Review Summary: David Bowie fans will be introduced to a new genre not common nowadays (or not usually done very well), experimental jazz. Well, I'm here to tell you, David revived that genre, but made himself thrive in his own rights as well.
I've never listened to David Bowie before entering in this year as a music critic, so I wanted a heartwarming introduction to what this 69-year-old prodigy could show me. Well... it wasn't heartwarming, but it sure was a kick*** album that has shown that experimental jazz is a genre not to be forgotten. I like to do review in track by track, so here's a track by track review for this album.
Album songs in order:
Blackstar (9/10) #3 best song: Awesome progressive-ish avant-garde rock that has a trippy, but fitting production with dark, black riffs and synths that really fits the song with Bowie's voice and in the second half with the slower boom and pop sound that fit the concept of the song.
'Tis Pity She's a ***** (7/10) #5 best song: I think the melodic instruments are too quiet and in the backseat rather than the static synth, but nontheless a pretty solid song, which by the way is about World War 1.
Lazarus (10/10) #2 best song: When I was a very little kid, I listened to 80's songs with my mom and there were a few I really enjoyed. Lazarus felt like a trip back to that time, and oh boy did I love it. The soaring melodic vocals with a fantastic saxophone riff and a ride-riddled percussion, makes this is a song already a contender for the best overall song of the year.
Sue (Or in a Season of Crime) (10/10) Best song : Mark Guiliana needs to be pointed out as a modern classic percussionist because he is half the reason this song was as great as it is. The blazing fast drums go from start to finish clocking in at 4:54 ,and, add the saxophone and trombone soloing, and you have a classic avant-garde jazz song, folks. Not only that, but David Bowie, rather than delivering ghastly and "yawning" vocals, he's very clear and vibrant that really improves this song on a next level. The breakneck pace with the odd lyrics straight from a 1700's play about normal life feel so clashing, that it gets scary. But that's just one other aspect I love about this song.
Girl Loves Me (6/10) Worst song : Although boasting a unique origin and "language", the structuring of this song feels kind of "I've heard this before quite a few times, and it's only okay." And that, to me, hurts the mood of the song. There isn't even really a musical standout here and that makes the song almost worthless other than the lyrics. The atmosphere is really good though, I'll give it that.
Dollar Days (9/10) #4 Best song : A really good, "noisy, but not noisy" ballad that has a great piano intro with really appropriate jazz elements put into the song.
I Can't Give Everything Away (6/10) #6 Best song : Kind of a disappointing closer, since it hosted the almost the exact same feel as Tis' Pity She's a ***** without the gritty percussion or as gritty synth. Thankfully, the song fades out with a pleasant surprise, a guitar solo.
With an experimental album that's in the wrong genre of mainstream, when the headmaster is in the mainstream scene, the proper listing on the album probably won't exist, which it doesn't (it's not a concept album either). Bowie could've done better with the overall feel of the song sequencing for the album, but it's fair enough; however, you won't care about any of that when you listen to those songs on the album because these songs are awesome, and so is this album.
