Reviews (page 10 of 15)
First time hearing this album. There is always something new in a Bowie album and this one doesn’t disappoint. Favorite track: Neukoln other picks: beauty and the beast, heroes, sense of doubt
Besides Heroes, I'm not a fan. I prefer glam rock Bowie
Great
overall GREAT album love the ambient stuff he tries + title track is top 5 songs ever
Solid album, but didn't like it quite as much as low, the first of the trilogy. The songs weren't as unique to me, while I was engaged through low I didn't get the same from heroes
This is an almost good album. Glad I got to listen to it before I die.
Side one was a good time. Really enjoyed the addition of Fripp. Lyrics are lacking and no true stand outbtrack other than Heroes. Side 2 is a head scratcher. Two decent songs and 3 weird synth noise songs. Every time I get a Bowie album, I get the sense he should have released fewer albums and condensed the great songs onto fewer albums.
I always struggled with Bowie...I think Blackout and Heroes are the best songs.... but the second half of this album is 5/5 love u ENO!
Not as good as Ziggy. Bit too experimental.
This is not the first Bowie album to follow the Bowie format. They start with traditional Bowie songs and move into these instrumental sections, making them somewhat disconnected as an album but I am sure it is because he wants these other songs to get noticed and out to the masses. I liked Joe the Lion and Heroes. The rest were good but were just a little too far out there for me to love.
This album has Heroes on it. Heroes is a really great song. I did not like the other songs on this album. I usually give a little bonus bump for having an instrumental on your album. But NOT if Brian Eno was involved. And if the entire last half of your album are instrumentals you made with Brian Eno then you actually get penalized. I was going to give this album a 3 but then I started thinking about all those people back in 1977 who spent their money to buy the album with Heroes on it, getting it home, and then listening to this shit.
This album started off great! First track was a banger, Heroes is a total classic, and I mostly enjoyed the first half of the album. But what the hell with a few of the second half songs. It came back around with the final track, but he really wandered off into a weird, ambient forest after V-2 Schneider in a way that felt totally disconnected from the rest of the album.
Great!
Everyone has that one major artists that they just don't understand the fanfare over, and David Bowie is that artist for me. This album is widely lauded, and I did enjoy it mostly, but it never reached the heights that I expected it to, given it's legacy. I enjoyed the Brian Eno-led production, and found the ambient tracks in the second half to be quite interesting. They were much more in keeping with the supposed German Expressionist inspirations for the album. I feel, with Bowie, that I'm just missing something that his biggest fans aren't. That could change, as insure there will be other albums of his on this list. It may even change if I listen to this album again. Highlights: Beauty and the Beast Sons of th Silent Age Sense of Doubt
Harbinger of musical genres to come
Apparently I know very little about David Bowie because I expected this to be a pop vocal album. And I’m disappointed that it’s not. The back half of this album is way too artsy and ethereal for me. Nice enough to listen to, but not to return to.
Perfect record
This is comparable to "Low" for me. I used to write this album off as the album that had the best title track/single off of any Bowie album and the rest I didn't care for. That being said, there is the expected great variety in styles across the tracks. Moss Garden may be my favorite instrumental piece of his. Heroes is an undoubtable banger. The Secret Life of Arabia is a cool closer. V-2 Scheinder has some amazing saxophones in it. Definitely not near my favorites of his but undoubtable Bowie still delivers a solid listening experience on this one.
Classic Bowie
Boring, no idea why people like David Bowie.
Not my favorite Bowie album, but not too bad.
Is this my last Bowie album? Maybe? Finally? I'm scared to check, in case there's more. Oh god, there is more. I'm unwittingly being dragged through his entire discography, aren't I? Anyway, this album has one of the two Bowie songs that I actually like, "Heroes." The rest of it did nothing for me, but Moss Garden was a pleasant listen this morning at 7am. Neuköln reminded me of Kraftwerk which would make a lot of sense given this album was also recorded in Germany in the 70s, but apparently its inspiration came elsewhere. Man, I really thought I had something there.
Heroes is an awesome song, but there's some losers on this album to be honest. 2.5
It was pretty cool. Liked the last couple of songs. Felt like I was on outer space.
The album is really enriching and I already enjoyed Bowie from best off but had not explored his individual albums. This is the best of Bowie.
# 328 : Well I can listen to it but it's not real good. I liked Heroes of course, but the album is very ordinary throughout the rest of it. Not his best work at all. It was a little better on the second listen, but it could still do with out the meditation music in the middle. I feel like sometime this list mistakes "you MUST listen to this album before you die" with "Hey this artist was popular, or the album had a couple hits on it" with importance. Hereos was the best.
4 sterren, sommige nummers te weinig tekst
Was completely unaware of the instrumental cuts on this until listening. Moss Garden is such a tender and beautiful well after the drones of Sense of Doubt. Plus, The Secret Life of Arabia slaps.
Oh wow, I had no idea Bowie worked with Fripp and Eno. This is what wet dreams are made of. Heroes is such a low-key, effortless jam. Wandering and skittering synths underpinned by a straightforward marching drum beat. Reverberations of this song can be felt all over the work of LCD Soundsystem (particularly on This Is Happening and American Dream). Not sure I would call this "dream pop," but there is an ascendant atmospheric quality at work. Sons of the Silent Age stretches into a psychedelic realm with lopsided melodies, droning saxophone, and dripping (almost Floydian) guitar noodling. Never seen this side of Bowie before. The intro on Sense of Doubt is ominous as hell. Feels like soundtrack music for some medieval dragon-slayer movie where they are ascending a mountain pass in the fog. Love how this bleeds over directly into Moss Garden, which spreads itself out and melts all the fog and bad feels away into some koto play with nature sounds in the background. Highlights were Heroes, Sons of the Silent Age, and the instrumental detour of Sense of Doubt through Neukoln. I'll be honest, I was hoping to get a bit more Fripp action on here, but I can't complain. At its core, this is a Bowie record, and just like any other Bowie, it is well-produced, well-sequenced, and unique from all of its surrounding bodies of work. Love the synth tones and atmospheric effects that Eno brings to bear throughout. This was solid, but by no means my favorite from Bowie. High 4 / 5.
Moss garden slaps. Why aren't more people talking about moss garden when they talk about David Bowie. Change the album name to MOSS GARDEN!!!!!!! 3.5 stars.
I can't believe the actor from Zoolander has had so many albums on this list. Moss Garden was a brilliant change of pace. Was this my favorite Bowie album? Probably. Is it because it was the album I was most focused for? Probably.
First half was pretty standard Bowie, which I am not complaining about. Heroes the song was really good. Got spooky with V-2 Schneider and Sense of Doubt. Then got super mysterious with Moss Garden and Neukoln. I really liked the back half of this album.
Second time rating this one, and it's an easy 4. Heroes is one of my favorite Bowie songs ever. Love the rockier songs but second half is straight chillinnnnn. Moss Garden makes me want to do shrooms outside.
Not for me. But not unlistenable. Highlight - the secret life of Arabia
I wish I could say that I really enjoyed this album, but it didn't make me feel any type of way really. There was too much straight instrumental at the end for my taste, but overall it was an okay listen, if not boring.
Not my favorite era of his career. Title track is solid though, and a few other good moments. The atmospheric stuff is kinda cool.
Disparate uneven offerering with Brian eno being drafted in to fill 5 unfilled minutes. Don’t believe the hype. 3 stars although certain songs deserve more the unevenness brings it down for me.
Whilst containing Bowie's best song - the title track - this is not Bowie's best album. In fact, its not even his best album from the Berlin trilogy of albums, that is 'Low'. In many ways it provides the blueprint for the follow up. An opening side of progressive pop music whilst side 2 drifts more into the experimental. 'Sense of Doubt' is where the atmosphere of the cold war really comes to life and, ok, side 2 is truly cutting edge and brilliant.
It’s Bowie, so extra star for that. But other than the title track I wasn’t overly impressed
One good song.
Love! Nothing but love❤️
Heroes is David Bowie's eighth studio album, and the second of his three "Berlin" albums. These were done in collaboration with Brian Eno, and the pair pushed Bowie's avant-garde rock towards Eno's fascination with synthesizers. The title track is one of Bowie's biggest hits. The sound of that song, and much of the rest of the album, are part of the the foundation of 80s pop. The album is uneven, and most of the songs co-written with Eno are the low points.
This is close to Discipline by Kc, had no idea Robert Fripp is the guitarist in Heroes. The B-Side is not as strong as the A-Side, he is doing like Low, but the ambient tracks aren't as good here. It's not as good as Low, but almost as good and one of the best rock albums. A
This album starts off alright, but I just have no idea what this guy was thinking with the back half. Side two just completely jumps the shark. The tone of the album shifts completely. "Moss Garden" and "Neukoln" are pointless filler, and the others are a little better but not quite what you'd call "good". The EP that is side one is fine but nothing exciting. It's awfully drony - "Beauty and the Beast" hangs on the same two-bar phrase and same beat the whole time. Even the title track is kind of long and dull. I thought pretty hard about giving this a one, but it's not quite that bad.
At last a proper Bowie album. I've had all the late career ones previously which are not very good. This one has the title track! Fripp! Eno! Visconti! It's not very good. Sorry once more to the damp-eyed Bowie adherents, it's still style over substance. It mostly goes nowhere. It must have sounded quite cutting edge at the time and I guess it was but there's still not a lot going on in my view. Also the lyrics on the album version of 'Heroes' are fucking laughable. "I... I like my cat... it sits... it sits on the mat... and that... well that's just about that..." Undeniably influential and important but it's charisma and fashion rather than good content.
I've given it four stars because it's a Bowie album. imnsvho he made at least six better albums during the miraculous period that began with The Man Who Sold The World and ended with this album. But it's still brilliant. If almost any other act had made this it would be a towering career highlight.
I'll stick to the hits thank you
The production is fantastic on this, and Heroes is one of Bowie’s most impactful and evergreen songs for good reason. Beauty and the Beast is a fun opener as well, but unfortunately there’s not too much more of interest on this album. The more ambient second half is just very forgettable, especially when compared to Eno’s solo work at this time and the back to back Bowie bangers of Station to Station and Low that preceded this
<3 Bowie
Not the best listen for running
Not nearly as good as Low. First side of songs are ok ( Heroes is the standout obvs) . I prefer the more experimental instrumental side. 2.8
I absolutely love Bowie. See my other reviews to see my thoughts on him as an artist. He's my all time favourite. I love this album. However I will say it took a few times, like all of the albums from his Berlin trilogy to get the hang of. I remember going into this album pretty casually thinking the title track would be the indication of how the whole album would sound. And it's not quite like that. It did take a few listens to really sink in for me. And it might actually be my least favourite of the Berlin trilogy. Low being one of his absolute best albums. And Lodger being just more interesting in my opinion than Heroes. But again, I love this album and I love Bowie!
Bowie's best if you ask me, it has that perfect blend of classic sounding 70s rock on side A, only to have one of the biggest changes of pace ever on side B with beautiful ambient music. Moss Garden and Neuköln could have just been the whole album and I would still have given it a 5.
I wish I got Bowie. I know he is adored by many, and I like his hits. And all of Ziggy Stardust. But in general, I find him mediocre. Here were are with his 12th studio album, and he hasn't had a lot of hits by this point. This album has one. That's all. I get that it's not all about popularity, but typically high quality work (of the type that Bowie fans think he produces) receives more commercial acclaim than what Bowie has gotten. For the record, I think I actually like the second, more experimental, half. If I were rating this solely on my opinion, it would probably get 2 stars, but people whose music taste I like adore Bowie, so I reckon I'm missing something, and I'll rate it based partially on how much I think it needs to be on the 1001 list. Given that, it moves up to 3 stars.
Bowie is too weird for me. I get the hype though
Pretty good
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I just don't really like the Berlin albums.
3 out of 5. Outside of the title track this is where Bowie's music starts to lose me a little but like a lot of other albums it took me a while to get into it may be something I just haven't found how to appreciate just yet.
Wow, great groovy album with some fun weirdness in Neukoln. Ends very strong with The Secret Life of Arabia. Title track is an all time banger. This was a very enjoyable listen and could be thrown on any time.
Mostly difficult part from Heroes and Moss Garden…I wouldn’t listen again
LP
Boner alert
I like Bowie but there's too much Bowie in this list.
Bowie in Berlin experiments once again with my favorites Fripp, Eno and Bowies"s friend and producer Tony Visconti A+++ All while cleaning up, hanging out with and producing friend Iggy Pops album...Lust for Life..Great time in music.Yes I do sound like Wikipedia ....
Definitely different. Experimental and at times odd? Not a lot to sing along to
Absolute journey of an album but fun to listen to 7/10
This is a lesser Bowie. Instrumental is interesting but what I'm here for
Pretty good.
Worth 4 stars for Heroes alone.
It's fine. Not really special to me.
Meh. I mean I know I’m wrong I just wasn’t very grabbed by it. I appreciate what a trailblazer he is but I just don’t really dig this album.
Displays Bowie's amazing versatility, and as usual for Bowie, ahead of its time and influential. Collab with Eno is perfect.
Genius.
Heroes is a decent song but an awful album, 1 star or F.
not only one of my least favorite Bowie records but now my least favorite of the berlin trilogy 10/10
Heroes is a great tune but a lot of the others fell a bit flat for me. Why does it sound like he's singing from the corner of the next room over? I didn't mind the soundscape ending but it was a bit strange.
The title track is fantastic, of course. The rest of the Bowie tracks is okay, but doesn't really stand out very much. Most of side B is a kind of interesting Eno/Fripp ambient project, not at all what you would expect from a Bowie record. Really strange decision to include this here, reminds me of George Martin's B side to the Beatles' "Yellow Submarine", that I don't ever listen to.
A pinnacle in a career of pinnacles. Bowie has never sounded stronger bending his will across genres.
The title track really stands out here, I love the sound and underlying story. But not much else on this album really gets me that excited.
Part of the Berlin Trilogy. First half is peak hits Bowie and the latter half Bowie, Fripp and Eno playing with sound and structure.
Heroes is a great song, and most of the album is good. I can’t think of a single song I disliked, and I know I’ll relisten to this album. It just falls this side of a rounding error short of being a five star.
Going to be honest here, "Heroes" was an tedious listen despite my familiarity with David Bowie. I'm aware that Bowie's experimental era is heavily acclaimed but it all sounded grayscale to my ears. Bowie seemed to have exhausted his creative power by 1974 and majority of the tracks, disregarding the title track ("We can be heroes, just for one day!") were repetitive and mundane.
Fine. Still don’t see the Bowie magic. At least this one had a couple more experimental interesting tracks
nice, i prefer low but still good, rly enjoy moss garden
Well, kinda ok, but not something I'd get overly excited for. I got more from the reviews of the album here, than the album itself. 2 stars.
What I'm finding as I get deeper into this project is that I'm not a fan of David Bowie. His music isn't terrible or anything. I just don't care for it. It doesn't excite me. At all.
I never liked David Bowie. I still don't, but this wasn't bad. I probably won't listen again, but if (most of the songs) on this album came on, I wouldn't rush to skip them like I have in the past
Fav: Beauty And The Beast Least Fav: Neuköln Was not expecting that second half of the album, but it pleasantly surprised me
Very surprising. I was happy to see Bowie come up, but overall I was disappointed with this album. Not what I was expecting at all. I guess that describes Bowie to a tee though: experimental and unexpected. It just threw me and I was kinda disappointed.
Berlin Bowie is best Bowie
A natural evolution from "Low," and every bit as good. "Heroes" takes its predecessor's ambient weirdness and applies it to more upbeat and radio-friendly songs, before monging out into stoned electronic psychedelia. Anything Eno did before he started working with U2 and Coldplay is an instant A+.
This album has always been one of my favorites from Bowie. It’s part of his Berlin Trilogy with Brian Eno, and it’s probably the easiest to listen to out of the three. The album goes for a higher quality sound and production, but still maintains its experimental approach. There are about three tracks that are more ambient, which really showcase Eno’s influence on Bowie. Over the years, these tracks have become a big highlight of the album for me. For anyone new to Bowie and exploring his music, this is definitely an album you can’t skip, as it’s one of the biggest highlights of his entire catalog.
Not quite hitting the highs of Low, the middle album of the Berlin Trilogy, somehow coming out the same year as it’s predecessor continues the Eno-inspired experimentation while giving a taste of the pop of the past. Heroes is one of Bowie’s best.
5 out of 5. life altering Bowie. Nueköln makes me nostalgic for Berlin. A Bowie best.
Still Bowie, but far from this best stuff
very good.
very solid 3. tempted to bump to 4 bc of the song heroes bc it’s genuinely so good, but one song i’m in love with isn’t enough so 3
Yeah it's great. The ambient songs I was less enthused about but playing them while I'm doing something else isn't bad. Other tracks like Blackout are fantastic though. Ironically enough the one song I don't like is Heroes funnily enough. Regardless the album is pleasant to the ear.
Okay I was super excited to see this only to find out I actually only like one song on the album…
Un viaje, maravilloso.
An iconic and significant album where experimenting actually fits well. Some more uninteresting moments that don't quite fit but what album doesn't have strengths and weaknesses? Really interesting sounds that must've been completely new at the time though. Highlights: Beauty and the Beast Blackout
I don't know why heroes belongs to that very bad album
Ik vond een eerder album van Bowie echt geweldig, maar heel eerlijk vind ik deze nogal saai. Heroes is een top nummer en de instrumentele nummers V2-Schneider enSense of Doubt vind ik ook heel mooi. Maar het grootste deel van de rest vind ik gewoon weg niet zo interessant. Het kabbelt maar een beetje voor en is niet zo vernieuwend als eerdere Bowie albums die ik heb gehoord. Jammer, maar gewoon een ok album is geen schande! Wel vraag ik me een beetje af of dit album op deze lijst had gestaan als het niet van Bowie was. Ik denk het namelijk niet en das wel matig. FAVO: Heroes, V2-Schneider, Sense of doubt
pretty weird and nifty listen, banger hit too
Very funky. Bowie's odd way of singing is great. The last song is underappreciated I think.
Heroes is the best known song from this album, probably because it also the only one really worthy. The rest are quite chaotic, without coherence, and not very enjoyable. Exception are Moss garden and Neukoln, with a more Zen, easy style. rate: 5/10
Speaking of the best track, I'm feeling a Sense of Doubt that this is a good album.
One of his very best.
Bowie is God. End of.
Perfect
Two albums in one; the album opens strong with classic 70s Bowie diverse rock, but takes a turn at the half, progressing onward like a soundtrack through some dark spiritual journey or awakening, dragging a 4 down to a 3 for me.
Eh, it's a bit random, no? A formidable slice of culture but as an album, Heroes feels like a rather weak collection of things that haphazardly happened during studio time.
I was never a big Bowie fan before this project, but I have definitely become one after hearing a few so far. So I had never heard of the Berlin trilogy before. It started off great but that ambient second half…not my thing
Just for one day.
One of the Berlin trilogy albums. This one more ambient and Brian Eno was involved in the production. Do like the more rock-style songs in the album, the ambient tracks are also relaxing but maybe the shift between the two style of songs is slightly big. Nonetheless more accessible as an album compared to Low.
Nothing grabbed me.
initial impression: annoying, incoherent pop-rock genuinely unenjoyable most of the time, 'Heroes' is a classic though. 'Sense of doubt' is laughably awful. Why did it turn into a Brian Eno album. The final track was like the only actual song. Good chune.
title track is awesome but the rest is just ok I guess? do we really need 3 tracks of ambient instrumentals?
Honestly I think this is a pretty overrated Bowie album. The title track is pretty great even if I'm a little fatigued by it and there are other good songs too but the instrumentals really make this album lose momentum. It's still a decent album overall but I don't count it among his best.
okay i actually really like this
Normally this would be a straight 5 stars as it's David Bowie, but to every rule there is an exception and this album is it.
No, really guys, I'm pretty sure this dude is gay or something...
Very disappointed in this. Only song I liked was the title track, which saves it from being a 2. Tracks like Dense of Doubt and Moss Garden really slowed it down and felt out of place
Heroes is a good tune. The rest of the album was fine.
I like Bowie but this just didn’t do a lot for me. I’m sure I’m missing something but I just wasn’t massively impressed
First half is the epitome of what inspired the next generation of dad rock (90s and 00s bands going back to their roots), second half is refreshing «rock musician tries going experimental». I don´t dislike this album, but why on earth does everyone talk about Bowie? He was talented, but not that talented.
miss u David bowie
Heroes is such a damn good song. Pretty solid album throughout.
-Not necessarily my favorite of his work but it’s not too bad, I really like the three ambient tracks toward the end -Favorites are Beauty And The Beast, Sense Of Doubt, and Moss Garden
This gets a 3 based off Moss Garden and Neuköln alone.
awesome vibe but the only track i ever want to hear on this is heroes
The ambient stuff wasn't bad and gave the album an interesting feel but meant I'll probably not listen to it back to front again
I think I like Bowie singles but perhaps not albums. At least not this one. “Heroes” is alright though!
Bowie's second album release of 1977, impressive! I'm so used to his rock and pop sound that the second half of this album, mostly ambient new wave music, was quite a surprise. Sense of Doubt was effective and off-putting. On its own this album had no highlights beyond Heroes, but I'm glad it was on the list so I could learn a little more about this artist and his range of work.
Was not expecting strange instrumental songs for half the album. Herod is good but that’s about it
Such a great Bowie album! It’s a great mix of lyrics and instrumentals, and it’s so delightfully moody. The first 3 songs (“Heroes” is a classic, of course) and the last song are my favorites, but it’s strong top to bottom. Hard for me to dislike anything from David Bowie.
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### In-Depth Review of "Heroes" by David Bowie David Bowie's album "Heroes," released on October 14, 1977, is a landmark in his discography and a pivotal moment in rock music. As the second installment of his Berlin Trilogy, the album was recorded in collaboration with Brian Eno and Tony Visconti. It is celebrated for its innovative production, emotive lyrics, and its melding of rock and electronic music. #### Lyrics The lyrics in "Heroes" reflect a period of both personal and artistic transformation for Bowie. Living in West Berlin, Bowie was influenced by the city's divided state and the Cold War tensions. The album's title track, "Heroes," stands out with its narrative of love and defiance. The song tells the story of two lovers who meet at the Berlin Wall, finding hope and strength amidst political turmoil. The repeated refrain, "We can be heroes, just for one day," conveys a sense of fleeting triumph and resilience. Other tracks, such as "Sons of the Silent Age," explore themes of alienation and existential angst. "Blackout" features frantic and chaotic lyrics that reflect personal disarray and societal instability. Bowie's use of fragmented and sometimes cryptic language allows listeners to project their interpretations, adding depth and intrigue to the album's lyrical content. **Pros:** - Powerful and emotive storytelling, particularly in the title track. - Ambiguity in lyrics invites personal interpretation and engagement. - Themes of hope, love, and resilience resonate universally. **Cons:** - Some lyrics may come across as obscure or difficult to decipher. - The fragmented style can be challenging for listeners seeking clear narratives. #### Music Musically, "Heroes" is a fusion of rock, electronic, and ambient sounds, heavily influenced by the experimental work Bowie and Eno were exploring. The album opens with "Beauty and the Beast," which features a driving rhythm, jagged guitar riffs by Robert Fripp, and a distinct electronic ambiance. This track sets the tone for the album's adventurous and eclectic musical journey. The title track "Heroes" is a sonic masterpiece, driven by Fripp's sustained guitar notes and Visconti's innovative production techniques. The song builds in intensity, creating an anthemic sound that perfectly complements its lyrical themes. Instrumental tracks like "V-2 Schneider" and "Sense of Doubt" showcase Bowie's and Eno's prowess in creating atmospheric soundscapes. These pieces blend synthesizers, traditional rock instruments, and unconventional sounds to evoke the tension and beauty of Berlin during this era. **Pros:** - Innovative blend of rock, electronic, and ambient music. - Robert Fripp's guitar work is exceptional and adds a unique texture. - Instrumental tracks enhance the album's atmospheric quality. **Cons:** - The experimental nature may not appeal to all rock purists. - Some tracks might feel disjointed to listeners unfamiliar with ambient music. #### Production The production of "Heroes" is one of its most groundbreaking aspects. Tony Visconti's engineering and mixing techniques were revolutionary, particularly his use of the Eventide Harmonizer, which altered the pitch and tone of the instruments and vocals. This effect is prominently heard on Bowie's voice in the title track, giving it a distinct, almost otherworldly quality. The use of three microphones at varying distances from Bowie during the recording of "Heroes" allowed Visconti to create a sense of space and depth, capturing the emotional intensity of Bowie's performance. Brian Eno's influence is evident in the album's ambient soundscapes and the use of synthesizers and electronic textures. **Pros:** - Innovative production techniques that enhance the emotional impact. - Creative use of technology, such as the Eventide Harmonizer. - High-quality mixing that brings out the best in each track. **Cons:** - The heavy use of production effects might overshadow the raw musical elements for some listeners. - The avant-garde approach could be perceived as overly experimental. #### Themes "Heroes" is thematically rich, exploring ideas of conflict, love, hope, and existential reflection. The backdrop of Cold War Berlin serves as a powerful metaphor throughout the album. The juxtaposition of light and darkness, hope and despair, and love and alienation are recurring motifs. The title track is a testament to the human spirit's capacity for heroism, even in the face of overwhelming odds. The lyrics speak to the possibility of transcendence and the power of love to overcome barriers, both literal and figurative. Other tracks delve into personal introspection and societal commentary, reflecting Bowie's own struggles and the broader geopolitical climate. **Pros:** - Deep and thought-provoking themes that remain relevant. - Successful integration of personal and political commentary. - Evocative use of Berlin as a metaphor for division and hope. **Cons:** - The heavy thematic content might be overwhelming for casual listeners. - Some thematic elements may be lost without context about the Cold War era. #### Influence "Heroes" has had a lasting impact on music and popular culture. The album is considered one of Bowie's finest works and a high point of the Berlin Trilogy. Its innovative production techniques have influenced countless artists across various genres, from post-punk to electronic music. The title track "Heroes" has become an anthem, covered by numerous artists and featured in films, TV shows, and commercials. Its message of hope and resilience continues to inspire new generations. The album's fusion of rock and electronic elements paved the way for future musical experimentation, and its atmospheric soundscapes have been emulated by many musicians. **Pros:** - Significant influence on subsequent musical genres and artists. - The title track has achieved iconic status. - Contributions to the evolution of rock and electronic music. **Cons:** - Some of its experimental aspects may seem dated compared to modern production standards. - The album's influence might overshadow other significant works from the same period. ### Conclusion David Bowie's "Heroes" is a masterful blend of innovative music, emotive lyrics, and groundbreaking production. It captures a moment in time while addressing universal themes that continue to resonate. The album's strengths lie in its emotional depth, thematic richness, and its influence on future music. However, its experimental nature and some of its more obscure lyrics and themes may not appeal to all listeners. Despite these minor drawbacks, "Heroes" stands as a testament to Bowie's artistry and his ability to push the boundaries of popular music.
I will be king And you, you will be queen Though nothing will drive them away We can beat them, just for one day We can be heroes, just for one day And you, you can be mean And I, I'll drink all the time Cause we're lovers, and that is a fact Yes we're lovers, and that is that Though nothing will keep us together We could steal time just for one day We can be heroes for ever and ever What d'you say? I wish you could swim Like the dolphins, like dolphins can swim Though nothing, nothing will keep us together We can beat them, for ever and ever Oh we can be Heroes, just for one day I will be king And you, you will be queen Though nothing will drive them away We can be Heroes, just for one day We can be us, just for one day I can remember Standing, by the wall And the guns, shot above our heads And we kissed, as though nothing could fall And the shame, was on the other side Oh we can beat them, for ever and ever Then we could be Heroes, just for one day OK, now this belongs on the list. Basically perfect album that everyone should hear at least once. 5/5
listened to again very artful and the instrumental stuff is so texturally fascinating
Not fan of Bowie.
An absolute delight!
I don't mind some Bowie, and the first half was fairly decent, but the back half just kills the vibe. Secrets of Arabia with the big save right at the end of play!
Too out there. 1/5
This album was interesting, the first part, the singing and everything was great, and then a shift happens until the last song, and the shift made me listen more closely. Im not sure I would recommend this album as a whole, just because of the shift that happens from the number Sense of doubt, this song was weirdly haunting for me, but I did enjoy it, last part felt like I was told a story, but not knowing why it was told to me.
This can be done fairly short... Heroes is 5/5 and is an incredible song... the rest is pure shit. 1/5
Not sure what this is. Feels so weird. Might like it might not. 3*
I like a lot of the ambient stuff, but of the "regular" songs only 'Heroes' stands out as a song I'd listen to on purpose. Standouts Heroes Sense of Doubt 3/5
angsty memories there!
Started out as "normal" Bowie pop. Ended up as trippy ethereal head music. I enjoyed it. Heroes is a great song. Surprising that was the radio hit given it's over 6min long and radio's infatuation with the 3 minute track.
1977. What a year that must have been to be a David Bowie fan! Bowie recorded 4 albums that year, including two collaborations with Iggy Pop. 'Heroes' was the last of these four and the second of the Berlin Trilogy with Brian Eno. By this point, Berlin was the main base of operations. The city with its Cold War paranoia and its famous Wall permeated the recorded sessions. Despite that, it's a brighter album than 'Low', as though his frantic experiments away from fame and towards the avant garde gave him a new lease on life. Bowie allowed himself to take some inspiration from Pop's recording style in the 'Lust for Life' sessions. He invited Robert Fripp of King Crimson to contribute, a move that certainly paid off and led to the title track, one of the most loved songs of Bowie's career. But it's Brian Eno who really shines here and acts more as a collaborator than a mere producer here. It's here that Bowie began to use Eno's Oblique Strategies cards to inspire creativity and a large degree of random chance. The two would use this technique extensively on Bowie's next album, 'Lodger'. Fans will disagree about this but for me, I'd rank 'Heroes' as the least interesting album of the Berlin Trilogy. It feels like an exact halfway point between the very experimental 'Low' and much more accessible (but very underrated) 'Lodger', demonstrating elements of both. Nonetheless, it's an essential listen for any Bowie fan doing a deep dive into his music. Like most of his albums, it gets better the more I listen to it.
More consistent than Young Americans but the latter has the better - or rather more - highs. (Heroes is great but Fascination is on par with it and Young American + Right >> everything else on here.) Not enthused with either Bowie album encountered so far, in any case, and, outside of a few favorite songs (Deranged + The Man Who Sold The World, plus some of the mentioned songs) I remain lukewarm to the artist in general; remain mostly cold to his narrative style and theatrical vocals.
Most of the songs don’t do it for me but there are some high points forsure.
initial listen: must have fallen asleep halfway through the album but it’s not bad i think? if i had to pinpoint it to something i know, the vibe reminds me of don’t you (forget about me) but that might just be because they’re both older songs lol……. some of the first few songs are quite catchy esp heroes but the second half is mostly instrumentals?? 🧐🧐 interesting choice update: moss garden is pretty tho!! very space-like. overall the album is pretty cool, i’d listen to it again when i’m in the mood!
First half was pretty good. Not Bowie's best, but still Bowie. Other than Heroes, I don't know that there were a lot of standout tracks. A lot of the B side was instrumental-only stuff that was probably really cool in 1977 but sounds like a track off the Subnautica soundtrack in 2024. Really good for 70s/80s electronic music, but of its era
I might be in the minority here but other than "Heroes," which is a great song!, I just never jived with all of the second half space instrumentals. It felt like two ideas shoved together, like an old Yes album or something (side one is the singles, side two is the space opera).
Great but I don’t really like Bowie the musician.
Bowie just takes you to places you never thought you'd ever go and that's just beautiful. Listening to Bowie songs here and there is good, but listening to a whole album is just an incredible experience.
It's interesting that this book/project includes both Low and Heroes, but not Lodger even though the three albums together are considered a trilogy and do (I think anyway) speak to one another. It's David Bowie, so obviously this was going to be a hit with me. It's not my favorite Bowie album, but it's not his worst. Possibly unpopular opinion: I actually do like the instrumental tracks on Side 2. As far as the lyrical songs go, he's got three solid hits and obviously the titular "Heroes" steals the show. The overall album feels flimsy in spots, but you gotta respect Bowie and Eno for experimenting and making the art they wanted to make.
It's pretty good, with some standout tracks but I'm not sure it holds up with the best of Bowie. 02/07/24
Interesting musical variety
It’s Bowie. You know it’s good.
I like Neuköln and that's about it. This didn't do anything to sway me on my indifference of Bowie.
Solid album with a number of recognizable tracks I didn’t realize were on it. Ends a little weird, but I’m still for it.
Fantastic 4 star album, but not 5 stars, because you also have Low, Hunky Dory, Ziggy Stardust, Station To Station and each one of them are better as an album and more coherently.
This album gets carried by Heroes, which is an amazing song. But apart from that one, this one just seems nothing compared to Ziggy. 2.8*
This is as much a Brian Eno album as it is Bowie. Not my favorite work from one of my favorite artists.
Heroes is undoubtedly a masterpiece of a song. The album, not so much. I prefer Ziggy and Aladdin, personally.
Sense of Doubt giving John Carpenter horror vibes Heroes reminds me of Moulin Rouge, whose cover is maybe more familiar than this classic. Very high concept, especially the final few tracks.
It was alright
Not my favorite Bowie album. I prefer his older stuff.
Well, "Heroes" is a great song. The rest of the album is pretty bad.
OK. But was expecting more
I enjoyed it, just not as much as I hoped I would, I love Bowie so this was kind of a disappointing listen for me. highlights: Heroes, Beauty and the Beast, Sons of the Silent Age, The Secret Life of Arabia.
I didn't like this as much as young Americans, but still solid album.
Outside of the title track, this was an interesting album to say the least. In reading more about it, it makes sense that this was an “experimental” album that was done on the spot in the recording studio, especially when it suddenly gives way to an instrumental section that feels like it slipped in from a movie soundtrack. I have to presume that as this was his 12th album, there are others more worthy of a listen…this one was not what I was maybe hoping for or expecting. Maybe I’m being too harsh in my dislike of this album and I can presume lots of people love this Bowie release. Sorry if that’s the case…I promise I really did try to like this!
😍
Interesting album. There's some cool arrangements here between Brian Eno and Robert Fripp, and there is a whole ambient side of the album that's kind of far out. There are some solid songs, but I didn't particularly dig the lack of structure on the vocal side and across the album. It's an amusing album, but I also feel there is this deeper Bowie mythology around his career and eras that is overrated (unless, of course, you are a huge fan). ***
Heroes is good then the rest of the album goes into the weirdo zone.
Some absolute belters
Already listened to it before, but why not listening to it again?! :) "Heroes" is the second album from Bowie's Berlin Trilogy ("Low", "Heroes", "Lodger"). This Berlin Trilogy was Bowie's way to detox himself from cocaine, so he moved from LA to Berlin with Iggy Pop (from The Stooges) to detox themselves there, and yet, these guys made incredible music there. If you had to ask me what's my favorite of the trilogy, its either "Low" or this one, it changes often :). This album is incredible, and like "Low", it has a cohesive first side, and the second side goes into the experimental, electronic, krautrock stuff influenced by the likes of Kraftwerk, NEU!, Tangerine Dream and more. "Beauty And The Beast" is so energetic, Bowie's performance on this one is awesome. Love it! The title track is a classic. It does remind me of The Velvet Underground's "I'm Waiting For The Man", because of the metric throughout the song. And if this isn't enough proof, Bowie has always been vocal about his love for the New York City-based band. "Sons Of The Silent Age" is such a beautiful song. It's an uplifting song. I love it. I love it's message. "Blackout" is another an energetic one. Awesome track. "V-2 Schneider" is an homage to the late electronic legend, Florian Schneider of Kraftwerk fame (Rest In Peace, Florian), which is why I have respect for this song in particular, even though Florian was alive during this era of Bowie. Now from here, we have an ambient trilogy with the next 3 tracks ('Sense Of Doubt", "Moss Garden", "Neuköln"). I love each of the 3 ambient tracks. "The Secret Life Of Arabia" is the only track on the second side on which we have Bowie singing. This track foreshadowed what was gonna happen on the final Berlin album, "Lodger", due to the world music influences. I also love it. Overall, I love (almost) every track on this album. "Joe The Lion" was my least favorite, it's just, the strangest song on the album for me. Near perfect album, and I would love to listen to it often, and I recommend you to do the same :) -favorite songs: all of them (except Joe The Lion) -least favorite song: Joe The Lion
The risk and ambition of this is admirable but the result is not enthralling for me as album shifts to ambient orientalism.
Whoa, I am still pretty early into this project and already three Bowie albums. I imagine I will have heard everything he ever recorded by the time it all ends. As far as this one goes, "Heroes" is rhe only song I knew, and, is a terrific song. The rest of the album seems more lime just an experiment. I think the album would grow on me if/hen I have the chance to listen again. It is a good album and I am glad it was included, especially given the players. The instrumentals are intriguing and very listenable, when in the right mood...
First side is up and down. Heroes, Beauty and the Beast and Joe the Lion are fun. Second side is meh at best.
apesar de Heroes ser uma das minhas favoritas do Bowie, o restante do disco não me comove demais.
okay berlin diva
Feels very improvised
My first Bowie album! Heroes is clearly the best song on the album, but I listened twice and enjoyed all of it.
The Brian Eno David Bowie doesn't excite me withe way David Bowie without Brian Eno does. I understand this album and why it's on this list. It just doesn't need to be if you take all other Bowie albums into account.
own
The most enjoyable Bowie album so far. At some points I almost forgot I was listening to anything at all
2 Bowie albums in now. This is very different from Young Americans. Few good songs and then quite epic instrumentals. Surely not his best work but does leave me wanting to hear more. 3.5 stars
Sounds just as fresh and weird as ever
As someone who has had recent fairs with Bowie, I really never saw much about this album apart from the title track and the ambient tracks. Great stuff however.
What more can be said about this man. Brilliant.
Prefer Low, very slightly. Title track makes me tingle
I heard this Eno guy he worked with is ok too. Clasic goodness
I hate to say it, but David Bowie's album "Heroes" left me feeling underwhelmed. While there are a couple of standout tracks, like the title song "Heroes," the album as a whole feels inconsistent and lacks the cohesion and innovation I expect from Bowie. The experimental sound on some songs comes across as more grating than groundbreaking. Bowie's vocals also seem strained at times, failing to deliver the emotional impact that his lyrics strive for. It pains me to give "Heroes" a 1.5 out of 5 stars, considering Bowie's legendary status, but this album simply doesn't measure up to his usual brilliance. Die-hard fans may still find glimpses of genius, but for casual listeners, "Heroes" is a miss.
The second part of Bowie's "Berlin Trilogy" finds him still experimenting with soundscapes while combining them with krautrock and pop. The title track is still brilliant as mostly everything else here - the only issue is one could argue that the instrumental tracks aren't quite as good as those on his previous album 'Low'. Best Tracks: Beauty and the Beast; Heroes; V2-Schneider
Interesting instrumentals. Kinda spooky at times. Love the experimental orchestrations. Different from what I’d expect.
Now that I’ve heard all three of the Berlin Trilogy, I’d rank them Station to Station, Heroes, then Low…
Der Song "Heroes" ist mein absolutes Lieblingslied von David Bowie. Das Album ist insgesamt nicht das Beste von ihm, aber doch ein sehr schönes und angenehmes Album. Sehr gute, abwechslungsreiche Arrangements mit harmonischen Gesängen.
Good but not the best Bowie album. I'm not a massive fan of ambient / electronic type music but I found it a bit more tolerable as an interlude and can see the interest as it demonstrated Bowie's continuing evolution as a songwriter. I found it quite nice to listen to the second side on the train just watching the countryside go by. I will still dock a point for it because I was a little bored but there's plenty of decent songs on here so still 4*
Boring pop. A couple of the last songs completely changed the sound compared to the rest - those where more interesting, but nothing I would go back to.
a different side to bowie. I LOVE IT
Sort of zoned out after Heroes until there was a bit of singing in the last song.
First and last songs were awful, the instrumental ones were pretty nice
Don't like 'em
Not Bowie’s best, but still an interesting effort with some good songs. The album starts with 3 strong tunes, particularly album opener and Heroes. This album sees Bowie experimenting more, along with collaborator Brian Eno, to make something a bit more experimental and electronically influenced. The main problem here is the lack of cohesiveness. Side A is typical Bowie affair of unique and danceable pop tracks. Side B is pretty much an ambient album. Don’t get me wrong, there are some really nice soundscapes there…but having Beauty and the Beat/Heroes on the same album as sense of Doubt/Moss Garden just seems like a strange fit. I’m never sure when I want to listen to this album because of those disparate feels; and thus I usually only listen to the front or back end depending on what I’m looking for.
Jeg måtte simpelthen opgive den.
If it is nice. Play it twice. Jeg kunne sagtens have hørt den 3 gange også. Men der er rigeligt af andre albums som jeg også skal indhente. Sjovt at slutte albummet næsten total instrumentalt, men det fungerede.
Jeg vil så gerne elske det her album. For to år siden købte jeg det, på et loppemarked, i Berlin. Da jeg kom hjem og satte det på var jeg blæst bagover. Ikke af begejstring, men af skuffelse. Titelnummeret kendte jeg, og elsker jeg, men resten af pladen lå langt fra den lyd der er på “Heroes” nummeret. Siden har jeg ladet pladen ligge. Efter 2 gennemlytninger i dag, begynder pladen at vokse på mig. Der er finesser i numre jeg lægger mere mærke til. Og jeg har accepteret at det ikke bare er en rockskive, men også jazzet med instrumentale numre der glider sammen til en stor helhed på B-siden. Det er ikke en 5/5 for mig endnu. Men det bliver det måske ved flere besøg. Og så et titelnummeret jo bare en 10/5.
Correcto.
Three stars because it's Bowie. Minus two because instrumentals.
2nd half very cool and instrumental, also perks of being a wallflower movie of my youthhhh
Partly heard before Saved 1/10 Top track: Heroes
Moss Garden was nice… and Beauty and the Beast is a fun song… but I guess I just don’t understand David Bowie…
Heroes is his best song
I don’t like it as much as I “should”, and I seem to be in the minority in thinking that “Beauty and the Beast” is lame as hell. However, the title track is an all-timer, and I actually quite like a lot of the ambient stuff. 3.5/5
No no no
Tijdens het luisteren hoor je zowel op het art rock als op het ambient-deel veel overeenkomsten met zijn finale en reeds beoordeelde album "Blackstar". Ik denk dat hij deze plaat veelal als referentie heeft gebruikt, en vervolgens alle elementen naar nieuwe hoogtes heeft gebracht. Dit album is kwalitatief een stap terug, en is bij vlagen vrij saai. De befaamde titelsong en 'Sons of the Silent Age' steken er met kop en schouders boven uit. Die doorbreken de roes. Net zoals de dancy afsluiter 'The Secret Life of Arabia' het bloed net voor het einde nog even sneller laat stromen. De ambient fase kan me gestolen worden en spreekt minder tot de verbeelding dan kantje twee op zijn andere Berlin album "Low". Nee, niet zijn beste project dit. 5,5/10 Highlights: Heroes Sons of the Silent Age
Zo iconisch als de hoes, zo geniaal als de titelsong, zo grillig is deze plaat en zo matig is de B kant. Genialiteit straalt af en toe door maar zeker in de tweede helft van het album zitten echt nummers die mij niet zo interesseren. 6/10 Highlights Heroes
I surprisingly didn't love this album. I listened to it twice and still didn't really get it. I'll give it 3 but really 2.5
We can be heroes, just for one day…
In YouTube Music there's a little blurb from Wikipedia. Apparently for this album none of the lyrics for the songs were written until Bowie was standing in front of the microphone in the studio. Considering that, it's incredible that the song Heroes exists. But that also makes me dislike this album a little bit. I want something with a bit more thought behind it. I'm not even a big lyrics guy, but that annoyed me. I think I would have liked this more if I didn't get that little fun fact.
Weird, but not bad... Heroes is really good, towards the end the album becomes quite psychedelic...
cool album. i like the instrumentals
Just not my favorite Bowie album
Like on Low - I love the instrumental songs!
The more I dive into Bowie's deeper discography, the more I realize that fair chunk of his music is not something you listen to when you just want to vibe to some tunes. He has stuff that demands intent listening, the kind where you sit down with your best speakers or headphones to get a fuller experience. But then again, he also has stuff that's so easy to dance or sing along to. I suppose it's a good thing to have the best of both worlds in one album, it's just a bit jarring to have two contrasting sounds when you're only in the mood for one and not the other. Dampens the enjoyment a little bit, even when you know that the music is good. And it is good. Standouts are Heroes and Joe the Lion.
A slow burner, aside from the instantly recognisable and fantastic title track. The album has a bleak, dystopian feel with, title track aside, the best numbers being the three instrumentals on side two.
Liked Moss Garden as reminder of time in Japan. V Schneider my favorite. Surprised so much instrumental as I usually love Bowie’s sultry voice. Wanted to enjoy Neuköln for the German tie-in, but didn’t 😔
Not sure what it is, I'm just not the biggest Bowie fan. I don't hate his music by any means, but I also don't love it either. A very solid 3 for me.
Mostro
This album has the peculiar handicap of containing one of the greatest songs of all time, so the others tracks tend to fade into the background. Still, a great, if uneven, record.
The album is hard to sum up. There is the song "Heroes" which is a very good song, then there are a few average songs and then there is an instrumental part which is not too bad. Overall I would say it is a good album.
I'm a fan of Bowie, but I don't enjoy the albums as much as I enjoy the hits. My favorite Bowie are the poppy hits, so maybe it's just not for me to go deep into. Heroes was the only track on this one that stood out to me.
Didn't think too much of this one until the instrumental songs near the end
I of course know the title track, but beyond that this album was surprising, and often not in a good way. It’s a little too icy and weird for me, and Bowie stretches his voice further than he should to mixed effect. The instrumentals also didn’t really land for me. All that said, I get that it’s one of those albums you probably need to invest some time into to really “get,” and I appreciate just how odd and experimental it is. Best song: Heroes
Another really cool album from Bowie's Berlin period. I don't like this album as much as Low, which I think is my favorite Bowie album, but many of the features that make that album great are still here 4/5
Bowie strikes again.
"Strange Intellectualism": KINDA QUEER Americans, for the most part, don't do nuance. It's not a genetic stupidity, but the default birth right. You have not only opt out, but spend the rest of your American life contending with Capitalist bandwagon of single serve, a la carte Me Me Mes who lose their minds if you don't want to join in the "fun". Sometimes during, or shortly after, one of the 1980s I've lived through (when this crass conformity was the St. Reagan Article of Faith, and the full Idiocrat hellscape was just the constipated cum bubble in his corporate whoring shriveled contra), the full thunder Diddley beat and nasty rama of Iggy's "Lust for Life" was readacted for popular consumption in the form of family fun cruise ships--where memories are made. Happy Moms and Dads look on as perfect children cannonball into the abundant pools, which is metaphysically the opposite of the actual self-destructive theme of the song. The lust for family memories has an edgy beat for today's "edgy" families, but not the drugs or degradation; just family fun on a disease vector flotilla, drinking up to three overpriced mimosa. "Oh Johnny" (dude threw off Bryce energy) and Kayleigh (his too young to have eight and eleven year olds and be able to afford a fucking cruise) puts her head of perfect beach hair on his gym sculpted shoulder "aren't we great.". Aren't we great. A rhetorical question without the question mark. An assertion. A humble brag. Around the same time, the chickens came home to roost with terror and fire. There were thousands dead and thousands more would die slow horrible deaths. In America, this was impossible, the "end of history", and called for an immediate charity event for the various heroes who gave it all. And a terrific marketing opportunity for blind obedience to the genocidal liturgy of the last century's corporate driven ethos with extreme Hamaraban prejudice. Yankee Azreal/Death comes ripping. This anti-human, anti-reason conventional wisdom free wisdom festered in the culture. John Lennon was banned on the radio. Songs of protest, of uplift, of perseverance, were all appropriated to the white noise drumbeats of war. This nauseating zeitgeist permeated everything, even a charity event for first responder heroes. For David Bowie, it was a hometown gig; He'd lived in NYC better than ten years at that point, so I completely understood why he'd want to do his part. The cops were his cops. The fire people were his people. His neighbors died. So Bowie does "Heroes". And then it happened again; like his pal Iggy, nuance was erased, and a few words we amputated from context and meaning, becoming advertisement, a mental and emotional short hand. Like what happened to Cohen and his Old Testament sexxxy time repartee "Hallejulah"--now cum free. It is a fact that the lived ethos, for most Americans, that nuance is some elite parlour trick by strange intellectuals, and only plainspoken folks are the real deal. In a complicated world, these folks like to keep it simple. And simple is why we are totally fucked: If it can't be dumbed and down and made pliable to simple reading, then it must be banned or burned. If it is different, it must be killed--all pogroms begin with serious people being serious about things, even if those things are laughably stupid. Since the uncanny songs and sublime instrumentation of this song are the product of such strange intellectualism, I am going to lean simple and serious, and finish this screed/review with a track by track (true) All-American incessantly self-regarding Reader Response misunderstanding. 1. "Beauty and the Beast" : Seems Kinda Queer. 2. "Joe the Lion": LET'S GO BRANDON! Cats seem Kinda Queer. 3. "'Heroes'": "THE SONG IS CALLED HEROES, COLLEGE BOY! IT'S ABOUT HEROES. PUNCTUATION MARKS ARE STRANGE INTELLECTUALISM. PRAISE HIS NAME! END OF SUBJECT!!! I GOT MY BACK TO BLUE FLAG FLYING RIGHT NEXT TO MY TRUMP FLAG. For the HEROES. 4. "Sons of the Silent Age": We ain't a silent majority no more! And it ain't "Daughters" here; only Proud American boys. 5. "Blackout": Seems Kinda Queer. 6. "V-2 Schneider": He was a hoot on One Day at a Time. Seems Kinda Queer. 7. "Sense of Doubt": Doubts are Kinda Queer. 8. "Moss Garden" : My oldest daughter tells me she likes this one for Holy Yoga at Crossroads. Seems Kinda Queer. 9. "Neuköln": Seems Kinda Queer. 10. "The Secret Life of Arabia": They hate Jesus H. America. Also-Seems Kinda Queer. Disclaimer: If you are, in fact, kinda queer, then I recommend listening to "Berlin" trilogy sequentially, Low, "Heroes", The Lodger. However, if you really want to disappear, put all three on shuffle. The "Berlin" universe is boundless mysteries and treasures. UPDATE: The abundant "offense" of Americans who mistook the The Feast of Dionysius as The Last Supper, and, upon learning of their error, doubled-down on their offended-ness really proved my thesis: "Lust for Life"--about Family Fun Cruise Ships. "Heroes" (without ambiguous Bowie supplied punctuation)-- about first responders and soldiers. The Feast of Dionysius-- All representations of dinner not The Last Supper are offensive. Americans are too stupid for art, even if its representational. Besides, art is Kinda queer.
5/23/24. Wasn’t crazy about the ambient songs toward the end, but will always enjoy Bowie.
David Bowie is one of my favorites, Heroes is one my all time favorite songs. I had forgotten about most of the other songs on this record. It was nice and nostalgic to listen to them again.
this is my eighth david bowie album i've heard as part of this project, but what surprises me most is how different all his albums are. heroes is mostly in an electronic, artsy space. i was reminded of brian eno's ambience reputation during the instrumental parts, and lo and behold, eno was credited on a number of songs on heroes! their collaboration makes sense, especially since they both were part of beginnings of glam rock, though separate from one another.
Seeing as this is another album within the "Berlin Trilogy", and another one that I had not heard before, I couldn't help but compare it to "Low". Well, in my opinion, this album is just not as good as "Low". But it's still so good. Again, this album and project reminds me of just how far-reaching David Bowie's career was. Each album included here was influential for one reason or another, and each one sounds unique and formed in its own bubble. It's true artistry. I was actually weirdly surprised by the final three tracks on the album: "Moss Garden", which then segued into "Neukolon", which segued into "The Secret Life of Arabia". They has very clear Asian influences, but there's a sense of electronic and ambient Bowie-isms dancing under the surface of these songs. They're felt very "old meets new". I was caught off guard by how intriguing this trio of songs was.
The more it’s on the better it gets. Can’t really expect a ton of “hooks” like the track “Heroes” it’s mainly expansive and orchestral, exploding a lot with Bowie’s energy, the classic vocal talking / singing.
I liked learning about Bowie's years in Berlin. Seemed really good for him after so much madness. Ironic since Berlin wasn't exactly chill at the time. The story of him playing the song "Heroes" live in Berlin and being able to hear the crowd on the other side singing those lyrics is very moving. I appreciate the experimental nature of the album, but Heroes is the only song I ever come back to.
A one track album. Not sure what drugs he was on - maybe the same ones the person who selected it.
His style isnt for me. I can see why people enjoyed it but today he wouldnt be successful.
It's very middle-of-the-road Bowie
If I was rating just Heroes this would be 5 stars. But the rest of the album is mediocre by Bowie standards.
First Bowie album I’ve listened to, I don’t know if this was a great introduction into his work. Definitely more experimental pop, kind of spacey and ethereal, but in terms of the music nothing really caught my ear. C teir.
This is one of those albums that manages to sound very much like a product of its time without sounding dated. The lyrics, rather than sounding improvised, come across as thoughtful commentary on contemporary events. The instrumental tracks are interesting in a way few rock instrumentals are.
“Heroes” has been a favorite song of mine for some years now. I’ve connected with it on a personal and emotional level a few different times. I find it to be a powerful song that sometimes goes forgotten when Bowie’s greatest songs are discussed. So I was excited to hear the album it originated from. The rest of this album is…ok. The first one songs are kind of a hot mess, especially when considering the drastic tonal change from those to “Heroes.” “Sons of the Silent Age” and “Blackout” are more tonally consistent with “Heroes,” but still don’t quite match the emotional highs of the title track. What follows is an instrumental suite that takes up the entirety of the album’s second side (save for the final track). These are good, and even reminded me of Pink Floyd instrumentals in some places, reminiscent of tracks from “Wish You Were Here” or “Animals” (albums I would love to be assigned…). These are beautifully done (namely “Sense of Doubt” and “Moss Garden”), but they aren’t what I come to a Bowie album for. I come for him, his voice, his poetry. Perhaps that’s just my misconception of him as being a singer-songwriter but not someone who plays instruments on his own records. (The joke was on me when I checked the personnel listings for this album; Bowie plays 5 instruments in addition to singing) Still, it wasn’t what I was looking for, so I wasn’t as invested. That doesn’t detract from the overall quality of these pieces, though. The way I look at this, there’s three great songs on this album (see below), two really ok ones, one bad one (the final track), and some lovely instrumentals. That adds up to 3 stars for me, which sucks because after the fifth song I was ready to give it 4. Standout tracks: “Heroes,” “Sons of the Silent Age,” “Blackout”
Very very good album
More ambient and instrumental music than I expected based on the hit single. Not bad, but it didn't feel like a complete Bowie album.
I have a love/tolerate relationship with this album: love side one, tolerate side two. If I owned this on vinyl I would never flip it. Beauty and the Beast and John the Lion lead up to my favorite song on the album and for the artist, Heroes. Unfortunately, side 2 sounds a lot like Radiohead was attempting to make a movie soundtrack (#moonshapedpool) and I kind of want to walk at the theater ASide:Classic! B-side: pass!
Wow! Besides Heroes this seems like a mid album. Maybe I need to listen again at the right time. 🤷♂️ I’m interested in what you will say. I always write my reviews before I read yours.
Heroes!
7/10 Bowie=good, Heroes the single = good, Heroes the album = fine enough 5-13-2024
Beauty and the Beast 3.6 Joe the Lion 3.7 Heroes 4 Sons of the Silent Age 3.5 Blackout 3.3 V-2 Schneider 3.6 Sense of Doubt 3.4 Moss Garden 3.2 Neukoln 3.2 The Secret Life of Arabia 3.4 Score: 3.49
Fine, I guess? I liked "Heroes." Better than the one with Fame on it.
Better than Fame and still obviously influenced by genres other than rock, but not very interesting outside of the title track
Harrowing. A bare knuckle downdraft into some seriously dark nooks. Not for tourists. I listened to this record a lot during what I hope will be the worst part of my life and it wasn't comforting, but it was the only thing that made sense. Both the cover art and the side two leadoff tune "V-2 Schneider" are tributes to Kraftwerk.
Aside from the title track, I'm pretty sure I haven't heard the rest of this album's songs, and it's an interesting journey. I'm not sure I enjoyed the B-side as much as, say, the parts of Pink Floyd's "Wish You Were Here" where the songs blended into each other, but it's still fun to hear the Bowie/Eno/Fripp collaboration across the entire album. (Brian Eno is everywhere, btw.) I also found it really helpful to read the Wikipedia entry for this album and how it was created, as I would never have guessed that the vocals and lyrics were almost tacked on at the end (except apparently with "Sons of the Silent Age"), and that everything was largely recorded in the first take. It's really impressive, given how layered and seemingly cohesive the songs, and most of the album, are. I'm also glad to have read that this album came after extensive collaboration between Bowie and Iggy Pop, as we (or really I) left David Bowie's timeline with "Ziggy Stardust"'s Iggy Pop fascination and emulation. Also very cool to read about the legacy and influence of the album, especially the later Philip Glass adaptations of "Low" and "Heroes" into symphonies. I'm almost tempted to give this 4 stars, but it feels like it's not quite *that* good of an album, at least for me.
This was never one of my favorite Bowie albums so it's probably been decades since I last heard it, if ever. I liked the funky, muddy Beauty and the Beast and Heroes is awesome, naturally, though sounds a little wheezy. Not much else grabs except for V-2 Schneider, though in general all of side two is fine as ambient music. Entire album feels like a transition for a great artist: new sounds & instruments and sometimes it works and sometimes, well, sometimes you get "Secret Life of Arabia." Have to give it a 4 just for Heroes though.
So gerne ich die Songs aus seiner Ziggy Zeit höre, bei diesen Songs hier werde ich depressiv.
LISTENED TO 100 TIMES!
A few very good songs, but it isn't his best album.
Good but not their best
Dragged towards the end
Cocaine Bowie is the best Bowie
1. Beauty and the best 7/10 2.) Joe the Lion 4/10 3.) Heroes 9/10- Probably my favorite track. Reminds me of the mid 2000 movies of a kid living that suburban life with no worries. 4.) Sons of Silent Age 6/10. Great jazzy tune infused with electronic melodies but was not fan of the singing/talking 5.)Black Out 4/10. such great guitar riffs but really did not like david bowie singing. should of left off as a instrumental 6.)V-2 9/10. great use of david bowies voice with guitar riffs. this is what i envision as a new david bowie listener. 7.)Neukoln 8/10. Jazz trumps all! synths go hard too
se nota el brian eno touch, especialmente en las instrumentales. algo disonante en general pero classic
El mejor de la trilogía de Berlín? 🤔 tengo que volver a escucharla pero recuerdo que Low me gustaba más. Un poco mid pero de todas formas solid Bowie, Heroes la mejor canción y me gustan las canciones instrumentales. No podría tampoco AMAR este álbum, mucha gente siente nostalgia tanto para amarlo u odiarlo.
Finalmente ouvi David Bowie e gostei demais. O fato do álbum ter metade das músicas instrumentais me surpreendeu mais ainda. Definitivamente vou ouvir mais
One extra for the title track
Definitely not my favorite Bowie.
Over indulgent
Bowie is an artist that was generally always ahead of time and this album is no different since by this point he was starting to experiment with "electronic" music which would go on to influence countless artists. The first half of this album is mostly similar to his prior albums and delivers some of the albums highlights in "Joe the Lion", the title track and "Blackout". The second half is mostly instrumental tracks where the experimentation with electronic music is really pushed to the forefront, and while this is a less interesting listen in 2024, I imagine that this must have been quite a unique experience way back in the 70s. The album then ends with "The Secret Life of Arabia" which is another highlight from this album. All in all, a solid jam.
Not crazy bout it. Heroes the best song ever tho
Was surprised by the melancholic shift but I still enjoyed it. -8/10
I was somewhat grateful that the second half was mostly instrumental tracks because I had to evaluate less songs. There were some decent songs but most were not hitting for me. Sounds interesting but not my thing.
Did NOT enjoy the moss garden and neukoln bullshit, other than that pretty good. For some reason Bowies stuff isn’t super exciting to me but it’s still good. 7/10
I like David Bowie but his stuff never really blows my mind. 7/10
7/10 - Better than the other Bowie album. There were a few songs I enjoyed quite a bit. There was a major mood and style shift that caught me off guard but Moss garden was quite good. However, i was even more surprised on the switch back for secret life of arabia
Some bangers but I really didn’t enjoy end
Was gonna comment on how similar this sounded to a talking heads album, but I guess eno helped produce it so that makes sense. I liked this more than the last Bowie album; the sound was a little strange overall but my issue with Bowie is typically that he just kinda bores me, and this was pretty entertaining. 7/10
I probably need to immerse mayself a bit more in the Berlin Trilogy to fully appreciate them, because at the moment it isn't quite up there for me.
Obviously some legendary tunes and recordings but the production always sounded too cacophonic for me
I know the song Heroes inside out but I haven't listened to any of the other songs before. It wasn't at all what I expected. It's artsy and experimental. It didn't click for me. Either I wasn't in the mood for that type of music or this album wasn't for me.
Meh
This was serviceable Bowie... until the album took a strange left turn on the back half. Overall, relatively enjoyable.
Pretty good pre-80s Bowie album. The back half really took a weird turn with the somber instrumentals, but overall pretty enjoyable.
I have an original pressing of this, but it's not my favorite Bowie.
Very good, I was not expecting the more ambient tracks to be there but I think they were my favorite part.
The 8th of 9 Bowie albums another one that is just fine. I live in Berlin so I know how liked this album is here but it's a whole lot of meh. Nothing mind blowing and kinda dull at points. Bowie is fine but I don't think he needed so many albums.
bis auf den Überhit "Heroes" doch eher mittelprächtig