Bowie's first release since his Tin Machine experiment, this album was heavily influenced by the 1992 Los Angeles riots and Bowie's recent marriage to Iman. I had given up on Bowie after his Never Let Me Down album and wasn't much interested in what I heard from Tin Machine, so I mistakenly overlooked this one in 1993. Indeed, I didn't hear much of his 1993-2003 output when it came out and I'm slowly trying to make up for lost time. This mix of electro-funk-dance-rock tracks is scratching me right where I itch. Riots and marriage are no doubt serious stuff, but this thing is a great windows-down-volume-up summer car listen - even the instrumentals and cover tunes. Not perfect, but certainly innovative and enjoyable. Better late than never.
Bonus points for getting back with producer Nile Rodgers and the inspired inclusion of trumpeter Lester Bowie of the Art Ensemble Of Chicago.
Press of the time:
- CashBox: "Bowie continues his exploration of new musical directions while maintaining his easily recognizable sound."
- Billboard: "trail-blazing and brilliant"
- Entertainment Weekly (D): "endless, listless dance grooves"
- Robert Christgau (B-): "the music is the artiste's most arresting in many years; the dancebeats and electrotextures make you prick up your ears and wonder where they'll lead."
- New Musical Express (6 out of 10): "there are five and a half good songs on this record - and bearing in mind that Bowie spent most of the '80s as a positive laughing stock, that's an admirable achievement"
- Rolling Stone (★★★★): "one of the smartest records of a very smart career"
Album chart peaks:
- US Billboard 200: #39
- CashBox: #28
Tracks: My top cuts are Jump They Say (#4, Modern Rock), the title cut (feat. Al B. Sure!), Miracle Goodnight, Looking For Lester, plus the covers of Don't Let Me Down & Down and Cream's I Feel Free (feat. Mick Ronson). My least favorite cut is the cover of Morissey's I Know It's Gonna Happen Someday.
Bonus tracks: An alternate mix of Jump They Say - good but not as good as the album mix, and Lucy Can't Dance, a diss track about Madonna and a great tune that Rodgers wanted to release as the album's first single. Bowie reportedly didn't even want it on the album so including it as a bonus track on the CD release was the compromise, I suppose.
Personal Memory Associated with this CD: None
Previously revisited for the blog:
| ★ (2016) | Changesbowie (1990) |
| The Next Day (2013) | Tonight (1984) |
| Zeit! 77-79 (2013) | Let's Dance (1983) |
| Reality (2003) |
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