David Bowie - hours... - Album Review

By Orren Merton

Get thee to a record store--online or otherwise--at once!

The very first time you look at David Bowie's new CD "Hours..." you'll know that you are in for a treat--the CD cover is a unique 3D Jewel case insert page that gives the package a retro, yet futuristic feel. The liner notes continue in that vein, with Bowie in "future retro" clothing and digitally manipulated background. As someone who appreciates great album packaging, this already won me over.

Thankfully, the music is as unique and spectacular as the art. Fans who wish that David Bowie would quit his flirtation with electronic dance music and get back to writing Glam songs will be thrilled--Bowie takes a "step backwards" in song structures and style, and writes beautiful songs that harken back to his glory days in the 70s. However, those who truly love his new direction will not be left empty-handed either--co-writer and co-producer Reeves Gabrels puts enough cutting-edge guitar riffs in this thing to set the world on fire twice over, although they are more tasteful and muted in a glam style than his more "metallic" playing on the last Bowie album. Bowie and Gabrels and Co-Producer and Mixer Mark Plati also do enough keyboard programming on the CD to keep it up tempo and very modern sounding. As the final icing on the cake, Bowie's voice sounds superb, and his lyrics--which often tend towards the stream of conciousness and cryptic--are artful, introspective, and deep.

Songs like "Thursday's Child," "What's Really Happening," and "The Pretty Things are Going To Hell" are perhaps the best examples of the updated glam sound. "The Dreamers"--the last song on the CD—is probably the best example of the "one step backwards, two forward" feel of this CD. The song begins with modern electronic drum and synth programming, and without compromising the feel, morphs into a glam rock stomper on slow burn.

Overall, this is a spectacular CD, and I cannot possibly recommend it highly enough. It is not for everyone--what album is--but if the style of music appeals to you, this will quickly become one your favorite discs.


		DAVID BOWIE hours... By Orren Merton Get thee to a record store--online or otherwise--at once! The very first time you look at David Bowie's new CD "Hours..." you'll know that you are in for a treat--the CD cover is a unique 3D Jewel case insert page that gives the package a retro, yet futuristic feel. The liner notes continue in that vein, with Bowie in "future retro" clothing and digitally manipulated background. As someone who appreciates great album packaging, this already won me over. Thankfully, the music is as unique and spectacular as the art. Fans who wish that David Bowie would quit his flirtation with electronic dance music and get back to writing Glam songs will be thrilled--Bowie takes a "step backwards" in song structures and style, and writes beautiful songs that harken back to his glory days in the 70s. However, those who truly love his new direction will not be left empty-handed either--co-writer and co-producer Reeves Gabrels puts enough cutting-edge guitar riffs in this thing to set the world on fire twice over, although they are more tasteful and muted in a glam style than his more "metallic" playing on the last Bowie album. Bowie and Gabrels and Co-Producer and Mixer Mark Plati also do enough keyboard programming on the CD to keep it up tempo and very modern sounding. As the final icing on the cake, Bowie's voice sounds superb, and his lyrics--which often tend towards the stream of conciousness and cryptic--are artful, introspective, and deep. Songs like "Thursday's Child," "What's Really Happening," and "The Pretty Things are Going To Hell" are perhaps the best examples of the updated glam sound. "The Dreamers"--the last song on the CD—is probably the best example of the "one step backwards, two forward" feel of this CD. The song begins with modern electronic drum and synth programming, and without compromising the feel, morphs into a glam rock stomper on slow burn. Overall, this is a spectacular CD, and I cannot possibly recommend it highly enough. It is not for everyone--what album is--but if the style of music appeals to you, this will quickly become one your favorite discs.