand“ zeigen Bowies Interesse an philosophischen, gesellschaftlichen und literarischen Themen, ohne dabei den melodischen Zugang zu verlieren. „Hunky Dory“ wirkt rückblickend wie ein Übergangswerk, in dem Bowie musikalisch und thematisch verschiedene Pfade austestet. Die Arrangements sind sorgfältig, die Produktion zurückhaltend, wodurch die Stimme und die Texte stärker im Vordergrund stehen. Das Album lässt sich als frühes Beispiel für Bowies Fähigkeit einordnen, musikalische Identitäten bewusst zu wechseln. Die Veröffentlichung markiert einen wichtigen Entwicklungsschritt in Bowies Werk. Ohne sich an gängigen Formeln zu orientieren, verbindet das Album introspektive Inhalte mit musikalischer Klarheit. Es bleibt ein hörenswertes Dokument einer künstlerischen Neuorientierung.
Oooo David Bowie. Very good, songs sounded very well made
Wonderful! Bowie at his finest, with Changes and my favorite, Life on Mars!
I loved this. Heard it before, but misremembered this as the album with the laughing gnome on it…
In doing the revered RESIIthasequel's Album of the Years, I discovered that 1971 was one of the strongest music years. 'Who's Next,' 'Zoso,' and 'Sticky Fingers,' and some other albums we're gonna hear soon on this list. What album stood tallest in 1971? 'Hunky Dory.' It's also my fave Bowie. From starting off with "Changes," this album has a great flow from "Oh! You Pretty Things" to "Kooks." I even forgot how good "Queen Bitch" is--a song for most people in this group. Top Tracks: "Oh! You Pretty Things," "Quicksand," "Life on Mars?"
Another classic on deck! Again, as with so much, I never really give Bowie a shot other than the hits and I'm excited to hear some album cuts. The top of the album puts us in 4 territory without breaking a sweat. Changes is a banger. O!YPT another great one. Life on Mars? is truly an amazing song, maybe an all-timer. Back half of the album is all very good, fun stuff. Bowie rocks, end of discussion.
--Changes...never thought this was his best but still great --Oh! You Pretty Things...weird and fun --Eight Line Poem...sounds like a more classical voice could deliver a nice cover. Don't like it much as is --Life on Mars?...perfect no notes --Kooks...kooky (hah) and fun --Quicksand...a little long but it justifies its length more than other "epic" songs --Fill Your Heart...twee bullshit but Bowie makes it work --Andy Warhol...strange and yet totally accessible. Pure Bowie --Song for Bob Dylan...this one has a lot of elements I like but it's missing something. Doesn't quite come together for me --Queen Bitch...banger --The Bewlay Brothers...doesn't immediately jump out as one of the better tracks but it may take multiple listens to truly appreciate
Deilig, lett og litt melankoli <33
I always hear about how great David Bowie is, and how he's constantly reinventing himself. The latter is pretty apparent, but I don't think he's necessarily all *that* good at it. For a while, I thought this was the album of his that I liked best, but eventually it turned out that I just liked "Changes" (and also, to a lesser extent, "Kooks"). Somehow, "Life on Mars" is always in contention among Bowie fans to be one of his best songs, but it never felt like anything spectacular to me. Maybe the problem is I just don't like glam rock enough, but this album really never gets above fine.
Nothing stood out for me but it was a pleasant listen.
This album was just Hunky Dory, David Bowie is one of the best artists of all time and this album does not disappoint.
Det er en blanding af cabaret, folk, glam piano rock så det er lidt anderledes end hans senere og lidt mere poppet. åbenbart hans første album hvor han sådan virkelig gav den gas med et artistic vision. det er også en af hans mest critically acclaimed albums. Det er her hvor han arbejdede sammen med nogle af de første som også var med til ziggy stardust.
A Bowie classic heralding music to come
4/5
"Life on mars?" is great, uf course! The rest is mostly filler songs. 3/5
An outstanding album with standout evocative tracks that are just as good today as ever.
Really not a lot that needs to be said, this is quite clearly a 5 star album. What a great listen.
Another great album from the great man. Yet again the songs have a real timeless quality that make them seem as fresh today as 50 plus years ago. Changes, Oh! You Pretty Things and the magnificent Life On Mars are the stand out tracks.
Well it’s my favourite Bowie album so there’s only going to be one score for this. I just love the simplicity of it, it feels light and easy, not trying to hard, no arty characters, no over production, just great catchy songs. I come back to this album a lot.
Yes this album is fantastic yet not the best Bowie has to offer. Anyway, I honestly forgot about the song Queen Bitch until this listen. Somehow I hear both Roadrunner by the Modern Lovers and Mr Brightside by the Killers as taking inspiration. Every song here is great. Look at those cavemen go.
Classic Bowie!!!
In my top 10 albums ever and his best
Liked this
Pretty cool, makes me think of parklife idk why
having an existential crisis to life on mars. an ethereal classic. god feels real when I listen to this
David Bowie: An Icon I can't get behind. Like Jane Lynch. I wouldn't stand behind that woman after all that yogurt.
Changes would’ve been a great single
Great album by a pioneer in rock music.
[3.75/5] Final impression: I think Bowie just doesn't mesh with me which is unfortunate because his voice and the instrumentals are killer. Something about it just doesn't generally hit for me, but when it hits it HITS. Listened to on Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/album/6fQElzBNTiEMGdIeY0hy5l]. Changes - A good beat. Catchy. Second best track on here. Oh! You Pretty Things - Not that into this one, but the instrumentals are interesting in a good way. I do love a good story. Eight Line Poem - Fantastic vocals, I just don't really vibe with the track overall. Life on Mars? - Best track so far. Fun lyrics. Kooks - Don't know that I like this one. Kind of catchy though. Sounds like a song I should like, if I'm honest. The longer I let it stew, the more this one grows on me. Quicksand - Not that notable to me, but its fine. Fill Your Heart - His voice is crazy here. I don't hate it. The instrumentals here are kind of sick. Andy Warhol - Ok now we're talking. Digging the vibe of this one. The lyrics here are scratching the brain just right. The instrumentals are just fantastic. Song for Bob Dylan - I like this one alright. *Queen Bitch - This one hits. The Bewlay Brothers - I like this one. Overall notes: Some of the songs on here go kind of hard, but when they don't go hard they aren't notable to me at all. Special shout out to Changes, Life on Mars, Kooks, Andy Warhol, and Queen Bitch.
meh :/
is there life on mars?
Wonderful album, I love the sound of a crisp acoustic guitar. Typical of Bowie, the singing is also great. A well rounded and enjoyable album, will definitely listen to it again. I found the Andy Warhol track quite fun.
Before listening to this album, I was never a Bowie fan. I'm still not.
Every track is a classic in my opinion. Great all round record
same as station to station but maybe i like it a bit more? more songs in the album = more songs i knew. maybe i would give this a 3.5 if i could?
Genius! One of the best ever Bowie albums
Great album. It's got this lovely ornateness that I enjoy. It's decorative. He's such a weirdo all over it. I don't know if it's anyone's #1 Bowie album (not mine) but it could be, it's certainly good enough. Must-listen #168.
It's not Ziggy Stardust but it's worth a 4 for the opening alone
First 4 were good
Pretty solid album.
Not my favourite Bowie's project, but definitely up there. One of my favourite light albums, with a bunch of lovely songs, some of them weird, some of them heartfelt. And then he decided that this is not a good live album and made something even better in a few months.
Good Bowie, but a little 'screechy' for me right now
3 stars
Andy Warhol lover album. But changes is a national treasure
An all timer for sure. Changes, Oh! You Pretty Things, Life on Mars?, Kooks, Queen Bitch. It's banger after banger.
came outta no where.
David Bowie's aura is off the charts
Amazing.
Lemppari: Changes
So good. Takes me back to my teens and discovering me!
Loved Life on Mars and Changes
Yes. Please. Yes.
One of the greatest albums ever made, I love it so much
Pretty good. I feel like thats a lot of david bowie recently
Awesome album!
What a great album!! This one has some of my favorite Bowie songs on it. Kooks, Life on Mars, Changes, and Oh! You Pretty Things. The chorus in that last one is so fun to sing 😃 Fill Your Heart was interesting…it reminded me of a song a cartoon villain would sing at the end of the movie after he saw the error in his evil ways and wanted to sing about his miraculous transformation over to the good side. Awesome 🤩
Still haven’t heard a bad Bowie album and quite frankly, I don’t think I ever will.
it was ok...
Oh boy, oh boy, oh boy. What an album. Chock full of great songs and performances. Probably none better than "Changes," which is probably the most popular track here, for good reason. This is Bowie at his most intelligent, open, and insightful...maybe ever. And the arrangement is just to die for; that sax at the end just gets me every time. Oh, You Pretty Things is the precursor to Ziggy. "And it looks as if they're here to stay." I guess so, Dave, I guess so. There's really not a less than 4 track here. Bewley Brothers is a tough nut to crack, for sure. But worth the repeated listenings required. David's voice will never sound this full again. But that that's not faint praise. He was an excellent vocalist almost his entire career. The epitome of knowing how to sing vs. having a great voice. Here, he has both. Just an essential, great album.
There are random Bowie songs I really like, but never dove into his albums. I initially wasn't sure what to think of this album... The song Queen Bitch is something I already have in regular rotation for a few years. I'm honestly not sure how I came across it, but I absolutely love it. The rest of the album does not sound like this song. On the 2nd listen I noticed more songs that I dig...Changes, Oh! You Pretty Things, Life on Mars?, Kooks, Quicksand, Andy Warhol, and Songs for Bob Dylan. On the 3rd listen I understand why this album is in the list. Incredible song writing. Holy shit David Bowie was a force to be reckoned with.
Bowie Album #2 out of 9 Totally fine, I really liked a few songs and the rest were fairly forgettable. Oh! You Pretty Things and Song for Bob Dylan were really good.
I’ve listened to Hunky Dory more than any other album. I’ve probably listened to Hunky Dory more than any other human who’s ever lived. There may be better albums, but this album is my childhood, my twenties, and my now. It’s never grown old. It’s at times silly and at times deeply philosophical. It always bops. It always makes me feel a certain way. It’s simply magic.
Legendary LP. Changes and Life on Mars are likely top 100 of a generation. Bowie remains an icon.
this album is insane, amazing singer songwriter record, some small parts of the album don’t make it perfect, i’m not a big fan of kooks, but other than that i can listen to this all, day, debatably my favourite by bowie
The album received critical acclaim upon its release and continues to entertain listeners to this day. It was a marked shift from his previous, and while some of the tracks seem superfluous, the majority of them are excellent.
Meh
En un bar casi olvidado cercano a la costa Bowie brilla con la luz blanca y cristalina del mar. El aire decorado por el polvo llena los pulmones y copas de sus estrellas relegadas que cantan para que el amor cocine como siempre.
Genius.
I don't like his voice. If these were sung by someone else it'd be pretty good
We have Led Zeppelin at home
A few classic songs, but it's too inconsistent, cute and kooky to fully work as an album
I love this album. It was my gateway to Bowie in my 20’s. Timeless, wonderful, joyful.
I wasn't always the most keen on the album format up until the last several years thanks to the ease of streaming, so when I was 14 I would just cherry pick the best songs from side 1 and say yep this is my favorite Bowie album I like hunky dory best. Well in giving it the full attention it deserves I can say it is definitely very sweet and has several of my favorite songs by the guy. yep this is not my favorite Bowie album
Not my favorite Bowie album, but it's a good one.
Vale muy bien!!! Ya estaba bastante familiarizada con el álbum, pero me gusta bastante lol. tiene SOBERANOS temazos y capta muy muy bien la vibra de Bowie. una de mis canciones favoritas está en este álbum. es como un álbum que escucharía mientras hago cosas en mi habitación
Que coñazo de album. No hubo ni un solo momento interesante. Es como escuchar las canciones malas de los beatles peor cantadas y en los 70. No le voy a poner 1 estrella pq tampoco quise colgarme, sencillamente es un album insípido con canciones parecidas entre si. Destaca "Life on mars" por ser un poco mas épica que las demás. Artista sobrevalorado, sorry Iris 3.5/10
Este álbum tiene un significado especial para mí, porque es el mítico que ponían mis padres en el coche cuando era pequeña. Por eso escucharlo de nuevo me ha traído muchos recuerdos, sobre todo con "Changes" que es una de mis favoritas de este álbum. Que decir, David Bowie es un increible artista en general, una persona que admiro mucho. Y aparte de todo esto, el álbum me parece bastante bueno, por eso le doy un 8/10.
En lo personal, a mí me encanta David Bowie y este es uno de sus mejores albums sin duda, sin embargo, pienso que tiene alguna canción que no me llega tanto. Eso sí, changes y Life on mars son brutales. Tiene albums mejores, por eso le pongo 4 estrellas.
You know you're a god-tier songwriter when you can sing things like "I was stone and he was wax, so he could scream and still relax/Unbelievable" and people will just nod their heads like "you know Dave, I'd never thought about it, but that *is* unbelievable"
Widely considered by me to be Bowie’s best album.
What a fab album - is definitely got nostalgia points for me, but even without that it's still an amazingly well put together listen. Plus you have bangers like Life on Mars and Changes, which can only elevate it further. Spectacular.
Another legend. Great Career. Left us way to early. Fantastic music and voice.
It’s just rock 👄💄
Bowies masterpiece
It’s no Ziggy Stardust
1. Changes - 10 Best track on the album by far. The intro is amazing and the highlight of Bowie's amazing vocals after the lead in is really nice. This is just all around one of Bowie's best songs. The constant introduction and ducking of the drum line works perfectly to bridge verse from chorus and highlights the consistent re-innovation of who Bowie was and his personas. The sax at the end is a brilliant way to end the song. 2. Oh! You Pretty Things - 10 Lovely start to the song with the way the piano is played. Vocals are amazing, lyrics are good, and the way the song eventually leads into the full instrumentals are just amazing. Another great track with an extremely catchy chorus. 3. Eight Line Poem - 7 Guitar sounds solid in this song but it's very light and feels like a bridge between the absolute powerful songs elsewhere on the album. Not much that is remarkable about it, but it is a decent enough track. 4. Life on Mars - 10 Absolute belter of a track. Instrumentally it's insanely fun with a really fun piano, drum, and guitar. Lyrically to me it's a bit strange (which I understand is part and parcel for David Bowie) but it's still a great track. The strings that come in at the end of the track are incredible. Overall, way more enjoyable than I remember the tune as being. 5. Kooks - 4 Very weak lyrically. Instrumentally it's not the strongest thing on the album either. All around it's not a bad song and the first verse is very nice but Bowie falls out of tempo at the end of the verse. It's an error repeated in the second verse as well. Overall, not particularly a great song. 6. Quicksand - 7 Really slow burner which Bowie does very well. Enjoyable track on the album. He repeats the Homo Sapiens theme in this song much like he did previously in the album. Tone changes work well here as bridges, much like Bowie does in a lot of his works. 7. Fill Your Heart - 5 Instrumentally I like this track a lot. Lyrically I do not. It's just all over the place and feels like a bombardment of ideas for what the track should have been. It doesn't ever seem to find it's purpose. 8. Andy Warhol - 8 The opening 45 of this track is the weakest part of the album so far but when the guitar finally comes in it sounds amazing. From there the track becomes really really enjoyable. Pace builds even further at the end to an all around enjoyable listen. 9. Song for Bob Dylan - 9 Excellent track. Guitar sounds amazing and the drums help emphasize the vocals when needed. Just a really all around enjoyable track. 10. Queen Bitch - 7 Complete change of tone. Guitar is much heavier than previously in the album. Lyrics in the chorus are a bit random like 90s Aerosmith were, but it's still a decent track to listen to and the verses are well put together. 11. The Bewlay Brothers - 8 Way quieter a track than anything else on the album but it builds to well into the chorus each and every time. The guitar is the real hero of the song but lyrically this is really enjoyable. Great way to end the album. Average Rating: 7.7 Adjusted to a 5-Point Scale: 3.9 out of 5 Rounded Up: 4 stars
Really good album
Njegov prvi fenomenalni album
Some great songs (Bewley Brothers, Queen Bitch, Andy Warhol), some not so great (Eight line Poem) and a song so over played (Life on Mars) I usually skip at when I get the chance.
I wanted to get more deeply into Bowie,as I knew a dozen songs and loved them. What an introduction into his catalogue. An incredible album, at moments minimal, at moments giant. Bowie is a perfect songwriter. This is a masterpiece (and a lot of people don't think this is his best record) and I can't wait to listen to more. 5/5
This is the album before Spiders From Mars. Maybe it's opening up with Changes but this album. Feels like an odd bridge from his first few albums to the Ziggy and beyond ones. Overall it's Bowie you really can't go wrong. It's a good album and I enjoy it every time I listen to it.
Classic Bowie.
This starts out like a love letter to The Beatles, but becomes more David Bowie(TM) over the course of the album. I'm not steeped enough in early 70's pop-rock to know if that was the dominant sound at the time, or if Bowie was particularly fixated on echoing the Liverpudlians. If I inherited a vinyl copy of this album it would probably get some spins, but I'm not sure I'd buy a copy. Likewise, if I had a copy of this (or, more likely, a greatest hits CD) when I was in my "classic rock phase" in high school, I think I would have really gotten into it. Maybe I need to dig into the catalog more.
Skulle vøri ung da
Ooo
I'm ashamed to say that I knew a lot of these songs, but didn't realize they were his. But all around, a good time.
Another Bowie album screaming for a remaster, very tinny and hollow overlaying of the different instruments and vocals. Very fun hits, but a lot of skippable tracks. Fun to see Bowie branching into what would become his more iconic style. Top tracks: Changes, Life on Mars?, Queen Bitch
Ordinary Bowie
Is this my favorite Bowie? Maybe. I hate Andy Warhol, though.
Not my favorite of Bowie, but up there and a good introduction (I think HD is among the least wierd Bowie albums). Life on Mars is phenomenal, also, listening to early Bowie, I just noticed how well and clear Hunky Dory sounds (compared to, say, TMWSTW, which I still enjoy more bc mood).
Una locura, cuando el artista volaba, pero volaba bien.
1. Life on Mars? 2. The Bewlay Brothers 3. Oh! You Pretty Things
It has been my favourite Bowie album for the longest time. No change to that on a re-listen.
Don't overthink it. Legendary album from a legendary artist
Incredible.
Super Catchy. A multitude of various styles and a stellar line up of musicians makes for an amazing album! I dig it, one of my first fave Bowie albums because of kooks and Andy Warhol.
It's an album I can listen to effortlessly. Life on Mars is one of my favorites but everything was above average. Best week of albums, let's keep it up tomorrow
own
It’s good.
Really liked it! Loads of Bowie classics
Another classic.
Cantante mediocre y sobrevalorado por vestir raro. Musicalmente me resulta molesto. Realmente no es más que una nota a pie de página de cualquier canción del Sgt. Pepper. La producción es realmente lamentable.
Wow…this is my sixth David Bowie album so far out of 192, and by far my favorite Bowie album. (I wonder how many are on this list?) Although I was previously familiar with only two of these songs, most of them are keepers, and I will be saving this one and listening to it again. This is a four star album for me…genuinely enjoyed it.
Nice
great singles like life on mars, changes, and queen bitch
I don’t think so. Favorite Track: Eight Line Poem
Got some interesting things happening on here. I can definitely see why people see Tyler in David Bowie
ts kinda fire will look more into david bowie
For such an undeniable classic, it’s tough to reckon with how many throw away songs are on here. This whole record is Bowie’s bridge from folk singer/songwriter-type to Glam Rock Extraterrestrial. The drag, the drama, the voice, interplanetary metaphors, even Mick Ronson were already in place (as was Rick Wakeman whose piano dominates the record). And yeah, Song For Bob Dylan and Kooks are kind of slogs to get through, but if this whole album was Life On Mars, Pretty Things, Changes and Queen Bitch, it’d be enough to catapult it into legendary status, even if it Bowie’s career ended right here instead of soaring straight out into the cosmos for another 45 years.
Sadly, I'm not crazy about this album. Maybe since it's not one that I listened to since it's release date? Can't say if that's the reason or maybe these songs are too lovey and poetic for me. Still love you tho man!!
It's ok. Fave oh! You pretty things
Pretty good. First 5-6 songs are best, life on mars is my favorite, but the chorus of oh you pretty things is really catchy. Also the piano is solid throughout but I guess the pianist joined Yes right after sooooo.....makes sense
Nevjerovatno kako "najutjecajniji muzičar ikad" nema nikakvog utjecaja na mene. Strašno dosadno.
Stand out is obviously “Life on Mars” although “Changes” has a special place in my heart because it was in the Shrek 2 soundtrack lol. Really enjoyed this album and it was pretty cohesive but it had a few songs I probably wouldn’t return to so it’s got to be 4 stars. Loved the use of piano throughout too.
Loved this.
Finally admitting to myself that I'm just a Ziggy Stardust fan, not a David Bowie fan. First album where I was looking forward to it being over, Changes, Life On Mars? and Andy Warhol kept this from being a 1 star.
Far fewer hits then I remember but Changes, Life on Mars, and Queen Bitch still rock my world.
Nice straightforward great album. Ahead of it's time and classic Bowie. It has changes on it but also every track is great. I do find the cover art off-putting.
This was a pleasant listen and reminded me that Bowie had stayed true to his style for a very long time. This could have been an 80's or 90's album from him and I wouldnt' have been able to tell, though obviously everything being remastered on the version I listened to probably helped with the production. I think "Queen Bitch" and "Changes" are my favorites from this. Some of the more slow piano oriented songs didn't catch my attention as much. I've been more of a fan of what Bowie stood for (musical experimentation, queerness, etct) than his actual music but this is legitimately good stuff. It's for sure background for me, but I wouldn't turn it off.
Changes is great. I remember hearing that on WBER as a kid and loving it. I learned it was a Bowie song today. I've never dived into Bowie's catalogue other than Ziggy Stardust. But this is a masterful, weird pop-rock album, that seems to exist out of it's time.
Great album. Life on Mars is a nigh-perfect song.
There’s a lot of this album that felt very theatrical. I also felt like the overall quality of the album got better near the end.
Probably my favourite Bowie album
Very creative.
4.8 - This was really really good. Heavy hitters on here, and would say this is Bowie at his peak
Good, maybe the best Bowie I’ve heard. Changes is a little overrated, a bit untidy. Fave Tracks: Oh You Pretty Things, Life on Mars, Andy Warhol, Queen Bitch 4.3/5
Still moving, visionary, sweeping, beautiful. I think it’s the best Bowie record (apologies to Ziggy Stardust and Blackstar)
- gefiel mir bisher mit am Besten von den ganzen Bowie Alben 3-4/5
Bowie delivers great work as always. Changes, Oh! You Pretty Things, and Life on Mars anchor a defining style and sound of unique, thought-provoking tracks. Bowie’s deep catalog puts him in the Pantheon of the all-time greats, with this album a solid part of that oeuvre.
This is my second Bowie album. The first was Aladdin Sane... this is so much better. Changes and Life on Mars are obviously classics and the rest of the songs are good as well. Strong album.
It finally happened after 500 albums, I got an album that I just listened to in my free time. I hadn't listened to this album in over 3 years and then just listened to it 2 days ago. I'll just say as a very big Bowie fan, this album would probably be a 4 if Changes and Life on Mars wasn't on it. This album cam be really hit or miss. Life on Mars is one of the top 10 greatest songs ever written and then kooks is one of my least favorite Bowie songs. The second half of this album also falls off. Low 5.
Not in my top 5 favourite Bowie albums, but <3 Bowie so still 5 stars.
Almost slipped to a 3 but enough hits to clear the bar
First half is varied, brilliant and flows so well. Second half is more mixed but the last couple of tracks are great. The first great Bowie album.
Possibly Bowie's best, one of my all time faves
Used to listen to this a lot when I was younger so very nostalgic. Some absolute top tier songs on it (changes, oh you pretty things, life on mars) but lacks consistency sometimes, especially when compared to ziggy stardust.
Fantastic
It’s 3 ½ stars really. Bowie’s not a strong enough lyricist to pull off the strummy singer-songwriter tunes. They make for a pretty weak midsection and boring finale. But the opening salvo is three indelible eternal hits, and the biographical tunes in the last third are quite good too. Bowie has a lot better coming, this period in his career seems like a long slow gestation period, and this is near the end of it.
Nice album by Bowie
Easiest 5-star on the list
What a strange man! There are some absolute bangers in here, it's nearly criminal to start an album with a song as good as changes
I’ve never been the biggest Bowie fan, but this is a very good album, probably his best in my opinion.
Already my favourite artist by several miles, so this is an easy review to write; I've owned and loved this album for more than 40 years. It's just wonderful. Absorbing, moving, thrilling, yes quirky (if you must), unique. Life On Mars is simply a masterpiece. Quicksand is another one. Anyone musical will find something of interest here. I miss him.
I first heard this album as a child and it’s been a lifelong friend. Wonderful.
Never tire of listening to this
This is probably the best David Bowie album I've listened to thus far, and this is the 6th one that has populated on this list. I'm not sure why there needed to be 6, but what do I know, I'm just a common man, not a journalist or editor of a music magazine. I wasn't born with the DNA to better understand this artist. This was enjoyable, but it still isn't enough to push this album past a 3.5/5, and it definitely can't push it past its own boundaries into a 4. Album high marks: "Changes" "Life on Mars?" "Andy Warhol" "Queen Bitch"
This is what I expect from an older Bowie album. Nothing at all special to hear here.
The tipping point, where Davy Jones completely disappeared into David Bowie. Inconsistently brilliant, relentlessly creative and idiomatic beyond belief. The best was yet to come, but the high points here are top-tier Bowie. Favourite tracks: Changes, Pretty Things, Life On Mars (!!!!!!!), Queen Bitch
Still not sure Bowie isn't a Martian.
couple bangers here
The first album that I actually know entirely! This one should be nice, I haven't listened to this record from front to back in a few years. It used to be my favourite Bowie album, but with time I started liking others more and kinda writing this one off. But let's gooooo Changes has a wholesomeness that is present throughout the record. This listening will be kind of a trip down memory lane, as this was big for me in my teen years. This specific song was great to have at that weird, difficult time. Oh! You Pretty Things really takes me back damn. I remember looking up the lyrics to this specific song. It was probably the first time I heard of the The Mamas & The Papas (if that line really is a reference to them). Bowie really had a way of writing for and about "weird" people. Those that felt different, in one way or another. And this record really speaks to that. Life on Mars? really is one of the best songs of all time. That chorus makes me want to sream-sing every time. And another case of Bowie writing some astute and interesting lyrics while keeping a pop sound. The "lawman beating up the wrong guy" line reminds me of "a cop knelt and kissed the feet of a priest and a queer threw up at the sight of that". Yeah Kooks is honestly over-hated. It's a fine track, nothing that, in my opinion, ruins an album. Sure I wouldn't be mad if you skipped it, but I'm not mad at its inclusion. It does take the whole "I'm different" thing to the cheesy side. Quicksand is similar to Eight Line Poem in that it's more of a poem than a song, but the lyrics are more interesting to me. And the fact that it actually has instrumentals too I guess. Another track that I remember looking up to get some help in understanding. Bowie rarely went sad, but when he did he sure went in. Fill Your Heart sounds like a sibling to Kooks, but I do like it better. I don't know what he was trying to accomplish with that beggining to Andy Warwhol but it surely changed the mood. The song's good though. He continues with the homages to then contemporary icons in the next song, and while it is good, it doesn't hit quite the same. Queen Bitch is so much fun. The Bewlay Brothers is another track that always kind of just happened. I like it, but the meaning doesn't speak to me. I love the second half though. Overall, this was a great experience, It was nice to revisit this album and the time in my life that I associate with it. But even outside that, this record definitely deserves its reputation as a classic. It has some of Bowie's best material with maybe a couple songs that could be skipped. Absolutely worth a listen! Bye
classic
Pretty good. 7/10
## In-Depth Review of David Bowie's *Hunky Dory* David Bowie’s *Hunky Dory* (1971) stands as a pivotal moment in his career and in the evolution of art pop and glam rock. The album is lauded for its lyrical depth, innovative musical arrangements, and production finesse, as well as its enduring influence on popular music. This review examines *Hunky Dory* in detail, focusing on its lyrics, music, production, themes, and influence, and concludes with a balanced evaluation of its strengths and weaknesses. --- ## Lyrics **Narrative and Poetic Range** *Hunky Dory* is celebrated for its lyrical richness and thematic diversity. Bowie weaves personal introspection with cultural commentary, often blurring the line between autobiography and fiction[1][4]. The lyrics are accessible yet layered, inviting repeated listening and interpretation[4][6]. - **"Changes"**: The album opens with this anthem of reinvention, addressing generational conflict and the inevitability of transformation. The "ch-ch-ch-changes" refrain is both catchy and thematically resonant, encapsulating Bowie’s own artistic metamorphosis[6][8]. - **"Oh! You Pretty Things"**: Here, Bowie explores Nietzschean philosophy and occultism, referencing the rise of a new generation poised to upend the old order. The song’s apocalyptic optimism is both unsettling and infectious[3][4]. - **"Life on Mars?"**: Perhaps the album’s lyrical zenith, this surreal narrative follows a disaffected girl seeking solace in media and imagination. The lyrics juxtapose mundane reality with fantastical escapism, posing existential questions that resist easy answers[6]. - **"Kooks"**: In contrast, this track is a whimsical, heartfelt ode to Bowie’s newborn son, mixing parental advice with playful eccentricity[4]. - **"Quicksand"**: Bowie delves into existential despair, referencing Aleister Crowley, Nietzsche, and Buddhist philosophy. The lyrics are dense and allusive, reflecting a search for meaning amid chaos[4]. - **"The Bewlay Brothers"**: The album closes with this cryptic, haunting piece. Its lyrics are intentionally oblique, reportedly inspired by Bowie’s relationship with his half-brother and themes of identity and duality[8]. Overall, Bowie’s writing on *Hunky Dory* is both personal and universal, often enigmatic but always evocative. The album’s lyrics are a tapestry of references-philosophy, pop culture, personal history-woven with wit and emotional resonance. --- ## Music **Stylistic Shift and Arrangements** *Hunky Dory* marks a significant shift from the hard rock of *The Man Who Sold the World* to a warmer, piano-driven art pop and melodic rock sound[3][4][8]. The arrangements are intricate yet inviting, blending genres with effortless grace. - **Piano as Centerpiece**: Rick Wakeman’s piano work is central, providing both melodic foundation and emotional color. The piano’s prominence gives the album a theatrical, almost cabaret-like feel, especially on tracks like "Changes" and "Life on Mars?"[3][4]. - **Orchestration and Texture**: Mick Ronson’s string arrangements add lushness, particularly on "Life on Mars?" and "Quicksand". The use of acoustic guitar, horns, and subtle electric guitar embellishments creates a rich sonic palette without overwhelming the songs[4][6]. - **Genre Fusion**: The album traverses folk ("Kooks"), baroque pop ("Fill Your Heart"), proto-glam ("Queen Bitch"), and art rock ("Quicksand"). This eclecticism is unified by Bowie’s melodic sensibility and vocal performance[4][7]. - **Vocals**: Bowie’s singing is expressive and dynamic, ranging from the gentle intimacy of "Kooks" to the soaring drama of "Life on Mars?" and the theatricality of "Queen Bitch"[6]. The music of *Hunky Dory* is both experimental and approachable, balancing complexity with accessibility. Its melodic inventiveness and stylistic variety remain fresh decades later. --- ## Production **Clarity and Warmth** Produced by Bowie and Ken Scott at Trident Studios, the album’s production is notable for its clarity, warmth, and attention to detail[3][4]. The sound is lush but never cluttered, allowing each instrument and vocal nuance to shine. - **Mixing**: The mix prioritizes the piano and Bowie’s vocals, ensuring emotional immediacy. The arrangements are layered but transparent, with careful placement of strings, horns, and backing vocals[4]. - **Engineering**: Ken Scott’s engineering expertise contributes to the album’s polished yet organic sound. The acoustic elements are captured with warmth, while the occasional electric guitar or orchestral flourish adds drama without excess[3]. - **Innovative Touches**: Experimental elements, such as the backmasked guitar solo in "The Bewlay Brothers", hint at Bowie’s future sonic adventures while remaining grounded in the album’s melodic core[3]. The production on *Hunky Dory* enhances its musical and lyrical strengths, achieving a balance between sophistication and intimacy. --- ## Themes **Identity, Change, and Cultural Reflection** Thematically, *Hunky Dory* is a meditation on identity, transformation, and the search for meaning in a rapidly changing world[1][4][5]. - **Reinvention and Self-Discovery**: "Changes" and "Oh! You Pretty Things" address the necessity and inevitability of change, both personal and societal. Bowie anticipates and embraces the fluidity of identity that would define his career[1][6]. - **Alienation and Escapism**: "Life on Mars?" and "Quicksand" explore feelings of alienation, the allure of fantasy, and the struggle to find purpose in a confusing world[4][6]. - **Tribute and Influence**: Bowie pays homage to his artistic heroes-Andy Warhol, Bob Dylan, Lou Reed-while simultaneously staking out his own unique voice[3][4]. - **Family and Intimacy**: "Kooks" offers a rare glimpse of Bowie’s domestic side, blending sincerity with eccentricity[4]. - **Ambiguity and Duality**: "The Bewlay Brothers" delves into themes of brotherhood, mental illness, and the multiplicity of self, leaving interpretation open-ended[8]. The album’s thematic cohesion lies in its embrace of uncertainty, difference, and impermanence, expressed with beauty, style, and charisma[4]. --- ## Influence **Legacy and Impact** *Hunky Dory* is widely regarded as one of Bowie’s greatest achievements and a landmark in popular music[4][8][9]. - **Art Pop and Glam Rock**: The album helped define the art pop and glam rock genres, influencing countless artists with its blend of theatricality, introspection, and musical innovation[4][5]. - **Songwriting and Production**: Its sophisticated songwriting and production techniques set new standards for pop and rock music, inspiring musicians to experiment with form and content[4][9]. - **Cultural Resonance**: Songs like "Changes" and "Life on Mars?" have become cultural touchstones, covered and referenced across generations[6][9]. - **Bowie’s Artistic Identity**: *Hunky Dory* is often cited as the moment when "Bowie starts to become Bowie", discovering the voice and style that would shape his legendary career[3][4]. The album’s influence extends far beyond its initial release, continuing to inspire artists and listeners alike. --- ## Pros and Cons | Pros | Cons | |------|------| | Lyrically rich and thematically diverse, blending personal and cultural commentary[1][4] | Some tracks may feel slight compared to the album’s high points ("Fill Your Heart" is sometimes cited as less substantial)[9] | | Innovative, piano-driven arrangements with lush orchestration and genre fusion[3][4] | The eclecticism, while a strength, can make the album feel less unified to some listeners[4] | | Warm, clear production that highlights musical and vocal nuances[3][4] | "The Bewlay Brothers" is seen by some as overly cryptic or inaccessible[8][9] | | Iconic songs ("Changes", "Life on Mars?", "Oh! You Pretty Things") that have become classics[6][9] | Initial commercial reception was muted, and some tracks may be overshadowed by Bowie’s later work[3] | | Marked a turning point for Bowie, influencing art pop and glam rock for decades[4][5] | Some listeners may find the album’s introspective tone less immediate than Bowie’s more theatrical later albums[4] | --- ## Conclusion *Hunky Dory* remains a towering achievement in David Bowie’s discography and in the history of popular music. Its lyrical sophistication, musical inventiveness, and production finesse combine to create an album that is both deeply personal and universally resonant. The record’s embrace of change, ambiguity, and artistic exploration set the stage for Bowie’s subsequent transformations and left an indelible mark on the musical landscape. While not every track reaches the transcendent heights of its best moments, the album’s strengths far outweigh its minor flaws. *Hunky Dory* endures as a testament to Bowie’s genius-a work that rewards close listening and continues to inspire new generations of artists and fans.
A perfect album.
Would be higher without the Andy Worhol shit. Amazing, amazing music Best Song: Changes Rating: 8/10 (Excellent) Stars: 4/5
This masterpiece is my favorite Bowie's album (or one of two may be). Perfect voice, sound and theme. This album is in my Top Ten of all albums ever heard. Thank you for listening it again. Every track is a musical and vocal bomb!
Some good verses, choruses, chords and theatrical piano parts, mabey the Art in Art Pop kills it, mabey Bowie's voice is just too whiny sometimes, mabey ch, ch, ch change the annoying parts. Unfortunately this is my review after relistening twice.
Bowie was a weird guy. Leaning into the strange and theatrical, like he's not part of this world, he's just trying his best to understand it. Life On Mars? is the standout track for me, unsurprisingly. Such a great song. Never gets old. Changes is maybe a tad overrated, also doesn't help that I've heard it a thousand times. Oh You Pretty Things & Queen Bitch are pretty great also. To me, this album marks the point where Bowie showed a clear path to stardom.
Naja… für die Zeit vielleicht toll, zieht aber jetzt keinen Lachs mehr vom Teller
Fun, experimental, weird, lovely. A grand old time, all hail Bowie
Great tunes
The way this album inspired future artists was palpable which was fascinating, but by the end it started to feel a bit same-y. Highs were strong (Changes, Oh! You Pretty Things, Life on Mars?, Quicksand), but the kooky silly voices in some of the low-lights (Song for Bob Dylan, Fill Your Heart, Andy Warhol) reached a point of "ok I've had enough" pretty quick. A pattern of gentle opening for 45 seconds into full orchestral chorus(?), calm for 45 seconds into full orchestral chorus a second time is sonically pleasant but got a bit boring.
Excellent front half, more like "Very good" back half. Though all the experimental songs there do eventually get goin'. Can hear echoes of later Bowie in the catchiness of the musings.
Un gros classique qui me délivre de ma torpeur de l'avant veille, comme quoi les dieux du générateur peuvent faire preuve de clémence. - Clément, je te reçois 5/5. Il semblerait y avoir un délai de huit jours entre le Québec et l'Europe, curieux... T'es un prof, alors! Ça explique les dissertations académiques à chaque albums, disons. Je suis aller lire ta critique de Viagr Aboys sur Mowno, Pour ma part, je ne suis qu'un petit bambin de 24 ans habitant dans la grande région de Montréal, gagnant sa croûte comme designer graphique et jouant de la basse pour déranger mes voisins. Dis-moi, est-ce qu'il y a un code secret pour apprécier Radiohead? Le générateur m'a fait passer tout leurs gros albums, et à part The Bends et Ok Computer, je vois pas la hype. Aussi, j'ai un problème personnel avec les Sonic Youth, qui ont intimidés mon journaliste musical préféré en '91 (https://youtu.be/pkQi-Gpatac?si=r_BF8DIAL27NA73v&t=344). Par contre, Pixies et Black Emperor, 👌. Bref, je me demandais, combien de temps par critiques tu te réserves à chaques jours? Aussi, quel est ton processus d'écoute des albums? Ok, à la prochaine!
On paper this does a lot that I typically don’t like. The vocals are raw and often lack tone control. The recording quality is on the lo-fi end of the spectrum, and the aren’t a ton of elements of interplay. Yet, this is my fave Bowie project this far. It’s grounded and makes great use of harmonization. Both guitar and piano bits stir emotions without doing too much. Listened to: walking to shuffleboard. Favorite tracks: Changes, Oh! You Pretty Things, Life on Mars?, Song for Bob Dylan, Queen Bitch
genius!
Liked it.
This is so fun and joyful
What’s the best pop song ever written and why is it Life on Mars?
Early Bowie isn’t my favorite - more of a Ziggy Stardust fan. But on Hunk Dory you can see his brilliance as a lyricist and songwriter. Changes is an all time classic. Also, on a more piano-driven album you can’t do any better than Rick Wakeman. 4⭐️