Young Americans

In 1975 David Bowie dropped glam rock like glitter covered filth and embraced a sound he would later describe as “plastic soul”.
You can’t blame him for getting bored with rock n roll in 1975. Listen to even the more acclaimed albums of that period now (eg Lou Reed’s Transformer or the New York Dolls) and it all sounds pretty similar. According to music journalists “by ‘75 Glam Rock was like, TOTALLY OVAH!” or something.
Besides, a jazzy soul album wouldn’t be the first jarring change of musical style in ol Dave’oh’s career.
And of course this album was written and recorded whilst on tour in America, a place where country music stations and talk radio pretty much rule the airwaves if you‘re between cities. In 1975’s ‘Cracked Actor’ BBC documentary a skinny Davey can been seen taking solace in a “black station” on a car radio and having a lovely sing song to ‘Natural Women’. Just the kind of activity British people end up doing on the long straight roads through Nowhere’s Ville USA.


But if I can understand the change in musical direction, one thing I can’t fathom is why the songs on this album are so flippin bland!

What’s Good about it?
‘Fame’ is okay. ‘Young Americans’ and ‘Win’ have grown on me. That’s it.

What’s wrong with it?
Oh so much.
At first I wondered if I just wasn’t getting it. But then the horrific cover of the Beatles ‘Across the Universe’ crashes into your speakers and howls away like a rapid dog impersonating the Rat Pat. After that it’s all very clear: David Bowie had gone completely mental and didn’t have anyone around him who could tell him to stop, have a sit down and eat some proper food.
Rueben has correctly railed against the far to prominent saxophone and backing singers in his review over at Line of Best Fit. But for me the worst elements are the songs themselves. “Weak” doesn’t begin to cover it.

How many good songs?
3 out of 8

Bowie-o-meter:
I’ll give it 10 Ziggys for every half decent song, that seems fair. So 30 in total. Pah!

This was the album where my Dad lost interest in Bowie. He describes it as “bad R n B”. He was right about it in 1975 and he’s still right in 2008.
From here until the ‘Let’s Dance’ LP I’ll be the first of the family line to chart these waters!