Blackstar

An album that gets progressively better is much more enjoyable than one which gets progressively worse… I heard good things about this album. I never gave it a listen, despite the acclaim that came from it. And the interesting factoid that Bowie died just two days after its release…. I really enjoy the production on “Sue (Or In A Season Of Crime)” and the overall musicianship on “I Can’t Give Everything Away” 3.5

Really well done album by one of the best to ever do it. This isn't his best work but it still manages to be interesting.

A man who's been running his whole life reaches the finish line and doesn't know where he is. A doctor claps him on the shoulder and says, "Any last words?" Perfect album 10/10 couldn't have been made by anyone but Bowie better with every listen etc.

i don't think i've listened to this since it came out but i think i was probably crying thru most of it. i didn't realise bowie was explicitly inspired by kendrick and death grips on this one?? i hear it tho. it's so interesting that for his last album bowie decided to steer away from his usual rock sound and what he came up with is fuckin great. i love the variety, and as a known earthling liker i'm especially glad he gave drum n bass one last shot with "sue (or in a season of crime)". "'tis a pity she was a whore" and "girl loves me" both go crazy god damn hard too, and the title track and "i can't give everything away" form a perfect frame for the album, beautiful and haunting. honestly fuck it, every single track is a banger. it's one hell of a final performance. i can't do this album justice with words. it's an easy 5 even if it does bring me close to tears on every listen. rip bowie ;_;7

Talk about a swan song.

Was always a fan of Bowie, this album not so much

not very familiar with Bowie but this sounds a little different from the earlier work, not quite my thing however

RIP Bowie, went out on a high note.

75

Some nice songs and a few that didn’t do much for me.

Bowie is an artist that’s really grown on me over the last couple years. However, I can’t help but believe the only reason this album is so well received is because of his death directly following it. I honestly don’t see anything special with this record. The dark jazz vibes are cool, but are any of you actually routinely coming to listen to this record? I can’t give everything away is a clear standout for me. Lazarus had been my personal fav prior to listening. Time will tell how frequently this is returned to. Last note: please stop inflating this list with late era Bowie. He’s got plenty of great albums from his prime.

When you are at the end of your life, what do you create? Faced with your own mortality, how do you cope? Blackstar comes fresh after the death of David Bowie a last hurrah in the spectacle and life of a legend. The title track is a 10-minute ballad of pure emotion and an amazing intro to the depression that comes with being close to death. The narrative is clear here, there is no nuance, and I think it works. I think it works really well. You can hear it in not only in Bowie’s singing but in the instrumentals and mix just oozy terror. Girl loves me is a Patti smith banger sounds just like her. I mean there is no better representation to the theme I can’t give everything away like what more do you need from me this is phenomenal. David Bowie literally pleading that he has more to give away and yet he can’t and has to perish without truly sharing it all. This album is an emotional masterpiece and amazing follow to the next day. Also amazing cover and black star literally being like the death of a star it’s well thought out and one of bowies best

The best part about this album is he died right after so we didn't have to listen to anymore Bowie

I love David Bowie but this just wasn’t it.

masterpiece. rip

con esto musicalizaría un amarre y a la vez siento que son mis pensamientos intrusivos

Feels mean, given the circumstances, but I don't think it's particularly good. Quite liked the last song, overall has some fun jazzy bits, but generally just a little unfocused.

Liked it, didn't love it.

I wish I could have given this more but it is just good, sadly not brilliant.

Bowie’s swansong is less about bangers and more about one last little push towards the bleeding edge. Really enjoyed it

j'adore Bowie mais c'est trop la déprime cet album

didnt' like it

I was not fucking with this as much as I wanted to be unfortunately. But it had some good bits and it was heartbreaking to listen to and I’m glad I listened.

Vet album, maar wel wat vaag

Bowies siste gave til musikkverden, utgitt to dager før hans død. Art rock. Fantastisk, mørk instrumentasjon, som passer konteksten rundt albumet utmerket. Samtidig litt for sært for min smak. Top 3: Lazarus, ★, Girl Loves Me

It finally happened, I've been forced to face this album head on and address it for what it is. It's art and it's not for everyone. Listening to this album from track 1 through track 7. I don't typically say this about music, but this album is really just audio art, it's not for casual listeners. Every note, every instrument effect, every drum tap and strike, every instrument used, even Bowie's voice is all intentional and meant to "paint" an image in your brain. How you react, how you interpret, the emotions that ebb and flow, it's all part of the experience. As a casual listener, it's jumbled off-tune pretentious self-indulgent music rambling about random shit for because why not. Calling it anything besides that would be ingenuous. It's not for everyone, and it's not something you just listen to on your commute to work and back. This is something you commit time to listen to on quality audio equipment and really absorb what's happening. I understand the low reviews, and I understand the high reviews. For me it's a 8/10 because I got to listen to this album in the right place at the right time.

Genre defining!

I like the dark atmosphere and experimentation.

What do I say. Let's start with context David Bowie is the goat.he is an amazing story teller and has an amazing ear for musicians. Making this project full vary dense. Whenever I'm listening to one of these songs I'll notice something new every couple seconds. On this album you can feel pressure threw the tones and production. This compliment with the lyrics with David Bowie grappling with the end. The complexity of the instrumentation also adds to it.Truly beautiful stuff. Strong 10.

solid and short

Damn, he really did that. I love him. He's a genius and to give us such a war rattle of an album, how can I not be grateful?

Just a very solid Bowie album!

A great way for Bowie to bow out with an immensely creative album blending a range of styles led by art rock and jazz. The title track and Lazarus especially are wonderfully epic songs. The middle is slightly weaker, and probably *just* keeps this from a 5.

Even ten years later it’s difficult to not see this rather jazzy art-rock album as Bowie’s ‘auto-epitaph’, and a great job he did of it too. The three longer tracks (‘Blackstar’ itself, ‘Lazarus’ and ‘I Can’t Give Everything Away’) are the core of the album, and the best songs too, along with ‘‘Tis a Pity She Was a Whore’ and ‘Dollar Days’. There is a slight lull with ‘Sue’ and ‘Girl Loves Me’; they're still good songs but they do bring the overall quality down just short of 5 stars for me. Nonetheless, this is a brilliant final artistic statement.

I was nervous I might not like it

I listened to this album just a few days after Leonard Cohen's You Want It Darker; I spent the day feeling tired and drained, struggling to keep my eyelids open. With David Bowie being one of my most anticipated artists to finally explore the work of via this list, and knowing that he appears on this list more than any other artist, it feels a little odd to be starting with his final project, but it makes a strong enough impression that I think it's rather fitting (and with it being the only Bowie album I've heard in full prior, it feels like a good reintroduction point). Many older artists lose their relevancy as they continue making music into the modern era, but this album is impressively current. Strange drum rhythms and futuristic synths dance with filthy horn sections, weaving from heavy jazz elements to straight-up electronic drum & bass. There is a near-constant building of upwards momentum, with Bowie demonstrating a staggering amount of energy for his age. And as was also the case with You Want It Darker, Bowie's reflections on life and mortality hit so much harder for the proximity of his tragic passing to this album's release. I can not wait to travel back further through Bowie's catalog to explore the depths of art he was able to create, because even this late in his career, his work is untouchably profound and beautiful. Highlights: ★, 'Tis A Pity She Was A Whore, Lazarus, Sue (Or In A Season Of Crime), Girl Loves Me, Dollar Days, I Can't Give Everything Away

I used to absolutely despise this album when people proclaimed it the best of 2016. 10 years later, and a much deeper appreciation of Bowie and I can firmly say this is a 5-star masterpiece Best Song: Blackstar Rating: 9.0/10 Stars: 5

The first song made me think of Final Fantasy or Zelda. This is the second pre-death album I've listened to on 1001 albums (the first being You Want it Darker by Leonard Cohen). I gave that one five stars and this one might be getting five stars too. Okay, now Sue sounds like Final Fantasy fight music. The last song was repetitive and not in a good way, too much saxophone and electric guitar. Still going to give it a five, but that might change...

For a man who was dying, Bowie actually did a great job. The title track is nothing but gold. There are many great tracks on "Blackstar". It has to be one of Bowie's best. I don't think anyone can make a great track to finish their career like "I Can't Give Everything Away". 4 stars for "Blackstar".

I have listened to black star before it appears I love music and sounds god it’s great

David’s final album, he passed two days after it was released. It’s perhaps not his greatest but every track is engaging. Good - I already have this album in my music collection.

Belle surprise! Une réécoute ou plusieurs sont programmées 💪😉

Decent album without the context. With it... it becomes generationally unique. An artist taking their lest breath, and knowing so is someting that very rarely happens. Bowie isn't always for me but this hits in such a way 8/10

7/10

I throughly enjoyed this album listen! I’d heard some of the singles off this album but I’d never listened to the album as a collective. This album feels darker and heavier than other Bowie albums I’ve listened to but that’s probably because his health was suffering and he knew he was passing sometime in the near future. Overall, I thought this was a powerful and emotional final album from Bowie and truly a love letter to his fans and music before his passing. Bowie was truly one of a kind and so special. I’m so glad we have his music to remember him by forever!

Experimental to the max for Bowie but generally enjoyable

The backing musicians are awesome.

Not his best album was very experimental.

no de mis favoritos de bowie, ya estaba medio en las últimas, buenos lyrics igual, no me quejo, el ritmo medio que la pifio

I had a rough week and wasn’t emotionally prepared for this one. The last time I heard it was when it was released, and it hits me just as hard now as it did then.

Pretty weird

I feel like I'm being hypnotised into believing David Bowie is a black star. What a weird journey this was. Although, I feel if it weren't a weird journey, it wouldn't be Bowie.

the opening track is haunting. wow!

Noise, disjointed. Not good. Suspect it is heralded dying two days after the release. So what? Doesn't make this any more listenable.

‘Tis A Pity This Was So Meh. There are a couple of good songs, but I grew tired of the general sound very quickly, and the album isn’t even that long.

On an artistic level, this album is undeniably good. However, this is the third Bowie album I've received in a few weeks, and I appreciated it less than the others.

I don't get his particular art. Respect the legacy but don't enjoy listening.

Magnificent swan song from a musical genius.

I LOVE IT

horrid

top 3 - Sue (Or in a Season of Crime), I Can’t Give Everything Away, Girl Loves Me. woah !! this is amazing .. very haunting album as well. also i can’t believe it’s already 10 years old already. would easily come back to this.

I guess this would be pretty good if you’re already a big David Bowie fan, but I found most of it pretty irritating. The sax was especially grating, and by the second track it was already starting to wear me out. Instead of sounding cool or eerie, a lot of it just felt like it was trying way too hard to be strange. I get that it’s supposed to be artsy and heavy and all that, but that only goes so far when I don’t actually enjoy listening to it.

Knowing that this was his last album before his passing made it memorable. Felt very Bowie while a bit modern.

Just realised I’m not sure that I like David Bowie musically. The guy’s a total legend and I appreciate that this is his last album but what the hell is this.

Not the easiest listen, very artistic and creative, lots of texture mixing experimental jazz and rock it was never going to be an album for the casual listener but for fans of Bowie's work its sublime, a wonderfully, uneasy, parting gift for his fans.

glad I‘m not alone with my thoughts.. I don’t like Bowie‘s singing and listening to the album felt like hard work for me. I respect Bowie‘s legacy and the story behind Blackstar released like a goodbye-present is fascinating, but this album isn’t for me.

I feel like he used his final as an excuse to be weird and bitter. 2/5

my seventh bowie album on this list, still two left i think.

Beautiful David Bowie, excellent album whilst taking a walk yesterday, tears as I walked knowing David was leaving us and this was his parting gift to the world🙏🏼🫶🏽

This really does feel like Bowie saying goodbye and parts of the album are beautiful. I just struggle with slower albums as my brain struggles to take in the lyrics.

Haven't listened to this since it released. I still think it's visionary and haunting. Miss him so much!

Para ser David Bowie ha sido decepción total :(

What a way to bow out! A remarkable final artistic statement.

I still remember what I did, where I was and who I was with when I heard about David’s death. This album was his final song is own requiem. David Bowie is my favourite artist. Can you give 6 stars?

very good - should listen to it more

Not my favorite Bowie, but something special about it. A very mournful capstone.

No me encanta no me disgusta

I've come to realise, I am just not a David Bowie fan. This album was easy enough to listen to, just nothing stood out for me. I am sure that David Bowie fans live this album, it just wasn't for me.

Finally a Bowie album that I can get. An album by someone well aware of his impending mortality. Haunting and impactful. This one will stay with you for a while.

I think he saved his best for last.

Strange and "modern" Bowie. Very different from his earlier, more well-known hits. To me this just isn't Bowie.

Went for a run listen to this, huge mistake. Did not enjoy a single track on the album.

Really fitting for today's gloomy moods. Some tracks are really touching especially in context of release of this album.

I remember the fuss when this album came out. I did hear it, but wasn't impressed by the music. I respect Mr. Bowie as an artist a tremendous amount, but his music is just not for me. I hear the emotion and understand the meaning, they just don't reach me as I think they should. Most of his albums have been like this for me. I like songs here and there quite a bit, but that is it. Sorry, but I'm not sorry at all.

At first I thought this was a little dull. Maybe a three but Tim said ‘he curated his death’ and that has made me view it a little differently.

The kind of album that gets into your bones.

I wouldn’t say it was Bowie’s best album but given the circumstances & his passing the album for me takes up some real emotion and sentiment. Quite haunting at times.

The classiest farewell, suitable for a true artist

It was an interesting album, I feel quite neutral about it. I don’t love It but I don’t hate it either. I like Lazarus and Dollar Days the most. A bit of a liminal vibe in this album that makes me feel strange. It’s cool I like it.

It't has some likeable bits. Would probably grow on me if I was interested in a hearing it again. I'm not.

I sorely miss this man.

No notes. Ouvi logo quando saiu, e ficou em repeat por algum tempo. RIP KING

A beautiful album and carries even more weight given it was Bowie's last. Released in 2016, it sounds like Bowie but a modernized version that had me listening back multiple times. Love that Bowie.

Ashystar: Anxiety jazz backing the existential dread of a dying man. Bowie here isn't pushing a typical political agenda, but he looks to remind us, and perhaps himself, that the starman, and the many alter egos, is a man and men die. He knows his works have their own pull, but the light behind them will be gone, blackstar is a questionable metaphor here. Overall a hauntingly beautiful acceptance of death. A fun little conspiracy, Bowies corpse was on Elons Tesla sent to space in 2018 Low 4

Love the instrumental part of the songs, big vibes, would be great as movie/show soundtracks but the vocals ruin it. Maybe I'm scarred from only seeing David Bowie in The Labyrinth but I just can't stand his singing. Gimme the instrumental version of this album any day.

I liked <insert star symbol> only. I think the track is audibly called “black star” but on Spotify the default colour is white so thought that was funny. Dave would’ve hated that. Girl loves me should have been called “where the fuck did Monday gooo, where the fuck did Monday gooo, where the fuck did Monday gooo, where the fuck did Monday gooo” a brutal listen. All time stinker of an album. Thought since there was only 7 songs I could at least get through it quickly but unfortunately with a 41 minute run time this was not the case. Pulled duck teriyaki rice bowl for dinner though, so things are looking up.

This was an odd one to listen to. It was a very David Bowie-esque album to say the least, and you can definitely tell that it was modern as it sounded different to his older music. I would listen to certain songs again but some of them I really wasn't a fan of them. Some songs were extremely long and that was a small downfall of the album. But overall not too bad, very whimsical and psychedelic. 3.5/5 stars Favourite songs: *Blackstar* Lazarus Dollar Days I Can't Give Everything Away

Klingt irgendwie experimentell. Zu experimentell für mich.

What an absolutely amazing album. When it came out, I was a teenager obsessed with Bowie - this album coming out right as he passed away made me put off listening to it for 10 years. I knew it was sad, I knew it will be very emotional and I guess I just never found the courage to face the fact of one of the greatest artist to ever live, passing. That said, I'm thankful that it was included here and made me listen to it. It definitely was everything I thought it could be and so much more. David Bowie is not a controversy seeking (or just being himself) artist anymore here - he's an older man who has seen everything and shares what that everything gave him. You can't expect his voice to be so high, raspy, crazy as it was on the earlier stages of his career, but it doesn't have to be. He's soothing, he lures you into his world and, I'm sure, a visit there will change yours with every listen.

Has the overall tone and vibe of somebody giving their final bow. Some beautiful moments with some downright strange. Typical for Bowie I guess. Doubt I'll ever listen to this or anything from it again, but I enjoyed it enough.

I probably should give this a 1 but it's hard to out of respect to Bowie

Lazarus good song mid otherwise

Loved the first 4 minutes, but dropped off for me

Some strong points (E.g. I can't give everything away) but much like Monty Python there is the 'Good' Bowie and the 'Bad' Bowie. This is the bad

I love lots of elements of this album. In no particular order, the jazzy elements, James Murphy’s drumming. It’s hard to look beyond the emotional significance of the timing of its release but then again maybe you’re not meant to.

Sue was a highlight with some very tasty drums and riffs. Really like how Lazarus builds as well. Overall a bit too experimental for me, but can appreciate the musicianship and obvs Bowie is straight-up ledge

David Bowie is the goat, but I did not like this album, like at all. The beginning was not good, but it improved towards the last 2 songs. Experimentation is good, but this just was not for me.

Nice

Se siente extraño tener como primer acercamiento a Bowie su último trabajo. De todas formas conocía algunas canciones de él, tampoco es 100% nuevo. Percibo un tono lúgubre en la obra, quizás me condiciona el saber que poco después murió, pero hay algo en este álbum que me genera esa sensación de melancolía unida a una aceptación del destino. Se nota como es una obra de un hombre ya consagrado en vida que aprovecha su gloria para experimentar y renovar su arte. Quizás no es el mejor álbum para iniciar con Bowie, pero no deja de ser sumamente interesante en su sonido. Probablemente lo reescuche en un futuro y tenga mayor impacto en mi vida, aunque ya sin ser fan de Bowie lo tuvo.

Mid

I'm realizing I don't much enjoy Bowie

On the one hand, I'm sad I hadn't heard this until now. On the other, I'm glad because I would not have remotely appreciated this album in 2016, without having truly widened my palette. This is an utter masterpiece, weaving every era of Bowie's music into a rich tapestry of reflection and mortality that isn't morose or cloying. Bowie takes on the end of his life with the same creative curiosity he brought to all his other work, and that makes this an incredibly powerful record.

Bueno

Of course Bowie is one of the best but this album didn’t speak to me like his others did.

I can’t believe I’ve slept on this for so long. I remember when it came out, I was in my full Bowie phase, but I guess I just wasn’t ready. This album has immediately become a favorite. I love how experimental it is, the narrative prose of the lyrics, the mix of instrumental and digital sounds. Love Bowie’s haunting, idiosyncratic voice. It’s perfect beginning to end.

Self-indulgent. I could grow to like it.

Astoundingly pretentious even by his own standards

It would be interesting to compare pre and post death reviews of this album. It's not very good though is it?

Liminal

I just didn't really enjoy it

How’d he still have this in him at the end of his life?

Hard to listen to masterpiece

fun, love the dancy elements

20/03/2026 1. blackstar - liking the strings in the intro... verrry scott walker. love the saxaphone. at about five mins in and liking the second half alot more so far! lyrics are great! *2. 'tis a pity she was a whore - love the drums immediately. wowoow! love the backing vocals <3 saxaphone!!! love the bass!! fantastic!!!! *3. lazarus - love the guitar! three minutes in and this is incredible! lovelovelove the instrumental near the end! *4. sue (or in a season of crime) - ooo liking the intro... reaaallly loving this! the distorted guitars are phenomenal. instrumental about three mins in is crazy! fantastic! 5. girl loves me - a clockwork orange! love the bass. looove the strings! not sure how often i'd listen to this again, but i do reaallly like it :) *6. dollar days - paper rustling... love the piano and the slide(?) guitar. reminds me of the dark side of the moon... love the saxaphone throughout these tracks. looove the chorus! *7. i can't give everything away - fantastic! beautiful!!! the strings are gorgeous! wasn't sure about this after starting the first track, but started liking it about halfway through and, thankfully, reallllly loved all the other songs the whole way through. will need to relisten again soon!!!

8/10

muito top visse parabens david infelizmente nos deixou

Unfortunately, it was brick city on here.

curiosity kills the cat and other such saying

masterP

Not his best imo

Rv

Es un gran disco, se nota que Bowie se despedia de este mundo haciendo lo que mejor sabía hacer.

Powerful, haunting work of art from an artistic genius in his last 18 months of life. Just astounding that this is how he spent his time while dying from cancer. It’s not a perfect record, but he is still pushing the boundaries, still experimenting, still living, while grappling with life and death and keeping his terminal diagnosis private. It’s remarkable. Farewell, Bowie.

I never used to like Bowie when I was growing up. I saw him as the arty middle class bloke in amongst the grungey grimy image I wanted from my rock stars. Then I heard Ziggy stardust and it completely changed my mind. Since then I have fully immersed myself in all things Bowie. An incredible artist in the true sense of the word. Constantly reinventing himself and someone who expressed a true love of life both through his art and how he seemingly lived his life. In amongst all of that reinventing there were lots of things I didn't particularly care for. His later 80's and 90's phase was mostly not for me. The Next Day is somewhat a return to form. However, this album is just truly incredible. He sounds like a fresh artist at the peek of his powers. Add the context that he knew of his impending death and this is one of my favourite pieces of art ever created. The music video to Lazarus gets me every time. Full of gut wrenching symbolism. Allied to the fact that very little was known of his illness at the time, this was a fella completely devoted to his art form and art in general. True greatness and someone who single handedly changed the way this planet looks. He truly left his mark. Much respect Mr Bowie.

I've listened to this album once: driving to work in he pre-dawn hours of Jan., 11, 2016 having seen the blackstar video three days before and having just found out Bowie passed that morning., Adjust my rating accordingly,

Didn't like it.

10 years later, hearing this for the first time. Even without the immediacy of Bowies demise, it's still a great piece of work.

What an interesting, strange note to end a career of one of thebest to ever do it. At parts spacy, at parts theatrical, at parts avant garde, this might be Bowie’s most out there album, but I’ve only listened to a few other Bowie albums. It’s a tentative 4, and I definitely need to relisten, but it’s not likemuch else I’ve heard.

OK

⭐⭐⭐⭐ Albumet är lite quirky och kan säkert vara lite utmanande men jag tycker det är ganska intressant och produktionen är bra och på sången kan man inte höra att David är nära slutet. Kanske påverkar vetskapen om historien och tajmingen kring albumet betyget men jag tycker detta är ganska bra. Inte albumet man går till för hits. Bäst är Lazarus, I cat't gige everything away.

Feels more powerful knowing this was the last album he recorded knowing his time was limited. I like the combo of Jazz and Rock that feels like drifting through an unstable abyss. Lazarus and Girl Loves Me hit the hardest for me.

Sorry I found this a bit boring.

Oof. A beautiful last album but drastically different from what I know David Bowie to be. Lazarus and I Can't Give Everything Away stick out as monuments to his capability to make something weirdly beautiful.

3/5. I am not a Bowie fan or hater. I had no static opinion about him before this album — some songs I like, some I dislike. He seems really polarizing to me, so announcing that ambivalence seems worthwhile. It's a really odd album. I really disliked the first two songs, loved "Lazarus," and am unsure about the others. I haven't dived into the compositions from a musician's perspective, but everything I hear solidifies Bowie's reputation as an artist's artist, a real genius. Some of the music has this otherworldly quality despite not having anything special in the way of instrumentation, and when he does use effects to bolster a certain feeling in his songs, he does so with amazing results (I think of the really strange tones he has on the electric guitar chords near the start of "Lazarus;" incredible). I think if you are in the mood for something experimental and out there, but still safely in the realm of listenable, this is definitely worth a spin. I don't think I'll return to the album in the future but I'm glad I checked it out.

In an attempt to write an honest/somewhat unbiased (who are we kidding) Bowie album review, I’ll start by saying this is not my favorite album of his. It’s not one I’d typically choose to throw on, but it does take me back to 2016, the news of his passing, and it stays true to everything I love about this artist. The singles Blackstar and Lazarus (and their videos) are the standouts. Girl Loves Me also stands out musically to me. The Lazarus musical written by Bowie is one whose soundtrack was on repeat for months in my household and a show I’d love to experience live one day, but will have to settle with a streaming version made available for viewing during the pandemic. At the end of the day, I love everything David Bowie does. Knowing that Blackstar was Bowie’s last release before he died/recorded in secret while he was battling illness holds weight here, and the lyrics surrounding death and dying leave us contemplative throughout. At the end of the day, Bowie stayed true to himself as an artist, releasing work not with the aim of pleasing others but instead to please himself - we just all get to benefit from his genius and vision.

The circumstances surrounding this album are the only thing that keep it from being a sad attempt at staying relevant. If he’d lived another ten years after its release nobody would remember this one at all.

The man wrote his own eulogy

Lindo, as últimas duas faixas são ótimos David rei do rock 9,5/10

A pleasant surprise.. the instruments on this album go crazy. The album flies by and doesn’t feel like it’s dragging even with its longer tracks. Standout track for me: Dollar Days Least fave: ‘Tis A Pity She Was A Whore

Generated on a Friday the 13th. This was strange at times and great at others

For me Bowie is an artist where I really only need the greatest hits. The big songs are amazing, but the rest of it is just fine. This album doesn't really change my opinion. Lazarus and Dollar Days are good but generally while this is a good album it isn't one where I feel the need to hear it again

Bowie knew he was going to die and this would be his last album. Gloomy.

5/10 - a bit too whiny for David Bowie but non-offensive

Innovative, emotional and worth the entry for the title track alone.

If there's one thing this list has taught me it's that I don't like Bowie as much as I thought I did. A lot of his material, especially the newer stuff, is garbage and I really dislike his singing style. The best thing he's done was raise up SRV at Montreux. 2/5

There’s definitely some good atmospheric moments in this album, but this album is not good I’m sorry. No disrespect, but this is way over inflated because of his death.

Good god this BLEW me away. As someone relatively unfamiliar with David Bowie this was not at all what I expected, but it was delightfully experimental, technical, and extravagant. One of those rare albums that really utilizes music as a medium for ART, not just a pleasant melody or a catchy chord pattern. The jazz/hip-hop influences come through in an extraordinary way, and even his vocal performance is stunning within the context that he was actively dying of liver cancer. Unpredictable, unbelievable, incomparable. What a badass note to go out on!

This is only the second Davie Bowie album I've listened to (like, ever) and so I kind of wish I had gotten it later in the rotation, after listening to more than just Low. I know all about the context of this album's release, with Bowie dying two days after its release, and I know that his terminal diagnosis was something he was aware of during its production. • Blackstar, the title track, initially didn't do anything for me at all, but I quite like how it sounds from about 4:20 until about 7:30. That middle portion was definitely my favourite part of the song • It feels very prescient to have a song titled Lazarus on an album like this, and the lyrics clearly show that Bowie knew what he was facing. Instrumentally, I'm a fan of this song, and I really liked the trumpet solo. • Sue is a very interesting song. It sounds frantic, and even though the lyrics don't appear (on the surface at least) to relate to mortality, the song still feels like it's about death. • Girl Loves Me didn't click with me initially, but I ended up really liking it. • "If I never see the English evergreens I'm running to" is a pretty painful quote. To know that you will never see your homeland again would be pretty difficult to reckon with. • The last track closes out the album (and Bowie's career) well. It's not a sad sounding song by any means, but it does feel pretty final. This is a tricky album to rate. The songs that I liked were all really poignant, but there was a decent amount that didn't work for me. I get the sense that Bowie was aiming to please everybody with this album, I'm sure he made it knowing his diehard fans would enjoy it, and that's what matters most for an album like this. I don't see myself revisiting this album any time soon, but I am looking forward to listening to more Bowie in the future. Favourite song: Lazarus

Amazing artrock swansong from this legendary artist. Some songs are sometimes to experimental/jazzy for me, but overall a really interesting experience. 1. Lazarus 2. Star 3. 'Tis a pity she was a whore

Reading some of these reviews makes me sad, this is one of the most soulful, meaningful, most artistic albums ever made. Nobody has ever or will ever leave such a huge final statement before thier own death. I love this album so much, I really wish Bowie would have been able to continue making music furthering this sound. This is just an incredible album. Also shoutout to the Wikipedia review for mentioning Death Grips. High high high 5!!!!!!!!

"Where the fuck did Monday go?" Me, listening to this on a Tuesday: idk bowie it happened so fast 😔

Far from Bowie's best, and like many have said this probably wouldn't have made the list or really be notable at all if it weren't released so close to Bowie's passing.

Initially, I always assumed this got universal praise and acclaim because it was released when Bowie died. However, I really enjoyed listening to it in full. *Great* music, jazz and electronica, never boring and always energetic. Gets a fifth star because the man was dying while making it, in this house that feat is not taken lightly.

I can see the experimentalness of Bose in this but tbh it wasn’t my jam

Enjoyed the 2nd half more than the first

This was artful or whatever, but damn I hate the way old people sing. And Bowie already has too many albums on this list to warrant this shit.

kind of spacy, jazzy, experimental

- Released two days before his death - an intentional, meticulously crafted farewell - Blends jazz, art rock, and electronic music into something genuinely unique - Highlights: the sprawling title track and the devastating “Lazarus” - Lyrically cryptic and unsettling - no sentimentality, no nostalgia - One of the most remarkable final statements any artist has ever made

Easy 5. A final masterpiece from Bowie and never fails to make me cry. Rest easy, king.

Beautiful album rip bowie

A memorable release, forever related to Bowie's death, and certainly evidence of an artist NOT going through the motions. The moments of avant jazz sound incredibly fresh and the title track's video was memorably premiered in late 2015 to rave reviews and it is a track like no other, yet relating to Major Tom. The Lazarus track gave birth to a stage musical and Tis a Pity and Sue were familiar as a single in late 2014 so this album was seen as a really strong effort. Not sure we expected the Monday morning news after the Friday release...........

This was fine. I liked the first and last tracks the best, probably. It was interesting, but there was a lot I didn't love. Several of the songs felt like the music and vocals were disconnected; these floaty vocals over very tight modern art-rock. On the final track, "I Can't Give Everything Away," I can feel that there's a good song underneath the dated-sounding production. I would say it's the only song where the production lets things down. THREE STARS

This is the best "final statement" album an artist put out before their death. And, true to form, Bowie continued to experiment and play with genre right up to the end. This is an uncompromising album that is not an easy listen. The first song, the title track, is a mash-up of prog, straightforward pop in the middle, and a weird spacey ending with jazz flute. I love the songs that most have to do with his impending demise, "Lazarus" and "I Can't Give Everything Away." And what the hell is going on with "Girl Loves Me?" Bizarre and profane in the best way. This is the capstone of an incredible canon of music from an artist who constantly threw curveballs at his audience right until the end.

2016, what a year for music. Terminally ill legend David Bowie takes inspiration from artists outside any genre he'd ever tried before, like Kendrick Lamar and Death Grips, to create whatever this is. It's an enigmatic, vaguely sinister listening experience that amounts to a record which stands up with his best work. The title track and final track are my favorites, perfect starting and ending to an album. A brilliant parting gift from one of the GOATs

Bowie's final(?) album. I like the first half a lot better than the 2nd

David Bowie is a music chameleon who can always make new music styles work for himself. This album has to be his most eclectic one, picking out music from pretty much everywhere. The title track is one of the greatest openers of the past years. That said, I like it but don't really love it. A lot of the tracks are nice, but I don't really love them. It's not an album I really come back to all that often. Also, I found it sounds quite uplifting for an album embracing death.

If I never see the english evergreens im running to It’s nothing to meet It’s nothing to see Im dying too Io ricordo quando è morto David bowie ed é uscito questo album, 10 anni fa, era una cosa che ha sconvolto tutti, ora non é quasi mai così quando muore qualcuno ma io me lo ricordo come un evento che ha scossato tutti. avevo 12 anni e guardavo il music video di black star su repeat dopo scuola. Qualcosa mi incantava. La candela a forma di corpo, lo spazio, i cori alieni. Quando alla fine dopo tutti queste melodie spaventose religiose entra con l’ultima parte pop rock riconoscibile per tranquillizzare quello che ascolta, che in qualche modo é ancora lì, un icona, lui! mi viene da piangere!!!non lo ascolto nella sua interezza da 10 anni!!! e mi piace tantissimo, anzi ancora di più di prima anche i pezzi che non mi ricordavo!! e mentre andavo in bici stasera nel buio mi ha fatto stare molto bene. Oggi era una giornata esistenziale brutta domenica ciclo e ascoltare quest opera assurda sulla morte mi ha curata

I love bowie

This feels like Bowie does 'hail to the thief' and album that was 13 years old by the release of this A pity she was a whore? I was hoping for some sort of subversion but it feels more like a musical number gone wrong After the first 2 weird tracks it calms down to an actually good modern Bowie album. His weird distinctive voice plus pounding instrumentation

OK, but not really my thing. Good background band, creative.

I want to love Bowie, but I’m kind of neutral about this album.

Capaz demasiado experimental para mí

It's strange evaluating an album that the artist knew would be his last. My favorite track has to be Lazarus, foreboding as he knew he would rise again. If not in life, then in death.

I do agree on the idea that this album probably wouldn’t be as favoured if it wasn’t Bowie’s last album and he didn’t die literally days after it was released

A parting gift from the Gods.

4.0 stars This album really shines musically, with the jazz band and swirling saxophone giving it a unique, restless energy that I found more compelling than Bowie’s often detached vocals. At times it feels more like Bowie inhabiting a character than speaking directly from the heart. Still, the results are powerful. Favorite tracks: Lazarus, I Can’t Give Everything Away

Duro pero no es mi tipo

I liked this album as I appreciate the greatness of Bowie, but I don’t think this is his best album.

Still sounds like Bowie, but with modern instrumentation and production, nice. Even if he was still working on other projects, he was definitely considering his mortality, and it comes through nicely.

Phew. I'll admit, this album didn't stick with me when it first came out (maybe it was too much alongside the news of Bowie's death?), but something about time and aging and the past ten horrible years has really changed it/me. It's expressive and somber but also somehow celebratory of the creative process. The songs can feel trancelike, and then they're gone. May we all create something this incredible before we die.

This was a masterpiece. It was of course very emotional, as no other artists have made songs about death like David Bowie. Although that was a big part of the album, the jazz influences surprised me, and I enjoyed them. This wasn’t really a swan song, it was a swan album. And a beautiful one at that.

Increíble artista. Increíble album. Desgarrador sabiendo que lo hizo para ser escuchado al morir. El arte musical en su máxima expresión. Top. 10/10

Spännande musik från Bowies äldre dar, 2026 (69 år?). Intressant lyssning, absolut nåt jag skulle kunna ha på i bakgrunden. Första låten riktigt cool. Men kanske inte så att jag sparar detta album.

Rest in peace Bowie but this music doesn't makes me feel anything. Thre is some vibe in dollar days. I do understand the experimental melody's and making it before dying makes it new ways to explore. That's why it deserve at least a 2/5.

When talking about David Bowie’s “Blackstar,” you have to start with the context that Bowie wrote and recorded the album while he had cancer, and that he died two days after its release. Very few artists get to deliberately craft a parting message, and while I heard that Bowie was continuing to write new music even after he finished this album, there’s no denying that this feels like a final statement from a great artist. And what a statement! A fusion of psychedelic rock, jazz, and hard rock. It’s mesmerizing and strange. I love that saxophone that occasionally sounds like it’s being strangled. It adds a ghostliness to the music. Very good album with some spectacular highlights. 4.5

You could assume that artists get to a point in their lives / performing lives when they know they are getting towards the end of working on and releasing art. I really love "Keep Me In Your Heart For A While" by Warren Zevon for this reason, as he was battling lung cancer and decided to write a final song for his loved ones on his final album. Bowie could be seen to some people as a mythical creature that would live forever, and I know a lot of the world was shocked when he passed shortly after the release of this album, but it really makes you think about his aim and direction for these songs. Overall as a singular listening experience I like it; it's got really great instrumentation and arrangements, and the strings, sax, synths, guitars, drums, percussion, are all epic, cool, and a delight to listen to. Breaking it down song by song though, I'm going to go against the grain a bit and say that it's really good, but kind of short of being really great. I don't get to the end of this album and think "oh I can't wait to hear that one song again". I'd have to just start from the top to get the kind of enjoyment out of it that I want. It's definitely an important album, and I see the special-ness of it when looking at his career and what he's accomplished. Even with me picking at it, I think it's a solid 4/5.

I'm not sure that I really know David Bowie, but being that this album was his last gift before returning to wherever he was from, I'm inspired to find out.

A haunting parting gift to the universe (has it really been 10 years???).

I admittedly am not a Bowie fan. I've been doing this generator challenge for less than 2 months, and this the 4th album I've tolerated. It's also the worst. Despite this album being released very close to his death, I don't see any reason to see this as Bowie's swan song. Dollar Song near tbe end is tbe only track that even sounds introspective to me, suggesting that the author is considering his mortality. The rest of this album sounds like another stupid character that Bowie donned, as so many alter egos throughout his catalog. I do not expect to give this another go later to see if I was too harsh.. It was terrible the first time.

Blackstar opens with a track that channels David Lynch via Radiohead, with odd autotuned harmony vocals and strange narratives and spooky music. The next song sounds frantic, with an urgent drum beat and wild soprano sax and more dissonant Radiohead-like sound. Lazarus, the next track is a smooth moody song with more sax and plaintive vocal work. At this point, the feeling sets in that, regardless of muse or influence, Bowie was good at taking whatever he wanted and making it his own. This record is described as jazz or even alternative - the sax and odd drum patterns contribute to the jazz feel, but the vocals and atmosphere seem more experimental. Even so, while there aren't any magic moments like Ziggy Stardust, Ashes to Ashes, or Suffragette City, it's still provocative.

Better than the AC/DC and Offspring albums, I just listened to. Can't really get into it.

Slaps

This is not the David Bowie music I love best; however, the more I listened the more I liked it.

A fascinating farewell with a quite welcome jazz influence from an iconic, era-defining artist. Unfortunately, not entirely my speed, but I did enjoy it.

Ratings: 5: I will happily play this album anytime 4: I may occasionally play this album of my own free will 3: I will happily listen to this if someone plays it in the background 2: I will tolerate this if it is playing in the background 1: I will leave the room if someone plays this in the background This album will always be fascinating due to its release mere days before Bowie's death.

Damn, what a way to go out. A lot has been written about this album and the circumstances leading up to it, and it is hard not to let even a small amount of background information influence your listening or interpretation of the album. Even if this wasn’t David Bowie’s final album, or if he didn’t die within a few days of its release, I think it would still hold up and be lauded as a great late career album, another swerve from an artist that constantly reinvented themselves.

I prefer other Bowie records. 6/10

A good album. Great musical arrangements from the David Bowie I knew.

Tää Bowie ei oikein lähtenyt. Kyllä tää silti ⭐️⭐️⭐️ on.

Mielettömiä kohtia biiseissä mutta paljon myös liian kokeilevaa schaissea. Laulussa oli ehkä vähän jo liikaa seniorivibraa.

I liked Dollar Days and I Can't Give Everything Away

The idea of making a concept album of your entire life just days before you die is something that I think all artists should take a look at. It's perfect, and I would've loved to hear more. We miss you David

Bowie's voice floats above the music like he's observing it rather than living in it. Technically brilliant and clearly with something to say, but the emotional detachment keeps it at arm's length for me. Mad respect but I just don't connect the way I need to.

What a tweaker

“Bowie” + sentimentality = inclusion here. No favourite tracks

4.0

Super Dope

Love Bowie RIP

Looooove the way this album ends… it’s kind of crazy listening to an album that’s literally an artist’s swan song. And wow wow wow the shift in soundscape from the heavier funky baselines (particularly chef’s kiss in “Sue (Or In a Season of Crime)”) to the sort of ethereal wonder in Dollar Days and I Can’t Give Everything Away (which I love the clean transition between)… waow… it’s beautiful. I listened to the final song like three times in a row and it still didn’t feel like enough. Fitting, I feel. not necessarily always my personal taste but objectively that’s a 4.5/5

Not my favorite! I respect the experimental risks though. Honestly didn’t know Bowie was still making music in 2016.

no me gusta la voz de david bowie viejo SORRY NOT SORRY

Awesome sonically, bowles vocals are a little rough for me though

This album isn't actually, you know, good? I get why it gets lauded so much but it has a deficit of good songs and a surprlus of bad singing, annoying/tinny electronic drums, and damned saxophones. Good on him for running through the tape and all, but nah.

I did not enjoy this album. Bowie has much better albums.

Ok, c'est un des meilleurs albums de mort ever.

WOW

À l'article de la mort, Bowie se réinvente une énième fois et arrive encore avec une nouvelle proposition. Aucune critique objective possible. ★★★★★

Finds Todes langweilig

I'm not a fan of Bowie, and I don't enjoy production here much, but damn. This is 4th Bowie album for me, and the first one than hit me in the feels and didn't left unimpressed. The way he sings about his upcoming death and using his own demise to create an art statement is gutwreching and heartbreaking. Even if you don't like Bowie, I can't understand how can someone left apathetic to this album.

No private session used for Spotify. Big Bowie fan and I listened to this album a lot when it came out. I like a lot of the songs on this album, there is a fragility in his voice that isn't present in other records and once you learn what was going on with him you realize why. This is first Bowie album I really liked for a while, love the jazz influence.

One is too high

Having Bowie’s swan song be laid out im album form was always going to be a difficult task. His life was not what I thought it was, it was was David felt and lived. I liked 3 songs.

Adoré. Bizarre mais à la fois super mélodieux, belle da

2 dagen later was hij de pijp uit. Normaal gesproken zou ik dit niet meenemen, maar dit album is een prachtige zwanenzang. Bowie klinkt gebruikelijk ken en daardoor nog beter. De muziek staat als een huis. Divers, gedurfd, Bowie.

Kinda magic but why he still have to say whore etc

david bowie me has decepcionado

I know David Bowie wrote this when he knew he was dying, but this was not my favorite. The songs were long. I’d heard Lazarus before. It wasn’t terrible though.

I didn't think I was gonna like this. Bowie made good stuff at his old age. 👏🏼

I've loved Lazarus

wow wow wow wow wow im so happy i got to listen to it so textured so intricate so unapologetic 10/10

3,5

Nice easy listening but to be honest I'm not sure I understand the hype.

Bowie will be immortal for many of the albums he put into this world. Just not this one.

He went for something different and I appreciate he tried to keep growing with his sound. Ultimately it's not my cup of tea but a single listen wasnt bad

A beautiful farewell from Bowie. RIP Thin White Duke

Initially it felt weird and experimental. Thought it was just okay but on following relistens, a few songs stuck out as earworms.

So not what I expected, not sure if the experimentation sits well with me

I actually enjoyed this album more than I expected. It was weird but not too out there that it lost track of the musicality. But this is like the 4th or 5th Bowie album we've gotten on this list, and we still haven't heard Hunky Dory or Ziggy Stardust

This is my favorite Bowie album we've had in this project, despite it being one of his newer works (2016). I loved that it was exploratory of modern motifs, similar to Radiohead and a little bit of pop a la Twenty One Pilots. Each song was unique and interesting.

Not the mood I was looking for, fine album

A melancholic and mellow album, a good one.

Hauntingly good.

I love Bowie but agree with those who feel this was over praised due to his death.

Not the best example of his work. Again, I'm befuddled by some of the LPs included on this list. I do appreciate the variety and scope of the list.

Purity in music form. Jazz players rocking out. Such punchy drumming. Drama and mystery. Emotionally dense. Forever in awe of this gift. Eternally grateful. Faves: ★, ‘Tis A Pity She Was A Whore, Dollar Days, Lazarus

Sorry this isn't for me. The opening bars reminded me of Bjork. The rest was just really meandering.

This was kind of interesting. I’m not sure if it would be here if it was a different artist or the circumstances of the release were different though. Overall, settled on a 2 as I don’t have a desire to listen again.

This was beautiful and sad but flynn did give context which has maybe shaped that. Some of the songs were truly heart wrenching also just good sounds in general.

Striking, haunting, beautiful, extra terrestrial

Holy shit. Stripping away the context of Bowie’s death in the immediate aftermath of Blackstar’s release (things have never been the same), this is still an incredibly heart-wrenching album filled with one man’s reckoning with his mortality and a life lived in the clutches of fame. I was really taken by how much this album is distinctly Bowie, whilst also being perhaps his most experimental work. To be able to strike that balance so late into your career is a feat, and one perhaps only Bowie could achieve.

This felt kinda relentless and intense, but at the same time I don’t feel like a lot of moments jumped out at me. Lazarus and Sue (Or In A Season of Crime) were my favourites

Yeah wow. Maybe we’d evaluate this differently if he hadn’t died two days after releasing it but for mine it’s still fantastic regardless of context.

an absolute masterpiece that feels so uniquely haunting. rest in peace, bowie.

very devastating

Impossible to dissociate from the events around this release but this a moving and powerful record. Still making amazing innovative music to the end.

Heel erg bijzonder, prachtig, diep, verrassend, soms een beetje gek, maar oh zo mooi. Fantastische muzikanten, mooie teksten, (een van) de beste albums van Bowie, en misschien wel überhaupt ooit. Highlights: Blackstar, Lazarus, en de combinatie Girl Loves Me + I Can't Give Everything Away. "Something happened on the day he died..."

This is a very haunting album. The first time I heard it, I was not a fan. Now a few songs really jump out. Girl Loves Me is amazing. Such a complex album that requires multiple listens. A three for now, but I bet I will like it more and more as time goes on.

Eh. Doesn't do a lot for me. Fine to have on I suppose. The context of him passing shortly after this was released doesn't change the music - it just gives people warm fuzzies about it.

This album comes with a lot of baggage doesn’t it? I haven’t properly listened to it until now. It’s great. I like the artful haunted vibe.

★ (Blackstar) (2016) is the 26th studio album by David Bowie; released on 8 January, only two days before his death on 10 January 2016. The album only contains seven tracks, three of which were released as singles - Blackstar, Lazarus and I Can’t Give Everything Away. The album was recorded while Bowie was undergoing treatment for the liver cancer that would ultimately be the cause of his death. The music is an experimental mix of jazz, rock, electronica, funk and hip-hop overlayed with Bowie’s dark and somewhat brooding lyrics. I don’t own a copy of the album so listened to it three times on Spotify before rating it (I’d previously only listened to it once). It’s quite a difficult album to rate being so closely connected to Bowie’s death. It’s quite an emotional listen and has layers of complexity. Even the tracks chosen to be singles are not easy listens. The last album I rated was Band on the Run by Paul McCartney and Wings. If that album was ‘nice’, this is something else entirely. Raw, complex, intelligent and confronting. A gift from a dying man. Track listing: Blackstar - a haunting mix of genres - the first half reminded me of Radiohead- 4/5; ’Tis a Pity She Was a Whore - lots of tension sitting between Bowie’s vocal and the chaos of the jazz backing track - 3/5; Lazarus - this gave me The Cure vibes so strong that I Googled it and found DAVID BOWIE - THE CURE A forest for Lazarus (acoustic) on YouTube - 4/5; Sue (Or in a Season of Crime) - drum’n’bass rhythms aren’t my natural habitat but they provide an interesting foil to Bowie’s subdued vocals - 3/5; Girl Loves Me - “Where the fuck did Monday go?” - 3/5 Dollar Days - the most fragile track on the album - 4/5; I Can’t Give Everything Away - melodic and upbeat rhythm but heartfelt lyrics 4/5

David says goodbye. It is emotionally a really tough album. Its sad. Its a goodbye. Personally, its too heavy to normally listen to, but it is an important album. I appreciate it.

This album feels like every moment all plays into this jaw dropping, awe inspiring look at the end of the life of the artist. It explores these so incredibly well and does it with some interesting instrumentation, great sax solos, cool vocal performances that play to the strengths of bowie’s voice at this point in his life. I give this a 4/5.

David Bowie died on January 10th, two days after the release of Blackstar. And I believe the fact that it's his swan song is the only reason it's even on this list. I can just imagine the editors thinking, "We've added eight Bowie albums to the book, so how can we not include the last one?" There's nothing wrong with that, but it's important to keep this in mind — personally, I found almost nothing I liked about Bowie here. The album is too experimental, even for him; the saxophone wafts through almost every song, and if you add some distortion to some of the tracks, you'd almost sound like Lightning Bolt. But what really gets you through the album is that you can hear Bowie's weight in his vocals, how he knows he doesn't have much time left in this world. I didn't really experience anything special while listening, but I can't give it a lower rating.

Always feels awkward having to assign a score to Blackstar, and truthfully my opinion on this album has varied significantly over time. It is obviously inseparable from Bowie's death given that it was his swan song production following his 18-month battle with liver cancer. Stylistically it is wholly distinguishable from his other albums because Bowie was such an innovator and sonic chameleon. The drumming and use of haunting syncopations in Blackstar is remniscent of middle-era Radiohead, combined with phantasmal wailing from Bowie, like a call from the grave. It's intentionally a little uncomfortable and so enjoyment of the album is highly mood dependent. I'm not a huge fan of the album because of the aforementioned discomfort, and I'm not even the biggest Bowie fan to begin with. Still, there's a lot of emotion packed into this album and there's a lot to value to the album.

Ni último disco de Bowie ni pollas. Esto es una mierda y le pongo 2 estrellas porque aprecio a Bowie

no es lo mío

RIP David Bowie

Listened when it came out, but not after. Starts real strong. Very TV on the Radio. Hard to not to associate with his death, stands on its own too. It has been 10 years. 4.5 rounded down Heard before? Some Owned: No 48/204 (23%) Will I get: Yes

I love this album. It has got better and better the more I listen to it. The jazz influence, the experimentation, the quality of the songs… It is a remarkable album at the end of a remarkable career.

It’s really hard to disaggregate the album from the death of the man. Taken independent of it, it’s a really strong album that has all the hallmarks of Bowie but does have a more modern edge, and something that preceding albums didn’t really have (the drums on ‘’tis a pity she was a whore’ being a good example) but yet still sounds very distinctly him (the chorus on the title track sounds like his vintage 70s era, ‘I can’t give everything away’ from more of the Berlin era). As an album it’s very good, as a swan song to a career such as his and in doing so adding to mythos of him it’s incredible.

I tried to look past my affection and nostalgia for the artist and listen to it as if it had not been his final album. There are some really interesting and lovely moments on this album, but also a lot that is atonal. There are times when his voice came through beautifully, and other songs which were just uncomfortable to listen to. It would take a couple listens to identify 2 out of the 7 songs here that I'd want to revisit regularly.

What an incredible album for an artist to leave as a farewell. Dark, melancholic and yet still showing a willingness to continue experimenting. Many artists of Bowie's stature would be willing to sit back and simply "play the hits" but it's clear that there's still more for him to share with us on Blackstar, an album that looks forward as much as it looks back.

I wanted to like this album because I really like Bowie’s earlier stuff. It just didn’t do it for me

Mind Contamination.

I listened to this once around when it came out. I loved it then but couldnt bring myself to listen to it another time given how closely its tied to Bowie's death. Listening to now, and yeah its a fantastic album. Very atmospheric, theatrical and foreboding.

I’m not sure why I never got around to listening to Bowie’s final release but I never did. Today I did and I really am impressed with how creative he was until the very end. What a way to go out , the opener really is a remarkable track. 4 stars

Инструментал вытянул это на тройку Так было бы 2 или 1 Ужасно скучное вокальное нытье Возможно текст прям сосмыслом, но при первом прочтении ничего такого Sue - 4/5 Все остальное 3 и ниже

Incredible album. Similar to Leonard Cohen’s last album. Just a true artist till the end. Lazarus is one of my favourites songs period, and his best 21st century song.

This is, without a doubt, still a very good album, but it did get overblown a touch on account of it being David Bowie's swan song.

A good album, I liked I Can't Give Everything Away the most.

Not a Bowie fan, so haven't really followed his career (post 'Major Tom' era) or heard this album before. First few sounds from track 1 I knew it was going to be an interesting ride; real depth in the mix, like 3D over 2D, or seeing something in colour versus in black and white. Unusual rhythms in the opening percussion, teasing the trip-hop/electronic layers alongside live drums, jazz fusion. Cool. I'm not a fan of Bowie's 'wobbly' vocal, which is present in the kind of psalm like versus of the opening track 'Blackstar', but thankfully not as noticeable in the latter tracks - maybe I was just tuned into the more instrumental aspects of the album on this listen. I think this 1001 list is testing my prior commitment to a dislike of saxaphones. It turns out it's not all saxaphones, and there is tolerable sax, and even some sax I quite like. This is bordering on tolerable plus. Also made the false assumption that, being a legacy album, this would be reeeaaallly long through fear of missing anything out, but it's a good and manageable 40 minutes, particularly when there is so much to listen to (it's not easy at times) and may otherwise be fatiguing. Feel it gets really good in the middle. Thought 'Sue (Or In a Season of Crime)' would be my favourite, before the groove in 'Girl Loves Me' blows it out of the water. Yeah. Lots of good tracks on here, will definitely be spending more time with it. Don't like everything equally, therefore it's gonna be a 4. Total number of tracks: 7 Fave track: 4: Girl Loves Me. Others: 2: Sue (Or in a Season of Crime). 1: Blackstar 12/02/26

I would have given this a 1 if the last two tracks hadn’t have been so good. Really don’t like the sound on the rest of it. I’m not sure if this would have been so well liked if it hadn’t been the last one.

Not the genius he once was

It's not his best but it's still bowie

Dollar days was my favourite. An interesting sound but not my favourite side of Bowie. A bit too odd for me

Bowie didn’t die, he just went home.

This was disappointing. I love Bowie, and I tried to find things to really like here, but they weren't there. I even like some of his post-hit stuff with the way his voice can haunt the music, but there wasn't any of that here. Just weird jazz that was either too boring or too chaotic.

Bowie is always interesting.

Feeky album. Blackstar en Lazarus zijn wel super vet, maar wetende dat dit het album was voordat hij stierf maakt het wel een beetje creepy

4.5!!