time to dance (Let's Dance - David Bowie)

Member Name: babajane32

Product:	Let's Dance - David Bowie
Date:	23/11/03 (30 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: easy listening

Disadvantages: not true Bowie style

From a very early age I heard snippets of David Bowies music emanating from my brothers bedroom and right through to my late teen years I became increasingly enamored with his music to the point where I now have just about every track and album he ever released. Whilst my brothers music taste changed notably towards the heavy rock scene and beyond, my taste simply absorbed the newer sounds I was hearing resulting in a wide and vast appreciation of many styles of music ,David Bowie however stayed as one of my firm favorites right up until now , into my mid thirties.

Although many of his albums impress upon me as the best of his music this album stays closest to my heart as it reminds me of times in my youth when life was good, summers long and warm and the dance scene occupied much of my spare time. From long hot seasons spent clubbing to partying on warm and far off beaches this album epitomized local teen youth of the era.

Bowie?s sounds started emerging in the 1960?s and have developed evolved and changed right up to the present day.
His initial talents pivoted around vocals and saxophone in blues groups but soon began to enhance our pop and rock scenes in his own right. Although considered a rock and roll musician the blues influences can often be picked out from even his most modern productions, and some of the tracks on the Let?s dance album are no exception.

Whilst his first hints of fame struck coinciding with the first lunar landing and the release of Space Oddity, his first blockbusting commercial success came with the release of the Let?s Dance album and boosted his popularity from fads, trends and cult followings to broader cross-market appreciation and regular secure places in the pop charts.

So what is this album that boosted him from rock/pop star to mega star? Well, we?ll look at the tracks that make up the album and take it from there.
The star ratings for each track is in relation to the value of the track
to the album as well as it?s own merits as a song.

1 Modern Love (4:46) (5 star rating * * * * * )
One of the more upbeat tracks of the album this is very tuned to the market of the time and whilst the discernable Bowie sound is distinctively there this track could have been written for any of the pop groups of the time.

2 China Girl (5:32) (5 star rating * * * * * )
Hinting towards the more romantic and slower pace of the times this track takes a power slant on mystique romance and pours it into an alternating calm to powerful song.

3 Let's Dance (4:46) (5 star rating * * * * * )
The cover song of the album, this track rightly deserves the place. It?s easy listening yet addictive tune shrieked the 80?s teen dance scene and calmer music of it?s time.

4 Without You (3:08) (4 star rating * * * * )
Definitely targeted to fit the album, yet failing to do so notably this track does make for descent listening. A more controlled and even balance is struck in the melody.

5 Ricochet (5:12) (3 star rating * * * )
Most definitely a more traditionally Bowie track that conforms far less to the pop culture the album is aimed at, although tamed slightly from the recent outputs he had made.

6 Criminal World (4:24) (3 star rating * * * )
Again more traditional and certainly less easy listening, yet still a great and valid production.

7 Cat People (Putting Out Fire) (5:09) (4 star rating * * * * )
Slightly off the wall as it fits neither into the traditional Bowie nor the albums targeted sounds. However being distinctive and a slightly harsher sound it holds a good place in changing the mood of the album and enjoyment of listening.

8 Shake It (3:49) (3 star rating * * * )
What can I say? Again hardly one thing or the other this track wouldn?t be a loss to the album, but it doesn?t drag it down either.


So what is my overall opinion on the album? Simple, it?s great
!! I love it and will no doubt still be listening to it in years to come. BUT, and it is a big but !! This album is great from the view of someone who enjoys the music of the 80?s, loves the sound of David Bowie?s vocals rather than his style of music. For avid Bowie fans it could come a cropper. It was a commercial album that performed brilliantly, hit it?s target and made a great impression, it was not the epitome of Bowie?s musical career nor true to his style and capabilities,more an attempt to slip into the pop/dance genere which it did do rather well.

If you think it?s up your street the you can but it for £7.99 (C.D format) from www.amazon.co.uk. You may pick it up from EBay too, but for a guaranteed buy Amazon was the cheapest I came across.

~ ~ ~ Thank you for reading my first music op. I hope it didn?t disappoint ~ ~ ~

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