Lodger (Enhanced, Original Recording Reissued)

by

David Bowie

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David Bowie has made many fine albums and I own most of them. However, I am always a little surprised that this one seems to get overlooked. My friend loaned me the vinyl when we were in high school in the early 80's (his purchase no doubt prompted by the cool "DJ" video then in heavy rotation on MTV) and I have always returned to it over the years.

To me, Lodger is right up there with Station to Station, Scary Monsters, etc. I have always thought that the late 70's marked the apogee of Bowie's career, where he was at once leading and transcending the New Wave then in vogue by inventing new sounds and new ways to rock out. The rocking out part is key here; you want to crank this record up. Boys Keep Swinging, DJ and Look Back in Anger are take-no-prisoners workouts. I can't tell you how many mix tapes I have made that included Red Sails.

A much overlooked gem this. Most likely forgotten because it came right after the exceptional Low and Heroes, it is a fitting coda to them. It's not experimental like its two predecessors but as usual with Bowie it's the quality of the songwriting that shines through.

Fantastic Voyage is a fantastic song, Move On and Red Sails are quality too. Side two kicks off with the album's three strong singles and finishes with Red Money, which is a re-working of Iggy Pop's Sister Midnight.

It's a bit of a low key album but none the worse for that. At its best (Look Back In Anger, Boys Keep Swinging) it's very very good and even at its more mediocre moments it surpasses most of what's around.