Heroes

I find I am not much of a Bowie fan. I think I like his persona(s) more than I like the majority of his music. He is iconic.

It surprised me that this is a big Bowie album! I liked the title track and the long ambient part of the album but haven't yet clicked with the rest

Maybe 2.5. Heroes is great, otherwise liked the B side better than the A

Not a Bowie fan unfortunately

Not his best not his worst

Disappointing. We love Bowie, apart from "Heroes" which is one of my favourite Bowie songs, gave the album a 2 for heroes .

Ok and interesting album. Quite enjoyed the three ambient tracks but as a whole the album was ok at best. 2,5/5

I know practically nothing about Bowie outside of Blackstar because I'm a dumb little uncultured simpleton. I knew his output in the 70s is legendary but I had never listened to any of it before. I was surprised to find that I wasn't a fan. I read that this album's lyrics were mostly unwritten "not being written until Bowie stood in front of the microphone." I got the sense of that immediately. Outside of the titular track, which has pretty sparse vocals, a lot of these songs sound like a crazed man yelling at me. There's not anything inherently wrong with that, but it's compounded by the fact that those songs sound so full. They sound messy and cluttered. Side B remedies that to an extant, and that's what I enjoyed much more about Heroes. Side A was the problem child to my ears. There's so much going on, it takes away from Bowie's vocal performance. I do wish the structure was a bit better, we could've had the ambient soundscapes mixed in with the more energetic rock songs. I don't see much of a reason to have them split up like this. But I still preferred those more. Other than that the album didn't do much for me. I hadn't even heard the title track before.

Nah.

Couple of good ones. But mostly not my thing

Bowie is a master but the impulse to push the edge of cacophony makes for some tough listening on this album

Solo 1 canción buena

I want to like Bowie. On paper I should. But I listen and it’s just “eh”. And I know that’s blasphemy. On track 4 now. I just don’t think I’m a Bowie fan. On track 7 sense of doubt. I’m not sure what’s happening with this intro, but I find it interesting.

Liked two songs, so sad

This was rough. I like the song "Heroes" - it's pretty amazing. But the rest was challenging.

Puedo entender porque es considerado uno de los genios de la música mundial, sobretodo en su contexto, pero no es mi onda.

Personally not a big fan of much of bowie’s music.

I enjoyed the instrumentals and second half more than the first

Hadnt heard the original Heroes before

Okay.

i like the keyboard! and the guitar- really great instrumentals! the album cover is a little questionable though.

Never heard this before other than the title track, which bears no resemblance to the rest of it. Feels like a 70s psychedelic album with the occasional vocals of Bowie which sound almost sampled, like he wasn’t really part of it. Album tails off into literally nothingness towards the end.

Meh

First half is good, but then it devolves into something much less. It starts out with great tracks: good and great songs. Then it just changes at Sense of Doubt to something much different. The tracks aren't bad, in and of themselves, but it's just not what I'm looking for in a Bowie album. I really liked it beyond that. The older I get, the more I appreciate Bowie. He's not the best singer in the world, but his gravitas drives everything. The tracks where he features gives good vibes, well done and interesting. But I'm not too much one for instrumental interludes, particularly where (apparently) the artist is trying to paint a picture of his perspective of a singular moment in time - one that I was not alive to experience. So perhaps those tracks are more relatable to people that were around at the time, but for me, now, they don't hold any meaning. To me, it's just a needless break from what I really want to get from this album. I often think about what an album would be like if I heard it played live. I would love half of the concert, but then the rest of the time I would 100% be questioning my life decisions.

Last track held my attention, hero’s was the only FM hit …1977 wonder if the studios were pressing him to make album after album.

easy to listen to and enjoyed some of it but towards the end it got a little boring. I liked the production and some of the instrumental songs

Interesting but not my favorite

This is my third Bowie album (Heroes, Aladdin Sane, Low), and I must say he’s wildly underwhelmed me thus far. I never went down the Bowie rabbit hole which is one of the reasons I did this project considering he’s all over this list, but I’m just not getting the hype. I feel little soul in his music and a lot of it sounds like unorganized noise with a random voice over it..Bowie’s vocals are just there, very monotone, nasally and uninspiring. Maybe I’m just too American, or not a sophisticated enough audiophile, but his albums have all been misses for me so far.

Det får ta mig fan räcka med Bowie nu. Detta var dessutom sämre än tidigare. Ja, givetvis är Heroes asbra. Men resten. Den första låten är ett skämt. Joe är en ok låt. Sons... Nja. Sen ballar det ur. Märka att han samarbetade med Brian Eno. Igen, jag skiter i om detta är helt "nyskapande". Det är inte behagligt att kl yssna på igen. Tänk om han istället gjorde lite mer låtar i klass med Heroes...

this album just felt like bowie being weird and esoteric for the sake of it. I don't really get it. Heroes is a good tune

Not my fave

Some decent songs, but way too much Bowie on this list.

I enjoyed the instrumentals, thought they were funky and interesting, unfortunately the lyrics and singing didn’t illicit the same feeling.

I am a fan of Bowie, but I will admit I find him to be hit and miss. This album for me is certainly not his best work. Yes it has the smash hit title track but there's little else of note for me sadly.

While less inspired than Low on that Berlin era vein, it remains probably one of the most forward thinking Bowie albums and the one who carries the title track so it is overall a tough exclusion. 7/10 [SWAP]

SETTING: A sun-drenched terrace in Mustique. IMAN is lounging in a Missoni kaftan, flipping through a vintage Vogue with herself on the cover. DAVID enters, wearing a linen suit and holding a thick, hand-bound manuscript with the frantic energy of a man who has just discovered fire. DAVID (Breathless) Iman! My love! The stars have aligned. I’ve finished it. The definitive guide. The cultural roadmap for the next millennium! IMAN (Without looking up) Is it another concept album about a dystopian future where we all eat neon lightbulbs, David? Because the gardener is still cleaning up the glitter from the last one. DAVID Better. It’s literature! I’ve titled it: 701 Albums You Must Listen to Before You Die. It’s a service to humanity, really. A sonic intervention. IMAN (finally takes the manuscript, sliding her sunglasses down her nose.) Seven hundred and one? That’s… very specific. (She begins flipping pages. Her brow furrows.) David, page one is The Man Who Sold the World. Page two is… The Man Who Sold the World: The German Mix. Page three is Hunky Dory. DAVID (Beaming) It’s a strong start, isn't it? Hits them right in the zeitgeist. IMAN (Flips faster) David, I’m on page four hundred and twelve. It’s just the Labyrinth soundtrack but you’ve written "Masterpiece" in the margins in purple ink. (She closes the book.) These are all your albums, David. Every single one. Even the ones with the spiders. DAVID (Hurt) Not all of them. I left out the Tin Machine live bootlegs. I’m not a narcissist, Iman, I have standards. Besides, no one will know it’s me. I’ve used a sophisticated nom de plume. IMAN Let me guess. "Ziggy Stardust"? DAVID No! (He leans in, whispering) “Robert Dimery.” IMAN (Sighs) David, if you want people to believe this is a legitimate list of the greatest music ever made, you need… variety. Other artists. People who aren't you. DAVID (paces the terrace, stroking his chin.) Other… artists. Right. Yes. Diversity. Growth. A broader palette. (He stops, struck by an idea.) What if I change the title? 1001 Albums You Must Listen to Before You Die. It sounds more authoritative. More "encyclopedic." IMAN And the other three hundred albums? Who will they be by? DAVID (A long, genuine silence. He looks out at the ocean, squinting, trying to recall the existence of other musicians.) Iman, darling… are there three hundred other albums? IMAN (goes back to her magazine.) There’s at least two by Nile Rodgers, David. You worked with him. DAVID (Snapping his fingers) Brilliant! I’ll put Let’s Dance in twice. One for the music, one for the sheer chicness of the cover art. That leaves two hundred and ninety-eight. (He grabs a pen, looking inspired.) SCENE Of course Heroes is great but the rest of this was pretty weak. When I hear a song like Moss Garden I feel like the artist is just making fun of me. "Check this out, I can plink and plonk on some random instrument with no effort and those proles will call it art!"

Day 91 - 1977 - David Bowie, Heroes My friend and I are loading up on shows after saying we weren't going to load up on shows this year, because that's a thing that we do. I logged into Ticketmaster because I apparently love giving a conglomerate loads of money for junk fees and saw that Kid Cudi is touring this summer. I got kind of excited and passed on the news, only to remember that we loathe going to White River Amphitheater. So no Kid Cudi. Do you need this information? No, probably not, but it's probably more interesting than listening to Heroes again. Look, I am not a Bowie hater, but this album is one of the duller ones and can't even be saved by Beauty and the Beast and the song Heroes, which was cowritten with Brian Eno! I expect to see Brian on this list at some point. Anyway, it's ambient and art rock and part of the Berlin Trilogy. Unlike other albums, I didn't look up any of the details on this one until I finished it because I *thought* that the reviews would be glowing because Bowie. Turns out, the critical reception to this album wasn't great either: The record was not without its detractors. Tim Lott of Record Mirror gave the album a more mixed assessment, calling it "disjointed" and criticised the instrumentals on side two as having less "continuity" than the ones found on Low. Lott further considered Bowie's vocals "hollow" and the lyrics "opaque". Overall, he felt that other than the title track, "Heroes" was "a disappointment" and "a come-down from Low". In the Los Angeles Times, Robert Hilburn lamented the way Bowie's "fluctuating pop interests caused him to shift from style to style faster than his ability to master them", ultimately calling it one of the artist's "least arresting turns". The Philadelphia Inquirer gave "Heroes" one out of four stars, finding the album "more self-indulgent than rewarding". Later reviews were kinder, but not me. I'm still mean about this album. It's boring. Standout: Meh. Probably Heroes

Not Bowie's best. Not even in the top 10.

It gets better once he stops ad libbing the vocals.

Soz Bowie. Was just a lot of noise and a bit too experimental.

Jest okej, ale to dla mnie nic specjalnego. 2/5

Just not my vibe

This album is half yoga playlist and half Bowie. I didn't hate it but I just like his other stuff better. As always though, kind of trippy, kind of weird, and very him.

Meh

Ville egentligt tænke, det var et album, der kunne have fortjent en ekstra gennemlytning, men så er der fire ud af 10 numre i meget eksperimenterende instrumental-stil, som trækker ned. Måske halvdelen burde høres igen engang.

Not really my vibe! I liked listening to the original heroes but otherwise that edgy 70/80s vibe of talking/singing isn’t really my thing. Good to listen to some Bowie music though as I don’t think I ever have before

Je confirme : Bowie, c'est non. +1 pour Heroes.

Overall pretty boring... I STILL don't like Bowie's style. Some songs are "normal", though : Beauty and the Beast is a nice addition to my playlist and I already knew Heroes (by far the most popular track of the album) Under Pressure is still his best lmao.

song i went back to first after first full listen: v2 schneider

Not for me:(

not a fan. I liked one or two songs, but overall, this was distracting to listen to while working.

meh

Besides heroes, everything else sounded less than.

Did I know prior: No Favorite song: Heroes Not particularly memorable. Was surprised by all the instrumentals in the back half.

Points for originality, but I won’t make a point of listening to this one again

Not a big Bowie fan and this hasn't done much to persuade me otherwise. Apart from 'Heroes', which is still pretty ordinary IMHO, there's not much to catch your attention on this record, except the other tracks co-written by Brian Eno, like 'Moss Garden'.

Didn’t get the vibe. Not impressed. Also I don’t like the titular song

There’s exactly one good song on this album

As a (non-MTV) Bowie latecomer, I really think the first version of the title track I ever heard was the Wallflowers cover. And that song has been in the news lately from the Stranger Things finale using the original (after the Peter Gabriel cover had been previously used in the series.) Anyway... Ah, the Berlin trilogy. I have never listened to this album start-to-finish so here goes... I guess he ran out of lyrics about halfway through? This is OK, but not really my cup of tea. 2.5 stars.

Apart from the title track, not much to recommend.

3 of the greatest musicians of all time get too high in berlin and fuck around for a bit

I never liked the title track much and what the hell are those instrumentals?

Tittelsporet er en banger, resten fløt litt sammen uten at noe stakk seg sånn voldsomt ut. Jevnt over helt ok, 2/5

Synes noen av låtene er fine, men som album vet jeg ikke helt

This album is a weird hodge-podge of some David Bowie songs then some background music. Bowie is my favorite solo artist but this is not a good enough album to be on the 1001 list, despite the title track being exceptional. Top tracks: “Heroes,” “Beauty and the Beast”

Jag förstår inte hypen faktiskt

Loved heroes of course but was not a big fan of this album unfortunately

when Bowie went straight. Smh

Went in expecting to love this, but it was kinda a bit rubbish?

Cool, some of the instrumentals were rad but not one I'm rushing back to, I don't think

Very poor apart from the title track.

I'm sure that it has never occurred to Mr. Dimery that there might be a portion of the population that doesn't actually enjoy David Bowie's music all that much. To him, it must be inconceivable that someone who doesn't bow at the altar of the Thin White Duke even exists. Well...here I am listening to yet another batch of Bowie songs that all sound the same as the last batch. It would almost be tolerable if one of these mid-70's Bowie albums were replaced by one of his significant later works, like the chart-topping "Let's Dance" or the almost-posthumous "Blackstar".

Kinda boring, he has way better albums

just tired of david bowie

"The majority of the tracks were composed on the spot in the studio, the lyrics not being written until Bowie stood in front of the microphone." BOY does it show!!!! this songwriting is so vapid and empty. the main highlight of this album to me is robert fripp's guitar and brian eno's synthesizers across the whole album, though even then the ambient tracks in the second half are quite uninspiring to me. it's frustrating that tracks like "secret life of arabia" or "sons of the silent age" have such lovely instruments that feel somewhat spoiled by the banality of the writing even if bowie's distant singing is expressive. the title track is the only thing even slightly memorable here.

Over stays its welcome

ehhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh The title track is great, obviously. But I didn't really get anything else from the rest of the album I feel like I should give this at least a 3, come on, it's David Bowie! But I've had three Bowie albums in this project so far, and each one of them I've wanted to like more than I actually do. And I think this is my least favourite of the bunch 2.5, with at least one of those points for Heroes (the song) alone Rounded down, soz Song added to playlist: - Heroes

liked the beginning but that’s it fave from the album beauty and the beast

A good album and I liked how it ended in some instrumental songs. I didn’t find something that was dragging me into the music but it was still good but maybe not something that I will continuously come back to.

This guy cannot sing and not in a cool Bob Dylan way but a cringe way also ur not cool for half of all ur albums being ambient music fuck you David Bowie

As part of the "sacred" Berlin trilogy, I think I'm supposed to just swoon over it. Honestly, short of the title track, I don't care at all, in the least little bit, if I hear this again. This is part of Bowie's art-rock electronic phase, heavily influenced by Brian Eno.

Not for me.

Not my cup of tea but I did like a couple songs

Histrionic Bowie. This is the stuff I never really got about him. Preferred the glam years.

Wasnt invested in, bowie has lots of amazing songs but lots of these felt like filler

Ännu ett gästspel från King Crimson e ju fett. Robert Fripp är också ett riktigt bra namn. Förutom Heroes och en låt till tycker jag dock inte skivan som helhet är så bra.

Best Song: Heroes. It is a great song, but I hate to admit that Peter Gabriel's cover, which was used for the Stranger Things soundtrack, is better in every way. Worst Song: Sense of Doubt. This isn't even a song really, it just feels like background music to an 80s thriller. Overall: I wasn't around when Bowie was doing his thing, so in some ways I can't appreciate how iconic/revolutionary he must have been, but from a modern perspective: it hasn't aged all that well. He's singular, sure, but often in a vaguely annoying way. His enunciation and stressing of syllables ("we could be he-ROES") is reminiscent of William Shatner, and no one wants to be reminded of William Shatner. And then the latter half of the album descends into a strange Brian Eno impersonation, that doesn't feel nearly as measured as music that sparse ought to be.

Love Heroes, can take or leave the rest. Too moody and broody and not enough light. Bowie is brilliant but this was too dramatic. Listened before? N Saved some tracks? N Favorite tracks? Heroes ⭐⭐ Didn't like it

Spännande. Aldrig hört en hel Bowieplatta tänkte jag. En musiklegendar i sann bemärkelse men som jag aldrig riktigt lyssnat på. Andra låten in tänker jag - okej. Inte min kopp te. Tredje låten, titelspåret Heroes - känns mer som en riktig låt för mig. Jag har svårt för detta album. Det är inte min kopp te alls. Tankarna vandrar iväg hela tiden och när jag försöker fokusera finns inget som fångar mig. Tyvärr.

Classic album and cover. I did not enjoy this album at all. "Beauty & The Beast" is typical Bowie. I cringed during "Joe The Lion", not an enjoyable song at all, I couldn't ride out all 3 minutes of that one. "Heroes" is The Shit, it's just a great song with amazing guitar work and a hook everyone knows. It's stood up well over time, you can hear it on the radio, in ads, in movies. "Blackout" was unlistenable for me. "V-2", "Sense Of Doubt", "Moss Garden" & "Neukoln" offered nothing but soundscape movie-esque music. "The Secret life Of Arabia" was theatrical and odd and not the best vocal he's ever delivered. Solid listener counts from top to bottom with "Heroes" coming in at over 600M listens. That's really the only hit, but "Beauty & The Beast" has nearly 9M. That speaks to the popularity of this album as a whole, one hit but no song has under 2.5M listens. I guess I just don't get it. I did not genuinely enjoy anything beyond "Heroes" - I don't mind learning new songs I'm not familiar with and I'm willing to try experimental but this didn't deliver. 2 stars, NOT a Top 1001 album in my book!

First half is reasonably good. The instrumentals on the second half don't interest me as much. I suspect the majority of the Berlin trilogy might not be for me outside the 'hits'.

One hero, many zeroes.

Didn't really drag me in.

There was some beauty on the instrumental tracks on the back half but overall I found this album pretty beastly.

I checked the global reviews and saw so many 5-stars. I just can’t with Bowie. Heros is good but honestly I like the covers better (yikes I know). I want to like Bowie but I just don’t.

Knew this was going to be on here. Despite the hit song, I don't see the great value in this album. Its electronic, somewhat experimental, sometimes discordant. There are also a few tracks of peaceful, spacey synths. Besides the hit song there's not a lot worth remembering on the album.

I like Bowie, but this album is definetly disapointing. One song can not carry the whole album.

Don't get the hype

It was a chore getting through those instrumentals. I'm sure they sounded fresh back in 1976 but in 2025 they just put me to sleep.

I want to enjoy David Bowie; I really do. I feel the same way about Rush. There's something there; I know it. I'm just not hearing it or I'm missing it for some reason. 2 stars? IDK. That feels too low, but 3 seems too generous for how it didn't click with me.

Just barely ok. Was hoping for something more.

I can appreciate what they were doing and what it was for the time it was created but it's not my cup of tea

Saved by the title track. I didn’t mind the instrumental interlude either. But fuck me some of it is bad.

I can’t tell you how disappointed I am with Bowie not being as good as I thought it would be. Might be harsh due to expectation, but I think he’s a bit shit.

C+

Ahh, má maður nota orðið pretentious?

no thank you.

Not the Bowie I came to expect. The song Heroes is great

Honestly outside of Heroes, kind of a bore

• Didn't really like anything other than the title track

This is apparently a sequel to Low. I guess that makes sense, as this has Eno's fingerprints all over it. I don't hate it, and I think the song Heroes is pretty good, but it's too "ambient" for me to actually like it.

Meh. Didn't like the sound of it.

I get Bowie's meant to be a genius or whatever but. If I didn't know that. I wouldn't have guessed that. What's with the discordant nonsense at the end. Sorry David. 2.

The soaring title track aside, Berlin period Bowie does not move me 😐

yea not my gem

Two Bowies in a row! This one was better

At the time, I’m sure that collecting the sounds of a hoe down mixing it with blues guitar noodling and an over reliance on southern stereotypes was magic to a select group of young people who were inundated with the psychedelic sounds of the late 60s. There is no doubt that Sweet Home Alabama is Lynyrd Skynyrd’s Stairway to heaven and there are some remarkable similarities in the way both songs start pastoral and build to an anthem. The similarities stop there. This album is a rather boring and dreary affair and best left to those folks who thought the 8:33 of Sweet Home was the whole album.

Repetitive… not bad thought

The Berlin trilogy should've not been a trilogy honestly. 2/5

1001 albums you must not hear before you die

Aside from the title track...nothing here for me. To experimental?

Title song is the obvious standout. Struggled through the first half but was redeemed by a stronger back end. The instrumental songs were strangely therapeutic.

Strange side B, front was good background lol

I like Bowie, but other than the title song, this album ain't really it.

Takie 2/5. Początek spoko, ale potem plumkanie niepotrzebne.

Oh good, I was worried that David Bowie might have coughed once near a microphone and that vital recording may have been left off this list. The cover art really emphasizes the importance of having people in your life who will say “Why are you holding your hands like that and making that stupid face? You look like an idiot. Stop that.” That type of person might also have said “‘Heroes’ is a good song, but the rest of the first side sounds like song ideas that you may be able to turn into something album-worthy if you work at them, and the second side is just Eno wankery. Take another pass at this one champ.” It’s sad that David Bowie didn’t have that person in his life. Then I would have gotten to listen to a better album.

good couple of songs, but otherwise, too much music and not enough Bowie

At first it was a talking heads album which was fire and then it wasn’t I might just hate music right now tho

Interesting experimentation in the final third, and Heros of course is a classic, but it doesn’t hit like some of Bowie’s other work.

I’m of two minds on how to rate this album. It seems like two albums to me — one part songs, another part ambient. With the exception of the title track, the songs are not good and feature a side of Bowie’s vocal style which i can only describe as “screechy”. The ambient music side is interesting and enjoyable. *As an album,* I’ll give it a 2. I didn’t hate it, but did not necessarily *need* to hear it (despite its influence on pop music that came afterwards).

Rating: 2.2 Brian Eno needs to be sent to space prison and put in a cell with strange microorganisms that will invade his brain and kill any desire he has to ever record music again.

Felt not fully put together like if it was a demo album. Instrumentals are nice to listen to in the background.

I love David Bowie! I feel like this is my least favorite album of his. I'm reading in other reviews about the strong influences of Brian Eno on this one. it's like the lyrics and voice are definitely Bowie - although even in that not his best work. and the music is not Bowie. you could've put any artist on top of these tracks. it was so disjointed. but then there's one of my favorite songs of all time - Heroes. it was the only good track on the album to be honest

What an unfocused mess. Some great tracks in there: "Heroes" obviously, "The Secret Life of Arabia", and mostly-Eno "V-2 Schneider", but the rest goes from okay ("Beauty and the Beast", "Joe the Lion") to downright terrible ("Blackout", and wtf is "Sense of Doubt"). The other ambient songs at the end are decent, but it really doesn't make sense to flow into a short dancy "The Secret Life of Arabia" with an abrupt fadeout ending to finish off the album. Besides the few great tracks, I don't understand the hype of this album even with the Brian Eno collaboration.. it would have worked better as a slimmed down EP. Speaking of the Berlin Trilogy, "Low" is a much more coherent and put-together package even with its ambient tracks on side B.

There’s one exceptional track in Heroes and the rest of the album is flat. A low rating surprised even me considering my appreciation for Bowie, but this record as a whole just doesn’t cut it.

Glad i listened but not for me, especially the end of the album where songs sounded like spa background noise..

I must be missing something... The video adds nothing.

Vocals didn’t hit. Didn’t feel any soul from any of the musical decisions.

I think this goes into the category where good art and something I want to listen to again are diverging. Songs: Heroes

hmm not vibing with the songs

Realmente no me parece el mejor album de David, pero bueno, me parecieron interesantes los tres temas instrumentales y obviamente Heroes es un clásico de clásicos.

Beside Heroes a bad improvisation.

I really tried to like this, I did… But I just didn’t Bowie is obviously a legend, but I don’t think any of the tracks were very strong (the closing track was the closest imo), but I also didn’t think any of them were particularly bad either Part of why I rated it the way I did had to do with my very high expectations This is my first Bowie album and I know there’s plenty more left to hear so he’ll have more than enough chances to redeem himself Honorable Mention: The Secret Life of Arabia

David Bowie's like the most 2.5/5 artist I've ever heard; he's constantly reinventing himself but he's never even all that good at any of his new guises. Still got seven more albums to go, ugh...

Huh. That took a weird turn near the end. I felt like I was listening to a music soundtrack or in an aquarium or something. 🤭 all and all I will no return to this album.

David Bowie is one of the artists that is very hit and miss to me. Like some of his music but most of it not so much. The track Heroes is alright but the rest not so much.

I have heard a ton of David Bowie's hits—and enjoyed many of them— but can't say that I've ever sat down and tried to listen to one of his albums. And after listening to Heroes, I'm not sure that this record was the best place to start trying to be intentional with David Bowie. Heroes meanders around a lot and never really seems to settle into a definite groove...or at least a particularly enjoyable one. Heroes, the title track, is enjoyable (though I would say that I've heard covers of this song that I enjoy more...I know, I know, that's sacrilege), and many of the songs where David Bowie sings are not what I would describe as "bad", but none of them really give me a compelling reason to start the record over either. There is also the back end of this album, which is just kind of a boring, extended soundscape. I didn't love this record, to be honest, and I've got to believe that he's put out much better ones. I hope I get to hear one of those at some point. 2.2/5

Other than Heroes, I didn't really like any other song. Going to give it a 2 but that may be generous, maybe just expecting to be more like The Rise and Fall of Ziggy which is amazing...

Not in my top 10 list for David Bowie only really liked 1 song a couple others were interesting but wouldn’t compel me to purchase album- sorry Ziggy

I think David Bowie is ok, I understand his influence on music, but I don't get why you put this many albums by him on this list. This one is fine. That's it.

I just can’t get into Bowie - 2.5/5: Standout tracks: Beauty and the Beast - 3.5/5 Heroes 3.5/5 Black Out 3.5/5

I hate to do it, but I couldn’t get into this one. I don’t like the cut up version of Heroes either. The long play is so much better. This version feels like a cd is skipping. Not for me.

Girl the brit favoritism is off the charts here... it literally wouldn't have more than 2.6 score if it was any other artist

2, one great song Didn’t love the album

There is a fair amount of David Bowie that I like. Unfortunately, not much of it is on this album. 2.

I still don't like David Bowie. I read that in the book 1,001 albums to hear before you die, he has 9 entries. Aaaack. That means I will have to listen to him a few more times.

Didn’t love this … Bowie has just never been my cup of tea!! Heroes is a phenomenal song though, he really popped off with that one. I just don’t really get the rest of the songs and nothing sounds sonically capturing enough for me. I didn’t expect there to be a few instrumentals on this album but they didn’t really pop off either. Just kinda weird and that’s okay but like… I don’t think an album NEEDS sonic cohesion but this one hasn’t even heard of the concept.

Not my fave. Not my fave at all.

Heroes är ju fantastisk men albumet är galet ojämnt.

2.33

Some of these are great, and others I wasn't able to really dive into. Truthfully there are only a few albums of his that do it for me, but I appreciate his art.

Don’t mind Bowie new wave, but not nearly his best album. Title track Heroes is the best song. Great synth production.

Eh.

Not my cuppa

Talent, but not my jam

Very forgettable album. Even the radio hit 'Heroes' is one of the weaker songs in his collection. 3 of the tracks sound like movie ambient music.

I really am done with Bowie. Every album has maybe one or two good tracks with the rest shit, and yet smoke gets blown so far up his arse he ends up looking like Mt Etna. I’m glad he’s dead.

**A boring album

I like it when Bowie does the soundscapey stuff at the end of the albums, it means you don't have to hear him sing for a bit. It was basically Brian Eno's musc credited to Bowie.

Huh... a pile of most unrelated (though all very good) singles then a weird 25 minutes of Eno abiance. I'm holding Bowie to a high standard with this rating but feel like it's justified. The tracks by themselves are great. Sons of a Silent Age is probably in my top 5 Bowie tracks of all time. But as an album this project fails spectacularly.

I was definitely surprised of this one, not as exciting as I hoped, honestly a bit of a letdown. The title track was good, some of the vocal and other tracks like Joe the line of beauty and the beast were pretty decent. The last track was pretty good too, but a lot of it sounds like ambient filler, not what I was hoping for expecting. I’d say two out of five.

I don't... get it?

5/10. Definitely not Bowies best. Weird vocals paired with odd songwriting. Instrumentals near the end were not needed or good at all, but a few good songs and an overall mid album.

I liked this album until V-2 Schneider ended. Secret Life of Arabia brought it back to life but could go without the 3 shitty instrumental song in between V-2 and Arabia

2+ Stars (6/15)

I liked the title track.

How do these David Bowie albums seem to be getting worse? This one actually starts off okay but the back half of the album is a weird Temu Brian Eno kind of things

Not the best of David Bowie. Kinda meh. 2/5

ok, strange fella, some decent tunes, not really my jam

Wasn't quite a star yet.

It's interesting, I usually really like noise music. Lots of layers and experimental sounds. Not sure why this isn't hitting me. I feel like this generally suffers in terms of the mixing. I think everything is kind of muddled together and trying to shine through, but again I don't reallt think its doing it for me. Middle of the album definitely picks up but overall i find this rather boring and not all that enjoyable. However I must also admit there is probably a lot of "Simpsons did it" stuff going on here where I've listed to so much post rock that clearly borrow/was inspired by this album that it makes me wonder how much of the boring feeling I get is a product of that

Weird. Long boring

1- Hit

There is a lot of Bowie on this list. This is definitely not glam rock. Heroes is the hit, one of his biggest over a career with so many. It is a good song with great lyrics. Sons of the Silent Age is a major come down off the high of Heroes. But there's something very familiar to David Bowie's music, a thread that runs from Space Oddity through Blackstar. It feels a little bit like he was ahead of trends, creating them maybe even, glam and new wave jump out. That might explain why he's such a critical darling, every critic who liked a particular genre of music can look back and see Bowie as one of the pioneers. Or maybe everything he's ever done is just a different version of "art rock" which is the rock music critic equivalent of a bunch of bananas to a troop of monkeys. Back-to-back instrumentals is starting to lose me. Now, back-to-back-to-back, I'm out. This is two albums. One is decent. The other is terrible. One side is a Bowie album. The second side is a Brian Eno record and Brian Eno albums are not good. The Secret Life of Arabia is like a disco song an idiot wrote.

Heroes is alright but the rest was questionable

Innovative and pushing the limits of pop music. I can hear his influence on other bands. Fearless and original but just not something I would come back to listen to again as a complete album. I wouldn’t mind the instrumental only tracks but they’re just not very good. Heroes is probably my fave of all his songs.

Such a disappointment after Young Americans

David Bowie is meh, the whole scene he was a part of is mostly meh. Art pop and glam, meh

The title track is a classic, but the rest of it is just too "Talking Heads" for my taste.

full of filler that is alright nothing special

Very wispy and a bit directionless at points. Didn’t hold my attention. Final tunes a banger tho.

Ok

I hate to say it, but this is t a good album. Heroes is an absolute stone cold classic. But as an album it is very patchy.

Disappointing, I expected more. Wouldn't relisten

„Heroes“ is totally enigmatic to me. When Brian Eno and David Bowie teamed up in the early seventies, they certainly set out to create something new. After all, this was the pre-computer and -digital era, and all those sound collages had to be done on analogue tape and keyboards on eight track tape (I guess). This I will acknowledge, and I guess, that's why this record was influential. The result, however, is hard to listen to these days (2025): The album features spheric sounds on instrumentals like „Moss Garden“, instantly forgettable midtempo rock tracks such as „Joe the Lion“ and only one standout track, „Heroes“. To put it provocatively: I wonder why people adore drug related pieces of art so much?

Didn't love this album. Heroes is not my favorite Bowie hit and the rest of the album was underwhelming for me.

Heroes is great but the rest was not my cup of tea.

I’m sure if Bowie is your thing this is good. Just not really for me.

After listening to 3 Bowie albums I feel that I can safely say I'm not much a fan. He was very influential and important for music as a whole, but not my style.

The second half was way more instrumental than I was expecting and pretty dark.

Not my favourite Bowie

I fail to see how this album is so iconic. "Heroes" is the only good song on the album. The rest is whatever.

I’m not a huge Bowie fan. Ironically enough, my favorite part of this album was the second half with the experimental instrumentals. That part of the album was a neat listen and pretty relaxing. The rest of the album except maybe heroes was a bit much for me. To much going on at once, I felt like the layering between the vocals and the techno was just overwhelming and not in a good way. Nothing really jumped out at me as something I would want to listen to again. Not sure where other people stand on Bowie but this album was a 2 for me.

Heroes is the only song I like which is odd for a Bowie album

I just had a Bowie album a couple days ago. I generally don't like David Bowie. And two in such short order did him no favors. Why did the author of 1001... think everything Bowie is awesome. I did not like this album.

So odd. Much better Bowie out there. Why the 15 minute mellow jazz interlude?

There are two things I like about this album: Heroes, which is a great song, and Robert Fripp's leads. Sorry, no matter how many Bowie albums the generator throws at me (there's 8???), I'm not a fan. I do like the odd song, but that's it. Fripp and Eno couldn't save the mostly instrumental side 2, which sounds like a soundteack to a film that doesn't exist. Liked Songs Added: Heroes

I just don't like it.

Good songs when he sings. The instrumentals are more demanding.

Oh wow - 960 albums in and i've never heard of this guy... ..... Sigh. Anticipating this to be the quickest "2" since ... the last Bowie album (of which this is our NINTH). I'm treating most Bowie albums like I do my quarterly reviews which my boss admittedly never reads - cut and paste. With the exception of the surprising "Low" Bowie almost always slots in at a solid 2.4 for me. Don't like his vocals. I know the title track of course but after the entire album ... yes - more of the same...: -------copy/paste------ It feels like I always use his voice as a cop-out because there are plenty of artists who I listen to that I don't necessarily like the singer's voice and I like the music. It's as simple as this even if I can't articulate it well: I don't ever connect with his music on any emotional level - can just appreciate it from a [long] distance. -----end self-plagiarism----- I don't even like the sonics of this album; I don't get any of it. It's fine, it's just a bit auto-play for me (especially "Heroes"); not dynamic musically or in the mix, not mysterious other than the instrumental curios near the end - weirdly somewhat of an improvement but it's still all so saturated and hard on the ears. TL;DR: I really think there's an emperor's new clothes aspect to a lot of the Bowie mystique which has only grown since he died (I get it). I don't hate his music, I just don't *like* it or ever connect with it and after so many years don't really care that much. 4/10 2 stars.

Heroes is a 5 star track. But one good track does not an album make.

Kinda out there.

M'eh

put this on and fell asleep (derogatory)

Except for the song Heroes, I don't like the album.

Boring.

meh

Sonically interesting. Not enough lyrically for me. Hero’s is the standout and the only track I would seek out to listen to again.

Rather disappointing this one, I’m sure there are much better Bowie albums out there.

Not getting this..... Heroes aside lyrics are just arty farty nonsense.

Wasn’t in the mood. Never been a fan of his music

The title track is the highlight of the album. I love Brian Eno, but the back end of this album is too heavy in it and is more like something I'd listen to for background aound during sleep than I'd listen to for musical enjoyment.

2/5 only cause of Eno/Fripp contributions on this LP.

This album felt like when I was in college and I didn't have time to study for a test but I showed up and did my best to wing it. Personal enjoyment: 2/5 Relevance to this list: 2/5

Mam problem z tym albumem, bo wiem, że recenzją narażę się Cichemu (a co gorsze Julii). Ja najzwyczajniej w świecie nie lubię Bowiego. W ogóle do mnie nie trafia to, co tworzył. Nudzi mnie i drażni. Pamiętam, że miałem jakieś podejścia, ale od razu odpuszczałem. Teraz przesłuchałem cały ten album z uwagi na naszą listę, ale okropnie się przy tym męczyłem. Zawsze słuchając Bowiego mam wrażenie, że bardziej mówi, niż śpiewa oraz, że jego własna muzyka mu przeszkadza w tym śpiewaniu. Nie widzę żadnego połączenia pomiędzy ściężką instrumentów i jego głosem. Dla mnie nie ma w tym śpiewie głębi ani rytmu, często wydaje mi się, że krzykiem próbuje nadrobić niedostatki. Autentycznie zero przyjemności ze słuchania go, a nawet wręcz przeciwnie. Zastanawiam się, co przegapiam w odbiorze jego twórczości, bo przecież cały świat się zachwyca i niemal każdy muzyk, który zaczynał karierę po nim, wymienia go jako dużą inspirację. Wydaje mi się, że słyszę nawet paralele u Sea Power (ci od muzyki do Disco Elysium), których uwielbiam. Ale Bowiego zwyczajnie nie łapię. Cytując Gałkiewicza z "Ferdydurke" Gombrowicza: "Ale kiedy ja się wcale nie zachwycam! Nie zajmuje mnie! Nie mogę wyczytać więcej niż dwie strofy, a i to mnie nie zajmuje! Boże, ratuj, jak to mnie zachwyca, kiedy mnie nie zachwyca?" Momentami kojarzy mi się z poezją śpiewaną, którą ktoś specjalnie utrudnia i tworzy nieprzystępną, bo to bardziej artystyczne. Autentycznie nie rozumiem tego niesamowitego fenomenu Bowiego. I męczy mnie to, bo chciałbym widzieć to, co widzą w tym Ci ludzie, których zdanie cenię. Pisząc to puściłem sobie drugi raz ten album, żeby może spojrzeć na niego inaczej albo odświeżyć sobie wrażenia. Wyłączyłem na czwartym utworze, bo mnie już drażniły te jego krzyki. Jedyne utwory, które mi się podobały to te, w których nie śpiewał. Ten tryptyk Sense of Doubt (świetne piano; swoją drogą to chyba było częścią soundtracku do filmu na podstawie "My, dzieci z dworca Zoo", jedna z ciekawszych książek, jakie przeczytałem w gimbazie), Moss Garden i Neukoln. Z tego co czytałem na tej liście jest jeszcze 8 albumów Bowiego. Nie mogę powiedzieć, żebym był podekscytowany, ale może w międzyczasie się przekonam jakoś.

meh

Not a big Bowie fan, love the song heroes though. The instrumental tracks were strange

I really wish this site would stop handing out David Bowie albums...

The first couple of tracks are pretty good, "Heroes" is great, of course, but then the album descends into weird avant-garde, self-indulgent filler noodling for the next seven tracks. Heroes adds one star by itself.

Some fairly uninteresting instrumental tracks and some uninspired rock tracks (on first listen anyway)

Tiene el "Heroes" y luego una parte instrumental a lo Brian Eno que me ha aburrido, así que bueno hay que oírlo, pero son 2 estrellas.

Really enjoyed the first half of the album and classic rock stuff, but way too many weird, instrumental only songs in the second half for me to rate it highly.

sorry i just dont get it

This album was not for me, unfortunately. Other than a few tracks, I found myself pretty bored listening to it. Lots of filler and drawn out songs.

His voice is a bit boring and the instrumentals were a little long and boring.

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.

Boring, no idea why people like David 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.

Not for me. But not unlistenable. Highlight - the secret life of Arabia

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'll stick to the hits thank you

Bowie is too weird for me. I get the hype though

I just don't really like the Berlin albums.

Mostly difficult part from Heroes and Moss Garden…I wouldn’t listen again

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.

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.

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.

Okay I was super excited to see this only to find out I actually only like one song on the album…

I don't know why heroes belongs to that very bad album

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.

Nothing grabbed me.

I think I like Bowie singles but perhaps not albums. At least not this one. “Heroes” is alright though!

Was not expecting strange instrumental songs for half the album. Herod is good but that’s about 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.

I like Neuköln and that's about it. This didn't do anything to sway me on my indifference of Bowie.

It was alright

Well, "Heroes" is a great song. The rest of the album is pretty bad.

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!

Feels very improvised

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.

First and last songs were awful, the instrumental ones were pretty nice

Don't like 'em

Jeg måtte simpelthen opgive den.

Moss Garden was nice… and Beauty and the Beast is a fun song… but I guess I just don’t understand David Bowie…

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

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.

His style isnt for me. I can see why people enjoyed it but today he wouldnt be successful.

Better than Fame and still obviously influenced by genres other than rock, but not very interesting outside of the title track

Over indulgent

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

Bowie’s best song may well be on his worst album. The title track is extraordinary; just brilliant. After that, the quality drops off a cliff. The word “indulgent” comes to mind. The first half (save Heroes) sounds like improvisation in the style of the Rocky Horror Picture Show. Eno’s solo stuff is far more focused and rewarding listening than their collaborations here. And the Secret Life of Arabia falls into “unintentional parody” territory.

Never got Bowie. Like a few on here, but still do not get Bowie.

Not a Bowie fan. I tried. Heroes rocks......but maybe because I love the redo's? Meh.

I appreciate Bowie’s influence on everyone and others but I can’t get into this album. For me it was Heroes worth listening to and a skip for about everything else. I did listen all the way through, was just bored.

There has to be more to this guy than what this album suggests...

Elephant Love Medley (which samples Heroes) > Heroes by David Bowie, sorry

Best song: Heroes Vibes: Dad classic rock meets middle aged druggie intellectual music. Experimental vocals, come off overly theatrical and british. Second half ambient, fearful prog instrumental rock.

If you put aside the Heroes track, which is very good, the rest of it was fairly bland.

OK

Not another Bowie album

Every song sounded pretty much the same. Alright for background music.

Heroes is still a great song. The rest of the album still feels like it exists because it was fun to make, not because you might like it. It's art, in that it was created because the artist felt compelled to create a thing, not because you might like it.

I did not enjoy this album at all. The song “Heroes” is good but the rest I never need to hear again. Bowie’s singing ability is not great and he is trying too hard to get beyond his limitations.

I don't understand why he's so beloved

Samuel close your eyes… Hero’s and the final track are the only songs worth listening to. Despite me not being a Bowie fan, I didn’t have as many qualms with this one as our last Bowie record, but I didn’t like how the album completely shifts in the second half. The second half is mostly Instrumentals, but hey maybe it’s for the best- they sound better without vocals anyways. I’m still gonna stay open minded, and hope I find a Bowie record I thoroughly enjoy though, because there has to be SOMETHING that makes this man universally loved.

just too weird

Of course I know Bowie but I don't know this one. First three tracks had me really interested. But then it lost its momentum and direction and the second half was pretty disappointing, weirdly avant garde and just a bit random.

I didn't like some of the instrumentals.

It was okay to listen to mostly, but I didn’t like it.

More Bowie...

Love David Bowie’s style but couldn’t jive with the album. The titular song is iconic, but other than that I will not seek out any of the songs from this album.

Скажу честно, мне было не интересно. Боуи крутой, он инноватор, но этот альбом мне как-то... ну никак. Heroes, конечно, я знал, но при этом ничего не ощутил. Мех

This is my third Bowie album on this list. I gotta say I preferred the other two. I don't know what he was going for with the 10+ minute long weird instrumental section but I can't say I appreciated it.

Eclectic, abstract, experimental...all of the above. 2