I love this album but I think that too many people forget about it. There was a heck of a lot of growth from his Decca recordings. I think it was his first great album. Maybe it's a little on the folky side but the songs are great!

i like it okay, but i really have to be in the mood to really get into it. i have limited patience for all that folksy-elfy stuff he did back in the early days, but some of it is really inspired.

I'd say half of it is classic Bowie, half wordy, generic babble that goes nowhere. Kind of like "For You" that way actually, but not that naive. The title track, Letter To Hermione, Janine, and Cygnette Committee are all quite good. The stuff not on the album, Memory of a Free Festival pt. 1, and the original versions of Prettiest Star and Conversation Piece rock my world.

Anxiety said:

Folksy elfy stuff! You are breaking my heart! I forgot to mention the single version of Memory Of A Free Festival. Bowie and Mick Ronson's first pairing. Very sweet.

Cygnet Committee-was anybody else making music like this at the time?

Wild Eyed Boy From Freecloud-simply gorgeous

Even the filler tracks are at least good!

rialb said:

Has anyone else noticed that this sounds a lot like "Sour Girl" by Stone Temple Pilots in melody and tone?

I wonder if that was intentional on STP's part.

Does it redeem me that I like "The Gospel According To Tony Day"?

GangstaFam said:

You may have something there. I love STP but they were never terribly original and the DeLeo brothers are big Bowie fans.

rialb said:

So does Scott. Have you seen his latest video? He looks more and more like Ziggy era Bowie every day.

I think he's been thinking about Bowie so much, he's turning into him!

Anxiety said:

Man Of Words was my first major exposure to Bowie so I kind of have blinders when it comes to some of the more whimsical lyrics. I do find it amusing that he thought he was making commercial music at the time. Thank god Ziggy Stardust was successful!

can't say i'm much of a fan of that album. in fact, i don't much like the next one either. Bowie was born with Hunky Dory, i feel. anything before that is David Jones.

GangstaFam said:

Yeah, I forgot about "Barbarella" (I think that's the name of it) from 12 Bar Blues. That was very Bowie-esque!

I really don't care for the Space Oddity album... I see it as kindof a segue between the mostly goofy 60's stuff and his great 70's material, starting with the Man Who Sold the World album.

That being said, there are a couple great tracks, especially the Wild-Eyed Boy from Freecloud and Space Oddity. An Occassional Dream is pretty good. The rest I can do without.

Tessa said:

Maybe my timeline is screwed up here but surely you aren't dissing The Man Who Sold The World? That album kicks ass!

rialb said:

a bit too "classic rock" for my tastes.... it's nice, and certainly better than its predecessors. but nothing special.

GangstaFam said:

yes, he's very Ziggy Pop in that video...

Tessa said:

Well, I guess maybe you have a bit of a point about the classic rock sound. But Mick Ronson is all over that album and I loved him.

Tessa said:

the man who sold the world is a great album to listen to while you're cooking. can't tell ya why. just take my word.

Anxiety said:

Just like Station To Station is great while you're drunk and cooking. Funny.

Tessa said:

Oh for sure. The rooster dance is unparalleled.

rialb said:

And they covered Bowie's Andy Warhol at their Unplugged session.

I'm not fussed. I'd give it

Still love the title track, tho'.