Reality

( 3 )

Editorial Reviews

Barnes & Noble - David Sprague
Much as Low and Lodger reflected David Bowie's surroundings in Berlin, Reality follows 2002's Heathen in documenting the singer's settling into adulthood -- if not altogether into middle age -- as a New Yorker and a family man. Relatively spare in construct and dominated by straight-ahead guitar songs, the disc has its moments of melancholy "Fall Dog Bombs the Moon" and warm contentment the spangly "Days of My Life", all of which seem connected by Bowie's desire to present himself, in contrast to his persona-hopping of past decades, as just a regular guy. For the most part, he's successful in doing just that: The ballad "The Loneliest Guy in the World" not nearly as ...
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Editorial Reviews

Barnes & Noble - David Sprague
Much as Low and Lodger reflected David Bowie's surroundings in Berlin, Reality follows 2002's Heathen in documenting the singer's settling into adulthood -- if not altogether into middle age -- as a New Yorker and a family man. Relatively spare in construct and dominated by straight-ahead guitar songs, the disc has its moments of melancholy "Fall Dog Bombs the Moon" and warm contentment the spangly "Days of My Life", all of which seem connected by Bowie's desire to present himself, in contrast to his persona-hopping of past decades, as just a regular guy. For the most part, he's successful in doing just that: The ballad "The Loneliest Guy in the World" not nearly as morose a tune as the title suggests is as open as anything he's ever done, while the wispy "New Killer Star" a musing on September 11th reveals a surprisingly empathetic streak. Dating back to his earliest days, documented on Pin-Ups, Bowie's had a knack for cleverly choosing cover songs and smartly refashioning them in his own image. Here, the singer revamps a pair of distinctly different ditties, cloaking Jonathan Richman's snotty, postadolescent plaint "Pablo Picasso" in cocked-eyebrow detachment and then peeling back that attitude for a spare version of George Harrison's "Try Some Buy Some." Think of Reality as a portrait -- or, more accurately, a short film -- of an artist still finding himself after all these years.
All Music Guide - Stephen Thomas Erlewine
Instead of being a one-off comeback, 2002's Heathen turned out to be where David Bowie settled into a nice groove for his latter-day career, if 2003's Reality is any indication. Working once again with producer Tony Visconti, Bowie again returns to a sound from the past, yet tweaks it enough to make it seem modern, not retro. Last time around, he concentrated on his early-'70s sound, creating an amalgam of Hunky Dory through Heroes. With Reality, he picks up where he left off, choosing to revise the sound of Heroes through Scary Monsters, with the latter functioning as a sonic blueprint for the album. Basically, Reality is a well-adjusted Scary Monsters, minus the paranoia and despair -- and if those two ingredients were key to the feeling and effect of that album, it's a credit to Bowie that he's found a way to retain the sound and approach of that record, but turn it bright and cheerful and keep it interesting. Since part of the appeal of Monsters is the creeping sense of unease and its icy detachment, it would seem that a warmer, mature variation on that would not be successful, but Bowie and Visconti are sharp record-makers, retaining what works -- layers of voices and guitars, sleek keyboards, coolly propulsive rhythms -- and tying them to another strong set of songs. Like Heathen, the songs deliberately recall classic Bowie by being both tuneful and adventurous, both hallmarks of his '70s work. If this isn't as indelible as anything he cut during that decade, that's merely the fate of mature work by veteran rockers. So, Reality doesn't have the shock of the new, but it does offer some surprises, chief among them the inventive, assured production and memorable songs. It's a little artier than Heathen, but similar in its feel and just as satisfying. Both records are testaments to the fact that veteran rockers can make satisfyingly classicist records without resulting in nostalgia or getting too comfortable. With any luck, Bowie will retain this level of quality for a long time to come.
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Product Details

  • Release Date: 4/29/2008
  • Label: Sbme Special Mkts.
  • UPC: 886972663029
  • Catalog Number: 726630
  • Sales rank: 8,946

Album Credits

Performance Credits
David Bowie Primary Artist, Synthesizer, Guitar, Percussion, Keyboards, Baritone Saxophone, Background Vocals, Stylophone
Earl Slick Guitar
Mike Garson Piano
David Torn Guitar
Gail Ann Dorsey Background Vocals
Sterling Campbell Drums
Matt Chamberlain Drums
Catherine Russell Background Vocals
Tony Visconti Bass, Guitar, Keyboards, Background Vocals
Gerry Leonard Guitar
Mark Plati Bass, Guitar
Mario J. McNulty Percussion, Drums
Technical Credits
David Bowie Composer, Producer
George Harrison Composer
Jonathan Richman Composer
Tony Visconti Producer, Engineer
Rex Ray Illustrations
Bill Jenkins Engineer
Emily Lazar Mastering
Brandon Mason Engineer
Vlado Meller Mastering
Mario J. McNulty Engineer
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Customer Reviews

Average Rating 4.5
( 3 )
Rating Distribution

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Sort by: Showing all of 3 Customer Reviews

  • Anonymous

    Posted October 1, 2010

    Bowie's Best In Years

    The Thin White Duke has constructed a masterpiece with "Reality." Not since "Outside" has a Bowie album been this good. Bowie always surrounds himself with fabulous musicians and that's certainly the case here. Just one example is long-time Bowie collaborator Mike Garson whose brilliant piano work sets the mood for the hauntingly beautiful "The Loneliest Guy" and the rainy day jazz atmosphere of "Bring Me the Disco King." Most of the songs are uptempo with outstanding contributions from the musicians as well as killer lyrics from the master songwriter himself, plus you can actually read the lyrics in the liner notes this time, unlike previous Bowie releases! A must-buy for not just Bowie fans, but anybody who's tired of the Copy and Paste studio-manufactured music that permeates Rock music today. This is REAL talent. Believe me, the CD is worth it just for Bowie's cover of Jonathan Richman's "Pablo Picasso"

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  • Anonymous

    Posted October 1, 2010

    Bowie offers most original matierial since the 70's

    For fans of Bowie Reality is a must have. This album has an edge that none of his recent studio albums have had. The songs are memorable yet surprise you at how they are arranged. Sounding more experimental than his last Heathen, Reality reminds me of the 70's catalog of Bowie material. The guitars are fuller his voice is more powerful and the drums are solid. Don't hesitate just buy this album and put it on repeat.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted November 26, 2008

    No text was provided for this review.

Sort by: Showing all of 3 Customer Reviews