I have been a marginal David Bowie fan for many years. When I grew up listening to music in the late 1970’s and through the 1980’s, Bowie was an unavoidable presence. In the new wave era he was looked at as a Musical god to many school kids.
Considering the career Bowie has had to this point, it’s amazing to think that it has been ten years since he released an album. “The Next Day” is Bowie’s twenty sixth studio album since his eponymous debut in 1967.
I can’t add much to what has already been written, the album has received well-deserved critical praise. From the perspective of a marginal Bowie fan I can say that it surprised me just how good the album is considering it’s seemingly devoid of a stand out track. That may be simply because there is no filler amongst the songs.
Bowie’s voice is showing his age, but it is so subtle that it genuinely epitomizes the term “growing old gracefully.” His vocal timbre has a beautifully haunting quality that cuts through many layers of sonic delight.
The one thing I will say is that this is the album I wish Peter Gabriel had made at some point in his career. Perhaps it’s the presence of bassist Tony Levin on a few tracks, but the album has the feel of Gabriel’s best material from the 70’s and 80’s, but in an updated form.
