I will not go into how long it has been from the last album, mention Bowie's age or even compare this album to others as if you are reading this you more likely have a mind and can do that all by yourself. Also the artwork on the album pretty much says that.
The album has a very positive opener in "The Next Day" and you find his vocals hidden behind a very noisy band. Lyrically intriguing and disturbing but always entertaining. The opener quickly passes to track two "Dirty Boys" welcomes some saxophone and what sounds like everything else. "The Stars (Are Out Tonight)" feels like a classic rock n roll song, great rhythmic guitars and a big welcome to the classic bowie vocals, I can see this as a single.
So far four songs in and each track has a real individual feel almost as if this was a compliation album and it could be like that as he has had time on his side. "Love is Lost" feels very much underground and again it works leading into the first single "Where are We Now" we are fixed very much in 2013 and this year Bowie is back. Vocals on this song are amazing and really do get the hairs on your neck to stand up.
Close to half way and I love it so far but is it all one sided? No "Valentine’s Day" returns that classic guitar sound, little fuzz and distortion and it sounds like it is played through a personal stereo. Listening to the lyrics again and you do feel the world has changed a lot, a song about a school massacre. Sounds like he is describing the killer and the lyrics "he has something to say". Remember those hairs on my neck, back up again.
“If You Can See Me” is the worst song here and it sounds like a good b side track (Remember them). The album goes along superbly with "I'd Rather Be High" and "Boss of Me" feeling catchy and again more choices as singles. My preference is to the latter with a nice bass sound and great lyrics. Song after song of great music follows and highlights in "How Does The Grass Grow?" and great guitar work in "Dancing Out In Space".
Second last track steals the show "You Feel So Lonely You Could Die" a would-be suicide note or a bad sketch? It is the ballad on the album and lasting just over four and a half minutes but feels far more. Acoustic guitars and female harmonies keep this an epic sounding end to the album.
But not yet as Bowie as always never makes it easy "Heat" is back to the feel the album started with and as ever very bleak sounding. Violin, guitars and well many other things are involved here and help to what I feel make the next album follow on from this well made end. Big bass sounds shake the speakers and make this reviewer very happy.
A great album and one I think could be done live but as we all know that just will not happen, this could be why it sounds so good as the pressure of doing this live is so hard. The kids will love this and if they don't well if Bowie can't get you into music then nothing will.
8/10
Twitter: @29xthefun
