Heathen

I would describe this 2002 album as very progressive adult contemporary music. It is not really a rock album, although there are elements of rock on some of the tracks. Those who feel that "The Next Day", Bowie's latest album, is somewhat harsh and unmusical would do well to check this one out. Most of the songs have very tuneful melodies, and the sound, although generally thick and solid, is not as dark and heavy as other modern Bowie albums.Two of the songs could almost be considered Broadway ballads, with impeccable vocals. "Sunday" sounds like a song from an earlier time, backed by a light techno arrangement, and has a little instrumental surprise at the end. "Slip Away" begins softly, then develops into a power ballad with a gorgeous melody and a beautiful piano and string arrangement. There are 2 tracks that remind me of past Bowie eras. "Cactus" is reminiscent of the Ziggy/Hunky Dory sound, and "Slow Burn", full of excellent rock guitar, sounds like the Berlin era.Tracks 5 through 10 are manifestations of just about every pop/rock genre that exists. "Afraid" is rather busy, tinged with strings and techno. "I've Been Waiting For You" sounds a little harder. "I Would Be Your Slave" is a rather dark, mid-tempo track, again backed by strings and techno. "I Took A Trip On A Gemini Spaceship" has a sexy "talking" vocal and a slightly psychedelic arrangement. Sections of "5:15 The Angels Have Gone" sound like Bruce Springsteen's "Philadelphia", with a dense, steady synth background. And "Everyone Says Hi" is the straightest, simplest track on the album: a sentimental pop ballad about someone who "moved away".Bowie saves the most divergent tracks for last. "A Better Future" sounds like a bright 80's dance track, with fluid 90's guitar very prevalent. The final track is "Heathen (The Rays)", an unclassifiable track which morphs through several changes in its short life of 4:16.Unfortunately, printed lyrics are not provided, but lucky for us, they are mostly understandable to the ear. The album includes some strange artwork which evokes the Renaissance, to me anyway.

Suck a great album

When it came time for me to finally update my CD collection to include what was missing as compared to my album collection of Bowie work, I find myself conversing with a friend about which was better: Heathen or Reality? I asked for his opinion because he is a truly Bowie aficionado, and I wasn't looking to purchase both at the same time.He came down on the side of Reality. Fine. Reality it is. But then I started listening to the sample tracks from each release, reading some of the reviews, and came to the conclusion I may like Heathen more. And so it was purchased.In truth, both Reality and Heathen are excellent pieces of work from our dearly departed master. But after many listening sessions in the comfort of my fave chair (the Parasound Halo 2.1 integrated amp in conjunction with the Goldenear Triton 2+ speakers providing the sound) I came to the following conclusion: I love songs on both releases, but as a collective-whole, I prefer Heathen, with maybe the nod to Reality for slightly better songs.This is just my opinion.. please don't feel hurt if you disagree or would argue otherwise."Sunday" is a lovely way to open a CD, but I confess to being disappointed the section at the end doesn't go on longer. It feels incomplete.. like there was more to come after the build-up to it."Slow Burn" is so perfect it has my wife (17-years my junior and new to the world of Bowie) signing it. I cannot think of greater praise.And if you don't find your head bobbing and toes tapping to "I Took a Trip on a Gemini Spaceship" there is something seriously wrong with you. Seek help. Please.This is a release that deserves your full attention.

I am so happy to have finally found this rare Bowie album, especially at the price I got it for. My collection is complete!!!

Like David Bowie in so many ways, this CD is a combination of iconoclastic, masterful musicianship, ambient sounds, and what I suspect is a heavy dose of introspection. Eventhough this was a work put out in 2002, the similarities in terms of feeling and the production light and shade which Bowie produced in his 2013 release are, in my opinion,very evident. This is not in any way to say that the two albums are derivative, or even that the amazingly thoughtful work, in both heathen and the later release, aremusically connected, simply that the path and the force behind what has been done in the heathen is extremely evident. The opening track Sunday and the final track heathen,have an ambient element that is woven with a powerful rock work in the 12 songs. Whilst, as usual, I enjoy the light as well as the shade in the construction of the vocals,the guitar, the keyboards, and other elements in the compositions. I was slightly surprised to see that track six was a Neil Young composition, but Bowie's treatment of NeilYoung's work is as usual, masterful. The original CD release still has the CD extra bonus content, and since it is a multi session CD, at this time I cannot get to what Ithink is a video. Looking at the CD front cover and the booklet, as well as the back slip, with credits, I can only suppose, and this is guessing on my part, that an elementof deconstruction is implied: however, this kind of meaning is in the eye of the beholder, and so I think is more appropriate to say that this is got some great packaging andsome extremely thoughtful design. All in all, for the price I paid for this, it is more than a bargain, and David Bowie fan or not, if you appreciate music, as well as finemusicianship, then I think this CD will be an excellent buy.