MB Bowie Classics: "Tin Machine" by Tin Machine
 

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Since only MicShazam bothered to respond to my question as to whether or not to include the Tin Machine albums, and he said yes, we're doing it. Here's the first one, self-titled.

I've never listened to this :D

Or the second one.

Neither have I. In fact, pretty much everything bar Heathen from here on in is new to me. Apart from The Next Day and Blackstar, of course.

What's going on with Dave's ear there? Looks like a MMA fighter.

All I can say is (sigh) - ear, ear, what's all this ear? :D

Bowie returns to rock after almost eight years of unremarkable pop. Eleven songs of mostly raw sounding rock and a bland, tepid, almost pop cover of ""Working Class Hero" by John Lennon which is easily the weakest track on the album.
The guitar on the title track reminds me of the song "Over Under Sideways Down" by the Yardbirds and two songs; "I Can't Read" and "Video Crime" sound like they could fit right in on Bowie's "Lodger" or "Scary Monsters" albums.
A refreshing, energetic return to rock for Bowie.

3/5

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.

I've listened to this album a whole bunch of times over the last week, but it still slips right off my brain like water off a duck's back. There's a few tracks that stand out and I'm not sure I think any of it is bad. "Prisoner of Love" is a cool song, but otherwise, I find the album more listenable than exciting. It feels refreshing coming into this after Never Let Me Down, but I feel like the music is frequently a little anonymous. I'm definitely getting the feeling that Tin Machine is a band that I wouldn't bother with if Bowie left.

Still, it's an allright album and there's some occasional highlights. I'll give it a respectable 3/5.

It is an improvement over his paltry dance albums and you can tell Bowie is enjoying this part of his metamorphosis. It's not especially great; pretty average really, but it is certainly listenable and had this been the next album after Scary Monsters, I'd still would have been excited about him. Alas, I've just now heard Tin Machine in its entirety. Best tracks are Heavens In Here and I Can't Read. Most of the other songs are listenable but nothing really stands out.

5/10 (The Word has spoken :D)