Scary Monsters (And Super Creeps) [2017

David Bowie's 1980 album "Scary Monsters (And Super Creeps)", is a fantastic album. This album has a lot of so well done songs, and good lyrics. This album was released right after "Lodger", the last of the "Berlin Trilogy". This album includes the singles "Ashes To Ashes", "Fashion", "Scary Monsters (And Super Creeps)" & "Up The Hill Backwards". I will rate each song and explain why:- 1. It's No Game (Part 1) 9/10 - This is a unusual and strange way to start the album, but once you hear a couple of times it grows on you. This song has a Japanese woman, and god knows what she is saying, but its good. This song reminds me of his style back in the "Berlin Trilogy". 2. Up The Hill Backwards 10/10 - This song is just great, a completely new sound and so well done. As the last single released, in my own opinion, this is not a strong single. 3. Scary Monsters (And Super Creeps) 10/10 - This is such a good song, have to admit i didn't like this song at first, but it does get grow on you eventually, i like the way he sings this song, because he doesn't sound like himself. 4. Ashes To Ashes 10/10 - As the first single off the album, i say this is one of the best on this album, its just so catchy, and no surprise it came number 1 in 1980. Its a HIT! 5. Fashion 10/10 - This song is a bit what i think has a bit of disco sounding, along with rock. This song is so good, it sounds a bit like "Another One Bites The Dust" by Queen, as they were both in the same year. 6. Teenage Wildlife 10/10 - This song is great! This song is the longest song on the album, and David sings this really well. Worth listening to 7. Scream Like A Baby 10/10 - This song is so good. Originally the music was written for "I'm A Laser" by The Astronettes back in 1973. This version is so much better MILES BETTER! 8. Kingdom Come 9/10 - This song is what i think is the weakest as its not so catch yas the rest, and it just doesn't grow on me, maybe might one day. 9. Because You're Young 10/10 - This song IS THE BEST! This song should of been a single FOR SURE! Why choose "Up The Hill Backwards" & "Scary Monsters (And Super Creeps)"? This song is fast paced, has a good guitar and great lyrics. Just Fantastic. 10. It's No Game (Part 2) 10/10 - This is the final part of the It's No Game "series". The song is more normal then the first part, but it is really good. Still reminds me of his stle back in 1977 - 1979. In conclusion, This album is fantastic 10/10 or 5/5. The albums best songs for me are "Ashes To Ashes", "Because You're Young" & "Fashion". There are no worse songs for me as I like them all. This is a classic album, and is a must buy if you like David Bowie's stuff in the 1980s.

Great album, and delivered on time.

Another good album from Bowie you do not get to really appreciate this unless you hear it on vinyl

The album itself is a bit of a mixed bag in truth. All 4 singles are well known of course (For Bowie Fans),with my personal favourite Ashes to Ashes sounding lush on vinyl. But I absolutely love Fripp’s aggressive playing lead guitar on six tracks. His playing is definitely the standout moments throughout. Bowie has also Pete Townsend playing on the track ‘Because You’re Song’ My review again is mainly to do with the quality of the vinyl release. 180g. No pops no crackles it just oozes that class sound throughout the whole album on sides 1 & 2. Vinyl release is a 10/10 and the album itself is a 7/10. Definitely worth buying on CD and of course vinyl 180g version.

Where did Bowie lose it? - many think that the great run of 70s albums from Bowie ended with "Heroes", or if more adventerous, 'Lodger' - but rediscovering this LP after a few years, 'Scary Monsters' seems to be the conclusion to the journey began with 'The Man Who Sold the World' at the start of the decade. 'Scary Monsters' was recorded at the point Bowie was cleaning himself up, after the drug/diabolism years in LA and the hedonistic period spent with Iggy Pop and Brian Eno in West-Berlin. With co-producer Tony Visconti, Bowie fashions an album that seems to conclude most directions he'd been exploring in the 1970s - the backing vocals to 'Up the Hill Backwards' could be part of the soul thang most explored on 'Young Americans', while 'Because You're Young' could have featured on one of the early 70s glam albums, as the Fripp-heavy tracks nod to 'Low' and "Heroes"...and the whole New Wave thing, most of which was influenced by Bowie ('Teenage Wildlife' also alludes to punk, which like most post-punk, Bowie heavily influenced!). & weirdly Bowie did his version of the New Wave inspired by himself and threw down an album that bested most Bowie-influenced albums of the era. It felt like the end of things, a conclusion to the direction he'd been following, so following the 'Baal' e.p., unsurprising that Bowie went towards the mainstream, a mostly unsatisfying experience... 'Scary Monsters' is no doubt an album of two halves - the second half isn't quite as great, but certainly ain't bad either. 'It's No Game (Part 2)' is fine, but 'Part 1' is much wilder - the difference between the two symbolises the difference in quality of both sides. The cover of Tom Verlaine's 'Kingdom Come' is fine, and in line with many of Bowie's great albums that featured a pertinent cover version - 'Teenage Wildlife' is quite underrated, but does suffer from having to follow the brilliant five opening tracks. 'Scream Like a Baby' and 'Because You're Young' are just OK, the latter might appeal to some as Pete Townshend pops up on guitar - and would return on Bowie's return to form that was 2002's 'Heathen.' The second half is not bad...maybe it would have been improved by the presence of some nice bonus tracks, e.g. 'Crystal Japan', 'Alabama Song' or tracks from the 'Baal' e.p. ? The first half is fantastic, as great as anything from Bowie's brilliant career in the art decade that was the 70s. The presence of Robert Fripp is particularly welcome, Fripp was all over the place at the time, turning up on records by Blondie, Peter Gabriel and Talking Heads, as well as recording with Brian Eno and Daryl Hall - here the King Crimson-guitarist sounds like he's spraying his trademark sound all over the place. His influence on Blur's Graham Coxon is very much apparent on 'It's No Game (Part 1)' and 'Fashion' - the former has a riff which seems to predict Blur's 'Girls and Boys', while the latter is very 'London Loves.' Michi Hirota adds some great Japanese vocals which contrast brilliantly with Bowie's vocals and Fripp's guitar - the "Documentaries on refugees..." rap is great, Bowie's best rant since that bit on 'We are the Dead.' 'Scary Monsters (& Super Creeps)' sounds like Bowie doing 'Idiot'-Iggy, and set the tone for bands like The Psychedelic Furs and the Sisters of Mercy - I'd forgotten how great it was, and how much it rocks! The first half concludes with two of Bowie's best known songs, the hit singles 'Ashes to Ashes' and 'Fashion' - two songs that I always feel go together perfectly (not just due to the fact they follow each other on most Bowie best ofs!). 'Ashes to Ashes' was the first Bowie song I was aware of, and I found the famous video memorable too - it's spacefunk and a sequel to 'Space Oddity', as well as a direct reference to all of Bowie's problems the previous decade. Bowie buries Major Tom, offers up some horrific lyrics ('Jap girls in synthesis', the end of the world as you're broke and bald, 'sordid details following'...) - but with the lines "I want an axe to break the ice/want to come down right now" transcends all those problems. The coda "My mama said to get things done/You'd better not mess with Major Tom" sounds like a great farewell...'Fashion' follows with more Fripp and a futuristic funk sound that embraces New York - predicting a lot of music to come, and offering up some catchy pop nonsense with some great call/response lyrics. Bowie was onto his next thing, and recorded with Bernard Edwards and Nile Rodgers soon after...the next episode was beginning.

Great listen

What an album, absolutely deservedly Bowies greatest album with Fripp’s raw guitar playing. Vinyl plays flawlessly

1980. I left school, the future ahead of me. A beautiful future, the thin white duke had returned to soundtrack my life with his hugely anticipated opus 'Scary Monsters'. Heralded in the summer by the No.1 single 'Ashes to Ashes', Bowie was back. The moment felt magical. The rise of the Futurist/New Romantic scene adding to sense that something special was happening. It was a time to celebrate-and Bowie boys & girls sure knew how to party! The club scene was never so glamourous. The Blitz [London],The Rum Rummer [B'ham]...so many stars born in the night. Boy George, Steve Strange, Marilyn, Spandau, Duran, to name but a few. For about a year, I don't think there was a day this album wasn't on my turn table. The quintessential 'getting ready to go out record', every word of every lyric, emblazomed on my mind. A battle cry for the brave new world: 'We are the goon squad & we're coming to town!'

Un opus incontournable, et vraiment beaucoup de plaisir à écouter Bowie. Toutes les périodes de cet artiste multiple sont intéressantes bien qu'inégales. Bémol sur le boîtier qui est arrivé cassé dans un emballage normal et entier, bien qu'ouvert, probablement par le livreur qui heureusement pour moi ne doit pas apprécier ce genre de musique.

日本語のセリフとボウイの絶叫で始まり、一転して穏やかなアップ・ザ・ヒル・バックワーズヘ。その後も派手さはないですが、名曲ぞろい。個人的に1番好きな曲はティーンエイジ・ワイルドライフ、2番目になるとやはりアッシュズ・トゥ・アッシュズですかね。ちなみにボウイはこの作品まではご近所さんとも普通のお付き合いをして、穏やかに平和に暮らしていたそうです。しかし、その後待っていたのは……。YMOが今風に言うとバズって小学生から尾行を受けるメンバーたちみたいな日々が次作の世界的大ヒットにより起こるとはこのアルバム録音中、考えたこともなかったでしょう。後、「メイジャー・トムはジャンキー」という歌詞には自身のプラスティック・ソウル時代、ベルリン3部作時代の実体験が影響しているのは言うまでもないことは皆さんご存じですよね。ボウイはそこから辛くも脱出できたという思いを自らのアルバムを通じて伝えずにはいられなかったのでしょう。

Fantastic record from start to finish. The vinyl sounds great and you can't beat the songs therein. I already have this album from back in the day but getting the remaster also is well worth it.

Un indispensable

Tengo toda la discografía de Bowie, salvo los cuatro discos de la etapa comercial. Además los tengo en diferentes ediciones, tengo los vinilos normales y tengo algunos vinilos en edición limitada, numerada y con una tarjeta con el número correspondiente. También tengo vinilos de colores, etc. Entre los fanáticos de Bowie hay dos grupos: los que consideran que su último gran disco es, precisamente, “Scary Monsters”, y los que consideran tan buenos (al menos algunos) discos posteriores: “1.Outside”, “Heathen”, etc. Yo siempre fui del primer grupo, traté de convencerme durante un tiempo de que formaba parte del segundo, pero lo cierto es que sigo considerando “Scary Monsters” su última obra maestra. “1. Outside” podía haber estado a la altura, pero no lo está, uno se esfuerza en creer que es una obra maestra, pero no lo es, es una obra notable. “Scary Monster” es una obra maestra absoluta: se adelanta y supera a los “Nuevos Románticos” con “Ashes To Ashes”, entra con elegancia en los años 80 con “It’s No Game” y “Fashion” y en el álbum colaboran grandes como Robert Fripp o Pete Townshend. Además nos regala una versión preciosa de un tema de Tom Verlaine. Todas las canciones son sobresalientes, no detallaré. Un “must have”.