Aladdin Sane [Remastered] - David Bowie

Advantages: Fine rock and roll
Disadvantages: flags a bit towards the end

...fore with the next track, Aladdin Sane (1913-1938-197?) - no I've never worked it out either, any clues anyone? - a down-tempo piano-bass led tune that has DB asking, well, just who is Aladdin Sane? He reassures himself that we WILL love him. A backwards driving piano serves as an eerie coda to this song, with just a touch of Alice Cooper in it. The pace ups with one of Bowies very best compositions, Drive In Saturday, with good sax work and an epic ...
...years later I am!!!! Aladdin Sane limps to an end with the rather feeble Lady Grinning Soul, a real limp wristed affair considering the rock and roll that proceeded it. So to sum up. Not a classic album by any means, but a very good one on the whole. Much better than PinUps and the following years Diamond Dogs, a poor imitation of this album. Dave seemed to have run out of ideas. Hold on though, Luther Vandross is on the phone, he wants us to come ... Read review

Advantages: Strong material
Disadvantages: Bit American at times

...gatefold sleeve of 1973's thrilling Aladdin Sane album, with the mysteriously airbrushed and genderless nether regions ... this was a self consciously and self importantly different creation, all form with no substance, lashing together THE IMAGE, standard rock backing and supposedly DEEP lyrics in a shocking mish mash of popular and outlaw culture, far too knowing and lascivious for its own good, but at the same time far too naive and banal to be ...
...indeed... Aladdin Sane took the same end of the world doomsday scenarios that had fuelled the Ziggy album, but transplanted them to the America of today, peopled them with the decadent and sleazy outsiders of his consciousness, slapped on some sub jazz piano doodlings courtesy of Mike Garson and fashioned a whole new hit record, yearning to show off its substance and artistic credibility, but never losing sight of its diamond hard rock roots and ... Read review

Advantages: Bowie's lyrics and imagery, Ronson's guitar
Disadvantages: Only ten tracks

...is the most compelling. Aladdin Sane was recorded in London and Nashville in 1972, and released in April of 1973. Don't ask me how the country music capital of the world got involved with the recording of this album, but it did. This album presents David Bowie at the height of his "glam" phase, with only Diamond Dogs left before he began his descent into a more tame, mainstream type of music. The players and their contributions are as follows: ...
...to the song. 2. Aladdin Sane--A somewhat discordant piano part opens this song, and continues through in a glissando style. The feel of this song is Oriental to me, and the song dies in the way it began, in a discordant fashion, in a literal cacaphony of sound. 3. Drive In Saturday--Again, the imagery is intense, with many phrases that only David Bowie could conjure up. The song is obviously set in a modernistic era, but overall creates a feel ... Read review

Advantages: Fantastic Album - a Timeles Classic
Disadvantages:

This is one of Bowies most timeless masterpieces. Watch That Man is a rock piano driven classic. Next the title track is a hypnotic Ballad which describes Bowies new creation and explores the darker side of Bowie personality and the madness held within. Drive In Saturday is a fantastic rock song. Panic in Detroit stands out with Mick Ronsons screaming guitar work making this a classic. Cracked Actor is one of Bowies most inventive songs about fame ...
...Fame off of Young Americans. Time is a strange song based on one of Bowies experiments. The Prettiest Star and Lady Grinning Soul are great ballads but feel somehow out of place on this album. Lest Spend The Night Together is Bowies tribute to the Stones. Finally Jean Genie is one of Bowies most recognised works a fusion of rock blues and jazz. This song also defines Bowies androgynous stage character at that time. ... Read review