David Bowie succumbs to cancer.

[P. Aaron]

Well you know what they say about opinions. David Bowie had a level of originality that was far beyond almost any other artist I can think of. He rarely borrowed or stole. Because whatever influences he had, he found ways to deconstruct and reinvent, and to say he had anything close to a lack of originality is absurd, and wholly off the mark. Take the blues progression in Jean Genie. Wikipedia says, "the song's chugging R&B riff is often compared to The Yardbirds, especially their cover of Bo Diddley's 'I'm a Man.'" I'm afraid Wikipedia has missed the mark as well. It starts out that way, but the turnaround is far more satisfying. David Bowie's important work comprises a lot more than "most of the album Low and the title track from the album 'Heroes'".

• Ziggy Stardust - One of the greatest concept albums of all times, it tells the story of a rock star who acts as a messenger for extraterrestrial beings. Mankind has five years left to live, and covers nearly every aspect of hedonism, drug culture, sexuality and yet constantly stays true to a theme of peace, love and looking for higher consciousness. It is an artistic achievement rarely matched.
• Aladdin Sane - The title is a pun on "A Lad Insane," and is already a huge departure from Ziggy Stardust. It includes a mix of avant-garde jazz, tough working class rock, and Brechtian cabaret, along with huge guitar riffs, fantastic lyrics, and very little hint of "glam," which is exactly what Ziggy was only a year before.
• Diamond Dogs - Another amazing concept album. He have have borrowed elements from Orwell, but again, he deconstructed it, and brought back the glam with a dystopia that was equally chilling and fashionable. Not a bad moment on this album, musically speaking.
• Young Americans - Stolen soul music. Are you kidding? How about completely reimagined soul music? Bowie almost derogatorily refers to this music as "plastic soul," but trust me, that's more of a description than a slam, because instead of soul lacking in depth, we're talking about a level of smoothness that would have seemed musically impossible before he invented it.
• Station to Station - the transition from Young Americans into his vaunted "Berlin Trilogy" period, this album is brilliant. I'm not even going to go into the levels of different influences he blends effortlessly here, as the above words, "implying a lack of basic originality" sting the senses of any real musician who actually listens to these tracks instead of trying to be impressive in critical skills.
• Low
• Heroes
• Lodger - the much vaunted Berlin Trilogy has far more than I have time to describe in terms of pure musical experimentation; lyrical craftwork; explorations of themes and more importantly, the ability to pull it all together into three different but completely coherent albums. This work stands on the foundation of the albums before them, and rises to new heights. The level of creativity and originality becomes downright scary here, with absolutely nothing to reference in so many of the feats accomplished. He borrowed the costumes? What? Who cares? These albums were something new, like nothing that had been heard before them, and wile wholly different from the albums referenced above, were no better. Just a long, consistent arc from 1972-1979 of near-perfect albums, all of which had their roots in Rock and Roll, but rose so far above that.
• Scary Monsters - Maybe just one tiny notch down from all the brilliance that came before it; maybe not. It depends who you ask. As a rocker, I like the work on Ziggy through Lodger just a bit more, but this is still a fantastic album.
• Let's Dance - Although not my cup of tea, if you look at the year it was released, it was better than anything out at the time. It is also where I lose some interest in Dave's career, for a while at least, but come on; over ten years of solid albums, with almost no missteps, and everything standing on its own, and yet having continuity at the same time? David Bowie is by far the most original, most creative, and most interesting artist in the history of Rock Music.

You don't even have to be that big a fan to see it. He is clearly identifiable in every single recording he does, and he rarely rested on his laurels. And so many great artists were inspired by him. "Bowie's brilliance was as an organizer and a curator" is the single most wrong statement I have ever read in the entire time I have visited this website.

Bowie's brilliance was as a singer, a songwriter, a musician, a conceptual artist, a lyricist, an actor, a performer, and as a human being.

I printed the quoted review for no other reason than I am now going to BURN IT.

Don't even mention The Man Who Sold the World in all that. Still a good breakdown of Bowie's work AND, he got it ALL played on terrestrial radio.

 

[pacojas]

Don't even mention The Man Who Sold the World in all that. Still a good breakdown of Bowie's work AND, he got it ALL played on terrestrial radio.

TMWSTW really enticed me to play the bass! just killer!

 

[mellowinman]

Don't even mention The Man Who Sold the World in all that. Still a good breakdown of Bowie's work AND, he got it ALL played on terrestrial radio.

Well, I was less into Hunky Dory than the others, and I was trying to show a solid run, (leaving off Pin Ups, just because it's covers, and I happen to like that album.) I agree with you on The Man Who Sold the World, especially since it was pretty hard-edged for the time.

 

[svtb15]

Gail Dorsey does a great job on this tune. One of my FAVE Bowie tunes

 

[P. Aaron]

Well, I was less into Hunky Dory than the others, and I was trying to show a solid run, (leaving off Pin Ups, just because it's covers, and I happen to like that album.) I agree with you on The Man Who Sold the World, especially since it was pretty hard-edged for the time.

I dig both Man Who Sold the World and Pinups. It was Bowie, and like Roxy Music and the other cool FM fare, the early mid-70's was a damn good run for a radio listener.

 

[Bigbri]

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What's this about soul fingers? Don't hear much about Dunn lately, I wonder where his bass is.

 

[fhm555]

Stoic and innovative to the very bitter end. Didn't want his health to influence opinion of his latest release. As always, let it rip and see if it has legs. And as you can imagine from Ziggy, even as he knew his time was not long, he once again poured his heart and soul into his latest project to give us lesser mortals one last look at what true genius really looks and sounds like.

None too shabby for a guy who just wanted to write musicals.

Godspeed Major Tom, rest easy.

 

[Clark Dark]

 

[Old Garage-Bander]

Rest in Peace Ziggy. Sad, sad day.

Wow! I just watched the Ziggy movie the other night.
RIP Mr. B.

 

[pbass2]

What do we do now?

 

[47VevetS]

Weve lost so much great talent lately, Chris Squire, Lemmy, now Bowie, ***?!

 

[Old Garage-Bander]

I remember where I was when I first heard David Bowie. I remember it as if it was yesterday.
Oddly, I don't recall what was playing. All I recall is that it seemed to have a clarity to it that seemed lacking elsewhere at the time. I've enjoyed his work ever since that day.
May you rest in the peace and enjoyment of what you've given us all.

 

[bopeuph]

What's this about soul fingers? Don't hear much about Dunn lately, I wonder where his bass is.

Yep, writing Duck's biography, in the style of Standing in the Shadows of Motown. Finishing the transcriptions this week, and visiting the Dunn residence on Saturday for the first interview.

And Jeff Dunn has at least the surviving Fender, and I'm going to get an up close and personal look then!

 

[MAJOR METAL]

Rock in Peace, Mr. Bowie!

 

[Bigbri]

Yep, writing Duck's biography, in the style of Standing in the Shadows of Motown. Finishing the transcriptions this week, and visiting the Dunn residence on Saturday for the first interview.

And Jeff Dunn has at least the surviving Fender, and I'm going to get an up close and personal
Get some really good pics and post em .

 

[bopeuph]

Get some really good pics and post em .

Maybe! We're hoping to get Bass Player and Vintage Guitar mags involved.

 

[Snaxster]

Well you know what they say about opinions. David Bowie had a level of originality that was far beyond almost any other artist I can think of. He rarely borrowed or stole. Because whatever influences he had, he found ways to deconstruct and reinvent, and to say he had anything close to a lack of originality is absurd, and wholly off the mark. Take the blues progression in Jean Genie. Wikipedia says, "the song's chugging R&B riff is often compared to The Yardbirds, especially their cover of Bo Diddley's 'I'm a Man.'" I'm afraid Wikipedia has missed the mark as well. It starts out that way, but the turnaround is far more satisfying. David Bowie's important work comprises a lot more than "most of the album Low and the title track from the album 'Heroes'".

• Ziggy Stardust - One of the greatest concept albums of all times, it tells the story of a rock star who acts as a messenger for extraterrestrial beings. Mankind has five years left to live, and covers nearly every aspect of hedonism, drug culture, sexuality and yet constantly stays true to a theme of peace, love and looking for higher consciousness. It is an artistic achievement rarely matched.
• Aladdin Sane - The title is a pun on "A Lad Insane," and is already a huge departure from Ziggy Stardust. It includes a mix of avant-garde jazz, tough working class rock, and Brechtian cabaret, along with huge guitar riffs, fantastic lyrics, and very little hint of "glam," which is exactly what Ziggy was only a year before.
• Diamond Dogs - Another amazing concept album. He have have borrowed elements from Orwell, but again, he deconstructed it, and brought back the glam with a dystopia that was equally chilling and fashionable. Not a bad moment on this album, musically speaking.
• Young Americans - Stolen soul music. Are you kidding? How about completely reimagined soul music? Bowie almost derogatorily refers to this music as "plastic soul," but trust me, that's more of a description than a slam, because instead of soul lacking in depth, we're talking about a level of smoothness that would have seemed musically impossible before he invented it.
• Station to Station - the transition from Young Americans into his vaunted "Berlin Trilogy" period, this album is brilliant. I'm not even going to go into the levels of different influences he blends effortlessly here, as the above words, "implying a lack of basic originality" sting the senses of any real musician who actually listens to these tracks instead of trying to be impressive in critical skills.
• Low
• Heroes
• Lodger - the much vaunted Berlin Trilogy has far more than I have time to describe in terms of pure musical experimentation; lyrical craftwork; explorations of themes and more importantly, the ability to pull it all together into three different but completely coherent albums. This work stands on the foundation of the albums before them, and rises to new heights. The level of creativity and originality becomes downright scary here, with absolutely nothing to reference in so many of the feats accomplished. He borrowed the costumes? What? Who cares? These albums were something new, like nothing that had been heard before them, and wile wholly different from the albums referenced above, were no better. Just a long, consistent arc from 1972-1979 of near-perfect albums, all of which had their roots in Rock and Roll, but rose so far above that.
• Scary Monsters - Maybe just one tiny notch down from all the brilliance that came before it; maybe not. It depends who you ask. As a rocker, I like the work on Ziggy through Lodger just a bit more, but this is still a fantastic album.
• Let's Dance - Although not my cup of tea, if you look at the year it was released, it was better than anything out at the time. It is also where I lose some interest in Dave's career, for a while at least, but come on; over ten years of solid albums, with almost no missteps, and everything standing on its own, and yet having continuity at the same time? David Bowie is by far the most original, most creative, and most interesting artist in the history of Rock Music.

You don't even have to be that big a fan to see it. He is clearly identifiable in every single recording he does, and he rarely rested on his laurels. And so many great artists were inspired by him. "Bowie's brilliance was as an organizer and a curator" is the single most wrong statement I have ever read in the entire time I have visited this website.

Bowie's brilliance was as a singer, a songwriter, a musician, a conceptual artist, a lyricist, an actor, a performer, and as a human being.

I printed the quoted review for no other reason than I am now going to BURN IT.

What "review"? Sigh...

Anyway: In my post I did take responsibility for my comments by disclaiming them as being my opinion. What do they say about opinions? And with what authority did you make your statements; were they statements of fact, not of opinion? (I ask only rhetorically.)

Fans and other zealots usually are censorial in their rejection of any expressed opinion or critique that they think does not align with their views. You did not disappoint. Good luck with that.

 

[Dr. Cheese]

I have to admit that he was an artist to the end. He managed to release a death themed album on his birthday, two days before his death! He literally went out in style!

Like a lot of folks, I downloaded some of my Bowie favorites to my iCloud this evening.

 

[JMacBass65]

I posted this on my band's FB page:

I was 14 years old, and I certainly knew of David Bowie by then - Space Oddity, Fame, Golden Years, Young Americans - all great songs I had heard on the radio. However, I had never seen him, that is until December 1979, on Saturday Night Live. I don't recall what I thought of it then, but the fact that I have NEVER forgotten the performances speaks volumes. Here they are:

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

 

[mellowinman]

What "review"? Sigh...

Anyway: In my post I did take responsibility for my comments by disclaiming them as being my opinion. What do they say about opinions? And with what authority did you make your statements; were they statements of fact, not of opinion? (I ask only rhetorically.)

Fans and other zealots usually are censorial in their rejection of any expressed opinion or critique that they think does not align with their views. You did not disappoint. Good luck with that.

David Bowie died last night. Your opinion seemed a lot more of a tribute to your own smarty-pantsness than any kind of fitting tribute to a man who is one of the most influential and interesting artists of the 20th Century. Just calling it like I see it.

Some of us are pretty broken up about his loss.

Present company excluded.