The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and The Spiders From Mars (Enhanced, Original Recording Reissued, Original Recording Remastered)

by

David Bowie

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If "Ziggy" were Bowie's only release, his place in Rock's pantheon would still be assured. This album pretty much established Bowie as major artist in the U.S. Just a couple of observations; this album is unusually "Beatle-esque". Note the layered/textured harmonies, the insistent lead guitar (Mick Ronson's guitar style lends itself beautifully to this material), the almost omni-present acoustic rhythm guitar, and last but not least, the uncanny resemblance of "Five years" to John Lennon's "The dream is over" (Lennon and Bowie apparently were close friends - John is featured on "Fame"). I personally enjoy the many moods of this album; brooding - "Five Years", whimsy - "Starman"/"Moonage Daydream", defiance - "Suffragette City", urgency - "Hang on to yourself", this track being perhaps the least appreciated and most musically inventive of the CD, again beatle-esque, especially the chorus. Bowie's facility with melody still astonishes me after 25 years. If you need somewhere to start with Bowie, this has to be the place.