Tuesday, August 28, 2018

Bowie: Two For Tuesday



I am not a completist, though there are a few artists where I feel I can say, I've heard it all. The Beatles and Todd Rundgren come to mind. It'd be a real rare find if a song or alternate take should pop up that I hadn't heard before. I thought the same about David Bowie, until the trusty old iPod surprised me again.

The last track on Bowie's 2004 release, "Reality" is "Bring Me The Disco King." I like the track. It's a typically atmospheric, late career, album track with a interesting groove moving it along. But the iPod played a version I honestly didn't know I had. I think that has something to do with it being a remix, which I usually have no use for. But this particular mix by Danny Lohner of Nine Inch Nails, really...uh...nailed it.

Bowie's vocals are upfront and dry. The drums are clean and powerful. It's stripped of excess and yet it is very theatrical. I really love it. It can be found on the soundtrack to "Underworld" and on something called "db Oddities," which I am guessing is a fan made collection that I must have downloaded.

Original above. Remix below.



5 comments:

Bill said...

Never heard either version, and I think they're both great. A different vibe for each one. If I didn't know the second version was a remix, I would think that Bowie had recorded two different versions of the same song--like The Style Council and My Ever Changing Moods, or Neil Young and Hey Hey, My My.

Thanks for posting!

ken49 said...

Wow, the remix for me is much superior. The lyrics revealed themselves which I think Bowie is short changed on. Love the little flourishes in the remix. Thanks, you're right, an album cut that suddenly appears on the random Ipod.

rick said...

"Atmospheric" and "stripped of excess" are excellent descriptions. I like the remix very much. I think it showcases his voice well. Thanks for sharing it with us.

Chris Collins said...

this is a super cool post

buzzbabyjesus said...

I need the piano.