Every David Bowie Album Ranked Worst To Best (By Guitar Power)

The other Bowie album that the critics love to hate besides ‘Pin Ups’. Reviled on its release by the worthy, self-righteous, serious music press as ‘rockist’, a term invented by the kind of sad losers intimidated by the power of an electric guitar turned up to 11.

Reeves Gabrels provides the incendiary fretwork that had been absent since the departure of Ronno. Bowie was embracing his rock’n’roll side, and the dabbling in ambient textures, dance rhythms and techno-monotony were temporarily abandoned. Gabrels proved himself up to the task of competing with the burgeoning shred metal guitarists that were coming to prominence.

Explosive soloing abounds, but although there is something of the hair metal vibe about Gabrels' playing at times, it never dates the sound of the album.