Reviews (page 10 of 14)
This is probably a 4 as an album, but my own particular enjoyment of it was a 3. However might improve on deeper listens.
I liked it better on my second listen. but am I listening to David bowie?
David Bowie is one of my favorite music artists of all time, and while this album is not a bad album, in fact it is a fine album, but it is by no means a great album. I feel like the critical praise for this album is unfairly affected by the recency bias of his death. I congratulate him for continuing to take creative risks, but I felt that the ideas of this album didn't coalesce quite as well as his OUTSIDE experimental album. Many of the ideas on here (thematically and musically) were already explored on OUTSIDE and EARTHLING. And free jazz as a pop form was explored long, long ago in late 60s and early 70s. It is not exactly new. I think in time, perhaps another decade from now, when we are nearly 20 years on from his death, I think that people might have enough distance from his death to be able to realize that this album may not belong.
A really solid and emotional album. As with most albums from the 2010s on here, I debate on the validity of the inclusion here. I don't think I would include this in my list of 1001 albums to hear before you die. Maybe I'm wrong. Maybe in 30 years people will talk about this album like they talk about The White Album.
Great newer album that took me by surprise. Not my favorite in regards to their other work, but I enjoyed it.
RIP DB. Not my favorite but still Bowie.
I didn't want to cry today, but here we are. The literal end of the line for Bowie, his star finally waned, and this album is bittersweet to the end. It's not a masterpiece by any stretch of the imagination, but it's moving, deeply moving.
16/1089 - The jazz music is cool. His voice timbre is too strange for me. Unsure if I'm looking forward to 8 more albums of Bowie.
Didn’t really gel with me, though some motifs in some songs did catch my attention.
Not sure why this album of his made the list
3 Stars (8/15)
This is the first album so far that features my instrument that I'm actually critical of the performance. That's not how I would play the sax for these songs. There's times for the squawk box, but this isn't it, both musically and thematically. This album also helped me more completely understand something that's been scratching at me for quite a bit with some artists. There are artists with personas that they curate to be bigger than their music. Prince, Beyonce, Madonna, actually most mononyms (with the exception of rappers, who have a separate culture around names). I think Bowie falls into this. He adopted personas, politics, sexualities, and styles constantly, and made it unclear if any were actually "him." As such, Bowie the public figure was more important than Bowie the musician. Which makes it hard to judge his music on its own merits, because he intentionally tied anything he did into broader projects and statements. And this album is part of that, in its own way. It's Bowie, the man, grappling with his impending death. This album is lyrically compelling, and feels like the most "honest" Bowie we have. Which makes it a shame to be pretty dull musically. It's trying, but it's ultimately interesting moments undercut by underwhelming writing and performances. I think it's going to be difficult to be able to look critically on this album for decades without viewing it from the lens of his death days after release. I was not following any music at the time, but both the album and his death were international news events. I don't know this album can be reviewed honestly knowing that, or, frankly, without knowing that. Maybe more time would change my opinion, but I wasn't particularly into it at the time, and I'm not particularly into it now, despite finding some of Bowie's work truly great, and among the best of his era.
not his best but still enjoyable with some highlight tracks
This is a swan song album and I feel like this impacts people’s opinion of the album itself. Listen, it was good. Amongst the tripe coming out in 2016 (although, I very much still enjoy said tripe in the summertime), this must have been seminal. And Bowie is an incredibly talented artist. However… is it the best Bowie album? No. It doesn’t hold up against the iconic Ziggy or Heroes, in my opinion. Bowie has always been experimental but I feel as though it was a little bit bland? I feel harsh. And, to be fair, I am only at the beginning of my Bowie journey. Maybe I will feel differently about the album as I go through the rest of his work but having said that, I don’t want my opinion to be warped due to sentimentality. I can’t see myself choosing to put this on again, although that may change. For now, I’m leaving it at a three.
I think its great that he got to make this but it is a private dance
A non-traditional sound for Bowie - very bass-driven with synth beats. It was enjoyable but did not stand out.
muy divertido
hornier than i expected (perhaps I am stupid) i like how "large scale" some of the songs feel
It was ok
You wouldn’t pay much attention to this if you didn’t know who it was.
I find it a bit dull compared to older Bowie works. Not for me.
the last two songs saved this album
Godt album. Udgivet lige inden han døde. Art rock med jazzy sounds osv
eh
his swan song fr
I will not let sentiment sway me on this one. I love David Bowie (who doesn't?) and I understand this was his final album. Yup. Pulls at the heartstrings. Nevertheless, without being a jerk, I just didn't love it musically. I don't have to compare it to any other musician, I can say "in his catalog" and say this is not his best album. It is not a failure or anything bad, it is just sort of in the middle somewhere. It doesn't change the fact we lost a great PERSON when he died just because his last album isn't a knockout. So what?
Meh. I liked other Bowie stuff better.
Weird opening, village of Orman, sounds like the British infatuation of heraldry and mysticism. I realize it's his last album and the sax is great, but it sounds like a movie soundtrack. Maybe that's the point, last song has the vocal rhythms of 'the very thought of you'.
not for me
Pidin tästä lopulta. Mutkia oli matkassa: jazz-saksofoni-haahuiluja, elektromattoja ja notkeita rumpukoneita. Kappaleet nousevat kuitenkin läpi, eivätkä ne ole pelkkää kertakäyttötavaraa. Tiedän, koska kuuntelin muutaman useampaan kertaan. Plussaa toisen kappaleen huvittavasta koukusta.
heard maybe one or two songs from this in the past but didnt feel a strong connection, this time wasnt too different? i dont feel like this is an album *i* could get too far into. still good though this just wasnt meant for me as a listener
It’s an ok album. There’s nothing horrible on it. Some songs feel intimate, others feel like they don’t fit the album.
I wasn't overly taken with this. Tricky one - maybe it's a 'grower' and needs multiple listens. That said, I've never been that much of a Bowie listener overall, just the odd track here and there. Maybe I need to re-visit....
being generous with a 3 out of respect. he was way past his prime here, but its not bad music, just meh and a little too artsy for me
I've come to realize that David Bowie is really hit and miss for me. This album is a definite hit. My favorite track was Girl Loves Me.
I've meant to listen to this for ages. I remember it coming out shortly before Bowie died, and it feeling more important because of that. I'm mixed on his spooky ghost voice, but I think I fall on the side of liking it. Its definitely better if I picture him in the studio doing spooky ghost movements while singing. I think this falls into the realm of albums I don't really get, but that still intrigue me. Maybe its more because of the mythos behind it though. Album cover: (B+)
It was expected to see this album as there have already been so many Bowie albums on this list. I do recall giving this album a listen when it was released and heard the rave reviews. This one just did not feel especially notable other than it was Bowie's final musical statement.
This was like a David Bowie album without the knorr stockpot. It was not for my palette, and maybe that says more about me than it does the album. But I felt a little disappointed with this one. The saxophone was cool, but I don’t see myself listening to this again. Girl Loves Me was objectionably bad. Some of the lyrics on this album were off putting. I don’t know maybe that’s what he was going for.
It didn't do it for me. I love Bowie and the influene he's had on so many artists. It's a shame this was his final album.
Bowie far past his prime. The album is interesting, but its boring. Bowie was an incredible songwriter and performer, this just doesn't hit for me.
Experimental and clang-y.
Bittersweet. Knowing he created this material while facing death gives it an added weight. It’s so eclectic. Modern and classic at the same time. Vulgar in a great way. Aggressively peaceful.
Blackstar is last album released during David Bowie's life; it was released just two days before his death was publicly announced. It has found near-universal critical acclaim, especially noted as Bowie's "curtain call." With orchestrations from musical theater, these songs could be compared to Rufus Wainwright's; these could be described as an "operatic" version of pop songs. Bowie's rich voice makes interesting songs, but otherwise, these aren't particularly memorable songs. Imo, the most melodically interesting performance by the band is in "Tis' a Pity She Was a Whore," which makes the song, and the album, a bit less interesting...
i don't hate this, and i admire much of this on its own especially when compared to the toxic landfill that is 2016 in music, but i also readily acknowledge it's basically only interesting because it's bowie's final bow "blackstar" (song) is immense and powerful, but there comes a point where giving this album kudos feels like rewarding an aging musician for simply still putting effort in
3½ / 5 Weird af, pero en un buen sentido, para nada lo que esperaba escuchar. No fui muy fan de la voz (y sí, si el pobre se estaba muriendo (literalmente)). Escuché el álbum sin saber nada de el contexto (Bowie falleció 2 días después del lanzamiento) y me pareció un poco meh, pero no es que al enterarme haya cambiado de opinión por lástima, sino porque entendés un poco más el proyecto, su trasfondo y qué está diciendo. De igual manera, no le doy un puntaje alto porque de por sí no creo que sea un proyecto que vuelva a escuchar, pero si espero con ansias escuchar sus otros proyectos. El ½ punto es por los vientos, que fue de mis cosas favoritas.
Needs another listen. 3.5
This was very hit and miss. First part of the album was quite bad. Final three songs were better. Still not great.
Although a departure from his earlier sounds (and Earth physically), Bowie pulls off a decent later album. I will assume this one gets better the more you hear it, it deserves a close listen and I really haven't spent much time with it. There's a variety of sounds and genres at play allowing the vocals to be an accent rather than the main feature. "Lazarus" is really haunting and mysterious, very on-point given the circumstances with secret recording sessions and timely post-death release. It's very good. I liked a couple other songs on here too, but I'm mainly impressed that he was able to consistently make relevant music this far into his career. Anyway, where the fuck did Monday go? 2.85.
Somewhere in here there’s a great album. I can pick and choose bits of each song that I really like but they often go on in a weird direction or otherwise fall apart. I’m not talking about saxophone noodling or instrumental breaks, I mean completely changing the tone either via the actual key or the instrumentation. The first track is a great example, the first five minutes and the last minute are great, but what is that weird thing in the middle? Unnecessary. The same happens at the ends of a few other songs. Things I really enjoyed: the songwriting and the drums. Man, the drums. Whoever that is did amazing work. Crisp jazz/rock beats that go beyond keeping a rhythm and in to tonal music all themselves. Bowie’s vocals are good as always but a bit uninspired. There are some points where I felt that he was warbling over the scale for no reason. Overall pretty decent. Wouldn’t turn it off.
There was a lot of hype for this one. My husband absolutely loved it, but I'm more lukewarm. 3/5
very gloomy sound, but I don’t hate it. Songs have good progression. bluesy, trancy, and rock all in one
Liked this album. Kind of out there a bit but given the background of this album it’s kind of profound
ok the universe must be listening because i swear i had JUST finished one of my "why don't i like david bowie more" rants last week... and then i got another bowie album. it's just not hitting, y'all. i don't get it! 😭
i’m definitely a bowie fan - and it’s great that he was able to make music up until the end. but this was obviously a step down from his earlier stuff. it had some cool instrumental stuff going on a lot but his voice was obviously tired. it’s good this exists but not sure what warrants it getting on this list
Not his "greatest" but typical Bowie... RIP
I like the fact the first song is just called star emoji
It was ok, but the fact he wrote these with his death looming at a different type of nuance which can make any musical work more interesting. 3/5 Standout track: - Lazarus 4/5
Was expecting to like this more than I did
I remember when this came out after he passed. It was forced down my throat, and I still feel that way now.
Kinda catchy
This was nice, but not something I'd probably go out of my way to listen to.
Of course David Bowie was a treasure. Not bad, but definitely only here because it was his last work, not his best.
I can appreciate this but prob won’t listen to it more
Kinda weird, which is expected, and not as fun as the other albums. Nothing I would revisit. Also on Wikipedia it said he was inspired by Kendrick Lamar and Death Grips? I don’t listen to Death Grips but I didn’t catch the Kendrick Lamar vibes.
Appreciate the jazz style and instrumentals
Not as good as other albums especially vocally, but it was an interesting ride with very creative song writing
Had not listened to this before, pretty good.
This was the last album David Bowie made while he was dying of cancer. You could hear it in the music. It's a great final album from one of the best creative forces this world had to offer us. Not sure I would listen repeatedly (maybe I'll save find solace in it if/when I experience my own suffering). I really loved his words around being free like a bird -- he has a melancholy outlook on his fate. He's not ready to go yet but somehow imagining death as something other than an end. RIP to the best.
everyone says this is a swan song about mortality but i think it actually deconstructs the concept of looking for your ass
Really solid for a late-career artist
Quite hard to rate this one. There were elements of it I really liked and others that I really didn’t. Going hot have to go down the middle for this one.
1st listen not sure
Really cool for his last album but not one that I'll come back to.
Okay, so David Bowie has had some great songs throughout the years but as his last album from not that long ago, I didn't think it was THAT amazing. I am rating it solely by itself and completely disregarding all precious tracks of his. The first track was very disappointing and brought my whole rating down to 1 star, but then things pushed things a bit. Nothing too exciting, but it is supposed to be a slower album.
Less rock, and more smooth jazz saxophone than I was expecting. Bowie is still king, but this album didn't hit like I thought it should.
Mystisch, Themen: Lebensrevue, Curses of his Life.
Blackstar is good, carried by the syncopated drum beat & production. The rest seem kinda forgettable. I'm trying for an objective rating scale, 1 = Couldn't make it all the way through. 2 = Finished the album, but didn't enjoy it 3 = Finished the album, enjoyed it 4 = Also listened a second time for pleasure 5 = Added to my library So it should get a 4. But I can't in good conscience give it that with only one standout track, so I'm going to downgrade in this case.
Context gives it import
6.3
Blackstar (stylised as ★) is the 26th and final studio album by David Bowie, originally released in 2016. This is the album famous for being released shortly before Bowie's death. This is actually the first time I got around to listening to this. I'm really not a big Bowie fan. I tend to prefer his earlier-70s work. I had no expectations for his late career work. This was definitely more experimental than I was expecting. He spans a few genres on here - from pop to electronic to jazz. There is a bit of a free jazz flair to a few of the instrumentals which I really enjoyed. Overall nothing really stood out to me as amazing. Of course looking back this album carries so much significance due to when it was released. But I can't help but wonder if it would be as popular had Bowie not passed right after it was released.
Not the David Bowie I was expecting, but an interesting one still. No songs were particularly catchy or memorable. Lots of instrumental parts, little singing
I enjoy this album, but it suffers from being a bit to electronica for my taste. I'm not sure if it's on this list but I prefer his previous album THE NEXT DAY. It's also up against his oeuvre which is considerable. Giving it a 3, even if it's a 3.5 or a 4 for almost any other artist.
This really reminded me of You Want It Darker - unsurprisingly as they both bookended 2016 and were the final, dark, religiously-overtones swan song albums of two prolific 20th century musician poets before their deaths. Every time I thought I got a handle on this it shifted musically in quite a different direction. I enjoyed the lyrics, and I love David Bowie but I only really loved Dollar Days on this with that sax solo.
eu acho esse album meh
I did not care for this. Bowie is hit or miss for me, which I think is indicative of his appeal. He explored and experimented with musical styles that caught his attention, which I respect. And I found this album dragged for me. But I'm a bit of a rhythm chaser. I did like the sax.
2,5
me copó 7.5/10
As a personal diary and journey into the unknown for someone close to the end, this is really deep. For a listener in a different stage, it’s a bit much. But then again, Bowie has always been hit or miss for me.
I’ll stick with Mos and Talib.
I would give this a 3.5 rating if I could. He tackles tough subjects, but musically, there are a few interesting moments in a generally blah landscape.
purdy good album. I give it 3.5 stars. My reviews haven't been the best lately
Raw, heartfelt….
Nice, a bit too jazzy/experimental sometimes
That was something really strange for my. Moreover, there was no deep feelings or special experience, only pain and yearning from my unconsciousness
This certainly was David Bowie! I was honestly impressed with this album bc normally later albums made by "legacy acts" aren't all that great, but I thought this was a solid piece of work. It just wasn't my favorite.
Very depressing album. But he was dying when he wrote and recorded it. But beautiful all the same.
A little too artsy fartsy for my taste, but not terrible.
I respect the art. Of course. You have to; it's Bowie. Still creating experimental and unpredictable music on his deathbed. So it's hard to separate this album from its context and story. I am trying to be really objective though and honestly, this isn't an album that I feel I'll be coming back to for regular replays. Once again, Bowie creates great tunes but buries them in a more ambitious and grandiose work of art. So yes, I can appreciate how GOOD this is, in spite of the fact that it's not really for me.
3.
Tulee mieleen joku salapoliisisarja tai dekkari. En tykkää laulusta.
I liked this album. Some parts reminded me of Radiohead, or Peter Gabriel. It's a high 3 and might go to a 4 with more listens.
I suspect that if I gave this more than 2 listens, it might creep up in my estimation. But while this is unmistakably Bowie, it's definitely a more challenging listen (that first, nearly 10 minute song) with a heavy jazz/horn sound I wasn't expecting. Perhaps compelling as a deathbed album, but not something I'd feel drawn to venerate and listen to outside of this exercise.
ジャケットアートがかっこいい。 ボウイの訃報と同時に知ったこのアルバム、死を意識せざるを得なかったことを思い出す。
The album has some great moments but fails to stack up against Bowie's classics
I enjoyed this more than I expected to. As I've mentioned in other reviews, I don't generally care for Bowie as much as I feel like I should, particularly from Aladdin Sane on. This one was the right kind of weird and dark, I guess.
It’s difficult to know how the reception of this album would have been if he hadn’t died just after the release. I think that there are some good songs on here, but overall it’s too messy for me to really enjoy. The songs that stand out are Lazarus, Dollar Days and I Can’t Give Everything Away
this album is what i imagine taking psychedelics to feel like, and i am positive bowie was under the effect of some sort of drug when this was written. i did really like “lazarus”, which made up for the fact that the first track made me want to rip my ears off. everything else was ok, they had moments of good and bad for me personally. i did love the transition between “dollar days” and “i can’t give everything”. honestly i was disappointed because i normally like bowie, but i didn’t like this as much as i thought i would. i might give it another listen to make sure
Довольно странный альбом, не без шарма, да и посыл какой-никакой у него есть, но высший балл ему точно ставить сложно.
Tough album to rate, because all the context around it makes it 1000x more interesting and kind of awe-inspiring with respect to David Bowie as an artist. The fact that he could make this album, in secret, while ill, experimenting with some of the most modern sounds around at the time, is just incredible. The songs themselves are haunting, unique, and generally listenable. His voice still seems pristine, and you feel that if he had lived another ten years we'd have ten more albums that were just as innovative.
Very spacey and repetitive. Good for edgy background music
Bowie is a genius. However, this isn't really my taste for what makes him great. Too much jam band/acid jazz going on. That said, there are some interesting moments and top notch musicians here, so it's not bad either.
some cool stuff and a lot of schlock
This is my 7th David Bowie album so far. Two more to go. I’m tired, boss. Evidently, I was born missing the gene responsible for appreciating David Bowie. I’ve tried, I honestly have. I respect him as an artist but I don’t hear what everyone else hears. He has a couple songs I don’t mind but the rest of it, I don’t get the appeal. I’m not a music snob, contrarian, or gatekeeper. I like most of the all-time greats, and I like a lot the stuff people love to hate. I don’t know, man. Maybe one day, David Bowie will click for me, but it’s not looking likely at this point.
Like a lot of Bowie’s later LPs - I like it, it’s sonically solid, and it has a few standouts. But I find it bland and uninventive in a lot of places. I don’t mind it being self indulgent (he’s one of the few artists out there who has earned it for sure), but his death definitely elevated this release.
I've been a massive Bowie fan from early days onwards but honestly there's nothing on this album that's worthy of his name apart from (perhaps fittingly) the final track, which just scrapes this an extremely generous 3 stars.
Definitiv eines der besseren Alben von Bowie. 3,4
Cool album considering his age.
Niet heel erg Bowie fan Niet slecht 3/5
Anyone who gives this a 5 is a pretentious fuck
I always appreciate an artist who pushes their creative boundaries, but Bowie's Blackstar did not really take to this one. Admittedly it was shortly before his death, which explains the somber mood of the album. But it was saxophone heavy, so best I can award it is 3/5 #1001albumsyoumusthearbeforeyoudie
Bit too jazzy for me. Echoes of previous triumphs fail to elevate this beyond mediocrity.
Was a good listen after a slow start
Hørt på bilturen hjem fra Østrig Det er vel okay? Har ikke hørt et Bowie album fra ende til anden før, og mathilde siger at hun ikke er så glad for det. Men synes det er okay 😇 3/5
eh
Not bad. Kind of gives me Radiohead vibes at times (sort of eclectic electronica-meets-rock).
Not my favorite of his but good
Interesting
I just thought it was fine. I did not love it, especially compared to some of his other albums.
I thought that is was gonna be a hard listen and boy I was right. Just didn’t really connect with the album as a whole. I know a lot of people love it but I guess it’s just not my bag. Apple Music Rating was 3.6/5
Þetta er bara hin prýðilegasta plata með David Bowie. Ég hef aldrei verið mikill aðdáandi þótt ég hafi alveg hlustað oft og mörgum sinnum á hann. Ég held að það muni koma í veg fyrir að ég hlusti á þessa plötu aftur en ég var samt hrifinn af henni.
Some really creative stuff here, but again I don’t prefer his voice.
Whilst Bowies music is inspired, his voice grates on me and makes it turn it off
Lots of sax. 3.8
Out there but not graceful
like most Bowie, I appreciate it more than I feel it. Lazarus and I Can't Give Everything Away are great though.
So first up, I don’t think listening to this album on one of the first decent summers days of the year is a good mix. Buzzkill either way. I know I’ve liked this more when I’ve listened to it previously, but today I just found it all too melancholy/depressing (which I know is kind of expected/the point given the circumstances of its making) and nothing really grabbed me. Well, other than Lazarus which is the standout track. So I’ll give it a 3, but probably more a mark of respect for the artist than this particular offering.
Pretty good. I remember when this was released but I don’t recall if I listened to it or not back then.
Not sure why this is my first listen, but I was certainly aware of it. It is a gorgeous album, very good in places, though even with the baggage of it being Bowie’s farewell, I was mostly lukewarm on it. There’s Bowie I love and Bowie I like just fine, and this is the latter.
I remember when this came out and Bowie died. A pretty interesting entry in the “This is my mortality album” genre, as nobody knew he was dying. Along those lines, I’d like to impartially recommend Seven Psalms by Paul Simon. It’s a 30 minute song about how he’s scared to die. And it’s great.
I never listened to this album on release, and having played it, didn't find it an engaging album.I suspect many rated this highly owing to the sad circumstances of its release.
Different sound from Bowie, but good.
Definitely an experience. Kinda to hard to rate without a few more listens.
Very weird will listen again
Experimental. I appreciate what Bowie was going through when he recorded this, and this album is definitely deep and melancholy. It's brilliant, but I definitely would not recommend it as an everyday listen.
I wanted to like this more than I did.
THe deathly hallows of his career. The fact he was dying when he made this does not excuse the general level of dark crappiness. Maybe he wasnt thinking straight. Should be remembered for some of his much, much better stuff. THere are one or two ok tracks and it is Bowie thus the 3
Liked the mix of bowies style and jazz. Just not my style.
A different sounding Bowie album than what I was expecting. Very good.
Bowie is a weirdo, this album evokes his iconic strange vibes. I liked it reasonably well.
Yessss! I loved this album when it came out. It is so interesting how albums are associated with memories. This album (particularly the Lazarus song) is haunting because it came out 2 days before he died. From what I remember learning about this album is that he knew he was at the end when he recorded these songs. I always take this album in from the perspective of a dying man. Lazarus carries this album from a 2 to a 3 for me.
Perhaps the worst album of D.B.
Another experimental album by David Bowie where you can't decide if it's good or not.
Once I was working at a bike shop with a couple other people with some recent non-Bowie thing, kinda groovy slightly pop leaning indie rock with subtle electronics, and one asked "is this the latest David Bowie album?". It was in earnest but it occurred to me that this is a very funny damning-with-faint-praise kind of thing to say. My friend who had whatever band on replied "I hear what you're saying, and I don't like it." After listening I find it even funnier. music: acknowledged. (⌐★_★)
I can’t believe this is already like 8 years ago. This is my first listen! The cool thing (of course) about Bowie is that he was never very stagnant. This one continues that line, and it’s good and interesting, like they usually are. It’s hard to detach it from the context of its release. Would it be as beloved by people without it? Hard to say. If this were the second last album instead of the last one, it might hold a different place. Nonetheless I enjoyed it, it’s sad to hear, and I’ll probably listen to it again some day.
I probably like David Bowie as much as the average person who has a reasonable knowledge about music. I vaguely know his hits but I’ve not actively listened to him, despite my mum and partner being fans. I’d heard mixed reviews about this album, some saying it’s not his best and others saying it’s a great last record for him to have released. I definitely like it more than I dislike it - some really good music behind the lyrics. I think this is another artist where I’m not sure about his vocals! But overall, a decent enough listen. Middling rated.
cannot even tell if i enjoyed this or not i felt like i was in a vacuum tube.
David Bowie is one of my favorite artists, but this is not my favorite album of his. I am partial to the older albums, but I still enjoyed listening to this because it’s been a little while since I have. The standouts for me were Lazarus and I Can’t Give Everything Away.
This album is David Bowie's last set of songs. I really wanted to like it, but unfortunately I didn't. The songs were just not for me with the exception of "Dollar Days" and "I Can't Give Everything Away" which I thought were pretty good. The mix of really good and bad make this a 3/5 in my eyes.
De laatste adem van Bowie wordt op dit album uitgeblazen. Ik heb destijds het album geluisterd en sindsdien nooit meer opgezet. In het album laat Bowie maar voor de laatste keer zien dat hij een meester is van vele genres. Rock gaat moeiteloos over in jazz en postpunk. Synths, stemvervormingen, epische saxofoons, alles wordt uit de kast getrokken om een spectaculair einde aan te kondigen. En het werkt. Ik vind het ook wel lekker dat het album iets onheilspellends over vrijwel ieder nummer heeft hangen. Uiteindelijk ben ik meer fan van het oude werk van Bowie, maar dit album doet het echt best goed, mede omdat Bowie veel genres toont te beheersen. Ik vind ★ echt fantastisch. Bowie is ook gewoon een steunpilaar en katalysator geweest voor zo veel bands. Voorbeeld: LCD Soundsystem. Zonder Bowie hadden ze niet meer bestaan. Bedankt en vaarwel David. Rating: 8/10 Highlights: ★, Lazarus
Interesting album. Odd most of the time, but surprisingly pleasant listen. Not my favorite Bowie effort.
Good album, not sure if I’m giving it rating because it’s what I really think about it because of the history of Bowie.
The atmosphere on this album is fantastic, but I feel that the songs themselves are a bit lackluster. I can't help but think this album is over hyped because of the circumstances.
Not bad for a guy who knew he was on his way out. 3.5/5
Good quality compositions. Arrangements rather too opulent. Will never get used to Bowie's voice. Is it just me or does he always sound like he's bored?
Another David Bowie album....I think this is the 3rd one. Oh this one is way newer. 2016. I like the sinister feel to the first track. That sinister vibe persists through out! Black Star is getting 3 stars.
Bowie made the best Radiohead album on the 2010s. This is pretty dark but I assume it was meant to be since he was dying. It felt a little hard listening through this one. Blackstar is a standout track. Plus there is one line in "Tis a Pity She Was a Whore" that cracked me up. I'll go back to Hunky Dory way sooner than I'll head back to this one.
It's bowie, just not my favorite bowie
I rate Bowie very highly but this album being labeled as a perfect 5/5 just doesn’t make sense, you’re diminishing his other, better albums this way in my opinion. That being said, Lazarus is a really, really good song.
Heard the singles but first time listening to album…. Lazarus stood out
Not my favorite Bowie record, as it probably is one of his least accessible. But still, as a last word , literally from the grave as he died before it was released, it still has a haunting presence. What it does to a great extent, is show how Bowie even til his last breath was evolving and changing his style.
It grew on me after a couple of listens.
Jeg forstår godt hvorfor den her plade er på listen, men jeg har virkelig svært ved at komme ind i musikken. Hørte den i '16 og der sagde den mig ikke noget, det gør den desværre stadig ikke, på trods af at jeg hørte hele pladen 2 gange.
Unsettling
None of the tracks really stood out for me
3/5
I really like the second half of the title track. The first half feels a bit monotone, but I don't mind it as much the second time around because it transitions quite smoothly. I liked the last song best (I Can't Give Everything Away)
J'aime Bowie, mais je n'ai pas trippé sur cet album.
Almost exactly what one would expect from Bowie. Inventive and unconventional But this is far from my favorite work of his.
Felt very "meh" for a Bowie album.
Blackstar (★) is the 26th and final album by the English musician David Bowie. It was recorded in secret and released on Bowie's 69th birthday - two days before he died of liver cancer. This album was his swan song and was an award winning album met with commercial success and critical acclaim. Blackstar is an art rock album with experimental jazz elements, incorporating use of the saxophone as well as elements from rock, pop, and hip hop. This is one of the greatest albums of the 2010's, and the fifth best-selling in 2016. It has been certified gold in Germany, New Zealand, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, & the US, platinum in Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Italy, Poland, Switzerland, & the UK, and double platinum in the Netherlands. This is a phenomenal piece of music and was a joy to listen to. Bowie was always the "Starman" from another world because of his engaging production of intricate rock music. With this farewell album, he returned to the stars leaving fans with one last amazing album. RIP David Bowie ★
Felt at times more like a jazz record than a Bowie record. Somber and mournful it’s very much a record about life and death.
I liked parts of this album a lot and other parts were a little bit too weird for me. The song Lazarus is absolutely awesome. Other songs didn’t resonate with me as much. Not a bad effort, but mostly something that I found forgettable. Bowie has better albums out there.
love u bowie
Meh. I liked a couple of songs a lot. The rest were fine. I felt they all kind of sounded the same.
Big fan of Bowie, but never really liked this, and obviously just brings sadness as he died soon after it was released. 2.5 stars, but rounded up.
There were one or two songs that were good, but honestly this album's rating seems a bit overblown.
Parts made me uneasy, had a bit of a wobble about my own mortality which I'm sure Mr Bowie would consider a job well done.
While I actually don't love David Bowie much except for select songs, I always try to approach his albums with my mind completely open knowing how many people I love love David Bowie. So I did that and I found a few songs here that were really interesting and enjoyable. I think I need to sit down and hear this album several more times. Really interesting.
Gotta give it up to Bowie here. You can sometimes clearly tell it’s him, but really only when the vocals are so very… Bowie. But it consistently sounds and feels very 2016. It doesn’t sound like an aging nostalgia act pumping out the same old stuff. It sounds fresh and fitting the times. Like he’d been listening to TV on the Radio, Animal Collective, and other 21st century indie rock.
I like some of the electronic elements of this album but I don’t hear what is so special. I think without Bowie’s name attached to it, it would be a nothingburger.
Haunting. It sounds like New York. If I'm being honest, this album had way more sax than I needed. Still, Bowie was one of a kind and he was true to himself. He allowed himself to express his feelings, even if it didn't create massive hits- even if it was uncomfortable. Incredibly, he still made massive hits. He was just too good to not be noticed.
Important work from Bowie, even if not my favorite. I love the whole concept. It could grow on me. 3+.
очень дэвидобоуиевски
Bowie meets Jazz. A pleasant compilation of sounds, but feels a few layers deeper than my comprehension.
Not really my vibe, but I appreciated the slightly darker messages. Also clockwork orange song is always a good move
I've never really listened to Bowie, so this being my first full album was probably not the best one to start with. Didn't click, but knowing the circumstances I'll come back to it eventually. Still don't think this is an album that people must listen to... But one Bowie fans should.
Didn’t love this as much as some other Bowie projects
Musik halt
I do not know much of Bowie's work post 1990s, so this was an interesting listen. Very ominous, depressing, and introspective throughout, which makes sense given the state of Bowie's health at the time (and ultimately his passing a few days after this album). "Lazarus" and "I Can't Give Everything Away" were standout examples of those aforementioned themes. I'd be lying if I said this was Bowie's best work, though
This was my first ever David Bowie album and I kind of hated it.
A haunted presence Another reinvention Bleakly beautiful
Not my favorite of the Bowies
I'd always meant to listen to this album, given how wide-ranging David Bowie has been over his music career, so I'm glad to have an excuse to listen to it. It's interesting enough, I suppose, but I wonder if this is really even one of his better albums? (It appears that music critics would beg to differ with me on that point, so I guess I'll just have to accept its greatness.) It *is* interesting to (literally) see how much music videos are an integral part of a few of the songs on this album, and "Blackstar" (the song) seems like a weird compendium of his style and sound over the decades (sort of). I think I enjoyed "Lazarus" the most. But overall it didn't really engage me. And sad knowing this was his last album, as he clearly had plenty more to contribute into the 21st century.
It’s Bowie all right. Eerie ghostly wailing. Last song is pretty mellow ambient.
Bowies experimentiert in seinem letzten Album mit Artrock, Jazz und Blues Elementen. Auch wenn Bowie ein großartiger Künstler war, inspiriert mich fast kein Song seines Albums zur Wiederholung mit Ausnahme „Dollar Days“. RIP lieber David.
What an unimaginable send-off! Imagine knowing you're actively dying and releasing a goodbye album two days before your passing. It gives me chills. You can practically hear Bowie slipping away in the opening track. His voice sounded more gravelly than usual. I was interested to find out that James Murphy, Kendrick Lamar, and other big names worked on this album. The context, Bowie's legacy, and his collaborators make the album. I genuinely don't think it would've charted otherwise, given how experimental it is.
very interesting love ‘tis a pity she was a whore i would give db a listen again ngl
Don't know if I really needed this one but I suppose anything from a 69 year old David Bowie is at least owed a listen. So i did. Now back to my originally scheduled programming.
This is like the 6th Bowie album I've gotten, and I'm glad I got lots of his earlier stuff first, so I could appreciate this more. Cool to hear him on a modern album, still making elevated pop, not just radio hits. Lots of saxophone in this. Songs were a bit same-y throughout, but still enjoyable.
This is such a hard album to review. It is super hard to get into and Bowie sounds off tempo at points, but the instrumentation and lyrics are amazing
I wasn't feeling the title track until about two-thirds of the way through its 9:57 run time. It being Bowie's last album, the sounds are a bit more haunting than they normally would be. There's a lot of classic Bowie themes in the music but it feels sad, like he's saying goodbye
good music, bowie boring
Quality music, but not my thing.
He has a unique sound of rock.
I like Bowie, but this definitely wasn't as good as most of his other stuff.
No sé. No es mal disco, pero tampoco es interesante.
Some really good moments!
Fucking weird, innit?
Bowie is always a solid choice. Not my favorite by him but still enjoyable.
Bowie's music certainly covers a wide variety of styles. He's obviously very talented.
I think it is good, although it's an over loved album imo. Will I listen to again: 30%
Not my thing but it's good for what it was. 3/5.
DB doing what he does
Some good, some bad
An ok album
Bowie is no doubt on this list for multiple albums. This one is probably here, in my opinion, because it gives witness to such an amazing and creative artist who was able to keep reinventing his persona and work for such a long and successful career as rock’s more glamorous and artistic personalities.
Pretty enjoyable. Some of it felt directionless.
Dosyć mroczny. Nie najlepsze dzieło Dawida Bowie. Ale nie było to rozczarowanie. Myślę, że mogę do niego kiedyś wrócić
I love David Bowie, and I remember when this came out really being excited to listen to it because it was kind of a surprise, but then hating it, and why it was so dark. He died a couple of days later if I am not wrong and then it kind of made sense, I don't think I ever listened to it again after that, and not my favorite stuff of him, but you can almost feel like he knew wasn't going to be around for long...
Starts off ominous, strong Radiohead vibes. Experimental. Production is interesting. Vocals leave something to be desired - has a "ghost of Christmas past" vibe. Has the vibe of a fading artist grasping at trying to be hip and modern, but it comes out a bit clunky. Gets into a nice little groove, but doesn't seem to lock you in. There are a few moments throughout that stand out, a few things that wow you, but overall those moments are erased by vocals or shrill horn that comes out of nowhere. I enjoy experimental music/jazz, but the whole album feels like it's trying to be something that it's not.
i love him
Ok
It was okay, not my favorite David Bowie album, sometimes it felt like it was out of tune, or not pleasant to listen to
I can appreciate it as an art piece but it’s really far from my favorite Bowie record in terms of enjoying the listen
There were some songs that were okay. I didn't love it.
Too experimantle
6,5/10
Not Bowie's best work, admittedly. It probably got the shining reviews it did just for his recent passing. It's a good album, but I wouldn't call it the best thing he ever did. Lazarus is a standout track, and probably the best out of this whole record. Overall, it's a good listen.
Album started and I immediately hated it. Then I listened more and it starts to form this eerie and cohesive melancholy and dark album of chanting and echoey saxophones and beats. The production is outstanding. Album is interesting from beginning to end, as it starts to lighten up and become more hopeful. I wouldn't have listened past the first 3 mins if it wasn't for the challenge of listening to this album. Glad I stuck through it.
It was ok, kind of weird not really for me but listened throughout the whole thing
3.5 ... it's more than just the music on this one.
Tengo un recuerdo muy triste de este álbum, de poco antes de morir Bowie. El legado de un genio, no se puede escuchar sin tenerlo en mente.
Demasiado experimental para mí gusto...
Truly amazing to record this in secret then release it two days before his untimely death. A very good album.
This is the first time I've heard this and honestly, Bowie's done better. It has its moments (Lazarus and I Can’t Give Everything Away stand out to me) but nothing on here comes close to the magic of 70's Bowie.
I don’t know much about David Bowie, but if i were a musician and this would be my last album before i died, i would be proud. It’s not really my kind of music at the moment but it’s an artistic and very good sounding album.
See this is what I don’t like about this thing. Because yesterday I just wasn’t feeling it for various reasons. And this would possibly replay more listening and I might well return to it. Nothing really grabbed me on first listen though
When put in the context of David bowie dying shortly after, this album gains a lot of intrigue. Def a lot of modern hiphop influence, i hear some TPAB in there for sure. Sad though, its kinda giving a "How do you do fellow kids" vibe. If he hadn't died two days after I would have an easier time disliking this work but given the circumstances it was made, and a definite bias bc Bowie is a huge artist, its a toss up for what i'm gonna be ranking this.
I know this is Bowie's 26th album, and his last, but it is nowhere near his best. But even Bowie at his worst is better than 95% of artists at their best. There is no mistaking his voice and his trademark musical style. Wasn't expecting the swearing, but I haven't listened to the other 25 albums, so I'm not sure if this was normal, although that seems unlikely.
Certainly different for a Bowie record. Plenty of interesting songs, even though he sounds a bit old and there was some variation of an Amen break every few minutes. Still solid, just not one of his more outstanding releases
A quality lineup of songs with extremely good production. I was drawn to the drums through the course of this album, they sounded crisp, tight and interesting.
5.5/10
A very gloomy album. It's an album that shows the feelings of David Bowie at the end of his life, raw and unfiltered. But musically it is not that accessible. Very artsy feel, his falsetto flips are questionable, he definitly made better albums. But there are still good songs on here, Lazerus is a banger and blackstar isn't that bad either.
meh. i bet this gets high numbers for being dead star.
Bowies swansong album released shortly before he passed away. It's a short collection of intimate tracks that reveal Bowies realisation that his time was near an end, some of the lyrics are quite evident of his frame of mind that the end was coming. So I get the poignant importance of this album when it was released, and the hype around the album that followed thereafter his passing, but if you remove the timing and meaning of the album, it's actually quite boring, and not a creative release synonymous with his preceeding albums. I will always remain fan of Bowies music, but just not this album.
When I put aside that voice that says "I am supposed to like this" and consider this on its own terms, this album is fine. I don't think the album sells itself on its own merits. It's a little too jazzy and doesn't offer enough beauty for me to want to listen to it outside of this experiment. But I get why it's here.
Strange experimental effort
Taking the timing and context out of an evaluation, half of this is a pretty average album. Dollar Days, Girl Loves Me, and I Can’t Give Everything Away are the better half. But adding in context would bump it to 3.5 for me.
good guitar and melodies but not all of it was good.
Okay
The first song: no thanks. From there it's a climb in quality and enjoyment with bright spots along the way.
Vecie albumi patīk labāk. :)
There's better Bowie albums. This isn't bad but it was overhyped due to being released shortly before his death and the "prophetic nature" of it. Then there was a wave of Bowie-mania (certainly not a bad thing at all) but yeah, this isn't essential unless you're a big time Bowie fan. I feel like I kind of shit on this album, it really isn't bad, its solid. It just doesn't need to be here.
Didn’t enjoy very much. Some catchy riffs though.
Bowie’s death hit me hard, as it did for so many. The following night I was among a group of grieving fans in Hyde Park, listening to his music at a gathering arranged overnight. I have never listened to this album before. The only track I had ever heard before was Lazarus. For me, Bowie’s passing was bookended by 2 trips to Melbourne - in September 2015, four months before he died, to see the David Bowie Is exhibition from London’s Victoria & Albert Museum and in early 2019 to see a production of the off-Broadway production of Lazarus (Bowie’s last public appearance had been at the opening of Lazarus a month before he died). If I wanted to be narky, I might suggest that seeing it hastened his demise. It was dreadful. On the other hand, the exhibition, which featured his music, costumes, everything about him, was amazing. (Why Melbourne? Because they were not going anywhere else.) I suppose I’m just trying to make the point that I was a big fan, even though I’ve not been able to bring myself to listen to this album before. The last Bowie album I ever paid full price for on release was Scary Monsters (1980). I collected a heap of his stuff after that, but only because it was Bowie & none of it ever affected me like his great 70’s work. This album was painful to listen to but I’m glad I finally have, even though I’d rather not talk about it. Three stars.
Pretty good as background music to focus, but didn't really feel the desire to save any songs to my playlist. I really liked the second half of Blackstar (the song)
Dosta eksperimentalno cak i za Bouvija, ali dobija pass jer je Bouvi.
I the album certainly has the mystique of Bowie’s death around it, and that does make it feel special. After all, it was (knowingly) his swan song. Yet, I can’t help but feel that this album would not have achieved its notoriety if not for Bowie’s death two days later. I’ve always appreciated that Bowie never seemed too bothered with what would be commercially viable. Yet at times, Black Star seems too strange to enjoy.
Difficult
Not his absolute best but there are some sick tracks on there, "lazuras" and "I can't give everything away" are my favourite.
Already familiar with this album. Blackstar and Lazarus are bangers. The other songs are okay.
Much different than what I was expecting. I've never really listened to anything of his before. Not my favorite genre or style wise but I appreciate the musicianship
Although I have listened to David Bowie before, it is certainly not an artist I usually listen to. Album seems very “experimental”? I kinda liked “Lazarus” and “I Can’t Give Everything Away”. In general, a good album and kind of a beautiful send-off to one of the most important musicians of my time.
David Bowie is a musical genius and a treasure, but this one was a bit too out there for me.
Fine
This was different. Say what you want about this album but Bowie kept changing and trying new things all the way to the end. A weird mix of songs that goes between jazzy, rambling vocals and electronic beats. I enjoyed the more traditional songs like "Lazarus" and "Dollar days" where the sax in the latter reminded me of a Pink Floyd album. The first 2 songs were my least enjoyed ones which meant the album was off to a rocky start. I do have a sneaky suspicion the "Star" will grow on me though. Will give this 3 stars as there are some good songs and some bad but brownie points for never settling for "normal".
7/10
Dreamy
Intense. Kind of ghoulish in retrospect, but Bowie knew what he was doing. I like it now, I bet I’ll love it in 10 years.
Legendy swan song, but not something I'd listen to on a regular basis
- eerie knowing he died just 2 days later - overall not my favorite but I can see the value
Didn’t like it as much as Low
Wow, ★ starts the album going so many places. Really liked that song. The rest of the album felt pretty similar but didn't call to me as much; lots of interesting bits but a bit atmospheric.
Surprised me. I had it on secret repeat (as in I didn't know it was repeating) and I managed to enjoy about three turns of the album before realising it had been on too much of a repeat. The vocals are curious, very David Bowie but also rather jazz. I think an excellent piece of overall work and I would happily listen to it again. Is it three stars? Four? High three, but not quite four, it could get there with more listening. Lets go three. Something about the vocals being spacious and atmospheric, and the music being a touch discordant (which could be the jazz notes through it) ... unsure.
3.5/5. Certainly different from his earlier work, but this was still good.
The story behind it made it even more melancholy. The pulsing heart beating bass/drum and frail voice gave it emotion. But not really my thing.
It’s ok
Trochę przymuł nawet jak na Boviego, ale przynajmniej nie jazz, chociaż momentami było tak różnie... 3/5
Good album, can definitely hear the kendrick influence in the production, which is great. Some of the songs drag a bit but besides that I liked it, may have to listen to it again to take in the lyrics more. Solid listen
Mid
Ive hear better of him, but the album deserves to be on the list since it is the last one of a legendary artist.
Je n'écoute jamais les albums "tardifs" comme celui-ci, parce que j'ai un a priori négatif sur le fait que ça ne sera pas aussi bien que les premiers. Préjugé pas vraiment détrompé ici, même si ça reste du Bowie et tout à fait écoutable, avec le côté émouvant en prime de l'album sorti juste avant sa mort.
mun aivokapasiteetti sopii paremmin Bowien Radio957-tason tuotannolle
dissapointing tbh
good background noise. long songs and lots of instrumental but good david bowie sound
Super Strange. I’ve already listened to this many times. Still don’t know what to make of it. Seems like something that is forgettable OR will be come to know as his crowning achievement.
Eerie and haunting but not the most accessible album. I'll break this out when I'm in the mood for something artsy.
A little more droning than I like. The story around the album is amazing, but the first track really set the tone in a not great way for me
Quite nice
Don't know what I think about this, in either a good or bad way