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Free Music Notes for HeroesFree Music Review: Captures Its Time and Place Hit: 5 StarsDavid Bowie's "Heroes" captures its time and place like few other albums of the 1970s. The Cold War angst of a divided Berlin permeates the album; however, Bowie offers hope in the classic title song, "Heroes." The combination of Bowie's eclecticism as a composer and lyricist (and as a singer, since he adopts several different voices) with Alomar, Eno, and Fripp's work as programmers, players, and co-writers made for music that is progressive, with strange, eerie sound effects interwoven with pop-ish melodies. The sound quality on the CD reissue is quite good and well balanced throughout the spectrum. There have been so many highly detailed reviews and analyses of this fine album over the years, that I won't detail all the songs. Suffice it to say that it is an album of its time; however, it is also an album with timeless enough themes and intriguing enough music that it remains highly relevant.
Free Music Review: never got the appeal of this one Hit: 2 StarsThis is supposed to mark a distinct experimental period in Bowie's career (and a drastic change from his creative bursts on his previous albums) but this album leaves me pretty darn cold. I hate the title song with its boring synth loop that repeats over and over. It's supposed to contain some emotion in the lyrics and a catchy vocal melody but for whatever reason it leaves me completely cold. It just sounds so dull to me.
"Joe the Lion" sounds like Bowie completely lost his singing voice. Perhaps it's an intentional annoying singing style he's using for this track, but I still don't like it at all. When I first heard this song after my friends praised it to the moon, I honestly began to think I was living in a completely different world from my friends. "Beauty and the Beast" is probably the best song because it reminds me of a Moody Blues song from the early 80's (yeah I know this album came out first- I still like the Moody Blues song more).
Not sure what Bowie was going for on "Secret Life of Arabia". I think I like "Blackout". Probably the best song on the album. Take that for what its worth.
I love Space Oddity, Man Who Sold the World, Hunky Dory, Aladdin Sane, Let's Dance, Scary Monsters, and even Lodger. Something about Heroes just never appealed to me. After all these years I still can't get warmed up to it. That's a sign I'm just not meant to like it.
Free Music Review: Bowie + Fripp = Bliss Hit: 5 StarsI have to ultimately pick this as my favorite Bowie album. Why? Two Words: Robert and Fripp. My favorite Bowie guitarist. Word has it that Eno called him up to add some "finish" the the already recorded album. He finished his work in 6 hours, without hearing any tracks up front! His soloing on the mordant "Beauty & The Beast" utterly transforms the song into something otherworldly. I can't imagine this album without his playing! The doomed romanticism of the title cut is perhaps DB's finest single ever, though the album length version is mandatory. The Kraftwerk tribute of "V-2 Schneider" has some fun Bowie sax to enliven it even further. Then come three powerful instrumentals: the very aptly named "Sense of Doubt," Moss Garden" and Neukoln." Then it all wraps up with the best dance tune Bowie ever did, in my opinion. "The Secret Life Of Arabia" should have been a massive hit single that filled dance floors for 4 years afterward. Better this than bloody "Let's Dance!"
Free Music Review: Heroes Hit: 4 StarsHeroes being the second in Bowie's "Berlin Triology" was released 1977 and contains hits such "Heroes" and "Beauty and the Beast". The cd booklet is filled with many photographs of Bowie in different poses and what the front cover wants to convey I have no idea. 4/5.
Free Music Review: Forget Pink Floyd--try Bowie's "Wall" Hit: 5 StarsThe second of Bowie's Berlin trilogy, and the only of those three albums recorded entirely in Berlin, is brought down only by two almost-very-good instrumental pieces, one of which ("Neukoln") is saved by saxophone. Side One is almost invincible in its urgency; that same urgency makes this record more attractive to me than the languid "Hunky Dory." And though Side Two is brought down a little by the slightly-portentous but enchantingly foreboding "Sense of Doubt," the fantastic dreaminess of "Moss Garden" (it's all in the koto) and the fabulous "Life on Mars" sequel "The Secret Life of Arabia" pick it back up. On top of that, the title track is as good as anything he's ever recorded.
More Free Music Notes: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
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