David Bowie - The Next Day

Annnnd we're back.

http://www.davidbowie.com/the-next-day

Wow.

Rather low key single there but why not? It's not like he needs to amp up, and I like the way it shifts into the bridge. Like a gentler "Absolute Beginners" to a degree but maybe that's in my head.

Woohoo!

And Happy 66th to the man himself.

Press release hoohah:

--

Where is David Bowie?

New Single and Pre-Order of First New Album in 10 Years Exclusively Launching on the iTunes Store Today

New York, NY--January 8, 2013--In the early morning hours of Tuesday the 8th January, Iso/Columbia Records released a new single by David Bowie titled 'Where Are We Now?' exclusively launching in the iTunes Store in 119 countries. David Bowie's first new album in ten years and his 30th studio recording, THE NEXT DAY is also available as a pre-order on iTunes with a wide release scheduled for March. January the 8th is of course David Bowie's birthday, a timely moment for such a treasure to appear as if out of nowhere.

Throwing shadows and avoiding the industry treadmill is very David Bowie despite his extraordinary track record that includes album sales in excess of 130 million not to mention his massive contributions in the area of art, fashion, style, sexual exploration and social commentary. It goes without saying that he has sold out stadiums and broken ticket records throughout the world during this most influential of careers.

In recent years radio silence has been broken only by endless speculation, rumor and wishful thinking ....a new record...who would have ever thought it, who'd have ever dreamed it! After all David is the kind of artist who writes and performs what he wants when he wants...when he has something to say as opposed to something to sell. Today he definitely has something to say.

Produced by long term collaborator Tony Visconti, 'Where Are We Now?' was written by Bowie, and was recorded in New York. The single is accompanied by a haunting video directed by Tony Oursler which harks back to David's time in Berlin. He is seen looking in on footage of the auto repair shop beneath the apartment he lived in along with stark images of the city at the time and a lyric constantly raising the question Where Are We Now?

"The moment you know, you know you know" resonates from the new single's lyric. Now we all know...David Bowie has been in the recording studio...just when we least expected it!!

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Next Day tracklisting

Standard Version:

01. The Next Day 3:51
02. Dirty Boys 2:58
03. The Stars (Are Out Tonight) 3:56
04. Love Is Lost 3:57
05. Where Are We Now? 4:08
06. Valentine's Day 3:01
07. If You Can See Me 3:16
08. I'd Rather Be High 3:53
09. Boss Of Me 4:09
10. Dancing Out In Space 3:24
11. How Does The Grass Grow 4:33
12. (You Will) Set The World On Fire 3:30
13. You Feel So Lonely You Could Die 4:41
14. Heat 4:25

Total (Approximately) 53:14

Deluxe Version

01. The Next Day 3:51
02. Dirty Boys 2:58
03. The Stars (Are Out Tonight) 3:56
04. Love Is Lost 3:57
05. Where Are We Now? 4:08
06. Valentine's Day 3:01
07. If You Can See Me 3:16
08. I'd Rather Be High 3:53
09. Boss Of Me 4:09
10. Dancing Out In Space 3:24
11. How Does The Grass Grow 4:33
12. (You Will) Set The World On Fire 3:30
13. You Feel So Lonely You Could Die 4:41
14. Heat 4:25

Bonus tracks:
15. So She 2:31
16. I'll Take You There 2:44
17. Plan 2:34

Total (Approximately): 61: 03

The Wembley Arena show I saw him do on the Reality tour is still one of the best I've ever seen. I'd be very surprised to see much touring for this though.

!

Genuinely really unexpected. The single's just okay, but man I can't even be mad, it's Bowie making music again. Is it too much to ask that dude tours again?

interesting cover on the itunes preorder page http://i.imgur.com/GwXCD.png

And of course, at least seventeen more entries for the Bowiesongs blog to expect.

great single imo. well great song, maybe not right for a single.

Am I alone in hearing this as a perfect opportunity to duet for Robert Wyatt?

AWESOME

There's a bunch of titles there that'd make decent jumping off places for an ILX coverproject, just sayin'

This makes two of my musical heroes who have returned from ten-year absences from the music scene- Cohen and Bowie.

Both cases have thrilled me.

I love the songs that old, serious men write.

Realized that the details of my first statement above aren't totally accurate. Oh well.

mixed feelings about this. it sounds like it took about 10 minutes to write, which isn't necessarily a bad thing.

I hope he tours, but I hope it's not another best-of-the-whole career rock'n'roll tour like Reality was. Something quieter and befitting his age. I don't want to see him do "Rebel Rebel." Even though I love that song.

'...not to mention his massive contributions in the area of art, fashion, style, sexual exploration and social commentary. '

c'mon, he invented sexual tourism!

Christ, the Dschungel club on Nurnburgerstrasse, near KaDeWe... instant nostalgia for my year in Berlin. The place was a bit up itself, though.

Is this his 'When We Was Fab'?

^^Good call - he should have got Iggy and Brian to appear in the video.

It's a bit overwrought and at the same time doesn't really say anything. Don't get me wrong, I really wanted to like this. If it had been anyone but Bowie I wouldn't have patiently sat through all of it. But it comes out shortly after a new Scott Walker album, and Walker does this kind of lyric and singing a lot better, and also, crucially, with a sense of humour.

Did he just wait until the day after Suede put out their big comeback single or is that a coincidence? Anyway way to steal their thunder.

You can sing Fantastic Voyage over this.

xp kind of backfired, because the Suede track is way better.

Yeah that's true. Pretty sure he put out Black Tie White Noise the week after their debut too and Suede won that round too.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/6/64/PorkysII.jpg

it sounds a bit like that song from Drive

wait, was it from Drive. it sounds like an unspecified song that I think was in Drive. stay tuned.

STAY RETIRED

the whole sound and look of the video gives this an 'outside' era feel (the twisted face effect in the video).

its not an immediate hit-you-in-the-face song, but as an album track, i think its rather lovely.

on another point of interest, can you imagine the secrecy clauses that folks have had to sign in order to be involved - i mean, in the last 12 months there has been a lot of pressure/interest re new material, and not a word has leaked out from anyone involved in this.

in this day and age, i think that's mighty impressive.

^^^ My other half talks to Bowie's management all the time and she and none of her work colleagues knew nothing.

ugh dbl neg, sorry

Good call on When We Was Fab! Amazing spot.

Will listen in a few minutes but I'm disappointed he didn't stay retired -- what a brilliant move it was.

Here's the joke (or at least until I actually hear the song): today's his 65th birthday.

yeah, i think i said on another thread that i quite liked the idea of him just disappearing off into the sunset never to be heard from again.

66th birthday.

I am so glad there's not supposed to be interviews/tour happening, just a record.

66th birthday. It's a crazy week for b'days... Sandy Denny (she'd also have been 66), Scott Walker, Bernard Sumner, Michael Stipe, Beth Gibbons, Robin Guthrie, Mark Hollis... (I only know this because it's also a crazy week for friends' birthdays, so you tend to look this stuff up).

xp

And of course, at least seventeen more entries for the Bowiesongs blog to expect.

― Ned Raggett, Tuesday, January 8, 2013 5:39 AM (6 hours ago)

It would be great if the rest of Bowie's career was just dedicated to messing with that guy. "There, finished! I've written a blog entry for every single Bowie song ever... dammmit he's just released a new album!!!"

there was also that Paolo Hewitt coffeetable book which came out a few weeks ago, covers all his albums in an entry-level kind of way and concludes with a slightly gloomy "well we've not heard shit from him for years, guess that's that then"

66th birthday. It's a crazy week for b'days... Sandy Denny (she'd also have been 66), Scott Walker, Bernard Sumner, Michael Stipe, Beth Gibbons, Robin Guthrie, Mark Hollis... (I only know this because it's also a crazy week for friends' birthdays, so you tend to look this stuff up).

Today would've been Elvis's 78th birthday as well.

I'm kinda surprised that he's still associated with the major label, or affiliate or whatever it is, that he hooked up with in the early 2000s…I would have thought until earlier this morning that one reason for his sabbatical is that he wanted to sit a contract out…

I interviewed him as he was finishing Reality: I was terrified, but he couldn't have been more friendly. Thought he would be sporting an avant garde japanese suit, but was wearing a rugby shirt and khakis…

The new single is currently number two on the UK itunes chart inbetween Will.i.am and Taylor Swift, have to say I'm pretty shocked by that.

Bit of a dreary song, sorry David.

song is boring, but it's no surprise

I don't like the song very much, but I'm very happy it has come out because there had been a lot of rumors around that he was very ill. Hopefully the song/album disproves that.

Please say there will be a vinyl release of this.

all together now..

I've liked the lead singles from his albums for a good long while so I don't put a lot of stock in how much I like this - which is "a good bit"; I wish it had no "as long as there's me/as long as there's you" climax, the meandering vibe is stronger. Is this a song about when he was making Heroes/Low/Lodger or about the fall of the Berlin wall? I think get bent is otm, it sounds quickly written, and I think that's good - old men working on music seem to dither until there's nothing interesting left, I don't think the digital age has done any favors for aging musicians in this regard. he's singing well to my ears but there's also lots of treatment on the voice, no idea what besides compression but it's a little offputting to me.

I dream of this being a really interesting record.

You're right, 66th--speaking of old people losing their memory, who went and changed the calendar on me?

he's singing well to my ears

Definitely still in good (and highly distinctive) voice.

it's a mysterious achievement that Bowie and co. succeed in keeping the recording process so secretly till now.

on another point of interest, can you imagine the secrecy clauses that folks have had to sign in order to be involved - i mean, in the last 12 months there has been a lot of pressure/interest re new material, and not a word has leaked out from anyone involved in this.

Yeah, lame humblebrag but: I had just heard a few weeks ago that almost certainly something was going to be announced on his birthday, and that he had been busy recording this past year, but was keeping quiet since that news would have blown up pretty quickly, obviously. In fact just before the news broke I was texting my source going "Hey, any further word on that?" And lo and behold...

SO WHY DID YOU KEEP IT TO YOURSELF?

This is actually supposed to be the cover art for the album!

http://new.assets.thequietus.com/images/articles/11057/the_next_day_1357633247_crop_550x550.jpg

(If that doesn't work, check out http://thequietus.com/articles/11057-david-bowie-where-are-we-now

xpost -- One source, close friend. Not about to torch that for the sake of a fucking exclusive!

I actually kind of like this, I have to say.

Please say there will be a vinyl release of this.

A post here says there will be.

yeah, but who reads ilx anyway..and i'm sure you trust us not to tell..
xxpost

if we knew, we'd have told you, ned.

boring tracklist, too:

01. The Next Day 3:51
02. Dirty Boys 2:58
03. The Stars (Are Out Tonight) 3:56
04. Love Is Lost 3:57
05. Where Are We Now? 4:08
06. Valentine's Day 3:01
07. If You Can See Me 3:16
08. I'd Rather Be High 3:53
09. Boss Of Me 4:09
10. Dancing Out In Space 3:24
11. How Does The Grass Grow 4:33
12. (You Will) Set The World On Fire 3:30
13. You Feel So Lonely You Could Die 4:41
14. Heat 4:25

covering They Might Be Giants is a curveball tbf

some of those title sound like rejected Deram-era songs

pretty excited for "I'd Rather Be High"

1) I also think this sounds a bit like Robert Wyatt, or could have used a touch of Wyatt

2) It also sounds more than a little like his "Silly Little Fat Man" song from Extras, in terms of vive and cadence.

09. Boss Of Me 4:09

I hope this a cover of the Malcolm in the Middle theme tune.

can't believe chap killfiled me :(

Man, what a beautiful vocal performance.

can't believe chap killfiled me :(

― die bis scum (DJ Mencap)

Ha, was just so excited at my joke that I forgot to check if anyone else had made it.

some of those title sound like rejected Deram-era songs

My eyes combined "If you can see me" and "I'd rather be high" into "I'd rather be me"

Yeah, lame humblebrag but: I had just heard a few weeks ago that almost certainly something was going to be announced on his birthday, and that he had been busy recording this past year, but was keeping quiet since that news would have blown up pretty quickly, obviously. In fact just before the news broke I was texting my source going "Hey, any further word on that?" And lo and behold...

― Ned Raggett, Tuesday, 8 January 2013 13:34 (1 hour ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

mm, so howcome I heard something of this ilk as well? I don't think Ned texts/twits in his sleep...

My bud is a longtime pal of Tony Visconti, who I guess had intimated something was up a while back.

But, like, all these guys are always up to something.

I'm all for the pleasant surprise and glad everyone involved kept their work secret.

Are there/there must be other artists that have reused their own album cover artwork?

Neu!

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41X-r8Ai-nL._SL500_AA300_.jpg ?

I strongly suspect the cover artwork will change. The image currently on his website look like it would make a great cover: http://www.davidbowie.com/the-next-day

Are there/there must be other artists that have reused their own album cover artwork?

the dead c literally reused their own album cover artwork, when they pasted photocopies over surplus copies of their previous cd sleeve for their next rec

So many aspects of this reflect my suspicions that he might be either uncertain about returning to the music world after his heart attack (and alleged depression) or he is only prepared to perform the barest minimum of actual exposure required to do the partial comeback thing.

Remains to be seen if he'll go on Alan Carr; Chatty Man etc.

I think uncertainty would be a virtue at this point - a vein worth mining. Better than doing it Rolling Stones style and pretending it's just a guy making music like he always did

What, he should do the Scott Walker method?

would love to see the instrumental credits on this single: is that Garson on piano or Bowie himself, for example.

Are there/there must be other artists that have reused their own album cover artwork?

Good question, this is the only one I can think of off the top of my head:

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/f/f3/Bluemask.jpg

XP - I'm not suggesting he do anything specifically and I don't mean to sound dramatic, but I sort of wonder if he is still ailing health-wise.

I'm not too impressed with the track on first listen (sounds like something from Hours...) but yeah, given some of the health rumours I'd heard I'm happy he's still been making music. Wouldn't begrudge him not doing any promo stuff whatsoever and it is really cool that he's managed to keep the veil of secrecy around the whole thing.

But, like, all these guys are always up to something.

― Josh in Chicago, Tuesday, January 8, 2013 9:52 AM (1 hour ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

yeah if you're Bowie or someone in his inner circle, i imagine it'd be pretty easy to go off to the studio regularly and just tell people around you that there's some new archival project in the works, nothing new or major

other artists that have reused their own album cover artwork?

Should this be its own thread? There's also this monstrosity:
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/7/7f/Facecover.jpg/220px-Facecover.jpg
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/8/83/Supermancover.jpg/220px-Supermancover.jpg

This song is pretty dreary. I was hoping for an experiment in post-dubstep or something.

As for that cover

http://virusfonts.com/news/2013/01/david-bowie-the-next-day-that-album-cover-design/

maybe a bit churlish to pick on it but he mispronounces 'straße', the video text doesn't bother with umlauts and misspells 'potsdamer'

I thought it was just an iTunes placeholder image. But really? It looks like something someone came up with in 30 seconds in MSPaint.

Bass on the new track is by Tony Levin. He was in King Crimson in the 80s.

He still is today, to the extent that KC actually exists.

https://twitter.com/TheBlackDog/status/288675073995460609

The title of the album The Next Day evokes numerous reference points, notably Macbeth’s speech ‘Tomorrow, and tomorrow and tomorrow ’ which deals with the relentless onward push that any unnatural position of power requires. It also has the existential element of Waiting for Godot with waiting for The Next Day – these all seem to question the nature of existence so a monochrome palette seemed most appropriate to this feeling.

*barf*

I actually think I would have liked the cover if they had done it irl - a handwritten note taped to the cover or something. But snoball is OTM with the 'mspaint' crack.

btw: Doctrine

i'm really hoping that actually is the cover

Are there/there must be other artists that have reused their own album cover artwork?

― willem, Tuesday, January 8, 2013 3:23 PM (1 hour ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

Neu!

― 29 facepalms, Tuesday, January 8, 2013 3:27 PM (1 hour ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

Not sure this counts - it's more of a recurring motif, right? Otherwise you could say Henry Cow socks count.

Yeah i bet they just took the Microsoft Arial font and 'oh that is a new font we have been working on'. It really isn't particularly interesting.

The new song, yeah it's kind of a snore, but it's also nice to listen to. I don't need to be blown away by everything i hear. This was a really nice thing to hear this morning.

I do think Henry Cows socks count!

I like this well enough, it would have been one of the better songs on Hours... but thats damning with feint praise really.

Momus cover! Blimey, that didn't take long.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WF1QQW0LHNQ

Cool way to go Momus!

The new song is kinda boring, but it's also rather nice and I like it. It's plainly an album track though - it's like he's deliberately going for a low-impact comeback, and why not?

Bass on the new track is by Tony Levin. He was in King Crimson in the 80s.

Tony Levin has played with everyone. Paul Simon, John Lennon, Pink Floyd, Peter Gabriel, Seal, Kate & Anna McGarrigle, Bryan Ferry, etc.. He also played on the last two Bowie records.

Quick ILX Presents...?

01. The Next Day 3:51
02. Dirty Boys 2:58
03. The Stars (Are Out Tonight) 3:56
04. Love Is Lost 3:57
05. Where Are We Now? 4:08
06. Valentine's Day 3:01
07. If You Can See Me 3:16
08. I'd Rather Be High 3:53
09. Boss Of Me 4:09
10. Dancing Out In Space 3:24
11. How Does The Grass Grow 4:33
12. (You Will) Set The World On Fire 3:30
13. You Feel So Lonely You Could Die 4:41
14. Heat 4:25

I actually think I would have liked the cover if they had done it irl - a handwritten note taped to the cover or something.

Kinda like...?

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/5/52/AnotherMontyPythonRecordCDCover.jpg

The record should sound like that. Just Bowie shouting the title over his old songs: "Ziggy played guit-LOVE IS LOST LOVE IS LOST and the Spiders from Mars; he played it left LOVE IS LOST LOVE IS LOST"

https://twitter.com/TheBlackDog/status/288675073995460609

― Ned Raggett, Tuesday, January 8, 2013 5:07 PM (1 hour ago)

This is going to become a meme, I think.

Given that I thought Bowie had retired from making music completely, I'm happy with what I can get at this stage!

Yeah, I'm hoping this is an 'album track that got released as a single due to a poor decision, rest of album rocks out a bit more' situation.

You know what to do.

ILX Pre-Covers Bowie's _The Next Day_

Given that I thought Bowie had retired from making music completely, I'm happy with what I can get at this stage!

― The Jupiter 8 (Turrican), Tuesday, January 8, 2013 6:39 PM (31 minutes ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

I don't understand this point of view - you really like an artist, so you're content with them putting out crap simply because it has their name on it?

you don't have to listen to the crap when you don't want to

I mutter a bit.

I like the song ok. That album cover is terrible.

I don't understand this point of view - you really like an artist, so you're content with them putting out crap simply because it has their name on it?

It's not too tough to understand, outside of some real garbage albums like Total Devo or hell even some of Bowie's post-Let's Dance junk, if you're a fanatic then theres almost always SOMETHING to like about a new album. As iatee says if you don't like it just throw it in the trash.

I don't understand this point of view - you really like an artist, so you're content with them putting out crap simply because it has their name on it?

― emil.y, Tuesday, January 8, 2013 7:12 PM (9 minutes ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

Of course not, and that's not what I'm saying at all (especially since I think that Tonight in particular is an awful album). More that I'm delighted that we're getting a new Bowie album at a time when I thought he would going to produce no more new music, and I'm not going to be all on a downer until I've given the album a fair hearing. I also have very reasonable expectations of this - it would be stupid to think that he could match Station To Station or Low in 2013... but if it's as good as Reality or Heathen then I'll be a very happy bunny.

*would=was.

This isn't crap though. It's just understated and subtle.

Besides, if the album isn't any good, I don't think it'll particularly matter. Bowie's discography is already so huge that there's plenty to keep coming back to, and the album at least exists for Bowie fanatics to get their teeth stuck into and cherry-pick from.

Ach, fair enough T. I will disagree with Adam, however, it's pretty bloody crap. It reminds me of Keane or something, ffs.

After thinking this is like a chopped-and-screwed "Absolute Beginners", I found this:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NSbxBTY4YTU

Lovely song. I'm happy he's back and Visconti producing (I'm a "Heathen" stan).

Word is at the moment, no tour, no promo or interviews, just the record.

the best part of the single is after the first minute if you kind of stipe the lyrics; listen to them sonically without intent to understand

Another new promo photo:

http://www.davidbowie.com/sites/davidbowie.wmg-gardens.com/files/styles/blog_image/public/2013_db_by_jimmy_king_v2_600sq.jpg

great video by tony oursler (and i love the song)

ugh. he looks like he's doing his marina abramovic impression.

This really does sound like one of the "stately" numbers from the numbing hours

Yeah I'm sticking with the "Fantastic Voyage" x hours... combination as the shorthand for this. I do enjoy it but it's skating close to the edge at points.

who is that with burroughs in the background photo?

um...

Don't push me cuz I'm sleeping on the edge.

haha, sorry.

well burroughs always looks like burroughs and the other guy (thought it was a woman, actually) could have been any old hipster.

lest we forget

http://www.chartstats.com/images/artwork/36017.jpg

i don't hate this and is not bad. was expecting a lot worse after reading the thread first before listening.

I really like the song! Sounds a lot to me like one of Momus' melancholic tracks (no surprised he's covered it) but with good production.

Perhaps ironically, the Momus cover is awful.

David Bowie track 'not eligible' for UK singles chart

I kind of home the whole album is creepy and understated, it would be a good album for him to go out on, face it, it's unlikely we'll get another one after this. not too surprised he won't tour but too bad, he could do a focused and intense set around his more neglected material. he didn't really tour for heathen either, except for some isolated shows which I think were split between heathen and low material. something like that would be great.

try NOT hearing alan partridge's voice when you read this -

http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2013/jan/08/david-bowie-shebang-jonathan-ross

in other news: "Where have my orgasms gone?"

The reference to Col Parker is o_O

His biggest musical hero releases a new single, and Wossy still manages to jaw on for ages about himself, his celeb mates ("I know a miserable bloke from Manchester, whose name begins with 'M'. Betcha can't guess who I'm talking about, eh?"), his kids, etc..

i like how he makes sure to blame his producer in print

"It was all Andy's fault. What am I expected to do, DJ and play the records as well?"

COnversely, the M bloke manages to do an interview in Uncut about Mick Ronson, and manages to admit things about himself in relation to Mr Ronson...

http://i4.ytimg.com/vi/ly5fwalNxmk/0.jpg
The M bloke: "I really like Mick Ronson. His stuff is real pop pop pop, pop music."

would love to see the instrumental credits on this single:

guessing matt chamberlain on drums?

god i hope he tours, otherwise this will all be for nothing

I'm guessing he's not real eager to get back out in front of audiences anytime soon...
http://www.blogcdn.com/www.spinner.com/media/2007/12/david-bowie-spinal-tap.jpg

Don't it make your brown eyes blue...

was that lollipop thing the same day he had a heart attack? and what's with this "alleged depression"?

The lollipop incident was at a different concert, a week before the heart attack.
Reports of "alleged depression" seems to be based on the Sherlock Holmes like deduction that someone who's had heart problems that require them to take it easy and more or less stop working might get a bit depressed.

He had been misreading a heart attack warning sign for weeks, thinking the pain in his neck/shoulder was a pinched nerve.

If the rest sounds like this song, it'll be a quiet show at Joe's Pub.

People who have heart problems/bypasses/pacemakers installed often experience changes to personality, which can manifest as depression.

The medicine you have to take for heart problems also tends to have depressive side effects.

This album is going to be his 'Double Fantasy', with this single his 'Starting Over'.

What a weird thing to say. Do you mean he's gonna be murdered? Iman will be singing half the tracks?

Competent pastiche type single leading everyone to hope the forthcoming comeback album's going to be good, followed by a big disappointment when the album actually appears.

What is this single a pastiche of?

"Fantastic Voyage" for sure.

Or if not pastiche, it's the template -- but what's great is what he does with it. It's not said song redux.

Yes, the Fantastic Voyage link is significant - the original is how it feels things might go and the fear of it, and this is looking back knowing how it did go.

Do yoi think it's great? Your blog post sounded meh.

I'm not screaming masterpiece from the rooftops, but Eyeball Kicks just summed up kinda what I take from it. The few times I've played it I've gone between, "Hmm, okayish" to "No, wait, there is something here" and a little back again.

Still sounds like "The Pretty Things Are Going to Sleep"

So according to his official page...

https://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/19225_10151174237357665_1508078948_n.jpg

Here's another treat from Jimmy King...an exclusive photograph of David Bowie taken while having lunch at a Japanese restaurant yesterday.

Now that is the look of a man at peace with himself having just heard about some of the reaction to yesterday's announcements...possibly.

Kinda hope this Andy Capp phase of his keeps going.

strike a light guv, it's 'im from mary pawpins

Bowie (thinks) "Damn, those pisstakers from ILX are doing a pre-covers album..."

Dude looking fucking great. I like this. I hope the album is quiet, considered, statesman-like. I have too high hopes. Oh god.

hours and Heathen were quiet and statesman-like, no?

xp yeah i was just saying to my gf that his superimposed face in that video finally has him looking his actual fucking age, but it must have been an illusion. i work w/ dudes hovering around 40 looking worse off than that. what is his secret.

the song is solid.

whose is the other face in the video?

Enjoying this. Production is a bit blah, but there IS something affecting about the song.

Artists reusing albums covers (back cover version):

http://phobos.express.ge/ZoneG/20/mp3//Duran_1997_Medazzaland/.photo/Duran%20Duran%20-%20Medazzaland%20-%20Back.jpg

http://www.phiiliip.com/iciclesa1.gif

Can't find a full picture, and i've never actually gotten this album, but the cover for Phiiliip's 2000 CD Icicles and Spike Sculptures appears to be the Beatles "White Album" w the Beatles crossed out and Philip written in.

Effecting enough to make ya forget how to spell effecting!

Still think the single fades out and ends too quickly - was waiting for an epic (or at least traditional) turn at the end but was left hanging. Production sounds terrific - kinda expecting the album to sound like a Gilmour or Ferry solo album. Not such a bad thing either.

I thought for sure the other head in the video was Bjork's.

http://filmmakermagazine.com/62222-david-bowie-returns-with-a-new-single-and-a-tony-oursler-video/

Video director's wife, apparently.

Man, what a beautiful vocal performance.

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/BAOVkeoCYAEgdMF.jpg

Republica?

fuck yeah dropkick murphys consecutive sundays

or someday i suppose

"David Bryne".

"AlanaGeorge"

"Fisherspooner"

"Totally Enourmous Extinct Dinosaurs"... I'll stop now.

"Band That Plays While You Go And Queue Up To Buy Beer"

"Is this an old poster?"

Well, put it this way: "La Roux" means it's not more than five years ago, and "Adam Ant" tells me it must be this year...

This has been doing the rounds on Twitter but is pretty wtf:
http://lefsetz.com/wordpress/index.php/archives/2013/01/09/david-bowie/

nice Pete Paphides response to the above (and others)
http://hiddentracks.org/

Okay, we're getting more info here:

http://ultimateclassicrock.com/earl-slick-david-bowie-new-album-interview/

‘The Next Day’ also features contributions from an impressive lineup of musicians in addition to Slick, including familiar Bowie collaborators such as drummers Sterling Campbell and Zachary Alford, guitarists Gerry Leonard and David Torn, and bassist Gail Ann Dorsey. Tony Visconti, who also produced ‘The Next Day,’ contributes bass, as does Tony Levin, who’s known for his work with Peter Gabriel.

Some interesting peek behind the curtain stuff here:

--

What was your methodology when you were adding your music? How did you motivate the performance you wanted to get? How much direction did you get?

You know, we’ve been doing this since day one, and what we’ll do is, we’ll sit down and we’ll listen to the stuff. And he’ll ask me how it hits me — how does this hit you, how does that hit you? Or he’ll go, “This one you gotta be on.” And we’ll sit down, we’ll listen to the song — well, we’ll sit in the control room with a couple of acoustic guitars and then we just bang ideas around. I’ll go, “What do you think about this?” He goes, “What do you think about that?” It’s not like taking direction as a session player would take direction, because that’s why I don’t do sessions—cause I can’t take direction. [Laughs.]

What he’s done since day one — and still continues to do — is, he knows exactly what it is that I bring to the table, and that’s what he wants. He doesn’t want me to sound like anybody but me. So we just sit there and we just hash through ideas until something hits one of us, and then we record it. It’s real casual — you know, you throw a couple cups of coffee on the table and you pick up a few guitars and we listen through some tracks. And he already knows pretty much what he wants me on, but then I’ll say, “Well, let me play you these and see if these hit you. If they do, let’s work out some parts.” It’s really casual. And that’s why it gets done quickly and efficiently, because it’s all done organically.

The music I really like tends to be the more spontaneous music — not very meticulous. There’s a time and a place for that, but it can sound so airless and stuffy.

It’s really funny, as sophisticated as some of his records sound, he’s not anal about this stuff. And neither am I, and that’s why we get along so well. I’ll do a take that’s really not perfect, but it is perfect, because it feels great. Therein lies the perfection: It lies in what it feels like and what it does to you emotionally, not the exact notes. I can play a note that’s a little bit on the outside — like, “What the hell was that?” — and then we listen back to it and we go, “Wow, that felt really good.” And we just leave it alone. Whereas some guys will sit there and they’ll try to fix a weird note. Those weird notes, to me, is what really makes it happen. Of course—listen to the Stones. Keith Richards is my hero. In my mind, he’s the best guitar player ever. And Keith’s stuff has definitely got some urgency to it, and it’s definitely not perfect. But boy, when it comes to feel, it doesn’t get any more perfect than Keith.

I think the term is “loose.”

It is — it’s loose, and it’s emotional. That’s what it is. And that’s, to me, what rock and roll is supposed to be about. If you want perfection, go see a symphony orchestra.

Here's my take on the video after watching and listening a few times (I find this song pretty moving the more I listen. I love the shakiness in his voice and those somber chords.): Oursler set Bowie up to watch footage of Berlin as he lipsynched the lyrics. Bowie's face is simultaneously projected onto the doll. Oursler's wife is listening to the song (in a seperate room?) and her face, as she listens, is also projected onto the doll. Maybe?

^Oh I love that.

Oursler set Bowie up to watch footage of Berlin as he lipsynched the lyrics. Bowie's face is simultaneously projected onto the doll. Oursler's wife is listening to the song (in a seperate room?) and her face, as she listens, is also projected onto the doll. Maybe?

Bet you're right. The concept improves the video, so I'll go with it.

I'm sorry. Much as I love Bowie, I really don't enjoy this song at all. The whole thing sounds so lifeless. The production is straight from the Big Book of AOR Ballads (c) 1992. The songwriting is flat, uninspired, lacking in any sort of dynamism. It doesn't come close to achieving the stately mood it's trying to go for, plodding along like a tired dirge, barely lifting its head above the mire of pedestrian chord choices and workaday key changes. Bowie can be forgiven for not having the voice he used to, but rather than adapting and altering his vocal technique to suit his new range (like some other singers of his age), he just does the default Bowie voice albeit in a flatter, less risky way. I know we're all excited about his return, and fair play to the man, but this is more "That's Why God Made The Radio" than "Bish Bosch" or "American Recordings" - a dim impression of Bowie's previous work, with all the life sucked out of it.

Also when I first saw the video, I assumed it was a homemade fan vid. I couldn't believe it was the real thing.

Don't be sorry: to each his own, also with regards to the interpretation of a vocal performance. But this:

adapting and altering his vocal technique to suit his new range (like some other singers of his age), he just does the default Bowie voice albeit in a flatter, less risky way

Harry Hill's entire career (minus badgers and Burt Kwouk) summarised.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eIyZap4StYg

Tony Viaconti interview. Lefsetz = "old fart". http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/david-bowie-producer-new-album-411233

Visconti, even

"We would catch up on the latest British comedy -- Ricky Gervais, Peter Cooke and Dudley Moore, Harry and Paul."

There's a lot of that kind of thing in there.

xxxp the whole of Visconti's last answer is worth quoting:

"Well, he used to be cutting-edge but he's an old jerk now. He is so out of touch with what people want. This album is already No. 1 in 20 countries and it hasn't even been released yet, so that's evidence that the album is the way to go. It might be not be for everybody because, honestly, people don't write enough good material to fill an album anymore. So Lefsetz is a complete asshole. At one time, a few years ago, he had his day in the sun but now he is basically an old fart and I am bored with what he says."

quality pwnage

Tony Visconti says [28 minutes ago near New York, NY]
Band members on The Next Day: Zachary Alford, Sterling Campbell, Gail Ann Dorsey, Tony Levin, Gerry Leonard, David Torn, Earl Slick, David Bowie, Henry Hey, Steve Elson, Janice Pendarvis, Alex Alexander, Antoine Silverman (and his string quartet) and me. We are no longer 'gagged.' ;)

Tony Visconti says:
Where Are We Now? Musicians: David Bowie, piano/strings, Zachary Alford, drums, Tony Levin, bass, Gerry Leonard, guitar, Henry Hey, additional piano, me keyboard strings. Small group making a big sound.

As for Bowie, Tony Visconti seems confident that The Next Day is a new beginning rather than simply one last hurrah. They ended up recording 29 songs, he says, and even on the deluxe edition of the album, there are only 17 tracks. "We have tracks left over that are really great, that just didn't fit with this batch, so I know we have the makings of another album. And I know he wants to keep recording. I'm not sure when, but I think he'll be back in the studio later this year."

Milk and Honey....It even shares Earl Slick and Tony Levin.

Wasn't this fellow latterly of this parish?

Well there ya go!

I love it when people describe music as "material" or even better "product"
It actually gives me chills

I would like a half kilo of Bowie pls

Let us maximize your assets upon release for public consumption so as best to satisfy stockholders.

yessssss

I provoked a fight on the Bowie blog comments thread last month when I intentionally referred to Bowie albums as product.

Commenters: b-b-b-b-but ADORNO and capitalism!
Me: Tonight, bro.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bowie_Bonds

BOWIE BACK IN UK TOP TEN AFTER 20 YEARS

"Where are we now?..."

BBC Radio 1’s Official Chart show has just announced David Bowie's return to the Top Ten in the UK with the placing of his new single, 'Where Are We Now?', at Number 6.

It's Bowie's highest charting hit since 'Absolute Beginners' reached Number 2 in 1986. It's also his first Top Ten hit since 'Jump They Say' reached Number 9 in 1993.

This is an impressive result for Bowie, particularly when one takes into account the figures are based on just five days' sales (it's a full week normally), and that the track was available in the digital format only.

The surprise release of 'Where Are We Now? on Tuesday sparked a media frenzy which saw the single get off to a flying start and the song remains on both the BBC's A playlists for 6 Music and Radio 2.

Though 'Where Are We Now?' is included as an instant download with pre-orders of The Next Day, understandably those particular sales are not included towards the Official Singles Chart.

Martin Talbot, Managing Director of the Official Charts Company ( http://www.officialcharts.com/ ) says "It is great to see a great British musical icon such as David Bowie returning to the Official Singles Chart. He had has first Top 10 with Space Oddity in 1969 - so the fact he is still scoring chart hits more than 40 years later is quite remarkable. Welcome back David."

And so say all of us! Well done David and thanks to all of you reading this that bought the single or pre-ordered the album.

BBC News article

YAY press now using cheery recent(ish) photos of Bowie.

Having transitioned from listening intently to the song over and over when it was first released - and possibly overthinking my response to it - to just hearing it in the background on the radio when it comes on, I have to say it's very lovely. In a way, I'm disappointed about Visconti's (and others) hints that it doesn't represent the more-rocky album to come. I would gladly take a whole album along these lines over another Heathen/Reality, which is probably what we'll get. (Those albums do have their moments.)

Mind you, I am listening to Reality as I type, and if the new album is close to this standard it will get a lot of love.

Reality >>> Heathen

Recent Bowie slow songs >>>> Recent Bowie uptempo songs.

Hang On, Haven't We Heard Bowie's 'Where Are We Now?' Somewhere Before?

Hats off to CraigrowBrooklyn for spotting the similarity between Bowie's downbeat comeback track, and his "chubby little loser" cameo performance in Ricky Gervais' Extras.

http://www.youtube.com/embed/eKdTM_X6V1s

1) I also think this sounds a bit like Robert Wyatt, or could have used a touch of Wyatt

2) It also sounds more than a little like his "Silly Little Fat Man" song from Extras, in terms of vive and cadence.

― Josh in Chicago, dinsdag 8 januari 2013 15:04 (6 days ago)

Some more info from Visconti, going into individual songs: http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/david-bowies-the-next-day-album-a-track-by-track-preview-20130115?link=mostpopular2

I may have to wean myself off these Visconti interviews/previews. While I'm excited to hear this record, I'd like to listen to it on my terms.

Funny that people keep asking "How many songs on this are rockers?" like, really, how many songs on Hunky Dory are rockers?

it's not so much that anyone's hoping for Ziggy Stardust 2 as that they're fearing 12 "Where Are We Now?"s

Well hopefully he will tour and buy a black leather jacket and get his hair done up in frosted tips etc. etc.

Really, what's wrong with growing old?

"Well hopefully he will tour and buy a black leather jacket and get his hair done up in frosted tips etc. etc."

Glass Spider!

Wouldn't it have been impossible to get the train to Potsdamer Platz back in Bowie's day?

he is still alive, you know

Is he? Still not convinced this isn't a hoax.

Visconti accuses Fripp of leaking Bowie plans, Fripp calls bullshit.

http://www.dgmlive.com/diaries.htm?entry=22980

Had I had been invited, in my current non-performance mode, it would have been a very hard choice.

Too bad the Frippster isnt involved...would have been fun to hear.

Maybe he is on the album, but it is just totally double-secret secret, and this is all just further misdirection.

possible.

Maybe he just listens on it.

Oblique Listening Strategies.

Maybe he is on the album, but it is just totally double-secret secret, and this is all just further misdirection.

― Josh in Chicago, Thursday, January 17, 2013 2:24 PM (1 hour ago)

If so, his online diary for the last two years would be the most amazing long con since, uh, that football player's dead girlfriend.

i like the new song more now than the day it came out, really nice

the advertising i've seen around here (W12) is kinda funny - they've just stuck those white 'The Next Day' squares in the middles of existing posters.

When it come out?

Oh 11th March

Crap- you can pre-order the vinyl on amazon.co.uk but not amazon.de

for the record, koogs - don't think those are existing posters, just big backing posters meant to look like existing posters.

pity if it is, because i thought it was a good idea. will check tonight / tomorrow.

no, i was right, that's exactly what they've done. you can see if you can get close to one - the squares are new, the posters underneath are the previous ones. (the one on the walk home i remember from before, and one of the ones i saw yesterday was slightly wonky in relation to the poster underneath)

https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/12964_10151265346397665_116740186_n.jpg

Geriatric David Bowie sounds like Geriatric Paul McCartney.

We Are The Dead

love it

We got song

http://www.vevo.com/watch/david-bowie/the-stars-are-out-tonight/USRV31300002

song comes off like it was written by somebody who didn't speak English fluently

I actually liked the other song but this is terrible

That's an awful video, too.

Tilda Stardust fan service vid is spectacular. Song is cool at first blush but lacking something. Need to spend more time with it.

"double with haim" lol

Rave reviews in Telegraph, Independent and an incoherent review in the Guardian.

Got a feeling this is going to be like Skyfall.

<3 Bowie as alien/Men Who Fell to Earth still on the cover of the Pantheon Weekly.
Tilda as Bowie is obv. inspired by the RSWX/Bowie project.

Song's a bit bland on first listen but like MFB I need to spend more time with it

Vevo link doesn't work in my part of the world, so I'll share this youtube link here: http://youtu.be/gH7dMBcg-gE

I'm a bit underwhelmed. It's not bad but sort of Bowie by numbers. He waited 10 years just to give us a track that could have been on Reality? I prefer the first single and am hoping the rest of the album is better than this

Tilda Swinton in this?

Sounds a bit like "She'll Drive a Big Car."

for an aging rock legend - it's a good track.
and better than the previous imo

Great to see Tilda Swinton with Bowie. When she was doing press for We Need to Talk About Kevin she looked uncannily like he did on the cover of Low.

reminds me a bit of the old-person horror sequence from Mulholland Drive.

A couple of months before I interviewed TS on the same afternoon DL did (and he's right, Low is exactly what she looked like and most people couldn't get away with the pine/midnight blue combo she was working) I got a commission to interview Nic Roeg and he said he'd cast her if he was to remake that film with a female lead.

It's a decent song. I really like the production, pure quality, the strings and the way the bass bobs along.

I've played this about a dozen times now. It would have been joint best song on Reality, with New Killer Star. There's an urgency to it that I reckon is a step up from most of the best 2000s material.

Hahah so apparently this Tumblr's been around for a while -- its creator is duly gobsmacked

http://tildastardust.tumblr.com/

http://www.theawl.com/2013/02/david-bowie-stars-are-out-tonight#more-158524

otm on the "Beethoven" connection.

That video is incredible.

Quietus review: http://thequietus.com/articles/11500-david-bowie-the-next-day-review

Interesting:

"Moreover, it closes with two mind-blowing, show-stopping, grandstanding epics: one as baroque as 'Rock And Roll Suicide' ONLY MORE SO; one as frazzled and sinister and ticking as Scott Walker’s (ok, The Walker Brothers’) 'The Electrician'."

Sounds great. The review is written by Chris Roberts though (I mean, he tends to be enthusiastic to say the least when it comes to Bowie).

He reckons Stars (Are Out Tonight) is "one of the weakest tracks, straining a little."

Thoroughly underwhelmed by both "Stars" and the video for it. This is pretty much exactly what I dreaded when I learned he was putting new stuff out.

I still really like "Where Are We Now" though, and I'm staying optimistic about the rest of the album.

Had a listen to the new track last night and found myself quite liking it... and that's all, really. Still looking forward to hearing the album.

Why can't big acts just release singles anymore? Why does it have to be teaser single, follow-up in tandem with album? No one's selling much, might as well have fun. Release a single now and then, let it hang around a little.

It's not releasing, it's sharing, bro.

I know it's a cliché easily used these days, but seriously: has no one mentioned yet how Lynchian this video is? For it is. The intro music ("Ghost of Love" echoes), Tilda Swinton (who is already David Bowie in many ways, in a parallel universe), characters flashing in and out of themselves, the panning of the camera (the shoddy filming of the balcony, the supermarket scene). I can't think of any other music video that is so Lynchian.

I like the song, but I think I like the song in combination with the video even better.

(forgot to mention the stop-motion like movement of the people in the video, too)

you can listen to it now streaming!

http://pitchfork.com/news/49744-listen-to-the-new-david-bowie-album-now/

i'm pretty impressed. did not have any expectations.

It's up. It's good.

i'm getting a Lodger vibe on some of this, which i did not expect

i think visconti talking about how it was "rockers" is a bit misleading, i mean it's not like these are all 4 on the floor power chord songs, lots of cool stuff in the mix and the songs go in odd directions

Whoa... I can't go to bed without listening to this! Better fix me that coffee...

man between this and strong MBV and Bad Seeds albums it's 2013: The Year Heritage Alternative Rock Acts Broke

Rockers compared to an album of Where Are We Nows

my response to the new record is nostalgia:
where are the times Bowie was "innovative"...

You are no fun

"Stars" sounds much better as an album cut. Works nicely in context.

i don't think the album is bad, but it's like the new Neil Young album: good for an aging rock star, but i can live without it

Cool insight

cynical?

Like no offense but every time I see you post you're just being a drag or killjoy about stuff, gets old

Good album on first listen! Some lovely moments. Especially like how concise the tunes are.

I think it's his best since Scary Monsters

Keeping in line with the album cover, i sort of which he had just taken his old songs and wrote new lyrics/melodies over the old tracks. Or maybe just take the old lyrics and write completely new music for them.

Haven't heard this yet, aside from the first OK single and 2nd single, which i can't remember at all.

give it a listen on iTunes. Worth your time.

is "Boss of Me" a cover of the Malcolm in the Middle theme song? (please say yes)

Not sure if this is just to do with me paying more attention to this release than the last few, but there's an energy and directness to the vocal melodies that reminds me of the way Ferry came with "Frantic" (though they don't sound anything like each other) after a handful of more muddled, mature and indirect propositions (Mamouna, Heathen, etc...). Either this record is more engaging... or I'm more engaged. Time will tell.

The 'hum along' factor seems as high as its been in a long time, yeah?
I dig it.

I'm listening to the stream, so can't see song titles. What's the one that starts "If you can see me, I can see you?" 'Cause it was good enough that I just went back to play it again.

Rest of the album all sounds at least ok, it'll take time to know. Nothing jumping out as *wrong* with it yet.

On first listen this is really solid. Only dud was "Dancing Out In Space".

The first Bowie record I haven't wanted to pretend didn't exist in a long time. I like it. I'm not as excited as I am when I hear new Scott Walker for instance but I'll give it the time to see if it gets into regular rotation or whether I just reach for older records. I'm into the sneaky arch Lodger references in almost every song. But I like that type of thing.

"Like no offense but every time I see you post you're just being a drag or killjoy about stuff, gets old"

nah, just a coincidence

get me Mr. Raggett response!

does he like the new record?!

well, it sure is a polite record. And well-named: sounds like it was recorded a day after Reality. That's all for now.

otm

Heat sounds like a Scott Walker tribute song!

It's surprisingly alright.
'The Next Day' started off with such a heavy (and grin-inducing) 'Red Sails'-vibe, could even pass the chugging 'rock'-rock stuff in the middle without problems.

It boats one legit terrible track ("Love is Lost")

The little bit that I'm loving even though it's kind of obvious is the way the "Rock and Roll Suicide" song ends with the start of "Five Years." Kind of an easy move, but it works for me.

Trying to listen to the stream while doing something else but I feel like I haven't heard much of a tune up until 'where are we now', but then the next couple are great

get me Mr. Raggett response!

It's...nice? I'm feeling carefully neutral about it. The last album of his I really thoroughly loved/was struck by remains Earthling, with everything since being more reexploration/retrenching. I enjoyed the listen and will purchase the album, a couple of strong moments but I think this one would have to be a grower for me instead of some revelation.

Final track is good, sounds Labyrinthy

this is great! haven't been paying attention to the song titles either since I'm listening to the stream. But it's a strong album than Reality which was kind of flabby to me. Don't know if I like it as much as Heathen, which is among my very favorites of his. But it's good. I'm just glad his career isn't going to go out on some kind of Hours/Never let me Down/Tonight meh thing.

i like it - better than the last 3, i think. but then i loved 'hours' when it first came out and grew to dislike it. it's certainly some sort of grand marketing campaign.

Incredibly faint praise like "better than the last 3" assures me that I won't have missed anything by never listening to this album.

Better than "Tonight" and "Never Let Me Down" ... combined!

And the comment I quoted wasn't even so brave as to unequivocally state that it was - outright - no question about it... 'better than the last 3'!

The breathless schoolgirl enthusiasm of the Quietus write-up on this really doesn't tally at all with the general okayness found within the actual album.

I mean:

"Moreover, it closes with two mind-blowing, show-stopping, grandstanding epics: one as baroque as 'Rock And Roll Suicide' ONLY MORE SO"

Just...no.

then there are those of us who never thought much about "Rock and Roll Suicide."

i gaze in defeat at the stars at night

oh, ok. it's definitely better than the last 3. i'd actually listened to them all again this past week and was surprised at the enjoyment i got out of them. but this one has more good melodies and a lack of any tracks that are abominable.

the overt praise by reviewers is a little off-putting.

I like this a lot.

It's funny, like bowie just can't make an album of good david bowie songs?

but it's cool for a band like The XX to basically make the same album over & it's only their second record

listening to the stream atm -- there's something kind of nice about having Bowie just sound like himself? Like, it's nothing exciting, but the familiarity's not really a letdown for me so far. So far it's a rather nice Bowie hug :)

but yeah, I don't really understand the cartwheels & fireworks crazy ott reviews

I mean bowie being bowie is way better than like whatever 10 crappy modern indie bands are gonna ”buzz” and get great reviews this year

totally!

It's funny, like bowie just can't make an album of good david bowie songs?
It's shitty David Bowie songs, though.

I disagree

He should reunite Tin Machine.

Is this streaming somewhere other than iTunes?

^^^ let me qualify that a little: I mean a legal stream!

I kinda stump for Tin Machine

last song is some serious scott walker wannabe stuff. it's really good.

Yep on both counts

Listened to this for the first time today. First reaction: 14 songs in 54 minutes is too much. Should have been nine songs in 40. Also...it's been seven and a half hours since I heard the record, and I can't remember what a single song on it sounded like.

Yeah I agree with this. I listened to it last night and did enjoy some moments but can't really remember anything about it today. So baffled at all the amazing reviews it's been getting. It's probably better than Reality and about as good as Heathen.

still prefer Reality to Heathen, which had one too many ponderosities for me.

Meanwhile speaking of Alfred and Bowie opinions

http://www.spin.com/reviews/david-bowie-the-next-day-columbia-iso

Bowie's retirement is somewhat overrated imo

more overrated than Scary Monsters?

You rated it as highly as Station to Station!
Scary Monsters is overrated. But it has Bowie's 2nd-best ever A-side. And his best ever song "Ashes to Ashes" fuiud. Do people rate it any other way in saying it's the end of his classic period?
I like that Bowie, 66, is making records this late in life. I like that there's a photo in RS of Tony and David the nice young engineer at Magic Shop, I hope it gets him some cool gigs. I don't think "The Next Day" has any place in my life, "Heat" is a nice bit of Scott Walker pastiche but I've banned "Scott Walker pastiche". I'm glad I don't have to rate records for a living

Sounds boring

i wonder how this record would have sound like if someone else, lets say Eno, produced it.
cause it is boring partly because of the production imo.

Visconti may be a legend but he and Bowie are both old now. So I guess you have to expect a boring record. btw I did mean sounds boring from what you guys say I haven't heard it.
p.s. find a lot of songs hunky dory and mwstw boring and that was these two lol

Not sure that Eno is any better at producing non-boring records in 2013!

eno is a pretty boring producer these days, listen to that bowie/byrne album from a few years ago, or the paul simon record.

eno byrne I mean

exactly

It's kind of a vicious cycle - Eno makes boring records because boring musicians are attracted to the idea of working with Eno.

Producers who could have done something interesting with David Bowie:

Kevin Martin
Kurt Ballou
Omar Rodriguez-Lopez

Pretty sure Eno is bored of producing, tbh.

Lots of people could have done something awesome with Bowie. Geoff Barrow!

he could've written some tunes with Shriekback and Max Martin tbh

DJ Rashad and Bowie ftw.

The results were often risible, but I miss the days when old ppl tried to be modern.

Tom Jones Reloaded

Drum'n'Bass Bowie!
Grace Slick "All the Machines"!

I'm not saying it's a good idea... just that I miss it. hahaha
More fun than getting T-Bone Rubin on board, anyway!

I particularly enjoyed the Tom Jones video where this dog was hanging from an overhead wire and moving at high speed and you could see it from directly above intercut with pictures of Tom's face

That was a cover of ... Rise Robots Rise?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jRgj3hJr7cA

Is that a single from the lead and how to swing it? Doesn't feature on his wiki discography.

Oh the song is called if only I knew DOH!

Don't touch the sacred cows! Our man is getting tore up in the comments on that Spin review, something fierce.

Now go back to preening your sad little self in your cocaine mirror, you pot of toss.

It's not "the same old thing in brand new drag," it's a re-contextualization which allows us to see the old thing and the new thing in a different light. You tool.

That was a particular favorite.

oops. the first one i meant.

Did you know that for period between 1976 and 1987 none of Tom Jones' singles entered the UK charts WHATSOEVER! That's 25 bleeding singles

Last Eno record was not boring and was actually pretty good.

Which album do you consider his last album? "Another Day on Earth?" Or the most recent generative joint? Also, what was the last production job he did that you liked/felt made the album better? I admit I'm a fan of what he did for Coldplay on "Viva La Vida Locamotion"

He still seems to me more interested in generative music and installations and different sorts of creative endeavors than making music these days.

Has he produced Tom Jones yet?

I don't know how many of these recent Eno productions I'd rep for:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brian_Eno_discography#Production

Just because they made great records together 30+ years ago (!) that doesn't mean they'd have any gas in the tank now. Why would it? That's a heckuva long time.

It's ike when Duran were making that Timbaland record (god, i'm not helping my argument here), Duranies were like "work with Nile instead if you want to be funky and mad successful!" - as great a guitar player (and gentleman) as Nile is, he hadn't produced anything worth a bean (or anything popular) in a dog's age.

last Eno album was great, yes (Lux, and small craft). last eno PRODUCTIONS that weren't his albums were all dull and have been for ages.

unfortunately rodgers also produced lets dance. After that he forlornly tried to help mick jagger on an album I am not prepared to discuss. He also produced something called Astronaut. Anyone heard that?

Back to the point, he needs to work with someone new and NOT a dance music producer. Its just a suggestion but what about bernard butler? Be even better if he played on it.

He did some prelim stuff on Duran's 'Astronaut' then was canned. So... the finished product was thought to be even better than what Nile did, I guess. Yikes!

Butler as Ronson manque? Brett would fume! haha

Are you suggesting the rodgers astronaut stuff must have been very, very bad?

Nile Rodgers' mid eighties credit are mindboggingly long.

Nope. Just that I guess DD thought so?
Heard the demos and they weren't appreciably lesser in qual than what made the album imo.

Rodgers' 80s credits... always thought it odd that he didn't get the call to produce the follow-up albums to his mid-80's hits: Madonna, Bowie, Duran, etc...

How good is that album?

Astro?
I'm a fan, so not entirely reliable... probably 6 out of 10 if I'm feeling generous.

Simon R on the new Bowie in the NYT

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/03/10/arts/music/the-singer-who-fell-to-earth.html?pagewanted=all&_r=1&

I'm a fan, so not entirely reliable... probably 6 out of 10 if I'm feeling generous.

― mr.raffles

The best songs on Astronaut were the ones that sounded like they could have been produced by Nile Rodgers, Nice and Taste The Summer. The other two good songs sounded like Mansun. That was a a strange album. Shame they released Sunrise as the first single, hate that song.

After the ’90s, a period dominated by the grit and authenticity of grunge and gangsta rap, the 2000s saw the return of artifice and glitter. The things that Mr. Bowie explored to the hilt, alongside his fellow glam rockers like Roxy Music and Alice Cooper, during the early ’70s — over-the-top theatricality and staging, extremist fashion and sexual androgyny — became defining principles of 21st-century pop. Lady Gaga is the most visible of his inheritors, with her freaky costumes and her gender games (the male alter ego Jo Calderone; the artfully concocted rumor that she’s a hermaphrodite). Adam Lambert, the “American Idol” graduate, called his first major tour Glam Nation. Beyoncé made a Ziggy Stardust-like gambit by creating the persona Sasha Fierce as a vehicle for her walk-on-the-wild-side impulses. Above all there’s Nicki Minaj, whose guises include the gay male Roman Zolanski and the ultrafeminine cartoon she calls Barbie. While it’s unlikely that Ms. Minaj is directly influenced by Mr. Bowie, the parallels between his serial personas and her constant image changes are clear. As a host on the music channel Fuse put it, “She says she’s just being herself, but who she is changes every day.”

simon r is fun and everything but this is rrridiculous, rrrreductive, over-rrreaching and rrrrrrrisible rrubbish

While it’s unlikely that Ms. Minaj is directly influenced by Mr. Bowie ... who she is ch-ch-changes every day

That's possibly the worse thing i've ever read

i couldn't read that paragraph after the first sentence.

Just realized that the older he gets, the more Duff is rocking this weird Bowie look:

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/77/Duff_McKagan_2012.JPG/220px-Duff_McKagan_2012.JPG

Thin Blonde Duke.

Like a cross between Bowie and Bryan Adaams

Listened to this album a second time tonight, on headphones while walking through NYC and riding the train home. It's a lot better than it seemed the first time.

Did you notice that that Reynolds piece contained exactly three words - "overdriven guitar clangor" - that described the music on The Next Day? As far as most critics are concerned, this might as well be a book of poetry, or a dramatic reading of lyrics, it seems. I feel like taking the exact opposite approach, writing just about the music - you know, that stuff happening in the background while David Bowie confronts his mortality, or whatever.

I feel like taking the exact opposite approach, writing just about the music

Well, sonically, the album is not that interesting - it's a pretty straightforward rock album. That's why the lyrics are a focus

There's a lot of really interesting stuff going on. Assuming one finds rock music interesting. Which I don't think a lot of critics do anymore. But they keep filing copy anyway.

Yeah, after a close listen on headphones today, Phil's otm. There is quite a bit going on, musically. More than I noticed on first blush. I'm liking this quite a bit, I actually like the Whitman's Sampler approach to his overall career that it sort of takes.

The title track is a striking opener. I like David Torn's effects on most of the tracks, and Earl Slick can play lead without going wanky. The sax blats on "Dirty Boys" work too.

Reality had cool filigrees. EVery Bowie album since 1993 'cept ....hours has tbem.

I liked "Thursday's Child" and "Seven" from ...hours. Those are the ones I remember.

here's what the CD art/packaging looks like

http://virusfonts.com/news/2013/03/the-next-day-packaging-design/

i went to a bar last night and the DJ apparently was having a "listening party" for the new bowie so he played it all. sounded good in a bar

While drunk

That psychedelic lyric poster looks so cool it might be worth the price of the album.

More and more lyrics getting posted:

Nabokov is sun-licked now
Upon the beach at Grunewald
Brilliant and naked just
The way that authors look

Clare and Lady Manners drink
Until the other cows go home
Gossip till their lips are bleeding
Politics and all

I’d rather be high
I’d rather be flying
I’d rather be dead
Or out of my head
Than training these guns on those men in the sand
I’d rather be high

The Thames was black, the tower dark
I flew to Cairo, find my regiment
City’s full of generals
And generals full of shit

I stumble to the graveyard and I
Lay down by my parents, whisper
Just remember duckies
Everybody gets got

I’d rather be high
I’d rather be flying
I’d rather be dead
Or out of my head
Than training these guns on those men in the sand
I’d rather be high

I’m seventeen my looks can prove it
I’m so afraid that I will lose it
I’d rather smoke and phone my ex
Be pleading for some teenage sex,
Yeah

I’d rather be high
I’d rather be flying
I’d rather be dead
Or out of my head
Than training these guns on the men in the sand
I’d rather be high

I have really liked both singles, just like I also liked his two 00s albums.

Sure he doesn't innovate pop music anymore like he used to, but who would expect a 66 year-old to do that? If this finds him sitting roughly around his "Scary Monsters" style like the two early 00s albums, then that is fine with me.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_66_year_old_artistic_innovators_throughout_history

I would think classical composers would have been able to be innovative at 66 (if they even lived for that long), but it appears even Joseph Haydn had largely stopped composing at age 66.

Ned, don't do that again.

Van Ronk said to Bobby/"She's the Next Real Thing" Does sound better the more I listen, and the musicians seem capable of anything he wants them to do. Inner dynamics, shading, or at least suggestions emerge, but he's always been more effective when not relying this much onto the old stomp-along---his limited idea of hard rock beats. It's not like the limber precision of say, "Fame" and "Golden Years" distracted from the intimations of mortality, tension etc which are also helpfully provided here: The Next Day and The Next Day and The Next Day Thanks Dave! Although so far I kinda prefer the caffeinated variety of Tempest, esp. its sneers: So muchfor the wasted years. But, even though I keep thinking I need to take a break from Bowie's grim slabs, the music pulls me along, and yeah the last two songs make a strong ending. And even "Where Are We Now" is effective in context, as something of a breather, as time takes a cig etc.

Monteverdi wrote two operas in his mid-70s.

Mozart, Schubert and Schumann were all decomposing at 66:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VU0gyiFAJrs

i understand the costs etc, but i would have preferred the bonus tracks to have been on a separate cd as they did for heathen/reality given that they do change the mood of the final section of this album.

3 listens in and i'm loving this a lot ..

My review.

I agree w a lot of that (and yeah, headphones help a lot). Somebody pls describe bonus tracks.

loved loved loved the burning ambulance review

Yeah that's top notch.

(should point out that's the review right above dow's last post)

My favorite review.

That's the first review I've read in which no obvious clichés about Bowie, his age or his history are present. What a relief! Clearly, lots of close listening and thought went into the piece - loved reading it. (Even though I see where you're coming from when you compare "Dirty Boys" (my favourite) to the Tom Waits songs, the first thing that I associated the (use of) that sax with was Laurie Anderson's "From the Air")

I still think the record is meh but P's take was inspiring.

Okay via the official FB page:

TND AT #1 IN 40 COUNTRIES ON iTunes

"What In The World?"

The Next Day has gone straight to the top of 40 different countries’ iTunes charts and it’s also Top 10 on iTunes in another 10 countries.

Just sayin’.

I am trying to imagine Bowie himself going "Just sayin'" and it ain't happening.

that "you can set the world on/you can set the world on fire" song is fucking catchy and makes me want to strut around the office

Viral video plz

lol

"Do the St. Paul shake"

Anyway, geeta's got a good review up

http://www.slate.com/articles/arts/music_box/2013/03/david_bowie_s_the_next_day_reviewed.html

That's a nice piece about Bowie framed around an album that it barely engages with, and then mostly tangentially.

Panel discussion with Simon Reynolds, Geeta dayal, and Carl Wilson:
http://www.cbc.ca/day6/blog/2013/03/12/simon-reynolds-geeta-dayal-and-carl-wilson-discuss-bowies-the-next-day/

Carl being mehh = yay!

First listen to this was yesterday when I bought the CD. Don't think I'll get tired of it for a while - it's very strong. It could do with one or two amazing, instant tunes - why can't he just knock out a 'Let's Dance' or something? - which would put it up there with his best, but even so it easily matches up to, say, Side 2 of Scary Monsters, a side that it took me at least 15 listens to love and which I've listened to hundreds of times since.

At first I thought it would be better trimmed down - 14 tracks too much. Which to lose? 'If You Could See Me' and 'I'd Rather Be High' for me, at least.

I deliberately bought the standard CD cos I hate the bonus track thing (and I was gonna avoid the vinyl which I otherwise would've bought because they include them), but then at work I listened to the album on Spotify with those tracks and they're mostly great. 'So She' is the most melodic of these new songs and should've been on the album proper. 'Plan' is the (terrific) instrumental riff that started off the 'Stars Are Out Tonight' video. 'I'll Take You There' is a straight rocker that's as good as some of those on the album. He could've made this a double album I reckon. So I might just buy the vinyl and consider it as such.

why can't he just knock out a 'Let's Dance' or something?

I don't mean this snarkily but, well, he's not 35 anymore? If you mean quick little rock tunelets, well, this album's full of them!

If you haven't seen this already

http://m.guardian.co.uk/music/2013/jan/12/david-bowie-how-made-next-day

<3 Geeta repping for Outside

see now THAT record is my best-since-Space Oddity.

why can't he just knock out a 'Let's Dance' or something?

I don't mean this snarkily but, well, he's not 35 anymore? If you mean quick little rock tunelets, well, this album's full of them!

35, 66, what's the difference? I really like this record! I don't know what quick little rock tunelets are.

The appetite to write good throwaways wanes? I mean, when you're gone 10 years you don't record in 17 days or whatever like Bowie-Rodgers did.

How long did the average Tin Machine song take to record?

just enough to make it great

You're thinking of a different Tin Machine

yeah Tin Machine II was a bit better, but i like them both

You know there are a lot of people who think this record is the first thing he's done since Tin Machine.

I'll take you there is one of the best tracks on this, weird he 'left it off' although since it's on the cd and the vinyl I'm not sure what's bonus about it. they should have just sequenced these into the album because it's a poor closer as opposed to Heat.

"I'll Take You There" sounds like a Never Let Me Down update with less garish production. Bowie should never position himself as a guy who takes "you" "there" -- ick.

otoh David Torn is in good form on "So She."

Headed for #1 in England.

Shep was also the guy who hooked up William H. Macy with Steve Buscemi in Fargo.

Oops--meant for the Madonna thread!

David Bowie IS Frances McDormand...

SFJ review

He's (SFJ) hearing 80s production gimmicks in this? Is he listening to the same
album?

He's right about the drums, although I have no idea what "sports bar guitars" are. Do they sound like wine bar bass lines?

Here there everywhere
It's hip to have a square over your face

7-11 synth bass

The female backing vocals on 'You Will Set The World On Fire' quite 80s. And the song also sounds like Iggy's 'Bang Bang', the Never Let Me Down closing track. 'Love Is Lost' sounds like a throwback to the 'Let's Dance' album and 'How Does The Grass Grow' is even a little NLMD in places.

Lots of little bits reminding me of previous Bowie albums (some of the better ones). Incl Bowies 80s, and maybe some gen. 80s, but not Phil Collins 80s, thankfully (sports bars guitars rule okay, if these are they). Satisfying fan-bait. Still would like more rhythmic variety, flexibility and succintness at times ("Let's Geeze" or whatevs), but the dour "I'd Rather Be High" or whatever it's called has settled into my mental replay pretty tenaciously. Thanks for descriptions of iTunes bonus tracks, will prob get CD. Those allergic to Spotify via Fecebook can still hear the 17 track version of this album, and most of his others, maybe incl.some not on Spotify:
http://www.myspace.com/davidbowie/music/albums

This is the guy from Tim's Machines right? Weird, that it's taken so long for him to go solo...

If anything "Boss Of Me" and "I'd Rather Be High" are the two tracks on this that kill the momentum for a bit. Overall I'm loving the odd bird that is this album.

You folks comparing this to Tin Machine, Bang Bang, Never Let Me Down and the like are really lowering the bar here. I like Heathen and Reality, and loved the tour behind it, but comparisons to those albums are also pretty modest in praise, tbh.

In the opposite direction, I honestly think SFJ overrates current interest in Bowie, let alone a "fascination" with this record or (I had to look it up) cathexis. Bowie is a Big Star, and as such will always by default be "anticipated." But what does it take for Bowie to go to number one in the UK? 20K sold? 40K? First number one record in 20 years or whatever says less about Bowie and more about the music industry today.

xp "I'd Rather" is not nec. one of the better ones, but its persistent replay in my headbox is more evidence of the album's viabilty, even though it can be sloggier than I'd like (don't think age is an excuse; Tempest is mostly engaging musically, even though some of the lyrics don't work; also Willie Nelson's albums in recent years--staying on the road seems to help both artists (also L. Cohen). Bowie's show could be shithot, before he had that heart attack and went into seclusion, which may have affected this set. It's not timid, but no leaps for him, thank you.

Take out the middle four (If You Can See Me, I'd Rather Be High, Boss Of Me, Dancing Out In Space) and this would be much tighter. Even though I like I'd Rather Be High and Boss of Me they do slow things down and would work better as bonus tracks or whatever. Put a couple of the bonus tracks (So She and Plan) in the middle instead and we'd really be talking. Of course I can do this myself on the iPod but it's not the same.

"Boss of Me" is embarrassing

^ all the saxes redeem it for me.

Love "Valentine's Day" a lot. Hits all the right Bowie nostalgia buttons ( the nasal delivery, the chorus).

Great piece from Douglas Wolk here on Bowie and his many collaborations

http://www.mtvhive.com/2013/03/13/david-bowie-friends/

reminds me how much I like "Pretty Pink Rose."

Reminds me how much I like "Watch That Man"

Wasn't familiar with Dana Gillespie's Andy Warhol - it's cool.

i actually like tin machine for real i am not joking

why can't he just knock out a 'Let's Dance' or something?

He did on "Black Tie White Noise", which may have been his best album since "Let's Dance" but which was still not very good, and every album he has released after it has been better IMO.

Here's an article for the tech nerds out there. Good read!
http://www.sonicscoop.com/2013/03/11/engineering-david-bowies-the-next-day-inside-the-magic-shop-sessions-with-mario-j-mcnulty/

'...hours was just pish

i actually like tin machine for real i am not joking

There's two of us around these parts.

"http://www.myspace.com/davidbowie/music/albums";

this is the first time I've seen someone actually use myspace in quite a while

There's two of us around these parts.

+ 1

especially tin machine 2

'...hours was just pish

This is not even true! It starts off slowly and the production's a bit Natalie Imbruglia, but it still has loads of great songs e.g. "If I'm Dreaming My Life", which - performed and produced in the appropriate style* - would have stood out as a good one on any of his albums.

*I appreciate that these words are doing a lot of work here.

Agree that it is production to some extent but I often question his choice of musicians.

Anyway looking forward to next album, 'White Smoke, White Pope'

well, considering that Bowie and Reeves Gabrels played most of the instruments on ...hours and produced it themselves, they get the blame for how flat those songs are.

Well Gabriels was in Tin Machine

Have the Sales Bros done anything since Tin machine? They're awesome.

Gabrels was the best thing about Tin Machine iirc. Sons of Soupy were good on the rhythm tracks and lousy when they got their turn at the mic

'hours' has easily the worst production on any Bowie album. I wonder if I like it even less than Tonight and the Tin Machine albums. I put it on every few months to see if I've missed anything but it never really comes. 'Thursday's Child' is always good though.

liking this album far more than i thought i would

hours is a hard listen. I think the problem is just too much gabrels. he's fine in more limited doses, and I even like all his tin machine work, but he had too much of a hand in everything else on hours and just stinks it up.

Listened to Never Let Me Down Again today and a lot of it is fun. Glass Spider is camply exciting. Hours is the better album, but in terms of production depends whether you prefer garishly ugly to mild and dull.

Also watched the video for the (terrible) NLMDA single Day In Day Out. A 40-year-old Bowie on roller skates watching the hooker get raped is something to see I guess.

I've never minded the stoopidity of "Beat of Your Drum" ("Disco brat...follow the pack!").

Time will crawl

Liked that one at the time

About Beat of Your Drum, according to Pushing Ahead of the Dame, Bowie said, "It’s a Lolita Number! Reflection on young girls... Christ, she’s only 14 years old, but jail’s worth it!"

I watched the Glass Spider live video last night while drunk, it was massively entertaining.

the Bowie blog was fair to the Glass Spider, which is embarrassing but not more so than Bowie often is.

Time Will Crawl, Never Let Me Down, Day in Day Out are ok, the rest of it is bah. Bang BAng was ok for another Iggy cover, just not as good as the original. But shining star and stuff is PAINFUL.

It's always important to remember the amount of hype that record got. He was getting compared to Lennon a lot as well (for his vocal timbre on the record I think), I distinctly remember "this is the best bowie album since Scary Monsters" getting thrown around on release. WTF.

Well, check this interview out. He's enthused!

http://www.teenagewildlife.com/Appearances/Press/1987/0800/musician.html

MUSICIAN: What do you play on this album?

BOWIE: I do a lot of keyboard things, like synthesizer parts, some rhythm guitar and I play lead on a couple of tracks: "New York's In Love" and "'87 And Cry".

MUSICIAN: On those songs you wanted to have a go at it yourself?

BOWIE: I'd done it on the demo. Peter laid down a couple of solos in the middle, and it wasn't quite what I wanted. So I thought, maybe I should put down what I did and see if it works the way it did in the demo. No disregard for Peter's playing; it just wasn't the kind of guitar I wanted. Peter's too controlled. Mine is a lot of effects and ambiance, just trying to get an atmosphere rather than play. I don't know about "playing".

MUSICIAN: Was it difficult assembling the band on Never Let Me Down?

BOWIE: Physically, no, because Erdal and I put down such a lot of work before anything really started. I'd prepared everything pretty well on the demo at my house. I'd done all the head arrangements, I knew exactly how I wanted it to sound, so Erdal and I spent the first two weeks putting down everything as a backbone. Then Carlos came in, then Peter. It was really that simple. I had a very fixed idea of how it should be. The longest time was just putting my vocals down.

Tonight the Zeroes were waiting for you

Hagiography but a friend who worked as an assistant in the Montreux studio at the time swears up and down that NLMD was ruined in the mixing process and that there's a great album in there. I don't care? but I can believe it

ok let's stop talking about that shitty album. new one is better

Even if I want to believe "Shining Star" and "New York's in Love" are good songs, there's still the matter of Bowie singing them.

so, is now the right time to ask if anyone has a ripped copy of bowies version of 'love missile f1-11' that was featured on the dvd single of 'new killer star' ?

It's on the iTunes version of the New Killer Star single (in my part of the world - NL)

1) This album is a lot better than I expected.

2) This album is also exhausting, which doesn't exactly negate number one but makes listening in longer than short bursts tough.

so, is now the right time to ask if anyone has a ripped copy of bowies version of 'love missile f1-11' that was featured on the dvd single of 'new killer star'

...wait, what?

http://youtu.be/B6fudSHb0js

Apparently so, from a 2003 DVD single.

(The 2003 is superfluous there, did that phase last longer than the one year?)

* Warning: Drunken Post * If this album had been called "Sense Of Doubt"
I wouldnt've flinched. I have been coming back to it on a daily basis since I
bought it and l continue finding fascinating moments in its bitter, desperate
sounding form. It's a grumpy, bleak fucking record at the end and I love it more
and more for that.

Don't know what's surprising me more, seeing a celebratory review of the album at the National Review or discovering the author of that review has also written a book about Steve Kilbey.

He can get away with this because The Next Day is an honest-to-God album, meant to be listened to as one piece rather than as a scattered collection of iTunes downloads. In this sense it is both archaic and forward-looking — its very existence is a sign, or a hopeful prediction, of some kind of return to craftsmanship in popular music. We’ve already seen harbingers of this in the success of Adele’s album 21 and the resurgent popularity of “roots” music among younger listeners; people are once again responding to music that sounds real. The Next Day, even with its freaked-out guitars and fuzzy synths, feels similarly authentic: It is refreshingly free of any discernible loops or electronic drums; the vocals have not been strangled by Auto-Tune; none of the musicians e-mailed their parts in from distant locales.

Why...why it's almost...REAL.

Does Salaryman's drumming count as electronic?

I like this sentence: "The real David Bowie remains as hidden as ever; his obfuscation, once regarded as a drawback, now seems, in our age of overexposure, as enticing as an oasis in a desert." All those commas building up to the big simile: "an oasis in a desert"! As opposed to all those other oases elsewhere.

as opposed to the other commas

"....Hours" was not essential, but still better than anything he did between 1984 and 1993.

(In terms of albums - it was not better than "Absolute Beginners" or "Loving The Alien" obv. )

Geir, you mean Tonight?

Or those two songs were better than Hours?

Billboard:

Earlier this week we reported that Bon Jovi and David Bowie were vying for the No. 1 slot on next week's Billboard 200 albums chart. However, Bon Jovi has now pulled ahead, and it seems like the band's "What About Now" is a lock for a No. 1 bow on the chart.

Industry sources suggest the group's album might sell just under 90,000 copies by the end of the tracking week on Sunday, March 17. It will mark the band's fifth No. 1 set -- and third straight studio effort to hit the top.

Meanwhile, David Bowie's new "The Next Day" -- his first studio album since 2003 -- should arrive in the No. 2 position with perhaps 80,000.

While a No. 1 album will seemingly continue to elude Bowie (who has yet to notch a chart-topper), a No. 2 bow will give him his best ranking ever. Somewhat shockingly, his highest-charting album to date is 1976's "Station to Station," which peaked at No. 3.

"The Next Day" will also likely score Bowie his best sales week for an album in the Nielsen SoundScan era (1991-present). He's never sold more than 55,000 in a week for a single album, when 2002's "Heathen" debuted at No. 14.

Bon Jovi vs. David Bowie fite!

90,000 Bon Jovi fans can be wrong. (Tip your waitstaff.)

It's official:

LONDON – David Bowie's The Next Day -- the rock icon's first album in 10 years -- is the fastest-selling of the year in the U.K. so far, topping the British album chart in its first week of sales.

The chart was unveiled March 17.

The album is the 66-year-old's first No. 1 since his 1993 release, Black Tie White Noise.

The Next Day sold 94,000 copies this week, according to the Official Chart Co., outselling the No. 2 album, from Bon Jovi, by a ratio of 2-to-1.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/8/84/Bon_Jovi_100_Million_Bon_Jovi_Fans.jpg/220px-Bon_Jovi_100_Million_Bon_Jovi_Fans.jpg

Yuk

Drop tracks 9 through 11 and what've you got? You've got a piece of work as strong as any of the 70's stuff PLUS at least one must-have B-side.

nah, 11 is one of the best. drop 7 through 10 instead.

8 and 9 for me. I like the weirdo vibe of "If You Can See Me" and "Dancing..."

despite having a dumb name 'dancing out in space' is really great, wonderful guitar work. although this song, like a few more, make me wish Fripp really had been involved in the album.

Dancing also has a tamed down version of the Lust for Life beat.

Love the verses, the chorus not so much

"I just topped the iTunes charts in Vietnam! I am the future!"

https://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc7/579072_10151303118657665_562808879_n.jpg

Came here to post that exact picture :D
God I'm jealous of his hair...

yep...that's what I said on Ned's FB.

He is aging well.

*salutes*

NME Bowie Top 20 Readers Poll
Think it 's been done before, but somehow they've allowed it
http://www.nme.com/ratemy/297577/vote-for-the-greatest-david-bowie-album?recache=1&t=1231311&utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=wire

Still digging this. Much better than it has any right to be.
Not perfect (rhythm section could've been a bit more new/punchy/better/dynamic), but yeah... best Bowie in a dogs' age.

Shearwater guy reviews it.

New video forthcoming w/Gary Oldman, robes

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-2314042/Hes-Space-Oddity-David-Bowie-goes-religious-films-new-video-starring-old-pal-Gary-Oldman.html

Sounds a lot better at a slight remove from release hype.

Buddy of mine who knows someone who knows someone says there are 15 completed songs leftover from the sessions.

one of the "bonus" songs is among my favorites.

My only problem is that some of the production was a bit generic. I hear echoes of the past, I hear some of that Visconti harmonizer on the drums I love so much, but I'd like a little more character to the production.

New video forthcoming w/Gary Oldman, robes

Bowie Wan Kenobi

Still really liking this album.

"Valentine's Day" sounded good last weekend, skipped the rest.

New video for "The Next Day" with Gary Oldman and Marion Cotillard:

http://www.vevo.com/watch/david-bowie/the-next-day/USRV31300003

Blood, whipping, Catholic saints, eyes, Gary looking grizzled, concluding luvviness. Of course.

Diminishing returns, as the messiah remarked to the centurion.

Gah, horrible vid.

'If You Can See Me' is fucking great.

programmed this to play in reverse order the other day and I think they messed up.

So She is still my favorite. Maybe he thought it a pop trifle compared to some other selections...

So a new edition will be released in November. DVD with the video's (oh well), extra disc with some songs not previously available (worldwide)

01 Atomica *
02 Love is Lost (Hello Steve Reich Mix by James Murphy) *
03 Plan #
04 The Informer *
05 Like a Rocket Man *
06 Born in a UFO *
07 I'd Rather Be High (Venetian Mix) *
08 I'll Take You There #
09 God Bless the Girl *
10 So She #
* previously unreleased
# previously released on The Next Day deluxe edition

Murphy's remix can be heard here: https://soundcloud.com/davidbowie/love-is-lost-hello-steve-reich/s-pK7jv
Love the remix. Like Bowie on TND, Murphy's looking back and reusing old Bowie - love the way he's done that (won't spoil it, just listen to the stream).

Ah, I like this. With the extra tracks on a bonus disc, the proper album ends with "Heat."

So there were already two versions of this album, and now, barely 9 months later, there is a third?

He's ahead of the curve, yet again. After the succes of 30, 35, and 40 year anniversary reissues of his seminal 70's albums he's clearly upped his game.

Rock legend David Bowie fails to win any prizes at the Q Awards, despite nominations in six categories, and is trounced by Ellie Goulding in the prize for best solo artist.

I was able to listen to all the new songs with an Italian proxy: http://www.deejay.it/speciali/david-bowie-in-anteprima-la-versione-speciale-del-nuovo-album/356651/

works for me too.
Spotted a vocal melody from Beatles' "Help" in "Like A Rocket Man".
..and LOL the intro from "Born in a UFO" uses the "Born in the USA" template. its lyrics reference some other song that eludes me..

New video for the Murphy remix

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dOy7vPwEtCw

Wow, love it

Yeah, that's really good.

And so, out of nowhere, a new interview:

http://www.godisinthetvzine.co.uk/2013/12/11/exclusive-interview-david-bowie/

Great stuff. Especially Iggy offering Bowie coke at Reed's 'after-wake thing'.

Hmmm. He sounded...halting?

Maybe an email interview? That said I'm still a *little* skeptical about it.

yes exactly

Frankly I checked to see if the site was some sort of joke site. It isn't but you know, I'd like to see something more concrete here.

gotta be click bait.

cant imagine he would ever say that re iggy/coke re the funeral.

quite a lot of the other stuff does not ring true either ..

Doesn't "sound" like him.

Unless his personality has changed quite a bit in his years away, this can't be him.

"Veracity responsibility of author"

a-ha!

Gotta get the tone right when ya try to pull off something like that.

I wonder what the "best" fake interview is?

Anyway, 404'd.

"Your website's dead, there's something wrong"

Project canceled.

I wonder what the "best" fake interview is?

The ones Weird Al used to do were great.

Most hilarious old recent one I've seen: Hitler and Andy Warhol, as conceived by Alexander Cockburn

Amusement: the site's Twitter feed:

https://twitter.com/godisinthetv

Sounds like the editor thought it was real!

I mean, it didn't sound like Bowie at all. When he consents to these things it's the reporter who often thinks he's eavesdropping, Bowie's so garrulous.

i thought bowie and iggy had a falling out a while back?

Now I'm actually curious to read the thing. Hmm.

FWIW:

https://twitter.com/godisinthetv/status/410890616105467904

And

https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=10151835709306546&id=6499156545

After three hours of getting to the bottom of it. I'm afraid the David Bowie interview was incorrect. After our Bowie Month we were really excited to believe that Mr Bowie may speak to us. We are really sorry we made an error of judgement in trusting our writer's word that he had spoken to Mr Bowie as he had never fabricated any of his previous interviews and claimed this to be genuine. We couldn't gain verification from the writer himself or any other source so we added a disclaimer that the 'veracity of the interview was with the writer'. We trusted someone's word, he let us down, and we won't make that mistake again. But this in no way excuses the publication of the piece. We apologise to our readers for publishing something that was not from a trusted source. We have worked for 10 years to provide you with interesting and genuine content. Please be assured that all previous and future content on the site is 100% genuine, and we have learnt our lesson. Thank you for your feedback and continued support. Again apologies to you and Mr Bowie who we revere in the deepest possible terms.

feel bad for 'em: they got suckered. But jeez, if you're going to make up an exclusive Bowie interview, do it with a bit more verve and wit. That thing read like someone had used "The Next Day"'s wikipedia page as their main reference.

Also from the writer in question:

I have apologised to Bill and Lisa already. This was a case of drunken enthusiasm, mixed with a bit of anger over Bowie's Vuitton ad. My mistake was sending it to Bill in an altered state - he had no reason not to trust, as I had never done such a thing before. I have never 'worked for' God Is In The TV, though I have contributed many articles, and clearly won't again. Keep up the good work, and once again, all apologies

Of all things.

lolcohol

"Why Vuitton? I ALWAYS PREFERRED COACH."

RAGH THAT COMMERCIAL WAS 10 MINUTES LONG RAGH

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b04lcct5

David Bowie has given Guy Garvey the World Exclusive of his new single Sue, how amazing - so, it's David Bowie Day on the Finest Hour.

According to Guy they are now best friends, we'll see eh?

If Guy can contain his excitement this week's theme will be tunes relating to the moon, including Moon by This Is The Kit, Canned Heats Poor Moon and Speck Mountain's Hey Moon.

Oh and don't forget it's David Bowie Day on Guy Garvey's Finest Hour, first play ever in the whole wide word of his new single - Sue, all a delicious 7 minutes and 27 seconds.

Will not listen to Garvey's dreadful salt of the earth Northerner schtick under any circumstances

Oh wait that's the Elbow guy. Yeah...don't blame you.

Yeah that's the one major blight in this - having to listen to an hour of Garvey's patented 'that guy down the pub who talks a lot and you try to avoid'. Although the track'll be posted somewhere soon enough this afternoon.

The new single is a collaboration with Maria Schneider, of all people ... looking forward to hearing it one of these days

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3GodUgnO7lY

That's a great song.

The new single is a collaboration with Maria Schneider, of all people ... looking forward to hearing it one of these days

yes, the Gil Evans protege ... this sounds great!

yep, this new song is excellent.

Scott Walker 60's style melody

will there be a new album?

that is really great!

xpost -- greatest hits comp in a month.

bummer..

he should record a whole album of this "Scott walker Drum n Base Jazz Kraut" style

as I posted on facebook...Scott Walker fronting the Soft Machine in 1969. Or 70. I can't remember which I said. Whatever.

that must be jazz -- i can't stand it