Album Review: David Bowie – Reality (2003)

In light of the unexpected (and shocking) death of legendary rocker David Bowie, it feels somewhat obligatory on my part as a budding music critic (of sorts) to write up a review on an album by one of the world's most innovative, artistic and irrefutably brilliant musicians.  And I'm more than happy to oblige.  I loved David Bowie.  I loved his chameleon-like artistic proclivities.  I loved his musical sensibilities.  But most of all I loved his climatic and authoritative voice.  And I cannot help but feel somewhat guilty for finding the most gratitude in listening to his music after his death.  But of course, I guess, we are predisposed to take even the greatest musical titans for granted until the day that they cease to be, in which we quickly come to realize that we've just lost something irreplaceable.  And what we are left with - memories, the music that has been, the legacy of an immeasurable talent now lost to time - subsequently forces us to cherish and relish them until ourselves succumb to our own mortality and head for that great gig in the sky.  It seems you really don't know what you've got until it's gone.  Anyway, back to the review.

Reality from 2003 is a very good album, given that many artists who claim to have had musical careers spanning five decades are often burned out and mere fractions of the great artists that they once were.  But David Bowie, 56 years old at the time of this album's release, demonstrates aptly that longevity is no inevitable barrier to continuing musical brilliance.  The opening track, "New Killer Star", is as good a song as "Ashes to Ashes" or "Heroes" ever were.  From there it moves on to "Pablo Picasso" and "Never Get Old."  My second favorite on the album, "Days" makes for compulsory listening, and for good measure, I recommend giving "Fall Dog Bombs the Moon" and "Waterloo Sunset" a whirl as well.  A-