Customer Reviews

Outside

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4 star:		(1)
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Most every Bowie fan has at least one album they claim hasn't received its due, and I claim this one. After about a decade of fading from relevance, Bowie once again collaborated with Brian Eno and crafted this masterpiece that stands up to his strongest work from the seventies. Always one to refashion himself when needed, Bowie took several musical cues from techno and industrial. However, rather than simply catering to the trendy music of the time, Bowie used elements of the newer styles to once again reinvigorate his unique musical vision.

The album was originally supposed to be the first in a series, telling the story of Nathan Adler, which involved kidnap and murder (I think). Ultimately the series was not continued and fully understanding the narrative is in no way essential to enjoying the songcraft. "A Small Plot of Land" is an amazing song with avant-garde piano reminiscent of "Aladdin Sane". An alternate version of this song was featured in the film "Basquiat", in which Bowie appeared as Andy Warhol. "I'm Deranged" is another standout that was also featured in a movie, opening and closing David Lynch's "Lost Highway". "Strangers When We Meet", the closing track, is a timeless classic that recalls some of Bowie's better work from the early eighties.

Although I've given a few songs special notice, there is not a weak track on the album. The music is extremely well-produced and intricately layered. The vocals are strong and the lyrics are cryptic and interesting. "Outside" stands up to Bowie's best work, and my guess is that fans who appreciate the Berlin Trilogy will take to this one as well.

Since its original '95 release, there have been several re-releases of this great album.

However, none of the subsequent releases ever replicated the original's fabulous and imaginative package, including this one. If you own the original digipak, don't let it go.

For some unknown reason, Sony Japan also did not replicate the original package for this mini-sleeve release. And, the original, fabulous 23-page booklet has been miniaturized into a frustrating five-page affair that requires a magnifying glass to be read.

It's a little mystifying why Sony chose to do this, as the Earthling mini-sleeve, in this same 2007 release of the latter five Bowie albums, is a beautiful glossy gatefold package. The '07 Outside outer mini-sleeve is just a single pocket cover.

On the bright side, 14 non-album tracks are collected on an included second bonus CD. The "Hearts Filthy Lesson - Bowie Mix" does not appear here, presumably due to time constraints, so hang on to the original CD5.

The audio on the main disc is the same 2004 remaster. However, the mastering on the bonus disc sounds better than many of the original CD5's audio. Presumably, this is the same edition as the 2004 2CD jewel box re-release, although I don't have that version to compare.

For some reason, Amazon has neglected to mention the bonus disc and omitted the track list, so here it is:

20. The Heart's Filthy Lesson TRENT REZNOR ALTERNATIVE MIX
21. The Heart's Filthy Lesson RUBBER MIX
22. The Heart's Filthy Lesson SIMPLE TEST MIX
23. The Heart's Filthy Lesson FILTHY MIX
24. The Heart's Filthy Lesson GOOD KARMA MIX BY TIM SIMENON
25. A Small Plot Of Land BASQUIAT OST VERSION
26. Hallo Spaceboy 12" REMIX
27. Hallo Spaceboy DOUBLE CLICK MIX
28. Hallo Spaceboy INSTRUMENTAL
29. Hallo Spaceboy LOST IN SPACE MIX
30. I Am With Name
31. I'm Deranged JUNGLE MIX
32. Get Real
33. Nothing To Be Desired

WHAT IS A JAPAN "MINI-LP-SLEEVE" CD?

Have you ever lamented the loss of one of the 20th Century's great art forms, the 12" vinyl LP jacket? Then "mini-LP-sleeve" CD's may be for you.

Mini-sleeve CDs are manufactured in Japan under license. The disc is packaged inside a 135MM X 135MM cardboard precision-miniature replica of the original classic vinyl-LP album. Also, anything contained in the original LP, such as gatefolds, booklets, lyric sheets, posters, printed LP sleeves, stickers, embosses, special LP cover paper/inks/textures and/or die cuts, are precisely replicated and included. An English-language lyric sheet is always included, even if the original LP did not have printed lyrics.

Then, there's the sonic quality: Often (but not always), mini-sleeves have dedicated remastering (20-Bit, 24-Bit, DSD, K2/K2HD, and/or HDCD), and can often (but not always) be superior to the audio on the same title anywhere else in the world. There also may be bonus tracks unavailable elsewhere.

Each Japan mini-sleeve has an "obi" ("oh-bee"), a removable Japan-language promotional strip. The obi lists the Japan street date of that particular release, the catalog number, the mastering info, and often the original album's release date. Bonus tracks are only listed on the obi, maintaining the integrity of the original LP artwork. The obi's are collectable, and should not be discarded.

All mini-sleeve releases are limited edition, but re-pressings/re-issues are becoming more common (again, not always). The enthusiasm of mini-sleeve collecting must be tempered, however, with avoiding fake mini-sleeves manufactured in Russia and distributed throughout the world, primarily on eBay. They are inferior in quality, worthless in collectable value, a total waste of money, and should be avoided at all costs.

when ever anyone works with brian eno its 10x better
this album is soo over-looked
alot better than earthling or other later works

i don't have any comment on this album at the moment, but i know it's good one, with the bonus disc, BUT, a big BUT, WHERE IS YOUR TRACKLIST FOR MOST OF THESE CDs? You should really put the song list in it,otherwise i can't buy them.

a very different album for bowie great crazy story i will never forget anytime soon... i would read the book that came with it 1st... but yoy should at lest read it once or you will miss more of the plot i have to also say it is strangely future telling about the time now how our world of internet is caught in the crossroad... noticed by any of us that are 1970 living or older this is a thinking artistful cd cheers david bowie to most outside album ever!!!

There is so much talent and thought wrapped up in this CD that I find it astounding. Bowie has created a CD Noir which may be a singular art form as far as I know. I puzzle over the story and imagine different scenarios as well as enjoy the music each time I listen to it. It's a collaborative effort with Brian Eno, who, like Bowie, is a genius. The results of their combined work has always pleased me. Frankly I wish they'd crew up every couple of years and put something out. I also wish\hope both artists receive the positive recognition that they richly deserve & I thank them for their continued artistic experimentation that refuses to run the same, previously laid track.

If you buy a downloadable version, be sure you have access to the short story that goes with it. It adds depth & interest to this fantastic work.

Bowie's 'musical novel' as I tend to call it...brings out an entirely new forum for him. Each time you listen to it, there is more to discover. I simply hope he will continue to produce such fine quality in all his endeavors.

i love bowie and all of his stuff, but i do grant that in order to love it, you need to give his stuff time, just like a fine wine, you may hate it at first but then you'll love it later(pin-ups or aladin sane) but this cd as well as buddah of suburbia, i just cant get into, sorry david :( too scary for me, but i dunno