| | Full Review | Ratings (147) |
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| 3.5 great | Nick Butler STAFF | January 10th 07 |
In part a sequel to Diamond Dogs, in part a sequel to the famous Berlin trilogy, 1.Outside saw Bowie re-unite with Brian Eno and carve a concept album. Just what the concept is is hard to put into words here, but it revolves a futuristic dystopia where murder has become a form of art amongst certain underground factions. The liner notes (which are fanastic) are a series of diary entries and police reports which shed light on the dark underworld this album builds. The concept, to be fair, is so complex that it doesn't come across too much in the music, which dips heavily into NIN-esque industrial andthe more esoteric, chilled side of drum'n'bass, stopping off occasionally at trip-hop, glam, house, and pop. It's a blend that's surprisingly passionate and direct for such a literary, intellectual project. "Hallo Spaceboy" (which became a major hit when re-worked by Pet Shop Boys, and re-introduces the character of Major Tom), "Strangers When We Meet", "I Have Not Been To Oxford Town", and "The Heart's Filthy Lesson" are all superb. 19 tracks is too much, it's true - 76 minutes is a long time to spend listening to an album. Still, for whatever combination of factors (one suspects the desire to one-up The Downward Spiral fired Bowie and Eno up for this), this is by far Bowie's best performance both as a singer and a songwriter in the 90s, and it ranks as one of his best ever albums.
3 Bumps | Bump |
| 3.5 great | Major Tom | August 12th 11 |
Ultimately, Outside is too challenging for its own good - even those who grasp its 'non-concept' can't argue against an overly long runtime and an inconsistent set of songs. Still, the album contains some of the most exciting and thrilling moments out of all Bowie's nineties work, and it's certainly the most ambitious album he attempted that decade. It's not the masterpiece it should've been, then, but it?s still an impressive and oftentimes brilliant experience, that all Bowie fans should try at least once before they decide to throw its splintered, complex carcass on the rubbish heap with his other misguided efforts, because Outside, despite itself, is far from deserving such a treatment.
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| 5.0 classic | cratos76 | October 19th 10 |
this is one album which i completely loved listening to.with a duration of one hour plus it would seem as though it would be a tiring listen,but no it is more than that,this is an experience more than anything and that makes it special.It is a concept album what it is really about well its not very clear it is abstract,philosophical and an experimental record .This is the first time i'm listening to a bowie record but what an experience it has been ..the song "i'm deranged" is also included in the soundtrack of david lynch's movie "the lost highway"this film is one of those films that i've not seen of david lynch.After watching "the grandmother" i've become a huge fan of david lynch anyway all i can say is that it is an amazing record with lots of industrial touches to it.Reading the lyrics of the lost song explains few things about this album but it is one album which after listening to leaves your mouth open just like after watching a lynch's movie......any ear that needs experimental fisting would love this and my favorite is "i'm deranged".......
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| 4.0 excellent | Kinch | June 15th 13 |
| 2.5 average | ramon | May 15th 13 |
| 4.0 excellent | ADM20 | April 13th 13 |
| 4.5 superb | gelud | April 8th 13 |
| 2.5 average | osiuuu | March 30th 13 |
| 3.5 great | Mikkel | March 22nd 13 |
| 3.5 great | Matski | March 2nd 13 |
| 5.0 classic | ranur | March 2nd 13 |
| 3.0 good | cmarcc | February 13th 13 |
| 3.0 good | Escain | January 6th 13 |
| 3.0 good | oswing | December 17th 12 |
| 3.5 great | FLRTE | November 6th 12 |
| 3.5 great | zillah | June 26th 12 |
| 2.5 average | JohnP | June 5th 12 |
| 3.5 great | Slask | March 30th 12 |
| 4.0 excellent | Paulus | March 16th 12 |
| 3.5 great | Steedo | March 4th 12 |
| 4.5 superb | Aaron | February 18th 12 |
| 4.0 excellent | Foaming | February 12th 12 |
| 4.0 excellent | promanow | November 10th 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | Blade86 | October 18th 11 |
| 3.5 great | cinnas | September 16th 11 |
| 4.5 superb | Etrius | August 14th 11 |
| 3.0 good | Dsylum | August 7th 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | Dylan | July 20th 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | Jethro | May 8th 11 |
| 1.5 very poor | IAJP | August 14th 10 |
| 3.5 great | Kakz | November 3rd 09 |
| 4.5 superb | syd1234 | September 26th 09 |
| 4.5 superb | cotras | December 10th 08 |
| 3.5 great | jk2two | September 5th 07 |
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