THE NEXT DAY

First I heard the standard edition. I thought lost of great material but I didn't really get that album hit I expected. Heat is a fine number but not an album closer not for me anyway.

I really do recommend the deluxe edition. There's a couple of remixes that add to the album experience but mostly it is the rest of album - it's really a 3 LP set akin to Shut Up An' Play yer Guitar or Yessongs. 2 /3 of either are fine but the final 1/3... well you can work that one out.

Performances exemplary, every song worked out so well. Nothing questionable Bowie is far too smart and mature to have not have weeded out anything that may not have fitted in with this album.

The roots and orientation of this album references back to the Berlin trilogy and a few ironic sounds from Scary Monsters rears their head. Ignoring the '80s (thank you DB) the music continues on from his 1993 to 2002 area but sticks manly to rock rather than electronica dance sounds - no good nor bad thing, it's just what it is. As it is with Gail Ann Dorsey and Tony Levin supplying bass grooves there is no shortage of groove that can hit head and feet. Rock but ultra modern.

Four stars for the standard edition, more for the Japanese edition or the one with 3 extra tracks - 4 on the Japanese edition. Masterpiece level for the deluxe edition. There you get a DVD (not seen yet - videos for 4 tracks) plus all the interesting bits that get included in box sets. You get the lyrics, separate sleeves, a photo essay all marked Frame, Tracks, Extra, in black on white stark outline. The most puzzling in a book of 20 sides of blank paper marked "You." At least I don't have to put up with the worst thing - that edited Heroes cover. Sorry DB thought that was the worst cover idea since P Tree changing Stupid Dream to look like a promo for a music company. Or that Aphex Twin cover...

So like I say, this is like a 3 LP set and no wonder it took a while to write, record and produce this. Heroes. Low and Lodger took a while, no wonder really (plus some touring).

There are no real obvious hit songs (no Sound And Vision or Heroes) but you may beg to differ. Excellent. If this is the worse that can be said about a superb piece of modern music craftsmanship the bar is set very high indeed.

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