Reality [Limited Edition, Import]

The limited edition includes 3 songs not on the normal release - FLY, QUEEN OF ALL THE TARTS, and REBEL REBEL. Rebel Rebel is a totally new version, and it's pretty incredible. Now for the CD ... This is brilliant! "NEW KILLER STAR" starts the album with a big bang. Bowie is hooky and edgey all at once! Then he covers "PABLO PICASSO" which some may remember from the film REPO MAN. The album continues in a very strong way, and I find it hard to describe. BOWIE has always been about art rock, and combining many elements not unlike a painter who is using sound as his landscape. He changes with every album, but at the core is a strong voice and an impeccable poet. The last song on this outing is called BRING ME THE DISCO KING. It's probably a dig at the music that became pop in the 70s that killed his own art rock/glam revolution. This CD is produced along with long time collaborator Tony Visconti. It combines jazz with techno - sort of TONIGHT meets EARTHLING if you can imagine. You need this if you're a fan! The most interesting release so far this year as far as I'm concerned. Others can have their pop princess, but for me this year is all about Bowie.

On the allmusic.com website, this album was likened to capturing the sound that "Heroes" through Scary Monsters explored between '77 and 1980; Heathen was apprently the rekindling of music between Hunky Dory and Low. I really fail to see that connection. While I understand that Bowie was more melodically-minded on Heathen - I think motivated and anchored by what seemed to be a need to prove himself as an energetic and tight songwriter - and thus may have appealed to a more Ziggy-minded, glammy audience, I think he was aiming to convey a certain peacefulness (or even softness). His early '70s works, I would argue, don't take that road. They don't really try. Reality does, however, speak of the sonic raucous that Bowie was flexing within Heroes (especially tracks 1,2,4,5), parts of Lodger (tracks 3,9), and Scary Monsters (tracks 1,3,6,7,8). There's a more treble-oriented scraping in the foreground with a lot of tracks on Reality, which at times struck me as a kind of purposeful distraction from some of the smoother undertones. His singing, while more appealing and adventurous on Heathen, is no less impressive (outstanding on "Try Some, Buy Some", "Fall Dog Bombs the Moon", "Reality", and the highlight "Bring Me the Disco King"), as he hits dead on all the right notes (and perfectly lands the wrong ones- something I've always admired about his singing).
Absolutely worth buying, this album is good for much exploration on the listener's part.

Unlike "Heathen," which I fell in love with immediately, this album is so drastically different than anything he has done in years, that it took 3-4 full listens to have it grab ahold of me. Many of the songs on this album bring back the flavor of his 70's work, yet with modern music technology and edge. If you loved "Scary Monsters" and earlier Bowie albums, you will LOVE this album. It's destined to be a CLASSIC. Some standouts on the album are "New Killer Star" "Pablo Picasso" and "Never Grow Old." He then slips effortlessly into a more "sultry" Bowie (the sad type of music that haunts you for hours, which he has become known for) with songs like "The Loneliest Guy" and "Bring me the Disco King." Those two songs could be easily compared with "The Motel (from 1995's "Outside") and "The Bewlay Brothers" from the classic "Hunky Dory." They are eerie and dark, and practically put you in a trance. The title track is similar to his style on the "Outside" album, in that it has a very industrial feel like the song "Hallo Spaceboy." Then there are the uptempo, pop-style songs such as "Days" and "Fall Dog Bombs the Moon." This album is a GEM, and is Bowie at his Best in YEARS. Vocally, it is more impressive that "Heathen" as his pitch is higher for nearly the whole album, sounding like the younger Bowie. No two albums from Bowie are alike. It's amazing. After a few listens, you will be hooked. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS ALBUM to anyone, not just Bowie fans!!!