Main menu
Fretplay home Submit tabs

David Bowie
David Bowie tabs David Bowie discography

Channels
Guitar channel Bass channel Guitar videos Reviews

Message Forum
Guitar forum Bass forum Bands and artists Promote your band Recent discussions All categories

Fretplay.com

David Bowie guitar tabs

CD reviews

The Buddha of Suburbia

David Bowie - The Buddha of Suburbia Audio CD

A fair review of the David Bowie "The Buddha of Suburbia" Audio CD. Please note that the below review is the views of the authors, and authors only. You can get a complete list of all David Bowie reviews here, or go back to the David Bowie tabs.

Band: David Bowie
Title: The Buddha of Suburbia
Rating:

Release Date: 2007-10-02
Media: Audio CD

Tracks: 1: Buddha of Suburbia 2: Sex and the Church 3: South Horizon 4: Mysteries 5: Bleed Like a Craze, Dad 6: Strangers When We Meet 7: Dead Against It 8: Ian Fish, U.K. Heir 9: Buddha of Suburbia [Version] - David Bowie, Erdal Kizilcay, Lenny Kravitz

A Lost Treasure
More's the pity for them. Talk about slipping through the cracks: I've encountered devout Bowiephiles who don't know about this album. Recorded for a British TV mini-series in 1993, this album seems to exist in many forms in the United States, with many covers. Whatever the cover, the music is what matters, and the music is excellent.

There is no radio-friendly Bowie ala "Let's Dance" or "Blue Jean" here, nor even a semblance to the more conceptual Bowie of "Outside" or "Heathen. " This is ambient Bowie, clearly showing the Brian Eno influence and ahead of the post-rock curve. The title track and "Strangers When We Meet" (which Bowie re-recorded for "Outside") have a fairly mainstream appeal, but the rest is ethereal, moody, dark, and largely without vocals. It's a different side of Bowie, and one well worth exploring even if you're not a fan of the better-known artist. I particularly recommend "The Mysteries," which takes several listens but eventually becomes utterly hypnotic. It has become one of my favorite pieces of music.

Bowie's Best Album from the Period - was this Lost Gem
From his collaboration with Pat Methany ("This is Not America") to the Labyrinth soundtrack to Tin Machine to tracks with Adrian Belew ("Pretty Pink Rose") - Bowie seemed to return to artistic form effortlessly each time, slipping into different identities and musical styles. After the seventies, David Bowie became perversely better at working on other people's projects rather than his own albums.

"The Buddha of Suburbia" was probably the best of the lot. It reminded me a lot of David Bowie's Low period. Albeit more accessible and zen like, Bowie seems at absolute calm here and channels the inner Buddha in him.

This is indeed Bowie's forgotten album, and a quiet masterpiece. I think Mr Bowie should actually do more concept albums for other people and lose himself just a little more like this.

The Nineties saw Bowie trying to reclaim his blunted edge, and for a moment in time, he found this oasis.

An Updated Berlin Sound
Although this was released in 1993 it sounds like it could have been cut today. I wasn't sure how to title this review so I went with what seems like the most obvious title to me. It's that progressive. This isn't the cd for everyone. This is more of an experimental Bowie and in that regard it stands out as a must have - if you liked any of the Berlin period stuff or Heathen.
.

A diverse, mature, highly enjoyable set
The music never gets too heavy and it's very adventurous without being self-conscious. For a guy who favors David Bowie's glam-rock period the most, it's kinda funny that THE BUDDHA OF SUBURBIA turns out to be one of my favorite Bowie albums. Most songs are loaded with subtle electronic atmosphere and jazzy textures, yet there's a wide range of styles on this album.

Bowie once again proves himself to be more than just a great singer as he skillfully navigates keyboard, sax and guitar passages. Erdal Kizilcay, Bowie's main music partner and coproducer on BUDDHA, deserves a lot of credit as well.

This is certainly one of Bowie's best albums of the 90's, but maybe it's not too surprizing that it originally wasn't released in America - it's not terribly commercial for one thing. It does seem to be aimed more toward British sensibilities and I suppose it's quintessentially Brittish overall. Even so, this American (me) has found a lot to love about it.

Breakdown:

"The Buddha of Suburbia" - a great "state of my mind" song in which the singer perseveres with an optimistic outlook in the face of a modern world mired in insanity. The music conveys a tentative sort of hope and then swells with anguish courtesy of Bowie's sax. ****1/2

"Sex and the Church" - an odd, quirky rumination on the title subject which Bowie delivers through heavily distorted vocals. It moves along steadily with a roaming but grounded bass line, electronic percussion and various sounds including great jazzy sax from Bowie. *****

"South Horizon" - My favorite track, this one is essentially free-form jazz with hip-hop and techno elements mixed in. For me, it's a revelation and I'd love to hear a whole album like this. Guest pianist Mike Garson tickles the keys to thrilling effect. *****+

"The Mysteries" - A deep, murky ambient track, like staring out across the ocean on a foggy morning. On the cusp of something intangibly brilliant. *****
"Bleed Like a Craze, Dad" - A bad-a** bass line, ripping electric guitars, unnerving background noises and more jazz inflections all make for an ominous, infectious and dancable cut. The title is kinda disturbing, yet fitting. Listen carefully and you can hear a dog barking to the beat! *****+

"Strangers When We Meet" - Has a dreamy, Roxy Music quality. The song was stuck on the end of OUTSIDE, rather uncomfortably I might add despite its lyrical relevance to that album. It's much more at home here. ***1/2

"Dead Against It" - sounds like a bubbling, runaway electronic excursion through modern life. In contrast, Bowie's singing is subdued and the subject matter (a woman who is dead again, dead against . . . something) remains intriguing yet inscrutable to me. ****

"Untitled No. 1" - is another Roxy Music influenced tune (Roxy Music in turn were no doubt influenced by early Bowie). This track is an extremely sensuous wonderland, perfect for dancing cheek to cheek or a romantic candlelit evening. The lack of a proper title is unfortunate but inconsequential. ****1/2

"Ian Fish, U. K. Heir" - another ambient piece with echos seemingly from a Buddhist Monestary on a distant mountaintop. Features gentle acoustic guitar, among other elements. White noise from a needle on vinyl fills out the background to interesting effect. ****1/2

"Buddha of Suburbia" - one could say this almost identical take on the opening track is pointless and lazy, but I like the way the song provides bookends for the album and brings its theme full circle. This second version also ups the ante with a passionate guitar courtesy of Lenny Kravitz. ****1/2 .

The Buddha Of Suburbia
The Buddha Of Suburbia was written for a BBC mini-series as the soundtrack though only the title cut from the record appeared during the show. David Bowie-The Buddha Of Suburbia ****

A long lost classic is a stretch, but a lost classic sounds about right. Released in 1993 to obscurity and re-released in 2007 (finally).

Comprised of mostly instrumental the album surprisingly never gets dull. Not that instrumentals are boring anyway but a Bowie album with little to no lyrics is like a Hendrix record with no guitar. But I am biased as I have always love Bowies' instrumental work.

The Title Track, 'Bleed Like A Craze, 'Sex And The Church,' 'Strangers When We Meet' which is it's best here' are the only real lyrical songs. They are all excellent.

But lets not for get the instrumentals. 'The Mysteries' was especially wonderful with the whole Miles Davis feel circa the Kind Of Blue era. 'South Horizon' is nothing short of epic.

The Buddha Of Suburbia isn't going to be for everyone, but if you liked his 1990's work than chances are you will like this. It is hist most personal record to date, as well as his most sincere.

You can see a complete list of all David Bowie discography, or go back to the David Bowie tabs. There is also a good guide on how to read guitar tabs here.