Well Okay Then...."The Slider" vs. "Aladdin Sane"

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I'll be honest, I love both records for many different reasons so I juat can't say. So you know though, "TANX" is my fave Bolan disc, and "Hunky Dory" my most loved Bowie disc. Now then, let the opinion's begin!

― James H., Saturday, 27 April 2002 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

There's no choosing. Both gorgeous beyond belief. Two big chapters in my bible.

― Sean, Saturday, 27 April 2002 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Ah, more fun. :-)

I've listened to The Slider more in recent years, but then again it's a bit of a fresher album for me, bought only a few years back as opposed to Aladdin Sane, which I've owned since the Rykodisc rerelease back in 1990. There's more variety on Aladdin Sane in the end, though. On balance: The Slider absolutely perfects the classic T. Rex formula ("Metal Guru" and "The Slider" alone -- my god, what perfection!) while still exploring some fun fripperies in the sound (the tweaked vocals on "Main Man," the sheer heavy stomp of "Buick Mackane," etc.). But Bowie pulls "The Cracked Actor," "Time," "Drive-In Saturday," "Panic in Detroit," "The Jean Genie" and "Lady Grinning Soul" out of a hat = he is the man.

Fun fact = compare Mike Garson's piano solo twiddling on Aladdin Sane to his backing work for the Pumpkins in 1998 and 2000 and see how very little has changed.

― Ned Raggett, Saturday, 27 April 2002 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Aladdin Sane has Mike Garson and Bowie rocking more effectively than he's done anywhere else, but The Slider's a masterpiece, the best T. Rex LP, the best glam rock LP, hence better than Aladdin Sane. It doesn't sound nearly as dated either.

― J Blount, Saturday, 27 April 2002 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

The Slider is awesome and I doubt Aladdin Sane is even good (even though I've never heard it).

― Kris, Saturday, 27 April 2002 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

what did Mike Garson do with the Pumpkins?

― A Nairn, Saturday, 27 April 2002 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

He was recruited as the touring keyboardist for 1998's shows and also played a number of dates during 2000, including I believe the final two shows in Chicago (definitely the second-to-last one).

― Ned Raggett, Saturday, 27 April 2002 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

shit, this has gotta be like the 5th bowie-related thread on ILM in the past week! YES!!

i must admit i'm also torn, as both of these albums are great. in the end, though, i might just cast a vote for bowie, just for the one-two punch of 'drive in saturday' followed by the insane power-packed 'panic in detroit'. and 'lady grinning soul' (those lyrics!).

"watch that man" can rot in hell, though - i never liked that song.

― geeta, Saturday, 27 April 2002 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

C'mon - how can you deny that riff?

― J Blount, Sunday, 28 April 2002 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

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