Reviews (page 3 of 13)
A classic. Lots of great songs that I hadn't heard in years
Bowie gets funky. IMO, nothing gets close to peak Bowie.
An ode to soul and rock. I'm with this
Reading about this album made me appreciate it so much more. What he did to Fuze together his musical styles with r&b and soul created a album that's at the top of his already stacked discography.
During the mid 70s Bowie was moving away from his earlier glam rock work and found himself enthralled with the r&b scene in New York city. This is the point when he stopped dressing in spandex and started wearing loose fitting suits to emulate the culture around that music. It represented one of several major shifts he made in both visual, and more strikingly, audio style over his career. Cue running into John Lennon and a team up on the song "Fame" and you've got a strong album in what was Bowie's in a decade of strong albums.
I’m not sure I ever listened to this album in full. Right from the first few seconds, the title track gives me thrills. It’s so familiar, but never gets old for me. “Win” shifts to a more R&B sound, followed by “Fascination” with lots of background vocal support. The end of Side 1 (which is an out-of-date concept) is Right, which starts with some great saxophone, but wasn’t a favorite track for me. Side 2 highlights were a cover of the Beatles “Across the Universe” (apparently with John Lennon on guitar and backup vocal!) and “Can You Hear Me?” (again with a slower R&B feel). The album ends with the familiar “Fame”, which I’ve never loved, but I found myself really connecting with this time. Overall – a great classic album from a true creative genius.
I had listened to this album before, but this was the first time I really lived with it - and the first time I recognized it as a transition for David Bowie's career. The title track is great, as are all the band tracks. I don't love the songwriting in the back half of the album as much as the front, but it's enough that I'm giving this one 5 stars still.
None of these tracks are going to dethrone my top songs from Bowie, but they are consistently good. "Young Americans" is probably my favorite.
i had only heard 'fame' before but this is an absolute banger of an album. tend to enjoy bowie's rockier stuff but this was great fun to listen to
Plastic soul Bowie is it my favourite Bowie. Still Bowie though, and still great.
I love Bowie in his soul phase. Its some of the best stuff he recorded. The title track is amazing. It swings like a sould track should
Bowie's glam persona had become a little long in the tooth (as displayed on the over-rated Diamond Dogs), and this album was a welcome pivot to warmer R&B sounds. Calling it "plastic soul" is a bit of a disservice, as the songs display some legit Philly soul credibility, while still showcasing Bowie's trademark voice. And "Fame" is a slow-burning banger. A top Bowie album in my books, and the one I'd consider most under-rated in his catalogue.
Unbelievable, electric. Didn’t really know Bowie and now I’m obsessed
Chill med Bowie
Enjoyed this album
Fantastic. It may be plastic white soul but no one did it better than Bowie. He had to do it to escape the Ziggy persona and build his career. He did get help from Carlos Alomar, Luther Vandross and John Lennon but Bowie was still the mastermind. Such a great album and a pleasure to revisit.
Like it!
Awesome
fave track: can you hear me final thoughts: loved this, absolutely gorgeous!!!
Top Tier Bowie
Classic
Excellent album! Classic vibes. A+++
Nice
I like David Bowie.
Love it. The R&B, sax backing vocals. Love it all
I played this, inadvertently, not knowing it was the record of the day! I love this album and Fame never disappoints!
I am a David Bowie fan first and a human of earth second
"Young Americans" is a magical album. Young Americans and FAME are smashers - and the rest of the album is pretty strong as well.
Awesome Bowie
hell yeah man
Bowie is my favorite so I am biased
What can be said about this album? It’s a perfect mix of dance, soul and funk. And no better way to bookend the album with the opening and ending songs.
Funky, groovy perfection!
Nice album!
Solid album. 70's Bowie is tough to beat.
One of the best funk-albums ever.
I’d never listened to this one before, but I do like Bowie and frequently revisit Ziggy Stardust and Hunky Dory. I’m glad this list is branching out my Bowie listening, because I unsurprisingly enjoyed this very much. This album grew on me as I listened and went from a 4 to a 5 by the end.
I'll be completely honest that I'm giving this 5 stars because "Young Americans" is a top 10 song for me. But overall the album is really solid. And I've always loved Bowie's cover of "Across the Universe."
yacht rock done right
Obviously a great album, no notes, audio quality awesome
He can do anything.
Amazing album. The flow is amazing, and it bangs front to back.
Yesterday we had the Bowie album “Low” on this list. I thought it was a very good album but it asks more from the listener than the typical album does (a little more attention, a little more patience). “Young Americans,” on the other hand, only asks that you dance. It’s generous with its party energy, funky licks and big hooks. It’s a lot of fun. Funk and soul aren’t necessarily a natural fit for Bowie but he makes the genres his own. Some of the songs have a strange, awkward swagger to them. You expect smoothness from funk. But Bowie makes the music a little gangly and weird. I love it. His vocals get pretty wild. He’s got that jazzy, improvisational spirit. The title track is a classic. It’s a little weirder than I remember it being too. Wow - “Fascination” is a banger! This backing band is phenomenal. And “Right” is spectacular! I love the call-and-response between Bowie and the backup singers. “Fame” is another classic and a perfect example of the style I’m talking about. It’s cool and funky and danceable but a little odd and off kilter too. I’m very glad I finally listened to this album.
Great album
The first of many true reinventions of Bowie's career. Having reached a peak of popularity during his glam rock/Ziggy Stardust period, he took a major risk by moving into plastic soul. By doing so, he proved that he could effortlessly move between genres and continue to be influential. Aside from soul artists, this album was also heavily influenced by Bowie's friendship with John Lennon, contributing to the very unique sound of the album.
It's Bowie, 5 stars. (not always but this counts, Aladdin Sane and Black Star are the exceptions) Picked up a new really good one in Fascination
#3 #1 #8 Bloody good!!
Great album. "Right" is bomb.
Melodic, uplifting music with skilful singing voice. While it is a classic, it's also good music.
a classic
Love David Bowie
Bn chill, david bowie god
Incredible. Classic. Start to end. A beatles cover that doesnt stink. Wild.
I love this record! Win and young Americans are still among my favourites. And the cover of across the universe is also a hit.
"Classic" sound that has a driving beat throughout. It's impossible not to move to, but also great to keep in the background.
Great album, great length. Listened to it twice yesterday
classic bowie but particularly sax heavy lets gooo
I want to dive into Bowie's hair, frolic in its lusciousness. I want to nestle by his sweet voice, have his choir console me with sugar-coated harmonies. I want to slide down the groove of a warm fuzzy bassline, to watch sax flourishes garland a relentlessly blue sky, for synths to ooze sweat, rum and sea salt, to taste sparks, to chase a nostalgia of a future which has never existed, which has never been, but is all too present.
I started listening to this album, and immediately, it sparked some feeling on me that I couldn't quite explain. Then "Somebody up there likes me" started playing, and it really hit the spot for me, and I understood everything. The whole album made me fell like I was back on those times where everything was simple and easy, where I had no worries at all. I guess that's the power of music, and what makes it so beautiful. This album is absolutely genius by David Bowie, and everyone involved, you can really feel that everyone poured their emotions in the making of those songs, absolute 5/5.
Young Americans is a great song
What an album
First time getting assigned an album I have on vinyl! Absolutely love this album--its Bowie singing soul. A marriage made in heaven for me. Favorite track: Right
The hits stand out starkly but despite some clunkers, Bowie can do no wrong.
I'm a Bowie fan and not the most objective critic of his music. Maybe this album should not be on this list (while Lodger and Scare Monsters do deserve it). Maybe the two songs "Young Americans" and "Fame" are just that great they alone justify the album to be essential. "Across the Universe" is mediocre, but the remaining songs are all at least good (though maybe not great). In the end this is enough for me to give it five stars. As I wrote before, I'm not the best Bowie critic.
His Jazz-Funk period - good album
I'm a simple person - if I listen to an old David Bowie's album, it's great. If I'm listening to a more recent one, it's not that good. As you can see from this complicated chart, I really like the album. Great mix of funk, blues and whatever the Bowie style is. In my opinion "Fame" wasn't even the best song on the album, and that says quite a lot. Another great position on the list!
Not even close to his best, but I still can't fault him. Fun, funky and an innovative move from his previous stuff that still works.
Love this, love some Bowie
Loved it. Very club jazzy
Great album, absolutely loved it. And it had some songs I've never heard before!! Saved :)
Door R&B beinvloedt album van David Bowie. Een omwenteling van zijn imago als glamrockster, Young Americans is een "blue-eyed soul" album dat ondanks gemixte reviews een geweldige tracklist heeft. leukste nummer: Young Americans Young Americans bevat verwijzingen naar McCarthyism en Nixon's Watergateschandaal. In liveoptredens veranderde Bowie de president met de tijd mee naar Reagan en later Bush.
Love it
My favorite ever artist stepping outside of his comfort zone to perform in one of my favorite genres of music, recorded in my hometown. This could be the worst piece of shit ever made and I'd still give it 5 stars. Of course, this is not even remotely close to being that. The backing vocals and instrumentals are incredible. Bowie continues to cement himself as an elite performer. Such an amazing talent to make his voice fit the feel of this music perfectly. Every single song the album is great, but the favorite track is Somebody Up There Likes Me
I LOVE IT
Great!
Fuck yes thats all I got to say
Young Americans is a fucking jam. Gotta respect Bowie for refusing to work on this album unless cocaine was present. A true artist. He was definitely in a Beatles phase working with Lennon on a couple songs and the Beatles lyric in Young Americans. Kinda finally understanding the Bowie vibe.
So good
Y a til un mauvais album de bowie ? Je dois dire que celui ci m’a surpris. 5
Young Americans, Fame.
I LOVE Bowie's plastic soul era
Not a classic from Bowie's 70s run of classic albums, but it is a very, very high bar.
His “blue eyed soul” phase, lots of good stuff. The title song is one of my favorites from Bowie.
One of my favorites and definitely my favorite Bowie record. Such a satisfying sounding and feeling record. Every note sung and played are incredible. I really love the background vocals and this is one of the greatest rhythm sections. This album gets the perfect combination of soul, R&B; funk, rock, and experimentation and it is all so tight while feeling so organic. I really love all the jammy parts - I would love to hear where it goes after fadeouts 5
Amazing record, such a great listen from top to bottom. Cool writing, cool vibe, great players. Bowie has some really cool records but this might be my fav. Fame one of the coolest Bowie songs
This is great. fame is so cool. Background vocals on whole album sound incredible. I would say that in the context of the world, it would be a 4 but I’m gonna make it a 5 in the context of the 1001 albums
Toppenalbum, ett av mina första!
you know when you know
Most likely the strongest start to any album in history yet somehow it's not even close to the strongest track on the album, unbelievable. He wasn't necessarily doing anything new but holy molet he was doing everything right. Like a pure synthesis of every single genre that ever existed to that point reflected right back at us through some kind of beautiful perfection filter. Beautifully arranged, expertly mixed and mastered. Every song could have gone on for an extra 2 or 3mins on top of their already longer than usual run time and I wouldn't have cared. Too much more to be said. Five stars is the universe's most outrageous understatement.
On any given day, this (with about eight others) might be my favorite Bowie album.
Fantastic! This is my first time listening to this album, although I am quite familiar with three of the songs on here. The rest is well worth having in my collection.
Exceptional stuff, first time done cover to cover and I get the hype
The reviews mentioning BeeGees etc don’t have a clue. This Bowie doing soul not disco.
Hemoso.
How he shifted so seamlessly into a funk/soul style is unbelievable. A true artist. Great album.
Soul y R&B de Bowie. Vinilo.
Young Americans, Fame.
awesome
the best
The little alien reinvents himself again. This is one of my favorite Bowie albums (even though I love essentially all of them) because this is where Dave went "Hey let's slap some filthy sax on every one of those tracks". Also, I think this is Bowie at his most beautiful. Look at that album cover! Take that man out for some dinner, and make sure he eats more than milk and red bell peppers.
Bowie goes Soul and its great (minus the Beatles Cover)
I cannot believe it, but I'm going to give this David Bowie album a 5. Despite the roasting this album gets in the beginning of Parliament's Mothership Connection David Bowie, with the help of a Beatle, put together a great rock/funk fusion on this album. These songs are catchy, and very well produced. I already knew ("Young Americans" is a great opener and "Fame" is a lot of fun") and liked the hits but had never heard "Fascination" before and thought it was a great track. As an aside I think its pretty interesting that John Lennon personally appeared on two covers of his own songs (Across the Universe here and Elton John's "Lucy in the Sky"). I'd listen to this again.
10/10 love dadvidd bowie
Starts off with one of my favorite Bowie songs in "Young Americans" but follows up with other great hits in "Fame" and "Across the Universe". Great album and strong from start to finish. 9/10.
One of the greatest albums by David Bowie.
Brilliant. Love Bowie
Really liked it
10/10 David Bowie’s GOATED my man straight up slays every album lol
Jævlig bra. Glede meg til den nye dokuen komme på kino
DB is the best
All time classic
Classic Also forgot he did a cover of ‘across the universe’ by the beatles - noice
Classic Bowie potentially his best work
Great album. Fame is my jam
10 Stars.
This is great, not sure how I hadn't heard it before. Reminded me of George Michael in a lot of places.
I have yet to listen to a bad David Bowie album; I don't know if one exists. This one is certainly up there with some of the best. I'd heard the eponymous song 'Young Americans' and 'Fame' before and they're just pretty much perfect songs, but the entirety of the album is fantastic R&B/soul from a guy who wasn't, at the time, known for it. Bowie just has the talent to take in a new genre and roll with it, making some of the best music ever. Geez, what I would do to have that kind of talent.
I have not listened to the full album yet because I am too busy listening to the title track and replaying it but it is a BANGER! Def top 5 David Bowie albums Gotta love Fame, sad John Lennon is on it though
Bowie is amazing. Have never listened to all the albums and this one is great
One of his greatest.
Bowie's foray into soul is amazing. Top 5 Bowie album for me. Brilliant. 9-10/10
Quite a jump from Diamond Dogs. Soulful, great arrangements especially for the backing vocals.
5.0 + Blue-eyed soul doesn’t sound like it could be cool but every song on here is awesome. Yet another genre bending triumph in David Bowie’s catalog and one of his best.
the level of creativity flowing from this man for his entire career spanning decades is phenomenal
Fuckinnnnn quality mate.
Such a great album as nearly all David Bowie's are. The title track and fame being stand out singles in Bowie's long career. You can however hear the exhaustion taking hold and sense of unrest within the music. The massive amounts of cocaine taking their toll as well. You can tell listening to this that Bowie was ready for another change which he did in the form of his partnering with Iggy Pop and then the Berlin Trilogy.
Bowie is brilliant
I just love how he is able to just mash everything together and play it off like it is his life and how he always was and always will be.
5 of course
Genuine contender for his best album.
Very good stuff this.
It's a Bowie album isn't it! Was well excited for this and it was excellent - especially the little Beatles nod. The only problem was I wanted to dance and fully enjoy the tunes and not sit at a desk working...
Two Bowies in a row! One of my favourite Bowie albums as well. I love everything that led to this album, a big change of pace towards soul following the Diamond Dogs era. There's a great documentary about backing singers called 20 Feet from Stardom which has a bit about Bowie's performance of Young Americans on the Dick Cavett show and how he worked with the backing singers so much in the writing process through the whole album. And he looked beautiful and had those huge shoulder pads. One of my favourite live videos. Magnificent.
This album is a masterpiece. I will be returning to this one over and over again.
Боуи великий
This is an excellent David Bowie albums, one of my favorites. This is also possibly the most accessible album he ever made, one I would recommend to someone looking to get into Bowie's music (after Ziggy, of course). Bowie really embraces the soulful aspects of his style that were always there, and just goes for full tilt funk and soul on this album. The result is a collection of sexy, groove-filled songs with warm, rich arrangements. The album also performs the neat/difficult trick of being very much of its time, but only in the best ways, in large part because it never loses Bowie’s own avant-garde sensibility. It's mid-70s hip, but entirely unique and a harbinger of what other singers would be doing for years after this. Vocally, Bowie sounds looser and more relaxed than usual. He is supported by a strong group of musicians and singers, including the exceptional David Sanborn on sax and a then unknown Luther Vandross. All of this this adds up to some incredibly engaging music and two of the very best singles of Bowie’s career in “Young Americans” and “Fame.” “Fascination” is my favorite deep track, a personal favorite. Bowie would move on rather quickly from this style, but this was a delightful detour. Fave Songs (All songs, ranked from most to least favorite): Young Americans, Fame, Fascination, Win, Right, Across the Universe, Somebody Up There Likes Me, Can You Hear Me
Classic. Bowie’s a god
What is there to say. Every song is a classic and Bowie was already a master at his craft by this point.
Really Great, super influential I'm sure.
Amazing! Classic. m
Perfect for a cocaine fueled dance party, orgy, or to get hyped for work.
Love this album. While Bowie's weirder and less accessible work will always be my favorite, this album just has such a great fun funky sound. Can't help but jam out to it. Bowie is a musical chameleon.
Bowie is an absolute legend. Bowie can do no wrong.
Fan fucking tastic
Great album
Great album. Fame is popular, but I like Right
Master desde la cuna.
This album could just be the title track and "Fame" and it would be 5 stars. Everything else is just icing.
This is quite an album. It showcases songs that have become absolute cultural icons - Young American, Fame - and others I am not as familiar with but are very good. Did not realize John Lennon was on this album, and I was not familiar with the Across the Universe cover.
Yet another classical David Bowie album, perfect in every sense.
Soul/Funk/R&B Bowie style. Great album, from start to finish. Fascination and Fame funky favourites.
August 6, 2021 (Aug 16) Love some Bowie!
David Bowie rated 5 stars. Such a great album!
Not quite Ziggy Stardust levels of good, but good. 9/10
10/10. There wasn't a miss on here. Young Americans is a classic, and the rest ranged from solid to excellent. I'm skeptical that there needed to be 9 Bowie albums in this list, but so far so good
Groovy, especially 'Fame'. Did not know that John Lennon helped write/record that.
It’s Bowie, you can’t go wrong really
Yes Bowie
The title-track of this album is an absolute masterpiece of a song. Apart from the second track, most of the others were very good too, although not quite at the same level of brilliance as Young Americans. Still, all-round a great artist with a great album.
Great album!
4.5 | Después de una etapa en la que explotó todo el glam a lo más que dio retira por completo a Ziggy y lanza antes de la era de Berlin 3 discos - Diamond Dogs, Station to Station y Young Americans, en los que ahora el personaje principal es frio y distante, siempre vestido impecable y acicalado, sin emociones y modelado al mero fascismo. De los tres discos este es el que a mi parecer menos me agrada, sin embargo sigue siendo un disco excelente, se siente el Soul a todo lo que da y uno pensaría que es un artista que lleva trabajando el género toda su vida, no que fuera su primer experimentación en el mismo. Abrir con la que a mi parecer es la mejor canción del disco puede ser algo difícil de seguir pero hay suficiente material para defenderse muy bien, Fascination le mete un sonido "torcido" al funk que no se escucha en ningún otro lado, Across the Universe es en mi opinión el mejor cover de la canción y cambia por completo el sentido y emoción de la misma y Fame es simplemente genial, sea cual fuera el grado de la colaboración de Lennon lo que es cierto es que es totalmente mordaz y la manera de cantarla, ese sonido de una voz engreída y detestable no podría quedar mejor con la letra y lo vacia que hace ver a la fama como tal, al escuchar la canción no puedes mas que querer darle un madrazo en la boca al que la canta y creo es justamente el punto de la misma. Otro disco de Bowie, otro disco genial y, aun sin llegar a ser de los mejores materiales que hizo, demuestra la calidad de artista y versatilidad que tuvo.
It’s so good. Even the deep cuts are fantastic, but the singles are otherworldly.
Into it
Didn't realize some of these songs were Bowie...!
Heard this before, great album
Classics that you can listen to all the time.
Really like this album
Spotify only had the 2016 remaster Didn't know Bowie sang Young Americans.
One my favs since I was a kid.
Incredible synth funk
First he conquered Britain in a variety of guises from spaceman to glam god. Now comes the hard part: conquering America. He'd already planted a path to get him there, all he had to do was walk on it and be on his way; on his way he'd be. Having proven himself to be a master musical chameleon, Bowie channeled the soul emanating from Philadelphia and nearby and unleashed upon an unsuspecting audience a most genuine homage to the finest spectrum of black art available. Was it yet another short-lived foray into what tickled Bowie's fancy? Sure but the conquering of another nation was another thing to check off the list. Nobody knew, however, the cost of that would be.
dm me @pizzaupmynose on ig you are loved. you are worthy. sorry for hijacking your album generator :)
Te amo david bowie, espectacular como siempre
enjoyable music lyrics barely hearable but the whole product is solid id rate it a 7 out of 10 and i bet it can be heard anytime unlike trend songs
This always felt like a strange direction for him to take, considering what had come previously but he was never straightforward obviously. Although there are some classics here that join his diverse greatest hits, this isn’t one of his that I would reach for as often.
Great album, even if it's not my favourite from Bowie. I've never been able to understand the need to cover "Across the Universe", though.
Really enjoyed this ! Need to listen to more Bowie
I'm very surprised at how much I enjoyed this album. Different then a lot of other Bowie albums. Probably because he was hanging out with John Lennon a lot during this time in his career.
Almost every song is a hit but what is this Across the Universe cover?
646/1001 2026.06.29 🌕🌕🌕🌗🌑
Bowie is a musical genius. Always happy when him albums pop up on this list. This album is a solid album, not my favorite and not his worse.
A good sample of what was to come
Young Americans was always one of my least favorite of the Bowie singles. (Fame is a favorite! Though there’s a later mix I like - Freedom 90 Gass Mix) Since I don’t like the song all that much, I assumed I wouldn’t like the album. I was wrong.
Bowie is altijd tof en afwisselend
What a killer Bowie album, a departure from the glam and into the funky rock soul and R&B. Love when an artist opens and closes an album with great tunes. Really sets the tone to start and ends leaving the listener wanting more. Love his experimentation with all the different instruments and he has a great blue eyed soul voice.
7/10
Album très court période où il en sortait un par an très cool style jazz rock Mention honorable pour l'enchainement Right / SUTLM / Across the universe / Can you hear me / Fame (pour bien finir)
Fantastic album
Yayyyy David Bowie made an album about ✨️me✨️
In the titular song I appreciate the approach to criticize the "American dream" especially from within by a citizen who was able to all the good and bad cause it's not solely pessimistic but rather it acts as a grounding force for the country at the time through the lense of David Bowie the album is clearly influenced by the soul genre very clearly and it is used tastefully but I don't fully know if it should be spread into nearly all the songs as much as it is, there is so much fun being had. 0 skips in the album, not everything is perfect but nothing is below a 6 and that is enough.
You know what, this Bowie chap is alright
Oh yeah, this is hitting today.
https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/21488-young-americans/
4/5
Not as good as expected
That’s a great one!
Great, great album. Still not my favourite work of his though.
groovy
Fantastic jazzy rnb from Bowie crazy how he changed styles
Album was pretty good. 80's hotel lobby vibes (in a good way), would listen to again. Leah - 6/7 Leprechauns - Favourite - Fascination Austin - 6/7 Leprechauns - Favourite - Young Americans
It's a fun Bowie album, but I think it's inaccurate to call it a "soul" album.
Not quite 5*, my favourite Bowie albums are probably the previous glam rock ones, but this is still very enjoyable and marks a turn towards more genre diversity in his music. There are some good tunes here but I thought others were a little forgettable
After the massive success of Hunky, Ziggy and Aladdin, Bowie had the confidence to keep trying his Chameleon act, and it always produced something on interest. Young Americans was one of the lesser reinventions - There's still good stuff, but it doesn't reach the heights of previous LPs. 3.5 stars
It’s a good album. It doesn’t really come anywhere close to some of the other albums Bowie was dishing out during this decade, like the Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars, Station to Station and Low, though. I can see why they would put this album on the list but at the same time I feel like there could have been more exclusivity to Bowie’s absolute, irrefutable best albums. Bowie is a great artist but I can’t really say there’d be much of a loss of leaving out this Bowie album to free up space for other artists (who might not even have a singular album on the list). Also, some tracks were pretty filler (namely ‘Right’ and Somebody Up There Likes Me’) in comparison to other Bowie albums where the tracklists are solid throughout (especially the Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars). However, with all the bad stuff out of the way, this is still a great album. ‘Young Americans’ is one of Bowie’s most lighthearted, fun songs; I absolutely love it. Bowie’s cover of ‘Across the Universe,’ whilst not being better than the original in my opinion, was very charming and unique and did justice to the original. ‘Fame’ is also just an amazing song, definitely amongst Bowie’s most underrated songs and the history of that song originating from a jam with John Lennon simply makes it even cooler. Also, Bowie being the first white artist on the show ‘Soul Train’ in which he performed ‘Fame’ one of the countless examples of Bowie being a pioneer, and ahead of his time, and simply iconic. Great album.
There's been a lot written about David Bowie - and justifiably so - but I feel like some people don't realize that for a white British bisexual, the man could get FUNKY. This album is a prime example of that. "Fame" is the most obvious example, but there are others scattered across the album. This is the first appearance of what would become his "DAM trio" rhythm section, consisting of drummer Dennis Davis, guitarist Carlos Alomar, and bassist George Murray, who recorded together on seven of Bowie's classic albums in the '70s. "Can You Hear Me" feels almost shockingly modern, like a contemporary gospel track. All in all, this is a great album by a master musician in his prime.
After so many glam rock Bowie albums, this was a refreshing change of pace. I really enjoy the funk influences throughout the album, and honestly, this style suits him better than a lot of his earlier work. The songs feel looser, warmer, and more natural than some of the characters and concepts he was leaning on during the glam years. That said, his cover of “Across the Universe” is absolute garbage. I have no idea why it made the album other than the fact that John Lennon was around the studio at the time. It sticks out for all the wrong reasons and feels completely unnecessary on an otherwise enjoyable record. Thankfully, the rest of the album is strong enough that one bad decision doesn’t sink it.
It's great because it's Bowie. Less of the groundbreaking energy that his glam stuff had, but his range and enthusiasm for new approaches was amazing.
Nice groove
Mostly great, opener track is a little tacky. But there’s some damn jams in this album and the band can play. Who’s on the rhythm section? There great. I do love how Bowie went with a soul-influenced theme, most of the sax could go though…
David Arquilo lo hace nuevamente. Groovy, sabroso. Por momentos me pierde
Great album. Sounds like the precursor to New Wave.
I enjoyed this
This is a really nicely executed genre-album. Two of the hit songs, Young Americans and Fame, are five-star songs.
Really outstanding from beginning to end. Each song is a journey. The attention to detail and amount of layering is phenomenal. Bowie was in a league of his own.
Great record. Not my favorite Bowie record, but the hits absolute rip on this record.
another first timer for me. this album is like one long comedown. on other Bowie records I've listened to, you get at least a track or two that's fiery and maybe uplifting. Young Americans gives me the feeling of that emotional drain after the fun has worn off. lots of soul here. lots of saxophone to push the music forward. the only part of this that I could do without is the "Across the Universe" cover, but it was fine -- just felt inessential. also, I didn't realize how Beck seemingly lifted "Win" for his song "Debra"
I love the general sound Bowie works with on this album. The title track is especially exciting. “Fame” is a song I’ve heard enough and I find kinda annoying, but in the context of the album it really works.
I felt like an American teen from the 70s. Cool.
What I like about this album has more to do with the non-Bowie contributions. I love the backup singers. I don't love Bowie's voice. Also I just generally love funk and groove. Thanks to the Black artists who made funk and groove possible!
This album has an amazing sound. The saxofone is brillant. It gets better in the second part. Some songs are monotonous but has one of the best 70s song "Somebody up Theres like me"
Funky Bowie with gospel backup singers? Yes please. Favorite track: Fame
Love it but not a Everyday listen so probably a 4 or 5
Fascination - I really like the intro groove here Somebody Up There Likes Me - Nice Sax Can you Here Me - Amazing Fame - Very Funky
Love this album, but whoever said this is blue eyed soul is the whitest person ever.
FAAAAAMEe! 7/10
Classic Bowie, great mix of songs, incredible voice, young Americans is a great way to open an album with a few lovely ballad types thrown in.
Very nice, suprised by the funk sonority.
Really solid, quite different to anything else he's done. Fame is such a good closer. The version of Across the Universe is interesting, not bad
funky!
Need to revisit this album more fully, but every song so far has been a banger
this is a relatively middling bowie album, which by basically all known standards still means it's like an 8/10. carlos alomar is on it, which, like... you know, say no more. there's a lot of fun trivia about this album that i think is more interesting than the record itself. for example: a then-unknown luther vandross is on this, and you could argue that it's the session/album that got him his big break! also: john lennon plays guitar on this record's cover of "across the universe", which unfortunately does not redeem it from being a total embarrassment, the worst song on the album, and a complete mood-killer coming off of "somebody up there likes me". the hits on this one are SERIOUS hits, though, to a degree that almost overwhelms the sense of self-consciousness in bowie's blue-eyed soul. "can you hear me", "fascination", and especially "fame", which is such a masterpiece that george clinton and james brown ripped it off basically wholesale for two of their own singles. i like to think that bowie was woke enough back then to feel kind of weird about being a white guy taking up all that airtime on soul train, but maybe i'm writing fanfiction there.
pretty good innit
Great album!
Creo la primera canción es la peor y siempre me había alejado de escucharlo por eso, solo conociendo 1 o 2, pero la mayoría del disco fue muy bueno. Sinceramente es otro mood para ponerlo, se nota la época mucho, lo cual no es malo pero si muy notorio
Сара 4 Марко 4
Pretty damn great
It seemed to me like this was easily the weakest Bowie included on the list, but it turns out... I really love this one too, even if it IS probably the weakest one on here.
Its goooddddd
Not my favorite Bowie album (Diamond Dogs): but even so, it's still a pretty great album. Of his late 70s albums, I prefer Low. 4 "disco-balled" stars.
The Beatles' cover sucks, the rest is pretty fantastic.
Not always a Bowie fan but this has a jazz meets country style that really works.
And lo, I have completed the David albums upon the Project. From the only quite highs of Heroes to the insurmountable highs of Hunky Dory, this falls...about in the middle. It's a tiny weeny bit pastiche-y, and not as powerful as his early 70s pomp, but it's still absolutely tremendous in places. Lennon's lovely little fingers are in David's pies across the board here - most notably in Fame, but also with the really glorious bit towards the end of the title track when the opening line of A Day In The Life is belted out by the backing singers.
Not bad, actually kind of fun. Pretty solid.
Good album.
Songs were mostly good, some vocal performances were stronger than others, but mostly good!
An under appreciated album in his discography, I only knew Young Americans and Fame (and Across the Universe via The Beatles). This is a super solid album, but at 8 songs, I would want a little more. 8/10
First very good album
muy bueno, me acompañó en mi mañana yendo a la facu, y no decepcionó. fue una linda sorpresa encontrar la inspiración de love me de the 1975 en fame (y de no ser así, es un choreo cósmico de los muchachos). tengo que escuchar más bowie.
trying a bit too hard to be wacky
Very good album, the musicality is off the charts, soulful songs and great rythm all the way through, and a Beatles cover to complete. No notes, very good.
A first listen for me and besides the opener and closer, it's all new to me. Bowie's first sojourn into soul music is a positive one. His chameleon like tendencies allow him to switch quite dramatically at times and still it sounds like a Bowie album. Not my personal fave but there's a level of quality you tend to get with Bowie and this falls well within that range.
Mitt første møte med David Bowie var "Somebody Up There Likes Me" på K-DST i GTA San Andreas. Det er nok fortsatt en av mine favoritter av Bowie. Ellers låter plata like glossy som coveret ser ut. Smooth sax og discogitar for alle penga. De låtene som er bra er veldig bra, mens feks coverversjonen av "Across the Universe" låter uinspirert. "Can You Hear Me" låter som en Marvin Gaye-pastisj, men funker særs dårlig for Bowie. Men plata starter med en sterk låt og slutter med en sterk låt. Det er kanskje derfor det etterlatte inntrykket er så bra?
J'aime bien David Bowie!
really nice
I enjoyed it it was pretty good
Nearly made it through the album without hearing a Beatles song (it was a good cover tho)
No surprise but pretty great all the way through - another one I need to listen to more.
I can see why he called it "Plastic Funk" it does feel more commercial than other funk music I've listened to. I still thought it was a lot of fun. I like the backup singers and the saxophone. Would probably listen again. Fav song: Fascination Least fav: Across the Universe
Have gone after him for some of his other albums, and I still think that 7 is too many for one person, but there are some absolute bangers on here. First and last are top tier. Didn’t rate the Beatles cover. Specific rating - 4.3 Fav song - Young Americans Least fav - across the universe
Young Americans and Fame are really great songs, but the rest of the album doesn't reach the same heights. Never knew that Lennon helped write Fame, puts the Beatles cover into context (although it's still not great). Favourite song: Young Americans Least: Across The Universe
This is a really cool album. Enjoyed it. Bowie has proved me wrong with some of his albums. He was great. Stand out songs - Young Americans and Fame. Leave out the beatles cover. Unneeded. I'll give a 4
Enjoyed this one! It was my background music for Saturday morning chores and it kept my energy up
I wuld smoke david browies sigret bro
thoroughly enjoyed, wonderful. very different from the last album i got from him, ‘heroes’. a great time
David goes soul, sometimes great, sometimes not so great.
A funky and heartfelt album from an absolute icon of music
Not my fave Bowie album, but still great. 4.2/5.
very good but the across the universe cover is criminal
Am getting slack with these notes. Too busy recently. Anyway i dont know this album well. I know a few tracks but never listened to whole album. I think i like r&b soul Bowie more than regular Bowie and i like regular Bowie a lot. This album hangs together really well. Some great backing support to his non-r&b type vocals which are remarkably suited to r&b soul. Extremely well rounded for a dip into the different from him.
Similarly to 'The Next Day', this is a great Bowie album but I'm not sure why it necessarily deserves a place on the list. It's a softer, more easy listening album. A really chilled listen, but there's just so many Bowie albums that are better and more interesting! Not to take away from this. Favourites: Young Americans Fascination Fame
Great album. Some absolutely ironic tracks. 3.7/5.
Beatles reference feel good amazing!!!
Loving this album
I only knew the radio songs (Young Americans and Fame) before listening. The rest was good too. There was an unexpected Beatles cover (Across the Universe), which was fun.
grande album, n ouviria normalmente mas se estivesse tocando em algum lugar eu ouviria feliz, FAAAAAAAME 💃💃
A couple big hits and a pretty good album overall. 4 stars or B+.
es que arrancaste muy bien
Deze zou ik wellicht nog een keer luisteren. Maar niet heel bijzonder.
nice jazz influences and harmonies. typical david bowie, who maybe isn't as bad as I thought.
It's David Bowie
A few really known classics here, and the others are also cool. I like Bowie a lot.
Love Bowie RIP
Good, but isn't something I would put to listen to voluntarily.
Heard a lot of Arctic Monkeys Tranquility Base source content! Very different from other Bowie stuff.
I've never listened to a Bowie album before. This was very cool.
Groovy, record full of energy that makes you want to move. For some reason though, on a close listen I noticed something that never really registered before. Bowie’s vocals hop from breathy exasperation to warbling vibrato, and it started to bug the hell out of me. “Is David Bowie a bad singer?”, I wondered. Charisma- 9.5/10 Vocals - 5.5/10 Instrumental arrangement/ production - 10/10 The man and whatever musician team and producers he worked with created an undeniably brilliant rock and roll album
True confession...I can give or take Bowie. I never really feel one way or another about his music. But I can honestly say this if the first album of his in this project that's completely listenable from front to back. Sure, his lyrics remain pretty nonsensical to me, but damn does this album jam. And Luther Vandross on backing vocals?! Who would've known?
love
Cocaine era Bowie could get pretty aimless but sometimes he hit. This is a definite hit. It's so corny, it's hard not to love
Shall we have a bash at Philly soul then? Yeah, why not, even if it’s just passing through. Handful of absolute belters here, but not a full album worth.
Great album to have just playing in the backround. Favourite song: Fascination Some great feel-good tunes in there and is a perfect example of David Bowie’s style
Si es bueno me gustó mucho, tiene un ritmo muy bueno
Really pretty record. Bowie stripped of theatrics but not losing any sense of purpose or presence.
Skvelý album. Ale mám radšej iné jeho albumy. Preto len 4.
I knew more songs on this album than I knew I would know, lol. I think my mom has this album when I was a kid. Young Americans, Fame, I think it's cool that he references other songs with some lines he has in these songs, or maybe it's the other way round, and the other songs reference this album.
I never really knew that David Bowie made more soulful funk music before listening to this album but he is a lot better at it than i thought he would be, my favorites were Young Americans, Fascination, and Somebody Up There Likes Me 88/100 1. Young Americans - 91/100 2. Win - 86/100 3. Fascination - 94/100 4. Right - 84/100 5. Somebody up There Likes Me - 90/100 6. Across the Universe - 85/100 7. Can You Hear Me - 86/100 8. Fame - 87/100
Bowie on top form
Does not hold up as well as many of Bowie’s other 70s albums (Ziggy, Low, Hunky Dory, Station to Station, Heroes etc), but there are a few great songs here, especially Fascination. It also has a pretty bad cover of Across the Universe, though, and the extremely cheesy Can You Hear Me.
Class Bowie - Fame etc. Flight of the concords would have based their parody on this Bowie.
I prefer other Bowie albums but I enjoyed this in the end. “Right” is very good and should get some more recognition radio play.