How would you rate "Diamond Dogs" (1974) by David Bowie?

Discussion in 'Music Corner' started by Haristar, Jun 23, 2017.

  1. Haristar

    Haristar Apollo C. Vermouth Thread Starter

    Location:
    Hampshire, UK
    "Diamond Dogs" is the eighth studio album by David Bowie. Released on May 24, 1974, the album acts as a transition between Bowie's glam phase of 1972-1974 and his soul phase of 1974-1975.

    [​IMG]
    Track listing:
    -Future Legend
    -Diamond Dogs
    -Medley:
    -Sweet Thing
    -Candidate
    -Sweet Thing (Reprise)

    -Rebel Rebel

    -Rock 'n' Roll with Me
    -We Are the Dead
    -1984
    -Big Brother
    -Chant of the Ever Circling Skeletal Family
    --------------------------------------------
    Here is a recap of the series so far:
    "Heroes" poll Rating: 4.28/5
    "Let's Dance" poll Rating: 3.58/5
    "Hunky Dory" poll Rating: 4.79/5
    "Reality" poll Rating: 3.47/5

    I apologise for the delay in creating this thread - I was away on a holiday.
     
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  2. Bobby Morrow

    Bobby Morrow Senior Member

    Option 3. It does have a few great tracks, but isn't as overall strong as Ziggy, Hunky and Aladdin. Stunning sleeve though!
     
  3. California Couple

    California Couple dislike us on facebook

    Location:
    Newport Beach
    "Rock 'n' Roll with Me" seems out of place on this album. Still I prefer it over Hunky and Man and Americans too.
     
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  4. strummer101

    strummer101 The insane on occasion aren't without their charms

    Location:
    Lakewood OH
    An excellent record in a string of excellent records. Essential.
     
  5. Bowie Fett

    Bowie Fett Forum Resident

    Location:
    Los Angeles, CA
    A great journey. Essential.

    Rebel Rebel
    Big Brother
    Sweet Thing
    We Are The Dead
    Rock N' Roll With Me

    :agree:
     
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  6. Haristar

    Haristar Apollo C. Vermouth Thread Starter

    Location:
    Hampshire, UK
    A favourite of mine that I wish made the final cut:

     
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  7. Diamond Dog

    Diamond Dog Cautionary Example

    Wildly ambitious, epic album which is finally getting its due after existing in the shadow of Ziggy for so long. Then the muse moved to Philly...What are you gonna do ? :shrug:

    D.D.
     
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  8. BlueSpeedway

    BlueSpeedway Curated Iconic Half-Speed Picture Disc

    Location:
    England
    Favourite 1970s Bowie album alongside Station to Station.
     
  9. Rufus rag

    Rufus rag Forum Resident

    Location:
    UK
    ^^^^THIS
     
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  10. Purple Jim

    Purple Jim Senior Member

    Location:
    Bretagne
    At the time, without Rono, it was a huge disappointment. David played nearly all the guitars and it sounded a little lightweight and plodding in that department. I heard it a couple of times and never bothered with it for about 5 years. Then I rediscovered it in 1979 and thought it was terrific. There are some great songs on there and I love the whole Orwellian concept of the thing.
    It's quite amazing how he came out of the Ziggy nightmare (as it became for him) and delivered such a finely constructed concept piece (even if it didn't fulfill own expectations apparently). Love it to death, so it's "Essential listening - a true classic" for me.
     
    Last edited: Jun 23, 2017
  11. Morton LaBongo

    Morton LaBongo Forum Resident

    Location:
    Manchester NH
    Not too bad, it was sort of Bowie's farewell to glam rock before he changed styles with Young Americans. Rebel Rebel got so much airplay throughout the 1980s that a younger listener could easily have mistaken it for a more recent Bowie tune. Not as solid as what came immediately before it but a worthwhile listen.
     
  12. dkmonroe

    dkmonroe A completely self-taught idiot

    Location:
    Atlanta
    Essential. Perhaps his greatest album ever from an artistic point of view.
     
  13. alexpop

    alexpop Power pop + other bad habits....

    Only stinker R&R with Me.
    Always thought the production was weak compared to Ziggy/Sane.
    Then there's the omission of Ronno.

    Saying that it's still a classic, more depth than it's predecessor.
     
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  14. Diamond Dog

    Diamond Dog Cautionary Example

    If that's a stinker, Diamond Dogs comes out smellin' like a rose.

    D.D.
     
  15. alexpop

    alexpop Power pop + other bad habits....

    More dog, than diamond.
     
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  16. Purple Jim

    Purple Jim Senior Member

    Location:
    Bretagne
    I like that one but it is a harbinger of his breathless David Live/Young Americans vocal style.
     
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  17. dkmonroe

    dkmonroe A completely self-taught idiot

    Location:
    Atlanta
    [​IMG]
    You say that like dogs aren't awesome.
     
  18. stef1205

    stef1205 Forum Resident

    I like it and for me it is essential, perhaps the peak of his 70s oeuvre, alongside with Station to Station. Bowie's lead guitar is amateurish, tasteful and amazing at the same time. No weak tracks and the album has a good flow.
     
  19. Diamond Dog

    Diamond Dog Cautionary Example

    I prefer to think of it in terms of its druggy, boozey, langourous sway - a sleezy oasis in an even sleezier, more fetid world of degeneracy and decay. Outside is death in the fog at the fangs and claws of the Dogs, but inside, it's just you and your mutated lover slow-dancin' to the music... it's almost beautiful.

    Almost.

    D.D.
     
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  20. dkmonroe

    dkmonroe A completely self-taught idiot

    Location:
    Atlanta
    Frankly I don't see why anybody who likes Bowie wouldn't love that song. It's the "Moonage Daydream" of DD. Bowie's vocal performance is one of the best on the album. It's a genuine rock'n'roll ballad. It's got an almost 50's R&B spirit buried in it. And it's got the only romance on the album that isn't tinged with doubt and regret, like "We Are The Dead."
     
  21. BlueSpeedway

    BlueSpeedway Curated Iconic Half-Speed Picture Disc

    Location:
    England
    Beautifully put. It's the first major public clue to his burgeoning love of the first two Neu! albums (which had been released in 1972 / 3), two to four years before the Heroes / Hero (Neu! song from 1975) parallel that everyone goes on about, and the Berlin era albums.

    Especially the final section of Big Brother, which in a parallel universe could have been a lost Neu! track excerpt...
     
  22. mr_spenalzo

    mr_spenalzo Forum Resident

    One of my favourites.

    I bought my copy around the same time I was going through a very bad phase in my (then-very young) relationship, and something about songs like Sweet Thing and especially We Are The Dead ("we're taking it hard all the time, why don't we pass it by? Just reply, you've changed your mind") hit me right where it hurts (ignoring the concept for this album). I listened to it on repeat.

    The relationship survived and 17 years later we're married with a daughter, and this album is something rare: an album that reminds me of a very depressing period that I love to listen to.
     
  23. Purple Jim

    Purple Jim Senior Member

    Location:
    Bretagne
    Yes, that final guitar riffing was/is extraordinary, hypnotic and so cool, so modern. David Bowie Ladies and Gentlemen. David Bowie.
     
  24. sekaer

    sekaer Forum Resident

    Location:
    United States
    Perfect description of Bowie's lead guitar playing on DD, which I've heard even non-Bowie fans express admiration for
     
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  25. alexpop

    alexpop Power pop + other bad habits....

    Not like MoonAge DayDream in a million light years. Very pedestrian, and not walk on the wild side that is.
     
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