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David Bowie - Earthling LP (Arista) 2015 RSD RE of 1997 OG



^Nice brand new Black Friday RSD reissue of an otherwise HTF (on vinyl) Bowie album. I bought this on CD the day it came out back in 1997 and even back then I was pretty impressed by Bowie's furthering example of how he can reinvent himself and still be Bowie. Unlike anything he did prior this is all very heavy and fast drum and bass music and techno production. Something like this should not work, but since it's Bowie it does manage to sound natural and not forced.

I wouldn't put this in Bowie's best of all times album list but for sure it's an example of how versatile he can be. The quality of the sound on this reissue is good BTW, not quite as good as the Buzzcocks one released the same day but still nothing warranting any kind of complaint.

One of my favorite songs is "I'm Afraid of Americans" on this. I don't know why but I think he just nails it on that song.

Before the album came out Bowie Dropped the remix CD single for that song and it had some really fantastic and completely different versions worth mentioning even though they never appeared on the actual album.


For example, check out the strangely dark Ice Cube's remix of "I'm Afraid of Americans" with additional production by Nine Inch Nails.





Yes, that Ice Cube.

Also on that single is a remix by Photek, so you know it's worth seeking just for that.

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“Lesser artists borrow... great artists steal.” - Igor Stravinsky
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^I've not heard that album in some time, but I remember liking some of it back when it was somewhat new. A few people I knew in college had it. As I said before, I really need to fill some gaps in my Bowie collection, particularly with his 90s and later stuff. I did enjoy his last album quite a bit though I've not given it enough stereo time. Looking forward to seeing where he goes with the next one. I think there is a preview single on youtube or something from the album that is supposed to be out next year.

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The Chords - So Far Away CD



Mod-revival power pop out of early 80s UK. I like these guys more than a lot of the similar groups around at this time. Not the most original stuff in the world, but this band did the style right.

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The Shoes - Black Vinyl Shoes LP



One of those "classic" power pop albums from the late 70s. This was the band's second album after one self-released LP. After this, they signed to a major and had a more polished sound. There is a rough charm to this that I like and the songs are mostly great. My copy is a 2015 repress of a 2012 reissue by Numero Group (2012 date on the back, no easy way to tell it's this pressing). There are some flaws with this pressing (two LOUD pops on one track that couldn't be fixed with multiple RCM cleanings) that apparently affected either several copies or possibly the entire run, so I'm not sure I would recommend this. I would seek out a different pressing instead if you can.

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I'm gonna ask a stupid question, so bear with me...

What is the definitive difference (sonically) between Power Pop and punk? I have a few power pop bands that sound like punk and a few punk bands that narrowly ride the power pop line. I know about the staple bands on both sides of that isle but a lot of it is very grey area ish.

So where is the line drawn?

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“Lesser artists borrow... great artists steal.” - Igor Stravinsky
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