Reviews (page 12 of 13)
2/5 Pretty short album but not my vibe, didn't really mesh with any song. Favorite Song: Fame
Once again, I don’t understand how Bowie attained the godlike status needed to have 9 albums on this list
This album was so ahead of its' time. Namely: the overuse of saxamaphones that occurred in the 80s. :-).... Honestly pretty low on the Bowie list to my ears.
Ufattelig tamt til å bli blåst opp så voldsomt av så mange. Er nok ikke gammel nok.
Too much bloody saxophone for my liking, but Fame is funky. Not sure why we should celebrate the descent of something amazing into something trying to be soul and funk but mostly failing apart from one interesting edgy song
I feel like this has historical significance that I don’t understand
не мое но не прям плохо
This one didn't click for me. This is the second David Bowie album that I've listened to, and I'm starting to realize that he might not be for me. I liked some of the instrumentals, but nothing really stood out to me. I'm also not of fan of his vocals. It's a little weird and I just don't vibe with it.
Fame is the only redeeming song for me on this album. Not a fan of the Philly solo on this album.
Just David Bowie being annoying, as per. I don't really get why people love this guy so much
Not much of anything in between the first and last track
No wonder he did the Berlin trilogy after this. It's not that this is bad, but it's definitely unsatisfying. It's not as good as the music it's borrowing from and it feels kind of...off? Like Bowie doesn't belong here. He's not bad, but he's misplaced, like it's a mashup. I can't get past that. Fame is rightly the most popular song off this because it's the one that feels like Bowie actually belongs on. Cocaine is a hell of a drug.
I can't help but feel like I'm bound by some unspoken queer oath to love all David Bowie... but this album isn't it for me. This feels like he's throwing musical textures at the wall to see what sticks. His voice is nimble, the guitars are funky, but it's kind of a mess - and not even a hot one. Best song: Fame.
No fue muy de agrado, para escuchar de fondo esta bien pero no hubo una canción que hiciera que volteara y pusiera toda mi atención
There are far better Bowie albums than this, how this on the top 1,000!
Win sounded like i'm going home from rocky horror, the whole album realy, definitely a big influence what with david bowie being the reason there's gender markers on id's. across the universe cover was straight up bad,
i dont like bowie (personal don't get offended pls)
I don't like David Bowie, I don't care.
hmm. it's okay. not my favorite bowie.
Middling.
Honestly Bowie is the worst part of this album. The band and backing vocalists (Ava Cherry, Luther Vandross, and Robin Clark) are great and the highlight of this album. It's pretty bad otherwise.
Bowie decides to suddenly go R and B and soul pop? It's ok and has some decent tunes but it's not the Bowie I want to hear.
Hey look! A David Bowie album! A couple good songs and a bunch of meh. Was on the fence as far as 2 or 3 stars, and Across The Universe pushed it to a 2. Jesus, don't do a cover if you're just gonna fuck it up. Can't wait for more Bowie.
This is my 9th Bowie album on the list, and enough is enough. He’s a bit overrated in my opinion, and the cover of ‘Across the Universe’ was pretty awful. ‘Fame’ was the hit here, but by the time I arrived at that track I was pretty over it.
Holy moly, NOT my favourite Bowie era! Pretty bland funk for the most part, few decent parts. And the Across the Universe cover sounds like someone parodying Bowie singing
young americans is a banger but the rest of it is kinda boring although probably the best bowie album i’ve had yet….. and i still have six to go 😩 2.5
Wait...at first, I thought I accidentally turned on a different YouTube video. I was thinking "why do I hear a black soul singer?", and then when I glanced down at my phone, I realized, to my amazement, I had a David Bowie album playing. This was a fun little experiment for Bowie, but he's better off as a Blackstar, and rockstar named Ziggy. (My album yesterday turned 40 years old today, and this album turns 50 years old in two days; it's March Madness). Favorite Track: "Fame".
my least favorite David Bowie era - plastic for a reason...
Better than Coldplay
meh.
Very strong opener, very strong closer. The rest of it is completely forgettable saxophone noodling with a crap beatles cover.
Me ilusioné cuando vi que el álbum tiraba más al R&B y al soul porque es la música que más me gusta pero creo que sigue teniendo demasiada influencia del rock. No termina siendo de mi gusto aunque hay canciones bastante buenas
Ничем не отличается от предыдущих альбомов Bowie
2.5/5 While I do like David Bowie this is not my favorite by him. Although the song fame is a banger
Upon seeing all of Bowie's albums considered in this publication, this is by my count clearly the weakest. I would much rather have 'Scary Monsters' but as an album in the better half of the artist's discography it remains a really enjoyable record. 7/10 [DROP]
It might have been great at the time but seems flat now.
It's ok but not my taste
First time I’ve ever listened to Bowie. Wish it was more of what he was known for and not the very blue-eyed, plastic soul sound that this album has. “Fame” was alright, wasn’t feeling the rest of it.
To be completely honest, this was a pretty bland record. I only care for Somebody Up There Likes Me, and Who Can I Be Now?
I am not a David Bowie fan. I hope there aren’t anymore albums. I’ve had 3 so far. I’m tired.
bastante flojo, estilo ochentero melodico
Young Americans is a good star but this process has made me wary of Bowie album and the fact that the other recognisable track bookends the album is slightly concerning. Win lacks the punch or jollity of the opener and it feels like the momentum is sucked out the album. Fascination continues this trend despite a far more upbeat chorus. It just sounds very dated. Right applied a similar laid back sax laden approach. This is not the Bowie I want. Same with Somebody up there likes me. Christ! Across the Universe is my favourite Beatles track and Bowie’s version is a crime against humanity. Can you hear is equally disappointing, before we finally teach Fame. Fame is a great track and cements my increasing virw that save for a couple of exceptions Bowie was very much a singles artist. I guess in the age of cassette putting the only two good tracks first and ladt meant you could listen to the first one and the flip it over with minimal rewinding or forwarding.
I've had a surprisingly patchy record with Bowie albums so far, so I wasn't sure how Bowie no: 4 would go... I like the opening track (despite it repeating itself for what felt like ages) - the Sgt Pepper reference always seems extremely out of place though. I also liked the closing track, and other big hit, Fame because of its general funkiness. As for everything in the middle: it was just really dull? I am still taken aback at how little I like Bowie over full albums, when I'd absolutely eat up a greatest hits album. This is getting a 2, and that feels generous. 2/5
Bowie's worst album
I'm bored as hell, honestly. At least he has a nice voice, but this feels blank.
Not for me
Not my genree I expected more knowing it was Bowie
did not spark much in me
This album is obviously Bowie trying something new. The results are middling. But the album is bookeneded with radio hits that are pretty good.
he’s rlly talented but not my style!
not a david bowie fan sorry
Favorite song was across the universe and fame. Actually think I've heard across the universe, and have definitely heard fame. Probably not an album I'd listen to again but would listen to these 2 songs again
T1 this is a gospel song. Like the Beatles reference at 4:00. T5 lovely sax reprise T6 Speaking of Beatles references T7 the Luther vandross really makes this Bowie record into a Philly special soul album T8 we got a James brown sample to start off and I’ve been told that this was a collaborative composition with Lennon, not just a vocal feature.
groovy little start, but I was not particularly intrigued or stimulated by this album.
Ok... for a white guy taking and remaking black people music
It's not Bowie at his best, is it? It's fine, it's perfectly listenable but certainly not his best work. Bowie reinvented himself constantly, and for this particular album I don't think it worked. I'd rather listen to real soul music, or listen to good Bowie music. I don't need him doing a weak attempt at the genre. This album is just okay, there are a few good songs but nothing truly exciting. When we're trying to showcase the best or most important music ever made, this just isn't it.
Bowie's my guy, but I was not a big fan of his soul period. It's missing the intensity of the better soul artists of the period, and the musical execution just feels too generic to stand out. "Fame" is one of Bowie's emptiest hits and "Young Americans" is interesting more for it's lyrics than music. Everything else sounds like an overblown version of music Bowie was fascinated with at the time (including the cover of "Across the Universe," one of the worst things he ever recorded).
-1 for that across the universe cover
Fame did a lot of heavy lifting for this rating. I'm at the point where I think people are trolling me when they wax poetic about Bowie.
It gets kinda boring
Bestes Lied: Fame
Soulful, rock, i liked the instruments used, bouncy feel to it. What i imagine people in the 70’s were vibing to at a listening bar. I liked how the album started, but towards the end the sound/vibe changed a bit to more rock.
David Bowie - Young Americans 1. Young Americans - not really my thing, too “optimistic”. But the sound production, or what’s it called, is very versatile and interesting, you can clearly hear the saxophone, the drums, etc. - that’s cool. So I guess for me it’s like 3.5/10 2. Win - 3/10, the same about the production, but not my style at all 3. Fascination - the beginning really caught my attention, that percussion and guitar🤌🏻 But then in turned to the “too optimistic” level😔 3.5/10 4. Right - the beginning was quite calm and I liked that, but something happened after 1min and…☹️ 3/10 5. Somebody Up There Likes Me - the saxophone is perfect 🤩…. And unfortunately that’s all I can say 3/10 6. Across the Universe - 2/10 7. Can You Hear Me - Boring 3/10 8. Fame - I had hope at the beginning but… it’s a no for me 2/10 I’m sorry Bowie fans, but I guess it’s just not my type of music😔
Young Americans, Fame, who can I be now and Can you hear me now are the best tracks - I didn’t love the rest as much.
This is just a rough album to listen to. Bowie is clearly struggling to find his new voice, and he’s also clearly gakked out of his brain on cocaine. Somehow, at the peak of his heroin days, he was still more coherent than on this album. You can hear him transforming into his Berlin-era Martian chanteuse phase, but it’s too glam to be cabaret; too cabaret to be glam; and too coked out to be very good. A real bummer all told.
Don't think it was very good. Too repetitive and just made me think of the "doing your mom" meme. I guess the first song was better, and it was still al lekker 70s vibe. Just don't get the hype.
Young Americans has some kick, everything else forgettable.
A classic Bowie album that blends rock, funk, and R&B, as well as 80s pop sounds that would not be popular for another 5-10 years after this album released, all with Bowie's unique flair. It's hard to listen to some of these songs and not want to dance. Aside from Bowie himself, the background vocals and saxophone are the real heroes on the album. As with a lot of Bowie's work, some of the songs go on a bit too long, but in the case of songs like Young Americans, it's catchy enough you just don't care. Pink Floyd's Wish You Were Here came out the same year, and the song Win definitely has some similar vibes with smooth R&B verses and a punchy 5/4 time chorus. Across the Universe also gives Pink Floyd vibes, but more Time than Money. Bits of the album drag a little bit, but the vocals always shine through. Fame was way ahead of it's time, in that music would not sound that bad again until the 80s, combined with the worst meandering 70s funk has to offer. Who Can I Be Now closes the album out nicely, with a ballad in the same vein as legendary songs like Heroes or Changes. This album is a classic for a reason, and other less talented artists would spend many years trying to achieve what Bowie does on this album.
Great backing music. Vocals at times are odd. Fame is the real saving grace. Solid 2.5.
Standouts win and fame. I’m trying to do this without pre conceived opinions( which is impossible for someone as ubiquitous as Bowie) the parts of this album I enjoyed were funky and weird and catchy. I found a lot of the middle boring. I kind of really hate the Beatles cover
I have mixed feelings about David Bowie. He's solid but good grief we're 150 albums into this and this is like Bowie album number five. I really like his Berlin period and that swan song was pretty phenomenal but, and I know this is sacrilegious, I find most of his stuff to be pretty underwhelming and boring and this doesn't prove to be an exception to that rule. Absolutely hideous cover of Across the Universe.
Not my favorite Bowie, it’s a little faux in the soul department. I like the cover, and there is some good material here, but it doesn’t shine like his glam rock.
"Young Americans" and "Fame" are standout tracks, but those two are the only ones that have any distinct sonic character. The rest of the tracks are generic soul and R&B backing tracks with not-particularly-interesting vocal melodies from Bowie. (The less said about the ill-advised cover of "Across The Universe" the better.)
More Bowie. I could never deny the craftsmanship of Bowie's music, but I'm just not that into him (I think mostly due to his singing style).
One of my least favourite Bowie albums. It always felt pedestrian. It’s still Bowie, so points for musicianship. Hate hate HATE the cover of Across the Universe. Gotta rate this a 2/5.
2.75
Sorry David. You're just not for me.
Overall not too bad. Don't care for his voice too much but I really like the experimentation with sounds and instrumentation. Especially the synth that is killer in a lot of the songs.
Not my favourite Bowie album. I don't mind the style, I just think the material is a little below par, apart from the singles. Decent in places, but not enough to match his best work - this is more "interesting" than "enjoyable" to be honest.
souly
Ugh, definitely not one of his finer works and certainly not a personal favourite of mine. There's a few highlights (Fame is obviously a great song) but overall it left me a little cold. If you want soul music there's better options. The cover of Across the Universe just felt tacked on. I can't give it a great score just because it's Bowie - it's probably a 2.5 at best.
everyone seems to love Bowie, and I definitely don't dislike his music, but this album...didn't have anything memorable on it :/
I can't get behind this Bowie hype. Each time I get one of his albums, I'm underwhelmed 2/3
This must be what Bowie sounds like to people who hate Bowie.
Real roller coaster ride there. Some good tracks that cannot overcome the boat anchor that is across the universe cover
Didn’t know what to expect. It was decent but really only one or two songs I enjoyed.
This is the first Bowie album I've listened to. I found Bowie's vocals unpleasantly chaotic and also very grating (which he attributed to his heavy cocaine use during this part of his career). His forced and limited vocal range does not lend itself well to Black soul, and this is especially clear when contrasted with Luther Vandross' sublime backup vocals. The accompaniment, especially Carlos Alomar's funky guitar, was great, but its ease contrasted with Bowie's apparent unease in this genre was too disorienting for this album to be any good. When Bowie leaned more into rock/funk I didn't mind it at all, and I did enjoy "Fame."
One or two good songs but the rest didn't really stand out. The "Across the universe" cover was terrible and unnecessary
Starts and ends strong. Everything in the middle is a hard pass.
I like the soul and funk elements of the music but feel as though the album overall misses the mark. Great messaging on several songs which I appreciate. Fame is the Hit and it’s last. Not a fan.
2:Bowie albums in a row and again this doesn't really hit for me with only the title track and "Fame" standing out
I don't really like it.
I get that it’s good but this one bored me such a lot.
Fun, theatrical, very 70s. Lotta sax. Not my favourite bowie period.
Wish I could give this two and a half stars - I respect the hell out of Bowie but as many times as I try, his stuff just isn't for me. Other than the well known songs, much of the albums just kinda falls into the background.
HOnestly not a huge fan of this one. Kinda a mess tonally, not really sure what's going on in it. Maybe just not my kind of music but really don't care for this, his voice doesnt work that well on this sorta backing track.
Totally a 70s “rock” album. Everything sounds like “Young American” or “Fame”. Meh.
Young Americans is a great song, rest of the album not so much.
Eh. Fame is the main reason to listen to this album. Other than that skip it.
David Bowie being a bit funky. A very boring album for me.
Bowie trying his best to push the boundaries and create a new type of sophistication w structures and layers. Not working for me.
Maybe I just don't like music
Couple good tracks. The rest, meh
Not my favourite Bowie record. Too much sax and back up singers. A few real solid jams though. Right is borderline ATJ territory for me.
Sounds very 80s for 75. Couple songs on there
Listenable but doesn't do much for me
I'm a fan of Bowie's. And I appreciate that some people really love his pseudo-soul period. I really don't. Besides his two mid-80s albums, this is the album out of his catalogue that could most easily do without. Including the rather unnecessary Across The Universe cover in which Bowie sounds like a parody of himself. The one redeeming song is the pleasantly funky Fame at the end.
Not my jam
Not my cup of tea. I love 80s music but this was a little too ballads-y for me.
I only made it two or three songs in. I appreciate that it was adventurous but it wasn’t for me
I thought Bowie was supposed to be good. This was awful.
Odd variety of vibes, not my style
Man, I did not mesh with this album much at all. From the dated sound to the backing choirs, to even Bowies exaggerated vocal style, Young Americans didn't really work for me. Conceptually, I get it, but in practice I don't love it. The album has a saxy, soulful vibe that I associate with seeing 70s sitcom reruns on TV Land at my grandparents house. It gives me an eerie uncanny feeling (I don't know why) but that's the vibe I had for my listen. Standouts were "Across the Universe" - didn't love the cover as a whole but had some good parts - and "Fame" This is my least favorite Bowie album so far. It's just kind of a snoozefest and I couldn't get really into. 2/5
Oj vilken besvikelse. Väldigt slätstruket. Tycker inte det finns nån låt som sticker ut..möjligen fame som är lite intressant. Men det är överlag en väldigt tråkig skiva. Zzz.
Smooth sax elevator music is not for me.
Wait, this was AFTER Aladdin Sane? What the actual fuck
Pretty forgettable. Not one of the big Bowie albums. I only knew the title track.
+2 for title track and fame
Some covers had grit near the start but a lot of this just felt unessesary.
I liked a song on here.
I like a lot of Bowie songs, but none of them are on this album. "Young Americans" is okay, but it's the best of the bunch.
I appreciate Bowie as one of the greats of all time, but I also found I didn't think much of this. Just didn't interest me, but not bad by any means.
Not my favorite Bowie album. I like some of the auxiliary instruments, some cool organs in the mix. But not my fav.
Fame was the only good song on this one. 2/5
Esquecível! Com tantos discos maravilhosos de Bowie, não vale a pena gastar tempo com este. Muito americanizado: guitarras funkeadas, backing vocals soul music e sax brega de David Sanborn.
I cared to listen to two songs.
Tässä bowiessa on soulia ja rnb elementtejä. Mielestäni parempaakin Bowieta on, tämänkin kuitenkin läpi kuunteli.
Another David Bowie album. While he has a unique voice this album didn't appeal to me.
Nowhere near his best
this is the wandering in the desert period of Bowie for me. listening to it again for the first time in quite some time it's got some good stuff on it, it's just not i want or expect from Bowie and that's more my problem than his
Not really sure why this exists or is on this list, I am not a David Bowie fan nor have I ever purposefully listened to a David Bowie song or album before, but I am certain he has better records. I really liked the first song and was really expecting the quality to keep up since the album was on the list of greatest albums ever but instead it got worse and worse until he did one of the world's worst Beatles covers. Progressively more and more atonal and annoying every song. The fuck is wrong with this guy? I'm getting pissed off just typing this. Also wasn't he a pedophile? Anyway I hope he dies soon *checks notes* oh goodie! Fav song: Young Americans (which I actually like for the record)
Soul music isn't really my thing, but definitely an innovative album
I don’t know. This isn’t even a top five album for him. As a huge Bowie fan, this isn’t one I’d even recommend.
Okay. It's fine. I liked Stations to Stations or whatever lots more. The only song I really enjoyed was Fame, but even that wasn't like "wow revolutionary." It was ok. Maybe a high 2.
Quirky soul beats, fancy vocals. Better than the glam Bowie
Bowie is way over represented on this list. To me he’s always been more flash than substance with his various eras/personas. I can get on board with “Fame” but the rest leaves me cold. “Across The Universe” was horrible.
I'm not going to repeat myself again, so I will refer the reader to my several previous entries regarding the music of David Bowie.
2,5
This man had the delivery of a rewound cassette.
5eme album de DB proposé par le générateur. Cet album est très décevant par rapport aux précédents ('Low', Aladdin Sane', 'Hunky Dory' et 'Ziggy Stardust'). L'esprit rock des albums plus anciens est complètement abandonné pour un R&B qui présente peu d’intérêt pour moi. Ou est passée sa créativité ? L'album n'est pas désagréable à écouter (sauf 'Somebody Up There Likes Me' interminable ...), mais je n'y ai rien trouvé à retenir. =>2/5
Not my favorite Bowie album.
Unlikely to ever listen to any of the songs ever again 2/5.
I don't know. It's ok. Not great by any means. There is some weird fascination with Bowie on this list, Do we really need to hear 9 different albums from him when we can't even get a single Sublime album? Fame is my favorite off this one and will be going on the 1001 playlist. ~ 2 Stars
Not sure what I was expecting here, but it definitely wasn't a head-on funk/soul effort with some songs I might hear on a disco floor. I'm guessing this album had a lot more impact when it was released and Bowie was still known for Ziggy Stardust-type productions than it does in out-of-context listening here. As it is, there are some solid tracks that show Bowie at his best. Unfortunately, there are also plenty of tracks that are rather unimpressive. I guess I have to give him credit for taking on a new genre and style, but I can also criticize that effort for its faults. I can't help but think 90% of the album would've been better had an actual soul singer been performing instead of Bowie. I'm sure the fact that it was Bowie is what made it popular, though. The strongest songs are the ones I've heard before- Young Americans and Fame. The rest ranged from fine to weak. And what was that Beatles cover? It wasn't awful, just weird. Overall: 2.5/5
It's a Soul album from Bowie! Mostly it's surprisingly Sax forward in a way that I don't think works entirely. I get the mixed reviews. Musically "Right" is pretty fun and funky, as-is "Fame" (best track on the album for me) and the title track is a single for sure; but while there's a cohesive vision, for me it ends up being a great artist producing a mediocre soul album. I take the point about its influence on white artists collaborating actively with Black musicians, but I don't think I'll listen to it again.
Pretty dull, I expected more
Nothing really caught my attention with this one.
title track holds up, the rest is mostly fine. but that across the universe cover is a war crime.
C'est bien, mais je pense que ce n'est pas mon style de musique. En première écoute j'y donnerai un 5/10
I liked fame and are you listening, but overall just not a fan
Bowie has secret normie chops but I prefer him a little weirder.
I've tried but I don't think I'll ever like David Bowie. Just not my thing
Meh!
I guess I’m only a David Bowie hits kind of guy. Even the cover of across the universe was much worse than the original. Was hoping I would like it more.
Couple good songs but a lot of not good songs. 2 stars.
Not my scene
Didn't really click for me. I didn't know Fascination though, warra tune
Feels weird giving Bowie a 2
I enjoyed it but nothing is really go back to and listen again. Points are more for being David Bowie
Nothing special.
està bé, m'esperava més
You can definitively tell he was inspired by soul and funk for this album, but the execution isn’t great in my opinion. I think Bowie has much better albums :) the only track that was genuinely funky was Fame (which is amazing)
Somebody, please make it stop. It’s just too much Bowie. There are NINE David Bowie albums on this list, more than any other artist, but good news! You can trade out FIVE of them for albums of your choice. Think of it like taking a mental health day at school, or a personal day at work. Enjoy some of your favorite music today - whatever you choose - since this is not among the four Bowie albums you actually need to hear before you die. It has a couple hits, and “Young Americans” is a good one, but this is not an essential album. No, it is not.
I feel like Bowie just gets a pass. He does have some great albums, and he is great - he even can create hits upon demand... none of all that is evident on this album. Yes, Bowie, you are great. This album is the like the unrelated jobs you had that you only keep on your resume to avoid uncomfortable time gaps in your timeline.
A bit bland. 2/5
this is pretty middling compared to the rest of bowie's catalog for me. i'm tempted to give it a 1 for the awful across the universe cover
interesting, I love the classics on this album, but this isn’t bowie to me. feels like bowie trying on a style that is not his, and feels out of place. I can appreciate him branching out, trying on soul and funk, but I need him in glam.
station to station is a better version of this imo
If you are looking for a classic 70s sound that is stereotypical of the vibe of the decade and psychedelic sound, this album fits. Not my cup of tea.
A thoroughly unimpressive rendition of other soul/funk/R&B of the time. Most of the tracks are forgettable other than the singles (which really aren't that good). Not his best work. 2/5
Starts strong and finishes with a bang! The Beatles cover is unnecessary and frankly bad. Right is absolutely amazing and a highlight of the album. Not his best work but always worth a spin!!
Meh, wasn't super memorable, no standout songs apart from maybe young American
I’ll be honest… I found this kinda boring. I’m usually the last to make a problem out of messy production or structures but I didn’t see any of these songs really going anywhere, just kinda fucking about. Besides a strong opener and closer, I just didn’t find this all that interesting.
It's incredible to me how Bowie can be such a great musician with incredible albums and at the same time have some pretty mid ones too. Unfortunately Young Americans falls under the last category for me. It's just not all that. Some good tracks weren't enough to change the overall feeling of the album.
was ok but why do all these albums kinda sound similar to each other
This gets an extra star because the title track and Fame are fantastic, but the rest of it is exceptionally mediocre. I would have preferred an actual authentic soul album to be included here instead (even though it's not my favourite genre personally). Never really got the appeal of this one, even though Bowie is one of my favourite artists.
Even though I’m a fan of David Bowie, I didn’t like this album.
sem sal e demasiadamente longo, a primeira e última são as únicas que marcaram e, ainda assim, sinto que vou lembrar de nada
Not horrible, just boring as hell
probably good if you like the genre but I don't
Not a big Bowie fan but appreciate his immense contribution to modern music. This is a good example of why I don’t go overboard on Bowie. Not one song on here which I like. That includes the couple of big hit singles. Would like to hear where big Bowie fans would place this album on their all time list. I suspect it won’t be anywhere near the top. Certainly lacks a lot for me. 2/5 4/12/24
Not this bloody guy again. It’s been far too soon since the last instalment of Britain’s most overhyped performer.
Young Amaricans and Fame are hits. The rest sounds like Pink Floyd backed by the SNL house band. Not in a good way.
Aaah de wonderlijke transitie van glam Bowie naar coked out, soul Bowie. Dit album lijkt altijd out of place in zijn discografie tot 1980, waar je toch vooral denkt aan zijn buitenaardse glam werk en eigenzinnige art/krautrock (Berlin bowie). Maar dit was naast een afscheid van zijn spacey alter ego Ziggy ook een waar charme offensief om de harten in de USA te veroveren. Plastic soul noemde hij het zelf, en met die zelfspot moet je ook naar dit album luisteren denk ik. Je kunt het niet echt een serieuze poging noemen de legacy van Motown te herschrijven, al hoor je wel overal elementen die rechtstreeks uit Marvin Gaye's, Stevie Wonder's en Isaac Hayes' werk lijken te komen. Maar ja, de (plastic) soul is er misschien, maar je mist wel een beetje heart. Met name in die cover van 'Across the Universe', die hij in zijn 'serieuze' Ziggy-jaren fantastisch had kunnen brengen. Sterker nog, het is een song die op zijn lijf geschreven was. Nu, in zijn drugged-out staat, is het een volledig misplaatste song. Wat een misbaksel. Maar er zijn - ondanks dat ik het album gewoon niet al te serieus neem - ook wel echt wat vintage David Bowie songs te vinden. De afsluiter en vooral de opener zijn ware earworms. De achtergrondzang op 'Young Americans' laat het wel degelijk soulful klinken, en de subtiele funk in 'Fame' is niet over de top. Het middenstuk is ook nog wel te pruimen, met de goeie R&B jam 'Right' en de saxofoonballad 'Somebody Up There Likes Me'. Die tweede gaat wel een minuut of 2 te lang door. Al met al best een geinige plaat en sfeermaker voor de feestdagen, bijvoorbeeld, maar nauwelijks echt serieus te nemen in de monumentale discografie van de beste man. 6/10 Highlights: Young Americans Fame Right
It sounds fine, but it isn't my thing. 2/5
Didn't like this Bowie album much, thought the general sound was a bit more pedestrian for his usual weird standards. Fame might have been the best song and I didn't like it all that much. The rest of them weren't terrible but didn't really go anywhere interesting. Not awful but not for me.
Maybe I just don't like David Bowie? I only know him from 'Life on Mars' and 'Under Pressure'. This was alright.
It’s alright. 8 or 9 Bowie albums on here, this is one of the ones I’d get rid of. I’d rather just listen to Sly and the Family Stone.
Definitely not my favorite Bowie album
I never liked the song "Young Americans". "Fame" is the only real standout on this album. I also like "Win" quite a bit. While the other songs weren't bad, they were pretty bland and forgettable. I'm really not sure why, of all his albums, this one made the list.
David Bowie might have the widdest range of good to bad music. His hits are HITS, but every other song is absolute garbage
2.5☆/5 10.16.2024
Definitely the least interesting Bowie album I've heard so far... Feels more generic that a lot of his other stuff. The two hits off this album, fame and young americans, I do think are the best two songs and probably the only ones I would come back to. The rest of it was just meh
Young Americans and Fame rock. And while I understand the significance of Bowies popularity and evolutions and use of "black music", I just cant help being bored or uninterested in most of his music.
David Bowie war noch nie mein Favorit und mit diesem Album bestätigt er wieso. Zu Funky, zu wenig hörbar. Erstes Lied kennt man und geht noch, Rest gar nicht.
I didn’t really like this one compared to the other albums of his we’ve had do far.
Just ok
Young Americans Didn’t know Bowie got into soul and R&B. So that threw me off. But I also do not know a lot by Bowie aside from Ziggy Stardust and Hunky Dory. I’ve never really gotten into his stuff. Found it to be overrated and uninteresting. This isn’t any different.
Aí a lista deu uma intricada com dois discos do Bowie. Ainda prefiro as versões das músicas deles por outros, e nesse o contrário foi bem decepcionante com a cover dos Beatles.
I like Ziggy Stardust, but this one fell a little flat for me.
Really boring, was relieved when it ended.
Uprising dramatic american. 2/10
Really just the two big hits- Young Americans and Fame. The rest are mediocre.
Young Americans is a classic. It makes me happy when I hear it. Never loved Fame. The rest was just ok.
Have not aged well at all.
Ok hear me out, maybe not every David Bowie album needs to be on this list. Case in point, this album. If you want an idea of how not great this is just check out his cover of Across the Universe, it’s a hot mess. I genuinely like a lot of David Bowie’s music but this album is just not it.
Not too much a fan, sort of slow like the Beatles but doesn’t sound as good. Not as good as labyrinth David Bowie which I have heard
As a longtime Bowie fan, I said it before, and I'm going to say it again: He should've just stuck with glam rock.
Ok
Fatiguing and paper thin, what a winning combo. Bowie's "Across the Universe" pretty well encapsulates everything I don't like about him.
I think I don’t love Bowie
A bankable title track followed by lots and lots of generic 70's sounds that could have been by anyone except for Bowie's distinctive vocal, which mostly seems secondary to his backing singers. Shall we just agree that this isn't his finest work, and move on?
The hits are good. The Beatles cover... woof. Loses a star for that.
2 - I don’t feel this as much as some of his more famous works, less groovy and feels more dated
Look, I appreciate the attempt at funk or whatever, but, I dunno, it comes across as really smarmy. It's got that "Baker Street" style saxophone over everything. I was going to give it three stars until the cover of "Across the Universe" came on. Yuk! "Fame" is an absolute corker though, and I want to reinstate the three stars for that, but it would give the impression that I might listen to this album again, which I don't really intend to. Fame, yes. Album, no.
I get that David Bowie is very influential, but I never got into his music. There is something I really don't like at all. I don't know what and why.
One of Bowie's many unfortunate throwaway albums for a paycheck. One or two good songs and a slog of nearly anonymous outdated trends that are as tacky today as greasy pompadours.
As far as Bowie albums go, it's not my favorite, but it's still interesting.
I'd describe his voice as drunken or bored - it depends on the song. The only song I liked a bit is "Fame".
Couldn't finish. Started OK but felt like the same song.
..
Album #2 Full disclosure, I’ve never actually listened to much David Bowie before, glam rock was never really on my radar. This is not the best representation of Bowie, but let’s see what his take on funk and soul is like. Always interesting for a non-American to be singing about Americans. [Young Americans] is kinda fun ngl, and a good start to the album. It’s a vibe. [Win] starts and what strikes me is just how good the musicality is (impressive session artistes here). And then Bowie’s semi talking semi warbling come on….perhaps it’s just me, I don’t get Bowie’s voice. Perhaps this album isn’t the right representation, I’ll have to go listen to his older stuff. Ah, this was his US crossover effort that explains the album title. The [Fascination] with the funk sound is very intriguing. Speaking of, the bass line in this is fantastic. I enjoy funk, but this seems….insincere? Also every time Bowie’s voice comes on I feel like it’s someone doing a jokey karaoke rendition. [Right] brings in a funk staple, the trumpet/saxophone. Really like this number. Has Prince vibes. Bass line is sublime. Considering his career, Bowie’s absolutely right in saying that [Somebody Up There Likes Me]. Another strong saxophone based intro, that I wish would go longer. Actually scratch that, somewhere along the chorus the vocals became….good? Ironically, the cover of the Beatles’ [Across the Universe] sounds most like the Bowie I’m familiar with. I’ll need to pay a listen to the original, but in a vacuum this is definitely one of the songs in this album. No, I didn’t miss a word there. I cannot stress enough how enjoyable the musicality of this album is, with [Can You Hear Me] starting with an almost ethereal drum, before going into a very RnB style ballad (though it sounds like it’s sung but a punk rock bands lead singer. Or Weird Al. It’s almost caricature, perhaps satire. Another song that reminds me very VERY strongly of Prince, the riff of [Fame] is very familiar. Probably the best song in this album, so Bowie clearly saved the best for last. I understand the importance of this album in helping to build the Bowie mythos, so that probably makes it deserve at least 1 listen. Would I reach for this record again? Very honestly no. If I want to listen Bowie, it means I want to listen to Bowie, and not Bowie trying to channel his inner Prince. There are better funk albums out there if I want my funk fix. 2/5
Ehh not super into it. The change in style with this album was not for the better in my opinion. The instrumentals are interesting at times but overall a snoozer.
David Bowie's Young Americans is an overindulgent album marred by excessive saxophone use. The title track starts strong, but the album soon loses focus. Songs like Win and Fascination are burdened by jazzy instrumentation that overshadows Bowie's vocals. Although the harmonies add richness, they can't save the album from its bloated sound. The production is sleek but feels superficial. Fame, co-written with John Lennon, is a standout with its funky groove and sharp lyrics. However, much of the album lacks cohesion, wandering through genres without clear direction. The ambitious blend of soul, funk, and rock results in a mixed bag of tracks, some memorable and others forgettable. NUMBER OF BANGERS - 1 STAND OUT TRACK - Young Americans
I find this to be one of Bowie’s less interesting and necessary albums. It’s got a couple of good songs (Fame and Young Americans are great), but overall I just don’t find this as particularly stimulating, notable, or memorable. It feels less inspired than other albums. The hooks don’t wiggle into my brain. Bowie’s vocal performances are still strong, just not impressed with the album as a whole.
Fame and Young Americans are all timers
I don’t really like Young Americans. It falls pretty flat as a soul-type song. Win is also pretty meh to me. I like Fascination a little more, but not by much. I’m not sure Bowie is really suited to this genre - I like his rock a lot better. Right is a little better again, and again with Somebody Up There Likes Me. But I can’t help but feel that these songs would be better with a big bombastic soul vocalist instead of Bowie. Across the Universe is meh to me but I can see people having fun singing along to it. It really drags on for me, I don’t think it needed to be 4+ mins long. I can see Can You Hear Me as a soundtrack song in a sad romantic scene in an old movie. I think it works in that context but still doesn’t fully stand on its own for me. That said, I do think it’s the best song of the album so far. Fame - oh!! I actually know this one! This feels more Bowie to me; I think on a different album I would enjoy it well enough. I like the funky guitar riff and syncopated bass + drums. I wouldn’t seek it out but it’s easily the best song on the album. Who Can I Be Now? is okay but I don’t really vibe with it. It’s a pretty fun ending song for the album.
I’m sad to say I don’t seem to like David Bowe
The first of a million Bowie albums in this project. And it’s soul, average soul, with way too long songs and an awful Beatles cover. The title track is the only decent song here
Obviously there are some true classics on this album, and I really enjoy it, but I honestly don't feel any special affinity for it.
Puh. Nee. Langweilig.
A string of mid songs, closed out by one quite good song (Fame), does not an essential album make.
Somehow still never appealed to me, David Bowie. R&B I normally like, but this is something slightly different.
Scant history with Bowie: I've listened to Ziggy Stardust a couple of times, been exposed to some of his biggest hits here and there throughout the years (of which I've listened to Space Oddity quite a bit, out of my own volition), and listened to The Man Who Sold The World (the song) an endless amount of times. Outside of the latter song, I've not quite been smitten, and remain relatively cool about the artist even after this album. 1 listen (plus some repeats on the standouts). Best songs: Young Americans and Fascination. (The album's Disco-Funk-Gospel fusion is arguably at its best with Fascination, though I probably prefer Young Americans. On the other hand, I don't think that the overt funkiness of Fame vibes well with the contents of the lyrics at all.) Right is good but a little anticlimactic. Otherwise, despite how busy the album's soundscape is, that busyness is relatively "same-y" across the board. Not a big fan of Bowie's strenuous vocals here; his rendition of Across the Universe, with the overwrought vocal inflections - particularly the "sonorous" parts - feels a bit comical in particular. And on the aforementioned best songs he is outmatched by the backing vocals. Admittedly not entirely in tune with his usual themes, so lacking that context probably doesn't help.
Schon gut produziert. Aber es gefällt mir einfach nicht.
I feel like I’ve been listening to this album since the dawn of time but I’m somehow only 3 songs in.
- Leider konnte mich auch dieses Album von Bowie nicht überzeugen. Das führt jetzt nicht dazu, dass mein Respekt und Anerkennung gegenüber Bowie verloren geht, aber das Bild, dass der einfach nicht so wirklich meine Mucke gemacht hat, verfestigt sich mehr und mehr. - Ähnlich wie beim ersten Album, was wir von ihm gehört haben, dringt kein Song, keine Passage und der Sound im Allgemeinen nicht wirklich durch. 2/5
Not sure of context of this album but it just feels like a long meandering jam. Even the fame-ous song (see what I did there) realllly starts to drag. I felt excited when I heard the first track but quickly lost interest and was waiting for this to finish by the end. Still feel that Bowie is one of the most overrated musicians of that era
Couple of good tracks, music is decent but a lot of terrible vocals
This album shows what Bowie can do across so many different genres. That said, songs sometimes goes on a bit: Somebody Up There Likes Me witters and whines on for too long. Can You Hear Me is forgettable. However, there are strong numbers, like Fame, and to a lesser extent, Young Americans. Overall, it's an interesting but not essential preface to greater things in Berlin, for me.
sounds and instrumentals were solid, Bowie himself sounded very out of place. vocal skills weren't great as per usual but definitely not his worst work
I think I missed the essential gay gene that requires you to be obsessed with David Bowie
Given this a two for the two songs I know and like.
On paper I should love Bowie but he always leaves me cold. This one especially boring. Unwise to do a Beatles cover if it’ll end up being the best track on the record. Sorry David!!! I’ll try the other EIGHT albums you have on here…
Soul album…
#175. I thought Fame was good, but that was really the only one. The rest is just filler 2/5: nope
Meh.
Not my thing
Not bad but did not blow me away or anything
Cool!
2 good songs not good album
4 for Fame
Fame is a great song but not enough to make this interesting
This record is okay. I do love Young Americans and Fame. I really hated Across the Universe, it made me cringe. The real star of this record is David Sanborn on Sax who rises above a crew of legends to really put his stamp on this whole record.
Not a fan of this album of his
Didn't enjoy most of it
Just because you can reinvent yourself again and again it doesn't mean that you should.
I like more of his albums better than this particular snooze fest
Bowie should not be allowed to cover Lennon. I like Bowie but this album just wasn’t it for me. Fame is a classic but it wasn’t enough to save this one
I gave it multiple chances over the weekend because everyone looked at me crazy for saying I didn’t like it on Friday. I really tried. It’s just not for me.
Don't think I'm a bowie guy
I give this album a two due to the fact that it starts out sounding like a 70s club. fun funky music. but then halfway through the album it slows down. also bowie did across the universe dirty in my opinion.
I liked the first song of the album and the last three but overall it was just okay.
Nope.
Didn’t enjoy most of this, although it had its moments. Just not a fan of the vocals and song structures.
I just don't get why David Bowie is lauded as one of the greats. I skipped through three tracks on this album because they sounded so discordant to me.
And I quote "Bowie himself had mixed feelings about the album throughout his lifetime." "Bowie himself labelled the album's sound "plastic soul"." Smart guy, this Mr. Bowie.
too much sax great confidence great musicianship bit too slick/clean for me bit slow, soulful, dark for me 3/5
Listened to this on a road trip to lake hawea. Quite boring
first of all i was not expecting soul r&b from this album and from bowie and that was a suprise. The title track is catchy but it doesn't really connect, it all sounds very by the numbers - to be honest most of this album sounds like that and it was a let down. some elements here and there do pop up but as a whole it doesn't connect. Fame is the best song ofc tho, the bass line is great and the distorted riff is unexpected but works so well. It really gives the song a lot of character. can you hear me is nice and right as well. the vocal melody of win and the atmosphere is nice. across the universe is meh. i don't really thin I'll be coming back to this album much apart from fame and can you hear me. it's a strong 2 to a light 3.
Very bland and either I’m having major hearing problems or the vocal audio is so bad in half these songs that you can’t hear what he’s singing about.
Definitly not my type of music but if you grew up with this older style of music you would probably like it
The first song and the last song are good, the entire middle of the album is meh. Bowie is great but this album is a pass for me.
Exactly how I feel about the previous Bowie albums on here: I feel like I appreciate David Bowie more than I enjoy the actual music. I love how eccentric, theatrical, and (for lack of a better word) "artistic" he was. I just don't really care for listening to the actual music too much unfortunately. To me, it's like seeing a really gorgeous, intricately made, striking piece of clothing at a store that doesn't fit me. I can appreciate it for what it is and the effort and talent put into it, but it's just not something I'd wear.
Bah Was expecting better songs
As much as I love and respect Bowie, this is an album I've mostly avoided, and I understand why. It's a solid body of music, but also not the most interesting thing to listen to. A 40 min album with 2-3 memorable songs isn't a bad album by any means, and I think it's still a very impressively written album, just not entirely my taste.
2 great songs, the rest of the lot were subpar
4/10
It'd be good if it wasn't like listening to your uncle get up to sing his favourite Motown songs at Karaoke.
5/10 Highlights: Fascination
Not a huge fan tbh
I didn’t mind this album. Definitely different from the David Bowie songs I knew before. I thought a couple were funky and cool, but overall not my favourite album
This was completely fine, but in a way that felt bland and just kind of washed over me. Found myself skipping through it, sadly realizing through this project that I’m not a Bowie guy.
I'm not interested a in white British guy doing soul. I wish this list would give better examples of what the genres actually sound like instead of giving us the British White Dude versions of them. I didn't like Rolling Stones doing honky tonk on Let It Bleed and I don't like this.
Hot take but not my favorite
Not terrible, but it wouldn't be rated anywhere near 3.65 average (current rating in 2023) if it wasn't Bowie. Favorite song: Fame.
A couple good ones but overall not impressed. 2/5
Boring, slow, uninteresting drivel. It's a shame.
I really want to like Bowie, but it’s just not for me
Sorry I don't get it.
David Bowie is a good artist but im not a fan of the genre.
I don't think I like this album. FAME is fantastic though.
Alright, not the biggest Bowie fan
Ok…
Very poppy. Vocal mixing/effects not doin it for me. Instrumentals kind of uninspiring. Not very catchy/groovy for me
p342. 1975. 2 stars Just because it's Bowie doesn't mean it's good. Great production and vocally he's on point, but there is a lot of filler, very few standout songs, and it suffers from the usual mid-70's excessive track lengths. In addition, the cover of Across The Universe is an abomination. "Ain't there one damn song that can make me break down and cry". Not on this album.
first bowie album lol and this is certainly not for me! didn’t dislike anything to be clear, just also not something i would return to… i should prob check out his other stuff that i know would be more my speed than this standout— young americans
This isn't my favourite Bowie incarnation, not by a long chalk. I’m not a big fan of the kind of soul music he adopts on this album at the best of times, and I don’t think his own spin adds much value, with the notable exception of Fame. That and the title track almost earn it a third star, but most of the rest is pretty uninspiring. 2.5
Not my style
Steady opening track Boring overall, will be rating 2