ALADDIN SANE

On this album, Bowie continues in the same vein as on Ziggy Stardust, even to the point of essentially continuing to play the same character, and to write songs from this vantage point. The result is another classic Bowie rock'n'roll album, with many radio hits, but without the concept, and with an eye on the poppier side of rock, this one can't match the standards set by the previous album. It seems to me that this had to be written relatively quickly in between touring and the many interviews that Bowie had to give, now that he was a confirmed rock star, and the musicality suffers a bit. Not to say that this is a bad album - it is in fact the epitome of a classic rock album. But this includes writing the material fast and for a radio audience. "Jean Jeanie" is/was the big hit, and while it did its part in changing social norms (and for Bowie's brand), it is just not that musical. The opening song ('Watch that Man') and the title track ('Aladdin Sane', or a lad insane) are among the best here. However, there is also much filler, and really nothing stands up to sheer quality and innovativeness of 'Hunky Dory'. This is not an album that I can, after so many years, listen to all the way through any more. I give this one 6.9 out of 10 on my 10-point scale, which translates to 3 PA stars.

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