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David Bowie - Aladdin Sane CD (album) cover

ALADDIN SANE

David Bowie

 

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3.86 | 433 ratings

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arcane-beautiful
4 stars I have to admit, when it comes to Bowie, I'm only really a fan of certain eras. Don't get me wrong, I admire him and have always supported anything he has done over the past few years, but like anyone, I do have preferences, and when it comes to the Ziggy era...I'm not the biggest fan.

Don't get me wrong, some absolute belters came from this era, and some of them can even be seen on this album, but I really did prefer Bowie just before and during the Berlin era...and the period before Ziggy.

But...because this is the end of Ziggy period, there is a slight difference. While "The Rise & Fall Of Ziggy Stardust & The Spiders Of Mars" is more of a glam rock album full of catchy songs and single based material...this album is more of an art rock take on Ziggy. A lot of this art rock influence is very important whenever comparing the album to it's own concept.

Yes...this is Ziggy in America. So, while leaving Britain behind with T-Rex, Sweet, Slade and Mud to wear the make up, Bowie went to America to bring the glam to the States. Now, at this time, USA was overrun with art rockers and proto punkers, like Iggy Pop, The Velvet Underground ect. Obviously, being the Pop Art whore he is, Bowie jumped at the chance to make acquaintances and borrowed a lot of ideas and sounds from these bands and artists.

The lyrics of the album also show of this new influence. With references to the culture of the states and rather suggestive lyrics depicting sex and drugs. I really don't know how Bowie got away with a lot of the stuff he says on these songs, especially it being released in the early 70s.

The album opener "Watch That Man" is the perfect symbiosis of glam and art rock. In fact, at times it reminds very much of something Roxy Music would have came up with (Roxy would release their first album a few months after the release of this album...how quaint and odd).

The title track is one of the most interesting moments on the album. With an odd arrangement and crazy piano accompaniment, it really showed off Bowie's unique and progressing song writing style.

Songs like "Cracked Actor" and "Drive-In Saturday" show more of a comical and upbeat side to the album. Nice stories painted with the lyrics and very vivid imagery at times can be portrayed.

Oddly enough, a Rolling Stones cover, "Let's Spend The Night Together" can be found on this album. I'm not sure why, but it probably is one of the weakest moments on the album.

The last song "Lady Grinning Soul" would have to be a personal favourite of mine. A brilliant and impressive vocal performance from Bowie, with some pretty stellar piano playing.

In conclusion, there may not have been more singles on this album, but compared to "The Rise & Fall Of Ziggy Stardust & The Spiders Of Mars", this overall is a more accomplished album, with a more palatable and unique tone throughout.

7.8/10

arcane-beautiful | 4/5 |

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