I only know the Roots from the Tonight Show, but this is a raveup of hip hop with real instruments. Would be five stars if they edited it down from 70+ minutes.
"I've been really tryin', baby.." The album that layed the blueprint for the slow jam.
Listening with fresh ears, this record is a total stunner with one great song after another. I was playing the 20th anniversary reissue and kept rolling through all the bonus tracks. The b-sides from this album ("Step Up", "Talk Tonight", etc.) are strong enough to make up their own album (which they are, it's called the Masterplan).
Not my favorite Bowie album, probably my fourth or fifth favorite album from 1975. Highlights are the two hits, "Fame" and the title track. Lowlight is the unnecessary "Across The Universe" cover. 3.5/5 (rounded up to 4).
Very "70s L.A." with both positive and negative connotations 4/5.