Blackstar

Very bowie

This album is totally overshadowed by Bowie's death. Impossible to listen to in a vacuum without noticing every lyric about posterity. I like the idea of a jazz band playing rock, but I think I'd rather listen to The Bad Plus or Happy Apple. Nowhere near as innovative as the critics seem to think. It's not terrible though. 3.5 rounded up for Bowie nostalgia.

To my shame I only listened to this once after DBs death. Its a DB album like no other and is a mighty intoxicating thing. The rhythm of jazz guys, the invention of the songs.I will play more. Where the fuck did Monday go? RIP David. A strong 4.

Favourite song: Lazarus One for the karaoke: Lazarus One for the car: Girl Loves Me Death dream of album.

Great record

Good Bowie. Dark Bowie. Spooky Bowie

I loved the atmosphere of the album although not a specific track that stood out to me. Maybe the second one? More of a concept album. Definitely something I can listen to and find new things over several listens.

I am glad that this album showed up. I’m a Bowie fan, but less familiar with his output after the 70s/80s. This album was beautiful and haunting and a fitting final work.

Хороший альбом, от Боуи было услышать такой свежий материал было неожиданно. Ушел на высокой ноте.

10 minute long songs my beloved

Enjoyable, albeit sad due to Bowie's calculated and poignant release date. Good mix of modern rock, dance and Bowie sax.

Love this!

First Bowie album. Gonna go listen to more Bowie.

Waaaaay better than what I anticipated. Will be listening again soon.

Iconic tunes. Like a summary of it all. Beautiful and totally Bowie.

Glam rock, pop, 2016. In this "Blackstar" there is a great Bowie but not as perfect as the David Bowie of the 70s, who was a pure musical genius with at least 5 masterpieces in his catalogue. This record maybe isn't a masterpiece, especially for his impressive standards, but it's definitely a fantastic album, and "Lazarus" is one of his 30 best songs ever.

I feel like I need to read some production history to get the hang of this one

It was weird at first but it definitely grew on me. A really good album!!

At first I wasn’t super pumped to listen to drum and bass made by a 69 year old with liver cancer, but this wasn’t half bad. Nice nadsat tune, I’ll try and listen to this album again.

Challenging, sad, expansive. Lot of jazz, great drum tracks.

A solid bookend to an amazing career. One can hear the influences referenced in the summary and the darkness is more prominent now listening it to again several years after his passing. He never stopped experimenting or growing musically and is one of our true iconoclasts gone too soon.

Blackstar truly sounds like its both written and sung by someone who is knocking on deaths door. Unfortunately for wider humanity, this was indeed the case for Bowie. Blackstar has quite an experimental sound with a mish mash of genres entwined from jazz to art rock onto industrial rock, folk pop and hip hop. Although not Bowie's best work, it is indeed a fitting end to what was a groundbreaking and illustrious career of a legend of music. Best: Lazarus Worst: Dollar Days

L'última gran obra de Bowie. Un disc de post-maduresa on dóna la benvinguda a la mort mitjançant 7 temes complexos, difícils, de gran qualitat. Jazz, rock, experimentació, intel.ligència compositiva es donen la mà per dir-nos adéu d'una forma colpidora, de mestre

weird and experimental. kind of sad when you know the lore behind it. I feel like if I listened to it again it would get better. its interesting.

Sometimes challenging but always rewarding... extraordinary album.

Elegant and elegaic. A fitting swansong for a constantly evolving artist.

A parting gift.

One thing I think is important to note here is that David Bowie didn't owe us this album. After all of the great music he gave us, all of the great experiences he created for us, he didn't owe us one more album before he died. The fact that, as he was dying of cancer, he made this stellar album shows how incredible he truly was. Visionary is the word I would use to describe Bowie's career, and it feels that way here too. He's a man looking out into the abyss of death and preparing himself to take the final step. This is not his best album, but it is a monumental achievement nonetheless. He didn't have to do it, but he did, and it's great 4/5

Un 4 porque es Bowie, pero me ha aburrido un poco.

Can’t believe I waited for 6 years to listen to this… Sounds like Bowie has zero F’s left to give went out 100% on his own terms.

Honte de ne jamais l'avoir écouté avant

★★★★

хз ну норм. че то рок такой в современном звучании с примесями электроники и крепким фирменным вокалом.

8/10 Best song - Lazarus

listened to again a masterpiece from a legend. what a way to go out.

A pretty solid album but I'm not going to completely gush over it. Nice gift for Bowie to leave the world but I've heard better albums. I found the drum track and electronica elements annoying at times - like the start of Blackstar (still a good song) and most of Sue. That being said, his lyrics are excellent and he has some real beautiful songs - Lazarus, Dollar Days particularly stand out. Girl Loves Me was my favorite track - funky and great tempo.

This is special to me because of when and ho wit was released, two days before his death, like a gift for us all. Maybe not his most immediately memorable tunes, but the jazz guys playing rock, lush production and the lyrics imbued with depth and sense of mortality make this very special. A last loving note to us, his fans.

Great album

Vaguely jazzy. Some solid tracks. Can see revisiting it a ton but glad I listened.

The experimentation on this album is awesome and I really admire Bowie's ability to constantly evolve throughout his career and continue to take risks. The allusions to his death on the album also make it a memorable listen.

Very interesting sound, confidently put together

I remember when this came out, just before Bowie’s death. I kinda hear it at the time but didn’t pay much attention. I’m glad I have listened properly to it now. It probably holds an odd place in music history as he was clearly past his prime but still a great artist. I like it. But I’m a world of thousands of albums it’s hard to know where to put it. Also, I am only on day 3 of this project and have had 2 David Bowie albums!

I find this stunning though obviously its power was enhanced by the proximity of release to death of the artist. It's honest and uncontrived (which can't be said of all Bowie records) but also typically odd and off-kilter (as most Bowie records are). The pluses are the consistency of range and style and melancholia of both lyric and vocal. I expect this will be my favorite Bowie record.

Lazarus was the best song on the album. Album reminds me of driving on a warm summer night with the radio low.

Not really sure what to say about this one

Heerlijke zware kost.

Bowie's last album. Seven tracks, four of which I like. (Blackstar, Lazarus, Dollar Days, I Can't Give Everything Away). It was published shortly before Bowie's death, and is about that very subject matter. The music is a mixture of pop/rock and jazz, and is at times quite ominous sounding. The album is well worth a listen. 4/5

Released the weekend he died, as a swan song. Haunting title track.

Very nice and unique sound. Probably won't listen to it again, but I respect it

Never listened to this before. Really good. Feel I will be coming back to this one again quite regularly.

When you know you've gotta go, you gotta go. Quite the way to go.

"When a man sees his black star, he knows his time...has come."

Muy buen álbum

The only Bowie album I've ever enjoyed. Excellent stuff.

This is incredible! How have I never listened to this before??

Hos best since the heydays

good bowie, happy to hear newer stuff from him, he was still pretty relevant in 2016 which is crazy

Good album, early songs weren't incredible to me but last two are a great end to the album. 0 songs favorites.

better than i remembered in context. 3.5

A little uneven but very strong opening and closing. I really enjoy the Crowley/satanic panic vibes of the opening track. Knowing that this was kind of recorded as a farewell makes me like it more. Probably closer to a 3.5 but I'll give it a 4.

Nice, there are still elements of his style.

Ya fue duro en su momento, porque salió a los dos días o poco más de fallecer Bowie, así que reescucharlo te pone los pelos de punta por crudo, por oscuro.

Bowie's 90's/00's albums are shite but this was a fine return to form and a near perfect send off

Cool album. Was familiar with it when it came out and Bowie died kinda shortly thereafter, so it got a popularity bump from that at the time. Definitely sounds like Bowie knew he was not going to be around for much longer as he was making this. His voice sounds like the voice of a movie/anime character that knows they are completing their last work(s) before they will expire. Lazarus is best song, but I really like the sax throughout the album.

maddeningly good swan song of an album

When Bowie passed away on January 10 2016, he left behind a legacy: a discography of truly great albums, an impact on the music industry only few have claimed, and a pretty large quality gap in his career. Some would argue that he hadn't put out a good album since the 80's. Others would affirm that, it didn't matter what he point out at this point, because his name now speaks for itself. Regardless, David Bowie was not the musical workhorse that he was in the 70's, and most of the world had pretty well made it up it's mind about Bowie. Not much else to be said. Turns out, though, that he left behind one other thing. A mere two days before his death, Bowie released Blackstar, impactful in it's cover art alone. This album...is something else. It's almost prophetic, let he knew he was dying and had one last great album in him. He reached deep, and pulled out the most introspective and dark album he could ever pull out of his soul. It's deep as hell. It's a lot. Musically, he's going above and beyond with these compositions. Songs play naturally through the movements and sour when they need to, adding an extra gut punch of what this album is really about: death. Everyone here is on their A-game, working to elevate the songs and work towards a great crescendo on Bowie's last album. Wow. This is David Bowie's last album, huh? God, what a thing. I think, for Bowie's swan song, this is exactly what it needs to be. I don't absolutely love it, but I don't have to. It speaks for itself. ★

Such an eccentric album, very much like prime Peter Gabriel but... Bowified. Deep and dark, pleading, beseeching, sorrowful and sad. An edge not alien to Bowie's style, but slightly rougher and less carefully selected, more from the gut. Fearful. Magnificent.

Blackstar's title track was the first thing I heard obviously when this album first came out. I watched the behind the scenes doc on an airplane to Croatia and that's where I found a need to visit this album. On revisiting to the opening title track with headphones it really hits me just how much I miss songs written without a basic pop song structure.

Very haunting

8/10

Trippy! 8

A lot of the songs were interesting but the vocals bothered me and it wasn’t my vibe. Still a decent album. 7/10

Bowie's epitaph. He bowed out on a strong album. Death hangs over this album and it can be hard work. Best Tracks: 'Tis a Pity She's a Whore; Lazarus; Sue (Or in a Season of Crime)

October 28, 2021 A good listen and a tragic one.

Dwudziesty piaty studyjny album, ostatni z jakze bogatej dyskografii Bowiego, a przy tym szosty, a pewnie nie ostatni, na liscie pikowej, jak pisal jeden z wielkich wieszczy ulicy jakie zycie taki rap, to dobre okreslenie na ten album, dlatego ze ten ostatni numer Bowiego opowiada wlasnie o zyciu, a przede wszystkim o jego zakonczenu, bo to wlasnie przemijanie jest glownym motywem krazka, ktory jest swoistym pozegnaniem ze swiatem, bezposrednim bodzcem byla rakowa diagnoza, pan ktory od roku 2k03 wypuscil tylko jeden krazek dostaje info, ze umiera wiec naturalnym jest fakt, ze zrobi o tym plyte, ktora nadana jego personie jeszcze bardziej legendarna pozycje w dziejach muzyki, w 41 minutach i 7 kawalkach opowiada o lowach i hightach karierowych, gatunkowo ciezko okreslic ten album, bo jest to rock grany przez jazzmenow, dodatkowo wyczuwalne sa influencje muzyki elektronicznej, na plycie blackstarowej personie towarzyszy takze lider LCD Soundsystem James Murphy, a za produkcja stoi pan odpowiedzialny za polowe dyskografii Bowiego czyli Tony Visconti, chociaz prawie 70 letni pan Bowie praktycznie na lozu smierci, to nadal potrafi zaskoczyc wokalnie, chociaz najbardziej z plyty uderza autentycznosc, kawalki na pierwszy rzut oka wygladajace jak typowe popowe songi o dupie maryny potrafia przemycac watki autobigraficzne okraszone licznymi nawiazaniami zarowno do wczesniejszych projektow, elementow biblijnych, czy tez innych dziedzin sztuki, zwlaszcza traczek tis a pity that she was a whore nawiazujacy do sztuki o tej samej nazwie, sam projekt blackstarowy wydal rowniez sztuke zatytulowana Lazarus, nawiazujaca do filmu w ktorym mial okazje zagrac Bowie, a soundtrack z ktorego juz sie pojawil na tej liscie, wiec the man who fell to earth, do albumu zostaly wyprodukowane dwa teledyski pierwszy do traka tytulowego oraz do Lazarusa, ktory mozna nazwac punktem centralnym calej plyty, swego rodzaju labedzim songiem Bowiego, samo video pojawilo sie trzy dni przed jego smiercia, sama plyta dwa dni przed, chyba bardziej odpowiedniej daty wypuszczenia plyty nie mogl sobie wybrac, o ile rapowych przedsmiertnych albumow czy songow troche mozna naliczyc, to wydaje mi sie jednak, ze w muzyce popularnej takie albumy sa czyms o wiele rzadszym, bo nawet z wlasnej smierci zrobic dzielo sztuki tylko prawdziwy artysta moze sie popisac takim majstersztykiem tworczym, na plejce znajdzie sie miejsce na najdluzszy traczek plyty, tytulowego blackstara i moj ulubiony numer lazarusa z ostatnimi gitarkowymi akcentami spod reki Bowiego i wyjatkowym saksowym solo Donnego McCaslina, nie wiem ile z dwudziestu pieciu albumow sie pojawi na liscie, ale mam nadzieje, ze jeszcze bedzie mi dane sie dowiedziec

Sombre, sad, grief, truth.

Een muzikaal testament met een heel sombere ondertoon. in contrast daarmee zijn de vele saxofoon-melodieën

Some cool sounds not too shabby. 4/5

Brilliant close out to this guys life. Died 2 days after the release.

Not particularly my style, but there's definitely some weird and haunting appeal in the dissonance and eccentricity of the melodies and rhythms.

Unbeknownst to all but his inner circle, Bowie wrote and recorded Blackstar after receiving word that he had liver cancer. A close listen reveals how the album is littered with references to dying -- indeed, it concludes with a note of acceptance in "I Can't Give Everything Away" -- but Bowie's remarkable achievement with Blackstar is how it's an album about mortality that is utterly alive, even playful. Fittingly, the music itself is suspended in time, sometimes recalling the hard urban gloss of '70s Bowie, but also Roxy Music and sometimes evoking the drum'n'bass dabbling of the '90s incarnation of the Thin White Duke. Blackstar is not even close to being my favourite Bowie album, but it does close on a contemplative note, a sentiment that when combined with Bowie's passing lends the album a suggestion of finality that's peaceful, not haunting. Collapse ↑

I bought this on iTunes when it came out just after his death but didn't listen to it much, or as closely as I should have. On the plus side, his voice wasa bit fraile but still better than the vast majority of young singer songwriters out there, and in general the song-writing is good. The 10-minute epic title track is a throw-back to his mid-seventies peak, as is Lazarus. There's great saxophone playing throughout - he would have sounded great with the pianist from Aladdin Sane! And his fans (us) can spend years deciphering the lyrics. As pointed out by my co-judge, some of the arrangements seem out of synch with the vocals, like they were recorded in separate places and times. I'm not too fond of Bowie dropping F-bombs - that's a gimmick for less talented types. The album has a (not surprisingly) gloomy feel and the production seemed muddy listening on my home stereo (but crisper with headphones). The final 2 tracks seem the most together, in terms of the arrangements. I'm glad 1001 re-introduced me to this.

It’s incredible that Bowie released this Swan Song when he was 69 yrs old and only days before he died from cancer. What a prolific genius he was. Wiki mentions the jazz influence but I don’t hear any, but it’s definitely his darkest and most experimental album.

4.4 + I was waiting to be seated at a noodle counter in the Lower East Side one mild January afternoon when the news came through of David Bowie's passing. I had just listened to this album, his last communication with planet Earth. It's hard to decouple that moment when I listen to this album today but to me I can hear a sparkling star summoning all his remaining creative energy to eek out one last beautiful record. Placed within the context of his death, he confronts the end standing on his two feet. There's not an ounce of defeat. This record ranks among his best. What a testament to a rock 'n' roll life fully realized. RIP.

Хороший, мне понравился, переслушал три раза. Круто играет Маккаслин на саксофоне. Я думал, что Боуи уже полумертвый на этом альбоме, но это все же еще один образ

Прощальный альбом Боуи.

This is kind of a haunting record, especially knowing he passed away really close to when it was released.

Can do no wrong

A lot of the tracks on here give me the same vibe of The Mars Volta. Frantic rock and jazz. The horn player especially reminds me of Isaiah Owens from TMV (RIP). A fitting swan song, I think. Favorite tracks: "Lazarus", "Sue (In a Season of Crime)"

Im Angesicht des großen Gleichmachers flackert das Kerzenlicht, ficht einen verflucht aussichtslosen Kampf, widerstrebt seinem baldigen Erlöschen. Bowie weiß, er stirbt. Viel freier klang er in seiner Jugend auch nicht. Über die seit Jahrzehnten zelebrierten Experimentierfreude wirft er einen Umhang aus lichtundurchlässiger Mollton. Die Figuren darunter bleiben verhangen und klar erkennbar zugleich. Frechen Raben gleich schwirren Bläser umher, unaufhaltsam treibt der Bass über die alten Gleise, deren singende Dissonanz free-jazzig den monolithischen Schwermut einige kristalline Spitzen verpasst. Das muss alles noch raus, darf im Regal keinen Staub ansetzen, entschlossen und konsequent wird zusammengebaut, auf das kein Bogen, kein Block, kein Schräubchen übrig bleibt. Am Ende stehen dort seltsam schöne Skulpturen mit rauen Kanten und stoischer Unverrückbarkeit. Denkmäler, Grabsteine, Inschrift tragen sie alle, zeugen vom gelebten Leben, von Aus- und Erschöpfung 4.3

Great album showing the creativity and versatility of Bowie.

love the brass. last song is fantastic.

Haunting and mystical. The music video for Blackstar is also definitely worth checking out.

Very strange.

Pretty consistent, good instrumentation and really well layered sounds. Watched the music videos to get an idea of what was going on - they're weird but enjoyable, which is how I'd describe the album.

Really well polished album. The jazz bits blended nicely. Favorite album so far

Thought it was going to be a 3 turned out to be a 4. Solid. Fav was "Lazarus"

Iconic. Bowie is brilliant, that is all

Amazing stuff, not sure why this one didn't click with me when it first came out but it's just ridiculously well made. The drumming stands out, and the boldness with which he moves from style to style. It's one of those albums where the context is key to enjoying it fully, as almost every song speaks directly to his impending death. Took away one star as I found some of the lyrics a bit too obscure to gleam any meaning, even with some additional research on my part. But then again maybe I'm just slow.

It was good.

-Solid album with some fun tracks -I liked "'Tis a Pity She Was a Whore," "Sue (Or In a Season of Crime)," "Girl Loves Me," and "I Can't Give Everything Away"

groovy!! much better than the other one. dark and snazzy sax and stuff and some cool vocal delivery

Bah comme prévu c'est très bien, 8/10 même 8.5. je suis content que ce projet me fasse finalement écouter cet album Fav (à part blackstar) : Lazarus La fin donne envie de pleurer sérieux, quelle masterclass, ça c'est un vrai 8.5.

Heard quite a bit of Bowie on this project so far and enjoyed them all. This is the first one however that I have loved. Lyrically interesting and emotionally affecting as he stares down death in his idiosyncratic way.

Confesso que eu conhecia muito pouco de David Bowie antes de ouvir esse disco. Esperava um pouco mais pelo nome que ele tem, mas é um disco bom nonetheless. Me fez querer procurar mais músicas dele depois disso, e as principais realmente são mto boas.

this is actually really good. Also insane that it was released less than a year before his death, especially because a "blackstar" is a star that is collapsing infinitely into oblivion. Bowie certainly meant this to be his "parting gift" to music, but i doubt he thought it would come that soon.

I really like this album. 1st song is ace. Rest of the album is good.

Bowi's final album is fantastic. RIP Jazzy and eclectic.

Started off hating this album, but it really grew on me. If I eliminate the pretentious, overly artsy first track, it's a great album.

Aa

false

8/10

Good, but not entirely my vibe

Bit trippy with the first track being almost 10 minutes. Some good vibes.

Great, unusual album. The title song Blackstar is my favorite.

Not as good as some of the other Bowie stuff, but I liked it.

Supongo que está muy perro pero supera mi entendimiento, no puedo más que 4 para ser honesto.

Final Bowie. Ethereal, mournful Bowie. Cryptic and theatrical Bowie. 😢 Fave track - "'Tis a Pity She Was a Whore"

Como todo lo que he escuchado de Bowie, me costó trabajo al inicio y la primera impresión cuando salió no fue la mejor. Ahora retomarlo con más paciencia ayudó. Si quizá no me encantan todas las canciones, adoro los arreglos de los metales durante todo el disco y los momentos en que se nota un Bowie frágil. En efecto, no verá los árboles a los que corría. Songs: Dollar Days, Blackstar, Lazarus

trippy, outside expectations even for bowie

Bowie is a classic, this one is a bit more transcendent and a bit morose than previous albums.

eccentric!

Estranho, o melho tipo de estranho

Looking forward to the follow up from him

I never listened to this when it came out. It's super interesting.

Gosto muito pelo conceito e pelo que cerca o album musicalmente eu nao acho tudo isso

Surprisingly experimental in some songs, considering this was his last album. Blackstar is a masterpiece. Lazarus is my 2nd favorite but a bit more straight-forward, I do like the transition around the lyrics "By the time I got to New York". Girl Loves Me is good too. Sue is the only track I feel isn't as good as the rest of them, the guitar just feels a bit cheesy, like it's trying to be heavy but it falls flat for me. But, for the real gems on this album, it pushes it up to 4.

Que buen trip mantenía a sus 69 años, pensé que había cambiado de canción y de repente te das cuenta de que es la segunda parte de la primer rola. En cada una de las rolas se nota la madurez y coherencia aunque sea experimental.

3/5 jord 4/5 rob

Ich hatte mich davor gedrückt, auch weil ich den Titelsong schwach fand. Eine Bowie-Platte…Je mehr ich ihn höre, desto mehr gewinne ich den Eindruck, dass auch hier wieder das Werk etwas hinter dem Mythos zurücksteht. Musste ich zweimal hören, um überhaupt so etwas wie ein Urteil bilden zu können. 4 Sterne.

Need to get into more Bowie

A fitting final album for Bowie.

Have always loved this album. Sad and some of it haunting.

Bowie's last album as he faces death. He put his parting thoughts into the imagery.

Very subdued mellow scary dark sullen room vibes; nice progression from beginning to end

hmm

There is something powerful about an artist's last record - especially when it is released so close to their final moments. This album is no exception. I really really liked this. Bowie is an artist.

Bowie can be so hit or miss for me. I totally see the vision for this album: it's dark and moody and reflects the last few years of his life. There is a beautiful poetry to it. But it's just doesn't soar for me and I'm not sure I would need to revisit too much. But I really appreciate it for what it is and is a great late-stage record. Top Songs: Black Star, Lazarus, I Can't Give Everything Away

Almost an experimental Bowie sounding album. Easy enough to listen through, nothing bold or noteworthy.

Kind of slow for my bodly clock

Meh, sometimes it clicked, sometimes it didn't.

not bad and might be a grower

Mid

這是我第一次聆聽David Bowie的音樂，說實在我沒有很認真全神貫注在聆聽，不過第一首歌★時我有感受到我覺得我聽得懂，入耳，但沒有驚艷到我的感覺，後面的曲目也幾乎是如此，我可能被其他類型的音樂給驚艷到太多了，但也許我未來會重新試著去認真聆聽搖滾變色龍的過往發行的專輯呢，第一張就聆聽他的最後一張專輯我沒有那個情感在說實在我沒有辦法很聽懂呢。

Not really my cup of tea, but I liked what he did with horns in the jazzier tracks, such as “Tis a Pity She was a Whore”

not a bad album to end on

Miss u bb, mini star under big star

Não muoto meu estilo. Um pop moderno, pelo menos nessa primeira ouvida

Reviewing this year’s after the release and death of Bowie will affect the score . It’s more atmospheric than brilliant but still a great album

3.5

I recognize that this is an album that need multiple listenings to be fully appreciated, but I have no desire to listen to it again. That counts for something.

I thought the first three songs on this were great. And, yet, I tried to listen to it two times and could not make it past the 4th song. I don't even know why! My interest just sort of melted away. Weird. Anyway, I'd be lying if I said this merited more than a 3.

So, I am a casual Bowie fan and only listened to this once when it was first released. At the time, I remember finding it okay but not hitting me the same way a lot of his earlier work did even despite my feelings being all mixed up with sadness after his passing We are now exactly ten years out from the release of this album and I, uh, basically feel the exact same way. It's solidly fine. There are some interesting choices but nothing really memorable to me. The whole thing just kind of blends together into one big auditory soup. The lyrics are a different, remarkable story but taken as a whole with the melodies, vocals and instrumentals: it's a 3/5 for me.

Look, I know this was the last thing that Bowie left us with before shuffling off this mortal coil, and he was some kind of legendary freak, but that doesn’t actually make this all that good. Overdose of saxophone not heard since the 80s, tacky drum ‘n’ bass rhythms, and mostly dirge-like singing does not make an interesting album for mine.

Musically this is a great album, I especially liked the drums on pretty much every track. But I know this is blasphemy but I never really enjoy Bowie's vocals. Still, not a bad album but not something I'd seek out again. 3*

Two of big Dave's best ever tracks (and maybe of music more generally) can't drag this album up across the 3/5 threshold. Great cover artwork.

A pleasant and easy listen. It was a bit of a rocky start with the first song, but it got better in the second half and every song after that was pretty good. However, none of them were actually memorable. I'm writing this review a couple hours after listening and I only remember vague snippets from some of the songs. For a song/album to stick out to me, it needs to have me humming the songs after I've finished listening to them. It should have me wanting to listen to the song/album again. And whilst this was a solid album, I doubt I'll be listening to it again. Besides, I prefer a lot of Bowie's older albums. This one didn't have that same affect on me as the other ones do.

Bowie has undeniably had a huge impact on basically all genres of music we know today. But for me he's often a bit of "my favorite artist's favorite artist" more so than an artist I broadly enjoy listening to myself. That also feels true for this album for me. The context for the album itself and with how soon after 'Lazarus' was released he died adds a lot to the haunting feeling of that track in particular Standouts Lazarus 3/5

Good But depressing.

I’m completely indifferent to Bowie. It’s a shame I’ll need to experience this indifference 9 times.

While it seems like a solid introspective swan song for a man suffering from cancer, it also seems like a navel-gazing art-rock record. I guess that's the intention. It isn't really my wheelhouse. I like the jazzy feel of many of the tracks, but the overproduced drum and orchestra kinda takes away from the core sound for me. It's a good record, but not really one I'd circle back to much at all.

it's certainly interesting, and the band are playing quite well (drums stand out), but they can only do so much to hide a voice that's struggling, and the slick production makes it all blend together

Good album. Love the atmosphere.

Bowie was a talented guy but a lot of his stuff feels like a chore to get through

Prima heb niks met bowie

First two songs were nails on a chalkboard level bad, the rest I though were pretty good. Some of the later songs sounded like Geordie Greep's "The New Sound", something about Bowie's voice and the jazz, I guess. I feel like it's hard for me to rank this album since I haven't really listened to any other David Bowie (so it's hard for me to say what this really means as an album, since it's his last), but I liked it. Especially the last song.

Interesting album

A classic, if you have the time

It was chill

Favorite songs: Blackstar, Lazarus, Dollar Days, I Can’t Give Everything Away

I actually own this one. I’ve listened to some of it but it always made me too sad to listen to all of it. Finally did. It’s not his best work, but it might be his most emotional. Though I feel like he was still hiding behind his persona. But maybe that was all he knew by then. Maybe at some point the line between the real him and his persona blurred. Only listened to it once. Will revisit someday.

Hauntingly beautiful

Quite enjoyed this! It's not exactly classic Bowie, but hit just the right chilled out note for this afternoon's mood as it happens! Will I come back to it though??... possibly not.

I didn’t realize how into the sax Bowie was near the end.

3.25 - It's been a while since I listened to this and I like it a good bit. I still can't believe he died two days after this was released.

I used to work in a bar in Brooklyn. Very late one night there were (only) 2 gentlemen in the bar sitting at opposite ends. One man was looking at his phone and said, "Oh, shit! David Bowie died!" A few days later... same late hour, same two guys... same phone guy said, "Oh, Shit! Alan Rickman died!" One week later, just one of those gentlemen was in the bar. The bad news bearer walked in. I immediately told him that he couldn't come in. He couldn't even try because I didn't want another one of my heroes to die. This album is fine. Bowie earned the right to do anything he wanted to do.

We know by now the list makers are obsessed with Bowie, as this is the sixth Bowie entry, and we’re not even 50% through the list. This album is Bowie’s 26th and last album. It’s a far cry from his early music. This one is art rock mixed with jazz, and includes a lot of saxophone background. None of these songs are familiar to me (too recent), and death is a major theme here. Just barely good enough for three stars.

Another "if this was anything except Bowie it'd be a 2 at best and more likely a 1", but he has that touch that makes everything at least okay.

Bowie on some freak shit

started out a little rough for me, but got better.

I had very mixed feelings while listening to this album. On one hand some of the songs sounded incredible, but others had me wanting to stop listening entirely. I might need to re-listen to this one again some other time.

Another album I respect more than like.

Verkünstelter Gemischwarenladen der unterwegs vielleicht selbst vergisst für wen er eigentlich aufmacht und warum da hinten in der Ecke der Kassenschlager von 1974 eigentlich nicht mehr gekauft wird.

not my vibe, nada contigo bowie.

This one was hard for me to get into but there was a haunting theme throughout, and I will say I gained some appreciation for Bowie on this listen: he was definitely an artist. Specifically Lazarus and I Can't Give Everything Away were great. I have a feeling this is a 5 star album for a certain time of life, and I haven't lived enough yet. But a 3 is like a 5 for me on Bowie scale

respect the meaning for bowie fans. first song was stuck in my head for a bit, but isn’t something i see myself going back to regularly

This is tough. I haven't listened to this since it first came out, and obviously the circumstances were very different then. I still think "Lazarus" is genuinely moving, but it may be the only song on the album I actually like listening too (with the possible exception of "I Can't Give Everything Away," which has kind of an insane arrangement that I really dig). I think three (black) stars is an acknowledgement of what this album achieved, while I might go lower if just looking at the music by its own merits. (I fucking love Bowie but there's so much more to him than what's here)

Heresy I know, but far from my favourite Bowie album. I get that he made it knowing death was imminent, and it's his last testament as such. It of course belongs on this list for that alone. In places it is moving, but it's not an album I'll come back to often.

Good bowie, reasonable album listen. Backstory adds a lot to the album, but very mood dependent, as is the case with many non-ziggy bowie

Enjoyed this, have listened to it a few times over the years. But it falls in to the category of albums that I won’t go out of my way to listen to, but don’t mind if it’s on.

Duro álbum, muy oscuro. El primer tema es muy difícil de escuchar, los otros no tanto. Pero en general bastante difícil. Creo que Bowie tiene algo de pretensión que hace difícil digerir los temas. Lo escuché hace varios días así que no me acuerdo mucho más. 6/10

I like David Bowie but his last album here just doesn't really do it for me.

It’s either the genius product of years of learning, growth, etc., or the random bullshit of a dying man; I don’t feel confident that I can discern which one it is at the moment, so it’s sitting at a 3 until I figure it out…

Really not what I was expecting. It was like an emo version of the labyrinth movie soundtrack

Fint, men repetitivt album. Kun med på listen, fordi han døde et par dage efter udgivelsen.

I wish I enjoyed this more. Listened to it when it came out, and a couple times throughout the years, and still now I just can’t fully connect with it. The music is mostly great, it’s the vocals I have a hard time with. The vocal effects on the title track sound haunting in a bad way, and they don’t really redeem themselves throughout the record. As much as I consider myself a Bowie fan I feel that if this wasn't his death album, it wouldn’t have the same attention and respect awarded it.

I don’t know. This never connected with me. Relistening to it after all this time hasn’t done much to better it either. Sure there is a mythical connection to his death etc. The instrumentation is actually quite good and the production is nice. But to me there’s just something off putting with Bowie on this. Love the sax on “I can’t give everything” tho. I think it might be the best part of the album.

Fun little album. Mix of Bowie-esque style. There's been better but still a decent listen.

No fav song

3.75

This so not for me. Like his older stuff.

Interesting Bowie album didn’t ext this kind of sound

Very strange for me.

Leah liked Lazarus, Austin too, along with Dollar Days. Meladolic. Reminds me of tangled chains. Very mind boggling. Leah - 5/7 Leprechauns Austin - 4/7 Leprechauns

Lazarus is incredible. Love the jazz elements bowie introduced. I don't think this is anywhere near his best work and it probably gets more credit than it should because he died soon after, but it's still a good listen full of emotion. 3.5

Best Song: Lazarus. The saxophone solo was quite evocative, and the whole song had this sparse and melancholy mood that really suited the album overall. Worst Song: Girl Loves Me. It's awful to say, but this really does sound like an old man rambling. Just alone on in a hospital room, crying out, "where the fuck did Monday go?" Overall: Truly there could not be a more fitting final album for this list. After having to endure so many Bowie albums (and I've come to learn through this list that "endure" is, for me, the appropriate verb), I get to end with the one that killed him. And it is about as middling as the rest of his album's I've listened to. Thematically, the reflections on death are compelling, but people like Leonard Cohen, hell even Johnny Cash, have already provided more thoughtful explorations than this. They were able to articulate the idea that, after a lifetime of fame and success, what matters to them more than the material things that they've had the good fortune to accrue are more previous and intangible, but they did it in a way that was a deal more subtle and artful than just repeating the phrase "I can't give everything away" ad nauseum. A clumsy and self-indulgent final album.

liked it, but not too much

Album #95: Blackstar - David Bowie Genre (W): Art rock, jazz rock, experimental jazz, experimental rock Singles: Blackstar, Lazarus, I Can’t Give Everything Away I have listened to this album once before. Thoughts?: Wow.. this is a heavy album. The fact that this was released two days before his death gives it so much weight. However, I’ll try to be objective. I love the arrangements of this album, and Lazarus is one of my favorite songs ever. Blackstar is also one heck of an opener. Favorite songs: Blackstar, Lazarus, Sue (Or in a Season in Crime), I Can’t Give Everything Away

I think this album had potential, with a few good songs on it like "Lazarus" and "I Can't Give Everything Away", but I feel like this was just a lackluster attempt to re-live his massive popularity in the 80's

Shrugs.

This album is super weird but it got me into a flow state at work, which I definitely appreciate

Interesting sound, reminded me of Radiohead a bit. I have only listened to Bowies first few albums so this was hugely different. I feel this is an album I need to revisit to gage if it deserves a higher score. At least he went out on a pretty decent album.

Didnt find this album all that… But its bowie i guess.

sinto sua falta david bowie

not quite my tempo. 2.5?

Respect to Bowie for always pushing his music to new places. Still like Ziggy better.

--★...myriad twists and turns to this epic. would take many more listens to fully appreciate --'Tis a Pity She Was a Whore...'tis, David, 'tis. I'm not sure what he found so compelling about this arrangement. the band is doing insane things in the background but it all kind of amalgamates into mediocre pop. weird but not weird enough --Lazarus...the wiki entry claims Bowie did not fully intend this to be his final album, but songs like this make it obvious he believed it could be. not as needlessly busy as the previous track but it's far more interesting. nice saxophone --Sue (Or in a Season of Crime)...James Murphy doing serious work on drums but not feeling it overall --Girl Loves Me...ominous, perhaps a little creepy. could grow on me over time --Dollar Days...easy listening but it doesn't veer into cheesy. or maybe it's the right amount of cheese? Bowie seems to be adding extra emotion here --I Can't Give Everything Away...Bowie gives it his all again. not a great track but it's hard not to root for him at this point. guitar work is a highlight

B- Blackstar 3 Tis A Pity She Was A Whore 4 Lazarus 3 Sue (Or In A Season Of Crime) 3 Girl Loves Me 3 Dollar Days 4 I Can't Give Everything Away 3 I understand the importance of it, but it's nothing too crazy.

"I can't give everything away" saved it.

bowie slop

3/5

Interesting but I'm not the biggest fan of some of the vocal choices

Lazarus is sick. Stand-outs - Black Star - Lazarus

5/10

Not one of the better Bowie Albums But OK

Pretty dissonant, especially 'Tis A Pity She Was a Whore. More avant-garde and moody than his older albums but maybe I'm just a normie. He really likes the sax on this album. Fave Song: I can't give everything away 3/5

wowza

Hab schon schlechteres und besseres von David Bowie gehört.

Ein neuer Stinker von David Bowie

There are some Bowie songs I like, and Ziggy Stardust is pretty good, but most of it just is not for me. I can listen to it, but I'd prefer something else. This album in particular was quite unsettling.

Despite being a spooky album, there are moments that are reminiscent of 70s Bowie songs. Subtle but I hear ‘em. Good album overall. 3.5/5.0

What a freakish album.

Full of intriguing symbolism and metaphors about Bowie's life and death, making this album an interesting listen that probably needs to be separated from its musical value to be really appreciated. That being said, I only enjoyed Dollar Days and I Can't Give Everything Away because they were more upbeat and didn't carry the same haunting, slow sounds that the rest of the tracks featured.

I haven't listened to much David Bowie, but I feel like there are different albums from him I would enjoy more. I don't find the sound of this album very interesting.

Only because it’s Bowie. Love the voice.

- as creepy as always - I didn’t like this as much as heroes, but still unique and fun - would listen again probably

Broadly eclectic sound but not a whole ton of variety within or between songs. All very neat noises though. Highlights: "★", "Lazarus", "Girl Loves Me"

⭐ ⭐ ⭐ Putting out a record largely themed around mortality two days before you die is a heck of an artistic statement but the record itself is patchy, and the sound doesn’t do it justice.

Good Album

Not my favorite bowie

Definitely not my favorite Bowie album. It’s less fun, a little more depressing, but the jazz influence is nice. Not bad overall, just a little different than his other stuff

I’m just not a big fan of David’s singing - it’s not something I hate but I just is kind of there for me.

Mediocre Bowie is still a good album

Tengo q escucharlo completo

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

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

75

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

Liked it, didn't love it.

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

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

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

solid and short

Just a very solid Bowie album!

Experimental to the max for Bowie but generally enjoyable

The backing musicians are awesome.

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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.

Loved the first 4 minutes, but dropped off for me

Nice

Bueno

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

Self-indulgent. I could grow to like it.

curiosity kills the cat and other such saying

Not his best imo

Rv

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.

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

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

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 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

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

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

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

Love Bowie RIP

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

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

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.

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.