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www.churchonthursday.com
David Bowie
Reality
Some Major Label
2003
Every time David Bowie puts out a new CD, I avoid it like Dick
Cheney avoids a press
conference. I gave up a decade ago on Bowie ever redeeming himself artistically
from the commercial wank he released in the 80's. It's sad and embarrassing
to watch him trying to imitate his imitators. Even sadder, he's one of my
musical idols--which makes the spectacle all the more painful to observe.
I own practically everything he released during the 70's and think it's one of the most exciting and inventive bodies of rock music ever recorded--even the self-indulgent, cocaine-binge-in-Berlin material with Eno and Iggy Pop from the end of the decade. Then there was Let's Dance, his first--and arguably last--huge commercial hit, which heralded a period of suck spanning the rest of the Reagan administration.
During the first Bush (George Sr.) presidency, Bowie attempted to correct his self-acknowledged error in musical judgement and formed the ill-fated Tin Machine. When Clinton took office, Bowie renewed his association with Brian Eno--which seemed promising--but by that time it was becoming increasingly obvious that he would never fully regain his past glory. Now, with another Bush in office, Bowie releases Reality.
I hesitated listening to this disc because I knew it would force me to do what I once considered unthinkable--bash David Bowie. Track one, "New Killer Star", surprised me by not sucking. Track two is Bowie's rendition of the Modern Lovers' "Pablo Picasso", already covered by John Cale, Burning Sensations, and Phranc (but the Bowie's version is the worst among them).
The third song, "Never Get Old", perked my interest for a moment, beginning with a funky snap akin to Bowie's "Thin White Duke" material, but quickly degenerates into lackluster crap that sounds like an outtake from his Tonight album. From there it only gets worse: horrible-sounding 80's guitars, uninspired song structures and futile attempts at ambience. By the last song, "Bring Me the Disco King", I was wishing for the Goblin King from Labyrinth to come snatch this CD away.
It unnerves me to witness someone as (once) great as Bowie grasping for creative straws. The "reality" that Bowie needs to confront is that his career shouldn't extend into the next presidential term.
--Felix Thursday