HUNKY DORY

Onto another from Bowie that I'm so excited to hear through again (just over a year after my Man Who Sold the World review). It's also been some time since I've heard Hunky Dory, and really, despite my extreme admiration for Bowie, he's not an artist/band I find myself returning to with any real intention. Of course we have Mick Ronson on guitar, and we get a return from the great Rick Wakeman, who plays piano on all but two songs. Let's jump right into it!

Our start is the ever-popular hit single "Changes", which has such a striking sound, though it won't be alone in its sonics for too long. It's funky at times (for Whitey), but is otherwise an artsy Pop ballad. And an incredibly effective one at that. And the way the chorus vocals are ramped up to the max is just a choice. Firmly entering his Glam era (Praise the Lord), "Oh! You Pretty Things" is such a great display of what kind of wild, artsy bullsh*t Glam thankfully had to offer; and David Bowie was foremost in this experimentation. Still indebted to the Edwardian-reverential vibes of pure Psych Rock, there's something likewise very familiar and of-that-time strewn through. As with this last one, Bowie takes the keys on "Eight Line Poem", in Wakeman's stead. The sweetness and softness of the lead guitar reads similar to George Harrison to me; slightly more rootsy than it is bluesy.

Following this slight, though still appropriate lull is the monumental "Life on Mars?". Sprawling and epic, this ballad is of course as essential a Sinatra-slight as you can find. What's hard for me to express, as much as I enjoy this song, it doesn't strike me as even Bowie essential (let alone Rock essential). It is lovely. But also, how 'Rock' can Trad-esque Pop even be? Up next is "Kooks", another more overt glance backwards, bearing similarities to the lilting Baroque Pop of his earliest albums, though introducing once again more Music Hall and (broadly) Roots 'n Blues. This is followed by "Quicksand", one I'm not sure I remember all too well from my years-now-gone last listen. To be frank, this feels like the more emotional, more boring material from Glam contemporaries T. Rex (I'm whatever the opposite of a fan is). Approaching minute 2, we finally get some interest, as rhythm section suddenly ramps up in the mix (from nothing). Regardless, as is to be expected for Hunky Dory, there's still quite a lot of interest, but really only in the second half; that first bit was painful slogging for me.

Pouring into the second side of the disc, we have the fun, light "Fill Your Heart". With little in the way of drums (literally just some brushing on the high-hat), this has a forward drive that'll make you tap your foot (if you aren't terribly depressed). And I believe the first time hearing Bowie on tenor sax since "Changes", this is a welcomed addition. Approaching minute 3, through to its end, Rick gives us an increasingly more boogie-woogie thang on the 88s. If you couldn't stand that, maybe you'll be excited about the expectedly artful track "Andy Warhol", which has studio chatter of David making sure 'Warhol' was spelled correctly. This has such a good sound, reminiscent to me, thanks to the acoustic strumming and light percussion specifically, of early America. Got a real kick out of the lines "He'll think about paint / And he'll think about glue / What a jolly boring thing to do". At its darkest moment, fast approaching its end, it honestly reminded me of Comus! Interesting.

In another devotion, David gives us "Song for Bob Dylan", a playful tune squarely in Dylan's style (the Folk-Rock thing). Interestingly enough to me, though this is in that Roots-Folk vein, I hear echoes of what Glam Rock would become, in part; I distinctly think of Mott The Hoople here. Next is "Queen Bitch", the heaviest in a bit, and some sincere Proto-Punk Glam Rock. Additionally, to glance even further ahead, this song gives me vaguely Britpop vibes ('Britpop' should have a hyphen in it, obviously...). And finally, here we go back into spacy Folk territory with "The Bewlay Brothers". It's pretty lovely and has a mysteriousness about it that I'm definitely pulled into.

To be honest once again, Hunky Dory, classic as its greatest bits most certainly are, is not a phenomenal album. But those awesome bits are worth the trek.

True Rate: 3.25/5.00