HEROES

Bowie's Heroes is one of those rock classics where it keeps surprising me why they are considered anything special. I fail to see it as anything more then an average album with the name of well known artist on the cover and blessed with the luck to be released at a perfect moment. As to its quality, I can't say much positive at all. This is one of those albums you would even try to play backwards to make sure you didn't miss anything. Nope.

As it often goes with Bowie, his hits are his best songs. And so fares this album, the moment of excellent is the title track, a very fine pop song indeed. Not in the least due to the surprising flippertronics arrangement from mr. Fripp. Apart from that track, there's the pleasant rocking opener Beauty And The Beast and a couple of sonic Eno-isms on the second side that are listenable. Unfortunately, most of the tracks are bland rock songs that are dressed up to sound artsy and smart but end up contrived and self-important. The worst are Sons of the Silent Age, Blackout and V-2 Schneider. I would list those amongst the dullest and most conceited of Bowie's career.

I've given this album multiple tries over the course of my life but it has always failed on all accounts. It doesn't impress me as an art-rock album nor as a regular pop album. That one hit not withstanding; I'm really clueless as to why this album should feature in anyone's collection. I'd like to give 3 stars but really wouldn't see why. The man has much better music.