David Bowie - The Next Day

That's the first review I've read in which no obvious clichés about Bowie, his age or his history are present. What a relief! Clearly, lots of close listening and thought went into the piece - loved reading it. (Even though I see where you're coming from when you compare "Dirty Boys" (my favourite) to the Tom Waits songs, the first thing that I associated the (use of) that sax with was Laurie Anderson's "From the Air")

I still think the record is meh but P's take was inspiring.

Okay via the official FB page:

TND AT #1 IN 40 COUNTRIES ON iTunes

"What In The World?"

The Next Day has gone straight to the top of 40 different countries’ iTunes charts and it’s also Top 10 on iTunes in another 10 countries.

Just sayin’.

I am trying to imagine Bowie himself going "Just sayin'" and it ain't happening.

that "you can set the world on/you can set the world on fire" song is fucking catchy and makes me want to strut around the office

Viral video plz

lol

"Do the St. Paul shake"

Anyway, geeta's got a good review up

http://www.slate.com/articles/arts/music_box/2013/03/david_bowie_s_the_next_day_reviewed.html

That's a nice piece about Bowie framed around an album that it barely engages with, and then mostly tangentially.

Panel discussion with Simon Reynolds, Geeta dayal, and Carl Wilson:
http://www.cbc.ca/day6/blog/2013/03/12/simon-reynolds-geeta-dayal-and-carl-wilson-discuss-bowies-the-next-day/

Carl being mehh = yay!

First listen to this was yesterday when I bought the CD. Don't think I'll get tired of it for a while - it's very strong. It could do with one or two amazing, instant tunes - why can't he just knock out a 'Let's Dance' or something? - which would put it up there with his best, but even so it easily matches up to, say, Side 2 of Scary Monsters, a side that it took me at least 15 listens to love and which I've listened to hundreds of times since.

At first I thought it would be better trimmed down - 14 tracks too much. Which to lose? 'If You Could See Me' and 'I'd Rather Be High' for me, at least.

I deliberately bought the standard CD cos I hate the bonus track thing (and I was gonna avoid the vinyl which I otherwise would've bought because they include them), but then at work I listened to the album on Spotify with those tracks and they're mostly great. 'So She' is the most melodic of these new songs and should've been on the album proper. 'Plan' is the (terrific) instrumental riff that started off the 'Stars Are Out Tonight' video. 'I'll Take You There' is a straight rocker that's as good as some of those on the album. He could've made this a double album I reckon. So I might just buy the vinyl and consider it as such.

why can't he just knock out a 'Let's Dance' or something?

I don't mean this snarkily but, well, he's not 35 anymore? If you mean quick little rock tunelets, well, this album's full of them!

If you haven't seen this already

http://m.guardian.co.uk/music/2013/jan/12/david-bowie-how-made-next-day

<3 Geeta repping for Outside

see now THAT record is my best-since-Space Oddity.

why can't he just knock out a 'Let's Dance' or something?

I don't mean this snarkily but, well, he's not 35 anymore? If you mean quick little rock tunelets, well, this album's full of them!

35, 66, what's the difference? I really like this record! I don't know what quick little rock tunelets are.

The appetite to write good throwaways wanes? I mean, when you're gone 10 years you don't record in 17 days or whatever like Bowie-Rodgers did.

How long did the average Tin Machine song take to record?

just enough to make it great

You're thinking of a different Tin Machine

yeah Tin Machine II was a bit better, but i like them both

You know there are a lot of people who think this record is the first thing he's done since Tin Machine.

I'll take you there is one of the best tracks on this, weird he 'left it off' although since it's on the cd and the vinyl I'm not sure what's bonus about it. they should have just sequenced these into the album because it's a poor closer as opposed to Heat.

"I'll Take You There" sounds like a Never Let Me Down update with less garish production. Bowie should never position himself as a guy who takes "you" "there" -- ick.

otoh David Torn is in good form on "So She."

Headed for #1 in England.

Shep was also the guy who hooked up William H. Macy with Steve Buscemi in Fargo.

Oops--meant for the Madonna thread!

David Bowie IS Frances McDormand...

SFJ review

He's (SFJ) hearing 80s production gimmicks in this? Is he listening to the same
album?

He's right about the drums, although I have no idea what "sports bar guitars" are. Do they sound like wine bar bass lines?

Here there everywhere
It's hip to have a square over your face

7-11 synth bass

The female backing vocals on 'You Will Set The World On Fire' quite 80s. And the song also sounds like Iggy's 'Bang Bang', the Never Let Me Down closing track. 'Love Is Lost' sounds like a throwback to the 'Let's Dance' album and 'How Does The Grass Grow' is even a little NLMD in places.

Lots of little bits reminding me of previous Bowie albums (some of the better ones). Incl Bowies 80s, and maybe some gen. 80s, but not Phil Collins 80s, thankfully (sports bars guitars rule okay, if these are they). Satisfying fan-bait. Still would like more rhythmic variety, flexibility and succintness at times ("Let's Geeze" or whatevs), but the dour "I'd Rather Be High" or whatever it's called has settled into my mental replay pretty tenaciously. Thanks for descriptions of iTunes bonus tracks, will prob get CD. Those allergic to Spotify via Fecebook can still hear the 17 track version of this album, and most of his others, maybe incl.some not on Spotify:
http://www.myspace.com/davidbowie/music/albums

This is the guy from Tim's Machines right? Weird, that it's taken so long for him to go solo...

If anything "Boss Of Me" and "I'd Rather Be High" are the two tracks on this that kill the momentum for a bit. Overall I'm loving the odd bird that is this album.

You folks comparing this to Tin Machine, Bang Bang, Never Let Me Down and the like are really lowering the bar here. I like Heathen and Reality, and loved the tour behind it, but comparisons to those albums are also pretty modest in praise, tbh.

In the opposite direction, I honestly think SFJ overrates current interest in Bowie, let alone a "fascination" with this record or (I had to look it up) cathexis. Bowie is a Big Star, and as such will always by default be "anticipated." But what does it take for Bowie to go to number one in the UK? 20K sold? 40K? First number one record in 20 years or whatever says less about Bowie and more about the music industry today.

xp "I'd Rather" is not nec. one of the better ones, but its persistent replay in my headbox is more evidence of the album's viabilty, even though it can be sloggier than I'd like (don't think age is an excuse; Tempest is mostly engaging musically, even though some of the lyrics don't work; also Willie Nelson's albums in recent years--staying on the road seems to help both artists (also L. Cohen). Bowie's show could be shithot, before he had that heart attack and went into seclusion, which may have affected this set. It's not timid, but no leaps for him, thank you.

Take out the middle four (If You Can See Me, I'd Rather Be High, Boss Of Me, Dancing Out In Space) and this would be much tighter. Even though I like I'd Rather Be High and Boss of Me they do slow things down and would work better as bonus tracks or whatever. Put a couple of the bonus tracks (So She and Plan) in the middle instead and we'd really be talking. Of course I can do this myself on the iPod but it's not the same.

"Boss of Me" is embarrassing

^ all the saxes redeem it for me.

Love "Valentine's Day" a lot. Hits all the right Bowie nostalgia buttons ( the nasal delivery, the chorus).

Great piece from Douglas Wolk here on Bowie and his many collaborations

http://www.mtvhive.com/2013/03/13/david-bowie-friends/

reminds me how much I like "Pretty Pink Rose."

Reminds me how much I like "Watch That Man"

Wasn't familiar with Dana Gillespie's Andy Warhol - it's cool.

i actually like tin machine for real i am not joking

why can't he just knock out a 'Let's Dance' or something?

He did on "Black Tie White Noise", which may have been his best album since "Let's Dance" but which was still not very good, and every album he has released after it has been better IMO.