Reality Check... (Reality - David Bowie)

Member Name: Adammico

Product:	Reality - David Bowie
Date:	30/11/03 (119 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Bowie, Near Peak

Disadvantages: Other Critiques

Tracks:

1. New Killer Star
2. Pablo Picasso
3. Never Get Old
4. The Loneliest Guy
5. Looking for Water
6. She'll Drive the Big Car
7. Days
8. Fall Dog Bombs the Moon
9. Try Some, Buy Some
10. Reality
11. Bring Me the Disco King

David Bowie gets no respect! When legendary artists are versed, Bowie is unjustly placed a couples tiers below the likes of John Lennon, Elton John and etc... Since 1969's Space Oddity, this near mythic being has been prolifically cataloguing an immense aggregate of music, trends and followers. None of this matters.

My peers endlessly target Bowie with flames. They most frequently tend to remark about his "poor lyrics", age (completely unfair) and/or mainstream anglings. Let's be realistic; David Bowie is a commercial artist and continues to look for intriguing avenues to pitch his creative releases. In Reality, for instance, David's credits include; lead and backing vocals, guitar, percussion, stylophone, synths, baritone sax, keyboards, songwriter and producer (with Tony Visconti). His exhaustive involvement reveals that this effort is not merely complaisant, but is projected with a distinct vision.

Scanning a few reviews of Reality, "just pretty good", "overproduced", "too slick", "drab lyrics" were a sample of the words and phrases written. In essence, these musings read that he should consider receding into retirement. This wave of agist scribes have tried to blast him into turning in ever since his commercial slowdown following Let's Dance. Overlooked are consistently praiseworthy albums following 1993's admittedly abominable Black Tie White Noise.

Reality, for short descriptive purposes, is an updated rendering of his Scary Monster (And Super Creeps). It is not a copycat of the compared, for it modernizes with updated production techniques and its tone is completely a
l
tered. More frequent tightly layered rock songs and slight peripheral ambience replaced the still lingering anthemic Brian Eno effects of Scary Monsters.... Shifted from cynicism and dark humor is Reality's adaptation of hope and dry wit.

All together, Bowie's latest features a collection of 11 very good individual songs with solid sequencing, so it plays as one cohesive rendering. Prominent tracks are the fuzz and immediate riff-rollicker "New Killer Star", protesting "Never Get Old", heartwarming yet breezily-supported "Days" and the superb cover of George Harrison's ascending "Try Some, Buy Some".

Do not pass on Reality based on the ignorant ramblings of E! Online and Entertainment Weekly. Predicated on my frequent listens and increasing enjoyment, David Bowie's relevance and muse application continues to display indefinite vitality and purpose.


Grade: A-


© Adam Mico, 2003

Summary: