2. Dirty Boys
The bluesy second track is set against the backdrop of
Steve Elsons sleazy baritone sax sound, which comes as a welcome refrain after the muscle and might of the opener. The song pays tribute to Bowies past adolescent sexual intemperance; musically it would not have sounded amiss on
Young Americans, whilst the title seems to be a deliberate nod to the 1979 lead single from
Lodger:
Boys Keep Swinging. Discordant guitars writhe against the filthy sax while Bowie talks about getting his kicks at the Victoria Park Finchley Fair. Its awesome stuff.
RATING: 4/5
3. The Stars (Are Out Tonight)
Track three brings us another classic Bowie rocker which recalls his
Scary Monsters period, and finds The Duke reflecting on the shifting self-consuming nature of celebrity and fame. It's one of many tracks which showcase
Visconti's slick production skills as he expertly melds wailing guitars and sweeping strings with a variety of other orchestral flourishes. Thematically its less opaque than traditional Bowie, intertwining his musings on the stratosphere and celebrity by using the cosmos as a metaphor for the blinding nature of fame and notoriety. It's one of the more anthemic tracks on the album finding Bowie at his most self-assured.
Floria Sigismondis video for the track is also a fantastically striking piece of work that provides the perfect visualisation of the themes of the song and, more importantly, the definitive proof that
Tilda Swinton and David Bowie are not in fact the same person!
RATING: 4.75/ 5 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gH7dMBcg-gE
4. Love Is Lost
This tense 70s Krautrock slow-rocker unites
Gail Ann Dorseys throbbing bass,
Gerry Leonards angry guitars and
Visconti's pulsing organ with Bowies despairing vocals.
Visconti revealed that the song charts the loss of innocence of a young girl as she leaves her youth behind. Its a haunting piece of music, with vividly desolate lyrics recounting the girl's transition to adulthood: "Your house is new and even your eyes are new/ Your maid is too and your accent too/ But your fear is as old as the world..."
RATING: 4.25/5