Album Review: David Bowie - The Next Day (2013)

The last album I reviewed from David Bowie was Reality from 2003.  I thought it was a great album - at a time where many of his contemporaries would have well and truly slipped in terms of the quality of their musical output, Bowie was still at the top of his game.  The same applies to the album I'm reviewing here, The Next Day, which was released ten years after Reality.  Bowie made no bones about his artistic proclivities - and The Next Day is no exception to this.  It is a Bowie album through and through.  I must say though, that I'm not as fond of this album as I am of Reality, but it certainly sounds better than what I had initially expected, and I am nonetheless glad I took the time to review it.  I've found two memorable songs on this album - "Where Are We Now?" and "Valentine's Day", and I might find myself playing "The Stars (Are Out Tonight)" from time to time.  It's definitely worth checking out regardless of whether you are a Bowie fan or not.  Boy, I wish this man was still here with us.  A genius through and through.  And not a bad album, either.  B+

Album Review: Prince and the Revolution - Purple Rain (1984)

I finally got around to reviewing this album - it's been on my Spotify saved list for some time now. And despite its status as a classic album and featuring some of Prince's greatest hits, the album has a few problems for me.  Some of the songs clash with my more conservative proclivities, in particular, "Darling Nikki" - I'm not quite sure what to make of it, strange yes, awful, not really.  Others, such as "Take Me With U" isn't bad, but it doesn't make me jump for joy either - that's the titular "Purple Rain's" job, and it does a sterling job too, because it is one of the best songs I have ever heard,  period.  "I Would Die 4 U" is another great Prince track, and you simply cannot say no to "When Doves Cry" - although I do prefer the shorter version.  The title track, "Let's Go Crazy" ain't too bad either.  I can see "The Beautiful One" growing on me, and "Computer Blue" is worth listening to, although like "Take Me With U" it's not too exciting either.  But despite my disappointment at this album not being as good as I would like to have hoped, there is obviously some consolation to be taken away from listening to it.  And of course, I'm very sad that the legendary Prince is no longer with us.  B+