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Bowie in 77-78 made 3 experimental vanguard albums with Brian Eno(roxy music), while he 'cleaned up' in the run down Turkish section of W Germany.
This is the least regarded but easiest listen of the Berlin trio. It has several hit singles, and lacks an instrumental second side, and is thus a transition out of the Berlin period into his most popular Scary Monsters/Lets Dance MTV era.
This is a fascinating period in rock music, as his hit songs and experimental work influenced 'post punk' and 'new wave' music to come. There was a type of delayed impact, in that for the next few years, the punk explosion of 76-77 took over, not his concurrent synthesizer and studio experimentation.
After punk though, artists (Joy Division, Bauhaus, Duran Duran) wanted a wider range than what punk had to offer, and they were profoundly influenced by Bowie. Not only is his influence somewhat forgotten now, but also the fact that this was a major artist at his prime going far far into the left field.
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With a career as varied as Bowie's, it is all but impossible to pick a favorite album, especially since he's assumed so many guises and toyed with his sound as much as his image. If you are talking about social impact, Ziggy Stardust would be the likely winner. If you're talking about scraunching rock and roll performed with an attitude that transcends mere mortals, then Aladdin Sane might cop the prize. For inventiveness, Low could win. It all depends what you are looking for, but if it is possible to judge Bowie's work objectively (a ridiculous thought, actually) then what album contains the best of all his virtues? Probably Lodger.
Lodger hits upon so many touchstones that it is practically impossible to categorize, even for Bowie. Everything that it does, it does with elan. World music, atmospherics, driving rock and roll, pensive ballads, phenomenal musicianship and stunning lyrics flow from this album with such grace and ease that it is almost easy to overlook just how creative it all is, especially as a package. The `hits' are among Bowie's best, from the smarmy, sarcastic 1-2 punch of "D.J." to the tongue-in-cheek mannerisms of "Boys Keep Swinging," they are flawless in their execution. Adrian Belew's guitar work on the latter song is so over-the-top loony that it inspires fits of laughter and admiration.
Bowie's palette is so broad on Lodger that it overwhelms. It is hard to fathom what sort of imagination could conjure the stream of consciousness reverie of "African Night Flight" as well as the dream-state playfulness of "Red Sails", only to accurately capture the mental state of a frustrated wife-beater with "Repetition" and reflections on mortality suggested by the beautiful "Fantastic Voyage." Throw in a Turkish-inspired melody ("Yassassin") and what might be one of his hardest-rocking songs ever ("Look Back in Anger") and you've got a full-blown masterpiece. This point is only driven home by the fact that it sounds just as futuristic/contemporary today as it did in 1979. If Bowie is a genius, then the evidence lies herein. A+ Tom Ryan
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This is a great Cd. If you are a fan of David Bowies early works then this is for for you. It has great songs such as Boys Keep Swinging and Look Back in Anger
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David Bowies Lodger is a very uneasy and unsetteling album. Lodger isnt acessable in any since, which isnt a surprize as it is David Bowie! Through Bowies carear he created many a good rock album, case in point Ziggy Stardust, Man Who Sold The World, Station To Station, but this album falls short of even being called great. While decent, you grow to expect more from an artist of David Bowies calaber.
Lodger is an album full of new wave sounds and strange experiments, really before it's time. The album opens with 'Fantastic Voyage' which features nice vocals and great lyrics, but it's not a very good song, and really not the song to open the album with thats for sure! 'African Fight Night' is a strange song that along with the opener isnt that good the only difference is the opener has good lyrics! 'Move On' is a good song, the first one on the album. It's very space age-ish, and sounds almost like it could have done well on Scary Monsters. The song features haunting vocals which add a nice touch. 'Yassasin' is another strange song and while it's not an amazing song it is still pretty cool, I actually like this song it shows Bowie has no fear of experimenting with sounds. 'Red Sails' is probabley the best song on the album. It's easily my favorite song here. Next is the hit single, 'D.J' is a anthemtic rock song that did well for Bowie on the charts. 'D.J' is one of the better songs on the album. 'Look back In Anger' is a killer song with powerfull vocals and excelent lyrics. Bowie often opens his shows with this song, it has since become a Bowie classic. 'Boys Keep Swinging' is one of my all time favorite David Bowie songs and is a pure Bowie classic in all since of the terms! Classic video featuring Bowie in drag, what a surprize, huh? 'Boys Keep Swinging' is one of Bowies all time best songs. 'Repetition' is a great song as well showing great guitar playing and very laid back vocals give this song a nice sound. The album ends with 'Red Money' which is really cool, anyone who has heard the song knows this, it is the very best pick to close the album. I really dig this song and wish Bowie made more like it. The song features some really cool guitar playing!
While Lodger isnt David Bowies best album it isnt his worst either. Yes I do think Bowie could have dont much better on this album I thnk most fans are in agreement with me on that one but one listen to this album will tell you he was capable of much more. So with all that said and in mind this isnt a bad album and is actually good for a spin every now and then. I'm not sure who to recomend this album to because it is open for interatation but obviously all Bowie fans should own it as it has a couple unforgettable classics.
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A much overlooked gem this. Most likely forgotten because it came right after the exceptional Low and Heroes, it is a fitting coda to them. It's not experimental like its two predecessors but as usual with Bowie it's the quality of the songwriting that shines through.
Fantastic Voyage is a fantastic song, Move On and Red Sails are quality too. Side two kicks off with the album's three strong singles and finishes with Red Money, which is a re-working of Iggy Pop's Sister Midnight.
It's a bit of a low key album but none the worse for that. At its best (Look Back In Anger, Boys Keep Swinging) it's very very good and even at its more mediocre moments it surpasses most of what's around.
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