I can't help but think if Tin Machine was a band of four unknowns, their debut record would be considered a classic instead of a lemon. The record is flawed, no question. Lyrically, it can be cringemaking at times. But it also has moments of raw power and unmitigated audacity. Tin Machine's 1989 debut is manic and unruly for all the right reasons. It's loud and it's grimy. It's four guys throwing shit against a wall and hoping some of it sticks. And what sticks and what doesn't, depends on where you are standing.
I love this record and I think more people could feel like I do if they dropped the baggage. Even if you hate David Bowie, this resembles nothing in Bowie's catalogue. And if you love Soupy Sales, this doesn't sound like him either. (Too late now, but a Tin Machine cover of "Pachalafaka" might have done the trick.)
13 comments:
What I wouldn't have given to have heard Tin Machine cover "Pachalafaka." Or "The Mouse" for that matter. 😎
I prefer Tin Machine -- both albums -- over most of his other '90s output. Still.
Didn't really like it when their debut album came out. in my head, it's Bowie trying to do grunge before that term became popular. I get it; he was trying to wash himself of Never Let Me Down (incredibly the only time I saw Bowie live was for the Glass Spider tour...another let down). So I guess I respect TM more than I like them.
“Lyrically, it can be cringemaking at times. But it also has moments of raw power and unmitigated audacity.” #gospel Lol!
I bought the CD upon its initial release. I share your review. Years later I read how during the making of The Idiot and Lust for Life, Bowie had marveled at Pop’s ability to create lyrics at the microphone. It was a fun album but, didn’t have staying power for me. Then, the review for the band’s second album was horrendous and I recall zero airplay.
The Sound + Vision tour, reuniting with Nile Rodgers for “ Real Cool World” and Black Tie White Noise - I love both. He kept the guitarist.
A sonic compatriot releases a new song today:
Sugar - “House of Dead Memories”
https://youtu.be/-S72djtUIFk?si=7-Pb-7zlBwojuLwQ
Thanks for all you do, sir! :)
Like wine, everything can get better over time, but seriously...Tin Machine was (another) Bowie "experiment" that paled in contrast to, say, The Power Station, or even something like, dare I say, The Firm.
Dr Wu- I love Black Tie/White Noise
They did a cover of "Maggie's Farm" on some 12". It's okay. Of course, the Sales Boys worked with Todd once upon a time, say what.
Who hates Bowie? Impossible!
Impossible to hate Bowie? Maybe. Like any artist with a long career, it's easy to name a record or two that are truly awful. Or a part of their public lives that is despicable, like praising Hitler.
"...like praising Hitler."
Do a little more research on this, then try again.
"I have made my two or three glib, theatrical observations on English society and the only thing I can now counter with is to state that I am NOT a fascist. I'm apolitical." - Bowie in 1977. Here are SIX of those statements, which he later apologized for and blamed on cocaine, the stress of being a star, and his occult reading habits.
"I think Britain could benefit from a fascist leader. After all, fascism is really nationalism." -1976
"I think the morals should be straightened up for a start. They're disgusting." - 1975
"I believe very strongly in fascism... People have always responded with greater efficiency under a regimental leadership. A liberal wastes time saying, 'Well, now, what ideas have you got?' Show them what to do, for God's sake. If you don't, nothing will get done. I can't stand people just hanging about." - 1976
"Adolf Hitler was one of the first rock stars." - 1976
"There will be a political figure in the not too distant future who'll sweep this part of the world like early rock 'n' roll did. You probably hope I'm not right. But I am. My predictions are very accurate. Always." - 1975
"You've got to have an extreme right front come up and sweep everything off its feet and tidy everything up. Then you can get a new form of liberalism." - 1975
https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/rock-star-david-bowie/
https://www.thetimes.com/culture/music/article/david-bowie-hitler-nazi-fascism-gv86vzvkb?msockid=243308eda8f26465379f1b1ea9de65c7
https://www.muhistory.com/from-the-archive-2-mu-response-to-david-bowies-nazi-salute/
https://faroutmagazine.co.uk/nazi-book-david-bowie-wanted-make-into-movie/
Yes I am aware of all of this. But you left out all of the following comments where he renounced it all. He was a drug addict. These comments or his behavior did not go beyond the admittedly darkest period of his life.
And there is also this, which is better than anything I could write:
".... with his themes of the occult, Nietzsche’s Übermensch and the flat out statement that “this ain’t rock and roll, this is genocide” in Diamond Dogs. He also invented and played this messianic stage character Ziggy Stardust that elevated him to the same status for some people. He both loved it and hated it as it made him run into conflicts with his own perception of his personality.
Like many Brits, he was fascinated with (a pulpy version of) the Nazi’s and their obsession with the occult. Up to that point, I don’t think that there is anything wrong with it and it wasn’t uncommon. Around that time he also became fascinated with German Expressionist cinema of the 1920’s. A genre that was considered evil by the Nazi’s, so I think mid seventies he had this twisted head canon of a fantasy Germany somewhere between the Weimar Republic and the Nazi’s, cherry picking from both. These were two very conflicting periods in Germany. One was extremely liberal and the other was extremely oppressive. Note here that the 1970’s were also extremely liberal and that the song Aladdin Sane places a world war somewhere in the 1970’s in it’s subtitle. It was on his mind.
His comments on Hitler were more clumsy than shocking. He elaborated on the idea that Hitler was the first rock star. What he meant was that the Nazi rally’s resembled rock concerts and that the rock star was a messiah figure resembling Hitler. So, he didn’t say Hitler was a cool rock star, he said that rock stars were like Hitler. Which is consistent with his conflicting relationship with rock & roll, as he snubbed the messiah worship, but he played the part.
I actually think he had a (theoretical) point, but maybe it wasn’t something to discuss with journalists hungry for a story. His cocaine addiction did what it does to all those that succumb to it, it turned him into a rambling dick that thinks he is smarter than everybody else.
His statement that “Britain could benefit from a Fascist leader” and was ready for someone to sweep the floor to make room for change was more troubling. Thing is, Margret Thatcher became the UK’s prime minister at the end of the decade. Not a fascist, but definitely an iron lady that swept the floor. So, he was somewhat prophetic.
When he arrived in London for the STS tour, photographers shot him waving at fans and the pictures looked like a Nazi salute. It wasn’t, but given the bullshit he set up for himself it was bound to backfire at some point.
All this crap (and drugs) in his head and then he went to West Berlin with his fantasy image of Germany in the first half of the 20th century and loving the oppressed atmosphere in the divided city. It didn’t take long for some young Germans to set him straight that the heritage of the Nazi’s is nothing to be admired and West Berlin was a monstrosity not a curiosity.
So, he was more stupid at the time than a staunch supporter of fascism. I think his calling out MTV USA for it’s racism says more about him as a person."
Anyway....
And I still prefer both Firm albums to some of Plant's output.
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