Month: January 2017

 

“I’m lost in streams of sound”

 

DAVID BOWIE – NO PLAN

VIDEO DIRECTED BY TOM HINGSTON: http://smarturl.it/noplanvideo

FOUR-SONG EP OUT NOW: http://smarturl.it/noplanep

 

One minute past midnight on January 8th, the day that would have been David Bowie’s 70th birthday, a subtly stunning video for the song “No Plan” surfaced quietly at http://smarturl.it/noplanvideo.

 

The “No Plan” clip was directed by Tom Hingston, whose previous collaborations with Bowie include the award-winning visual interpretation of the original version of “Sue (Or In A Season Of Crime)” from the Nothing Has Changed compilation. The “No Plan” video features a sparse, compelling narrative that reinforces the hypnotic pull of the ballad hailed by Rolling Stone—who ranked it #4 in their 50 Best Songs of 2016–as “a magnificent coda… one last transmission from the Bowie universe.”

 

Recorded during the sessions for David Bowie’s 28th and final album, ★, “No Plan” is one of three final Bowie studio recordings held in the vault until the October 21, 2016 release of the Lazarus Cast Album. Previously available only with full album purchase of the Lazarus Cast Album, those songs–“No Plan,” “Killing A Little Time” and “When I Met You”—have been released along with ★ single and Cast Album title track “Lazarus” as the No Plan digital EP, issued January 8 on ISO/Columbia. In addition, the three songs are now available for the first time on streaming services and as a la carte downloads.

 

Despite the complete lack of fanfare around their reveal, the “No Plan” video amassed over 500,000 views in its first 24 hours online, while the No Plan EP reached #1 on the iTunes charts of 11 countries including the UK, Netherlands, Denmark, Ireland, Norway, Finland and Sweden, and broke the Top 20 in more than 30 territories.

 

January 8, 2017 also marked the one-year anniversary of the release of ★. In the 12 months since the release of ★, the album has only grown in stature, establishing itself as a critical and commercial high point of David Bowie’s peerless catalogue. Having hit #1 in more than 20 countries (including Bowie’s first #1 in the U.S.), ★ closed out 2016 with five Grammy nominations—Best Rock Performance, Best Rock Song, Best Alternative Music Album, Best Recording Package, and Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical—and top honors in critics’ best of 2016 lists including #1 positions in the AV Club, Flavorwire, The Los Angeles Times, MOJO, Newsweek, Now, Paste, Q, The Wire, Uncut and more, #2 spots including the BBC, Entertainment Weekly, The New York Times, NPR and Rolling Stone, ultimately placing in the year-end lists of more major publications than any album released in 2016.

 

 

#BowieNoPlan

“We can be Heroes, for ever and ever”

 

Illustrator Helen Green has created a beautiful animation referencing 28 images associated with each Bowie studio album. She kindly sent us the individual files in celebration of David’s life and work.

 

Swipe/scroll (or click on little dots) to view each of the images.

 

#BowieForever

 

“Al Alba…” *

 

As David Bowie is in Tokyo starts its run, tickets for the exhibition’s residency at Museu del Disseny de Barcelona, went on sale today.

 

The Barcelona exhibition commences on May 25th.

 

The Museu del Disseny de Barcelona will be the only venue in Spain to host the David Bowie Is exhibition (curated by the Victoria and Albert Museum of London), which has now reached a million and a half visits on its world tour.

 

Go here for Barcelona ticket links.

 

Go here for exhibition information and ticket links for Tokyo.

 

 

* Al Alba is the title of the Spanish language version of Day In, Day Out.

 

 

#DavidBowieIs  #DavidBowieIsBCN  #ボウイ展  #DBisTokyo  #BowieTokyo  #davidbowieforever  

http://smarturl.it/noplanvideo

 

Bowie – Legacy is out now on 2 x 180g audiophile gatefold vinyl. A limited edition versions include two 12” prints of Bowie. The album features 20 of Bowie’s finest tracks and a previously unreleased 2016 mix of Life On Mars? by Ken Scott.

 

#BowieLegacy  #BowieLOM  

 

“Come see, come see, remember me”

 

While you’re waiting to see Francis Whately’s superb and emotionally charged DAVID BOWIE: THE LAST FIVE YEARS on BBC TWO at 21:00 on Saturday evening, check out the BBC’s Celebrating David Bowie MiniSite. (Sorry, content is UK only.)

 

It’s populated with outtakes from the documentary, plus the fascinating companion piece, The Last Supper, and much more besides.

 

 

#BowieLastFiveYears  #BowieAtTheBBC  #BowieAtTheBEEB  #BowieBBC  

 

“Oh, look out you rock ’n rollers…”

 

On January 7th 1972, the day before David Bowie’s 25th birthday, RCA in the UK issued their first ever David Bowie single in the shape of Changes/Andy Warhol. (North America got it the month before)

 

The track was the first to be lifted from Hunky Dory, an album these days considered by most (with a full set of working ears), to be one of the very best of all time.

 

However, despite being a Tony Blackburn Record Of The Week on BBC Radio 1 (a big deal back then), neither album nor single worried the UK charts upon release.

 

Viewed from today’s perspective, it’s hard to understand why the public didn’t pick up on either the single or the album. Whatever the reasons, Bowie didn’t seem unduly bothered and that’s possibly because he was already well on the way to unleashing the world-conquering Ziggy Stardust album and concept.

 

Changes is the opening track on Hunky Dory and you can listen to it now on Spotify. We should warn you though that it’s highly unlikely you won’t want to listen to the whole album while you’re there!

 

 

#BowieChanges  #BowieHunkyDory  #BowieLegacy  

 

“Don’t you wonder sometimes”

 

Originally released on Friday February 11th 1977 in the UK, Friday February 10th 2017 sees the release of the next David Bowie limited edition 40th anniversary picture disc on Parlophone, Sound And Vision.

 

A #3 UK hit for Bowie in 1977 when it was released as the first single from the timeless classic Low, Sound And Vision was unorthodox in that the lead vocal didn’t appear until half way through the song. It was unusual too for a single not to precede an album release, and considering this and the fact that RCA barely promoted the single in the UK, it’s surprising Sound And Vision performed so well on the chart.

 

Brilliantly produced by Bowie and Tony Visconti, the song features a guest vocal from Mary Visconti (Nee Hopkin), the co-producer’s then wife. It also boasts a backing vocal from Brian Eno and was the first record to feature his voice in the UK singles chart. (He didn’t sing on the early Roxy Music hits.)

 

The A side of this release has a brand new remaster of Sound And Vision, while the AA side sees the first physical release of the 2013 remix of the song. This beautiful, stripped-back remix by Sonjay Prabhakar was originally created for a Sony Experia advert and utilises the original Bowie lead vocal and Mary Visconti’s backing vocal with a new piano part. Listen to that version here.

 

DAVID BOWIE – SOUND AND VISION LIMITED EDITION 40th ANNIVERSARY 7″ PICTURE DISC (DBSAV40)

 

A Side Sound And Vision (2016 remaster)

(David Bowie)

Produced David Bowie & Tony Visconti

 

AA Side Sound And Vision (Sony Experia mix)

(David Bowie)

Produced David Bowie & Tony Visconti

Remixed by Sonjay Prabhakar

 

The images used on both sides of the disc are by David James and were taken during the filming of The Man Who Fell To Earth.

 

The Sound And Vision 40th anniversary picture disc is released via Parlophone on February 10th 2017.

 

 

#DBSAV40  #BowieVinyl

 

“The toppest top of all the tops”

 

On this first day of January last year, we reminded you of the imminent release of David Bowie’s ★ album.

 

Exactly a year later, as we begin 2017, here’s a list of just how well ★ fared in end-of-year polls. Each group is listed alphabetically.

 

 

+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – + – + – + – + – + – + – + – +

 

★#1 = 23 placings

 

#1 – A.V. Club’s 20 Best Albums of 2016 – A.V. Club

#1 – Double J’s 50 Best Albums of 2016 – Double J

#1 – Drowned in Sound’s 16 Favorite Albums of 2016 – Drowned in Sound

#1 – Gigwise’s 51 Best Albums of 2016 – Gigwise

#1 – Les Inrocks’ 50 Best Albums of 2016 – Les Inrocks

#1 – Louder Than War’s Albums of the Year 2016 – Louder Than War

#1 – MOJO’s Top 50 Albums of 2016 – MOJO

#1 – musicOMH’s Top 50 Albums of 2016 – musicOMH

#1 – Nerdist’s 15 Best Albums of 2016 – Nerdist

#1 – Newsweek’s Top 10 Albums of 2016 – Newsweek

#1 – No Ripcord’s Top Albums of 2016 – No Ripcord

#1 – Northern Transmissions’ Top 10 Albums of 2016 – Northern Transmissions

#1 – NOW Magazine’s Top Albums of 2016 – Now Magazine

#1 – OOR’s Top 10 Albums of 2016 – OOR

#1 – Paste’s 50 Best Albums of 2016 – Paste

#1 – Q Magazine’s 50 Best Albums of 2016 – Q Magazine

#1 – Sputnikmusic’s Top 50 Albums of 2016 – Sputnikmusic

#1 – The Times & The Sunday Times – The Year’s Best Pop by Will Hodgkinson – The Times / The Sunday Times

#1 – The Wild Honey Pie’s Top 30 Albums of 2016 – The Wild Honey Pie

#1 – The Wire’s Best Releases of 2016 – The Wire

#1 – Treble’s Top 50 Albums of 2016 – Treble

#1 – Uncut’s Top 75 Albums of 2016 – Uncut

#1 – Under the Radar’s Top 100 Albums of 2016 – Under the Radar

 

+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – + – + – + – + – + – + – + – +

 

★#2 = 14 placings

 

#2 – BBC – The Top 10 Albums of 2016 By Mark Savage – BBC

#2 – Earbuddy’s Best Albums of 2016 – Earbuddy

#2 – Entertainment Weekly’s 50 Best Albums of 2016 – Entertainment Weekly

#2 – Fopp’s Best Albums of 2016 – Fopp

#2 – Gaffa (Norway)’s Best Albums of 2016 – Gaffa (Norway)

#2 – InStyle’s 10 Best Albums of 2016 – InStyle

#2 – Magnet’s Top 25 Albums of 2016 – Magnet

#2 – Red Bull’s 25 Best Albums of 2016 – Red Bull

#2 – Rolling Stone’s 50 Best Albums of 2016 – Rolling Stone

#2 – Rolling Stone Australia’s 50 Best Albums of 2016 – Rolling Stone (Australia)

#2 – The Needle Drop’s Top 50 Albums of 2016 – The Needle Drop

#2 – Time Out London’s Best Albums of 2016 – Time Out London

#2 – Variance’s 50 Best Albums of 2016 – Variance

#2 – Vulture’s 15 Best Albums of 2016 – Vulture

 

+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – + – + – + – + – + – + – + – +

 

★#3 = 9 placings

 

#3 – Consequence of Sound’s Top 50 Albums of 2016 – Consequence of Sound

#3 – Diffuser’s Top 40 Albums of 2016 – Diffuser

#3 – GIGsoup’s Top 13 Albums of 2016 – GIGsoup

#3 – God Is In The TV’s Albums Poll of 2016 – God Is In The TV

#3 – KCRW’s Best Albums of 2016 – KCRW

#3 – NPR Music’s 50 Best Albums of 2016 – NPR Music

#3 – SPIN’s 50 Best Albums of 2016 – SPIN

#3 – The Guardian’s Best Albums of 2016 – The Guardian

#3 – Variety’s 10 Best Albums of 2016 – Variety

 

+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – + – + – + – + – + – + – + – +

 

★#4 = 4 placings

 

#4 – Albumism’s 30 Best Albums of 2016 – Albumism

#4 – Billboard’s Top 50 Albums of 2016 – Billboard

#4 – Pitchfork’s 50 Best Albums of 2016 – Pitchfork

#4 – Time Out New York’s Best Albums of 2016 – Time Out New York

 

+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – + – + – + – + – + – + – + – +

 

★#5 = 6 placings

 

#5 – Fuse’s 20 Best Albums of 2016 – Fuse

#5 – PopMatters’ 70 Best Albums of 2016 – PopMatters

#5 – Slant Magazine’s 25 Best Albums of 2016 – Slant Magazine

#5 – Stereogum’s 50 Best Albums of 2016 – Stereogum

#5 – The New Zealand Herald’s 20 Best Albums of 2016 – The New Zealand Herald

#5 – The Times / The Sunday Times 40 Best Albums of 2016 – The Times / The Sunday Times

 

+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – + – + – + – + – + – + – + – +

 

★#6 to #10 = 14 placings

 

#6 – American Songwriter’s Top 50 Albums of 2016 – American Songwriter

#6 – Clash’s Albums of the Year 2016 – Clash

#6 – Crack Magazine’s 100 Greatest LPs of 2016 – Crack Magazine

#6 – Gaffa (Sweden)’s Best Albums of 2016 – Gaffa (Sweden)

#6 – NME’s Albums of the Year 2016 – NME

#6 – Pretty Much Amazing’s 60 Best Albums of 2016 – Pretty Much Amazing

 

#7 – Esquire’s (US) 30 Best Albums of 2016 – Esquire (US)

#7 – FLOOD’s Best Records of 2016 – FLOOD

#7 – The Quietus Albums of the Year 2016 – The Quietus

#7 – The Skinny Top 50 Albums of 2016 – The Skinny

 

#8 – BrooklynVegan’s Top Albums of 2016 – BrooklynVegan

#8 – The Atlantic’s 10 Best Albums of 2016 – The Atlantic

 

#10 – Digital Spy’s 20 Best Albums of 2016 – Digital Spy

#10 – LA Music Blog’s Top 50 Albums of 2016 – LA Music Blog

 

+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – + – + – + – + – + – + – + – +

 

Visit the excellent and very thorough AOTY for more positions and links to the original online pieces.

 

Finally, thanks to all of you for making ★ such a huge commercial success, too.

 

 

#Blackstar  #BlackstarAlbum