10 Most Underrated David Bowie Albums
Uncovered Gems from the Thin White Duke.
David Bowie was certainly no stranger to different genres over the years. Up until his eventual death in 2016, the Starman never failed to surprise his fans from one record to the next, as he donned new sounds like costumes to see if they best suited him. Even though there's a practical gold mine in the man's work, there are some albums that are worth a second look regardless.
Granted, since Bowie was always known to change his genres from one record to the next, it makes sense that some of his experiments be a little bit more celebrated than others. From the glam rock days back in the early '70s to the more electronic musings he would take on in his later years, pretty much nothing was off the table when it came time for Bowie to duck into the studio.
Even though there are some definite highlights amid the '70s and even some late period epics, some of the real magic in the albums in between, where Bowie is just starting to find his groove as one of the greatest artists of his (or any) generation. Rather than sing the praises of something like Ziggy Stardust for the thousandth time, here's just a little assortment of tunes that are on the outskirts of the Thin White Duke's catalog.
10. Young Americans
It pretty much goes without saying that listeners tend to expect the unexpected when it comes to David Bowie. Across his storied career, the man never really stayed in one place for too long, looking to take little pieces from every kind of music he loved. Just when you thought that we would get another fantastic glam rock hybrid, this sudden change into soul sent many fans for a loop.
Compared to the other classics like Ziggy Stardust and Aladdin Sane, no one really seems to mention Young Americans nearly as much as they should. While fans have listed it as a fine Bowie record, this is one of the more daring albums he has put to tape, as he takes on every bit of soul he can find. The title track would make it worthy of inclusion alone, complete with illusions to the Beatles and that signature off-kilter weirdness that made Bowie's work so endearing.
Aside from the colossal single Fame, people tend to kind of lose this one in the shuffle, which is understandable given that his classic Station to Station was right around the corner. Standing at a tight handful of tracks, this perceived stop gap between Bowie's real classics is actually much more inventive than it's given credit for. It might not be the Bowie you've known...but these songs are like getting acquainted with the Thin White Duke all over again.