The state of madness that occurred when Bowie announced his next studio album what emphatic, and there was no doubt that it was going to be a number one album. But in this sense, I think the reputation exceeded the music, which makes 'The Next Day' just that little bit disappointing. Maybe thats me being harsh and hypocritical, and to the usual Bowie fan it would be acceptable, but a culmination of lazy lyrics and too many instruments just don't build up to what is expected.
The album starts with title track,
The Next day. Here Bowie tires to make it too emphatic, It is built up, expecting it get better but it just mashed into a sense of desperately trying to live up to what he is. An old man trying and failing with new tricks. Track 2,
Dirty Boys, is easier to listen to. Very ska esque, with the trumpet and saxaphone solos. The flanger style guitar works well. It compliments the brass instruments, creating a tin-style effect, with heavy reverb. Next song,
The Stars (Are Out Tonight), is musically tight as always, but Bowie seems to strain himself over weak lyrics. It becomes almost painful to listen to his voice, but take nothing from his composing which is superb. Track 4,
Love Is Lost. Here is a genius way of working a song around a repetitive electric organ. Possibly the only track where the chorus is built up very structurally well, instead of mixing every instrument possible to make it louder. Track 5,
Where Are We Now?, is a very hypnotising track, which leaves you swaying in a peaceful trance. Toned down compared to the first few efforts of this album, it shows how technically good Bowie is as an overall musician.
Valentine's Day, Track 6, has a very strong sense of Ziggy Stardust, with the double tracked vocals, strong guitar line and perfect rhythm. Something that you get more and more from as the seconds tick by. Track 7,
If You Can See Me, gives us a more modern drum beat, which helps Bowie serve up a difficult mashup that leaves you with a severe headache by the last lyric. Just a constant mess of out of tune singing and shouting that is hard to last the whole song. Track 8,
I'd Rather Be High, tones it down again, but is very hard to connect with. I can't get past the terrible lyrics, but Bowie never was a lyrical genius. Track 9,
Boss Of Me, is built around sombre trumpets, arpeggio bass and an ever strong guitar section. One of the stronger, more complete tracks on the album.
Dancing Out In Space adds signature electronic twists to let you know this is a Bowie track. It could be released by any modern-day band and it would still be as unsatisfying as it is. Very repetitive, uniform and almost robot lyrics create a hard to grasp song. Number 11,
How Does The Grass Grow?, is Hero's esque and it would be happy listening to the typical bowie fan, but possibly not to the passing music fan. A heavier guitar track within,
(You Will) Set The World On Fire, that reminds me somewhat of the much missed White Stripes. I've never quite heard a track so different, in the sense that two styles are morphed together like a wrong combination. Good guitar solo though. The penultimate track,
You Feel So Lonely You Could Die, is a slow, epic mixture of gospel backups and a orchestral sounding aura that keeps you enticed till the track ends. And lastly, Track 14,
Heat, gives an eerie synth backup that couldn't be anyone but Bowie. A typical, obviously Bowie song.
It almost seems that you'd buy this album purely because its David Bowie. I love listening to albums in full, but this is an album that i'm really struggling to sit there and listen to every aspect of. I managed to loose concentration halfway through, as it didn't intrigue me as I thought it would. The euphoria of a Bowie album was obviously going to be spectacular, but the finished record isn't as spectacular as it was expected.
As far as his chances for the Mercury Prize award goes, he will obviously be up there with the favourites, if not be the favourite, but personally I can't see him prevailing on the night. The album isn't as good as the other nominees and it almost seems he is up for contention due to his status. Maybe its seen in some other light to the music gurus of the panel, but the talent is high this year and I don't think Bowie will challenge as much as initially thought.
