David Bowie Reality
Released: September 16, 2003 Origination Year: 2003 Time: 59:37 Tracks: 14 - 2CD Produced by: David Bowie & Tony Visconti Style: Studio Format: CD Enhancement: Bonus Disc Label: ISO/ Columbia Records
Track Listing New Killer Star Pablo Picasso Never Get Old The Loneliest Guy Looking For Water She'll Drive The Big Car Days Fall Dog Bombs the Moon Try Some, Buy Some Reality Bring Me The Disco King Fly * Queen of All The Tarts * Rebel Rebel 2002 * * Bonus Disc Cuts
David Bowie

Rock music’s reigning chameleon returns to administer a healthy dose of “Reality” to the music world, a mere 15 months since his last full-length album. Coming off the creative surge that was 2002’s sublime, multi-layered Heathen, Bowie is taking it “back to the basics” for this outing by stripping away the pretty sheen and turning up the volume…. somewhat.

Neither as rocking as Ziggy nor as noisy as Tin Machine, there is a certain ‘drive’ to a few tracks, most notably “Pablo Picasso” and the wicked title track, “Reality”. And yet, that stripped down feeling applies to other songs on the album that have nothing to do with rock n’ roll. “The Loneliest Guy” consists of an ethereal piano and guitar accompaniment while “Bring Me The Disco King” evokes images of a smoky downtown jazz club with Bowie crooning over acoustic piano and minimal drum work. Incidentally, the latter two songs are the least successful of the lot as they are a bit flat melodically.

The songs are wonderfully varied and paced nicely throughout the album; it almost feels like a live set. More a collection of songs rather than a concept piece, Reality has more in common with the likes of Hunky Dory or the more recent, "Hours…" in that they are traditional, acoustic guitar based affairs. “New Killer Star” is positively infectious as is “Fall Dog Bombs The Moon”; you will hum these for days after the first listen. “Days” and “She’ll Drive The Big Car” are the most poignant moments on the disc that ranks among the best of Bowie’s more personal statements. That list in itself being something of a rarity as Bowie has made a career of keeping himself detached from his lyrics. The album also finds a lovely cover of George Harrison’s “Try Some, Buy Some” where Bowie perfectly addresses the problem that strikes so many attempting a cover version: he adds his vision to the song while still paying tribute to the spirit of the original.

Bowie is in fine voice throughout with his trademark vibrato as smooth as ever; the pipes are truly getting better with age. The band (featuring Earl Slick and Mark Plati) provides perfect instrumental support for the songs with powerhouse drummer Sterling Campbell holding it all together.

With a back catalogue as colourful as David Bowie’s, each new release has to sit through the critiques and be unfairly judged against past masterpieces like the aforementioned Ziggy Startdust, Station To Station, Low or Outside. Reality is a collection of fine songs that make up a good album; it’s not a great album but it is awfully good.

There is also a two disc Limited Edition version of Reality that is well worth getting. The bonus disc has 3 songs including a new rocked out version of “Rebel Rebel” that was lifted from the “Charlie’s Angels 2” soundtrack. It is nice to have a studio recording of this version as this was performed on last years Heathen tour. The two new songs, “Fly” and “Queen Of All The Tarts (overture)” are top-notch rockers that are worth spending the extra money for; they are incredibly catchy.