release date: Jan. 8, 2016
format: cd
[album rate: 3 / 5] [2,86]
producer: David Bowie, Tony Visconti
label: ISO Records / Columbia - nationality: England, UK
Tracklist: 1. "★" - 2. " 'Tis a Pity She Was a Whore" - 3. "Lazarus" (4 / 5) - 4. "Sue (Or in a Season of Crime)" - 5. "Girl Loves Me" - 6. "Dollar Days" - 7. "I Can't Give Everything Away"
25th and final studio album by David Bowie released on his 69th birthday, two days before he died Jan. 10. It's a complex, dark, and sinister art rock album, which was met by critical acclaim. Luckily, the album was reviewed by major music magazines and critics prior to his death.
I must say that I haven't been a fan of his for the past 35 years or so, regarding Scary Monsters (And Super Creeps) from 1980 as his last fine album. Let's Dance wasn't and has never been my cup of tea, however, he almost didn't make a poor album in the '70s. And then this. The album is completely new to me. I didn't manage to hear it before all of the first issues was sold-out after his sudden death, but now I got hold of it, and it really sounds like an interesting and fine artistic accomplishment. "Lazarus", with its playing time of more than 6 mins is the finest track. At least so far, but more songs lurk and quirk - in the dark, awaiting to unfold itself. I think it's fine and quite interesting, mind you, however, "great" or "brilliant" are not words, I come to think of. Bowie is Bowie, undoubtedly. Having said that, I'm not staggering in amazement. And although this is by no means boring nor mainstream, and yes, it's surely highly original music - quite so, it's just not something I find on my player. I'm more into... something else.
[ allmusic.com, Rolling Stone, Q Magazine, The Guardian, The Independent 4 / 5 stars ]
