Listened to it this morning. My joke upthread about "jazz dudes playing rock = it'll sound like Steely Dan" was half-right; it sounds like Steely Dan trying to imitate postpunk/Bowie's Berlin albums. His voice sounds really good, too.
― the top man in the language department (誤訳侮辱), Sunday, 3 January 2016 02:20 (eight years ago) link
After reading the Mojo article I checked out some of the player's records to see what this dark and gritty nu-jazz was like, and it sounds like Critters Buggin
― MaresNest, Sunday, 3 January 2016 13:37 (eight years ago) link
This is really great, great sax
― Amira, Queen of Creativity (upper mississippi sh@kedown), Thursday, 7 January 2016 02:34 (eight years ago) link
First minutes of Blackstar reminded me of Massive Attack of all people.
― ✖✖✖ (Moka), Thursday, 7 January 2016 02:43 (eight years ago) link
My review: http://www.spin.com/2016/01/review-david-bowie-blackstar/
― The burrito of ennui (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Thursday, 7 January 2016 02:44 (eight years ago) link
is there a non mono leak of this yet?
― akm, Thursday, 7 January 2016 04:28 (eight years ago) link
Good review!
― niels, Thursday, 7 January 2016 08:11 (eight years ago) link
Great review, makes me excited to finally give it a listen.
― Josh in Chicago, Thursday, 7 January 2016 17:39 (eight years ago) link
a non-mono link has come into existence
― PaulTMA, Thursday, 7 January 2016 21:22 (eight years ago) link
thanks!
― The burrito of ennui (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Thursday, 7 January 2016 21:26 (eight years ago) link
I didn't notice if it was mono or not but the version I've been listening to was digitized from vinyl, which is interesting. Gotta see if I can find a store within a reasonable distance of my office that has the physical CD tomorrow.
― the top man in the language department (誤訳侮辱), Thursday, 7 January 2016 21:32 (eight years ago) link
Ok I heard a few pops was wondering if it was a vinyl rip
― Amira, Queen of Creativity (upper mississippi sh@kedown), Thursday, 7 January 2016 21:48 (eight years ago) link
This album is much better than Outside and Next Day. I guess I wish it was a little looser, given the players, because it's sort of arranged a la cheesy programming where it probably could have otherwise breathed and swinged a tad more. Sounds weirdly dated, though, per Kirk Hammett, if it sounded more like present then it would be dated to now, man.
― Josh in Chicago, Thursday, 7 January 2016 22:25 (eight years ago) link
heh, can you elaborate on that hammett approach?
― niels, Thursday, 7 January 2016 22:47 (eight years ago) link
It's from the Monster doc. They try to convince him to drop the guitar solos, because no one has solos anymore, and Lars is worried they would make the band sound dated. And Kirk gets indignant and points out losing the solos would date the band to that particular era, when no one had solos.
― Josh in Chicago, Thursday, 7 January 2016 23:41 (eight years ago) link
oh my god. this is so fucking good. ridiculously brilliant album.
― flappy bird, Friday, 8 January 2016 01:46 (eight years ago) link
can't wait, very excited
― sleeve, Friday, 8 January 2016 02:32 (eight years ago) link
This album is much better than Outside
at first i was like :| bc i love outside but now that i'm hearing it it really might be
― HYPERLINK TO RAP GENIUS (BradNelson), Friday, 8 January 2016 03:57 (eight years ago) link
closing track 'i can't give everything away' is my favorite on first listen but this is very surprising, it's really the best Bowie albums I've heard in decades.
― ✖✖✖ (Moka), Friday, 8 January 2016 08:07 (eight years ago) link
^^sounds like what he was aiming for on Black Tie White Noise but getting it right this time.
― willem, Friday, 8 January 2016 08:33 (eight years ago) link
xp josh, now I remember - good one
― niels, Friday, 8 January 2016 08:36 (eight years ago) link
6/10
― Half-baked profundities. Self-referential smirkiness (Bob Six), Friday, 8 January 2016 10:13 (eight years ago) link
I am officially excited.
― Hey Bob (Scik Mouthy), Friday, 8 January 2016 11:19 (eight years ago) link
Blackstar White Noise
― EZ Snappin, Friday, 8 January 2016 13:14 (eight years ago) link
It is really good. A little embarrassing that he's still pulling lyrics from A Clockwork Orange in 2016, but whatever.
― the top man in the language department (誤訳侮辱), Friday, 8 January 2016 13:25 (eight years ago) link
The song at the end especially reminds me of Black Tie White Noise. I like both albums, though, but I can see how this one's more focused.
― cpl593H, Friday, 8 January 2016 13:27 (eight years ago) link
Nice to see BTWN defenders. I've felt like an outlier for 20 years.
― The burrito of ennui (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Friday, 8 January 2016 13:34 (eight years ago) link
BTWN also had sort of surprisingly conservative arrangements, iirc, lots of boring drums (loops?) in particular.
― Josh in Chicago, Friday, 8 January 2016 13:41 (eight years ago) link
Will always defend "The Wedding," "Jump They Say," "Miracle Goodnight," "You've Been Around," and the Scott Walker cover.
― The burrito of ennui (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Friday, 8 January 2016 13:46 (eight years ago) link
^co-sign on those. I also have a soft spot for "Pallas Athena", that's all.
― willem, Friday, 8 January 2016 13:54 (eight years ago) link
i like tin machine & i vote
― Amira, Queen of Creativity (upper mississippi sh@kedown), Friday, 8 January 2016 15:02 (eight years ago) link
"i can't give everything away" is stunning and that synth tone is really "secret garden"
― HYPERLINK TO RAP GENIUS (BradNelson), Friday, 8 January 2016 15:46 (eight years ago) link
Good Jody Rosen review: http://www.billboard.com/articles/review/6836029/david-bowie-blackstar-album-review
― The burrito of ennui (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Friday, 8 January 2016 15:47 (eight years ago) link
"The combined effect is goth, in the sense that Chartres Cathedral is goth: The song is a grand edifice, ornamented with spires and gargoyles, with towering vaults beneath which the music echoes and howls."
hell yeah
― HYPERLINK TO RAP GENIUS (BradNelson), Friday, 8 January 2016 16:08 (eight years ago) link
seeing the woodmansey/visconti "man who sold the world" thing tonight in nyc. wonder if we'll get a chance to sing to the birthday boy.
― Thus Sang Freud, Friday, 8 January 2016 17:02 (eight years ago) link
The guitar solo that closes the album, my god...
― flappy bird, Friday, 8 January 2016 17:42 (eight years ago) link
"Dollar Days" is such a beautiful pop song.
― flappy bird, Friday, 8 January 2016 17:43 (eight years ago) link
I got a real John And Beverley Martyn/Witchseason vibe from "Dollar Days" while listening this morning. Could be the way the excellent sax solo is recorded/played. Kind of a "Chime Of The City Clock" feeling. Yeah - wonderful song.
― Acid Hose (Capitaine Jay Vee), Friday, 8 January 2016 19:43 (eight years ago) link
all of this sounds like it is time to play the meat beat manifesto remix of 'you've been around'
(ftr : i love the BTWN album - the mix of commercial demands vs the need to be avant is dominant throughout the album. the result is one of bowies most unusual albums.)
― mark e, Friday, 8 January 2016 19:53 (eight years ago) link
I like the slinky bassline and horns that drift in the beginning of Lazurus, feels like some unknown common ground between Portishead and Steely Dan is being staked out
― Amira, Queen of Creativity (upper mississippi sh@kedown), Friday, 8 January 2016 20:18 (eight years ago) link
Most of the lyrics are very bleak. Can we consider this Bowie's first goth album? Even the closing song sounds macabre.
― ✖✖✖ (Moka), Friday, 8 January 2016 21:25 (eight years ago) link
And it's the most upbeat song in here.
yep, this is great
― sleeve, Saturday, 9 January 2016 01:06 (eight years ago) link
KMUW's "Strange Currency" is streaming an hour of Bowiesongs, back and forth through the years, just finished a tight, crispy "Waiting For The Man." 'Appy birf, Bo.
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CYO0zbqU0AAkD_2.jpg
― dow, Saturday, 9 January 2016 02:12 (eight years ago) link
Right now: "I suppose it was always this way/But the memories won't quit/'Til they tell a story."
― dow, Saturday, 9 January 2016 02:13 (eight years ago) link
Fantastic album.
If you buy the CD, don't try to remove the small square sticker affixed to the back cover (under the shrinkwrap) as it'll just destroy the finish.
― doug watson, Saturday, 9 January 2016 05:42 (eight years ago) link
So this band is performing at the Village Vanguard on January 24 (under keyboardist Jason Lindner's name, not McCaslin's). Over/under on Bowie showing up?
― the top man in the language department (誤訳侮辱), Saturday, 9 January 2016 11:11 (eight years ago) link
http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Guardian/Pix/pictures/2016/1/5/1452000864501/StephenCollinscartoon21June.jpeg
― Jeff W, Saturday, 9 January 2016 11:58 (eight years ago) link
ahahah fuck thats amazing
― flappy bird, Saturday, 9 January 2016 22:36 (eight years ago) link
Over/under on Bowie showing up?
he was a no-show at the highline last night. visconti said he was at his birthday party, which stands to reason. he recorded the audience singing happy birthday on his cell. really fun show, though, with woodmansey and co. can't imagine anyone was disappointed. the heaven 17 guy did a tremendous job on vocals.
― Thus Sang Freud, Saturday, 9 January 2016 22:58 (eight years ago) link