Saturday, February 01, 2025

The Next Day By David Bowie

After Reality, David Bowie pretty much disappeared from public view. Unlike some aging rock stars on endless money spinning greatest hits tours, Bowie was happy to quietly spend time with his young family. However, he had a surprise for us - some time in 2011 he started working with old pal Tony Visconti on a series of tracks, with recording sessions kept low key and private, until the unexpected release of the single ‘Where are we now?’ on the 8th of January 2013, Bowie’s birthday.

The album cover is based on the classic picture from Heroes, partially obscured by a white square with the album title in stark, black text on top. The songs continue the theme of picking up where he left off, as if no time had passed. The lyrics are as bold and challenging as ever, and if the music sounds familiar it’s because at this point Bowie is free to draw from over forty years of experience. He was also able to draw the ire of church leaders in his pointed criticism of religious hypocrisy on the title track and especially in the accompanying music video featuring Gary Oldman as a corrupt priest. 

https://album.link/i/1676277418



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