Sunday, March 20, 2016

David Bowie: The Rise And Fall Of Ziggy Stardust And The Spiders From Mars (IAS #012)

Today's IAS review is:

David Bowie: The Rise And Fall Of Ziggy Stardust And The Spiders From Mars

(given the RYM ratings from one month ago, should have been Pet Sounds, really, but fortunately, Brian Wilson is still alive).

10 comments:

  1. Cool review as usual, congratulations.
    I have recently started a blog concerning similar matters "Albumonology" and I would appreciate an advice how to get readers from a veteran.
    So that's to you George, with huge thanks in advance.

    Yours sincerely,
    Kacper Kopacz

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  2. Always well-written and lucid reviews. Forget "critic," George, I think it's time to dub you an "honorary rock star." Better than Christgau or Bangs. Why am I sucking up to you? I don't know, but you really should be getting paid for this.

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    1. The last dump I took was better than Christgau.

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    2. Maybe he's better because he's not doing it for money!

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  3. I unreservedly love "Ziggy," "Starman," "Moonage Daydream," and "Suffragette City," whatever they may or may not mean. Bowie's singing and Ronson's playing are just amazing on those songs.

    One formatting question for you, George: why is the album title on the review page in such honking GIANT type? (As an editor by trade, I just gotta ask.)

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  4. Bowie was a damn fine songwriter. Anyone complaining about glam rock being all form over substance should compare it with the banality of today's music. If you're gifted with a true vision of what you're doing then form and substance can easily go hand in hand. In comparison to the blandness of today's "stars" Ziggy was fuckin' adorable!

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  5. Out of the top 30 rym albums this might be the one i like the least next to the gybe album. Which is not necessarily a bad thing as there are some great classics jn between there.
    I just agree eith George that David was a good musician, a good songwriter, a good showman etc, he just wasnt fantastic in terms of creating a true masterpiece (a bit like neil young, very consistent and good quality, just not that one super highlight).

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  6. Dead on review of a fantastic record. The first Bowie I got, and still my fave, for the simple reason that ALL of it is pretty damn great. (I'm not a huuuuge "It Ain't Easy Fan," either... But it beats, say, the second half of Low anyday, in my book.) I'm kind of surprised it ranks so high in the RYM master list, though... It seems too fun and too rocking for that crowd, with not enough obscure time signatures. Anywho, good work as always, George. And RIP David.

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  7. I always felt this album to be a little childish for my tastes. At the same I love it dearly. Paradox.

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  8. Just read some of the new reviews on the old website.
    Felt quite nostalgic to get some new reviews on a website that was such an important part of my musical education.

    Hope you'll find the time to review "Blackstar" too..

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