Customer Reviews

Best of Sight & Sound

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I do not agree with the two faded, jaded, sad people who have given this collection such a bad rap.
Some of the songs on this collection are not his best, but they are priceless jewels, never the same, and will NEVER be repeated.
Please, Bowie fans and those who are just interested, give this collection your own verdict and dont be swayed by some people who think they know better than a master songwriter and producer.

Obviously this isn't Bowie's greatest period; yet there are some great singles here (Ashes to Ashes, China Girl, Let's Dance). Overall, it's not an important disc. It was included in a box set with two other discs('69-'74 & '74-'79)that have been available for about ten years. People who own the other two discs were, of course, reluctant to purchase them again in a box set. For us, this disc is a welcome release and an essential purchase.

I am very happy with this purchase. The CD is great. It arrived in excellent condition and packaging to protect it. It took a little more time than usual to receive, but still, it didn't take that long to get it.

interesting how Bowie countered the 80's synth-pop era of [,,,] etc. and how he references his space era characters early in his career into the 80's. Especially in 'Ashes to Ashes' recalling that Major Tom was a junkie, strung out! And his garage rock era success into Scary monsters.

Bowie made surprisingly varied music in what is not considered to be his most innovative period. Still there's no denying that many of these tracks were huge hits and some of them have stood the test of time quite well. Let's Dance, Modern Love and China Girl are amongst his biggest hits but not too impressive musically, in my opinion. Ashes To Ashes references his Space Oddity hit of 1969 and still sounds good today, whilst the collaboration with Queen: Under Pressure, is a killer funk number with strong hooks. Scary Monsters is an appealing slice of hard rock Tracks that I consider a bit lukewarm include the music hall Alabama Song, the tepid synth ditty Cat People, Absolute Beginners and Day In Day Out. On the other hand, Blue Jean is a sharp little pop number and Fashion is a brilliant dancefloor stomp. There are interesting remixes of some of the aforementioned tracks, but the worst omission is This Is Not America, a stylish collaboration with the Pat Metheny Group. There are plenty of other compilations that include the better tracks of Bowie in this period.

So I was in the local record store today and saw this collection for sale. My jaw dropped. Not only at the hammy, "hello, lovelies..." pose on the cover but at the years the collection spans. These are widely (and rightfully) considered Bowies worst years and the songs he cranked out are proof of it. I suppose this collection sort of has to exist but it is unfortunate. This album should be purchased only if you are a) an avid collector, b) a soulless bore of a human being (in which case I hear Phil Collins has a few records out), or c) looking for a good white elephant gift for the office party.

I feel that I should mention that I am a huge Bowie fan. I own every studio album he has put out - yes, even the bad ones. I should also mention that Bowie himself has said many times that he was creatively bankrupt in the 80s. This collection is proof of that. You have been warned.

Absolutely wretched collection of (non)songs from the eternally over-rated Mr. Jones. He and his 75 advisors have wisely avoided using words like 'Greatest' on these things for fear of legal action, in fact the words 'Best of' become offensive and irritating in this context.

A lot of the stuff here is culled(!) from the desperately dreadful 'Lets Dance' lp (remember the awful video's? Joy of joys, you don't have to!) and also contains the thick-as-a-plank bore 'Under Pressure'.
If you record hundreds of songs, the law of averages states that one or two of them will rise above the dross and DB has used his for a very handsome career, thank you very much (And no, there are none here). It makes me seethe when I hear words like 'seminal', 'influential' and 'genius' used in the same sentence as DB, because he painfully (and starkly obviously) isn't.

Once the blinkers come off it becomes easy to realise that a lot of platitudinal tosh has been written about him over the years. Look at his back catalogue: 'the Laughing Gnome', 'Rebel Rebel' (Oh how he wishes!), that laughable one about the 'clippety cloppety hat'.
Warm memories of a golden childhood...or duffers to a man?

Then there's the ultimate insult, the final kick in the teeth that comes in the shape of these 'Best of' compilations. 'Waste of' would be better - as in your time, your money and your trust.
You can almost see him sitting there gloating - lucratively anticipating the next one (and me anticipating hammering it!).

It's a pity these pages don't do a minus rating system, because this deserves much less than one star. Avoid like acne.