18/David Bowie/The Next Day
It was decided upon and it was written. And on the next day (March 8th, 2013), down it came, and there it was. Many of us had a hard time curbing our enthusiasm. We also, at the same time, were confused and weary as hell. Even the leaked album art provided for us played to this shaky anticipation. A familiar image now covered. An iconic work and visage crossed out, covered, begging us to remember, but asking us to forget, move on, and expect the unexpected, whatever that may be.
And on the next day we pressed play, and found we have nothing to worry about. Absolutely nothing to worry about at all. Ten years removed from an album of new material. A new decade. Another century for creation. And just what did he create? Not a covering of the great American or British songbook. Not a remix album. Not a concept album inspired by or tied to a book, movie, or working artist. No, on The Next Day, David Bowie does and did what he does best, placing himself in the present, simply creating rock and roll music free of gimmicks and overreaching in any form. Listen closely and you hear an album concerned with the inner workings, stretching, and limitations of the human psyche and connectivity. Listen closely and you'll hear voices given to characters we often overlook or neglect in full. Listen to the sounds and be riveted by a man in the midst of his sixth decade on this earth, letting us know we can still be heroes, if we simply allow for it to be. Listen and hear it all. On the next day, and the next, and another day.
KEY TRACKS: Dirty Boys/Where Are We Now?/Valentine's Day
19/Disclosure/Settle
20/Nine Inch Nails/Hesitation Marks
21/Tegan & Sara/Heartthrob
22/Thee Oh Sees/Floating Coffin
23/Rhye/Woman
24/Lorde/Pure Heroine
25/Savages/Silence Yourself
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