Reviews (page 9 of 15)
I am not that kind of fan of David Bowie's like most that see him as the greatest thing. But I can see what an influence he was and through an album like Hunky Dory being such a monster where the opening side is a near-perfect album side. 4/5
pretty cool, listened to it smoothly
Greta albums with some of his best work. Listenable from start to finish.
this guy was really, truly from another planet
OVERALL: There were some pretty damn good songs here. Changes, Oh! You Pretty Things, Life On Mars, Quicksand, and Queen Bitch are all extremely good songs, and have pretty much nothing wrong with them. They have very good instrumentation, vocals, and writing. Eight Line Poem, Kooks, Fill Your Heart, Song for Bob Dylan, and The Bewlay Brothers are fine songs, but they have something about them that I just don't like. The only "bad" song here is Andy Warhol, but it might just be not for me. It sounds too weird and experimental, and can be pretty annoying at times. SONG AVG: 7.77/10 PERSONAL RATING: 7.25/10 Changes: Very catchy, I like the piano and David Bowie's vocal performance. The instrumentation is good, but is a little bit basic. 9/10 Oh! You Pretty Things: The chorus hits harder than a 4 wheeler. Pretty good piano and message. 9.25/10 Eight Line Poem: Pretty good instrumentation, but it doesn't really stand out to me or have anything that interesting in it. I don't hate it, but it's a bit mid. 6/10 Life On Mars?: Fantastic. The piano, vocals, guitar, lyrics, everything is very well executed. 10/10 Kooks: Overall pretty solid. I guess it's pretty fun and a bit silly, but other than that it's fine. Also, fade out outro. 7/10 Quicksand: Pretty good piano and guitar, especially when the song picks up. It can get a little boring, but it doesn't stay that way for too long. Unfortunately, it has a fade out outro. 9.5/10 Fill Your Heart: Pretty fun and upbeat, the instruments are played very well, but David Bowie's singing can be annoying at times, why does that man sound like a fly. The piano is played extremely well, and the harmonica(?) transitions well into the next song. 7/10 Andy Warhol: Very experimental and weird, especially the intro. This song sounds like a dumpster fire accompanied by David Bowie's weird yodeling. Also, it ends with claps? I guess the guitar is nice and it's kinda catchy, but that's about it. 3.75/10 Song for Bob Dylan: I like the guitar and the melody is pretty nice, but it's just okay. 6.5/10 Queen Bitch: Really fun and the guitar is pretty good. Nice energy and the lyrics are pretty good. Nothing too bad about it, but the intro is kinda weird I guess. 9.75/10 The Bewlay Brothers: This can be so unbelievably boring, but the chorus is so very good. I don't understand what this song is about, or what the ending is supposed to be. Apparently it's about David Bowie's brother? Anyways, the song is carried by the chorus pretty heavily. 7.75/10
This was fun! I’ve been singing changes for like 24 hours now.
First half is definitely better than the second. But, maybe I'm just not weird enough to get it. 4
Great early Bowie! A little bit of everything he would dive into later to create his many personas. Rocker, out there artist, show tunes, space man, this one’s got it all. Including some of his best hits. Not quite a 5 because he’s got some clunkers (Andy Warhol???) but he seemed to break into a real interesting artistic place with writing on the piano for this album. Always a fun one to come back to. Saved Songs: Changes Oh! You Pretty Things Life on Mars? Queen Bitch
Lots a hidden gems, been wanting to explore Bowie more. Queen Bitch, Eight Line Poem, Kooks, and life on mars are favorites
4,3
Great album. David Bowie is that guy
One of the most interesting things for me in music is when an album that did ok when it came out suddenly rockets up the charts when the artist makes it big. This is one of those cases. Bowie had been made a star through Ziggy, but this album is better. And even if you don't think it's better, I think it's more representative of who David Bowie was. Honest (if more than slightly detached) and never staying in the same style or genre for very long. This was also sadly where he flirted with some weird and problematic ideas and imagery, which bit him in the arse when The Thin White Duke arrived (though I'm not sure Bowie actually believed in any of the stuff the Duke did). Tangent: The story about Bowie playing 'Andy Warhol' for Andy Warhol, them both sitting in awkward silence for a minute since it was clear that Andy didn't like it, and then Andy saying he liked Bowie's shoes to break the tension may be one of my favourite musical anecdotes ever. Favourite Song: Life on Mars Least Favourite: Quicksand (on a song level. It's interesting for lyrical analysis) Strong Bad Demerit Count: 1
jackanory
I'm not a particular fan of Bowie, but this album is great! It severely scratches 5 stars! 4,4 ;-)
Changes is a forever bop. New appreciation for Bowie’s lyricism, especially on Life on Mars? Start to see the evolution of Ziggy Stardust.
Un très bon album. Pas grand chose de plus à rajouter.
changes - I like the song, I found it fun and groovy Oh! you pretty things - At first I was not feeling it, then the chorus hit, I personally really like the chorus Eight line poem - Although I do like the instrumentals, didn't think it was anything special life on mars? - Felt like a punch to the face in a good way kooks - I liked the instruments, but didn't find the singing spectacular quicksand - Really like the guitar in this one, really well done fill your heart - I'm starting to get the "Bowie" sound with this one, I like the piano riffs and trumpets Andy Warhol - the guitar riff is cool, I really like the chromatism in the song; shootouts to Andy Warhol. Love Campbell soup. Song gets weird in the end Song for Bob Dylan - nothing too special imo Queen Bitch - yummy guitar; I love the tone of the guitar and playfulness of the song The Bewlay Brothers - A tad long, but still an enjoyable song Overall - literally have never listened to David Bowie, but I enjoyed it. I can totally see how this influenced a lot of other albums and artists. Would recommend
Love this album!! Heard many times
I like it
Not the biggest Bowie fan but had some decent tunes regardless.
Quite enjoyed this
yes good yes enjoy 4/5
I absolutely love Bowie, but this isn't my favorite Bowie album. This album isn't bad, it just doesn't stand out too much amongst his other works. But regardless, a Bowie album is always a pleasure to listen to
4.5
beautiful
7/10 love the textures in this and the whimsy. Some classics and glimpses of bowie's future as an artist.
2 classics and overall very good. Bowie has a deep catalog
Really good album from start to finish.
Some true classics and some I hadn't heard before. Great album.
4.5
9.5 ★★★★½
There's some great stuff here -- notably "Changes", "Life on Mars?", and "Queen Bitch" -- but I do think it sags in the middle a bit and isn't quite S-tier Bowie. 4.5 stars
A pretty, pretty, pretty, pretty, pretty, pretty, pretty, pretty, pretty good David Bowie album. Perhaps his first pretty good one that kickstarts the prettiest of 70s hot streaks. Probably only Pink Floyd and Steely Dan compare. Life On Mars? is a soaring, sensational standout. Changes, Oh You Pretty Things and Queen Bitch also top tier Bowie. It is not all Hunky Dory though. Eight Line Poem is a bit Hunky Snory whilst the Andy Warhol song and Belway Bros are incredibly Clunky Dory. Other than that though it’s pretty glamtastic and good.
Во-первых, я просто хочу Дэвида Боуи в любимых артистах. Во-вторых, это веселый альбом, который можно врубить в любой момент времени без угрозы для жизни, своей и окружающих. Лучшая песня - Changes.
One of the better Bowie albums. This might be the last one of his on the list. I came to like him more than I thought I would after listening to the 9 albums on the list. This one is a perfect one to close it off.
There are some iconic songs on here with Changes, Life on Mars and Oh you Pretty Things. But I thought the rest were mostly good but not great.
Kind of like Bowie doing Harry Nilsson. Still feels uniquely him and some of his best singles/oddities on here but he definitely only gets greater post this record.
Fun early Bowie
3.86/5 Me gusto
it’s a classic there’s not much to say
its david bowie. first half legendary, second not as good
Typical expected quality stuff from David Bowie. It's an impressive sound that is built on foundations of good songs from a basic harmony+melody standpoint. Bowie isn't someone who I listened to enough of and this was a pleasure. There's a lot of dynamic tracks on this, and throughout I'm hearing cool bits that sound like other bands. Little bit of the Beatles, little bit of the Rolling Stones, even a little Van Morrison at times. I think that's always been a plus for him and his sound; that he can effortlessly explore and try new things and be confident that it will come out sounding good. "Changes" is one of the best songs of this era, and I love that oddly syncopated chorus line. It's so unconventionally catchy. Strong 4/5.
This is the record where Bowie really becomes Bowie. His sound and personality start to take full shape here, and it feels like the beginning of something huge. The album is special, playful, emotional, and full of ideas. The team around him is just as important. Rick Wakeman’s piano is beautiful and classy, and Mick Ronson’s guitar and arrangements give the songs power and color. Bowie moves through different subjects and moods with ease, but the record always feels fun and alive. And of course... “Life on Mars?” One of the greatest songs ever recorded. Easily top-tier Bowie, and honestly one of the most perfect songs in music history. The vocals, the build-up, the strings... everything hits. Bowie’s voice on this album feels warm and full of life. His writing is sharp, emotional, and sometimes strange in the best way. You can tell he cares deeply about every detail, from the lyrics to the production choices. A legendary album, the moment where the future Bowie starts to truly show himself.
his 4th Album and he has yet to disappoint! He was just so smooth and never felt forced doing something more experimental. Salute to Bowie (4.0/5.0) slowly consider myself a fan of him
David Bowie is obviously an all-star, and there's not a bad song on the album, but as a cap A Album it's just ok. Lots of different songs with different sounds stuck together. Luckily, it's got Changes and Life on Mars, so even if everything were dogshit it would still be good.
Better than Ziggy for me
'changes' - GREAT start to an album, holy shit. immediate funk blast to the face. love the bass in the back. usually i think piano is jarring but it works here. 8/10 'oh you pretty things' - speaking about jarring piano...bowie sounds great here, though. a mild banger. 6.5/10 'eight line poem' - man WHAT are you talking about. gentle tune though. like it. but nothing interesting. 5/10 'life on mars' - come on now. 9/10 'kooks' - very bouncy. dare i say very abbey road. the piano is actually whimsical and entertaining here. title matches the song LOL. 7.5/10 'quicksand' - this song makes me want to sit in an old black leather chair and smoke a cigarette. 7/10 'fill your heart' - i actually adore the piano in a song for once holy shit. MUST go back to this on a sunny day. maybe an april. 8/10 'andy warhol' - another 'what are you talking about' song. still okay. this album is clearly pretty good. 6/10 'song for bob dylan' - Yeah. much more going on in this song than the others. very elton john to me. 7.5/10 'queen bitch' - i didnt expect anything impressive in the last half so im thoroughly surprised. 8/10 'the belway brothers' - man. what a closer. nothing to say. great album 8.5/10
Would I listen again: no Best track: life on mars Worst track: Eight line Poem. Surprise awesome track: oh! You pretty things. Weirdest track: quicksand Lyrics: aces. Great amazing. No skips?: no Cover art cool?: yea it’s cool. Notes: Very excited for this. Love Bowie but never got into deep tracks with him. Musicianship on Bowie music and the sounds are so great. Uch changes such a beautiful song. Never realized how Dylan esque some of his vocal choices were. I love yhe chords and music in Oh. You pretty things. Love the phaser piano on eight line poem. Uch life on mars such a perfect song. The ending is pure Lennon McCartney. All songs on this album are good that’s the baseline some are unforgettable and craveable Nd others are just good. Happy to listen but if I never heard it again I’d be fine. The problem is the amazing songs are so amazing it makes other great songs only seem good in comparison.
This isn't my favorite Bowie, but it's close, and has a few of his best songs in "Changes," "Oh You Pretty Things," "Life on Mars?," and "Queen Bitch." For me the rest of the songs generally don't quite hold up, though it's a really strong well crafted album. On the right day, if I'm feeling those other songs, this could be a five star album for me.
If there is Life On Mars, it won't be the same without David Bowie. Favorite Song: "Life On Mars?"
Fan of some of the tracks but not all, bewlay brothers, life on mars, song for bob dylan and oh you pretty things are great :)
Really enjoyed this, Some tracks weren't doing it for me. But changes and Life on Mars were always getting at least 4 on this one
Almost a 5 star album, if not for a couple skips. Still a fantastic LP, containing perhaps the most quintessential Bowie track in Life on Mars.
Some fun songs.
<3 love David Bowie
Vakker musikk, med en klassisk bowie-sjarm. Snuser veldig på 5eren, men blir trekt ned av noen litt middels låter. Favoritt: life on mars
It’s about to be writ again - Bowie is awesome. Life on mars to me is such a beautiful song. Looking forward to listening to the lesser known tracks - hopefully not just filler. Great stuff. Queen Bitch is a great tune. Bowie is awesome. Easy 4 not sure about a 5. Nope this is a 4 - sorry David.
Good album! My favourite Bowie album so far
Amazing first half, gets dumb when he starts to name drop.
Good. Classic Bowie. Four stars, man.
A classic. Pretty good.
I liked this album way more than I thought I would! All together-
Oh yesss, uf de Dave hani mi scho vo Ahfang gfreud. Die tüüfi fründschaft vom Dave und mir bestaht erst sit Rotterdam 23. Aber so tüüf, dass er sich letzt Jahr grad ufs Podest als meistglosste Künstler katapultiert het. De Dave hani versuecht ufe und abe z lose und usezfinde welli vo sine unzählige lieder au wükli sehr geil sind, und trotzdem isch mer Hunky Dory nie wükli nöcher cho und han bis uf 2 lieder no keis kennt. Immerno grandiosi Musig, spassig, hüpfig, gueti luhne bringend, aber keis vo mine top 5 lieblings-Bowie-Albe. Aber wie immer bim Bowie isch jedes Album für sich spannend, dur welli Phasene er alles gange isch. Trotzdem isch das Album no unglaublich guet und git stolzi 4 Sternestaub
David bowie, kenn ich hauptsächlich vo es paar hits - wo mir au super gfalled -und finde ihn sehr sympa und ein stylisher typ. Ersti richtigi berührig zu ihm dur „Wir kinder vom Bahnhof Zoo“. Aso au ambivalent zwüsche musikalisch krass und drugs-addiction bezoge. anyway, ich erhoff mir eigentli insgeheim amigs, dass mir d lieder besser gfalled als sie dünd. Scho nice und ich gseh mich au i de 80er dur dunkli Strasse vonere grossstadt laufe. Eich e klassische fall vu 3.5 puntos.
supi gsi wär stylisch 5* gäh, aber weni ehrlich bin sinds eher 4* :)
There's a couple clunkers here - almost every Bowie album has one or two, to keep it interesting - but the highs are stratospheric. I'd give it 4.5, but I can't say it's near enough to perfect to give it 5 as an overcompensation.
really enjoyed it
I don't think I can say anything about David Bowie that hasn't been said before and probably a lot better then I can. I knew and like several of the songs on this album including one of my favorite Bowie songs (Life on Mars?). While not every song is equally good there is more than enough here to like.
A stone cold classics. Changes, Oh You Pretty Things are phenomenal. Would give it a full 5 but I know I have Ziggy and Low to come which I like a lot lot more. The end of the Bowie whimsy
Oh man look at those cavemen go
Great stuff! Bowie is a welcome joy and empathetic voice as ever. His songs never get old. Life on Mars is my favorite Bowie song and that really flavors my thoughts about this important album.
Favorite tracks: Changes, Quicksand. Versatile, great production. Bowie sounds great on this one.
Pretty much my only complaint about this album, and it’s something I’ve felt since my first listen of this years ago, is how very inconsistent it is. Not inconsistent in the sense that there are bad songs on here, rather, that the highs are unbelievably high, while the rest of the album is either good or just solid. A lot of this divide is within the two halves of the album. The first four songs (with the exception of the third) are genuinely perfect songs that are not only representative of Bowie as an artist, but of the direction rock went in in the ‘70s as a whole. After that, there are certainly great songs, most notably with the closer, but for the most part, I would consider the second half of “Hunky Dory” to be largely forgettable, at least in the grand scheme of Bowie’s work. Like I said before, the highs are as high as Bowie would ever get, but the consistency just isn’t there. Even though not every song on Ziggy Stardust blows you away, the baseline level of consistent quality is much higher than it is on here. Obviously that’s just an indication that Bowie was progressing as a songwriter, but as it stands, this album is still great because anything that has Life On Mars? on it is bound to be pretty special.
Rock. Pretty good, with some absolute classics, along with a few songs that didn’t quite hit. Very good though.
Go to the dance with Bowie after he passed. Was not a big fan of the stuff I grew up hearing on the radio…namely Dancing in the Streets turned me off. His early stuff is better and Queen Bitch is an ear worm.
While I'm a biiiiiiiit iffy on some of the more poppy and underdeveloped tunes here (but that might be a contrarian living in me), the epic scale and songwriting on the best moments here is nothing short of great. TVU influences, fantastic vocal performances, just loads of fun. Oh and obviously Life on Mars? is like one of the greatest pieces of music ever conceived or whatever but I sure hope I don't need to explain that one to anyone.
This project has been a Bowie education. Didn't know Changes was his. For 1971 this sounds very refreshing. 3-4* Highlights: changes, life on mars
Decent music, good separation, some songs I recognized. Prob not something I'd go out of my way to sit down and listen to
FIRE. I think a great introduction to Bowie. I just love how he can take like barely any instrumentation and turn it into a genuinely interesting sound. Found the middle a little dull but it picked back up and the beginning was peak as hell. Fav Songs: Life on Mars?, Changes, Andy Warhol, The Bewlay Brothers
Obra maestra entre uno de los maestros del Rock. Se ha escrito tanto de ella que es mejor escucharla y disfrutar de ella. Otros discos de 1971: Led Zeppelin - Led Zeppelin IV, Marvin Gaye - What's Going On?, The Rolling Stones - Sticky Fingers, The Who - Who's Next, Don Mclean- American Pie, John Lennon – Imagine, T. Rex - Electric Warrior, Sly and the Family Stone - There's a Riot Goin' On, The Allman Brothers Band - At Fillmore East, Nick Drake - Bryter Layter, Can - Tago Mago, Black Sabbath - Master of Reality, Rod Stewart - Every Picture Tells a Story, Carole King - Tapestry, Leonard Cohen - Songs of Love and Hate, Paul and Linda McCartney - Ram, Funkadelic - Maggot Brain Flamin' Groovies - Teenage Head, Faces - A Nod Is As Good As a Wink... to a Blind Horse, The Doors - L.A. Woman, The Beach Boys - Surf's Up RORY GALLAGHER - Deuce, NINA SIMONE - Here comes the sun, IKE & TINA TURNER - Workin' together, BADFINGER - Straight up ,Jethro Tull - Aqualung, Janis Joplin - Pearl, David Crosby - If I Could Only Remember My Name, Pete Dello and Friends - Into your ears, Santana - Santana III Gene Clark - Gene Clark/White Light, Van Morrison - Tupelo Honey Joni Mitchell- Blue, Nilsson - Nilsson Schmilsson, Elton John - Madman Across the Water, Al Green-Al Green Gets Next to You, Kevin Ayers – Whatevershebringswesing, Sixto Rodriguez - Coming From Reality...
Pretty good album with lots of his best songs
David Bowie ist einer der von mir als Jugendlicher verschmähten Künstler. Ich habe Anfang der 70er Deep Purples In Rock gehört, da war Bowie mir zu leise. Was soll ich sagen, schön doof. Interessantes, abwechslungsreiches Album, dazu mit Life on Mars? einem von Bowies schönsten Titeln.
David Bowie. Got a lot of his greatest racks on it, Changes and Life on a Mars being the best. Really interesting overall, a couple of songs that don't quite land but it doesn't detract from the album. It is very one-note instrumentally, which changes on his future albums.
2632 - Well produced pop rock with wonderful arrangements. The vocals are obviously some of the best of this era and it has a few of the best songs of the 70s. A
"Life on Mars" is one of the greatest songs of all time.
It sounds like 2nd rate Beatles to me. 2nd rate Beatles is still pretty good. Favorite song: changes.
Fantastic album. I can’t give it a 5, but I give it a very high 4.
Full of good tracks
Never been a Bowie fan but this was actually surprisingly good LP.
Great album. Life on Mars is such an amazing song
He’s pretty creative, of course, but I don’t really enjoy sitting through the album.
3.5★. First half starts out strong with songs like Changes, Oh! You Pretty Things, Life on Mars? and Quicksand, but the second doesn't maintain that level of, uh, fascination. But then the album closes with The Bewlay Brothers, a superstellar closer with a mysterious power that redeems the entire thing (WE WERE SO TURNED ON... by your lack of conclusions...!!!)
The first of many excellent Bowie albums
Arguably Bowie's best album. I prefer Black Star and I'll die on that hill, but this is still an incredible record
much better than blackstar, classic 60s-70s rock
Some great songs and a few oddballs. Love Bowie
Changes och Life on Mars? är enastående bra låtar, det visste jag sen tidigare. Inte lyssnat jättemycket på Bowie generellt och efter en första genomlyssning så tyckte jag nog att resterande var sådär. Gav mig dock fan på att verkligen ge den chansen och den växte helt klart efter totalt 5-6 lyssningar. I princip alla låtar är bra förutom Oh you pretty things, Kooks och Fill your heart som är svagare och/eller lite jobbiga.
Quite good, I liked the hits (life on mars, changes) overall not the best Bowie
8/10
This feels so Bowie and so good. It was cohesive made sense and was fun. Musically everything worked together and had such a unique beautiful quality. Love Changes, Pretty Things and Queen Bitch
I like about half the songs on this album. The other half are not bad. Favorites are Changes, Oh You Pretty Things, and Queen Bitch.
This is easily my favorite Bowie album so far in this project. Love the musical compositions and lyrics and emotions. I like that the piano is featured in a lot of it, and the layers it adds. Just a quality album overall, and feels very David Bowie!
# Playlist Track - Life On Mars? # Notes - Hard to pick a favourite for this! I already knew half the album, but "Kooks" was a pretty cool surprise! - Creative, interesting, fun throughout.
just great, a lot of iconic stuff on this album
mmm me likey the tunes
Very enjoyable album with a few great hits!
Clean, pleasant, it stands out reaching higher levels when compared to most of the other albums so far
Great listen. I was expecting more but I know that not every album is gonna be a masterpiece. This has some solid songs throughout to compensate. David Bowie's sound never deteriorates and it just keeps going forward. Best - Changes, Oh! You Pretty Things, Life on Mars, Quicksand, and Song for Bob Dylan Worst - Eight Line Poem and Andy Warhol 3.50-3.75/5
Var en vibe, en del sanger jeg ikke hadde hørt fra bowie
Pretty good album. I already knew and liked a couple of the tracks: Changes and Life On Mars?. After another listen I got into some other tracks like "Oh! Your Pretty Things" and "Queen Bitch". Interesting that people regard this album as the one where "Bowie became Bowie" (where he settled into his sound). Also interesting that it didn't become popular until after the next album was released (Ziggy).
Three classic songs, plus a bunch of others that sound like they could be Ziggy outtakes or B-sides. Still, that isn't half bad, right?
While Kooks and Fill Your Heart have that jangly, late-60s Brit rock sound that is unmistakably dated and doesn't hold up all that well, the classic singles (Changes, Life on Mars, Queen Bitch) really elevate this, and some of the tracks I knew less well have that wonderfully alien, timeless Bowie feel (Andy Warhol, Oh! You Pretty Things). So...uneven--but still great.
really good bowie album, some of my favorites are on this project
Any David Bowie album is a safe bet for a good item. There were a few tracks here that were excellent, but I'd heard most of them many times before. The interleaving tracks were a little quiet and slow, or just not very noteworthy. Life On Mars is probably my all-time-favorite Bowie track. Four stars.
This is a great album.
I'm not sure how many Bowie albums we've had at this point, maybe 5? Anyway, this was definitely one of the better ones. You have the hits with "Changes" and "Life on Mars". "Life on Mars" is a really cool song, I remember listening to it when I saw the BBC tv series with the same name. Actually I found a lot of music from that show, wonder if it still is any good. Anyway the rest of the songs are ok but it's no Ziggy Stardust. Some are actually really good that I hadn't heard before like "Queen Bitch". Bang in the middle 4 for me.
Bowie delivers. That's it. Unique style. Definite breakthrough in 1971. 4.5/5.
I own the CD of this album, and I've listened to it before. Even before I got the CD. One thing I really like about this album is its ability to fuse the (at the time) new sound of glam rock with the well-established sixties sounds of baroque pop and more traditional pop rock, while also bringing some new (once again, at the time) sounds to the table. A majority of the album is piano driven, similar to what Elton John was doing at the time, and what Billy Joel would do soon after. The lyrics are especially good, with recurring philosophical aspects. They were relevant when the album was released, and much of them can still be applied to today's world.
Much preferred this over the newer material he's put out. 4/5
Formidable
3.5
Het album schiet krachtig uit de startblokken maar gaat halverwege wat sukkelen. Plaatkant 1: aha, eindelijk eens een onbetwist meesterwerk van David Bowie in de vorm van Life on Mars, en nog meer goed spul. Plaatkant 2: mwah, vulling en namedropping. Maar zeker niet slecht, al met al.
Sounds like being sad or introspective at an event where you're supposed to be having fun and then having complicated feelings about that. Life on Mars? Kind of carries. There's good songs other than LoM? But nothing comes close to how good that song is Legendary Song: Life on Mars? Great Songs: Changes, Kooks, Queen Bitch, The Bewlay Brothers, Oh! You Pretty Things, Andy Warhol Mid Songs: Quicksand, Fill Your Heart, Eight Line Poem, Song for Bob Dylan Low 8-high 7
The Breakfast Club is one of my favorite movies and I love the use of "Changes" thematically in the film. I don't listen to David Bowie but I respect his contributions to music and appreciate his sense of optimism.
It's like art.
Nice album with some solid tracks. Gets a Bowie bump I think but I like this one.
The inclusion of the keys and Bowie clearly finding his voice right before ziggy stardust makes this album so enjoyable. Changes and life on mars are the clear standouts but personally eight line poem was on repeat, what a beautifully produced song
Probably the least pretentious and folkiest Bowierecord. Contains two of the best songs ever written in Life on Mars? and Changes.
You can hear him becoming Ziggy Stardyst on this album. So many great songs.
Thank you Shrek 2 for making me seek out Bowie at a young age, and also confusing me about Black Sabbath's song also titled Changes.
Bowie’s best works were his earlier ones hands down
hes cool i like his music. i'll probably have most of his discography listened to before this website gives me another one his albums
This one took me a few listens to appreciate. At first I wasn’t sure about it, but it’s growing on me with each listen. On my first listen through I was a little confused at critics calling this the album where “Bowie begins to sound like Bowie,” because a lot of it sounded to me like retreads of The Beatles or Velvet Underground. But I suppose lyrically it does begin to introduce us to the weird themes Bowie would explore during the Ziggy Stardust and Aladdin Sane periods. While Bowie was a master of stealing from his influences to create a pastiche, which is on display here explicitly as he name drops people like Andy Warhol, Bob Dylan, and Lou Reed, what can’t be overstated is this album’s influence on future musicians. The high-pitched two note guitar part at the end of “Andy Warhol” clearly influenced The Cure’s “10:15 Saturday Night” — they idolized Bowie. And if you haven’t seen Robert Smith perform “Quicksand” with Bowie on his birthday special, go to YouTube immediately — this is also where Smith met Bowie’s guitarist, Reeves Gabrels, who now plays in the current iteration of The Cure. The one that blew my mind the most was “Queen Bitch.” Do these lyrics seem familiar? And I’m phoning a cab Cause my stomach feels small There’s a taste in my mouth And it’s no taste at all It could’ve been me Yeah it could’ve been me It’s impossible that this isn’t a direct influence for The Killers’ “Mr. Brightside,” which blew my mind the first time I heard this album and realized I’ve been listening to that song for 20 years without realizing it. And that’s what’s fun about this 1001 albums project — even if I don’t always love the albums on here, it’s really cool to see the direct lines through music history once you understand it. Also, “Oh! You Pretty Things” influenced the author who wrote The Tomorrow People, which was adapted into a kids’ show I watched growing up on Nickelodeon. I’m pretty sure it also influenced the song “All You Pretty Things” by one of my favorite artists, Darren Hayes. 4/5 — I’m not sure I love every single moment of this album, but there’s some really good stuff here. Aside from classics like “Changes” and “Life on Mars,” there’s a lot of experimentation and interesting lyrics, and it’s a fascinating stroll through music history.
Was so happy to see this album come up. One of my life goals is to listen to more Bowie. Changes is an all time fave! Discovered other songs I really like too. Andy Warhol Song for Bob Quicksand Such a great sound and beautifully engineered album. Would give it five stars but this was a first time listen.
Hunky Dory may be when Bowie gave the middle finger to anyone telling him how he should sound or what he should do. So many genres and influences are identifiable and he owns them all. My fave track is Song for Bob Dylan.
Brilliant
Classic
Like this one more than 'Young Americans'. Fave Songs 'Changes' & 'The Bewlay Brothers' 4/5
I don't listen to Bowie much, but really should. Glad this forced me to listen to a full album. I love his descriptive writing style and enjoy the music.
Bowie 😀
++: Oh! You Pretty Things, Life on Mars?, Quicksand, Fill Your Heart, Song for Bob Dylan +: Changes, Eight Line Poem, Kooks, And Warhol, Queen Bitch, The Bewlay Brothers 8,5/10
Cool
Great music
Possibly my favourite Bowie album
Not as good as “Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders From Mars,” but up there as one of the better David Bowie albums I’ve heard in this project (up to five or six now?) Although I always have somewhat mixed feelings about Bowie, he definitely has a unique and creative sound, which will almost always have me give it the benefit of the doubt. Favorite track: Life On Mars
Always felt this album was a little weird, in that it doesn’t have a particular style when compared to what came before (the man who sold the world - guitar heavy) and what followed (Ziggy stardust - glam rock perfection) so an album of transition for me. Bowie bypassed the guitar for the better stuff (writing life on Mars, changes snd oh, you pretty things on piano) and using guitar some of the stuff that I liked less (Andy Warhol, sing for Bob Dylan etc) but the songwriting genius is here. Take Changes. Moody sax riff leads to Rick Wakeman’s piano starting the verse in an almost vaudeville melody before the chorus brings in sleek saxophones and rocking guitars. Versev2 starts with this low piano rumbling that’s just exceptional and when Bowie comes in with that whispered ‘oooh yeah’ he becomes the coolest person since Elvis took the stage. Not in Bowie’s top 5 albums for me, but way ahead of what everyone else was up to 4.5/5
Really Interesting and well made record but not something I’d listen to again probably
Love this Bowie era. The more I listen to this album, the more I like it.
David Bowie>>>
goat
Finally, 211 albums in and we get some Bowie going. Outside of the individual album ranking, David Bowie is one of a few true solo artists who should be given 5 stars for his career, not just any one album. While Hunky Dory is an artsy, boundry-pushing, expressive rock (kinda) album, he truly went crazy with it over the years. For example, in 1997 he did an electronic BREAKCORE ALBUM that honestly holds up pretty well for what it is. Anyways Fill Your Heart on Hunky Dory is my sleeper highlight here. STRONG 4 stars here. Truly an honor to have walked the earth at the same time as David Bowie
01) Changes - 10,0 02) Oh! You Pretty Things - 8,0 03) Eight Line Poem - 7,5 04) Life On Mars? - 10,0 05) Kooks - 8,5 06) Quicksand - 7,5 07) Fill Your Heart - 8,0 08) Andy Warhol - 7,5 09) Song For Bob Dylan - 7,5 10) Queen Bitch - 8,0 11) The Bewlay Brothers - 8,0 TOTAL: 8,23 (82/100)
neanche da commentare. capolavoro.
Favourite songs: Changes, Queen Bitch, Andy Warhol, Song for Bob Dylan, Life on Mars? Least favourite songs: Eight Line Poem 4/5
Wasn't sure about this once I heard it was mainly written on and focused more on piano than guitar, but it's still Bowie doing his thing. It's lighter and poppier than the stuff he's done that I prefer, so not my favorite of his albums. That being said, there is a lot going on that that is so well done that I did find myself enjoying it more than expected.
since a semi-recent revisit of ziggy stardust i have been suspecting that as much as bowie is up my alley, its a tiny bit too late for me and him...as in, if i had put in the effort to get rly into his records beyond cursory listens when i was a teen, he could have ended up as a super mega important artist for me, and i have to wonder if the window for his music to be Revelatory has passed me by. i guess only time will tell if thats true (i hope it isnt, it seems like a cool discog and id love the motivation to rly sink into it), but as a concession i have found it far easier to enjoy his music Casually then when i was younger. this is no exception ofc, i suppose if anything sticks out its how much specificity it has for what could still be called a "transitional" album...and incredibly intimate too for all the theatrics, just about every song feels like bowie alone at the piano with all the other instruments as swirling figments of his imagination. lots of great Transitions Into Choruses. surprisingly rly nice compliment to the dingy cloudy morning (aka the ideal morning) outside my window rn
Did the killers take inspiration from Queen Bitch for Mr Brightside??! Was it a reference all this time?! I was glad to get this since I really don't know Bowie as well as I should. It's hard to describe the feeling of the album, especially mixed with the day walking around my hometown in the sun. At first it wasn't quite as bold as I expected, somehow, but I realised it was still totally unique. I can't imagine anyone else doing this.
I've made some *changes* to my opinion about David Bowie after this album. As you can see, time may change me.
Oh you pretty thing is gud Changes is gud too
Previously rated: The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars (4/5) Aladdin Sane (3/5) The Next Day (3/5) Young Americans (3/5) Station to Station (3/5) ************************************************************************* Pretty good Bowie album. Lots of variety.
Good job, David. 4.5
Boowwwiieeee
Gefällt mir durchs Band *****
Realmente extraordinario este album. No estaba al tanto de su existencia y tampoco estaba al tanto de los temazos que contiene. Sin duda es de los mas cercanos al 5 que escuche junto al de Nick Cave y algun otro. Gran experiencia caminando y transitando las calles de Buenos Aires.
Changes will always command my attention, and I was happy to find a couple more tracks I'd never heard before that caught me. I dont know what happens at the end with these weird loveletter songs, but you know what, Song for Bob Dylan wasnt bad, its just weird.
Lots of great Bowie songs on here! There’s a couple of cringy tracks sucking up to other artists near the end of the album that bump it down a star but overall it’s a great album
Generally, a solid album. Changes, Oh! You Pretty Things, Life on Mars, are songs I've loved for quite a long time, and Andy Warhol was a surprise new song that I really enjoyed. Other songs, particularly in the middle portion, were of more middling quality, and the album did feel a little bloated as a result. And god, The Bewlay Brothers is so underrated. It's a brilliant song to end out the album. Bibbity-bobbity hat. Musicality: 7/10 Musicality: Well-executed with noticeable skill and talent. Lyricism: 7/10 Good lyrics that add depth and interest to the songs. Production Quality: 6/10 Good; well-mixed and clear. Artistic Expression: 8/10 Highly innovative and groundbreaking, with a powerful artistic voice. Cohesiveness and Flow: 5/10 Fairly cohesive, but not particularly memorable. Replay Value: 7/10 High; many tracks are enjoyable to revisit. Overall: 6.7/10 If Kooks, Quicksand, Fill Your Heart were removed and Eight Line Poem was shifted or removed entirely, the rating might range as high as 7.8-8.2/10.
I liked the structure of songs and his voice is so interesting. I just didn’t find this album as enjoyable and engaging as ziggy stardust which was too bad
This guy is good, I wonder if he put anything else out
Not my favorite ever but still a really solid Bowie album with some all timers on there. Previous criticisms of 70s electronica apply here, but to a lesser degree.
Great album but It didn't blow me up. 4/5
Love the many versions of David Bowie
Pretty groovy album by David here.
8/10 Excellent stuff. Bowie really being Bowie, a great balance of known bangers, more downtempo, and a tiny bit of experimentation This album is clearly still relevant and influencing artists today What a start, first few songs are hit after hit Backs off slightly in the middle, so not getting a perfect score Ends strongly Best: Life On Mars
I enjoyed this a LOT more than I enjoyed Aladdin Sane. "Changes", "Life on Mars" and "Queen Bitch" are all fan favorites for good reason but I ended up really enjoying "Oh! You Pretty Things" as well.
Lotta BANGERS here. I need to return to this album for sure.
Good album, I liked most of the songs- the second to last two songs were iffy though
Not the best Bowie but Queen Bitch alone, hot dang.
It was pretty nice, with some really good songs
For a long time, this was my favorite Bowie album (and of course it's still up there in the Top 3). The first time I heard "Oh! You Pretty Things", I was floored. That beautiful, bopping, bare-bones piano and that anthemic chorus, a call to action and to awareness. Every moment of this album is perfect, even "Eight Line Poem", which is actually a kind of snapshot eight-line poem comparing the city to a wart. The piano just reigns on this album, from the opening right on through the incomparable "Life on Mars?", ending with full symphonic, orchestral strings just giving us our altitude. This album will break your heart one moment and make you dance the next. While you're sinking in the quicksand of your thoughts, remember in that moment of powerlessness that "knowledge comes with death's release."
A classic for good reason, a little overlooked sometimes for bigger hits. Let down a little by one or two duds, the bob Dylan song in particular 4*
The only Bowie album I own and have listened to before. Solid
Some classics and the rest didn't grate, so I'm on board with this one.
I liked Changes, Oh! You Pretty Things,ife on Mars? And The Bewlay Brothers. Can't go wrong with David Bowie.
I now believe that this is the last of the 9 Bowie albums. I can safely say I am completely eh on him. I enjoyed this quite a bit but I don't think he needed to be on here 9 times. Maybe 3 or 4 max. He's a perfectly fine artist but his music never really clicked with me. This album is one that did and maybe it's because it has that late 60s early 70s sound.
Very good
MAKE WAY FOR THE HOMO SUPERIOR! -The Sovereign
Was not expecting to like it this much. Changes is a great, great song. The rest of the album is paced well and the piano is great. Sold 4+.
Love the first few songs of this album
This one was already a favorite by Bowie, so I enjoyed my listen.
I listened to this a Dylan's Time out of Mind at the same time. The contrast was amazing. One huge talent that had become boring and irrelevant, contrasting with largely unknown beginning to show the genius that bloom into Ziggy and Aladdin. Life on Mars by far the best track. And Rik Wakeman's keyboards are out of this world. A few bummers to, but the boy was still learning.
4/5
I’ve tried Bowie in the past and always found him a bit too eccentric. This was definitely the right entry point for me. His unique style showed but in a way that felt approachable. Very glad I gave this a spin
it’s really good better than what i thought
Yeah flat out classic. Enjoyed it. Some of the piano chords were quite weird. Changes is such a powerful song to hear again and especially during pride month.
Love me some David Bowie. This album was pretty good but not earth shattering. Some good diverse songs to keep the album from growing stale and a couple of great hits. 7/10 (3.5/5)
Great iconic album by David Bowie.
Lo tengo escuchado, me enxanta
Great album by a great man!
Classic. Bowie rules.
I’m starting to get more into Bowie from this list. Great album
He's just a very good artist, isn't he? Not generally my style of music but I'll be revisiting this album.
This was a remarkable album put forth by Bowie, simultaneously being ahead of his time and exhibiting the quintessential sounds of the 70s and 80s. Notable Tracks: Changes Oh! You Pretty Things Life on Mars? Quicksand Fill Your Heart (incredible sax and piano runs on this track) Queen Bitch (catchy with elements of Queen and Bob Dylan) 8/10
I guess things are Hunky Dory after all! Though not the biggest Bowie fan, a great listen and definitely an album one needs to have heard front to back in one's lifetime. Also, when will they answer the question if there's life on Mars??!??!!!!??
Before he transformed himself into the alien rockstar Ziggy Stardust, and evolved into one of the most eclectic and creative minds working in the 20th century, David Bowie was just another glam rock artist. Probably not too far off from what you would hear in the early 70s from other artists. But I think most people would agree that after the release of Hunky Dory, it was already clear Bowie was above the caliber of those other artists. You can already feel the potential that wasn’t being fully tapped into on this album. Of course it thankfully wouldn’t take very long for him to realize that potential. Hunky Dory is still a really solid album. It sort of feels like the less conceptual baby brother to Ziggy Stardust. You can hear where he really started to experiment with more art rock based sounds, which would only devolve further and further into madness as he experimented even more. I think the lack of some type of narrative actually lends to certain parts of this being less interesting though. This album also immediately puts itself out there. Changes is such an amazing opening track, and it kind of makes the rest of the album seem a little plain in comparison. Of course, there are definitely other highlights. I always imagined that the previously mentioned song would be one of his more popular, but maybe I believed that because of its inclusion in Shrek 2. Although I do not remember the cover version in that movie sounding so bad. Life on Mars? is actually the most popular song on here, which I can understand. An interesting aspect of this album that I really enjoyed is how full the acoustic guitars sound. It really saves those acoustic parts, and makes them sound beautiful. Overall, Hunky Dory continues to deepen my respect for Bowie, and prove to me how far ahead of the curve this man always was. Rating: 7/10
Don’t love every track, but I definitely love some of them
Changes & Life on Mars are classics. Whole album has more piano than expected, but it works. Andy Warhol is a bit strange, but kind of funky. Is Life on Mars the conceptual beginning of Ziggy Stardust persona and whole space opera themes? Album as a whole is good. Maybe a 6.5/10, with the two singles being 8 or 9/10.
This is the best Bowie album by quite a bit. This is excellent.
Incredible stuff by David Bowie. He just knew how to push the envelope in so many different directions on the same album. Some real bangers.
I think I enjoy Bowie when he's a bit more grounded. I like Ziggy Stardust but this might be my favorite album of his. 4.5/5
Hunky Dory, an album by David Bowie, is a piano-based masterpiece that showcases his more melodic side. The album's tracks are characterised by intricate piano arrangements and catchy melodies, demonstrating Bowie's diverse musical talents. His voice is clear and confident throughout, guiding listeners through a journey of introspection and self-discovery. The songs on Hunky Dory lay the groundwork for Bowie's future persona as Ziggy Stardust, with hints of the flamboyant style and theatricality that would define his later work. Tracks like Changes and Life on Mars? stand out as timeless classics, blending introspective lyrics with memorable hooks. Bowie's songwriting on this album is both poetic and introspective, exploring themes of identity, fame, and the human condition. The album's production is polished yet retains a sense of raw authenticity, capturing the essence of Bowie's artistic vision. Overall, Hunky Dory remains a pivotal album in Bowie's discography, showcasing his evolution as a musician and laying the foundation for the groundbreaking work to come. NUMBER OF BANGERS - 5 STAND OUT TRACK - Queen Bitch
Nú mun ég uppskera vandlætingarsvip frá einhverjum með því að viðurkenna að oft á tíðum finnst mér David Bowie frekar leiðinlegur tónlistarmaður nema einstaka lög sem mér hafa þótt skemmtileg. Þannig að ég hef ekki lagt það á mig að hlusta á hann en svo kemur þessi plata og hún er bara stórgóð. Ég hef örugglega misst af miklu með þessum fordómum mínum. Ég er greinilega þessi leiðinlegi.
I may be getting David Bowie fatigue at this point in the list but I can still appreciate this album at least. Not as crazy and innovative as others of his but still enjoyable with changes and life on mars as the standout.
Awesome and a bit goofy
Bowie is so solid. No album has been a 5, but they all have at least one banger. Changes rocks.
4.5
3.5 stars rounded up. Singles are the standouts, but there is also plenty of chaff like the songs named after people, which are skippable.
Yes
I was pleasantly surprised to be recommended a David Bowie album today. While most people divert their attention to "The Rise And Fall Of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars" or "Heroes," Bowie's early work is innovative and plentiful too. "Hunky Dory" is an all-in-one package. In addition to the famous "Life In Mars", it contains the classics "Changes" and "Oh You Pretty Things." I've got no complaint about the album in general. Great piece of work.
The album as whole is quite amazing. Wildest sounds I’ve heard in an awhile and while there are definite queer undertones for some of the songs. I feel this album being the first to really take off Bowie as a whole. I love to see the inspiration he takes from Bob Dylan, Andy Warhol and The Velvet Underground. You can really see his talent and energy start to take off. I do seem to really draw more towards the first half of the album with songs like Life on Mars or Oh! You Pretty Things. I still see how this album is one of the greats and really stands the test of time. It still having some of the more cheerful and also thought provoking songs making it this really great piece.
Great album. Standout songs: Oh you pretty things Andy Warhol The Bewlay Brothers
Solid album front to back from one of music’s greatest to do it.
Great opening song with "changes". Absolute classic. Pretty things is very beatle-esque to me. Good track. Heavily piano driven which i like with a catchy chorus. Life on mars? need i say. What a belter. Makes you want to get out of your chair and sing from the rooftops. Plus it always reminds me of the BBC TV show. Overall a solid album with a few 5/5 tracks. Rating 4/5.
It’s tempting to give 5 stars for Life on Mars? and Changes (or even just LoM? on it’s own) but pound for pound this doesn’t quite hit the elite tier consistency of Bowie’s next album. Still an excellent, charming record with a good balance of melodic accessibility and compelling weirdness, though. 4.5
80/100 Best Songs: Life on Mars, Changes
Probably a 4.5 for me. I question if I will return to this album, so it get a 4.
Ch-ch-ch-chip 'n Dale ♪ (Turn and face the strange) ♪ It's just so nice on the ears
Jeg tror at det her er en af de første Bowie plader "jeg forstår".
1st time listening to this album. Side two is a different kind of Bowie for me but I really liked it.
I pogged so hard when oh! you pretty things went from rolling to rocking. Insane moment. Overall I love love love this album. Each song fits together very well while also being an unique experience in its own right. My favorites are definitely the first two tracks on this album and the only song I was iffy on was 8 line poem. This album is incredible man.
A lot of nice songs
There are some damn good Bowie albums before Hunky Dory, but this is the first *great* one. Not my absolute favorite, but truly fantastic. 4.5/5
This one is a classic. Bowie's catalog has something for everyone, and it's too hard to pick a favorite. Hunky Dory fits perfectly in the time in which it was released, 1971. Such a great year for music.
This is one of those albums that needs some time to really settle in; I have not heard it before, but it is evident there is an effort to make something special and push the boundaries of conventional pop songwriting. First exposure may appear to go off on tangents, but subsequent listens allows one to hear how each piece of the puzzle fits into the whole, and the original sprawling melodic lines and chord structures reveal more intention. Indeed, I had to re-write my review after the second listen. There are enough left turns in melody, chords, production, and instrumentation to keep the listener's interest, if you like less-conventional song writing as I do. Calling out his influences by name (e.g., John Lennon and Andy Warhol) helps to focus the listener on Bowie's particular grounding while immediately pushing those ambitions to the next level. Somehow he distills glam out from hard rock, theatrics out of theater, psychedelia out from spacey, heavily-delayed guitars, and is able to channel a unique glam pop psychedelia through piano-led orchestration without ever firmly stepping foot into one style too long. I always think of Bowie as an iconic artist--bigger than just a singer--but I never thought about him as a musician; I was moved to look up who played that great piano on this album and was happily surprised it was him. He is equally confident in his voice as his playing and songwriting, experimenting with variations of his abilities, echoing Lennon in "Changes," Dylan in "Song for Bob Dylan", and Lou Reed in "Queen Bitch." Always serving the song, he is both reverent and irreverent as needed.. It's evident that so many bands were influenced by Bowie; I hear everything from Elton John to MGMT and The Killers. I had previously picked up the wrong album by Bowie, liking only the single and not the rest, despite multiple listens. However, I can finally see what the fuss is about. One can dismiss this as self-indulgent and a whimsical flight of fancy but if you let it in, you'll be thankful that such an album exists to color the world and to normalize chasing one's own musings. Turn and face the strange.
Very enjoyable even though I'm not a huge David Bowie fan.
I liked this much more than I thought I would. I think perhaps I've matured into the sound.
This is an album. 4 stars
Genious musician
Generellt sett jävligt bra. Men vissa låtar bara suger.
Great feeling
4.0 + "Hunky Dory" has some of my most and least favorite Bowie songs on it. "Life on Mars?" with its operatic buildup and denouement over swelling and waning strings and timpani is a triumph. "Oh! You Pretty Things" is a beautifully philosophic head-bopper. "Queen Bitch" channels the grit and grime of Lou Reed's NYC, exploring the world of whores and shameful urges. But, there's a long, 3-song stretch in the middle that almost sullies this brilliance. "Kooks" and "Quicksand" are both interestingly arranged and multi-faceted, but Bowie gets a little too zany. I can't get over the way he sings them with a cutesy grin. "Fill Your Heart" is even worse. Most will agree that what makes a record great is the ability to listen to it all the way through without skipping songs. "Hunky Dory" just doesn't meet that bar for me. But I do return often for those 4 or 5 truly incredible tracks.
Second listen. It’s pretty unusual for me to give 2 4 stars in a row. It might be the first time? Anyways, I really like this album. Life on Mars is definitely the highlight for me while the other songs don’t really stick out as much.
Great album by a great artist
Some great songs but also some fillers.
Funky
I continue to find that I love David Bowie…the piano driven music is a change for him. The music has a different feel but is totally Bowie. I think I liked Alladin sane about the same but Loved the Ziggy Stardust album that followed this a whole lot more. Changes is an awesome way to start an album.
Great tunes. Not heard some before
Det er et ret fedt bowie album alligevel. Her nåede jeg ikke at kede mig. Klart et album som kan vokse på mig.
Jeg har aldrig fået hørt hele Bowie albums før Black Star. På Hunky Dory kender jeg nogle sange. Og hvilke sange. Life on Mars? ligger i skarp konkurrence med “Heroes” om at være min Bowie yndling. Changes og Andy Warhole er også blandt favoritterne. De restende sange svinger mellem at være sjove iørefaldende og kraftfulde perler. Det teatralske er normalt ikke min kop the, men i Bowies univers fungerer det helt fantastisk. Dagen tillod desværre ikke lige så mange gennemlytninger som jeg kunne have ønsket mig. Men jeg kommer til at genbesøge albummet igen. 4/5, men måske det kan komme op på en 5er ved nærmere bekendskab.
Bowie!
I'm really debating between 4 and 5 star on this one. There are some amazing tracks (Changes, Life on Mars, Queen Bitch, Pretty Things) but then there are some less desirable tracks (Kooks to point one out). I really like the Andy Warhol track. I heard this album didn't go platinum until the 80s. Bowie's genius was on display here but people didn't get it for a while. I can relate as it took me several years to "discover" Bowie. Somehow, I didn't know or I forgot that Bowie played the saxophone. He even plays the saxophone on Changes! Anyway, not quite there for a 5-star album. But some amazing highs!
great album
A solid Bowie album, though I think I might prefer others a little more? It’s been a while since I’ve dabbled in Bowie, so I have much to revisit and remember, but are least I’m hunky dory to listen to Hunky Dory.
primer album imprescindible de Bowie. Un 9
The first great Bowie album, this is chock full of excellent songs - it's where he demonstrated serious songwriting talent. Big Warhol/Factory/VU influence here in some of the songs.
One of David Bowie's better albums. The B-side isn't as good as the A-side but it's hard to top "Life on Mars?".
He’s a superstar.
Interesting artistic album, I liked it. Maybe I got used to Bowie a bit, or maybe it's the shocking streak with garbage albums speaking from me, but I think a 4 with some goodwill is fair here. Most songs are at least decent, with a couple all time bangers. Best song for me is probably 'Life On Mars?'
Y'know, I wanna try something different here. I'm gonna comment on each song on the album. And this decision, by the way, has nothing really to do with the album itself; I just feel like it, mostly. So, to get down to it: "Changes": The song from the album I recognize the best thanks to the cover in SHREK 2 that Bowie features on. And in fact, I like that cover a bit better? A lot better, actually. I credit it mostly to how much older Bowie sounds there. I mean, of course after 30 years he would sound older, but seriously. Maybe it's the nostalgia talking, too, I'll fully admit that, but I really think I'm being genuine here. Even with that, that's not to knock the original here. "Oh! You Pretty Things": During all of the listening I did today, this is the one I came back to the most. I kept getting the title line stuck in my head. Although, of the album's first three main songs, I think I'd put it third of three. I mean, come on, it's just hard to compare when you're standing next to two giants. "Eight Line Poem": Oh, yeah, this. This is one of those "flow over" tracks I have, where I'm pretty likely to zone out during it when I'm doing full album listens. It can be a nice listen; I just don't think it's really worth listening to outside of the full album context or as a coda to "Oh! You Pretty Things". "Life On Mars?": Best song on the album, full stop. I remember the first couple of times I heard it. I probably had the wrong expectations because I kept hearing it described as a parody of "My Way", and I was disappointed when it didn't really sound anything like it, even in a broad "pastiche" sense. I've since gotten over that, and it's just **so good**. I've naturally memorized more lyrics from it outside of its chorus than I thought I would, which means a lot, believe. And for the record: yes, I **do** believe there's life on Mars—in the metaphorical sense this song means it in, anyway. "Kooks": It surprised me to read reviews here and keep seeing people say "Oh, I don't hate 'Kooks'; it's not **that bad**." Like, I'm not sure what I'd consider the "worst song" on the album, but I never thought it'd be this one. I've always liked it, at least because it's fun to sing with the "hung up on romancin'" line. Like, I'unno. It's just a nice, cute song. And a nice little break before what comes directly next, too. "Quicksand": OK, I know I just said I don't know what I'd call the worst song on the album, but if I were hard pressed... I mean, I don't even wanna say this one, 'cuz I know I'd just be saying it only because I find it the hardest song on the album to understand. Taking a guess, I thought it was about that feeling you get when you're lacking inspiration, but it might actually be about not knowing what happens after you die? Something about the "great beyond?" I really don't know, and I'm not terribly equipped to analyze poetic lyrics like this. I like the "Don't believe in yourself" refrain, anyway. "Fill Your Heart": If there's anything I wanna comment on here, it's the same thing Abigail Devoe pointed out when she talked about this song: how Bowie jumps into his falsetto during that last "free-EEEEE." Such a joy. "Andy Warhol": Most of the time I think about this song, it's about how Metallica later quoted it during "Master Of Puppets". And about how I can't **really** hear it? I'm sure it is, but sometimes I'm bad at picking up melodic references like that. Also just the fact that, eh, I'unno. It's fine. I like the "Andy walking, Andy tired" bit, but otherwise... Oh, and of course the chorus, too. I love me my chourses. At any rate, if I were Andy Warhol, I'd like it more than he actually didn't. "Song For Bob Dylan": One time I read on Wikipedia that this was considered the weakest song on the album, and that's how I've always thought of it. Is it really? Probably not, but of every song on this side of the record, I think I'd think about it the least. Even though I did reference/quote the opening lyrics back when I talked about HIGHWAY 61 REVISITED. I mean, you name me another song about Bob Dylan to quote, huh? "Queen Bitch": The best song on side two, hands down. "Bippity-boppity hat," I love it. One time while I was listening to this song, I imagined myself back in mid-1970's New York, dancing in a silk dress around some kind of Bohemian apartment with a glass of wine in hand. I was actually in my family's townhouse wearing a housecoat and holding a cup of water with red Kool-Aid flavoring that'd been squirted in, but, y'know, still. The spirit was there. Real lucky, that Lou Reed, to get this song made about him. "The Bewlay Brothers": The song that actually has the densest lyrics on the album, but I don't mind it as much as "Quicksand" because even Bowie himself said before recording a take not to pay attention to the lyrics. And most of the time, honestly, I don't. Before now, it's been another "flow over" track for me, where I zone out right before the final bit snaps me back in. Just like on "Eight Line Poem", I mostly blame it on the instrumental not being as attention grabbing as some of the other songs. But... Y'know, when I was relistening to this album at, like, 5AM, and I was staring into some of the dark corners of my family's townhouse... With this song filling my ears at the same time, it was actually a little unsettling, imagining what could be hiding in there. Jeez. Overall, let me say first I haven't sampled the entire Bowie ouvre. Heck, I only heard YOUNG AMERICANS just this month thanks to the generator. But I'm fairly certain that once I do, this'll still remain probably my favorite Bowie album. This or ZIGGY STARDUST. It dips a little for me on side two, but come on, it's got "Life On Mars?". Like INNERVISIONS having "Living For The City", that's worth enough points by itself.
I think I’m at a 4. The weird part is that I would usually round up and give an album like this a 5, but for this one, I just… don’t feel that way. It never really connected to me in that way some of the other albums I’ve given a 5 to, but it’s absolutely no less than a 4. Changes & Life on Mars are all-time classics, and I think this album supplements them with really strong stuff that just never quite hit those heights for me (save for Quicksand & Queen Bitch). It could bump up to a 5 later, but I feel pretty good with a 4.
I was never a big Bowie fan, but enjoyed the collection. Thanks.
This is what I imagined an album could be like. It's not just a random collection of pop hits, but a carefully crafted work of art.
Odd and satisfying. 4/5
Pas mal du tout
Still don't like his voice, but I preferred this one over Ziggy.
I like David Bowie, but never really know what to expect…which is part of what made him great. But sometimes it’s too far out there. This, however, is a solid work throughout.
More artsy and melodic compared to the Bowie works I'm used to (I believe this is directly before the Ziggy Stardust era). You can certainly hear flashes of Bowie that would come to be later in the decade following this release. Closer to a 4 than 3 if we're using the five-star scale.
Lekker
Pretty top-notch Bowie
This is a good album, it may be my favorite bowie album back to front outside of Ziggy of course. There are some great hits on here and some really good b-sides too.
Fantastic album.
It’s David Bowie what do you expect, really fun up beat album but the end isn’t as good as the start
So theatrical & fun
Iconic. Not his best, but certainly not the worst. ‘Life on Mars’ gave me butterflies.
The first 4 songs are all Hall-of-Famers... after that it's a B/B+.
4 stars for life on mars alone. What a song.
Bowie before Ziggy, but the pieces are all there. Some of his best songs. Life on Mars is an all-timer, epic piece of songwriting. Loved Queen Bitch and The Bewlay Bros as well.
Great vocals and the album that I have on Vinyl. Always good to listen
This is fun. Going to listen to more of david’s stuff
Changes Life On Mars?
Would be a 5/5 but it loses some points for whatever the beginning of “Andy Warhol” is
I say about 6/10 as it's not my style but I do like some songs
He was really firing on all cylinders during this time, huh? 4.49? Or 4.51?
Really liked some songs on here. Sometimes Bowie's vocals aren't the easiest on the ears
already heard this album a few times. the dawn of glam pop arises.. i like the piano melodies and his bizarre lyricism. really forgot about a lot of these songs that i used to love, like oh you pretty things and changes. there are some odd slow bits that definitely feel more like his first album but overall very interesting and its better knowing how revolutionary this would become. i need to get more into bowie in general. 7.5/10 fav tracks: oh you pretty things, life on mars?, changes, eight line poem
Creative, one of a kind.
Great album
saw someone say this is Ziggy stardust before he became Ziggy stardust and that is the perfect way to describe this album 8/10
Pretty great but wasn't mindblowing. - 8/10
Pretty good. I fell asleep the first time I listened so had to re listen. 8/10
David Bowie on this album is like the Dua Lipa of 70s pop. He cracked the code with songs that were just predictable enough but just exciting enough to be the perfect pop listen. 8.5/10
"Don't believe in yourself" is a great line, really good album overall, love life on mars 8.5/10
Iconic album, but didn't really blow me away. 7.5/10
Really strong start. Life on Mars is an amazing song. Got a little weird on the back half.
Easily my favorite of the Bowie albums we've heard so far...but for me it only gets into "good not great" territory. 3.5.
Have it, Like it.
mega
Great album! Life on mars is an all time great song and one of my favourites
Brilliant David Bowie ❤️
I lovelovelove David Bowie! Hunky Dory is not necessarily my favourite album but still one I greatly love.