1001 Albums Summary

“Young Americans”- Clear Beatles influence, reminds me of some cuts off Abbey Road (Maxwells Silver Hammer) and reference to ‘A Day in the Life’ (“I saw the news today”), highlights cultural and political problems couples in America faced at the time (Nixon, end of the Vietnam war) “Win”-Soul/RnB influences mixed with UK psych rock . Backing vocals very soul inspired (Luther Vandross!) “Fascination”- Funk inspired groove with punchy kicks and snares. Call and response in chorus is reminiscent of gospel/early rnb which builds with a crescendo of guitar solo, varying organ riffs and the consistently tight bass grooves and drum fills that drive the track. “Right”- Much more laid back take on funk/soul with a saxophone that sounds like it’s supposed to mimic Bowies voice. Reminds me of Bill Withers/Stevie wonder with guitar and clarinet panned hard left and right playing off each other. Has a similarly hopeful/triumphant feel. “Somebody up there likes me”- “Across the Universe”- Beatles cover with Bowie twist. End of the song is a lot more epic and rebellious (fitting with the theme of the album) and also reinforces Beatles influences seen across the album. “Can You Hear Me”- Bowies take on a romantic soul ballad. Sexy sax riffs throughout. “Fame”- Slick, funky and catchy whilst still being a poignant commentary on the double edged sword of the entertainment industry. Clearly directed mainly at Hollywood. Final thoughts- Bowie’s attempt to capture the American audience by outlining the daily struggles they would face and recreating the styles at the time whilst still being innovative, with some techniques feeling modern nearly 50 years later. “Fame” is definitely the standout track and it’s clear to see why it was popular at the time, meaning Bowie’s main attempt with the album was a success. There are some low point however with the album becoming a little bit stale in the mid section

Sinatra is a spectacular performer. His smooth, soulful delivery combines perfectly with the big band jazz/swing styles accompanying his vocals. The arrangements can start to become dull in places as the scales and motifs are similar across most of the tracks but the solo sections and songwriting, as well as Sinatra’s excellent performance, make this album enjoyable throughout.

Cool if not generic 90’s Alt Rock but definitely no where near as interesting as their previous albums. Not much to say lyrically other than a few tracks but the lead singers performance is consistently good. Standout tracks: Velouria, Is She Weird, The Happening

Pop, jazz/rock fusion that is as tight as it is loose. The compositions are reminiscent of Stevie Wonder and Herbie Hancock with guitar and clav panned hard right and left on some tracks to give the similar bouncy feel. The musical choices are innovative whilst still being faithful to classic jazz and blues styles, with “East St. Louis Toodle-oo” being a clear tribute to Duke Ellington. The songwriting is heartfelt without being cheesy and relates to the day to day trials and tribulations of the average American, tackling subjects like drug addiction, living paycheque to paycheque and anxiety due to life not going your way. The storytelling makes the characters in each song very vivid and makes each track an interesting listen. Overall, the album is captivating and engaging and is a truely innovative album.

Fantastic fusion blend of soul, funk and jazz with a sound reminiscent of Wars bigger hits. On Four Cornered Room, the influence of some psychedelic features can be heard most prominently, with wah and delay used heavily. The large ensemble is able to layer vocal harmonies very impressively with the larger band across the project and deliver on conveying the feeling of living life in a ghetto, epitomised in the title track. Overall, an easy, funky listen which lends itself best to background music in my opinion due to the length of the songs, which would also be my main criticism as the repetition of phrases can become stale in some tracks.