10 Most Underrated David Bowie Albums

The start of the '80s marks a distinct turning point for a lot of Bowie fans. While he may have conquered the musical landscape across the '70s, many people tend to look at albums like Let's Dance as more of a sellout than a genuine artistic endeavor on his part. However, there was one more ace up Bowie's sleeve before the classic period wound down.

Embracing his soulful direction and adding a few funk elements, Scary Monsters is the one record that feels like Let's Dance without the extra fluff. As opposed to something like Modern Love or China Girl, singles like Ashes to Ashes feel much more organic, with Bowie going so far as to include another reference to Major Tom from way back when. Combined with the makings of the backing band he would have on Let's Dance, this feels like you're watching these musicians learn how to make music together in real time, with Carlos Alomar's guitars working perfectly against Bowie's spacey voice.

Instead of the roaring comeback of the Bowie that we knew and loved, this tends to get brought as just the comedown from the onslaught of amazing records from the '70s. On the other hand, the next time you're looking for the classic period of Bowie, throw on something like Teenage Wildlife to see what you've been missing out on.