4.4 + I was waiting to be seated at a noodle counter in the Lower East Side one mild January afternoon when the news came through of David Bowie's passing. I had just listened to this album, his last communication with planet Earth. It's hard to decouple that moment when I listen to this album today but to me I can hear a sparkling star summoning all his remaining creative energy to eek out one last beautiful record. Placed within the context of his death, he confronts the end standing on his two feet. There's not an ounce of defeat. This record ranks among his best. What a testament to a rock 'n' roll life fully realized. RIP.