Billboard
Originally reviewed for week ending
10/6/84.
His triumphant return on "Let's Dance" found
Bowie fusing the Thin White Duke's rhythmic drive with his post-disco expatriate's
sense of adventure. Here, the once and future Mr. Jones takes yet another
turn, saving more edgy, passionate dancerock for the second side while throwing
the spotlight on surprisingly restrained ballads and midtempo rockers, replete
with dreamy rhythms and even lush strings, courtesy of Arif Mardin. As a
result, the moody "Loving The Alien" and Bowie's deep-dish baritone
crooning on Brian Wilson's "God Only Knows" could do at AC what
"Blue Jean" and other side two raveups will at AOR, new music
and dance-oriented levels. That multi-format potential mirrors and apparent
willingness to tackle both his new audience and his older, now adult fans
on a single disk. |