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David Bowie - Heathen Audio CD

A fair review of the David Bowie "Heathen" 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.

David Bowie Band: David Bowie
Title: Heathen
Rating:
Release Date: 2008-02-01
Media: Audio CD

Tracks: 1: Sunday 2: Cactus 3: Slip Away 4: Slow Burn 5: Afraid 6: I've Been Waiting for You 7: I Would Be Your Slave 8: I Took a Trip on a Gemini Spaceship 9: 5.15 the Angels Have Gone 10: Everyone Says "Hi" 11: Better Future 12: Heathen (The Rays)

DEI LUXE
It's enough to make you forgive and forget "Let's Dance"!

This package may be pretty highly priced, but the "bonus" disc does include work not present in the previous and original "limited edition" which remains available still. One of his best late-period records -- anyone care to argue whether Earthling is a Bowie album or the third Tin Machine release? -- made more compelling by the guitar work of David Torn, a terrific cover of one of the better Pixies songs, Major Tom's wanking twin, a Saul-Bellowish short-story set to music and the sort of track to track coherence of the Early Days. (What are the "limits" exactly?) But all the additions aside (The word "extras" seems inappropriate -- it's like saying "extra money". Be honest, is there such a thing?) the reproduction here seems snapped up a few points: more inner detail and better imaging and nuance to the dynamic range which means you need something a few steps up from the iPod dock to get what you're paying for. With the tracks that are added -- Wood Jackson; When the Boys Come Marching Home; Baby Loves That Way; You've Got a Habit of Leaving; Safe; and Shadow Man -- make it enough volume for a second album. And they're not celeb remixes. But as good as the work is here there are no standouts that compare to the final selects comprising the original album. Nice to have, nice to hear and good to know that one of his better efforts has another incarnation. If you can spare the change, and the time.


EXCELLENT BONUS DISC WITH BETTER AUDIO
Here is the track list for the bonus disc:

13. Amazon doesn't mention that this '07 Japan mini-sleeve edition carries a bonus disc containing some fabulous non-album tracks & remixes. Sunday MOBY REMIX
14. A Better Future REMIX BY AIR
15. Conversation Piece
16. Panic In Detroit
17. Wood Jackson
18. When The Boys Come Marching Home
19. Baby Loves That Way
20. You've Got A Habit Of Leaving
21. Safe
22. Shadow Man

The audio on the main disc is the same '04 remaster. However, the mastering on the bonus disc is notably improved over many of the original singles' audio. Presumably, this is the same edition as the 2004 2CD jewel box re-release.

WHAT IS A JAPAN "MINI-LP-SLEEVE" CD?

Have you ever lamented the loss of one of the 20th Century's great art forms, the 12" vinyl LP jacket? Then "mini-LP-sleeve" CD's may be for you.

Mini-sleeve CDs are manufactured in Japan under license. The disc is packaged inside a 135MM X 135MM cardboard precision-miniature replica of the original classic vinyl-LP album. Also, anything contained in the original LP, such as gatefolds, booklets, lyric sheets, posters, printed LP sleeves, stickers, embosses, special LP cover paper/inks/textures and/or die cuts, are precisely replicated and included. An English-language lyric sheet is always included, even if the original LP did not have printed lyrics.

Then, there's the sonic quality: Often (but not always), mini-sleeves have dedicated remastering (20-Bit, 24-Bit, DSD, K2/K2HD, and/or HDCD), and can often (but not always) be superior to the audio on the same title anywhere else in the world. There also may be bonus tracks unavailable elsewhere.

Each Japan mini-sleeve has an "obi" ("oh-bee"), a removable Japan-language promotional strip. The obi lists the Japan street date of that particular release, the catalog number, the mastering info, and often the original album's release date. Bonus tracks are only listed on the obi, maintaining the integrity of the original LP artwork. The obi's are collectable, and should not be discarded.

All mini-sleeve releases are limited edition, but re-pressings/re-issues are becoming more common (again, not always). The enthusiasm of mini-sleeve collecting must be tempered, however, with avoiding fake mini-sleeves manufactured in Russia and distributed throughout the world, primarily on eBay. They are inferior in quality, worthless in collectable value, a total waste of money, and should be avoided at all costs.


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.

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