THE NEXT DAY

After a ten year hiatus Bowie suprised friend and foe by releasing a new single on his 66th birthday and by announcing a brand new album. And here it is! Is it any good? For a man in his sixties Bowie sounds as vital and powerful as ever. The music is strangely familiar. Typical Bowie. Sometimes melodic, sometimes rythmic, the way only Bowie can make it sound. A bit like "Heroes" (except for the instrumentals), whose cover picture was the 'inspiration' for the cover of "The Next Day". The cover by the way can hardly be called an inspired cover, but at least it suits the overall nostalgic feel of the album.

Of course this album can never reach the legendary status of his seventies albums, but I still think it is a superb album. Especially when compared to contemporary artists. The songs on The Next Day all seem to refer to older songs. In lyrics, in pieces of melody, in certain rythms. In particular the single "Were are we now?" refers to Bowie's Berlin period. Is that a bad thing? I think not. A man of Bowie's stature has the right to hail the old days. His back catalog is nothing to be ashamed of, so why shouldn't he brag about it? Some people write memoirs, Bowie has just written a musical memoir. If only all memoirs by anyone were this good.

I certainly hope this record will not turn out to be a one time event and that mr. Bowie won't be resting on his laurels for the rest of his days. A latter day masterpiece.