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Stefen · August 18, 2007, 11:06:02 PM

How awesome is this cover and how much does it remind you of E.T?

cron · August 19, 2007, 09:40:44 AM

this motherfucker could read an entire construction manual out loud and i would melt ...

edit: favorite album of the year (so far)

modage · August 19, 2007, 09:38:54 PM

Rilo Kiley

Stefen · August 19, 2007, 10:41:42 PM

Mod, How is it? I heard it was awful and sounded like Avril Lavigne. I've only heard Execution Of All Things, and JL's solo album. I enjoyed them both. Should I check it out?

This is the only Bowie album I have heard, and It's been one of my favorites since I heard it a few years ago, for some reason I never seeked out any other Bowie. From what I've read, he goes in eras, and this is the early 70's era. What's some other albums I should check out? Should I stick to the 70's or go later? I've heard Station To Station is good.

MacGuffin · August 20, 2007, 12:02:13 AM

Human After All

bonanzataz · August 20, 2007, 02:14:23 AM

Quote from: Stefen on August 19, 2007, 10:41:42 PM
This is the only Bowie album I have heard, and It's been one of my favorites since I heard it a few years ago, for some reason I never seeked out any other Bowie. From what I've read, he goes in eras, and this is the early 70's era. What's some other albums I should check out? Should I stick to the 70's or go later? I've heard Station To Station is good.

i find it's easiest to start with the early stuff and work your way forward. i was obsessed with hunky dory, ziggy stardust, and aladdin sane for YEARS before i bought any of his other albums. pin-ups is fun, but easily can be skipped. diamond dogs and young americans are great albums (not necessarily ESSENTIAL, but still fantastic), but he reaches the peak of his showmanship (in my opinion) at the height of his cocaine addiction during station to station. the songs are incredibly audacious and big big big. this leads to the "berlin trilogy" (low, heroes, and lodger) where he's weaning himself off of coke and experimenting with sound and brian eno in germany. i think it's his strongest work. this is followed by scary monsters, which reiterates his entire back catalog and is his last perfect album. after that, it's pretty much hit and miss. if you want to get into later bowie, i'd recommend earthling and heathen. fans of his later stuff also really like black tie white noise, but i prefer buddha of suburbia, which is similar, but i feel a bit more accomplished and leads him off right into his industrial phase. all of his 90s albums have some really great tracks on there, but there's also a lot of filler. in all seriousness, if you're gonna get into bowie, GET INTO BOWIE. you really can't half ass it and do some greatest hits bullshit. there are very few clunkers from hunky dory to scary monsters, every track is pretty much gold. to me, bowie albums are like seasons of 24, in that it's best to gradually work your way up through the seasons for maximum enjoyment, even if it's not ENTIRELY necessary. do yourself a favor and just get them all.

grand theft sparrow · August 20, 2007, 09:07:58 AM

^ That is all exactly right.

Though I would add Outside to the list of later Bowie that stands out. It's a grower but worth it. And Bowie at the Beeb is a good live album to start out with, but save David Live and Stage for when you're more familiar with the mid-late 70s studio albums.

But other than that, taz is right on the money.

currently listening to:

Stefen · August 20, 2007, 09:15:09 AM

I got Low and Diamond Dogs last night. Thanks for the advice guys.

bonanzataz · August 20, 2007, 04:02:42 PM

Quote from: Stefen on August 20, 2007, 09:15:09 AM
I got Low and Diamond Dogs last night. Thanks for the advice guys.

both great albums, but i think you should hold off. low is probably some of his best material, but it's also his most dense and experimental. like i said before, it's best to listen to the way his sound evolves chronologically.

Stefen · August 20, 2007, 05:32:29 PM

I can handle experiemental. Most of the stuff I listen to isn't accesible to the mainstream.

You're the parent who gets his kids a PS3, and instead of letting them jump right in and figure it out themselves, you say "Here, sit back and let me show you how to play" My dad was like that. What a dickhead he was on my birthdays and christmas. He had already beaten duckhunt before I had even played it. Next Christmas he was the Altered Beast master, and I didn't even know what button did what.

JG · August 20, 2007, 06:47:18 PM

no i think he's right. there's something special about going from stardust-era bowie into low-era bowie. thats how i did it, and thats how bowie did it, and thats how you should do it. i've skipped over some pretty essentially releases, but i've had so much fun with the ones i do have. he has some real early gems that are worth checking out too.

now playing:

Stefen · August 21, 2007, 08:47:50 AM

Alright, you guys convinced me. I will work through his catalog in chronological order. At least until the 80's. Nothing personal, I just skip that decade in everyones discography.

grand theft sparrow · August 21, 2007, 11:20:34 AM

But if you skip the 80s, you'll miss Mickey Rourke's rap!

Thanks to you guys, I'm now listening to:

and probably will be continuously for the next few days.

Stefen · August 21, 2007, 12:16:32 PM

Are you a black guy?

grand theft sparrow · August 21, 2007, 06:07:23 PM

Half, actually.

But why? Do black guys like Station to Station or something?