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 | Title : Heathen [Limited Edition w/Bonus Disc]
Author : Bowie, David
Release Date : 20020611
Binding : Audio CD
Regular Price : $21.98
Amazon.com Price : $15.99
(27
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Editorial Reviews :
Heathen is, in essence, the first 'traditional' Bowie album worthy of kudos in years, as it successfully reunites Bowie with producer Tony Visconti, the man at the controls during Bowie's Berlin period. Heathen finds rock's greatest chameleon once again remolding his past, advancing to new vistas by moving up that metaphorical hill backward. Even more gratifying is the universally high quality of the songwriting craftsmanship on offer, where even a ditty as frivolous as 'Everyone Says 'Hi'' ('Don't stay in a sad place where they don't care how you are') hits the mark. For heavyweights who like their Bowie with furrowed-brow, the monastic aura of opener 'Sunday' sounds like a post-rock Enigma covering Nico's interpretation of Tim Hardin's 'Eulogy to Lenny Bruce,' whilst the strident savagery evidenced on an apt cover of the Pixies' 'Cactus' disposes with Frank Black's hound-dog yelp and reasserts the melody without undermining the original's obsessional score. Tin Machine ought to have sounded like this. Watch out, too, for the Robert Fripp-impersonating flamethrowing of Pete Townshend on 'Slow Burn' and the guitar of the Foo Fighters' Dave Grohl lending a slacker swagger to a cover of Neil Young's 'I've Been Waiting for You' (again, much better than Tin Machine's live version). Heathen proves that Bowie's still got it. All of it. And in abundance. Awaken all ye nonbelievers.
Buyer Reviews :
After the rather mediocre effort 'hours...' from 1999, David Bowie is back with a new album of melodious, if not very progressive, songs.
In fact, a lot of the songs seems to look back on a glorious career, rather than forward. Sounds reminiscent of the underestimated 'Black Tie, White Noise' album can be heard, and the title track vaguely reminds one of Bowie's Berlin albums (especially 'Low'). With 'I Took a Trip on a Gemini Spaceship', Bowie returns to space once again, although the music doesn't seem to be reaching farther back than the excellent, and much better, 'Earthling' album from 1997.
The bonus CD only contains 4 tracks: 2 remixes, a re-recording of a song called 'Conversation Piece', and a 1979 version of 'Panic in Detroit'.
The first remix, 'Sunday', has been perpetrated by the much touted Moby, and although it's probably a matter of taste, I prefer the track on the album proper, which, with its minimalistic noise loops, reminds me a little of some of the better songs on Björk's 'Vespertine'.
The Air remix of 'A Better Future' isn't half bad, and at least more interesting than the original track.
'Conversation Piece' is a re-recording of a song from 1969, and not particularly fantastic.
'Panic in Detroit' is an outtake from a 1979 recording, and much weaker than the original 1973 recording.
Although the album isn't one of Bowie's best, it's worth listening to, and a better effort by far than the former 'hours...'.
The bonus CD doesn't hurt, but is not necessary for the experience.
(by Mark Seemann)
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