The Next Day

It's ok, quite good but the "its a classic" reviews are well overhyped imho. Of my recent purchases, the Steven Wilson is beating it big time for my listening attention.

The new Bowie album (after 10 years of nothingness)

Ah, 

All forgiven. 

Let's hope the album lives up to  all the hype! Will be achingly looking foward to forum members reviews.

KR

Tony

Downloaded it in HiRes from HD Tracks last night.  First impressions pretty good,but I suspect it will take a bit of time to get into it.

Also downloaded Clapton's new offering, "Old Sock", which is pretty good.

Paul

I think it's pretty good, not a classic, but in my opinion far better that the Steven Wilson Album.

It's much better than I expected, including some real moments of greatness, but...

Anyone expecting a 66 year old to sound like a 26 year old will be disappointed.  He no longer has the range or the power, but I think he does a fine job of getting the most out of what he has left.  IMO, he can still write excellent songs, and arrange them to perfection.

I have no doubts that fans of Bowie will enjoy this album a lot.

Hook

The album is great but dynamically compressed (DR 6). I'm hanging on for the vinyl, although that has now been put back to 1 April. In the meantime, I'm listening on Spotify.

Keith

I too am awaiting the vinyl and listening on Spotify in the meantime.

To be honest I began listening more or less "out of duty" to the Dame, but I am really pleasantly surprised. It is by no means an album that grabs you instantly, but after numerous listens I am finding it strangely addictive. I am impressed.

If you heard it 'anonymously' would you buy it?

Bruce

That's a very good point Bruce. I've heard a few tracks and also agree, as usual, with Hook that the vocal range is not there anymore and sounds 'stretched' at some points, you just feel something is missing. To be honest I've not been a great Bowie fan since the earliest half a dozen albums but, as someone else pointed out above, some of the songs do grow on you as listen to them. I guess both Bob Dylan and Leonard Cohen put out 2 very good albums last year and both are vocally very compromised compared to the early years. I shall try and listen to more before deciding to buy the vinyl. It's not an automatic purchase just because it's the Dame.

My mate got the mp3 album and reports it's better than expected and tells me it makes more sense when you listen to the album as a whole.

It's supposed to be a lot better than his last album.

I might get it in vinyl but I am not in a hurry for sure.

Vinyl on order. I am a big Bowie fan but anything better than a 7 out of 10 rating would be a big surprise to me. I really liked the first single though.