Some people think David Bowie has spent the past decade making emotionless art albums devoted to jumping bandwagons and chasing impossibly lofty concepts. But if that's the case, why has Columbia/Legacy just released the David Bowie Box, a 10-disc set surveying the glam rock icon's last five albums, with full-length discs of bonus material to accompany each one? Well, it's because with guitarists like Mark Plati and Earl Slick at his side, Bowie has spent the last few years turning out some of his most weird and wonderful work.
Here's an album-by-album guide to what's in the box:
Outside, 1995
On this high concept album about teenage homicide in cyberspace—no, really—Bowie wholeheartedly embraced the harsh industrial sounds and apocalyptic imagery of future touring partner Nine Inch Nails on standout tracks like "The Heart's Filthy Lesson," "Hallo Spaceboy," and "Strangers When We Meet." The dozen or so spoken word skits (all performed by Bowie) kind of broke the music's doom-laden spell, but damn it if he didn't look good in black eyeliner.
Watch: David Bowie "The Heart's Filthy Lesson"
Earthling, 1997
Having caught the techno bug with a few remixes that appear on the bonus disc of Outside, Bowie went full-force on his next release. Fueled by trendy drum and bass beats, Earthling finds the singer sounding more inspired than he has in years, offering up songs that would have been stone cold classics in any other setting, namely "Little Wonder," "Seven Years In Tibet," and "Dead Man Walking."
Watch: David Bowie "Little Wonder"
Hours, 1999
Bowie closed out the millennium in an unusually reflective mood, casting aside the mechanical beats for maudlin melodies and more traditional—if slightly over-produced—instruments. The opening "Thursday's Child" could have been lifted from any of his '70s albums and pretty much sets the tone for the best tracks "Seven" and "Something in the Air." But, ever the chameleon, Bowie seems to lose interest midway through the disc and abruptly starts rocking out. The scoundrel.
Watch: David Bowie "Thursday's Child"
Heathen, 2002
Recording for a new label and reunited with producer Tony Visconti (Young Americans, Scary Monsters), Bowie seems back on form. Dave Grohl and Pete Townshend both drop by to make guitar cameos while the Thin White Duke feels confident enough to cover Neil Young's "I've Been Waiting For You" and the Pixies' "Cactus." Not that originals like "Slip Away" were that bad.
Watch: David Bowie "Cactus"
Reality, 2003
Closing out the set is the best album of the bunch. Still working with Visconti, Bowie stops chasing bandwagons and settles with just being, well, David Bowie. The results are inspired, to say the least, particularly on soaring tunes like "New Killer Star" and "Bring Me The Disco King." It actually makes us excited to hear the next five albums.
Watch: David Bowie "New Killer Star"