NewCC0018: David Bowie
- The Rise & Fall of Ziggy Stardust (72): *****
- Aladdin Sane (73): *****
- Station to Station (76): *****
- Singles: 1969 - 1993 (93): *****
- Bowie at the Beeb: The Best of the BBC Radio Sessions (00): *****
- Hunky Dory (72): **** 1/2
- Heroes (77): **** 1/2
- The Man Who Sold the World (70): **** 1/2
- Low (77): **** 1/2
- Scary Monsters (And Super Creeps) (80): **** 1/2
- Lodger (79): ****
- Sound + Vision (89): ****
- Young Americans (75): *** 1/2
- Space Oddity (69): *** 1/2
- Diamond Dogs (74): *** 1/2
- Santa Monica '72 (95): *** 1/2
- Hours (99): *** 1/2
- Pin-Ups (73): ***
- Stage (78): ***
- Earthling (97): ***
- David Live (74): ** 1/2
- Ziggy Stardust (82): ** 1/2
- Let's Dance (83): ** 1/2
- Tonight (84): * 1/2
- Black Tie White Noise (93): * 1/2
- Outside (95): * 1/2
- The Buddha of Suburbia (95): * 1/2
- Never Let Me Down (87): *
This is a new entry in an up-dated series I'm calling the New Critical Consensus. Several people have requested updates of the older series, and since critical opinions shift, I am revamping the entire system. I am averaging the opinions of several excellent music critics to produce a list of each artist's albums. Rather than using a number system, which was perhaps a bit clunky, I will now be using a five-star system. The albums will be listed in a recommended purchasing order, so new fans will have an idea of where the best place to start buying an artist's work is.
These are not my opinions, although, since I have chosen the critics used (and I'm using many), my taste will perhaps seep through a bit.
Terribly nerdy, I know, but maybe this will help people only now beginning to dabble into certain artists' bodies of work.
Scale:
***** - Masterpiece
**** 1/2 - Classic
**** - Great
*** 1/2 - Good
*** - Above Average
** 1/2 - Average
** - Below Average
* 1/2 - Bad
* - Terrible
1/2 - One of the worst albums ever
I realize it may not belong on this list because it isn't David Bowie as a solo act, but where would either of the Tin Machine albums fall? Bowie was the lead singer for that group.
I actually created a sidebar for Tin Machine as I reworked Bowie's ratings. I'm afraid the critics by and large are not too impressed with Tin Machine. If you are brave, here are the ratings:
Tin Machine (89): ** 1/2
Tin Machine II (91): * 1/2
Oy Vey, Baby (91): *
Shalom, y'all!
L. Bangs
Thanks, lbangs. I was just curious. I happen to like the stuff, but I guess I'm in the minority.
No problem. I love to help, though I hate to be the bearer of bad news. Oh well, they're just the critics, eh?
Just curious... Would you agree with the order the critics seem to imply (I, then II and the live album)?
Shalom, y'all!
L. Bangs
Well, to be honest, I only own the first album. I've listened to the second and didn't like it as much as the first. And I haven't listened to the live album. But, I think the first is good. It's dark and pessimistic, but I like it.
I've heard part of one of the discs, and to be honest, I hated it. I, however, am not sure if I heard the first one, the second one, or the live one. Perhaps I should try to give the first one a listen sometime.
Thanks for the suggestion!
Shalom, y'all!
L. Bangs
I would guess that you probably wouldn't like any of it, then. I don't remember the second album too well, but it wasn't so different from the first. If you do listen to it, let me know what you think.
If I get the chance to listen to the first one (I'll have to check if any of my friends have it (or, of course, my good friend Napster)), I'll certainly let you know my reaction!
Shalom, y'all!
L. Bangs