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Credits

Lead Performances: David Bowie and Paul Overstreet; Genre: Country/Bluegrass
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DAVID BOWIE Low, ''Heroes,'' Lodger (Rykodisc) Early On (1964-1966) (Rhino) In the late '70s, following apocalyptic science fiction and a sojourn in soul, David Bowie set his sights on art-rock. Working with former Roxy Musician Brian Eno, he made three groundbreaking albums that have now been reissued with illuminating bonus tracks. Low, an experimental tightrope walk of controlled discord, is a lively clamor of guitars, synthesizers, and, on the vocal tracks, oblique lyrics of nihilism and alienation. Refining Low's achievements, ''Heroes'' balances cinematic instrumentals, steeped in a chilly European techno-style, with thickly layered songs that subtly reflect the rise of punk's existential angst. Bowie and Eno curbed their wilder impulses on Lodger, channeling their prior experiments into provocative but accessible pop numbers that were forerunners of the ultracommercial ''Let's Dance.'' An apt companion to Rykodisc's reissue series, Early On puts together Bowie's first six singles plus five unreleased items of similar vintage. This derivative assortment of mid-'60s rock & roll scarcely indicates Bowie's future, but is nevertheless fascinating. Low: B+ ''Heroes'': A- Lodger: B+ Early On: B+ -Ira Robbins


Posted Nov 01, 1991
 

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