David Bowie - The Next Day

otm on the "Beethoven" connection.

That video is incredible.

Quietus review: http://thequietus.com/articles/11500-david-bowie-the-next-day-review

Interesting:

"Moreover, it closes with two mind-blowing, show-stopping, grandstanding epics: one as baroque as 'Rock And Roll Suicide' ONLY MORE SO; one as frazzled and sinister and ticking as Scott Walker’s (ok, The Walker Brothers’) 'The Electrician'."

Sounds great. The review is written by Chris Roberts though (I mean, he tends to be enthusiastic to say the least when it comes to Bowie).

He reckons Stars (Are Out Tonight) is "one of the weakest tracks, straining a little."

Thoroughly underwhelmed by both "Stars" and the video for it. This is pretty much exactly what I dreaded when I learned he was putting new stuff out.

I still really like "Where Are We Now" though, and I'm staying optimistic about the rest of the album.

Had a listen to the new track last night and found myself quite liking it... and that's all, really. Still looking forward to hearing the album.

Why can't big acts just release singles anymore? Why does it have to be teaser single, follow-up in tandem with album? No one's selling much, might as well have fun. Release a single now and then, let it hang around a little.

It's not releasing, it's sharing, bro.

I know it's a cliché easily used these days, but seriously: has no one mentioned yet how Lynchian this video is? For it is. The intro music ("Ghost of Love" echoes), Tilda Swinton (who is already David Bowie in many ways, in a parallel universe), characters flashing in and out of themselves, the panning of the camera (the shoddy filming of the balcony, the supermarket scene). I can't think of any other music video that is so Lynchian.

I like the song, but I think I like the song in combination with the video even better.

(forgot to mention the stop-motion like movement of the people in the video, too)

you can listen to it now streaming!

http://pitchfork.com/news/49744-listen-to-the-new-david-bowie-album-now/

i'm pretty impressed. did not have any expectations.

It's up. It's good.

i'm getting a Lodger vibe on some of this, which i did not expect

i think visconti talking about how it was "rockers" is a bit misleading, i mean it's not like these are all 4 on the floor power chord songs, lots of cool stuff in the mix and the songs go in odd directions

Whoa... I can't go to bed without listening to this! Better fix me that coffee...

man between this and strong MBV and Bad Seeds albums it's 2013: The Year Heritage Alternative Rock Acts Broke

Rockers compared to an album of Where Are We Nows

my response to the new record is nostalgia:
where are the times Bowie was "innovative"...

You are no fun

"Stars" sounds much better as an album cut. Works nicely in context.

i don't think the album is bad, but it's like the new Neil Young album: good for an aging rock star, but i can live without it

Cool insight

cynical?

Like no offense but every time I see you post you're just being a drag or killjoy about stuff, gets old

Good album on first listen! Some lovely moments. Especially like how concise the tunes are.

I think it's his best since Scary Monsters

Keeping in line with the album cover, i sort of which he had just taken his old songs and wrote new lyrics/melodies over the old tracks. Or maybe just take the old lyrics and write completely new music for them.

Haven't heard this yet, aside from the first OK single and 2nd single, which i can't remember at all.

give it a listen on iTunes. Worth your time.

is "Boss of Me" a cover of the Malcolm in the Middle theme song? (please say yes)

Not sure if this is just to do with me paying more attention to this release than the last few, but there's an energy and directness to the vocal melodies that reminds me of the way Ferry came with "Frantic" (though they don't sound anything like each other) after a handful of more muddled, mature and indirect propositions (Mamouna, Heathen, etc...). Either this record is more engaging... or I'm more engaged. Time will tell.

The 'hum along' factor seems as high as its been in a long time, yeah?
I dig it.

I'm listening to the stream, so can't see song titles. What's the one that starts "If you can see me, I can see you?" 'Cause it was good enough that I just went back to play it again.

Rest of the album all sounds at least ok, it'll take time to know. Nothing jumping out as *wrong* with it yet.

On first listen this is really solid. Only dud was "Dancing Out In Space".

The first Bowie record I haven't wanted to pretend didn't exist in a long time. I like it. I'm not as excited as I am when I hear new Scott Walker for instance but I'll give it the time to see if it gets into regular rotation or whether I just reach for older records. I'm into the sneaky arch Lodger references in almost every song. But I like that type of thing.

"Like no offense but every time I see you post you're just being a drag or killjoy about stuff, gets old"

nah, just a coincidence

get me Mr. Raggett response!

does he like the new record?!

well, it sure is a polite record. And well-named: sounds like it was recorded a day after Reality. That's all for now.

otm

Heat sounds like a Scott Walker tribute song!

It's surprisingly alright.
'The Next Day' started off with such a heavy (and grin-inducing) 'Red Sails'-vibe, could even pass the chugging 'rock'-rock stuff in the middle without problems.

It boats one legit terrible track ("Love is Lost")

The little bit that I'm loving even though it's kind of obvious is the way the "Rock and Roll Suicide" song ends with the start of "Five Years." Kind of an easy move, but it works for me.

Trying to listen to the stream while doing something else but I feel like I haven't heard much of a tune up until 'where are we now', but then the next couple are great

get me Mr. Raggett response!

It's...nice? I'm feeling carefully neutral about it. The last album of his I really thoroughly loved/was struck by remains Earthling, with everything since being more reexploration/retrenching. I enjoyed the listen and will purchase the album, a couple of strong moments but I think this one would have to be a grower for me instead of some revelation.

Final track is good, sounds Labyrinthy

this is great! haven't been paying attention to the song titles either since I'm listening to the stream. But it's a strong album than Reality which was kind of flabby to me. Don't know if I like it as much as Heathen, which is among my very favorites of his. But it's good. I'm just glad his career isn't going to go out on some kind of Hours/Never let me Down/Tonight meh thing.

i like it - better than the last 3, i think. but then i loved 'hours' when it first came out and grew to dislike it. it's certainly some sort of grand marketing campaign.

Incredibly faint praise like "better than the last 3" assures me that I won't have missed anything by never listening to this album.

Better than "Tonight" and "Never Let Me Down" ... combined!

And the comment I quoted wasn't even so brave as to unequivocally state that it was - outright - no question about it... 'better than the last 3'!

The breathless schoolgirl enthusiasm of the Quietus write-up on this really doesn't tally at all with the general okayness found within the actual album.

I mean:

"Moreover, it closes with two mind-blowing, show-stopping, grandstanding epics: one as baroque as 'Rock And Roll Suicide' ONLY MORE SO"

Just...no.