Review #40: The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders From Mars, David Bowie
#40: The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders From Mars, David Bowie
If you’re a Karla Clif-head, you know that I wrote a romance novel in which Zombie David Bowie may or may not play a major role. So it felt right, in many different ways, for David Bowie to kick off the second half of my Epic Road Trip, my Road Trip Pt. II. Twenty-five more hours on the road, back the way I came.
Of course I took a wrong exit almost immediately, ending up lost just outside Philadelphia proper. So there I was, lost in a city I don’t know very well, listening to Ziggy Stardust. I should have felt like I was in space, right?
Friend, I’ll tell you the truth. It felt like I was listening to adult contemporary music.
I’m embarrassed to admit that, because David Bowie is one of the coolest rock stars ever — he was progressive, androgynous, and ginger. A renegade in every sense of the word. So why was he reminding me so much of Dave Matthews Band?
The second time I listened to it was in my bedroom, late at night. My reaction was as follows:
FAVORITE SONGS:
“Five Years” — Oh this is pretty — wasn’t this in a really annoying commercial for a TV show recently?
“Soul Love” — I realized that this would be better on a second listen right about here. The words to all of these songs are extremely weird and poetic.
“Moonage Daydream” — This one is such a vibe. Feels like a fifties diner rock band in space.
“Starman” — Cool song — lots of kinda weird stuff about children, though.
“Lady Stardust” — A true-blue ballad!
“Hang Onto Yourself” — He’s so British in this one.
“Ziggy Stardust” — I love this song. Rivals “Come Together” for best insane rock and roll character studies. A well-hung man with a snow-white tan like a cat from Japan. Hysterical.
“Suffragette City” — HEY MAN! Dammit. I can’t believe I wasn’t paying better attention while I was lost in Philadelphia.
“Rock & Roll Suicide” — Time takes a cigarette/and puts it in your mouth is such an amazing lyric. Dammit. This album is amazing, I love every single song.
LEAST FAVORITE SONGS:
“It Ain’t Easy” — But WOOF, his voice on this one. I love the rockabilly thing though.
IS RS FULL OF IT?
No, I’m the one that’s full of it. I’ve injected my brain so full of 100 gecs that I’m numb even to David Bowie.
Oh well. At least I made it out of Philadelphia.
