David Bowie
 Lodger - RCA 1979 Comments:"Lodger" from 1979 is the third and final album in the so-called David Bowie Berlin-Trilogy and perhaps the least edgy of these. At least that is a thought you may get when listening to the great opening number "Fantastic Voyage", which is both melodic and relatively easily accessible - without being predictable. You may even come to think of his style around "Diamond Dogs", which at this point was only five years old, but from which Bowie had moved light years away. You can’t call ”Fantastic Voyage" representative of "Lodger", which, as the previous albums, has a great deal of experimentation. E.g. here are songs incorporating elements of world music, tracks such as tracks like "African Night Flight" and "Yasassin".
Four quite different songs from "Lodger" appeared on singles. The first was "Boys Keep Swinging" which has a beat / drive not unlike the classic "Heroes". Despite the rather edgy sound, the number is quite catchy, and the single brought Bowie back to the top ten.
The successor "DJ" did not do quite as well, but did reach a number 29 position in the UK. The number may well resemble the style of "Station to Station".
The not very commercial "Yasassin" was only released in a few places and unsurprisingly was no commercial success. The song is built on a reggae beat with some odd harmonies.
Last single "Look Back in Anger" also failed to chart, but is nevertheless supposed to have inspired Noel Gallagher to the title of the Oasis big hit "Don’t Look Back in Anger". "Look Back in Anger" has a fixed driving beat, with a John Lennon type of vocal refrain.
As a whole, I don't think "Lodger" is among Bowie's best albums, although "Fantastic Voyage" as a song is a definite favorite.
|