Additional information
This is an Enhanced CD, which contains both regular audio tracks and multimedia computer files. Personnel includes: David Bowie (vocals, guitar, saxophone, keyboards, stylophone, drums); Kristeen Young (vocals, piano); Tony Visconti (guitar, recorder, bass, background vocals); Mark Plati (guitar, bass); David Torn (guitar, omnichord, loops); Pete Townshend, Dave Grohl, Carlos Alomar, Gerry Leonard (guitar); Lisa Germano (violin); Jordan Ruddess (keyboards); Tony Levin (bass); Matt Chamberlain (drums, percussion, programming); Sterling Campbell (drums, percussion). The Scorchio Quartet: Greg Kitzis, Meg Okura (violin); Martha Mooke (viola); Mary Wooten (cello). The Borneo Horns: Lenny Pickett, Stan Harrison, Steve Elson. Recorded at Allaire Studios, Shokan, New York and Looking Glass Stuidos, New York, New York. "Slow Burn" was nominated for the 2003 Grammy Awards for Best Male Rock Vocal Performance. There's more than a hint of things turning full circle in the 21st century's first original David Bowie full- length album. On HEATHEN, Bowie not only reunites with co-producer Tony Visconti, but within the first 15 minutes references his '70s hit "Heroes" in the suitably smoldering "Slow Burn," and turns around late co-conspirator John Lennon's "God" in "Afraid" ("I believe in Beatles"). Bowie wisely gives himself the space to toy with old R&B rhythms and weighty, pre-punk guitar riffs, juxtaposing Bjork-like string sections with looped rock drums and hissing synth backgrounds on "I Would Be Your Slave," while coyly harking back to his Ziggy Stardust persona on "I Took a Trip on a Gemini Spaceship." "A Better Future" features a chirpy '60s arrangement underlying the sort of fallout-saturated pop ditty that might one day become a favorite of the protagonists of "Drive-in Saturday." As you might expect from a Bowie/Visconti collaboration, the production is both high-tech and down-and-dirty--one minute all overloaded mics and booming drums, the next all chiming synths and breathy backing vocals. Featuring smartly chosen guests Pete Townshend and Dave Grohl, HEATHEN is a righteous return to form from an erratic but consistently intriguing pop master.
Reviews
Rolling Stone (6/20/02, p.82) - 3.5 stars out of 5 - "...HEATHEN is the sound of Bowie essentially covering himself - to splendid, often moving effect. The album sparkles with hindsight..." Q (12/02, p.65) - Included in Q Magazine's "The 50 Best Albums of 2002." Q (6/02, p.108) - 4 stars out of 5 - "...HEATHEN has the beefiest sound of a Bowie record since 1980's...It's great....A return to form. Definitely." Uncut (1/03, p.94) - Ranked #10 in Uncut's "100 Best Albums of the Year" - "...A stirring return to form....Bowie kicked it into high gear vocally, lyrically and imaginatively..." CMJ (6/02, p.13) - "...Bowie's vision is fully realized with the help of lush string arrangements, acoustic guitar and minimal electronics....If only more artists could age with this much grace." Mojo (Publisher) (7/02, p.108) - "...A fine restatement of classic Bowie elements with contemporary twists...the production is back-toform too..." NME (Magazine) (6/15/02, p.28) - 8 out of 10 - "...It's great. All of it....Bowie is still a zillion times more inventive, brave and rocket-to-Mars brilliant than anyone who's been prodded by the genius stick..."
