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Oct 24, 2015lukasevansherman rated this title 3.5 out of 5 stars
After his "Reality" album and tour, David Bowie suffered a heart attack and spent the next decade quietly. There were periodic reissues of his material (mostly recently a box set of his earliest albums) and, if anything, his influence and reputation continued to grow. Three of the '00s best bands--LCD Soundsystem, TV on the Radio, Arcade Fire--all owed a debt to Bowie. So it was a pleasant surprise when his 24th album came out with little fanfare in 2013. And it was good. Working with producer Tony Visconti, who was part of much of his classic 70s work, and referencing the iconic "Heroes" cover, Bowie reaches back into his past without being overly nostalgic. He spent much of the 90s trying on different styles, but this feels very much a piece with his Berlin-era albums. A highlight is the closer, "Heat," which has the distinct feel of Scott Walker, a major influence on Bowie. There are few artists in their 60s who can still surprise you, but Bowie is one of them.