Blackstar

Like a lot of Bowie’s later LPs - I like it, it’s sonically solid, and it has a few standouts. But I find it bland and uninventive in a lot of places. I don’t mind it being self indulgent (he’s one of the few artists out there who has earned it for sure), but his death definitely elevated this release.

I've been a massive Bowie fan from early days onwards but honestly there's nothing on this album that's worthy of his name apart from (perhaps fittingly) the final track, which just scrapes this an extremely generous 3 stars.

Definitiv eines der besseren Alben von Bowie. 3,4

Cool album considering his age.

Niet heel erg Bowie fan Niet slecht 3/5

Anyone who gives this a 5 is a pretentious fuck

I always appreciate an artist who pushes their creative boundaries, but Bowie's Blackstar did not really take to this one. Admittedly it was shortly before his death, which explains the somber mood of the album. But it was saxophone heavy, so best I can award it is 3/5 #1001albumsyoumusthearbeforeyoudie

Bit too jazzy for me. Echoes of previous triumphs fail to elevate this beyond mediocrity.

Was a good listen after a slow start

Hørt på bilturen hjem fra Østrig Det er vel okay? Har ikke hørt et Bowie album fra ende til anden før, og mathilde siger at hun ikke er så glad for det. Men synes det er okay 😇 3/5

eh

Not bad. Kind of gives me Radiohead vibes at times (sort of eclectic electronica-meets-rock).

Not my favorite of his but good

Interesting

I just thought it was fine. I did not love it, especially compared to some of his other albums.

I thought that is was gonna be a hard listen and boy I was right. Just didn’t really connect with the album as a whole. I know a lot of people love it but I guess it’s just not my bag. Apple Music Rating was 3.6/5

Þetta er bara hin prýðilegasta plata með David Bowie. Ég hef aldrei verið mikill aðdáandi þótt ég hafi alveg hlustað oft og mörgum sinnum á hann. Ég held að það muni koma í veg fyrir að ég hlusti á þessa plötu aftur en ég var samt hrifinn af henni.

Some really creative stuff here, but again I don’t prefer his voice.

Whilst Bowies music is inspired, his voice grates on me and makes it turn it off

Lots of sax. 3.8

Out there but not graceful

like most Bowie, I appreciate it more than I feel it. Lazarus and I Can't Give Everything Away are great though.

So first up, I don’t think listening to this album on one of the first decent summers days of the year is a good mix. Buzzkill either way. I know I’ve liked this more when I’ve listened to it previously, but today I just found it all too melancholy/depressing (which I know is kind of expected/the point given the circumstances of its making) and nothing really grabbed me. Well, other than Lazarus which is the standout track. So I’ll give it a 3, but probably more a mark of respect for the artist than this particular offering.

Pretty good. I remember when this was released but I don’t recall if I listened to it or not back then.

Not sure why this is my first listen, but I was certainly aware of it. It is a gorgeous album, very good in places, though even with the baggage of it being Bowie’s farewell, I was mostly lukewarm on it. There’s Bowie I love and Bowie I like just fine, and this is the latter.

I remember when this came out and Bowie died. A pretty interesting entry in the “This is my mortality album” genre, as nobody knew he was dying. Along those lines, I’d like to impartially recommend Seven Psalms by Paul Simon. It’s a 30 minute song about how he’s scared to die. And it’s great.

I never listened to this album on release, and having played it, didn't find it an engaging album.I suspect many rated this highly owing to the sad circumstances of its release.

Different sound from Bowie, but good.

Definitely an experience. Kinda to hard to rate without a few more listens.

Very weird will listen again

Experimental. I appreciate what Bowie was going through when he recorded this, and this album is definitely deep and melancholy. It's brilliant, but I definitely would not recommend it as an everyday listen.

I wanted to like this more than I did.

THe deathly hallows of his career. The fact he was dying when he made this does not excuse the general level of dark crappiness. Maybe he wasnt thinking straight. Should be remembered for some of his much, much better stuff. THere are one or two ok tracks and it is Bowie thus the 3

Liked the mix of bowies style and jazz. Just not my style.

A different sounding Bowie album than what I was expecting. Very good.

Bowie is a weirdo, this album evokes his iconic strange vibes. I liked it reasonably well.

Yessss! I loved this album when it came out. It is so interesting how albums are associated with memories. This album (particularly the Lazarus song) is haunting because it came out 2 days before he died. From what I remember learning about this album is that he knew he was at the end when he recorded these songs. I always take this album in from the perspective of a dying man. Lazarus carries this album from a 2 to a 3 for me.

Perhaps the worst album of D.B.

Another experimental album by David Bowie where you can't decide if it's good or not.

Once I was working at a bike shop with a couple other people with some recent non-Bowie thing, kinda groovy slightly pop leaning indie rock with subtle electronics, and one asked "is this the latest David Bowie album?". It was in earnest but it occurred to me that this is a very funny damning-with-faint-praise kind of thing to say. My friend who had whatever band on replied "I hear what you're saying, and I don't like it." After listening I find it even funnier. music: acknowledged. (⌐★_★)

I can’t believe this is already like 8 years ago. This is my first listen! The cool thing (of course) about Bowie is that he was never very stagnant. This one continues that line, and it’s good and interesting, like they usually are. It’s hard to detach it from the context of its release. Would it be as beloved by people without it? Hard to say. If this were the second last album instead of the last one, it might hold a different place. Nonetheless I enjoyed it, it’s sad to hear, and I’ll probably listen to it again some day.

I probably like David Bowie as much as the average person who has a reasonable knowledge about music. I vaguely know his hits but I’ve not actively listened to him, despite my mum and partner being fans. I’d heard mixed reviews about this album, some saying it’s not his best and others saying it’s a great last record for him to have released. I definitely like it more than I dislike it - some really good music behind the lyrics. I think this is another artist where I’m not sure about his vocals! But overall, a decent enough listen. Middling rated.

cannot even tell if i enjoyed this or not i felt like i was in a vacuum tube.

David Bowie is one of my favorite artists, but this is not my favorite album of his. I am partial to the older albums, but I still enjoyed listening to this because it’s been a little while since I have. The standouts for me were Lazarus and I Can’t Give Everything Away.

This album is David Bowie's last set of songs. I really wanted to like it, but unfortunately I didn't. The songs were just not for me with the exception of "Dollar Days" and "I Can't Give Everything Away" which I thought were pretty good. The mix of really good and bad make this a 3/5 in my eyes.

De laatste adem van Bowie wordt op dit album uitgeblazen. Ik heb destijds het album geluisterd en sindsdien nooit meer opgezet. In het album laat Bowie maar voor de laatste keer zien dat hij een meester is van vele genres. Rock gaat moeiteloos over in jazz en postpunk. Synths, stemvervormingen, epische saxofoons, alles wordt uit de kast getrokken om een spectaculair einde aan te kondigen. En het werkt. Ik vind het ook wel lekker dat het album iets onheilspellends over vrijwel ieder nummer heeft hangen. Uiteindelijk ben ik meer fan van het oude werk van Bowie, maar dit album doet het echt best goed, mede omdat Bowie veel genres toont te beheersen. Ik vind ★ echt fantastisch. Bowie is ook gewoon een steunpilaar en katalysator geweest voor zo veel bands. Voorbeeld: LCD Soundsystem. Zonder Bowie hadden ze niet meer bestaan. Bedankt en vaarwel David. Rating: 8/10 Highlights: ★, Lazarus

Interesting album. Odd most of the time, but surprisingly pleasant listen. Not my favorite Bowie effort.

Good album, not sure if I’m giving it rating because it’s what I really think about it because of the history of Bowie.

The atmosphere on this album is fantastic, but I feel that the songs themselves are a bit lackluster. I can't help but think this album is over hyped because of the circumstances.

Not bad for a guy who knew he was on his way out. 3.5/5

Good quality compositions. Arrangements rather too opulent. Will never get used to Bowie's voice. Is it just me or does he always sound like he's bored?

Another David Bowie album....I think this is the 3rd one. Oh this one is way newer. 2016. I like the sinister feel to the first track. That sinister vibe persists through out! Black Star is getting 3 stars.

Bowie made the best Radiohead album on the 2010s. This is pretty dark but I assume it was meant to be since he was dying. It felt a little hard listening through this one. Blackstar is a standout track. Plus there is one line in "Tis a Pity She Was a Whore" that cracked me up. I'll go back to Hunky Dory way sooner than I'll head back to this one.

It's bowie, just not my favorite bowie

I rate Bowie very highly but this album being labeled as a perfect 5/5 just doesn’t make sense, you’re diminishing his other, better albums this way in my opinion. That being said, Lazarus is a really, really good song.

Heard the singles but first time listening to album…. Lazarus stood out

Not my favorite Bowie record, as it probably is one of his least accessible. But still, as a last word , literally from the grave as he died before it was released, it still has a haunting presence. What it does to a great extent, is show how Bowie even til his last breath was evolving and changing his style.

It grew on me after a couple of listens.

Jeg forstår godt hvorfor den her plade er på listen, men jeg har virkelig svært ved at komme ind i musikken. Hørte den i '16 og der sagde den mig ikke noget, det gør den desværre stadig ikke, på trods af at jeg hørte hele pladen 2 gange.

Unsettling

None of the tracks really stood out for me

3/5

I really like the second half of the title track. The first half feels a bit monotone, but I don't mind it as much the second time around because it transitions quite smoothly. I liked the last song best (I Can't Give Everything Away)

J'aime Bowie, mais je n'ai pas trippé sur cet album.

Almost exactly what one would expect from Bowie. Inventive and unconventional But this is far from my favorite work of his.

Felt very "meh" for a Bowie album.

Blackstar (★) is the 26th and final album by the English musician David Bowie. It was recorded in secret and released on Bowie's 69th birthday - two days before he died of liver cancer. This album was his swan song and was an award winning album met with commercial success and critical acclaim. Blackstar is an art rock album with experimental jazz elements, incorporating use of the saxophone as well as elements from rock, pop, and hip hop. This is one of the greatest albums of the 2010's, and the fifth best-selling in 2016. It has been certified gold in Germany, New Zealand, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, & the US, platinum in Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Italy, Poland, Switzerland, & the UK, and double platinum in the Netherlands. This is a phenomenal piece of music and was a joy to listen to. Bowie was always the "Starman" from another world because of his engaging production of intricate rock music. With this farewell album, he returned to the stars leaving fans with one last amazing album. RIP David Bowie ★

Felt at times more like a jazz record than a Bowie record. Somber and mournful it’s very much a record about life and death.

I liked parts of this album a lot and other parts were a little bit too weird for me. The song Lazarus is absolutely awesome. Other songs didn’t resonate with me as much. Not a bad effort, but mostly something that I found forgettable. Bowie has better albums out there.

love u bowie

Meh. I liked a couple of songs a lot. The rest were fine. I felt they all kind of sounded the same.

Big fan of Bowie, but never really liked this, and obviously just brings sadness as he died soon after it was released. 2.5 stars, but rounded up.

There were one or two songs that were good, but honestly this album's rating seems a bit overblown.

Parts made me uneasy, had a bit of a wobble about my own mortality which I'm sure Mr Bowie would consider a job well done.

While I actually don't love David Bowie much except for select songs, I always try to approach his albums with my mind completely open knowing how many people I love love David Bowie. So I did that and I found a few songs here that were really interesting and enjoyable. I think I need to sit down and hear this album several more times. Really interesting.

Gotta give it up to Bowie here. You can sometimes clearly tell it’s him, but really only when the vocals are so very… Bowie. But it consistently sounds and feels very 2016. It doesn’t sound like an aging nostalgia act pumping out the same old stuff. It sounds fresh and fitting the times. Like he’d been listening to TV on the Radio, Animal Collective, and other 21st century indie rock.

I like some of the electronic elements of this album but I don’t hear what is so special. I think without Bowie’s name attached to it, it would be a nothingburger.

Haunting. It sounds like New York. If I'm being honest, this album had way more sax than I needed. Still, Bowie was one of a kind and he was true to himself. He allowed himself to express his feelings, even if it didn't create massive hits- even if it was uncomfortable. Incredibly, he still made massive hits. He was just too good to not be noticed.

Important work from Bowie, even if not my favorite. I love the whole concept. It could grow on me. 3+.

очень дэвидобоуиевски

Bowie meets Jazz. A pleasant compilation of sounds, but feels a few layers deeper than my comprehension.

Not really my vibe, but I appreciated the slightly darker messages. Also clockwork orange song is always a good move

I've never really listened to Bowie, so this being my first full album was probably not the best one to start with. Didn't click, but knowing the circumstances I'll come back to it eventually. Still don't think this is an album that people must listen to... But one Bowie fans should.

Didn’t love this as much as some other Bowie projects

Musik halt

I do not know much of Bowie's work post 1990s, so this was an interesting listen. Very ominous, depressing, and introspective throughout, which makes sense given the state of Bowie's health at the time (and ultimately his passing a few days after this album). "Lazarus" and "I Can't Give Everything Away" were standout examples of those aforementioned themes. I'd be lying if I said this was Bowie's best work, though

This was my first ever David Bowie album and I kind of hated it.

A haunted presence Another reinvention Bleakly beautiful

Not my favorite of the Bowies

I'd always meant to listen to this album, given how wide-ranging David Bowie has been over his music career, so I'm glad to have an excuse to listen to it. It's interesting enough, I suppose, but I wonder if this is really even one of his better albums? (It appears that music critics would beg to differ with me on that point, so I guess I'll just have to accept its greatness.) It *is* interesting to (literally) see how much music videos are an integral part of a few of the songs on this album, and "Blackstar" (the song) seems like a weird compendium of his style and sound over the decades (sort of). I think I enjoyed "Lazarus" the most. But overall it didn't really engage me. And sad knowing this was his last album, as he clearly had plenty more to contribute into the 21st century.

It’s Bowie all right. Eerie ghostly wailing. Last song is pretty mellow ambient.

Bowies experimentiert in seinem letzten Album mit Artrock, Jazz und Blues Elementen. Auch wenn Bowie ein großartiger Künstler war, inspiriert mich fast kein Song seines Albums zur Wiederholung mit Ausnahme „Dollar Days“. RIP lieber David.

What an unimaginable send-off! Imagine knowing you're actively dying and releasing a goodbye album two days before your passing. It gives me chills. You can practically hear Bowie slipping away in the opening track. His voice sounded more gravelly than usual. I was interested to find out that James Murphy, Kendrick Lamar, and other big names worked on this album. The context, Bowie's legacy, and his collaborators make the album. I genuinely don't think it would've charted otherwise, given how experimental it is.

very interesting love ‘tis a pity she was a whore i would give db a listen again ngl

Don't know if I really needed this one but I suppose anything from a 69 year old David Bowie is at least owed a listen. So i did. Now back to my originally scheduled programming.

This is like the 6th Bowie album I've gotten, and I'm glad I got lots of his earlier stuff first, so I could appreciate this more. Cool to hear him on a modern album, still making elevated pop, not just radio hits. Lots of saxophone in this. Songs were a bit same-y throughout, but still enjoyable.

This is such a hard album to review. It is super hard to get into and Bowie sounds off tempo at points, but the instrumentation and lyrics are amazing

I wasn't feeling the title track until about two-thirds of the way through its 9:57 run time. It being Bowie's last album, the sounds are a bit more haunting than they normally would be. There's a lot of classic Bowie themes in the music but it feels sad, like he's saying goodbye

good music, bowie boring

Quality music, but not my thing.

He has a unique sound of rock.

I like Bowie, but this definitely wasn't as good as most of his other stuff.

No sé. No es mal disco, pero tampoco es interesante.

Some really good moments!

Fucking weird, innit?

Bowie is always a solid choice. Not my favorite by him but still enjoyable.

Bowie's music certainly covers a wide variety of styles. He's obviously very talented.

I think it is good, although it's an over loved album imo. Will I listen to again: 30%

Not my thing but it's good for what it was. 3/5.

DB doing what he does

Some good, some bad

An ok album

Bowie is no doubt on this list for multiple albums. This one is probably here, in my opinion, because it gives witness to such an amazing and creative artist who was able to keep reinventing his persona and work for such a long and successful career as rock’s more glamorous and artistic personalities.

Pretty enjoyable. Some of it felt directionless.

Dosyć mroczny. Nie najlepsze dzieło Dawida Bowie. Ale nie było to rozczarowanie. Myślę, że mogę do niego kiedyś wrócić

I love David Bowie, and I remember when this came out really being excited to listen to it because it was kind of a surprise, but then hating it, and why it was so dark. He died a couple of days later if I am not wrong and then it kind of made sense, I don't think I ever listened to it again after that, and not my favorite stuff of him, but you can almost feel like he knew wasn't going to be around for long...

Starts off ominous, strong Radiohead vibes. Experimental. Production is interesting. Vocals leave something to be desired - has a "ghost of Christmas past" vibe. Has the vibe of a fading artist grasping at trying to be hip and modern, but it comes out a bit clunky. Gets into a nice little groove, but doesn't seem to lock you in. There are a few moments throughout that stand out, a few things that wow you, but overall those moments are erased by vocals or shrill horn that comes out of nowhere. I enjoy experimental music/jazz, but the whole album feels like it's trying to be something that it's not.

i love him

Ok

It was okay, not my favorite David Bowie album, sometimes it felt like it was out of tune, or not pleasant to listen to

I can appreciate it as an art piece but it’s really far from my favorite Bowie record in terms of enjoying the listen

There were some songs that were okay. I didn't love it.

Too experimantle

6,5/10

Not Bowie's best work, admittedly. It probably got the shining reviews it did just for his recent passing. It's a good album, but I wouldn't call it the best thing he ever did. Lazarus is a standout track, and probably the best out of this whole record. Overall, it's a good listen.

Album started and I immediately hated it. Then I listened more and it starts to form this eerie and cohesive melancholy and dark album of chanting and echoey saxophones and beats. The production is outstanding. Album is interesting from beginning to end, as it starts to lighten up and become more hopeful. I wouldn't have listened past the first 3 mins if it wasn't for the challenge of listening to this album. Glad I stuck through it.

It was ok, kind of weird not really for me but listened throughout the whole thing

3.5 ... it's more than just the music on this one.

Tengo un recuerdo muy triste de este álbum, de poco antes de morir Bowie. El legado de un genio, no se puede escuchar sin tenerlo en mente.

Demasiado experimental para mí gusto...

Truly amazing to record this in secret then release it two days before his untimely death. A very good album.

This is the first time I've heard this and honestly, Bowie's done better. It has its moments (Lazarus and I Can’t Give Everything Away stand out to me) but nothing on here comes close to the magic of 70's Bowie.

I don’t know much about David Bowie, but if i were a musician and this would be my last album before i died, i would be proud. It’s not really my kind of music at the moment but it’s an artistic and very good sounding album.

See this is what I don’t like about this thing. Because yesterday I just wasn’t feeling it for various reasons. And this would possibly replay more listening and I might well return to it. Nothing really grabbed me on first listen though

When put in the context of David bowie dying shortly after, this album gains a lot of intrigue. Def a lot of modern hiphop influence, i hear some TPAB in there for sure. Sad though, its kinda giving a "How do you do fellow kids" vibe. If he hadn't died two days after I would have an easier time disliking this work but given the circumstances it was made, and a definite bias bc Bowie is a huge artist, its a toss up for what i'm gonna be ranking this.

I know this is Bowie's 26th album, and his last, but it is nowhere near his best. But even Bowie at his worst is better than 95% of artists at their best. There is no mistaking his voice and his trademark musical style. Wasn't expecting the swearing, but I haven't listened to the other 25 albums, so I'm not sure if this was normal, although that seems unlikely.

Certainly different for a Bowie record. Plenty of interesting songs, even though he sounds a bit old and there was some variation of an Amen break every few minutes. Still solid, just not one of his more outstanding releases

A quality lineup of songs with extremely good production. I was drawn to the drums through the course of this album, they sounded crisp, tight and interesting.

5.5/10

A very gloomy album. It's an album that shows the feelings of David Bowie at the end of his life, raw and unfiltered. But musically it is not that accessible. Very artsy feel, his falsetto flips are questionable, he definitly made better albums. But there are still good songs on here, Lazerus is a banger and blackstar isn't that bad either.

meh. i bet this gets high numbers for being dead star.

Bowies swansong album released shortly before he passed away. It's a short collection of intimate tracks that reveal Bowies realisation that his time was near an end, some of the lyrics are quite evident of his frame of mind that the end was coming. So I get the poignant importance of this album when it was released, and the hype around the album that followed thereafter his passing, but if you remove the timing and meaning of the album, it's actually quite boring, and not a creative release synonymous with his preceeding albums. I will always remain fan of Bowies music, but just not this album.

When I put aside that voice that says "I am supposed to like this" and consider this on its own terms, this album is fine. I don't think the album sells itself on its own merits. It's a little too jazzy and doesn't offer enough beauty for me to want to listen to it outside of this experiment. But I get why it's here.

Strange experimental effort

Taking the timing and context out of an evaluation, half of this is a pretty average album. Dollar Days, Girl Loves Me, and I Can’t Give Everything Away are the better half. But adding in context would bump it to 3.5 for me.

good guitar and melodies but not all of it was good.

Okay

The first song: no thanks. From there it's a climb in quality and enjoyment with bright spots along the way.

Vecie albumi patīk labāk. :)

There's better Bowie albums. This isn't bad but it was overhyped due to being released shortly before his death and the "prophetic nature" of it. Then there was a wave of Bowie-mania (certainly not a bad thing at all) but yeah, this isn't essential unless you're a big time Bowie fan. I feel like I kind of shit on this album, it really isn't bad, its solid. It just doesn't need to be here.

Didn’t enjoy very much. Some catchy riffs though.

Bowie’s death hit me hard, as it did for so many. The following night I was among a group of grieving fans in Hyde Park, listening to his music at a gathering arranged overnight. I have never listened to this album before. The only track I had ever heard before was Lazarus. For me, Bowie’s passing was bookended by 2 trips to Melbourne - in September 2015, four months before he died, to see the David Bowie Is exhibition from London’s Victoria & Albert Museum and in early 2019 to see a production of the off-Broadway production of Lazarus (Bowie’s last public appearance had been at the opening of Lazarus a month before he died). If I wanted to be narky, I might suggest that seeing it hastened his demise. It was dreadful. On the other hand, the exhibition, which featured his music, costumes, everything about him, was amazing. (Why Melbourne? Because they were not going anywhere else.) I suppose I’m just trying to make the point that I was a big fan, even though I’ve not been able to bring myself to listen to this album before. The last Bowie album I ever paid full price for on release was Scary Monsters (1980). I collected a heap of his stuff after that, but only because it was Bowie & none of it ever affected me like his great 70’s work. This album was painful to listen to but I’m glad I finally have, even though I’d rather not talk about it. Three stars.

Pretty good as background music to focus, but didn't really feel the desire to save any songs to my playlist. I really liked the second half of Blackstar (the song)

Dosta eksperimentalno cak i za Bouvija, ali dobija pass jer je Bouvi.

I the album certainly has the mystique of Bowie’s death around it, and that does make it feel special. After all, it was (knowingly) his swan song. Yet, I can’t help but feel that this album would not have achieved its notoriety if not for Bowie’s death two days later. I’ve always appreciated that Bowie never seemed too bothered with what would be commercially viable. Yet at times, Black Star seems too strange to enjoy.

Difficult

Not his absolute best but there are some sick tracks on there, "lazuras" and "I can't give everything away" are my favourite.

Already familiar with this album. Blackstar and Lazarus are bangers. The other songs are okay.

Much different than what I was expecting. I've never really listened to anything of his before. Not my favorite genre or style wise but I appreciate the musicianship

Although I have listened to David Bowie before, it is certainly not an artist I usually listen to. Album seems very “experimental”? I kinda liked “Lazarus” and “I Can’t Give Everything Away”. In general, a good album and kind of a beautiful send-off to one of the most important musicians of my time.

David Bowie is a musical genius and a treasure, but this one was a bit too out there for me.

Fine

This was different. Say what you want about this album but Bowie kept changing and trying new things all the way to the end. A weird mix of songs that goes between jazzy, rambling vocals and electronic beats. I enjoyed the more traditional songs like "Lazarus" and "Dollar days" where the sax in the latter reminded me of a Pink Floyd album. The first 2 songs were my least enjoyed ones which meant the album was off to a rocky start. I do have a sneaky suspicion the "Star" will grow on me though. Will give this 3 stars as there are some good songs and some bad but brownie points for never settling for "normal".

7/10

Dreamy

Intense. Kind of ghoulish in retrospect, but Bowie knew what he was doing. I like it now, I bet I’ll love it in 10 years.

Legendy swan song, but not something I'd listen to on a regular basis

- eerie knowing he died just 2 days later - overall not my favorite but I can see the value

Didn’t like it as much as Low

Wow, ★ starts the album going so many places. Really liked that song. The rest of the album felt pretty similar but didn't call to me as much; lots of interesting bits but a bit atmospheric.

Surprised me. I had it on secret repeat (as in I didn't know it was repeating) and I managed to enjoy about three turns of the album before realising it had been on too much of a repeat. The vocals are curious, very David Bowie but also rather jazz. I think an excellent piece of overall work and I would happily listen to it again. Is it three stars? Four? High three, but not quite four, it could get there with more listening. Lets go three. Something about the vocals being spacious and atmospheric, and the music being a touch discordant (which could be the jazz notes through it) ... unsure.

3.5/5. Certainly different from his earlier work, but this was still good.

The story behind it made it even more melancholy. The pulsing heart beating bass/drum and frail voice gave it emotion. But not really my thing.

It’s ok

Trochę przymuł nawet jak na Boviego, ale przynajmniej nie jazz, chociaż momentami było tak różnie... 3/5

Good album, can definitely hear the kendrick influence in the production, which is great. Some of the songs drag a bit but besides that I liked it, may have to listen to it again to take in the lyrics more. Solid listen

Mid

Ive hear better of him, but the album deserves to be on the list since it is the last one of a legendary artist.

Je n'écoute jamais les albums "tardifs" comme celui-ci, parce que j'ai un a priori négatif sur le fait que ça ne sera pas aussi bien que les premiers. Préjugé pas vraiment détrompé ici, même si ça reste du Bowie et tout à fait écoutable, avec le côté émouvant en prime de l'album sorti juste avant sa mort.

mun aivokapasiteetti sopii paremmin Bowien Radio957-tason tuotannolle

dissapointing tbh

good background noise. long songs and lots of instrumental but good david bowie sound

Super Strange. I’ve already listened to this many times. Still don’t know what to make of it. Seems like something that is forgettable OR will be come to know as his crowning achievement.

Eerie and haunting but not the most accessible album. I'll break this out when I'm in the mood for something artsy.

A little more droning than I like. The story around the album is amazing, but the first track really set the tone in a not great way for me

Quite nice

Don't know what I think about this, in either a good or bad way

Solid. Might give it another listen

When I love David Bowie, I love David Bowie when I don’t I’m just meh.

Some of the songs were rather painful, but the album was saved by the last two, which were excellent. I like me a little jazz in my rock and roll.

A really bizarre experimental album, quite interesting but won't listen again. Would rate it as his best, some people have but I'm not sure it makes this list.

Dark and stormy with lots of electronica influence in the bass and drums parts (a bit like Burial) and lots of gothy Cure/Depeche Mode/Nine Inch Nails sounds in the layers of droning guitars and minor-key synth & string parts. Bowie consistenly has the best use of sax in rock music, which continues here, with jazzy parts and solos running under and alongside the vocals, creating a poly-vocal multi-melodic bursting feel to the songs. His voice is distinctively his, but somewhat wispy and injured, fully committed but exhausted. He's giving the last he has singing "I can't give everything away."

A few good songs but overall meh.

3.5/5, piano parts remind me abit of some Nick Cave albums, a good album that does the art rock/jazz rock style very well.

I found this to be quite avant garden but also quite interesting. One in my listening group said "You can't say he didn't go for it" and that is 100% true - it's out there but also cool and listenable

I'm not sure why, but I put off listening to this after hearing about Bowie's death. I was glad when it was selected last Friday, but didn't listen immediately, I wanted to take my time with it. Now having listened, it was alright. I appreciate it being Bowie's swansong, but nothing particularly stood out as rememberable for me. 2.5

It was a decent listen but the hype seemed to be more that it was his last, rather than it was his best.

Liked the brass instruments but album was not my fav

Unique. Makes me want to listen to older David Bowie. Saved a couple from this album 3.7

Innovative, inaccessible, however a hard listen honestly.

I'm an old Bowie fan - I saw him live during Aladin Sane years. He has several absolute classic albums but I don't think this is one of them.

3.5

Aghh my first David Bowie album.. and im disappointed. It's not that bad, but i can see it just like soundtrack, nothing more. Not my cup of tea, but it have something inside. 3 from 5

I love Bowie but several of these songs I just do not enjoy. He always did what he wanted to do and I respect that but I cannot understand the appeal of a lot of his work.

This record is a lot to take in right off the bat, but once I got used to it, I enjoyed it quite a bit. Certainly an interesting end of life album for Bowie.

A more mature Bowie for those who love him

Pretty good, one more in line with my tastes

It’s a little too advanced-Bowie for me. The man was very imaginative for the entirety of his career. Gotta give him that.

I remember when this came out and being impressed by it even before realizing that it was a farewell. There are a ton of interesting ideas on this album. Ultimately, it will never rank amongst my favorite Bowie records, but I’m glad it exists. I think I’ll be listening to it more than I have been.

Not his greatest work, but obviously still excellent work. Really atmospheric, not rally my usual vibe. My top pick is 'Dollar Days'.

Second listen. I’m sure this album will grow on me, but it’s just not really one of my favorites from David Bowie right now.

Took a couple listens but it grew on me. Musically it's interesting but I don't care for his voice on this record. Standout is the last song is the "I Can't Give Anything Away"

Weird but good album. Gave me the first impression of a gothic-mechanic machine soundtrack. Don’t think that I will listen to it soon again.

While undoubtedly a fantastically haunting album, I simply do not connect to this album. Not an isolated incident, as I have listened to several other David Bowie albums, and felt the same way. Feels as though it never really gets where it wants to go, as far as a cohesive experience. It's weird how you can actually hear the Death Grips influence on tracks like Sue.

The darkest side of Bowie, a personal album but it's not for me

emmm not quite get it

Weird, even for Bowie

Interesting art piece but not my favourite

Enjoyed most of this one. Lazarus and I can't give everything away were highlights for me.

I was skeptical when it came to a new David Bowie album. It was actually pretty good!

This is an interesting one. Bowie was pretty hip for putting this out right before his passing. I liked the inclusion of the sax in some of the songs. The drums were kinda neat and I liked the synth in Blackstar. I wasn’t expecting Bowie to be singing about his cock in that one song and some of the other swearing he did. It was no Ziggy Stardust but also I respect that this was at the end of his career and he should get to work on what he wants!! During this era of Bowie, Arcade Fire also had him sing in Reflektor, and I was reminded of that track while I listened to some of this.

Pretty weird but I enjoyed it.

This was obviously a pretty momentous way to go out, and I think that makes this album greater than it actually is. Very abstract. I don't think this is anywhere near as good as his other albums we've had on this list, but I dont dislike it. He's certainly been through a lot of styles in his career I think Lazarus and I can't give everything away are the highlights

A decent Bowie album. Modern. I enjoyed the song Lazarus a lot.

The composition of the songs is very cool. I liked the Saxophone parts a lot. But I do not like Bowie's voice much.

Pretty big bowie fan but first time I am listening to this. Definitely solid but wont be what I reach for if I want to listen to bowie.

Favorite Song: Probably ⭐️ (Blackstar???). I liked it better than Young Americans. It’s neat that he wrote as almost a thank you letter to fans while dying of cancer. Musically though, it doesn’t stand out to me.

Seems like there's some poignancy here but there's really nothing on here that I would want to listen to again.

Not what you come to expect of Bowie but Blackstar is a pretty impassioned and pained listen, in a compelling way. Not excellent, has some moments of meh, but warrants a high 3/5 for being interesting and authentic.

Maybe not Bowie at my favorite point in his career, but not terrible either.

3/5 At the beginning of this project, I was sure I was a Bowie fan. So far, I'm not that convinced. This album was just sad. I know he was grappling with death and good on him for using his art/medium to process it and cope, but I think it was so personal I/we didn't get it. If he wasn't close to death, I would say it was end of career, navel gazing that so many artists seem to go through. They get bored and experimental, and the listenablity of the music suffers. I listened to this when it came out and I didn't get it then either. I feel like I might revisit this in a dark mood and see if my attitude changes.

I came into this identifying as not being a Bowie fan but knew this was his final contribution. Sadly I do not give extra points for those who die right after releasing music and so this is a 3 for multiple reasons. The first track went on forever and another had nonsensical lyrics. It doesn't help I don't enjoy his voice. RIP Bowie, from still not a fan.

Fascinating, but too dark!! End of life feeling. Great artist

Far from my favorite Bowie album but it has a special place as his final gift to the world. It has its weird, fun, intriguing moments. 👩🏻‍🎤

Love Bowie but this is not my favorite. 2.5/5

3.5

My favourite Bowie album, which is not saying much.

I think I'll need to listen to it a few more times. It could grow on me.

already heard 7.5/10

Cool kind of weird. I disliked a couple of songs, but the good ones make up for them

so avant-garde i thought it was schizo at first you can tell he was old as balls when this was recorded not too bad tbh

2.5/5 A good album for sure. However, not my taste or something I would come back to.

I feel like I need to really give this a deeper listen based on the context in which this album was made. Still enjoyed it for the most part. Hard not to think that most people give this one some extra points for being his last. 7/10

It wasn't bad, wasn't great, but I did really like Girls Love Me

Spacy rock, some sections had a freestyle-jazz-frenetic feeling

Best: Lazarus Worst: I Can't Give Everything Away Interesting, but at times a bit too much dissonance

There are better albums by Bowie, IMO. That said, "Lazarus" is great.

есть норм треки, есть Такое

hard to digest, not really my thing. not a huge bowie guy i guess

I don't know, it was kinda boring. But I guess it's just not my cup of tea. Not saying it's bad, but it just didn't catch my interest.

I like Bowie. This one is different and will take some time to get used to. A couple of tracks stand out to me when listening. I really should have looked at the titles while they were playing..... good, but nothing like Ziggy Stardust Bowie... 3/5

OK but feels like it's here because it was his last rather than his greatest

I've had Lazarus in my Spotify since 2016 but none of the other songs really grabbed me on Blackstar. Significant in the fact it's his last album I believe but not one I want to listen to over and over again

Lempimuusikkoni (kaikkien lempimuusikon) tylsin levy. Ei se mitään, Bowien tylsin levy on silti parempi kuin suurin osa maailman levyistä.

Not a fan at all. Kinda of somber, which I guess makes sense since I believe he had passed before this album was released. At least it was a shorter album. 6/10.

I'll preface this by saying that I'm not a big David Bowie fan. This is fine but I'm not interested in hearing it again. A lot of it feels reminiscent of Peter Gabriel to me.

Interessante Drums uns ein faszinierender Weg um mit dem eigenen ableben umzugehen

Fín plata

Bowie's final studio album muses over life and legacy, all in a neatly produced record with computer beats and synths. While this may not be his most lasting album, it is hard to not acknowledge its artistic merits. The decidedly darker tone begs repeat listens to fully appreciate and digest.

Struggled with this. Some good passages but a few that were hard to get into on a first listen.

Honestly, I probably need to give this another, more focused listen. However, as much as I love Bowie, this one just didn't capture my interest. It's a shame because it was his last gift to the world.

I love Bowie, but this album is not one of his most accessible. It does remind me of his Berlin period, yet it lacks the strengths of those albums. It’s relevance is mostly due to it being the swan song of one of the most important musicians of the last century.

пока ничего не поняла

There’s parts of things on here that I like, but it’s still middling.

it was a good bowie album. Had some of his 80s, Labyrinth vibe in it. It's only on here cause he died right after it released though.

Lo escuché en su momento, lo procesé, lo volví a escuchar, lo adopté, lo volví a escuchar ahora... es un disco complejo, no para todos; lleno de conceptos interesantes y momentos musicales esxcelentes... pero se puede volver pesado. Como canciones particulares pocas destacan, como álbum es lo que es: La última rebeldía de Bowie

Pretty solid though somewhat too experimental for me.

Not my favourite Bowie album but good enough

Hmmmm, Bowie... I just don't really get the hype, which I'm aware is a borderline sacrilegious thing to say in some circles. This album obviously has a great significance beyond the music, given the timing of its release days before Bowie's passing. On the music's merit, there is a modern sound to it, most of the songs feel quite dark (as would befit an album titled Blackstar). I like the cover art, the text styling is very clever.

Interesting album. Sounded like Radiohead at various points. I don't really know enough about Bowie to understand his eras, but I remember when this album came out how coincidental it was with his death, and how that kind of hung over it. I liked it and will go back for sure. Standouts: Blackstar, Lazarus, Sue (Or In a Season of Crime)

Pretty good but average for the whole Bowie portfolio

i would love to give this 4 but i just can’t give it more than 3 because i don’t like it that much

I had listened to this before. It's not bad but doesn't really grab me. Very cool he created this so near the end of his life though.

I can't deny that this is a very good album but it's hard to divorce it from when it came out. I'd give a 3 or 4 based of the music and the content. The fact that Bowie created an epitaph in vinyl is so apt to him that it should be a 5. But I've not been taking that into account with others so I can't here.

Oh how I want to like this album. I understand it is more artsy than some other Bowie stuff. I just don't find it pleasant to listen to.

the first thought with this album is that it's definitely different from david bowie's typical music that made him famous in the seventies. bowie's last album being full of dark, experimental music across multiple genres seems rather fitting. to open the album with a nearly ten minute track is more of bowie's daring. the distortion of "blackstar" stuck out to me, and it must've been such a purposeful choice. the album's final two songs, "dollar days" and "i can't give everything away," contain some poignant lyrics and remind the listener that this was bowie's last album.

Malinconico, psichedelico. Non il mio genere ma alcuni brani mi piacciono.

For a guy this late in his career(posthumous lol) I mean it’s honestly a marvel he kept up. The sound is behind the times a bit, but still well made, and its good to hear his voice.

Good

C-Tier Bowie. Has a couple good tracks, but most of them just outstay their welcome, drag on and prefer to be Avant Garde over being enjoyable.

I've never been a huge Bowie fan but I like this. Jazzy with traces of Hip hop and poignant given he died shortly after its release. Liked it more than I thought I would.

Love Bowie but... Too avant garde for me.

This was a very interesting album. With every track I found myself very close to clicking thumbs up, but then something would stop me. Definitely felt experimental but certainly wasn't an unpleasant listen. Of all the tracks, the title track "Blackstar" was probably my favorite.

It pains me to say it, but this may be one of my least favorite Bowie albums. 'Lazarus' is a fantastic song and gives me everything I want out of an album that was recorded when Bowie knew he was on his way out. Nothing else steps up to that song though. Interesting digressions to be had here and there, but it's more of a jazz album than a Bowie album, at least to me. Maybe it needs a closer listen, but none of these songs really seem to take off. Background, though, for sure.

My initial impression when listening to the opening track is that Blackstar sounds a bit like Marc and the Mambas. That notion doesn't really hold. What it does sound like is the effort of an elder statesman keeping tabs on the times whilst trying to retain a sense of individuality - but you could very well imagine, say, someone like Bryan Ferry putting out almost the exact same album. None of which is to say it's bad, although personally I think the electronic percussion (where used) sounds tinny. Blackstar is fine, bold in places and occasionally you get a glimpse of Bowie's facility to do something interesting with a melody. However, I think the circumstances under which Blackstar was recorded and released have perhaps led to a slightly over-generous assessment of the album's merits.

Least favorite of the Bowie albums. Still a reasonably good one.

Listened Before? N This was a good album. Pretty experimental, but that's probably to be expected from what I know of Bowie. I really enjoyed it and it had an extra sting of melancholy because he knew his time was short when he recorded it. Added to Library? N Songs added to playlist: Lazarus

Last Bowie's musical legacy composed during his last days before passing away. Full of sadness, and melancholy. A beautiful final gift from David to his followers.

Listened to this one on my album,book,movie a week thing, it has something to it, but nothing has spoken to me yet

Very interesting music. Would like to spend more time listening to the lyrics since Scott told me it was made when he knew he was dying.

I’m not a fan of Bowie’s electronic experimental music which is present throughout this album.

Surprised to find this on here. Does this indicate that every Bowie album will feature here. Don’t get the rapturous reviews posted here. I’m as big a Bowie fan as anyone one. But this is not his finest moment. Cover art 4/5

As the album went on it got worse and worse for me. Way better albums for Bowie out there over this one

Bowie is cool. Probably too cool for me because I don't always get the hype - but this is a good album. He's unique. It's fun. I dig it.

3,5, some great stuff and some eh

Kinda surprised on this one. Was really into Bowie back catalog when this came out, never gave it a chance. Heard the first track at the time and said 'naw'. One this first full listen, it really is a coherent album. Don't know if I'd ever put it in rotation, though. Favorite song is Blackstar (big surprise) Would pay $8 used.

I'm not sure I really got this. I've been told with context I would appreciate it more (the whole released just before his death) but without it, I got kinda bored

Alright, wasn't always my thing, very experimental at points with a jazz layer near the centre of it all.

An interesting and challenging listen. I went through it at least 5 times, trying to see if it would take a hold for me, as i generally like Bowie and have seen so many folks raving over this album. Lazarus is really good and maybe Blackstar is unusual and good, but I didn't really find much else that makes we want to listen more. It's fine, but won't have me coming back.

C'était pas mon préféré de lui so far mais je l'ai bien aimé pareil. À réessayer