David Bowie - Aladdin Sane - 1973

I remember exactly where I was when I found out who David Bowie was. It was 2016, I was in an art class in Jersey City, surrounded by real artists, and he had just passed away.

I was so embarrassed, stunned that I had never even heard his name, as were the older, more mature artists who were explaining him to me in that class. I probably seemed so young and naive in that moment. To be fair, I was. He was such an icon, and I was totally missing out. Or at least they made it seem like I was.

I started noticing him around everywhere; there were several murals of him around town and I’d notice his name and records in all the shops I’d be in. But I never listened to the music.

Okay, so I picked this album because the art on the cover was the mural that stands out the most to me. I see it every time I go back to Jersey City/Hoboken, so it really just epitomizes what David Bowie signifies to me my whole experience living in JC.

Listening to this album was kind of tough to get through the first time around. I was beyond tired and had no energy to get through it. So I shut it down after feeling burnt out on the second song.

Coming back to it a few days later, I’m really trying to locate the pieces I like. I genuinely was trying to figure out if the music was iconic or if he as a human was just iconic. I believe there is a significant difference, although many people would argue they coexist to each other (with life in general, not necessarily specifically to Bowie. I haven’t really read up on him at all.)

Panic in Detroit had these drums that absolutely drew me in. The shaker layered in was great but I think the electric guitar over this kind of clashed. Regardless I like how it came together.

When I released to the song Aladdin Sane, I still hated it. I hated the repetition of the guitar track and the impromptu piano just felt like nails on a chalk board.

I kind of got bored and wanted to skip this album entirely but I had to see it through.

There were very clear pop rock sounds here. I could have mistaken Let’s Spend The Night Together for something from Grease. I was very confused. Maybe that’s just what the 70s sounded like though. I dunno.

I probably won’t be diving into any more of his music, but at least I’ve checked it off my list.