Blackstar

Decent... but needs multiple listens to get used to the off-timed sax solos

Of the "Big Three" of farewell albums (being this one and those of Johnny Cash and Leonard Cohen), this is the one I was least familiar with. I find that for both Cash and Cohen, their final works are among my favorites of theirs, so I was excited to get this one generated. I found it a bit different from the others... where "When The Man Comes Around" is about Cash looking back at his life, and "You Want It Darker" is about Cohen looking at his impending death, this feels like an album by a ghost who is already dead. I found it less devastating and more... haunting. I think part of this relates to the cultural context in which Bowie died just a day or two before the album's release, whereas Cohen lived for another few weeks and Johnny Cash lived another year. However, it can also be heard in the music. From the lyrics ("Look at me, I'm in heaven") to the music videos, to the much grander Jazz instrumentation, this album feels like it, more than any other work by any other artist, is meant to mythologize Bowie's life and death, where he's fully embracing his mythical persona and abandoning the material world. Also shoutout to the Jazz musicians who he got to perform on the album. They really tie it together. Favorite Track: Blackstar

Heard it before. Something happened on the day he died, truly 3/5

Wow. I first listened to this when Bowie passed away, and this record still resonates just as much as it did then, back in 2016. Full of existential anxiety; this really is a beautiful parting shot from one of music's greats, and my favourite Bowie album by a long way. A true genius in every sense of the word. Favourite tracks: the whole thing.

I'd say I'm a Bowie fan, he has so many great songs but with such a long career his quality varied. He may have done Space Oddity but he also did The Laughing Gnome. This album from 2 days before his death is decent but nothing amazing. Doesn't get much talk.

First album I already had in my listening repertoire. A masterpiece!

Very cool album and one of the greatest final albums by an artist ever. I don’t love everything but it’s solid for sure and I should go back and listen to Lazarus more.

Blown away by this album and shocked I was so out of the loop when it came out and Bowie passed. He's quickly rising to be one of my favorite artists thanks to this project. Blackstar the song feels particularly heavy after knowing the context of Bowie's passing from liver cancer 2 days after the album released. Side note, you can really feel Kendrick Lamar's TPAB influence on this album which I think is really cool and unexpected.

This was a little ADHD and overwhelming for me. The song " 'Tis a Pity She Was a Whore" was just really not for me. The brass and wind instruments were far too much. It's a little bizarre. "Where the fuck did Monday go?" Absolutely wild. A little too weird for my taste. And I thought I liked weird! This also had a vibe of nosferatu.

The album reminded me of the few songs featured on the lost highway soundtrack. None of his catchier or dancey songs, all a bit somber. I understand how people listened and were able to predict he was about to die. Alright album, but definitely requires a mood, not anything I'd put in heavy rotation

Okay so this was my fourth Bowie album, and I had been rating on a downward trend. But honestly I really liked this album pretty much just as much as the first one I listened to. From what I gathered Bowie recorded this one just before he died, and I could hear the more depth to the album. (Except for the whore song that was a curveball.)

Giving this a first proper listen to be honest....the reputation of it being a heavy listen putting me off for years. Was struck much it sparkles out of the dark backdrop. It's got Jazzy elements and reminds me of Kid A era Radiohead at times as well. Meanwhile there is the sense of echos of years gone by in the production. His voice is waning - and that gives it a weird power. All in all, a fascinating listen. I'm pleased I invested the time into it finally. It's not a heavy rotation album, but I can see me coming back to this from occasionally from now on. Hell of a full stop of a hell of a career.

Sounds really depressing and upsetting, but it's a piece of art that got better as the album went on. Probably will rise but for now a 3.

Enjoyed it but nothing memorable. Easy listen 6/10

oh my gosh!i cant believe that i slept on this album for this long.made my sunday!

Put off listening to this previously because of the dour circumstances of its release, fearing that the music would be equally dour, and I was kind of right. It's fine I guess but not the revelation I've seen it described as.

A crazy and honest moment in a sad time

Dissonant and haunting

Album so bad, Bowie died.

Such a great swan song album.

Throughout the completion of this 1001 album project, my 1* reviews can be summed into two themes: especially awful music, and “why this?”, with the latter warranting a more cutting review about why the album was ever chosen to be featured. My 5* reviews, on the other hand, have exclusively been within the theme of especially excellent music - until now. Blackstar is a “why this?”, because the “why” is beyond something any nice sounding record can do. Blackstar fills me with gentle assurance. The artistry, to be handed a terminal diagnosis and respond with a grin. “Watch this”, I imagine him thinking. Even in death, another artistic reinvention - his final form - enshrouded and buried, and showing that art can be found in all things.

Masterpiece

The best part was when it ended

Mint drums

I like this a lot. It's not too Bowie a Bowie, though I do also like Bowie Bowie. Blackstar itself is incredible. Enjoyed this when it came out and still do now.

Not really my type of style of music.

Ok. Has a lot of meaning as his last album and unmistakably Bowie

It was ok.

Wow, I am blown away. What a hell of a way to go out. Blackstar is a masterpiece.

Very experimental but I don't like it, RIP David Bowie

Excellent

Not my favorite Bowie

Dark and unsettling. I get the significance of this album but didn't enjoy it as much as some of Bowie's music.

Oh hell yeah, I was literally just thinking about putting this album on because it had been a while since I last listened to it! It’s amazing that Bowie was still at the top of his game right up until the end. Rest In Peace Starman! Favourite tracks: like all of them, but if I had to pick Lazarus, Sue (or in a Season of Crime), Girl Loves Me

When I listened to Leonard cohen’s you want it darker, everyone was comparing it to this album and many preferred this one. So to set the story straight, I think you want it darker is much much better, but it’s also one of my favorite albums ever so I listened to this way too many times because I couldn’t really get into it. But by like the fourth listen I appreciated the last three tracks I just don’t care much for the rest of the album. Big fan of the album cover tho.

This feels really experimental and I like it. It’s clunky and nuanced and interesting in every moment. Perhaps, however, due to its extreme foreignness in sound I’m not quite accustomed to its complexities so it isn’t exactly the most enjoyable thing to listen to. But it is a fulfilling and rewarding listen and something I’m sure I could really love with time. Bowie ended his legendary legacy well.

It's more interesting as a final album and the idea of recording it than the sum of its parts. It's an amazing final album not necessarily a great album if that makes sense. He captured exactly what I imagine it would feel like dying. He creates a groove and an atmosphere that doesn't have any filler which I feel is on a lot of his albums. All in all not an album of listen to a lot but an album that does exactly what it needs to do

This is a very powerful and emotional album. Musically, it is one of Bowie's best (he is variable, for example I really did not like Aladdin Sane last week). Blackstar is really good with lots of influences (jazz and others) and excellent musicians but it is still very Bowie. BUT just listening to the music at face value doesn't do full justice to the album. In Bowie style, he made himself part of the art, not with an alter ego this time, but as his very self. What a way to say farewell as a musician and artist, bringing out such a work and dying two days later. The context transforms this 5* album in a bigger fatter 5* album. What a performance.

1/5 honestly hated it

Lemppari: Girl Loves Me Vähiten lemppari: ’Tis A Pity She Was A Whore

Never really understood the hype. Feels like I’m in space. A few funky, futuristic sounds but kind of odd. Not very cohesive and the songs are long and dragged out.

I never checked this out when it came out. It got a lot of hype but I chalked that up to people wanting it to be good because it was the album Bowie released just before he died. Boy was I wrong! This album is stunning. Bowie never stopped experimenting, he made incredible music right to the end. He didn’t rest on his laurels at all. And this album is a testament to that. What an artist this man was, truly a huge loss to the world of music. And as always, plus one for horns.

En general un gran disco de despedida y Lazarus espectacular. Grande la despedida de Bowie.

I love David Bowie's old stuff, but I did not like anything from this album. Bummer. Just feels too self indulgent and egregious.

David Bowie has some great songs and albums, this is not one of them. It’s kind of like listening to a fever dream.

Feel like this one is kind of a freebie for Bowie. Like yeah you made star man so we’ll let this shite album into the top 1001. Definitely could have died without hearing this one. Also Bowie album on yhe day of big brother final. So fitting. Specific rating 2.5 Fav song - dollar days Least fav - *

Half the reviews are acting like he wrote this album from beyond the grave and it's really annoying me: I'm not denying there are references to death- he was sick and processing that- but he was being treated and by the time he finished recording the album he was in remission. He didn't know it would be his last album, he definitely didn't know that he'd die so close to it coming out: so it wasn't written as the "farewell" people are claiming. Worst was someone calling it "dying as performance art", dying wasn't some choice he made to make his music more poignant, he was a real person who was sick! Musically I found the album grew on me as it went on, with the first couple songs being a bit too odd for me. I think the level that people love it being so linked to him dying makes me feel a bit uncomfortable about the whole thing- if his cancer hadn't recurred it would just be one of many many Bowie albums and probably one fairly low down the rankings. Favourite song: Dollar Days Least: Blackstar

Another Bowie, I wonder how many more albums I must endure on this site… Exactly as expected, however Lazarus had an awesome jazz like musical solo toward the end which was special, same as I can’t give anything. These feel unconventional to Bowie and were actually refreshing, bringing the album’s score up to a 7/10.

never a dull moment with this guy

Lots of hype about this one, but I’m going to tune it out. Did I enjoy listening to this album. Yea, absolutely.

This is a good album, one I don’t listen to enough

Oh man. You gotta really love extended experimental trumpet solos to like this album.

This was very unexpected, not my thing

May come back and give it a 5 once I re-listen, but very enjoyable album. A lot of talent for sure.

I’ve been dreading this album a bit — when I started the project I didn’t know when albums would switch over, so there was one day layover that I chose Blackstar randomly to hold me over. This was not exactly how I remember it from back then, but it was fun to revisit. Bowie isn’t my favorite artist but decent enough, 3/5

Very nice saved a song

Lazarus is the best song off the album

David Bowie was weird. Not stoned enough for this album

Warren Zevon knew he was making his last record and put everything he wanted to say into it. This feels like Bowie threw together his swan song on the fly. The fact that Bowie's is better is a testament to his craft. It's both just another great Bowie record and the perfect death bed goodbye. Dark and beautiful.

++: ★, 'Tis a Pity She Was a Whore, Lazarus, Sue (Or in a Season of Crime), Dollar Days, I Can't Give Everything Away +: Girl Loves Me 9,7/10

This is not for me. Extremely long, extremely weird tracks.

Been looking for a reason to revisit this album. That intro track is a haunting masterclass in atmosphere and the video sticks in my mind to this day. The new versions of Sue (Or In A Season of Crime) and Lazarus are incredible highlights, and the former, I *think*, is my favorite. Knowing that Bowie knew it would be his last gives the whole album a sense of finality and permanence that permeates everything and is difficult to forget about.

Not my liking

I’ve always been grateful that I heard this on the day it was released, and was immediately able to see (as the critics did), that it’s a brilliant album of weird, otherworldly, boundary-pushing music, before Bowie’s death could influence my judgement one way or another. The news of his death undoubtedly imbued Blackstar with new layers of poignancy though - rarely has context added so much to an album. The man knew he was dying but kept it a secret from the world, thoroughly in keeping with the air of mystery he cultivated throughout his career. With that in mind, I find the last two tracks in particular heartbreakingly beautiful.

Really cool, psychedelic. I appreciate it and Bowie's genius, although the dissonance became a bit hard to bear at times.

Not his best

Blackstar Where The Fuck Did Monday Go? I don’t think I’ve listened to this since it appeared, and then when he orchestrated his death as part of the artistic statement. I remember thinking it was a great album, but I’ve only rarely revisited since, as it all feels a bit sad. So it’s great listening 9 and a bit years on, and it's clear at this remove that this is a truly excellent album in its own right, irrespective of the sadness and death and legacy. And it’s probably worth 5 stars for the opening track alone (and another 5 for track 2, and trac 3, and so on). But when you do factor in his death and how and when he recorded it, it gives the album a genuinely affecting resonance and fall of light. References to death and existence and mortality are everywhere in the lyrics and, I think, in the celestial harp sound at the very start of and throughout Blackstar. But it’s never maudlin or self indulgent, and neither is it cold or detached, it seems to tread the line between the two, balancing introspection and playful curiosity. Musically it’s dense and weighty but simultaneously ephemeral, it glides and skims as well as anchoring itself, and it feels like there are musical references to his past too, some drum and bass, some Station to Station-ness. The percussion is also incredible throughout, and I love the jazziness, it really suits some of the sombre and discordant tones. The title track is superb, maybe one of his best songs, the skitteriness and synth bass before it moves into the second part with the ‘Something happened’ lyric and nagging refrain. ‘Tis A Pity She Was a Whore is incredible too, it feels strangely disconcerting and creepy, and the agitated playing is fantastic. Lazarus has a slight Roxy Music-ness to it, and a great, mesmeric groove and superb, moving lyric. I like how it shifts slightly with the gritty, funk guitar and slightly echoey, ecclesiastical sounding vocal of Sue, the combination creates a great bit of tension and strain. Girl Loves Me is another amazing song, the hook is extremely catchy and I love the James Murphy assisted funereal-synth feel. Dollar Days of course has the dying to/too pun and despite the melancholy lyrics has a slightly hopeful feel to me, flowing fantastically into the serenity of I Can’t Give Everything Away. It’s a brilliantly sequenced album, moving gracefully from anxiety and restlessness into acceptance and a sense of stillness and peace. I’ve listened to this a lot over the past couple of days, I just kept wanting to come back to it, and to be able to orchestrate this as his swansong is unbelievable, knowing he was dying and making one of his best albums is absurd really, and to make an album about mortality that is so full of life, that makes you want to come back to it. It’s probably only really matched as a eulogy to en ending by Abbey Road. 🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤 Playlist submission: Blackstar

I listened to this a lot upon its release. I haven't since, as I genuinely found it too sad, post his premature passing. The album sounds like nothing he's done before, but there are many echoes of the past (Diamond Dogs, Station to Station, Young Americans, Low, Black Tie White Noise, Outside, Earthling, Hours, Heathen all feel present here). Bowie was clearly grappling with mortality - it's moving, yet admirably devoid of self-pity. This level of invention after a 50 year career is beyond belief. With echoes of the past, it's firmly fixed on looking forward, staring down death under the shadow of terminal illness with a hell of a lot of dignity. 'I Can't Give Everything Away' is a devastatingly beautiful ending to an unmatched career.

It's insane to think that Bowie still had so much to give even after all of his success and artistic output. This album is as fresh as anything he had put out in his career. The fusions of jazz and art rock work so well on this album, and I get the sense that Bowie was always inspired by current music. These tracks have a lot of hip-hop, soul, and funk influence. Blackstar is the ultimate swansong to an absolutely storied career, even without the context of Bowie's health during its recording. It's the culmination of everything he did before. 9.5/10

very cool

It was ok. Nothing made me want to hit repeat.

I quite liked this album. I absolutely love Girl Loves Me, and Black Star was also really good, and so is Dollar Days. This is a dynamic and varied album that is an absolute delight to listen to and I enjoyed myself a lot with this one.

Sounds like Black Midi

Have I yet learned my lesson that past-their-prime albums can, in fact, be great? Surely now I’ve got that through my head, what with falling deeply in love with this on first listen.

Weird but interesting

There are nice acoustics and the tone is interesting. A really mysterious vibe probably him contemplating death or something. Not sure if bowie is my type.

Great last album for a true star.

altewrn. Rock, 2016 -> 2

taitaa näkyä tähtimäärä pikku spoileri albumin alussa taitaa saman verran tähtiä tulla..paskahousulle ei paljoa anneta iloa.. mietippä vanhamies.. bowie ääh ääh en voi laulaa yritän mutta haikea ääni ääh .. leonard cohen.. hineni hineni... no ei mitään heh ei mitään 69 vuotiaana vieläkin huutelee huorista jotain siellä emt en kuunnellu.. ei varmana ole muuten tämä saatananpalvoja taivaassa!! monet ei tiedä että saatana oli semberela.. jumalan kristuksen 9 kuoron johtaja, musiikkimestari saatana ennen kun tippui menetti siipensä ja tuomittiin helvettiin.. monet ei tiedä että ei ole saatana joka näyttää punaiselta pässisarviselta heinähangolliselta pikkuvintiöltä.. näyttää laihalta kalvakalta muusikolta ... BOWIE... bOWIE.. BOWEL.. BOWELS OF HELL... ★

Rambling, overblown mush by a legend who should really have known better. "'Tis a Pity she was a Whore" and "I Can't Give Everything Away" are the only highlights, the rest is largely filler.

Tepid, overwarmed shite by a legend who should have known better. Only redeemable tracks are "'Tis a Pity She Was a Whore" and "I Can't Give Everything Away". The rest is forgettable filler.

2 stars – Reminded me of that indie school band that was awful but thought they were super cool and better than everyone else. An awful album with one or two good moments.

Never been a Bowie fan so it's probably unfair to rate him this badly but honestly might be one of the more boring albums I've ever listened to. The music itself is actually really good, smooth sax and synths, nice. But his voice....the first time I could actually tell a singer is old. Bowie sings like you imagine a retired old man sounds when telling stories to his grandkids.

I can't be the only one who heard Bowie was releasing an album called Black Star and assumed it was about his wife. It isn't, color me surprised. Another surprise is that I actually found myself enjoying the rest of this album much more than I did when it was first released. It can be a little indulgent but the soundscape is awesome, particularly the sax that appears throughout, the guitars on Lazarus and the synths on Cant Give Everything Away. A lot of beauty in the lyrics but its also a little weird hearing a skeletal geriatric sing about looking for ass in the big apple. However, although I know very little about David Bowie's music, this feels authentic. High 3* for me.

Love this one. A fantastic send off for Bowie. He recorded this as he was dying of cancer of the liver. The whole vibe reflects it, but he still manages to keep his sound interesting and experimental despite the pall over the whole affair. I prefer his previous album before this one, The Next Day since it has a few more radio friendly tunes, but Blackstar is still really special. Highlight for me was Lazarus.

My feels

Blackstar is wild.. It’s like watching someone paint their final self-portrait with a busted brush, radioactive paint, and zero fucks. It’s theatrical, dark, scattered, and genius - classic endgame energy. A fitting swan song? Or maybe a final middle finger. Either way, it was compelling. Spins: 3 Playlist Additions: - Blackstar - 'Tis a Pity She Was a Whore - Lazarus - I Can't Give Everything Away

Not my fav cure album, but did like The Forest.

Отличный альбом, последний к сожалению((

Pretty weird album. I like a lot of Bowie's earlier work. Glad to hear this. Doubtful I would listen again.

Elegant farewell.

5 black stars

David Bowie’s Final Masterpiece: Blackstar Blackstar is nothing short of superb. As his final work, it stands as a bold, emotive, and forward-thinking statement from an artist who continued to innovate until the very end. In an industry where many artists struggle to remain creatively relevant with age, Bowie defied the trend — evolving, experimenting, and delivering something truly fresh. This album isn't just a farewell; it’s a reinvention. Deeply atmospheric and layered with meaning, it feels like Bowie knew this would be his last artistic statement — and he made it count. Favourite Track: It’s hard to choose, as every song is a gem, but Dollar Days resonates most with me. Least Favourite: Honestly, I couldn’t find a single weak track. Album Artwork: Minimalist, striking, and instantly iconic — perfectly befitting the music within.

I hated everything about this. I honestly never want to hear a song off this album again. Bowie's voice, the jumbley jazzy music that tries its hardest to avoid any kind of rhythm. The dreary tone of every single track. It's the direct opposite of everything I want in an album. My highest rated song was 'Tis a Pity She Was a Whore which got 2 stars.

4/7

Seems strange that the first Bowie album I get on the list is his last. I’ve always enjoyed Bowies music, he’s always been a favourite of my mums, my introduction to Bowie was actually Labyrinth which also happened to be a favourite of my mums. It wasn’t until semi recently though that I did a deep(ish) dive into his catalogue and actually listened to the big albums outside of his singles and Blackstar was fittingly the most recent one I had listened to before the list. This album is strange, atmospheric, jazzy, funky, contemplative and introspective. And most of all it’s pretty great, it’s difficult to analyse this album without considering it in the context of Bowie’s death. It ultimately feels very prescient and intentional as a swan song. Without beating you over the head with it the album is about Bowies impending demise, despite the almost morbid subject matter he still musters every ounce of his enigmatic charisma to keep the experience enjoyable. Standout tracks are ★, Lazarus, Girl Loves Me, Dollar Days and I Can’t Give Everything Away. Weakest track for me is probably ‘Tis A Pity She Was A Whore. Overall 4/5

I did not like this!

Not entirely sure what he was going for but I dig it about as much as I enjoy other Bowie albums. It's strange how diverse his material can be but it all ends up at the same rating for me, which I guess is a testament to his consistency? I don't know. This comes across as a very polarising album, that's for sure, I can definitely see why some people would love it and why some would find it self indulgent.

Knew he was dying on this record

Very very beautiful even if I didn't love every single song. The opening and closing tracks in particular are gorgeous.

I feel like if this wasn't Bowie's last record and released days before he died, it doesn't make this list. I'm a Bowie fan, but this isn't his best work. But the circumstances around the album make it very poignant.

I listened to this twice since it was so short. It didn’t resonate with me. I feel like it’s average at best and if I rated it any higher I would be grading on a curve based on the lifetime body of work. 2.5/5

I bought this on vinyl when it was released. And while the production does lend itself to that medium, revisiting it in full still brings in a solid ranking. It’s not his best work but it does provide a really interesting listen, with each round revealing a little more each time.

First off, the rhythm section kills it on this album. If I had to show someone learning to play the bass an example of locking in, laying back but yet keeping things interesting, this is it. Overall, I have mad respect for Bowie’s (probably) unmatched ability to be a chameleon throughout the decades and continue to fit in but also stay true to himself. I enjoyed this sonically but didn’t exactly love the songs.

This is a tough one. I appreciated this and enjoyed some parts. But overall I couldn’t really get into it. Maybe Bowie was hanging out with Thom York as this felt to have some of their vibe at parts. I also liked enjoyed listening to this in the car with my 12 year old son thinking it would be fine. Then hearing a couple choice words and seeing the title: ‘Tis a Pity She Was a Whore. Fortunately I didn’t get too many questions about that. 2.5 but I’m rounding up solely for that song title.

Love me some Bowie but I’m not on board with all the love this album got. It’s good, not great. 3.25/5

This record is strangely fascinating but I struggle to comprehend the vision and I struggle to enjoy it. It’s taxing to listen to. But I can see the musical merit and the mood you’re in when you want to listen to it.

Love Bowie. Didn't like this though.

One song

I'm biased because I like a lot of Bowie. The opening track is one of his more experimental tracks, but I hate it, I think it was a dumb choice for an opening track. The repetitive "I'm a blackstar" is a massive and annoying distraction from what is otherwise a stellar instrumental arrangement, and it should not be 10 mins long. Love the horns Bowie is using on this. Especially nice paired with the driving bass on Lazarus. Love especially the cute trills towards the end of the breakdown on that song, makes you feel like you're going deliciously insane in a Bowie way. Sue is another great track, super odd sounding with the jungle/breakbeat as a backbone. Yes to the dissonant synth chords gently throwing you off the ledge of comfort zone underneath the melody. I saw in the wiki that this album was influenced by Death Grips?? lol. you don't really hear it until the end of Sue imo. I wish Bowie messed around with more of that style of sound before he passed. That said, one overall trend of this album is my bone to pick wiith a lot of Bowie stuff in general - where tf is the melody? the man has the world's most recognizable wail but on this album it felt more wandering than clever, evocative, or catchy. This album feels overall more soundscape and ethereal than some of his other stuff. This is a decent album, but as far as representative Bowie to hear before I die, I think I would have picked more Ziggy or Space Oddity. Either way, the man has a beautiful catalogue that this list is prompting me to dig into more deeply.

Exceptional album

I like a lot of Bowies earlier albums and songs, he has some real classics. This album doesn't vibe with me at all though. I don't know how to explain it. The songs aren't straight up bad but I just can't get in to them.

Whatevs

Got some great tracks but not my cup of tea.

Helt solid, det här har inte ännu bara klickat helt. Kräver vidare lyssning

One for the fans but commendable nonetheless

The last album by david jones… like as in the monkeys? Or the squid guy? Nah David Bowie. One incredible musician. But how you pronounce Bowie (like I’ve heard people say BOWie like as in a bow tie or bOWie like submitting to authority). Reminds me a bit of the start of the song ‘andy warhol’ from hunky dory ‘Warhol… as in HOLES’. But that’s a very different album, this album blackstar (like the radiohead song) is a perfect send off there’s only 7 songs but you can’t call any bad. Like it’s good to the point that sparks (who I love) came on after and I just wanted to go back to bowie. Brilliant ending to a great career 5/5

I wish this hadn’t been the first Bowie album I got as part of this project, because it was just okay. I know this album holds a lot of meaning because of Bowie’s death, but as someone not too familiar with his work, it didn’t really catch me. There were some songs I enjoyed, and some that felt long and droning with nothing of interest happening. I know there’s a lot more Bowie albums on this list, and I look forward to hearing any of them over listening to this again.

Didn’t expect a drum n bass, trip hop/ mo wax type sound. I would have definitely dug an instrument version of this in my DJ days. Overall quite liked this. A surprise for sure

This is the 84th album I’m rating. Another one of those albums everybody says is amazing. I’ve never listened to Bowie so who knows if it’ll be good. Adding to my Playlist - Nothing. Not Adding to my Playlist - Blackstar, ‘Tis a Pity she was a Whore, Lazarus, Sue (Or in a Season of Crime), Girl Loves Me, Dollar Days, and I Can’t Give Everything Away. All in all I liked 0/7 songs. If Bowie never died nobody would give a shit about this album.

Meh. David Bowie has come up multiple times and it's generally disappointing. This is no exception. The vocal work here kills any enthusiasm I had for the instrumentals.

Purely rated on personal preference, it’s hard to be objective because I don’t enjoy the style of music. It’s very unique and an interesting listen.

The opening and closing tracks are phenomenon. The rest of the album is okay, nothing great, but, the premise elevates the experience. Of course the spaceman died and left us this. High 3s

Rest in peace king

I was going to give this album a 4, since I only remembered two songs from it, and they were fantastic. I ended up really enjoying all the songs that got overshadowed by Lazarus and blackstar for me on previous listens. It’s now one of my favourite Bowie albums.

it's almost emotional to learn that this is bowie's death album... though saying that it's very hit or miss, the hits SLAP but it's a rough start to get there.

Can’t lie, a little disappointed that this was my first Bowie album that I got to listen to. I didn’t get it, it just felt like sound and nothing more special. Couldn’t appreciate it, and I can’t wait to hear more of Bowie so I can understand the significance of him.

Both beautiful and haunting.

I'm tired of David Bowie. I don't care for his music and this is the 3rd album in the group!

Nearly 1 star.

not good

Wat een album. Wat een last dance van een legende.

Dnf

This is actually the album that introduced me to David Bowie. Awfully bad timing, I should say because I was just began to get into him and then he's no longer with us...but enough of the regret, this is a pretty solid album, I remember when I first listened to it I thought "oh this is very Doctor Who-ish". I mean if the Doctor must have an soundtrack I would've chose this "Blackstar". I love this album, especially "Lazarus", heartbreaking for no particular reason. 5/5.

Lazarus and I Can’t Give Everything Away are decent songs, overall too experimental jazzy to be enjoyable for regular listening. It does seem like an appropriate Swan song album.

Like listening to Acid Jazz while drinking a $60 martini.

Peor album de Bowie so far

9.5/10 Favorite Tracks *Sue(Or in a Season of Crime),** Dollar Days*,

Heartbreaking, Bowie knew he’d die soon and the mood is reflected here. Interesting push pull of very Bowie traditional compositions and his modern jazz musicians. This album influenced me. I became aware of a lot of these players from this album when it came out

Beautiful and tragic album released only a few days before Bowie's death, I rarely listen to this one as it takes me back to the grief I felt when I learned of his passing in 2016. So it was good this project made me listen again for the first time in years; songs are mournful but a creative and fascinating blend of jazz and industrial art rock.

Not a fan of this. At all

Do not want

'Tis a pity there wasn't more.

David Bowie is good but this wasn’t top of list for me

The greatest life swan song of all time.

the final Bowie record, then he died, and the world has not been the same since

i've already listened to this once or twice a few years ago, but i needed a refresher ★ - 4/5 'Tis A Pity She Was A Whore - 2/5 Lazarus - 5/5 Sue (Or In A Season Of Crime) - 4/5 Girl Loves Me - 4/5 Dollar Days - 4/5 I Can't Give Everything Away - 4/5 Total score: 3.8/5 (rounding up) i remember Lazarus the most since i last listened, it's definitely the best track on here, followed by the finishing track. only one i didn't like was 'Tis A Pity, something about the instrumentals and vocals was off-putting (maybe a little too "out there" for me) overall, while this was a hard listen in some spots, i don't think anyone could ask for a better performance given his battle with cancer while making this. i consider this a beautiful farewell album from such a legendary artist

The first album on this list that we get from David Bowie is also the last album he ever recorded. Weird place to start listening to him. And it's also the vibes I get: weird. It feels more like the last gasp of inspiration from an artist, which it sadly ended up being.

Listening to this was not a pleasant experience, it is eerie, haunting. Mandatory listening for the context, it is not often we hear the swan song of an artist this way. But I would not revisit this for my enjoyment.

An alright album. Didn't contain any of the Bowie songs that I recognized but maybe that's more on me.

good listen

NO

8/10 Haunting and close to the bone. damn. 3-14-2025

Sounds like a James Bond soundtrack.

I love DB, without reservation, and this album is his final swan song right before he died, so it'd particularly sentimental. However, it's still a departure of that which I love about David Bowie, the typical glam rock he mastered early on. Of course, he's done it enough to branch out into this genre of art rock/Alt rock. But that isn't enough for me to push it past 3 stars.

There is a lot to admire about this album. Pouring your end of life experience into a final piece of art is a beautiful and courageous way to go. Unfortunately I did not like the music. I didn't like it when it came out and was hoping a revisit would changey mind. I'm glad his final statement has resonated with so many people

Massive Bowie fan but not one who thinks everything he does is genius. But the man was feckin’ dying and he knew it and he’d not long brought out his best album since Ashes to Ashes! And then this appears FFS! It is very dark, for obvious reasons, but I love it and probably don’t listen to it enough as it does make me sad when I do.

- To produce something so relevant, so solid, so enjoyable so late in life after so much output .... -

Not his best album but was the best thing he’d done for a long while. Poignant because of its time of release

I still get surprised by how good this is. I enjoyed The Next Day but felt it did have that feel of "oh well this is as much as you can expect". Very good not great. Blackstar meanwhile really is up there with his best.

“Lazurus” was the only interesting track on this album. It was interesting to peer into the thoughts of a dying man. The rest of the album was just really dull.

big bowie fan but i have to admit i haven’t *really* listened to blackstar before. good excuse to do it now! it's very nice, i'm glad bowie was able to go out on a high note. not what i personally look for in bowie but very valuable.

Did not like this album.... Was pretty annoying

Good

To this point I am only familiar with a few Bowie albums so I want to thank this album for helping continue my deep dive into his work. Favorite Songs: ★ / Lazarus

Greatest swan song of all time? Well, it's either him or Dilla. It's truly incredible that as his body was failing him, Bowie thought of music. He thought of us. Looked death in the eye and said I've still got it. Not only that he's still got it but that he was capable of reaching his upper echelon. Not threatened by new challenging artists but instead galvanized. Whatever you may think of this sound or its quality, you must admit it's a testament to what an artist should be. Openminded, unbridled, and thankful for anyone who would lend them an ear. Rating: 8 Favorite Song: Lazarus

8.5/10 Good stuff from Bowie I tend to skew not as great as people think on this one. But still a great album. Favorite song: black star

Not really a bowie fan, but of course his old albums transcend that. I don't know why this is here, it's weird but not in an engaging way just in a pretentious way

Haunting, experimental, not something that's an easy listen, definitely an album for a particular mood, but certainly shows what a master Bowie was

Even on his way out, Bowie produced a one-of-a-kind album featuring his particular brand of songwriting and music. He sounds worn, and tired, but still had something to say.

How can it be anything less than 5 stars? It’s a Black Star!

Would be exponentially--near incalculably--better as an instrumental record.

I listened to this when it first came out and I wasn’t ready to understand it until now, the day after my father passed away. Thank you universe for this being my album of the day in this moment.

Rocks

Unique in a different sense from some of the Bowie I have come to know and love. You can hear his age here, and the sounds he's playing with are super interesting, but not necessarily something I enjoy 100 percent of the time. Context helps this albums legacy, and even without it, its still a fine piece of work. Just not my favorite Bowie album

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David Bowie back to back. Man hör att det är en modernare DB. Det är dock inget som får mig att känna varken mer eller mindre. Det är helt ok. Puttrar på. Men blir inte sugen att lyssna mer. Det är liksom lågmält. Nästan att jag glömmer bort musiken när jag lyssnar. Det är väl inte ett gott tecken. Inte egentligen dåligt heller. Jaja.

Är fortsatt imponerad över hur otroligt varierad Bowie är som artist. Detta album känns riktat till de riktigt Bowie-konnässörerna och blir i mitt tycke lite väl experimentellt på sina håll, även om det också är mycket som är bra. Lazarus och I can’t give everything away är grymma låtar, medan t ex Sue är rätt svår att älska. Inte gett denna så många genomlyssningar som tidigare skivor av Bowie och kan inte utesluta att den skulle kunna växa mer, men just nu är den en stark trea för mig.

Für Bowies Lebenswerk volle Punktzahl, dieses Album kann ich schwer einschätzen. Hochachtung vor der Kreativität am Ende des eigenen Lebens. Hörgenuss eher weniger, ich brauche Optimismus, nicht Traurigkeit.

This was good, and not just for the bittersweet reason of it's release and Bowie's death. I liked the jazzy elements.

3 - it was ok, not great for a Bowie album. Definitely gets more praise just because he died right after release

I've never been an actual fan of the musician David Bowie, but this one is very alright. Sprawling, dark jazz rock that I never felt like skipping and if I can trust my reviews of the other five Bowie albums I've had, Blackstar's the probably most coherent. Not entirely my cup of tea, still, but a very high four and then, the Swan Song. Rounding up.

Amazing

Nothing left of good Bowie here.

Remember listening to this first time round and being impressed, still works. Decent but won't be back although I did say that in 2014 so never say never. Mid 4.

I respect david bowie, rip, but most of his stuff is performance art but in musical form which I find is the weakest form of performance art. Ill listen to it ... sometimes...

I did not enjoy it. Lazarus was an OK song. My dad and I had a conversation awhile back and told each other that there’s no such thing as BAD music because someone likes it. Someone must like this but it’s definitely not for me.

Dreadful. Pioneer in releasing sh*te music just to see what d*ckheads would buy it.

I’m rating this as a 3 simply because I don’t know if I love it or hate it.

Great stuff

This is fine, strange, new territory. What happens when one of the all time greats knows he's dying but can't tell everyone? He gets back in the studio for a final fling as a parting gift to the world. So poignant. And really interesting music. Excellent

# Album Name: Blackstar # Artist: David Bowie # Rating: 4/5 # Comments: Bowie is a funny one for me. I love his classics. It just takes a while to warm up to his albums. If i warm up to them i intend to really enjoy them. Low was like that for me. Now i love that album. My first listen to blackstar, and honestly, musically its just not bad. I The depth and meaning behind the tracks is obviously there considering where he was on his journey in life. Blackstar is very radiohead to me. Lazarus is a moving track. Give everything away is a great finale. I'll give this a low 4. # Top Tunes: BS / Laz / Give everything away # Would I listen to it again? Yes

Good, but the first song sucked hot ass cheeks

didn't really know what to expect with this one. i like david bowie but i tend not to like these sort of dour, "end of life" albums that other artists have put out. but this one didn't feel like the others. this one felt uplifting, interesting, and nice. the vibe here is pleasant and feels hopeful. it's not depressing, it just sort of is. and i appreciate that about it.

Great record. Didn’t click the first time

I really liked this, really wild that this was his final album. A little haunting in some sense listening to Lazarus.

This is probably a 4 as an album, but my own particular enjoyment of it was a 3. However might improve on deeper listens.

This was good. I remember listening to it when it first came it. It's incredibly well produced.

Eclectic , interesting, not nostalgic.

It’s impossible to separate this album from David Bowie’s death. But if you could take it out of the equation and judge Blackstar on its own merits, how many artists make an album this good and interesting 50 years into their career?

the album is one for the books, the production is fantastic, the jazzy instruments here and there make it even more interesting. David Bowie is the first musician who made me understand and appreciate the artistry behind music, all the creative minds who made it possible for an album, for a song to happen. He and his music pushed me to explore what i like, to learn and dive into music and to feel. It's been 10 years since i discovered him. A few months after, this album was out and he passed 2 days later. This context made this album so much more meaningful to me. It is raw, beautiful, of great quality. Listening to it almost 10 years later, with a new perspective on music, on life and death and life in general makes it a different experience. i have grown (as i was only 11 at the time) and the music resonates so much more today. Bowie wasn't the best person but his artistry really shone through his music and persona, which was exceptional. In conclusion, the album is intrigueing, very well made, it's context of production and its different inspirations make it an "intemporel" album to me. 4.5/5

Can really appreciate this album and love Bowie. Would I listen to this on the regular? No I wouldn't but can acknowledge the narrative and work that has gone into it as his goodbye letter to the world. What an artist!

Last we spoke, only a couple of weeks ago, it was Hunky Dory – “Changes”, “Life on Mars”. So it’s a little confronting to so soon find myself here, David’s momento mori. His autoepitaph. His goodbye. With this record, I finally get it. And not just because this is an album charged with reference points and influencers I get along with already – although that helps – but because of what that actually means. Why is a man who had been one of culture’s most chameleonic, mercurial and successful lights for 50 of his nearly 70 years listening to Death Grips and Kendrick Lamar a few months before he died – let alone using those records as reference points for his final creative sign off? And smuggled away in that question is the thing I wasn’t getting about David Bowie. His ultimate vitality. I was so busy looking at him as a leader that I never really, properly let myself see him as the devotee to sound, colour, light and life that he was. And that’s in evidence here. Songs like “Blackstar”, “Lazarus”, “Girl loves me” are sombre while sprightly, look backwards while thrusting forwards; they’re legacy while never letting themselves become eulogy. This is something new, another contribution to the conversation David was having with us, with music and with posterity throughout his incredible life. And so here we are. Blackstar is seven songs sent from just this side of the event horizon, a postcard from the most alive person to have ever lived. I finally got it.

Shades of Radiohead, Nine Inch Nails, James Blake, acid jazz, hip hop beats, some overblown theatricality. Interesting experiments-definitely more avant garde than Next Day. Really liked the “Girl Loves Me.” I could see revisiting this album; kind of fun to see how Bowie pushed himself for this swan song of an album. Didn’t really care for “Tis a Pity She’s a Whore,” but found something to enjoy in the rest of this album.

Track 1: ★ (Blackstar) Good use of synth, different from other David Bowie albums and songs I’ve listened to. Good vocals, great brass and good drum loop. Long but not boring. 7.2/10 Track 2: ’Tis a Pity She Was a Whore [Blackstar Version] Strong drums off the bat. Strings are perfect. Background vocal use is good. Love the instrumental after first verse. Great instrumental that’s consistent. Good ending. 8.7/10 Track 3: Lazarus Strong guitar start. Nice brass implementation. Sound effects add to mood. Vocals are good. Good bridge after second verse. Jazzy elements sound great. Strong outro 9/10 Track 4: Sue (Or in a Season of Crime) [Blackstar Version] Strong guitar and drums right off the bat. Straight to the point. Very breathy. Instrumentation between verses is good. Good but not my favorite based on a couple other tracks. 6.7/10 Track 5: Girl Loves Me Voice distortion is a little squeaky at start, after vocals are good. Plus background vocals are in a good area. Verse 2 was good. With the small instrumental break flowed smoothly into next chorus. 6/10 Track 6: Dollar Days Very good start, piano is beautiful. Vocally good. Good guitar. Brass solo is pure perfect. Outro with the alliteration is good. 8.5/10 Track 7: I Can’t Give Everything Away Straight song, good vocals. Vocals go with instrumental well. Good brass. Overall good closing track 8.4/10 Average score per song: 7.8

So sad Rating: 4.1

It's not his best But it's still better than I could've done

4 out of 5. Knowing this was Bowie's last album I was always hesitant to listen to it but now I'm glad I finally did.

I liked it better on my second listen. but am I listening to David bowie?

Vrhunski album, nema se šta puno o ovome. ⭐ i Girl Loves Me su mi naj. Bowie kralj ♥️

David Bowie is one of my favorite music artists of all time, and while this album is not a bad album, in fact it is a fine album, but it is by no means a great album. I feel like the critical praise for this album is unfairly affected by the recency bias of his death. I congratulate him for continuing to take creative risks, but I felt that the ideas of this album didn't coalesce quite as well as his OUTSIDE experimental album. Many of the ideas on here (thematically and musically) were already explored on OUTSIDE and EARTHLING. And free jazz as a pop form was explored long, long ago in late 60s and early 70s. It is not exactly new. I think in time, perhaps another decade from now, when we are nearly 20 years on from his death, I think that people might have enough distance from his death to be able to realize that this album may not belong.

Incredible. A perfect ending to a career that endlessly pushed possibility. Sounds like no other Bowie album. I will never tire of this record

Grande Bowie

A really solid and emotional album. As with most albums from the 2010s on here, I debate on the validity of the inclusion here. I don't think I would include this in my list of 1001 albums to hear before you die. Maybe I'm wrong. Maybe in 30 years people will talk about this album like they talk about The White Album.

I would’ve never guessed David Bowie having an album post 2000. Now I know why. The other Bowie albums were ok so having a third when apparently the year he died says enough about the person who made this list. There were probably close to almost 30 albums that year that are more deserving than this. Squabble when ya gobble I guess.

For the innovative sound, profound lyrics and timelessness I rate it 10/10

wow. rich, wistful sounds, inviting us to reflect - or to witness Bowie reflecting on death and its approach, or is it life he's reflecting on, and the end of his? either way, I felt like I was listening to beauty. It was touching, emotional, I felt privileged to be 'invited'. His songwriting in track 2 reminded me of Morrissey/Marr/the Smiths and the beginning chords of dollar days sounds just like Sing me to Sleep. Where the F did Monday go.... this album was like a master class - I loved it and of course no surprise, Bowie left us on his own beautiful terms

A beautiful album! It's not my favorite, but it's very good nonetheless.

I Can't Give Everything Away - it's like a mission statement revealed on his way out the door. An album certainly elevated by the circumstance. Not an album for everyday but one that should be treasured when its in the air. An excellent complement to You Want It Darker.

Controversial opinion but this would've flopped if Bowie hadn't died like immediately after releasing it

Great newer album that took me by surprise. Not my favorite in regards to their other work, but I enjoyed it.

Hjälten är tillbaka med sin bästa skiva på många många år. Ett fint avslut. Världsklass! Fem!

Excellent. A few songs are somewhat mediocre but Blackstar and Lazarus are magnificent.

RIP DB. Not my favorite but still Bowie.

I can't get behind older Bowie. Music is odd that way.

Another experimental album. Some good parts but over all not a great listen.

If you like weird, discordant music, this album is for you! But it isn’t for me. I’m a little confused by all of the critical acclaim, and all of the love that this album gets on this list by reviewers, but I suspect that it has something to do with paying respect to the man’s career at the time of his death. Once again, not at all my thing.

idk man

Oh I remember when this dropped out of no where. Especially how it came with the news of Bowie being sick and at the end of his life (he died within days of the album's release). What a swan song.

I think the mystic of the album- dropping on Bowie‘s birthday near the end of his life- is what makes the album.

The lyrics, the instrumentals, the concept behind all this... a true masterpiece.

Carino, not my cup of tea, 2/5

The best

Album 679 of 1001 David Bowie - Blackstar (2016) Rating : 4.75 / 5 What can one say? It is a "fitting and powerful swan song for one of music's most innovative artists". Not Bowie the pop star. This brings warped showtunes, industrial rock, soulful balladeering, and even hip-hop. RIP to one of the greats.

I didn't want to cry today, but here we are. The literal end of the line for Bowie, his star finally waned, and this album is bittersweet to the end. It's not a masterpiece by any stretch of the imagination, but it's moving, deeply moving.

Not listened to this for a while .. a great album, admittedly not Bowie’s best, but great nonetheless. Does make me sad though 😢

16/1089 - The jazz music is cool. His voice timbre is too strange for me. Unsure if I'm looking forward to 8 more albums of Bowie.

Didn’t really gel with me, though some motifs in some songs did catch my attention.

so sad this iconic music figure is gone from this earth. However, this (his last) album shows his aging voice and just doesn't fit anymore. Been a big fan since the late '60's -- having owned multiple of his albums -- but this collection of songs is very subpar for even the late great Ziggy Stardust. IMHO

Just as this record was released, the news announced of Mr. Bowie's passing after prolonged confidential illness. Blackstar was a sudden secret swan song that all the David Bowie fans and I didn't know we needed or deserved. I remember on that day how I was stunned, dismayed, but intrigued with this truly characteristically progressive farewell revelation. The tone of jazzy crass slam poetry and a cool, austere atmosphere left me feeling that he had departed on his own terms with the opportunity and open channel of expression to bring closure. Instead of feeling that his artistic brilliance had been snatched from us too soon, it felt like his departure was taken perfectly on point. Don't get me wrong, I commiserate for his plight and wish we still had him with us. And this is not my favorite record of his, but it made an impression on me that makes him immortal.

Not sure why this album of his made the list

3 Stars (8/15)

What a bombshell to drop for the first album to listen to. I love it, and obviously heard it before, but man it's a sad piece to listen to. Maybe that's a good thing... It has been a while since I listened to this album, and it does give you perspective. I also realized how much I miss Bowie.

It has the coherency of an album made by someone doing demos for a lot of different albums and they can't decide on what to do. I get that it's his last album, but we don't really need to consider this one his greatest work.

An argument for consciousness The instinct of the blind insect Who never thinks not to accept its fate That's faith, there's happiness in death

This is the first album so far that features my instrument that I'm actually critical of the performance. That's not how I would play the sax for these songs. There's times for the squawk box, but this isn't it, both musically and thematically. This album also helped me more completely understand something that's been scratching at me for quite a bit with some artists. There are artists with personas that they curate to be bigger than their music. Prince, Beyonce, Madonna, actually most mononyms (with the exception of rappers, who have a separate culture around names). I think Bowie falls into this. He adopted personas, politics, sexualities, and styles constantly, and made it unclear if any were actually "him." As such, Bowie the public figure was more important than Bowie the musician. Which makes it hard to judge his music on its own merits, because he intentionally tied anything he did into broader projects and statements. And this album is part of that, in its own way. It's Bowie, the man, grappling with his impending death. This album is lyrically compelling, and feels like the most "honest" Bowie we have. Which makes it a shame to be pretty dull musically. It's trying, but it's ultimately interesting moments undercut by underwhelming writing and performances. I think it's going to be difficult to be able to look critically on this album for decades without viewing it from the lens of his death days after release. I was not following any music at the time, but both the album and his death were international news events. I don't know this album can be reviewed honestly knowing that, or, frankly, without knowing that. Maybe more time would change my opinion, but I wasn't particularly into it at the time, and I'm not particularly into it now, despite finding some of Bowie's work truly great, and among the best of his era.

Thoughts before listening: David Bowie's surprise release right before his death. The heaviness of the release of this album scared me away from listening at the time, despite the fact that I am a Bowie fan. I believe I have heard bits and pieces in the years since, but I believe this will be my first complete listen. Review: I am not a huge fan of the sprawling title track on this album, but once that is over, the album gets very good. Nice use of saxophone throughout on some very enjoyable moody, jazz-inspired tracks. The highs on this album are very high, but this is a 4-star Bowie album.

I cry everytime

not his best but still enjoyable with some highlight tracks

Not his best…

This is a work of art. Absolutely incredible experience

Bowie knew this would be his last album, which definitely affects both the tone of the music and how I listened to it. Musically, loved it. Rock and roll with powerful jazz influence, at times it felt free associative. The whole album had a sad overtone to it - the focus of the album seemed to be his regrets, lost loves, scars that couldn't be seen. In a life such as Bowie's, it's hard to imagine him leaving this world in such an unfulfilled place. Maybe you'll find what you're looking for in the next life - until then, travel well, Starman.

My third 5-star album in a row, how did I get so lucky! This one is genuinely my second favorite Bowie record, and maybe the one I have the biggest emotional response to. He may never be an absolute top-tier artist for me, but you'll never find me arguing the merits of this one. 5/5

This is a swan song album and I feel like this impacts people’s opinion of the album itself. Listen, it was good. Amongst the tripe coming out in 2016 (although, I very much still enjoy said tripe in the summertime), this must have been seminal. And Bowie is an incredibly talented artist. However… is it the best Bowie album? No. It doesn’t hold up against the iconic Ziggy or Heroes, in my opinion. Bowie has always been experimental but I feel as though it was a little bit bland? I feel harsh. And, to be fair, I am only at the beginning of my Bowie journey. Maybe I will feel differently about the album as I go through the rest of his work but having said that, I don’t want my opinion to be warped due to sentimentality. I can’t see myself choosing to put this on again, although that may change. For now, I’m leaving it at a three.

Heard this one when it came out... hard listening then, hard listening now...he knew he did not have much time left while creating/recording it. No track really stands out, especially compared to many great albums and songs Bowie left us. 2 stars for it being Bowie, there are quite a few other albums that better be on this list if this one is.

It's impossible to speak of this album without the coincidence of Bowie's death in the same week. I think this is a testament to the strength of his messages in it, and shouldn't that be the point? I am a devoted fan of Bowie's work, but I know the man himself was not perfect. This is a deeply moving testament of an artist who realizes how short his life is, and he says as much as he can as clearly as he can to us, the audience who are lucky enough to have shared time on this planet with him, but also to future listeners, who will, no doubt, have a different understanding of him and his art. I miss you, Starman.

One of the easiest 5* on this list. There's too much to say about how good this album is - it's still absolutely unbelievable 10 years on that he released an album this great and died two days later. (Writing this 10 years to the day between the release and his death)

creepy and unsettling to be honest and the vocals weren’t it

Probably my least favorite Bowie album I’ve ever heard.

I think its great that he got to make this but it is a private dance

A non-traditional sound for Bowie - very bass-driven with synth beats. It was enjoyable but did not stand out.

muy divertido

No me esperaba que fuera rock progresivo. Hay cosas interesantes for sure, pero buen turret.

It's fine as late-career albums go. 'Lazarus' is quite good prog rock and the real highlight for me is 'Girl loves me', with its strange vocal tricks and lyrics. The rest I find clumsy, like how several tracks sound like 80s TV music, especially the closing track. This really clashes with the sombre tone. I'd take Bowie's 'Station to station' or 'Scary monsters' over this record any day

A distinct, discordant, unsettling overtone permeates. Bowie's voice is ghostlike and haunting. I really like it.

hornier than i expected (perhaps I am stupid) i like how "large scale" some of the songs feel

Terrible

Ruined my day. Made me temporarily fall out of love with music.

It was ok

Sad he had to go

I had heard the title song in isolation and didn't care for it (rhyming gangster with star??) In context it makes sense Great album

A chameleonic genius to the very end.

Found this one to be a little too much for me. Overall produced and not as good as some of Bowie’s earlier work. At least it took a chance. 2/5 Won’t listen again

OH MY GODDODDD BOWIE BEST EVER I LOVE I LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVEL OVE LOVE LOVE Jesus so gooddddd

Great star

Sorry David - this was not good

I remember my French teacher in secondary school playing Life on Mars in our lesson just after Bowie died, and I wasn't massively familiar with him. I had probably heard the hits, and knew his look on Aladdin Sane, but I wasn't a massive muso yet. I did listen to a few of his songs on repeat on Youtube (when I was 15 in early 2016) (this was before I listened to full albums on streaming services or physical media) -- I think Starman, Life on Mars, Ashes to Ashes and Lazarus from this album. I couldn't quite appreciate the decades of music leading up to this final swan song like people who had spent decades listening to him, but I loved the songs. It wasn't until years later that I "got into" Bowie along with many other Rock icons, listening to discographies, reading and watching documentaries etc. This made Blackstar hit much harder than before, and I remember early January last year (2024) being totally immersed in Bowie between his birthday and the day he died, something I repeated this year. The context does make this album more powerful, but it is also a brilliant jazzy art rock album. However you want to label it, it sounds great. I'm writing this review a few days after David Lynch died, an artist I became much more familiar with in the last couple of years before his passing, and whose death really hit me. We need to cherish our weird Davids, we've lost Bowie, Berman and now Lynch, now we've just got Byrne and Cronenberg (sorry if I'm forgetting, or not aware of any other cool weird dudes named David). I've had a run of albums I already know and love in the past few days, it would be cool to discover another great new artist through this generator soon (Stereolab is the totally new to me band I discovered through here and listened to most so far). The second I saw this album come up, I knew my score would be 5 (black) stars. Like David Bowie, I want to stay up to date with and open-minded about new music until the end, and maybe have an album I've never heard of win me over to 5 stars. The next album I get will probably be shit, though.

This is one of my favorite albums of all time. It is incredible how amazing it is, one of David Bowie's greatest albums and achievements, and even though he was gone too soon, it is equally amazing that it was his last. From beginning to end, it is impactful with incredible depth of emotion, composition, and lyrics.

Older Bowie is more my style

Where the fuck did Monday go? -> apt lyric because I'm listening to this on a deadbeat Monday which I'm subbing in as the weekend because I had rehearsals all day during the real weekend. Anyway. I got so into this. The murky, tense grooves of track 4 and 5 are deliciousss. His voice and delivery is perfection. Also at one point my headphones got out of sync and it still sounded good, just even more arty, which is surely the mark of a good song lol. And what a farewell. I Can't Give Everything Away didn't make me cry, instead it gave me a sense of satisfaction, of joy and pride about Bowie's life and what he did. Beautiful and dazzling creative to the end <3

You wouldn’t pay much attention to this if you didn’t know who it was.

Good enough

This album is otherworldly. Released just before Bowie died, it sounds as if he was already on the other side reaching back into our existence. The title track is brilliant and defies genre. Lazarus is devastating. What a parting gift from one of the best.

I think the cover art says it all. One star.

I find it a bit dull compared to older Bowie works. Not for me.

the last two songs saved this album

Godt album. Udgivet lige inden han døde. Art rock med jazzy sounds osv

Amazing for an old man

Liked the guitar in Lazarus.

Already Listened to this previously. Beautiful album with amazing instrumentation, and lyrics. Best song: I Cant Give Everything Away Runner Up: Lazarus

Not a big fan of this one. I certainly understand the significance of it all, but I enjoyed very little. Willling to revisit in the future.

Very good album. Touching in that it was his last, and he knew that when he made it 4/5

felt like I was at a party at a New York apartment that had really gorgeous big art and huge sofas and I’ve taken a pill and I’m coming up slowly and then it all went a bit weird and and then it just got really good and I was just moving my body and melting into the sofa.

Not a fan of this one. 2/5

Too weird. I can't connect to Bowie's sound. Sorry.

Favorite track: Lazarus other picks: blackstar, a girl loves me, i can't give everything away

50 years deep into his career, it is amazing that Bowie released what I consider to possibly be one of the top 5 albums of his career. Such a creative and singular sounding album. I'm not sure whether or not in a vacuum I would judge it as an instant classic based on quality, but we don't live in a vacuum and I do consider it a late career classic and a worthy final statement before his death.

eh

his swan song fr

I will not let sentiment sway me on this one. I love David Bowie (who doesn't?) and I understand this was his final album. Yup. Pulls at the heartstrings. Nevertheless, without being a jerk, I just didn't love it musically. I don't have to compare it to any other musician, I can say "in his catalog" and say this is not his best album. It is not a failure or anything bad, it is just sort of in the middle somewhere. It doesn't change the fact we lost a great PERSON when he died just because his last album isn't a knockout. So what?