Labyrinth

Let’s Make a Jazz Record (David Bowie, Blackstar review)

Posted on by Tim Kuefler

I wish I knew more about jazz, other than that I like it of course. It’s one of those musical formats that permeates music culture but which is so open ended that I find it overwhelming to participate in discussion about it – Most of the time.

Today’s album review is one of those times when I feel comfortable talking about the subject matter. I think mostly because the artist handles the infusion of it rather well and because he has a solid track record of dealing with musical avenues that call for experimentation.

 

 

 

David Bowie – Blackstar
released January 8, 2015
********** 10/10

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If you don’t know who David Bowie is, I’m afraid to tell you you’ve missed out, and never again will you see his like. David Robert Jones, also known as David Bowie, was an English musician who played a variety of instruments, sang, wrote songs, produced records, painted, and acted in big screen releases occasionally.

My first experience with him that I can remember was the movie Labyrinth, though that was not how he got his start. With a musical career spanning back to the early 1960’s, Bowie had a top 5 hit in the UK by 1969 with Space Oddity.

If you haven’t seen the original music video you should go take a look at it right now.

Then he developed the Ziggy Stardust persona, and showed the world that he would be constantly innovating and reinventing himself for the rest of his career. Like that time he made a song with Queen called Under Pressure, and it was awesome!

Honestly, I could go on about his accomplishments and my thoughts on his legacy for another few posts, but that is not what today’s review is about, dear readers. No.

Today we are looking at Blackstar, Bowie’s curtain call and last hurrah. And before I get too sentimental and forget why we are here again, I’ll admit that this is difficult to listen to without thinking about the fact that David Bowie won’t be making any more art of the world for the world.

So with as much objectivity as I could muster I’ll say this about the album, yes it is filled with references to death, but I don’t think that it’s as obvious as all of that. This record is profound because of the talent backing the tracks and the effort put forth to create something with a unique vision.

It was his 25th studio album, and that has to mean something after all, right?

Well, I think we are seeing David Bowie at his best. The title track Blackstar is incredible, experimental, and covers some dark ground. There are jazz elements throughout the whole record, and the electronic progressions certainly aid the sombre mood of songs like Lazarus. The saxophone was Bowie’s first instrument and it makes sense to me that he use something which is associated with freedom and exploration to give us some more innovations and remind us of what he has done in the past, simultaneously.

One review I read made a very valid point that while this music will make some of us incredibly happy, others will find it frustrating and difficult to stomach. But I would argue that the inaccessibility is an indicator of just how well done this album is. Bowie’s music is strongest when there is mystery attached to it. No different than the man who made us wonder about his sexuality, spirituality, political motivations, and project choices.

For example, he played Thomas Jerome Newton (The Man Who Fell to Earth), Jareth the Goblin King (Labyrinth), Andy Warhol (Basquiat), himself (Zoolander), and Nikola Tesla (Prestige), among a weird slew of other roles.

If you think it’s all jazz, brooding, and electronic injections, think again. Girl Loves Me is a strange rap about a day that has disappeared. It is both aggressive and apathetic in each lyric.

Truthfully, if you are hoping for a clear narrative theme or explanation of what you’ve just listened to, you’re not going to find it here or anywhere else. That was not David Bowie’s intent, and he has never been one for revealing his secrets. Otherwise he wouldn’t be having fun, and we wouldn’t have gotten anything out of him while he was with us.

I’ll leave his final music videos, Blackstar and Lazarus for you, because there isn’t much that can say it better.

 

 

 

That level of experimentation in art is incredibly undervalued in my experience, but I think we can argue fairly easily that David Bowie handled jazz music with the respect and understanding it deserves – improvisation, syncopation and polyrhythms. Bowie took this love of innovation into other arenas and managed to be a pop artist that was whatever he needed to be.

That quality is rarely recognized and I hope as time goes one we will celebrate him properly and encourage others to take up his mantle.

See you tomorrow for a Theatrical Tuesday review my friends.

Tim!

 

Smokin’ Astroturf (Cracked)

Posted on by Tim Kuefler

On the more morbid side of things, I’ve been thinking about mortality quite a bit this past week. But with good reason my friends. It just seems like the music industry has been taking hit after hit over 2015. We saw the passing of Scott Weiland, Ian Fraser “Lemmy” Kilmister, B.B. King, and not even a month in 2016, and David Bowie leaves us too.

It’s hard not to ponder life, death, and what comes after, especially after a major player in the music scene lost his battle with cancer on Sunday. Someone who represented the arts and anachronisms of today well before we smartened up, rather well.

I was fortunate enough to find a copy of his 25th and last album, Blackstar, when I heard the news on Monday. And so I’ve decided to review David Bowie’s last gift to the world all throughout this week, in anticipation of my Melodic Monday post about it next week.

The only way to properly send off a music legend, and someone who I always associate with the positive side of 1980s pop culture. The movie Labyrinth.

He was a shining star in that movie.

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It’s moments like these, that my mind starts to race. As it should. Because I wonder if I’m living my life to the best of my ability. There is a reason there are so many quotes and memes about the importance of following your dreams and a life half lived.

Because mortality is a real concern for everyone. No matter who you are, you will one day die. We all have that in common. Rockstars and actors are no different, their deaths are just more exposed and common knowledge.

So not to hammer the point to much, but I’ve been thinking about mortality, and my life, what to do with it. Ways I want to better myself, increase my knowledge, life experiences I need to have before I leave the mortal coil, etc.

*Which is kind of a hint for what I will be writing about in tomorrow’s Timely Thursday post, dear readers.*

What does this have to do with Wisdom Wednesday though, Tim, you ask? Well I had to decide what kind of wisdom to impart on you art makers, art shakers, and art takers without giving you something contrived. But it hit me pretty hard once I did a little digging.

Life is tough, but people love their numerically themed instructional blog posts, and I know of a place on the internet that gives wisdom, is a hell of a lot of fun, and can be incredibly inspiring, not unlike the musical heroes we lost this year.

I think I might have eluded to an interest in satire before, right? And an interest in comic books?

Well have any of you ever heard of Cracked magazine? It was this kind of awesome satirical humor magazine that came about in the late 50’s and lasted until the mid 2000’s before it finally transitioned to an exclusively online brand.

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I received my first copy on a camping trip with my grandparents in 1992, the year Batman Returns came out, and just before I had to got back to school after summer.

This was the issue I read cover to cover, over and over. I suspect it had a lot to do with developing my tastes in satire, comic books, pop culture, and human behaviour. You see, this was also around the time (within a year) that my grandpa had his stroke, almost died, and lost his ability to walk, speak, and use his right arm. He eventually gained most of his walking mobility back, but his speech has been limited for over 20 years, and he still can’t use his right arm.

Anyway, I’m getting sidetracked. My point is it had an effect on me.

Cracked now regularly churns out blogs and vlogs – poking fun at and simultaneously addressing the hard issues of life. I’ve linked to some of my favourite numerically themed instructional blog posts.

5 Things That Have to Happen Before You Fix Your Crappy Life
6 Harsh Truths That Will Make You a Better Person
8 Ways To Make Yourself A Better Person (With Ben Affleck)
4 Lifehacks For People Who Haven’t Discovered Adulthood Yet

Because comics, literature, and pop culture are all interesting forms of art, Cracked should feel right at home to most, if not all of you. And believe me when I tell you, I haven’t even shared the best stuff they churn out.

If you’re really itching for more theories, you should watch a few episodes of their YouTube channel. Start with this episode from the After Hours series.

Until tomorrow my friends, I hope your evening is grand and I’ll see you tomorrow with something timely.

Tim!