SCARY MONSTERS (AND SUPER CREEPS)

The '80s might not have be the best years in terms of Bowie's creativity but he definitely started the decade off on the right side of things with Scary Monsters (And Super Creeps)! This is easily my favorite David Bowie album to date. The balance between Art Rock and commercially viable material is just flawless on pretty much every track here except possibly for Fashion. I also think that Robert Fripp's guitar is an important asset that can't be overlooked since it really brings out amazing new elements in Bowie's overall sound.

The album kicks off with the first part of the It's No Game duology and it's difficult to believe that we're actually listening to a David Bowie album. That is until we finally get the more subtile revisit of the track at the end of the album where it become apparent that Bowie was pretty much messing around the first time and this shock value is just priceless to me. Up The Hill Backwards reminds me of Frank Zappa music from around the same era, which I guess is good, but it's not really something that I would expect from Bowie. The album's title track is where the album finally reaches its biggest highlight. I guess that there is a punk vibe to the songs but Robert Fripp's guitar really makes this composition a spectacle that I really can't describe in words! This track has definitely managed to withstand the test of time for me and I don't hesitate calling it my favorite David Bowie composition!

Ashes To Ashes is another popular single that managed to captivate both the fans and critics. This is actually one of the few occasions where I can share their enthusiasm, something that can't be said about Fashion. It's not that it's a bad tune but it just doesn't really fit that well into the overall style that the album is going for. Teenage Wildlife returns the album onto much safer ground that partially reminds me of the title track from "Heroes", which seems to be what Bowie was going for here and Fripp's guitar definitely doesn't make it any less apparent.

After a few shaky tracks we finally reach the second biggest highlight - Scream Like A Baby! As I previously mentioned in my review of "Heroes", this is one of those tracks that has received undeservedly little attention from the audience. This song almost reaches an anthem-like level of intensity for me just due to its sheer raw power! After another likable but not essential cover of Kingdom Come, Because You're Young is where Scary Monsters (And Super Creeps) transitions from being an excellent album to an essential such for me. I would have never guessed that it was Pete Townshend playing the guitar on this track since it sounds nothing like what I've heard from his contributions to the Who. It's an excellent performance nonetheless and shows once again that David Bowie was great at picking his guitarists.

Some critics have called Scary Monsters (And Super Creeps) Bowie's last great album but I happen to disagree with that idea. Instead I consider it his best achievement which is a title that is hard to top, but that doesn't mean that wouldn't continue making great music even in the 21st century!

***** star songs: It's No Game (No. 1) (4:20) Scary Monsters (And Super Creeps) (5:13) Ashes To Ashes (4:25) Scream Like A Baby (3:36) Because You're Young (4:54) It's No Game (No. 2) (4:24)

**** star songs: Up The Hill Backwards (3:15) Fashion (4:49) Teenage Wildlife (6:56) Kingdom Come (3:46)