Contemporary Review: Blackstar - David Bowie
9.1/10, Listen Immediately
Background: David Bowie is truly an artist that needs no introduction. One of the most iconic figures in modern music, Bowie is a last name that belongs in the same sentence as names like Lennon, McCartney, Jagger, Page, and Plant when discussing the greatest to ever do it. Bowie is the ultimate rock n roll chameleon, changing his style by the album. He invented that. Bowie created dozens of personas over the course of his career in order to express his ideas. He invented that. Over his career, David Bowie has helped popularize a wide range of genres, was instrumental in the sexual and homosexual revolutions in the 60s and 70s, and was a strong supporter of civil rights. He also has a few acting credits to his name, some better than others. Bowie has released over two dozen albums, and this is his final album.
Review: There will be no hyperlinks during this review, and very few jokes. The focus here is on this album, because it truly is incredible. There is no way to discuss this album without mentioning the inevitable. This is Bowie's last album because he is dead. Died two days after its release. Turns out the man had been struggling with cancer for the past eighteen months and decided to not tell anybody. Instead, Bowie and a few close associates planned one giant last hurrah by creating this album. Try to piece together the symbolism here, because I will not spoon feed it to you. This is Bowie's first album where he is not on the cover. Instead, it is simply a black star. A central theme in Bowie's career has been space and the stars. The album's theme are pretty much exclusive to death and contemplating death and accepting death and just death in general. There is a song called "Lazarus". Lazarus is a biblical character who died and was resurrected. Hmmmm. Just put it together. The point that I will give to you is that David Bowie was an exceptional human being and a true, immaculate, incredible artist even until the very day he died and that deserves your respect whether or not you enjoy this album. The man turned his death into a work of art. Incredible.
If this album would have been raw sewage to the ears, I would not have written this review. I would have just gone into a deep dark depression due to such an amazing artist ending his life on a failed experiment and called it a day. Fortunately, this album is incredible with and without the context of Bowie's sudden death. From the opening notes of "Blackstar" through the last tear that I know you will shed during "I Can't Give Everything Away" this is a fantastic album and couldn't have been a better send off for a legend like Bowie.
The first thing I thought of when listening to this album was certified indie soft rock classic Kaputt by Destroyer, one of my personal favorite indie acts. It never really hit me how much Dan Bejar is influenced by Bowie. That really isn't too essential to the review, I just wanted to make a note of it.
The opening behemoth of a track, the title track, does an excellent job of setting the tone for this record: deathly, pale white, and just a little (very) weird. The first half of the song's ten minute run time is a sort of introduction, and a disturbing one at that. It is still definitely a song, but features more ominous, ritual-like singing and scattered drums than the rest of this jazzy, post punk inspired masterpiece. Suddenly a saxophone cuts in and does not leave for an extended period of time until the album is over. In nearly every song there is an ominous saxophone lurking, waiting like the saxophone of death. It seems fitting that the first instrument Bowie learned to play would be the one that dominated his final album. About halfway through the track the song completely changes to an ballad, but featuring a disturbing repetition in the background: Bowie's distorted voice yelling "I'm a black star!" It is quite chilling.
The next track, "'Tis a Pity She Was a Wh**e" is my least favorite of the album. It is by no means a bad track, it just feels slightly unnecessary in the theme of the album. The lyrics are strange and out of theme, so I will ignore them. The instrumental is quite interesting however, with some excellent post punk influenced drums and that ominous sax going wild in the background. The track builds up to an excellent conclusion and is overall still an incredible song, but the lyrical content is a bit useless.
Following that is "Lazarus" which is my second favorite song of the album. It opens with a slow, almost droning intro, and builds to an incredible finish. This is the sound of a song in no hurry, taking its time to reach the fiery conclusion. By the end, the sax has taken over the song with its sheer volume and skillful playing. Another instrument on this track that does not get enough credit is the bass guitar. The bass is masterfully played during the instrumental passages, and is actually the instrument holding the song together. The lyrics deal with death and are absolutely chilling.
After "Lazarus" are the tracks "Sue (Or in a Season of Crime" and "Girl Loves Me". Both are this albums experiments, which is saying a lot considering this is an experimental album. "Sue" is quite a heavy track, and the most post punk inspired of the album. "Girl Loves Me" features Bowie experimenting a bit with his voice and is also quite heavy. The Bowie featured on these tracks is angry, tired, and most certainly dying. His voice cracks often, intentionally and by accident, and he is mixed lower than in the previous three tracks, causing him to sound as if he is fading away. If "Blackstar" through "Lazarus" represent Bowie learning that he is dying, these tracks represent his fight to stay alive long enough to finish his album. Both are fantastic tunes, and fit well with the theme of the album.
The final two tracks are my personal favorites, the gorgeous "Dollar Days" and the heart wrenching "I Can't Give Everything Away". Both are songs that represent two sides of the same coin: acceptance. "Dollar Days" is a stunning track that is better listened to than described. "I Can't Give Everything Away" is a short (ish) pop tune, a sort of throwback to Bowie's earlier days. Make no mistake. This is not the old Bowie. This is last-track-of-his-life Bowie. The melancholy sadness is palpable in Bowie's strained voice and the instrumental's false happiness underscore the relatively happy vibe. It is a fitting end to one of the greatest careers in the history of modern music. RIP David Bowie.
HIGHPOINTS: All of them
LOWPOINTS: None of them (maybe "'Tis A Pity..."
Recommended Albums: Exmilitary - Death Grips, To Pimp A Butterfly - Kendrick Lamar, Kaputt - Destroyer, Unknown Pleasures - Joy Division
I like how strongly opinionated you are because it makes your post interesting and intriguing. Like you, I also enjoy music. Maybe you could insert a few opinions of others in your post, then either agree or counter those individual's thoughts. What sparked your interest in contemporary music?
ReplyDelete-Tali B.