 |  | More like a water-treading album... |  |
... has said the "man" himself about A Lad Insane, the second glam album from rock cameo David Bowie, and while some will qualify it as his best glam-era offering, I would tend to agree with Bowie. David Bowie was a complex and versatil artist, doing the same thing twice never really seized him. While he still enjoyed surfing on the glory of his persona Ziggy Stardust, some part of him had already said everything it had to say about rock n roll, and it shows on the album. While EVERY song here is a good song all in all, we can feel that they were written quickly, on the road. That makes the album sound rushed and somewhat redondant. But anyway, at the time Bowie couldn't get something bad from his pen, so he threw us plenty of little classics for our ziggy-angry ears.
I'll say it again. Every song is cool. The road inspired him great rockers like Watch that man, The Jean Genie, Cracked Actor, Panic In Detroit and the rolling stones cover Let Spend The Night Together wich are all not quiet revolutionary, but 100% effective. The real revolutions on this album are the hypnotic closer Lady Grinning Soul where he sings like the queen of the dragqueens (maybe the most mannered and sweet male vocals ever), the piano on Alladin Sane and the creepy majesty of Time
Overall, I would sure recommend this album, but my point of vue is that on Ziggy Stardust, the man was more into it.
June 3, 2008I purchased the 30th Anniversary Double-Disc version in Hanover, Mass. in 2007. I picked up a used version for $10 or $11. It was worth it for that price, for sure. I got a little bit nostalgic last year and I also purchased some Lou Reed, Frank Zappa and Jackson Browne and Grateful Dead. I like all of these artists and their recordings, too. Aladdin Sane sounds very good next to Bob Dylan and Joni Mitchell, too. Bowie has a sense of humor and that means a lot as I get older.
May 6, 2008| | | A sleazy, decadent classic | |
Bowie really loved the Rolling Stones, huh? Take that how you see fit. But seriously folks, you wanna know whose influence I hear all over this record? The Rolling Stones'! They're all over Diamond Dogs, too, which is why I consider this and the next album to be a subset of Bowie's glam phase - the Stones phase. Seriously, the guitar riffs, the horns, the backup vocals, the sleazy lyrics... that's all Stones! I mean, the Exile on Main Street influence on the memorable rockers "Watch That Man", "Cracked Actor" (with a harmonica, too!), and the Bo Diddley-influenced "Panic in Detroit" are about as obvious as it gets. You wouldn't believe this, but the massive retro doo-wop hit "Drive in Saturday" makes me think Stones, for two reasons: Guitar tone, and sax solo. He even covers a Stones it, "Let's Spend the Night Together", done in a space-rock version that actually does make it sound perverse and decadent. Total overhaul of the nonthreatening (other than the lyrics - for the time, anyway) piano-pop original! Well, there's not much Stones influence on the punning title track, with a mock-lounge opening section that quickly devolves into free-jazz piano and sax solos, but that song rules! Go on, just try getting the chorus out of your head! "Time" isn't Stonesy either, but it does have a fantastic semi-cabaret piano part, as well as an intense, biting vocal. I kinda get tired of the coda after a while, though. Now, I do not enjoy "The Prettiest Start" at all. That's one instance of me agreeing with the common criticism of glam-rock being pure stylistic camp. "Lady Grinning Soul" suffers the same fate. But I gotta admit, this is one of Bowie's most consistent and enjoyable albums. I don't see why this is seen as such a big letdown after Ziggy Stardust - to me, it's just as good as that album, and in some places better. It certainly has more jump out of your seat rock `n' roll energy. The big radio hits were "The Jean Genie", an unforgettable blues swagger that takes some cues from Mick Jagger; "Drive-in Saturday", with one of the weirdest themes ever to be found on a Top 5 hit (in this case, a society watching porn to learn how to reproduce); and "Panic in Detroit".
January 29, 2008A delicious surprise whenever purchasing an album is that the hit songs are not always what end up lingering on in your mind. As with this body of work, David Bowie delights us with gentle rifts and long breathes like the ones in "Lady Grinning Soul" and great hunting piano sounds as with "Aladdin Sane" and then to his earlier melodic pop sounds with "Prettiest Star" where his friend Marc Bolan made his contribution.
This has a little bit of everything sure to please any Bowie fan.
October 7, 2007 | | Looked a lot like Che Guevara... | |
David Bowie had hit the big time by the time 1973 rolled around after the intial success of 'Ziggy Stardust' and the tour of the previous year. By the end of 1972, he had returned to the studio and recorded a substantial follow up, 'Aladdin Sane', released in April of '73. With much of his current crew on board including both Ken Scott as co-producer and his guitar foil and band director Mick Ronson, Bowie recruited pianist Mick Garson, whose playing style has been called avant-garde jazz...or something...well, it's pretty odd (a lad insane?). On the title track, his solo is indescribable while his music hall playing on "Time" help elevate an already dramatic song (falls wanking to the floor?). Heavy guitar rock dominated more here than on 'Ziggy' (Bowie often would refer to 'Aladdin' as "Ziggy in America" as the themes of many of the songs reflected his observations during the last US tour). "Watch That Man" is a barnstorming riff rocker, heavily Stones influenced and is a great album opener. "Panic in Detroit" is another hard rock classic about revolution and such. "The Jean Genie", with its heavy Bo Diddley beat, was the records smash hit and was reported based on best bud Iggy Pop. "Drive in Saturday" is a great doowop parody about futuristic sex and became another Bowie masterpiece (once offered to Mott the Hoople!) An actual Stones cover appears in "Let's Spend the Night Together" which may have been the taster for David's follow up of covers, 'Pin-Ups'...."Let's make lllllloooooovvvveeee.....DO IT!!! Subtle eh??? Nearly every song matters and makes 'Aladdin Sane' a must purchase, but only after 'Ziggy'. Time------he's waiting in the wings....she will be your living end.....show me you're real......let yourself go!
September 14, 2007More reviews at Amazon.com ...
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