TRON said:

I'm on "Try Some, Buy Some" and I like it. It seems to be one that most people hate around here. It's really quirky.

Moonbeam said:

I like it too. At first I didn't. But all the songs are hitting me now in some way or another. Having them in my head and remembering how they go is helping a lot. I can honestly say I like them all now.

TRON said:

The title track is weird! I like the bass.

Moonbeam said:

Heavy and crazed. It was killer live too! This one is a grower for me. It could end up a favorite.

"Bring Me the Disco King" is cool! It's a great end to a strong album. I like it a LOT on first listen. It could end up a top 10 Bowie album.

I like how quirky this album is. Although "Heathen" was solid throughout and quite unified, I like how "Reality" is kind of messy and all over the place. It knows when to rock out ("New Killer Star," "Pablo Picasso"), when to be pretty ("The Loneliest Guy," "Bring Me the Disco King") and when to be quirky ("Try Some, Buy Some," "Reality").

I also think the fact that I didn't know what to expect may have boded well. A lot of the people here who aren't impressed had strongly held impressions before giving the album a chance. I had absolutely no opinion about the album in general other than loving the single "New Killer Star." I was pleasantly surprised to like it like I do, given the lukewarm reviews here.

Moonbeam said:

This is definitely true. Especially for myself.
[This message was edited Thu Sep 18 1:24:10 PDT 2003 by TRON]

You are all so sweet I wanna wrap you up and have a listening party at my place.

This album has riffs that are simply dangerous. "New Killer Star" and "Pablo Picasso" in particular are unreal. Anyone notice how some of the higher guitars in "Pablo Picasso" sound like incarnations of "Ashes to Ashes?"

gooeythehamster said:

Fly us out rich guy.

For those who don't have the bonus disc and also want to hear "Your Turn To Drive" (which is absolutely brilliant by the way), check out www.bowieaudio.com and go under the streaming audio section. There's lots to dig into.

Moonbeam said:

"Reality" and "Looking For Water" are quite riffy as well. I hadn't noticed the "Ashes To Ashes" tie-in, but parts "Fall Dog Bombs The Moon" remind me of "Criminal World" for some reason.

TRON said:

Rich?
Moi?
nooo

Can't even buy this album til next thursday.

TRON said:

Put on "Pablo Picasso" and listen to the high electric guitar at times 0:18-0:21, 0:25-0:29, 0:33-0:36, 0:39-0:43, 1:38-1:41, 1:44-1:48, etc. It's straight out of the ending of "Ashes to Ashes" when he is singing, "My mama said to get things done you better not mess with Major Tom."

Moonbeam said:

I'll have to suss it. Does it immitate the vocal part in ATA or just have the same feel?

TRON said:

It imitates the synth that goes off at the ending of ATA.

Moonbeam said:

Ah. That makes a lot more sense now.

The official review from AllMusicGuide:

4 stars

Instead of being a one-off comeback, 2002's Heathen turned out to be where David Bowie settled into a nice groove for his latter-day career, if 2003's Reality is any indication. Working once again with producer Tony Visconti, Bowie again returns to a sound from the past, yet tweaks it enough to make it seem modern, not retro. Last time around, he concentrated on his early-'70s sound, creating an amalgam of Hunky Dory through Heroes. With Reality, he picks up where he left off, choosing to revise the sound of Heroes through Scary Monsters, with the latter functioning as a sonic blueprint for the album. Basically, Reality is a well-adjusted Scary Monsters, minus the paranoia and despair — and if those two ingredients were key to the feeling and effect of that album, it's a credit to Bowie that he's found a way to retain the sound and approach of that record, but turn it bright and cheerful and keep it interesting. Since part of the appeal of Monsters is the creeping sense of unease and its icy detachment, it would seem that a warmer, mature variation on that would not be successful, but Bowie and Visconti are sharp record-makers, retaining what works — layers of voices and guitars, sleek keyboards, coolly propulsive rhythms — and tying them to another strong set of songs. Like Heathen, the songs deliberately recall classic Bowie by being both tuneful and adventurous, both hallmarks of his '70s work. If this isn't as indelible as anything he cut during that decade, that's merely the fate of mature work by veteran rockers. So, Reality doesn't have the shock of the new, but it does offer some surprises, chief among them the inventive, assured production and memorable songs. It's a little artier than Heathen, but similar in its feel and just as satisfying. Both records are testaments to the fact that veteran rockers can make satisfyingly classicist records without resulting to nostalgia or getting too comfortable. With any luck, Bowie will retain this level of quality for a long time to come. — Stephen Thomas Erlewine

I had no idea this album was out until a week after it's release. I've been a bad Bowie fan. Well, I can't afford the damn thing anyway.

Is 'Pablo Picasso' a cover of the Burning Sensations song?

...my mom always said "if more than one persons saying it, well, more than one persons saying it..."
but i think this is the first album i probably wont BUY of DAVID's even if its used, cause it seems the popular opinion is rubbin' me the wrong way, it may just occupy space where a PRINCE album could go or someone else, wow! i cant believe i just said that, curse it!!!

HobbesLeCute said:

I think the band was called The Modern Lovers.

TRON said:

Ahh, that's right, I forgot the Burning Sensations version was a cover as well.

Knowing Bowie's done a version of it makes me want this album very, very badly.

HobbesLeCute said:

It rocks! You'll love it.

Moonbeam said:

Pablo Picasso brings to mind Computer Blue for me quicker than Ashes to Ashes.

HobbesLeCute said:

a week? it only came out 2 days ago

silverjean said:

a lot of people that didn't like it at first, actually do like it now.

AaronMaximus said:

Definitely the 'Cactus' of the album. Possibly even better than that song.

AaronMaximus said:

Dat right? A friend of mine told me it came out last week, but I guess he must've been lying.

I'm seriously tempted to go to Best Buy right now and blow most of my last $20 on this.

HobbesLeCute said:

$15 at Best Buy, I think.

Every time I listen to Reality, it gets better and better. Damn...I still don't care much for "Reality" and "Try Some Buy Some," and "She Drives the Big Car" doesn't really go anywhere. But the rest of it is infecting me! I've got a nasty case of the Bowies...this CD sounds fucking GREAT on headphones!

Can't wait for the SACD...

"Bring Me the Disco King" is one of my favorite Bowie tracks EVER...

KingSausage said:

TRON had told me that he thought his voice got lost in a lot of the songs, but I suggested that he try listening to it on a discman with a good set of headphones, instead of a stereo with customized equalizer settings. The first day, I had listened to it on my discman (with no real choices except a "mega-bass boost), and I thought his voice stood out really well. When I played it through my stereo, I had to change the EQ settings from what they're usually set at for most other CD's. The difference was pretty drastic, in getting his voice to come through, and getting the music to sound crisp. Oddly mixed CD. Not badly mixed, but it's different than most others.

I bet the SACD is awesome!