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THE REVIEW
It's 1980 and the white clown removes his makeup.
Bowie says goodbye forever to his characters; for the catharsis to work, it's necessary to bring them all back to life together, in a setting that's somewhat self-referential, nostalgic, and futuristic at the same time.
But "Scary Monsters" is also an opportunity to reaffirm his stature as a progenitor of the latest avant-rock waves, if it's true that it was Bowie with the Berlin trilogy who anticipated much of the new wave.
The sound is very bright and modern, with some similarities to Bill Laswell's no wave, but also rich with references from Bowie's past: the reverberated drums from "Low," certain vocal dissonances from "Diamond Dogs/Hunky Dory," Fripp referencing the sound of "Heroes," and a pervasive glam atmosphere.
Nothing to criticize about the conceptual/sonic depth of the work, too bad that the songwriting, although varied, doesn't always meet the expectations:
while the first side shines with masterpieces like "Ashes To Ashes" (above all), "Fashion," "Up The Hill Backwards," "Scary Monsters," the second shows some dips in inspiration ("Teenage Wildlife" is yet another copy of "Heroes," while "Kingdom Come" and "Because You're Young" are certainly not memorable).
I've always had a conflicted relationship with this album, thinking about what it could have been with all tracks at the level of "Ashes To Ashes" and with Eno still on the oblique strategies.
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Summary by Bot
Scary Monsters marks a turning point for David Bowie as he bids farewell to his alter egos. The album blends futuristic sounds with nostalgic references to his past work. While the production is praised for its brightness and modernity, the songwriting varies in quality. The first half impresses with classics like Ashes To Ashes, but the second half shows some weaker moments. Overall, it's a significant but somewhat uneven work.Tracklist Lyrics Videos
David Bowie
English singer-songwriter and actor David Bowie (born David Robert Jones, 1947–2016) was a pioneering, genre‑shifting artist known for his personas, musical experimentation and a career spanning pop, rock and avant‑garde projects.109 Reviews
Other reviews
By Mr_Iko
"Scary Monster represents a fundamental step in the Duke’s artistic career."
"Listening to it even today, it resounds fresh, lively, and sharper than ever."
By Dune Buggy
"These are extraordinary monsters, these silhouettes, and shadows at the end of the decade."
"It is a definitive goodbye to the '70s, to dreams, games, masks, turning points, strokes of genius, sound tricks, music made just for making music."
