Back to basics for the TWD, as he eschews the trappings of pop and dance for low down dirty rock and roll, and while sure, everyone will tell you Tin Machine was a democratic band and everyone had an equal say, let's be honest: they're Bowie's backing band, aren't they? Nobody would have bothered listening to them if Bowie wasn't involved, or at least, much fewer people.
Anyway, it's great rock and roll, a real edge to it, though I do wish that, even now, he could stay away from the goddamn covers! I mean, who really wants to hear someone else, even Bowie, cover "Working Class Hero"? I also note the song "Pretty Thing" is kind of a nod back to his own song of a similar title ...
Overall though, more immediate, more punchy and kind of on one level more enjoyable than most of his eighties output. Good to see he was able to shake it up, though both albums do feel a little like he was just working something out of his system, stretching and yawning and, as they say, kicking out the jams.
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Trollheart: Signature-free since April 2018
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