David Bowie

by **withahip** » Sat Aug 08, 2009 4:18 pm

We bag on EATB's output - but we all agree we have our favorite gems on every release.

Bowie on the other hand is put on a pedestal despite having entire albums since Let's Dance that many fans would be hard pressed to say they have one fav off of.

And many hardcore fans stop before Let's Dance.

Someone mentioned that most bands rarely have four albums in a row considered classics.

Does Bowie get too much credit considering the the praise and the expectations we place on EATB?

by **Frank The Bunny** » Sat Aug 08, 2009 4:40 pm

Bowie is an artist. The Bunnymen are apparently a product.
Bowie never talked about how is album was the best album ever made, how his song was the best song ever written. He has never gone to his fans to tell them that his next album's going to be a pop album, and if you don't want a pop album, you can fuck off.

Bowie does what he does. I don't like it all, but I respect that he goes with his heart.
Same goes for Prince.

by **kook** » Sat Aug 08, 2009 9:16 pm

What he said.

And ...
Didn't like The Tin Machine and don't rate Heathen. Earthling, outside and Hours are good albums from which I could name favourites.
I'd agree that most of his best stuff came out before Let's Dance, though Diamond Dogs would be way down on the list for me.
It's not as if he's consistently put out dud albums since Let's Dance.
Saw him live about 7 years ago when he was already well over 50 and he put on a fantastic and long show, was an utter gentleman, bantered with the crowd and generally appeared to be utterly enjoying himself.
I really don't think there's any comparison.

by **happy_loss** » Sat Aug 08, 2009 9:39 pm

Bowie's output from the past 2 decades has been patchy, but there's def some gems in there. And as some of the other posters said, live he still totally delivers. His backing band is awesome and it's obvious he's still into it.

So does he deserve all the praise he still gets today? Hell yeah!

by **Mr. Brian** » Sat Aug 08, 2009 10:32 pm

For the record, in the UK, all of his studio albums since 1970 except the second Tin Machine album were in the top ten. That's 21 times including 7 number ones. He still seems to be selling albums up to his last release in 2003.

The last time the Bunnymen saw the top ten was in 1997 and then 3 times before that in the 80's. Not a single #1 album either.

I realize that charts do not always speak for quality but you really can't compare the two.

by **withahip** » Sat Aug 08, 2009 10:33 pm

Like I said: Discuss?

If you have heard song you like fair enough but I have never accepted the argument"I do not like his music but I repsect him."

It is saying a turd is a lovely turd.

by **black francis** » Sat Aug 08, 2009 10:34 pm

I take it none of you share my belief that Bowie is way overrated?

by **withahip** » Sat Aug 08, 2009 11:00 pm

black francis wrote:I take it none of you share my belief that Bowie is way overrated?

I was implying that in my post. Yes.

by **Frank The Bunny** » Sat Aug 08, 2009 11:23 pm

withahip wrote:Like I said: Discuss?

If you have heard song you like fair enough but I have never accepted the argument"I do not like his music but I repsect him."

It is saying a turd is a lovely turd.

I didn't say "I do not like his music" I said I do not like ALL his music.

There are one or two Bowie songs I've liked since "Let's Dance":
Loving the Alien, Tumble & Twirl,Dancing with the Big Boys from "Tonight"
Day-In Day-Out, Time Will Crawl, Bang Bang from "Never Let Me Down"
Jump They Say from "Black Tie, White Noise"
Strangers When We Meet from "The Buddha of Suburbia"
The Hearts Filthy Lesson, A Small Plot of Land, Hallo Spaceboy, I Have Not Been to Oxford Town, We Prick You, I'm Deranged from "Outside"
Little Wonder, Telling Lies, The Last Thing You Should Do, I'm Afraid of Americans from "Earthling"
Seven, The Pretty Things Are Going to Hell from "Hours"
Cactus, I Took a Trip on a Gemini Spaceship, 5:15 the Angels Have Gone from "Heathen"
New Killer Star, Pablo Picasso, Never Get Old from "Reality"

Oh, and as others have said - he puts on a good, long show... acts like he enjoys himself and doesn't make a point of berating members of his audience between songs.

by **withahip** » Sun Aug 09, 2009 12:41 am

Frank The Bunny wrote:I didn't say "I do not like his music" I said I do not like ALL his music.

Then you don't really have a reason to post further.

by **withahip** » Sun Aug 09, 2009 12:53 am

But Frank you just made the argument - that he has a few gems since the 70s.

So regardless if he is a product or not (all pop music is - sorry) if he has made some gems then both deserve praise or a few gems are not worth praise - which is it?

by **happy_loss** » Sun Aug 09, 2009 3:03 am

withahip wrote:Like I said: Discuss?

If you have heard song you like fair enough but I have never accepted the argument"I do not like his music but I repsect him."

It is saying a turd is a lovely turd.

Sorry this will be a slight tangent off of Bowie, but there are several artists/bands that I personally do not like "style" wise but do respect them as musicians and artists. For me, it is kind of narrow/closed minded to lump everything I don't personally care for into "it's crap b/c I don't like it". Take for instance Bruce Springsteen. I just do no get/cannot identify with his music, but I respect him and his band for their musicianship, their heart, and integrity (was it Reagan who wanted to use Born in the USA for his campaign and Springsteen refused?). Several years ago a concert of theirs was on TV, I sat and watched about 20 min of it. It was so obvious that the band was truly into what they were doing. I cannot help but respect any musician for that.

by **Dr Cheese** » Sun Aug 09, 2009 3:20 am

withahip wrote: if he has made some gems then both deserve praise or a few gems are not worth praise - which is it?

I'm confused, what the hell does that mean?

by **kook** » Sun Aug 09, 2009 3:24 am

withahip wrote:But Frank you just made the argument - that he has a few gems since the 70s.

I think what Frank said is that he's put out a lot of quality material since Let's Dance.

[/quote]
So regardless if he is a product or not (all pop music is - sorry) if he has made some gems then both deserve praise or a few gems are not worth praise - which is it?[/quote]

Don't understand that bit.

With a body of work like Bowie's, there are bound to be a few duds from time to time because even the best artists can't put out their best work every time they create something new.

by **tonywojo** » Sun Aug 09, 2009 6:29 am

withahip wrote:So regardless if he is a product or not (all pop music is - sorry) if he has made some gems then both deserve praise or a few gems are not worth praise - which is it?

Don't ever criticise my writing style again!

And Bowie is cool.

You can't knock success.

And Mac ripped him off - the greatest compliment.

David Bowie

David Bowie

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