Review of David Bowie: Scary Monsters ( And Super Creeps)

Click on the linked picture if you would like to buy it. It is a worthy addition to any music collection!

This Album is David Bowie's 1st album of the 1980s. A wholly unique and spellbinding gem. This album tends to get a bit overlooked coming after the brilliant run of albums from the previous decade and the commercial success of his next album Let's Dance. Each track from Scary monsters is unique and stands out from the rest. All guitar contributions are also incredible.  

The album begins with “It's No Game”. Strange noise comes blaring out of the speakers by way of wind and clicks. Bowie comes in with anguished and strangled vocals gloriously out of tune as the guitar plays in opposite with a pushing and pulling wail. This is an incredible opening for the album. The song ends with David screaming "Shut up!!! 

Song #2 "Up the Hill Backwards" starts out with jangling guitar, While simultaneously a second guitar wails in the background. Then Bowie sings the opening lyrics with a great vocal melody as the guitars subside. This has one of his best vocal performances. The drums chug with classy use of symbols and other percussion. Robert Fripp plays an incendiary guitar solo outro on this song. 

Song #3 Title track " Scary Monsters" starts off with a chug-chug chugging? guitar bass and drums pattern with strange harmony vocals. David comes in sounding frightened and paranoid singing about scary Monsters and super creeps. This song might be a metaphor on his take on Mental health or the lack of it. Strange vocal melodies and back-up vocals continue through the entire song. This is a classic song of the highest order. 

Song #4 “Ashes To Ashes” This was the 1st single and best known track from Scary Monsters.....Super Creep. On this song David updates the story of Major Tom who was a character in his 1969 track Space Oddity. This song kicks off with a beautiful keyboard sound. Tom is now a junkie. He never takes chances, but wants to crack the ice and change, but it would take too much work. He wants to escape from his mental prison. This Major could be a statement on society and the resistance to change and progress. 

Song #5 “Fashion” This is a fun song and critique on 1980 era fashion trends. A celebration of the trashy side of life with a dance beat. 

​Song #6 “Teenage Wildlife” Comes on with woozy sounding guitar and vocals. This song is about how we grow up with big eyes and enthusiasm only to end up with the realization that someone is always someone better than you. In the end you get old while a new generation goes through the same cycle you did. A process that repeats forever. We are all numbers that will be forgotten as we are replace by the new generation. Great song with a true, but depressing message. Another beautiful guitar solo ends this song. 

Song #7 “Scream Like A Baby” Comes on with serious guitars, drums and ambient affects. Bowie is pissed off. This song is about how society and public schools mold people into plastic people. Individuality was strongly discouraged. 

Song #8 “Kingdom Come” This song was written by Tom Verlaine. This is a beautiful interpretation. Another beautiful guitar part starts the track. Bowie comes with another woozy vocal that should sound weird, but is absolutely sublime; almost transcendental. The backing vocals and drum fills also move this song to the next level. 
 
Song #9 “Because You’re Young” Begins with a Pete Townsend guitar part with a low power cord. Then then switches to a rhythmic gait. The song is about looking back on a life, wishing to be young again and doing things right. Making observations how the youth of today don’t appreciate the fresh beginning and are broken and destined to live a hollow life like those that came before him. Solid song all around. 

Song #10 “It’s No Game (Part 2)” Starts with a throbbing bass and drum and tasteful and spatial guitar sounds. Background vocals and harmony, a continuing theme with this LP, are superb. This song is loosely about how revolutions will fail and people find out it’s easier to close your eyes and forget about yesterday. They come to the conclusion that it is better fill your mind with idle chatter and ignore the atrocities that occur in the world. 

Summation: 
This is rare and beautiful album that will make you think and feel. The creativity in these songs never ceases to intrigue the listener. The new 2017 remaster sounds great on vinyl and CD.

 Highest recommendation 
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Click on the linked picture if you would like to buy it. It is a worthy addition to any music collection!