The Next Day [Deluxe] - David Bowie

This is the latest, first in 10 years since 2003's Reality, studio album by the "Thin White Duke", "Ziggy Stardust", "The Goblin King" no one other than David Bowie. This is studio number 24, excluding the Tin Machine albums (in which case would probably be 26 then). Whatever the case he announced this album back on his 66th Birthday, earlier this year. I was surprised to hear this. I didn't expect much, but I NEEDED to buy at least one Bowie CD the day it comes out before I die. Now the only CD version they had was the deluxe version. Well I feel like I should explain how he has inspired me. I wrote a fucking concept album, at least the outline and had the songs arranged to it. Not written but I knew what I wanted. But I did it with a very Stardust inspired concept. I also wrote Captin Dave, inspired by Space Oddity, hence Captin "Major", Dave "Tom". And the line in return to space, "funky monkey junkie". This album was produced by Tony Visconti. He produced Space Oddity, The Man Who Sold The World, and some other things for David. Now, finally, This bitch is going up. I also figured, lets get this out of the way so I could do a Bob Seger System review.

1. The Next Day: I wasn't that crazy about this song the first few times I heard it. But after a few listens it kind of grew on me. This kind of reminds me of his 80's music. I don't know why, but it kind of does. But this song doesn't get as exciting with his vocals. Like he doesn't really excite like before. And the chorus of the song isn't really anything special. There is definitely an atmosphere to the song, but it doesn't really get me pumped, or relaxed. I don't think that this song really goes on for me other than just the beginning of the album. NOTE: 10/25/13; This song is one of my favs. I like it more than its original Beauty And The Beast. 
2. Dirty Boys: I kind of like the horns on this song. When I first heard it I thought of Dr. John. The only FULL, that's every track, album I've heard by him is Locked Down. I think it's Ok, but yeah this song totally reminds me of him. I think it's kind of cool that, thus far, there have been different styles. It's not just 17 sound a likes. I'm not saying I'm in love with this song, but I still think its cool. And I like the Japanese sounding thing during the chorus. The more I hear it though, the slicker it gets. If that makes any sense. I could see, maybe, The Thin White Duke singing this song.
3. The Stars (Are Out Tonight): The first time I heard this song was along with the music video. I thought it was odd, but I liked how his past "selves" were there. Just like Where Are We Now?'s music video, which was odd too, I enjoyed them. The only thing is that I wish David sang a little higher. You know, like on some of the older stuff. But it's not the end of the world. I wish the girl's voice "Out Tonight" was a little louder. I didn't pick up on it until I had headphones on. I also like the little "solo" part. Though there isn't really a solo.
4. Love Is Lost: This track hasn't really much for me. I don't know why, but you know, I feel like with more listens it has potential. I think this is a decent track, but it's not having the effect on me that Where Are We Now? has had. I do like the ending of the song a lot, I think it's really cool how it kind of gets epic.
5. Where Are We Now?: I didn't care for this song until I checked out a review of the album. I saw it the day before it came out in America. Consequence of Sound is awesome. I read that they mentioned that if "They could be "Heroes" just for one day" then this would be the next day. Something along those lines. And well then I listened to it again. And I liked it, a lot. From a different perspective  I thought it was like "Where am I now since I've not released an album in a decade". But I was wrong. This song has a bunch of Germany places mentioned. They were right. Now I'm gonna try to talk about myself. I think the keys are pretty and I like how he is singing the song soft. It does kind of remind me a little of "Heroes". This song is a song that I could see someone using for "That Love Song".  You know, when you're in love and you split up. Being a teen I kind of, more or less, know what that feels like.
6. Valentine's Day: I think it's kind of funny that the songs after "Where Is Our Relationship Currently" is Valentine's Day. The holiday for lovers. This song is good, but it's not amazing. There's just something there in this song that keeps me from falling for the track. This song will forever be the track you hear after you hear one of your favorite tracks on the CD to me. This song just seems like its about a boy who isn't very big, and in his "scrawny hand" he holds a Valentine card for someone. He want's to tell someone he love her, but he can't. It's kind of a sad, emotional (for me at least), song. I love the ending I like the "yeah's" and I like the way the song ends. That's a pretty cool sounding solo. It isn't Where Are We or So She but it's one of the best on this album.
7. If You Can See Me: This reminds me of like Earthling or something around that time period. This really reminds me of '90s music my parents used to listen to. I was born in '95. So I had 5 years of the 90's. And the 90's music didn't die in 2000 for my house. I don't think the music was as complex and had so much going on, but it vaguely reminds me of it. I also kind of think of hours..., thought I've never heard that album. I know, I should, but I haven't yet. I don't think this track is anything special.
8. I'd Rather Be High: He mentions something about war, and trading in guns. I think this somewhat relates to the theme on, I'm not 100% sure what song, but I think it's Running Gun Blues off 1970's The Man Who Sold The World. I know as a fact it's on that album, but I'm pretty sure it's that song. But yeah, I don't think anything special of this song either. I'm not knocking it, or the album, its just it hasn't really sparked my interest yet.
9. Boss Of Me: This reminds me a little of Heathen. I don't have a specific reason, but I could see this song being written at that period. Maybe more of less then or the 90's. I like the slap bass in this song, and I think it's cool how it's got this weird first impression on you. This reminds me a little of Dirty Boys too. And the sax reminds me of his glam period. I think the bridge of the song is pretty cool too.
10. Dancing Out In Space: This is like a weird version of Modern Love. It also reminds me a little of Yassassin off 1979's Lodger. The way the vocals are kind of odd, and it has a dance vibe to it.
11. How Does The Grass Grow?: The title of this song reminds me of Zappa's 1979 album Joe's Garage, Vol. II & III and the song He Used To Cut My Grass. Not musically, just title-lley. I really didn't think much of this song, based on the title, but with more and more listens, yes. It's a pretty good song that just needed to "grow" on me. This is a weird, and silly, song. But for some reason I love it. {8/10}
12. (You Will) Set The World On Fire: The way this song starts out I could see it being an 80's Glam Metal band song. It's actually pretty sick. I think that you don't necessarily have to like Bowie, but it is a harder song. Then the chorus reminds me of Never Let Me Down. Which I'm effie on that album, but whatever. This is still a "strong" song on this album.
13. You Feel So Lonely You Could Die: This kind of reminds me of doowop. It pretty much is a doowop song. It actually reminds me a lot of One More Minute by "Weird Al" off his 1985 Masterpiece Dare to Be Stupid. There is obviously parts where it doesn't but the main verses reminds me of that song. This is a pretty good song. This is kind of a romantic vibe to it, but the lyrics aren't so romantic. It's kind of angry. I like the drum rolls and the choir in the background. It's a good song. It also, with the backing vocals, reminds me of Still The Same by Bob Seger & The Silver Bullet Band and the part where it's the chorus and the female backing vocals come in and say the title of the song. The instrumental outro is pretty cool too.{8/10}
14. Heat: I'm not huge on this title of this song, but what am I gonna do. Call up Davie Jones and complain. No, I couldn't do that because that's stupid. When I first heard this track, I didn't know what to expect. It was one of "those". It actually, with the acoustic guitar buried, reminds me of Pink Floyd's 1977 song Dogs or 1979's classic, more so than the last, Comfortably Numb. This is a very eerie and bone chilling ending to this album.

Then here are the bonus tracks to the album. I'm glad that I got the deluxe version. Just like how I got the special editions of Disarm The Decent, Awakened, Ungrateful, Shadows Are Security, I still need the special edition of the oh so bad Music From Another Dimension.

1. So She: This is the only songs I fell in love with first time through. UGH! This song has actually become a sentimental song for me. I really like it, and it really means a lot to me. This is such a dreamy song. You could get lost in it, kind of like how you could get lost in Perfect Day off 1972's classic glam album Transformer. This though, is more Berlin Trilogy dreamy. Because of the ambience going on with the music. This reminds me a little of the how you could get lost in the "Heroes" album. That is the one, for me, that I think I get the most lost in.
2. Plan: I almost feel like this is a filler, but it's a bonus track?. But I think it's kind of supposed to be an instrumental prelude to the final bonus track.
3. I'll Take You There: This song seems like it's robotic. It's nothing amazing, but it's a decent track. I like the keys on the song. I do really like the part where it's kind of like the bridge. It's pretty sick, but the rest of the song isn't good enough for me to sit through the song to get to it. I just skip to that part.

Overall I have to give this, after much time listening and thinking, a 7.4/10. This album is an album that kind of needs, at least for me, to grow on you. Or you might have to digest it. This isn't a one time love it type of album. I've heard all the songs about a few dozen times and I finally feel I can give a good review. Hence me starting the review the day it came out and it going up today. And that's part of the reason it took forever. But this is a decent album and I'm glad it was released.