TONIGHT

After the incredible success of the album Let's Dance as well as of the three singles from it, an old servant is back for "Tonight". But he won't be able to change the global mood of this album.

It is obvious that David is willing to recreate another smash hit album with "Tonight" but the song writing is just not on par. Same sort of post-disco beat for "Loving The Alien" which is over-extended and literally crumbling under heavy and useless orchestrations.

But what to say about "Don't Look Down"? A poor and syrupy reggae ballad of no interest at all. I guess that you know what to do. Press nextT. It is a cover from Iggy Pop's song featured on his album "New Values". But this version has absolutely none.

I remember that when I purchased the album at the time of release, I almost never listened to it after the first couple of spins. Only a few tracks were average to good, at best. And the cover version of "God Only Knows" definitely doesn't belong to this category. Bowie acting as a crooner in another poor and heavily orchestrated song. You know which key to press, I guess.

This album was (is) a major disappointment for me. Even if "Let's Dance" was not highly creative, at least it featured several excellent songs. On "Tonight", these are REALLY scarce.

David is trying the same recipe: releasing a different version of some songs that he wrote for his old mate Iggy Pop. This time, two songs from "Lust For Life" are featured. The title track (again, reggae oriented) featuring . Tina Turner on the backings. Poor, poor, poor. The listener has even to suffer a short marimba passage. What happened, David? The original version was waaaaay better, fresher and fun.

Is this going to be a permanent "press next"T exercise? I haven't been used to this David!

The next one to show a new look is "Neighborhood Threat". The beat here being very close to "Modern Love". At least, it is catchy, dynamic and one of the best song so far (but this was very easy). But the rocking original also sound a lot better.

Under these circumstances, the hit "Blue Jean" almost comes as a relief, even if not grandiose. An extended clip (over twenty minutes) will make it famous. A good pop song, in the vein of what was available on his previous album. It reached number six in the UK and the eighth spot in the US.

Iggy is again "helping" Bowie in the song writing, but "Tumble & Twirl" is closer to the masquerade than to a good tune. It is obvious that David had absolutely no inspiration at all for this album.

It is full of existing songs (two he wrote for Iggy) covers (three, of which one song from Iggy in which David was not involved) and co-written tracks. One of the cover ("I Keep Forgetting"), is an old rock'n'roll tune from the early sixties. But you know what to do.

The last song is another blunder. "Dancing With The Big Boys". Co-written again (with Pop & Alomar). It is probably one of his poorest songs. When you know that this album reached the number one spot in the UK charts! Of course, if everybody bought it, listened to it two or three times (like myself), I can understand how it comes.

The good news about this album, is that it is a short one. But that's really the only one. This album is a nightmare. Bowie's "Abacab" if you see what I mean. Same rating.

What have you done, David?

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