By 1970 David Bowie was already hinting at his talent as a master pop manipulator. "Space Oddity," released in 1969, showed a performer with a keen sense of cultural detail (we had just put a man on the moon), but THE MAN WHO SOLD THE WORLD signaled Bowie's full entry into the rock domain. The album's eclectic pop stylings proved Bowie to be not only a watchful observer, but also a hip modifier of pop music trends.
THE MAN WHO SOLD THE WORLD is a gritty tour through late '60s rockisms. The folky title track is wary and sensitive, while the bombastic "The Supermen" mixes crushing drums and Allman Brothers-esque guitar chimes. "All The Madmen" is Bowie at his vulnerable, evocative best, and "Black Country Rock" stomps along with the best of the White Boy Blues contingent. While it did not yet approach the space-age sci-fi atmosphere of Bowie's future releases, THE MAN WHO SOLD THE WORLD reaffirmed the themes introduced with "Space Oddity" and served as the launching pad for one of rock's most enigmatic and durable performers.
Professional Reviews
Rolling Stone (2/18/71, p.51) - "...a weird and supernatural tone....uniformly excellent....Bowie's music offers an experience that is as intriguing as it is chilling..."
Q (11/99, pp.140-1) - 3 stars out of 5 - "...a robust, sexually charged affair, thanks to a band comprising two-thirds of the future Spiders From Mars, ace guitarist Mick Ronson and drummer Mick 'Woody' Woodmansey, plus a hint of Moog..."
Mojo (Publisher) (2/02, p.84) - "...A robust set that spins with dizzying disorientation....Bowie's armoury was being hastily assembled, though it was never deployed with such thrilling abandon again."
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Reviews
– Customer review on 02/04/2007
Yeah! David bowie. The man just keeps putting out great music. This was no exception. The title track is great with some interesting instruments and if you're a fan of david bowie its a must have. In fact all david bowie albums are worth a listen so check them out now.
I have just listened to this a couple of times, and definitely enjoy it.
Probably because it is a bit more rock and roll, which, I guess, songs like Black Country Rock might be a hint to. Or Running Gun Blues. So just call me slow I guess. :) Here he is starting to turn into the megastar that we know today, with what he comes up with on this album.
The hippy rock or folk rock album and possibly the least essential of earlier albums made by david bowie. this does have nice songs on here like the man who sold the world, width of a circle and black country rock but otherwise its just not a punchy as hunky dory or ziggy stardust but well worth a listen at least.
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