Sat Jun 11 2022
5
Likely no other artist will go out like Bowie did: surprise release two great albums relatively close together and then promptly die without any warning. A true king.
This is a Random Album Generator.
One album a day.
From the book 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die.
The Next Day
David Bowie
2013
- Album Summary
The Next Day is the 25th studio album by English musician David Bowie, released over several dates in March 2013 through his ISO Records label, under exclusive license to Columbia Records. It marked Bowie's return to recording after retreating from the public due to a heart attack on the A Reality Tour in 2004. Co-produced by Bowie and longtime collaborator Tony Visconti, the album was recorded in New York City at the Magic Shop and Human Worldwide Studios between May 2011 and October 2012. It featured contributions from new musicians and returning contributors, including Gerry Leonard, Earl Slick, Gail Ann Dorsey, Steve Elson, Sterling Campbell and Zachary Alford. The sessions took place under complete secrecy, with all personnel involved signing non-disclosure agreements. Musically, The Next Day is primarily a rock album, featuring elements of art rock. Numerous commentators highlighted references to Bowie's prior works. The dark lyrics were partly inspired by the artist's readings of English and Russian history, and cover different types of conflict and topics such as tyranny and violence. Meanwhile, the characters vary from soldiers, assassins, school shooters and street gangs. The cover art was designed by Jonathan Barnbrook and is an adapted version of Bowie's 1977 album "Heroes", featuring a white square containing the album's title obscuring his face and the "Heroes" title crossed out. The debut single "Where Are We Now?" and news of the album were released online with no prior announcement on 8 January 2013, Bowie's 66th birthday. Within hours, he made headlines around the world, surprising fans and media who had assumed he retired from music. Preceded by a viral marketing campaign, The Next Day topped charts around the world and debuted at number one and two on the UK Albums Chart and US Billboard 200, respectively. It was his first UK number-one album since 1993 and his highest charting US album since 1976. Several singles with accompanying music videos were released throughout 2013. Outtakes and additional remixes appeared on The Next Day Extra in November. The Next Day was met with critical acclaim and was regarded as a return to form for the artist and his best work in decades. Many highlighted the performances of the band and Bowie himself and invited positive comparisons to prior works. However, some felt the music lacked innovation and found the album overlong, a sentiment echoed by Bowie's biographers. Among the first surprise albums of the 2010s, The Next Day was included in the 2014 revised edition of Robert Dimery's book 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die.
Reviews
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Date
Tue Jun 28 2022
5
An exceptional return to form, reminds me of his early / mid 70s stuff. What a talent we lost.
Sun Jun 19 2022
3
There’s some strong stuff on here, and it’s Bowie after all, but it sort of highlights my continuous gripes about this list giving some artists too many spots. If you’re boiling down Bowie to a “must hear before you die” list this obviously doesn’t make the cut in my book.
Fri Jun 24 2022
5
Wasn't expecting contemporary Bowie to be this good, not sure why I'm surprised that it's on the verge of masterpiece territory
Thu Jul 14 2022
4
I found some songs fascinating, and was really into some of the slower beats. The yearning in his voice always compels me.
Sun Aug 28 2022
2
While I'm not surprised to see a Bowie album crop up, I *am* surprised that it's an album from 2013. Sadly, this album feels like the work of an aging artist who's lost his edge. There wasn't a song on this album that caught my ear, and I have to imagine that there are at least 1001 albums out there better than this one. The fact that it's Bowie doesn't automatically mean it belongs on the list.
Thu Oct 13 2022
2
Because I'm familiar with Bowie's great albums, this is very much a dissappointment. There's nothing special or moving about this. I hold Bowie to higher standards than I would any other artist, so I'd expect better from him. I'm glad blackstar was so much better than this, what an awful thing it would be if this had ended up being Bowie's last studio album.
Mon Oct 17 2022
2
Im sorry but new millennium Bowie isn’t great
Fri Nov 11 2022
2
A few good songs, but nothing particularly noteworthy. Confused how thisade the list.
Mon Mar 13 2023
2
Again, just can't get into David Bowie. I don't know why... Tough to digest. 2/5
Tue Jul 05 2022
5
I like David Bowie, and he has a lot of classical in his musical history, but how is it possible to create a whole album that does not have fails? This is one of that rare cases where there is no single bad song in the entire album. This is impressive. Interesting to note some "new" things applied to some songs here for the first time that will follow his career until "Blackstar."
Mon Jul 11 2022
5
This was really good. The saxophone was sexy.
Sat Aug 06 2022
4
I only really got into Bowie just before Blackstar came out, so missed the hype around The Next Day when it was first released. I'd always dismissed it, thinking it probably only got the acclaim it did because it was such an unexpected return But nope, it's also pretty damn good
Mon Jun 13 2022
3
Ok
Thu Jun 23 2022
2
There is very little to say about this, which is disappointing for a David Bowie record. It's basically fine as a rock record, but it's not pushing any boundaries. Rating: 2.5/5 Playlist track: Where Are We Now? Date listened: 22/06/22
Mon Feb 27 2023
1
I never expected to find this so genuinely and thoroughly lackluster.
Sat Aug 06 2022
5
What’s not to love about this one. Sounds close to black star but given the times of their release not surprised. Great tunes all could have been on his final album. Where are we now is one of my all time favourite Bowie tunes. Just wish I had got to see him perform.
Fri Aug 19 2022
5
Hadn’t heard it since the release.
Mon Aug 22 2022
5
Great
Sun Aug 28 2022
5
Another gem from Bowie.
Tue Sep 06 2022
5
Great album.
Fri Sep 16 2022
5
Legen
Tue Sep 20 2022
5
I really like this album. I seem to remember it didn't get the best reviews but maybe that's not true. It was a surprise release and just popped out one day. I really like the title track The Next Day, it's one of my fave Bowie tracks. I really like the darker nature of this album, bit scary in places, such as on Lost is Love
Wed Sep 21 2022
5
As magical as his first albums. It’s solid, each track fitting and perfectly performed
Mon Nov 14 2022
5
That was definitely a different experience than older records but, at the same time, felt comfortingly familiar. And yet, it's still pushing boundaries and challenging expectations for a new Bowie album. It's got a delightfully dark vibe like early, Berlin-era Bowie but it's so much more mature both in writing and performance. "The Next Day" feels like what it is: the return of a master to his chosen art form. It's Bowie coming out of retirement to show the young guns how it's done. I'm trying not to come off as a total Bowie fanboy because I'm not but I've got nothing bad to say about it at all. It's just really good.
Wed Nov 23 2022
5
9/10
Mon Dec 26 2022
5
23rd December 2022 Listened in the morning while heading to Cheltenham for last minute Christmas shopping. Chilled evening. The return of Zavid. Sounds like he never left.
Fri Jan 13 2023
5
A masterpiece. I miss him.
Sun Jan 22 2023
5
Where are we now - classic Bowie track
Tue Jan 24 2023
5
Amazing!!!
Mon Jan 30 2023
5
Me gustó mucho, el contraste entre la voz y el instrumental, la variedad de sonidos, sonidos clásicos de el pero traídos de una nueva forma
Tue Jan 31 2023
5
This is some dark, dark stuff. The more time I spend with it, the more it feels like Bowie is just operating on a different plane than the rest of the world. Best track: Valentine's Day
Wed Feb 15 2023
5
I just recently set up a music studio, and when I got my PA all plugged in, this was the album I played (on CD) to test out the system. Big fan of the album, and now I got to hear it blasted through PA speakers and through my little earbuds all within the past 30 days or so. I really enjoyed this listen. Bowie may have lost a little of his range by the time this album came around, but he's in fantastic form. Great songwriting, love the lyrics throughout, nice mix of oddball compositions and arrangements and straightforward tracks. There's a sadness, sort of a somber, sometimes paranoid thin white duke vibe, yet, it sounds to me like Bowie and company were having fun recording it. Moments flash in many songs that speak to a playfulness and freedom going on in the studio. Among my favorite Bowie albums, maybe a little longer than necessary, but now that he's gone, I'm glad he didn't hold anything back.
Fri Feb 17 2023
5
10/10 Bowie, you mad man
Mon Mar 13 2023
5
Great album. Thoroughly enjoyed.
Sat Mar 25 2023
5
hey david!
Tue Mar 28 2023
5
Wow. Loved this. Bowie’s journey through the years with graceful elegant and passionate music.
Sat Apr 01 2023
5
This record is unreal
Sat Apr 08 2023
5
Genius
Tue Apr 11 2023
5
J'ai écouté cet album souvent, et je pensais que ce serait 4 étoiles. Mais en le réécoutant, après tout ce que j'ai écouté jusqu'à présent dans ce périple, j'ai été marquée par la recherche musicale, les arrangements, les textes... J'ai une nouvelle appréciation de cet album et je lui décerne 5 étoiles
Tue Apr 18 2023
5
Very original and contains a ton of interesting musical ideas. There's a lot of bits that makes me go "I wonder how I could use this idea in a different context?" Just inspiring stuff.
Mon Apr 24 2023
5
Ég fíla þessa plötu svo vel, ein af mínum uppáhalds frá sl. áratug.
Mon May 01 2023
5
About as close to perfection as possible. True artistry here, late stage Bowie harks back to classic Bowie yet still fresh and relevant. Above all else, much here is beautiful, thoughtful and contemplative. A true hero.
Wed May 03 2023
5
Sais kuolla jo mikä homma häh.. Soitannasta kuuluu että jotain puuttuu.. Ei naurata semmone... Mikään ei iske...
Fri May 12 2023
5
Meh
Sun May 14 2023
5
For some reason I’ve always had a perception that David Bowie’s best days were long behind him before we reached the 21st century. Consequently I’ve never listened to his later stuff before But I was very pleasantly surprised by this. It’s a pretty decent rock record. I particularly liked the title track and then I realised I quite liked all the tracks I started off thinking this was a decent 3, then an impressive 4, and ended up thinking it was a surprising 5
Sat Jun 03 2023
5
eu não esperava algo tão bom e com a cara do bowie estampada, ate porque a capa é reciclada, mas olha... isso bate forte. groovy, pesado e esquisito do jeito que só o bowie sabe fazer.
Mon Jun 19 2023
5
good
Fri Jun 23 2023
5
Always the best
Sun Jul 02 2023
5
Prachtig
Mon Jul 17 2023
5
25th studio album. It’s incredible. I can’t pick a favorite song.
Mon Jul 17 2023
5
Wow so many great albums and they’re all different. Never heard of this one but so good. So many cool layers and textures masterfully woven together. It never feels too busy and always serves the song.
Mon Jul 17 2023
5
Bowie Accidentally posted this under talking heads so adding this one on bottom too. Cool album. Kind of has an 80’s rock vibe with som modern production. Favorite songs are the last two : “I’m so lonely you could die”and “Heat” The title track is cool kinda reminds me of the talking heads (I thought it may have been a David Byrne colab). Other favorites are “ If you can see me” and “Dancing out in Space” Feels hard to rate this after listening only once. 5 Talking heads Cool album. Love the wacky guitar parts and the grooves. The repetition and constant backbeat really helps the songs flow into eachother but it also has good contrast between sections. His voice gets to me after a while. They totally have an original sound and I dig the talking heads thing. 5
Sat Jul 29 2023
5
Deze rock-kant van Bowie kan ik zeker smaken. Toffe plaat
Wed Aug 30 2023
5
When David Bowie returned to music in his mid-sixties it shouldn't have been this good. Surprising everyone by dropping a single and announcing an album which no one expected on his 66th birthday was a masterstroke. He was a true innovator the the very end.
Mon Sep 11 2023
5
Damn, he was really going through something. The fact that this wasn't the darkest album he would make in his final years really says something.
Mon Sep 18 2023
5
Its Bowie. Its so special
Tue Sep 26 2023
5
I love this album. Some of the songs I hear a return to his love for themainland European song tradition of Jacques Brel and others. Good comeback.
Sat Jun 11 2022
4
love it
Tue Jun 21 2022
4
Echt wel een vet album, met goede tunes
Thu Jun 23 2022
4
Bowie is just surprisingly good. I was expecting an album of his from 2013 to sound like washed up old man shit, but this... this kinda rocks. It has a distinct sisters of mercy type thing going on vocally in a lot of places, which I'm sure is coincidence but still floats my boat. This would have been full marks if he'd trimmed it by 15min or so. 4/5.
Fri Jul 15 2022
4
Ningún megahit. Un 4.
Tue Jul 26 2022
4
I enjoyed most of this album, especially the instrumentals.
Thu Jul 28 2022
4
Loved how jazzy this was.
Sat Aug 06 2022
4
Oh wow what a small indie artist- glad to be one of the first people to ever say that this David man may be good!
Mon Aug 15 2022
4
Not my favourite Bowie album by any stretch of the imagination, but let's face it. Even a bad Bowie album is a fantastic album. I think I found a few new favourites in this one as this album has none of my regular "go to" songs.
Tue Aug 16 2022
4
I really liked these songs. First full listen of a Bowie album. He will be missed
Thu Aug 18 2022
4
Not a Bowie album I'd heard of before but really good throughout.
Mon Aug 22 2022
4
Easy listening
Wed Aug 24 2022
4
Favorite Songs : The Stars (Are Out Tonight), The Next Day, Love Is Lost, Where Are We Now?, Valentine's Day, You Feel So Lonely You Could Die, Heat Least Favorite Songs: Boss Of Me, How Does The Grass Grow?, (You Will) Set The World On Fire Not my favorite Bowie project, but a welcome return to what made him so impressive and interesting in the first place. It really is a modern take on something he may have produced in the early 80s, which only makes the reused iconic 'Heroes' cover photo all the more appropriate; a single of this "what's old is new again" ideology "The Next Day" wants to imply. There's a very unique tone and groove through the whole album even without a consistent narrative or theme. Many of the songs here are triumphant and booming, some are droning and dark, and some genuinely very introspective and deliberately written. I only wish a bit of the fat could be trimmed off here and there, because the highs are so high and the lows so boring.
Fri Aug 26 2022
4
I can specifically thank this website for getting me to listen and enjoy Bowie. I wasn't a fan until this website gave me the suggestions and I'm really digging his music. This isn't my favorite album. A bit low energy for me, but still great writing.
Fri Aug 26 2022
4
Is this a contender for best 25th album by an artist? One of rock’s greatest comebacks. Incredible to return to the stage and deliver this after 10 years of absence. Like so many of Bowie’s records this is best when he steps away from the conventional road and experiments. And while I still find the first album to be strong it’s the second half that really shines!
Fri Aug 26 2022
4
Definitely a highlight of the late stages of Bowie's career. Incredible that he could keep this level of innovation and songwriting quality throughout. Perhaps also one of the most accessible and thoroughly enjoyable Bowie albums out there - which is certainly not a bad thing. 'Where Are We Now' really is magnificent.
Sat Aug 27 2022
4
This album has no right to be as good as it is. It's a true return of form, sounding straight from the 70s, mostly glam rock but updated equipment. Super versatile, with sax solos, Eno-esque synths, and gospel back vocals. No half ass effort here. Banger after banger, catchy and energetic. Only complaint is a bit too long, but there's something to like about each of the tracks it feels werd to call any of them particularly weak. Favorites: Dirty Boys, The Stars, Love is Lost, Where Are We Now, Boss of Me, How Does the Grass Grow
Sun Aug 28 2022
4
Sober more mature Bowie still put out some great tunes. Gonna have to listen to this phase of his music more often. Love me some Bowie.
Mon Aug 29 2022
4
very cohesive, not my fav bowie record but it’s still bowie and very good
Fri Sep 02 2022
4
Really good. Where are we now a highlight.
Sun Sep 04 2022
4
This album was a spectacular return to form for David Bowie, who released it in 2013 after a decade-long hiatus. I would not have imagined he had an album this good in him at that point in his career, but this album really delivers at every level. Musically, the songs are jagged, artful and frequently intense. Lots of little musical threads that point back to Bowie's past works, which makes this really exciting for a fan to hear. Bowie is in perfect voice and his band is on fire. Loved listening to this today. Fave Songs: The Stars (Are Out Tonight), Dirty Boys, The Next Day, Valentine's Day, Where Are We Now?, Heat, How Does the Grass Grow?
Sun Sep 04 2022
4
I enjoy a lot of Bowie songs from the 70s/80s but I've never delved into his contemporary stuff before. This is fantastic so far though!
Tue Sep 06 2022
4
Yeah it’s decent but it also takes the place of other more relevant post-2002 albums that didn’t get into the book because all the critics that contribute to the list are stuck in the 1970s. 7/10
Tue Sep 06 2022
4
8/10. Actually quite liked this, but it's still bullshit that there are multiple 2010's David Bowie albums on this list, because it is just not representative of the music of the 2010's.
Tue Sep 06 2022
4
I've never listened to a full Bowie album post-Let's Dance until his final album Blackstar. The occasional song I had heard was decent (i do love I'm Afraid of Americans, but let's not get too far off the subject at hand) but I had kinda just written him off. A once brilliant talent who just released stuff for only the most devoted fans to just "meh" at was the impression that I had. Well, I can't speak for any of those other albums I missed but I was quite wrong about this one. There's a lot of really great songs here performed as well as one would expect from a legend. It's not quite on par with his really classic material but maybe when I inevitably return to this I will have a change of heart. Until then I give this an enthusiastic 4 out of 5.
Wed Sep 07 2022
4
This had some good singles, but I always found later Bowie stuff was less interesting than the early Bowie music.
Fri Sep 09 2022
4
Bowie rewards those who lister to the end with songs such as You Will Set The World On fire
Sat Sep 10 2022
4
Would give it a 8/10,not a fan of Bowie but i loved the album nevertheless
Mon Sep 12 2022
4
It sounds like Bowie working out what he would later go on to expand and perfect on Blackstar. Not sure I would've included it on this list but enjoyable nonetheless.
Mon Sep 12 2022
4
A good album, certainly not his best, but enjoyable. Remarkable for being his first album in a decade.
Mon Sep 12 2022
4
Really good stuff. I remember when this came out and it was a complete surprise as he hadn’t hade an album for 10 years. Bangs out 2 albums with 0 warning they were coming, then exits this mortal coil. Legend.
Thu Sep 15 2022
4
Bowie only makes classics. Where are we know is one of my all time favorite Bowie songs. The dude just got better with age. I think I’ll go 4 just because I zone out at some times but give me dark star next because that a 5!
Thu Sep 15 2022
4
I did a deep dive into DB discography a while back and he's got a million albums and most are not that good. This one was solid but clearly not the best out there. Nice work though!
Sat Sep 17 2022
4
What the hell. I've never seen this before hahahh. Good stuff.
Mon Sep 19 2022
4
Highlights: Valentine's Day, How Does The Grass Grow?, (You Will) Set The World On Fire
Mon Sep 19 2022
4
The bittersweet stand-out 'Where Are We Now' and the bold album cover itself promote an imprecise nostalgia that's more slippery and certainly more thoughtful than most other sixty-six-year-old former-glory rockstars are capable of creating. Bowie moves on and I'm a big fan. Favorite songs: 'Love Is Lost', 'Where Are We Now?', 'Valentine's Day' (three great tracks back to back)
Tue Sep 20 2022
4
Wow what a beautiful album. I've never given this one as much attention but actually has my fave newer Bowie song "where are we now". As ever the classic Bowie chord delights, never predictable but always amazing
Fri Sep 23 2022
4
Great artist and great album. Wish we could get more.
Wed Sep 28 2022
4
Very good. Will listen to again
Fri Sep 30 2022
4
That late stage haunting Bowie sound.
Fri Sep 30 2022
4
Some very solid Bowie. I don't think it has quite the extra special prowess of, say, Heroes or Ziggy, but it was still a very strong showing from him.
Mon Oct 03 2022
4
I never knew this album existed, so was surprised with how good it was. It’s probably since been overshadowed since black star was released. That and the use of the heroes album cover is probably why I have missed it in Bowie discovery. That was a mistake.
Fri Oct 07 2022
4
Now THIS is one of the David Bowie albums of all time.