The Next Day

**Ten years on from his last studio recording, David Bowie wastes little time before showing fans what they’ve been missing on his latest offering. “Here I am, not quite dying!” he shouts on the ‘Beauty And The Beast’-esque opening track, responding to rumours of ill health that have plagued the last decade. Bowie starts as he means to go on with guitars aplenty and lyrical metaphors reminiscent of the days of _Ziggy Stardust_ and _”Heroes”_.**

Listening to the album, you could be forgiven for thinking that it was one of his releases from the 1980s, and you will certainly forget that this is an album recorded by a sixty-six-year-old artist. Bowie’s ability to tell a story remains as strong today as it was in his prime, and he takes plenty of opportunities to show this off with lead-single ‘Where Are We Now?’ and ‘Valentine’s Day’: these tracks tell the stories of a man reflecting on his life and of a high-school shooter respectively. Certainly, _The Next Day_ wasn’t created with the intention of being overlooked: its lyrics are dark and deep, and it is definitely a record that the listener appreciates more with each listen.

The record does, unfortunately, have its low points. ‘Dirty Boys’ and ‘How Does The Grass Grow?’ are the album’s weakest moments without a doubt, but even these songs cannot alter the fact that this is Bowie’s best offering in a long time, and is perhaps, his greatest record since 1980’s _Scary Monsters And Super Creeps_.

While not perfect, _The Next Day_ surpasses expectations and makes itself an early contender for the title of Album of 2013. Through his lyrical – and musical – genius, **David Bowie** takes the listener on a thrilling rollercoaster ride, albeit with a few dips along the way, but ultimately leaving them begging for more. Is he past his prime? After 2003’s _Reality_, the answer would have seemed to be an affirmative; however, with _The Next Day_, Bowie has made us all reconsider that very question.

**Similar To:** Talking Heads, Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds

**MP3:** ‘(You Will) Set The World On Fire’