Pin-Uppance

Overall Album Score: 7.9 out of 10

Hey! You know what we used to do with pinups in the army? Ohhhhhhhhhh yeah. I spent days upon end in the trenches, where all we got to look at was the smelly, unattractive feet of dirty men. There were no women around at all. So, what I would do to satisfy my oppressed male hormones were pinups! When I was feeling particularly lonely, I would get Pin-Ups from David Bowie and my mp3 player out of my cargo shorts and rock endlessly to it. Even if there were bullets flying past my ears, I couldn't hear them ... and I didn't care! I was listening to DAVID BOWIE sing a bunch of old 60's covers! Oh yeah! THAT'S how to live the good life in the modern Army!

This is probably the least essential album in David's entire catalogue, but it's pretty fun to listen to. Though, hardcore fans often complain that he really screws up some classics! I mean ... they are sung off-key, and his voice sucks already.

(I admit that, at this point of my rock-going career, I haven't heard too many of the originals ... something that I hope to rectify as I build the site.)

However, if I were to review this album based solely on the finished product, as opposed to the history of its tracks, I must say that it is a VERY fun album. David Bowie, who is usually an art/pop rocker, takes a break from all that Ziggy Stardust - Aladdin Sane stuff that ended up turning him into a major star and pays tribute to all those guys he used to envy in the 60's.

You see ... unlike what you might think, David Bowie was actually around in the 60's and emerged from the same scene such bands as "The Who," "The Pretty Things," "The Kinks," ... "The Easybeats." Of course, it took Bowie until the 70's to make a name for himself, but he was active and writing flop songs during that period.

Well ... here is his tribute to those good old days. Me? I enjoy this record perfectly. I don't take it seriously, and I don't know why anybody would.

Overall Album Score: 7.9 (There's really not one weak track here on this album full of covers. But, Bowie occasionally doesn't give it all he's got.)

Average Song Score: 8.3 (It is certainly not a bad collection of covers! There are some REAL nice songs in here that probably ought to be considered Bowie classics. But --- alas --- this album is the black sheep in the 70's Bowie catalogue!)

Album Tilt: 8.0 (It's not a perfect album, even though it might be perfectly fun to listen to.)

Artist Tilt: 7.5 (Well ... this album might be a lot of things, but an artistic feat it is not! I can't really give high ratings to albums with covers in it. However, it didn't score a seven because a lot of these songs are obscure, and David does a few really nice interpretations of them. Kudos! There are many Bowie fans across the planet, and this is probably the first and only time people would get to hear some of these keepers.)

Track Reviews

Rosalyn 8/10

So, the album begins with this fast R&B rock number. It's a good song, of course, but not great. This one is actually a very obscure Pretty Things song that is currently available as a bonus track in the German reissue of their self-titled debut album, which I'm sure none of you are going to get! (Don't worry ... I've already started somewhat of a Pretty Things collection of my own, 'cause I own two of their CD's at the moment!) Anyway, David's rendition of the original that I haven't heard is coo.

Here Comes the Night 7.5/10

And, so "Rosalyn" merges into this track, written by a guy named Bert Burns. Interesting 'cause he was born in 1929 and died in 1967 ... (a little bit old to have been in rock, isn't he?) It was featured on an out-of-print 1965 Them album, which was the group Van Morrison was apart of. As far as David's version, it doesn't do much for me. The tune, for one, isn't particularly worth remembering, and neither is David's vocal performance.

I Wish You Would 7/10

Hmmmmmmmmm... I still like the track... it's just ------ blah. It's got an above-average riff to work with, though! If my sources are correct, this was actually a 50's R&B song written by Billy Boy Arnold and then later covered by The Yardbirds. 'Tain't bad.

See Emily Play 10/10

Yes! The first real kick-ass song on this album! Yay! This was actually a 60's Pink Floyd song back when Syd Barret still ran things with his psycho stuff, and I have heard the original, once upon a time! The original was already weird, so Bowie doesn't exactly make it any weirder ... but this is a great rendition of it! In fact, George Starostin says he makes it more accessible! I agree! I really like the very end of the song, where Bowie tries to recreate the whole psychedelic "noise" thing ... and then at the VERY VERY end, he brings on a little classical music. I love it! (The classical stuff doesn't even happen in the original! Cool!)

Everything's Alright 8/10

I really like bits of the chorus here, and that's largely what keeping this at an 8. But, this quick R&B cover leaves me largely unenthused. (I can't seem to figure out where it came from!)

I Can't Explain 6.5/10

It's certainly an agreeable song, but ... um ... it's an uninspired rendition of a song by the Who. I really hate the use of the cheesy Philly-soul horn. Sorry, David!

Friday on my Mind 8.5/10

Now here's a song that REALLY deserved to be covered! It's a song by The Easybeats (one, which I have downloaded for one of my mixtapes). And, I can say with confidence that apart from David's off-key singing, it's a very good rendition of it. It's a captivating song with some very interesting hooks ... and it's certainly one of the album's highlights. (Man... I think I'm going to put The Easybeats near the top of my "list.")

Sorrow 9.5/10

Wow! Another wonderful and entirely worthwhile cover! It was originally by the Merseybeats. (Adds "The Merseybeats" to list.) Hruh? Apparently this song isn't even available on Merseybeats compilation albums? That's a load of BS.

Don't Bring Me Down 8/10

I don't care too much for the instrumentation, either. Apart from Mick Ronson's always-wonderful geetar playing, the rest of the instrumentation leaves a little bit to be desired ... it's perhaps too artificial and polished. It seems to be really out of place. But I do very much like it! This song was written by Johnnie Dee and was performed as a Pretty Things song. (Ooooooh you Pretty Things!)

Shapes of Things to Come 9.5/10

This is a REAL kick-Boooooooooody cover of a Yardbirds song. Not only does David add sweeping instrumentals to the song, I actually think he performs it a whole lot better than the Yardbirds did. Just my opinion. This song is particularly excellent! Even though I haven't heard too many of the other original songs that David covers, this one shows that David turned many of these old songs into his own! Cool!!!!

Anyway, Anyhow, Anywhere 7.5/10

You know ... I just can't convince myself that David does a good job handling these Who songs. The Who's original version of it kicks, but ... even though I heard David's version of it first, it doesn't kick. I'm simply not too excited about it.

Where Have All the Good Times Gone 8.5/10

A Kinks song! You know ... he REALLY tries to alter his voice to sound a little bit like Ray Davies. The Kinks are a band that I'm PARTICULARLY a fan of. I actually don't too very well like the Kinks original, so David did a commendable job picking it up and playing around with it. His version is good, but not great.

Do you think I'm right? Or, do you think I should be pinned-up and left for the dead? Leave your comments here