#35 On Rolling Stone's Top 500 albums of all time
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(1972) David Bowie - "The Rise And Fall Of Ziggy Stardust And The Spiders From Mars"
Musicians
David Bowie: vocals, guitar, sax
Mick Ronson: guitar, piano and vocals
Trevor Bolder: bass
Mick Woodmansey: drums
Tracks
1.Five Years (4:42)
2.Soul Love (3:33)
3.Moonage Daydream (4:37)
4.Starman (4:16)
5.It Ain't Easy (2:57)
6.Lady Stardust (3:21)
7.Star (2:47)
8.Hang Onto Yourself (2:38)
9.Ziggy Stardust (3:13)
10.Suffragette City (3:25)
11.Rock 'N' Roll Suicide (2:57)
This was Bowie's 4th (5th Official) Major outing as a rock star. This album, to many rock and roll fans, changed the way we look at rock and roll. For David Bowie's Ziggy Stardust introduced us to a new wave of rock and rock. GLAM ROCK. And before music sold out to it's extremes by the 1980's. This was how GLAM ROCK was done properley. One of the best albums ever made to date....By anyone...
Five Years - 10/10
The soft patter of drums fades in to a song that starts this epic story of an album. The song sings about the end of the world. All the emotions of tragedy are expressed deeply. Shock, sadness, panic are all crammed beautifully into a dream like song. Gentle weeping piano and soft soothing vocals from David warn us that the end of the world is near. Great album intro.
Soul Love 10/10
In a complete change of mood. This song comes to teach us about one thing even the end of the world can't destroy. LOVE. A very smooth rock sound with crunchy guitar and a kick *** chorus remind us that Love is undying. Very jazz like song with some nice saxophone and acoustic guitar bits.
Moonage Daydream - 10/10
The Ultimate Rock Song. Nonsense lyrics. Great Chorus. Kick *** Guitar solo (actually made Guitar World's Top 100 solo's of all time). This song sings about the moonage daydream. Basically a freak out psychadelic song. One of David's most rocking songs from any album. Sci-Fi imagery and yet MORE pan flute complete the excellence which is MOONAGE DAYDREAM.
Starman - 10/10
He has arrived. This song kicks off the actual concept part of the LP. There is a light in the sky. The radio and T.V channels have been intercepted. Starman is the song that pretty much introduces Bowie's "Ziggy Stardust" character. He has come from outerspace to teach the children how to rock and roll. A very cool song that has to be heard by everyone.
It Ain't Easy - 9/10
Here is a song that was written by Ron Davies. And NOT Mr. David Bowie. A great rocking tune about sin. "It ain't easy to get to heaven when you're goin' down". The chorus of this song really lifts the song into an arena rocker.
Lady Stardust - 9/10
The soft piano powered ballad of the album. This song sings about sexual confusion. This certain issue played a key role in Bowie's career. Topics of homosexuality/bisexuality were always hot issues in the eyes of the critics about many classic rockers. Very raw bar room lounge tune.
Star - 10/10
Pick-Me-Up rock song about high hopes of becoming a rock and roll star, despite the piling odds against you. Nice guitar riffs and backup harmonies.
Hang On To Yourself - 8.5/10
A different style creeps out in this song. More of a Punk-Rock song than arena rock. Nice change of pace for this album. Very nifty Punk style solo (short but sweet). This song probably holds some sort of record for being the only song to incorporate Badgers and Vaseline in the same line...
Ziggy Stardust - 7.5/10
Easily the weakest song on the album. This song sings about the Ego of the Ziggy Stardust. How his stardom and fame eventually lead to his downfall. Not a terrible song, but the least memorable of the album. Great drumming though.
Suffragette City - 10/10
One of Bowie's more radio friendly tracks. This is a kick *** blues/hard rock song. Hard to decipher the meaning of this song. To me it sounds like the uprising of women. Either way, this song is a classic. It also coined the phrase "Wham Bam Thank You M'am".
Rock 'N' Roll Suicide - 9/10
Another fitting closing track to an album. This song is about hitting rock bottom as a Rock Star. Get too famous, you are over exposed and eventually it all comes crashing down. A slower song that seems to be cooling down from the energy this album produces. Great closer.
Reviewers Picks
Five Years
Moonage Daydream
Starman
Suffragette City
Overall Rating - 9.5/10
This is easily David Bowie's best album. Almost perfect attempt at capturing the experience of glam rock at its finest. Some essential Bowie tracks are to be found on this LP