The Official David Bowie Thread (singer, metal, rock, albums)

Molecules · 06-23-2008, 03:22 PM

I agree the rock years aren't anywhere near as timelessly brilliant as the Berlin albums buuut I love 'the man who sold the world'. Twisted hard rock songs about mental illness and junk. I'm not sure how much input Bowie had on that album though, remember reading Visconti and Ronson did most of the work?

And how about him playing a 17-year-old version of himself in 'Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence'? That was just odd

jackhammer · 06-23-2008, 03:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Molecules

I agree the rock years aren't anywhere near as timelessly brilliant as the Berlin albums buuut I love 'the man who sold the world'. Twisted hard rock songs about mental illness and junk. I'm not sure how much input Bowie had on that album though, remember reading Visconti and Ronson did most of the work?

And how about him playing a 17-year-old version of himself in 'Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence'? That was just odd

Urban's Bowie Knowledge is better than mine so he could answer that one for you but Bowie has always been slightly out of the loop and I have the utmost respect for a guy who always attempts to do something different on each album. I don't think people realise just what a multi talented musician he is either.

Urban Hat€monger ? · 06-23-2008, 04:01 PM

I think there is some truth it it. If you listen to his first few albums Man Who Sold The World sticks out like a sore thumb. You have him basically doing folky pop on Space Oddity and then on Ziggy Stardust there's still the same sort of thing with a few rock songs as well, and in between that you have Man Who Sold The World which is essentially a heavy rock album. It's a good album but just doesn't really fit what he was doing at the time, you have to think that it's because of outside influence.

boo boo · 06-23-2008, 05:31 PM

I prefer his glam rock days and early albums over anything.

But this is me, of course I'm going to prefer the stuff that Rick Wakeman played on.

And Mick Ronson is an incredibly underrated guitarist.

Rainard Jalen · 06-26-2008, 01:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jackhammer

I don't think people realise just what a multi talented musician he is either.

Great songwriter yes but musician, I never was under that impression at all. My favourite David Bowie of all time ran something like: "calling David Bowie a musician is akin to saying Nero was a harp player: technically true, but misleading".

Piss Me Off · 06-26-2008, 02:33 AM

I don't know about that, he's a pretty competent guitar and piano player, and all the saxophone on his records is usually him as well. He plays far more than most singers do.

Rainard Jalen · 06-26-2008, 02:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Piss Me Off

I don't know about that, he's a pretty competent guitar and piano player, and all the saxophone on his records is usually him as well. He plays far more than most singers do.

Workman competence is one thing. When it comes to actual ability on instruments though, talent in my mind means spectacular.

Piss Me Off · 06-26-2008, 02:47 AM

So you wouldn't call him a talented musician? I know he wouldn't be in a top 10 list or whatever but i think he deserves some credit for the amount of instruments he can play well, let alone the songwriter that he is.

Rainard Jalen · 06-26-2008, 05:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Piss Me Off

So you wouldn't call him a talented musician? I know he wouldn't be in a top 10 list or whatever but i think he deserves some credit for the amount of instruments he can play well, let alone the songwriter that he is.

I love Bowie but I think talent, when it comes to the playing of instruments, either means a really high degree of technical dexterity or else, evidence of substantial innovation and ingenuity in the actual usage of said instrument.

I hate it when, for example, people see Matt Bellamy from Muse and say "he's so multi talented" merely because he plays guitar AND (!!) keyboards.

Molecules · 06-26-2008, 06:03 AM

in all the interviews i've seen it come up Bowie admits to being a terrible guitar player, but that could just be modesty. Anyhow his songwriting talent is beyond doubt - but I was always under the impression that some of his most famous albums were almost collaborative efforts with his producers and session men - Visconti, Eno, Ronson, the Gardiner brothers...?

06-23-2008, 03:22 PM	#171 (permalink)
Molecules daddy don't Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: the Wastes Posts: 2,577	I agree the rock years aren't anywhere near as timelessly brilliant as the Berlin albums buuut I love 'the man who sold the world'. Twisted hard rock songs about mental illness and junk. I'm not sure how much input Bowie had on that album though, remember reading Visconti and Ronson did most of the work? And how about him playing a 17-year-old version of himself in 'Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence'? That was just odd __________________ [SIZE="1"]Eff em tumble her

06-23-2008, 04:01 PM	#173 (permalink)
Urban Hat€monger ? The Sexual Intellectual Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Somewhere cooler than you Posts: 18,605	I think there is some truth it it. If you listen to his first few albums Man Who Sold The World sticks out like a sore thumb. You have him basically doing folky pop on Space Oddity and then on Ziggy Stardust there's still the same sort of thing with a few rock songs as well, and in between that you have Man Who Sold The World which is essentially a heavy rock album. It's a good album but just doesn't really fit what he was doing at the time, you have to think that it's because of outside influence. __________________ Urb's RYM Stuff Most people sell their soul to the devil, but the devil sells his soul to Nick Cave.

06-26-2008, 02:33 AM	#176 (permalink)
Piss Me Off Moodswings n' Roundabouts Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: At the corner of Dude and Catastrophe Posts: 4,512	I don't know about that, he's a pretty competent guitar and piano player, and all the saxophone on his records is usually him as well. He plays far more than most singers do. __________________ Last FM Rate Yr Music Muxtape

06-26-2008, 02:47 AM	#178 (permalink)
Piss Me Off Moodswings n' Roundabouts Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: At the corner of Dude and Catastrophe Posts: 4,512	So you wouldn't call him a talented musician? I know he wouldn't be in a top 10 list or whatever but i think he deserves some credit for the amount of instruments he can play well, let alone the songwriter that he is. __________________ Last FM Rate Yr Music Muxtape

06-26-2008, 06:03 AM	#180 (permalink)
Molecules daddy don't Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: the Wastes Posts: 2,577	in all the interviews i've seen it come up Bowie admits to being a terrible guitar player, but that could just be modesty. Anyhow his songwriting talent is beyond doubt - but I was always under the impression that some of his most famous albums were almost collaborative efforts with his producers and session men - Visconti, Eno, Ronson, the Gardiner brothers...? __________________ [SIZE="1"]Eff em tumble her