Name(s): “Heroes”
Artist(s): David Bowie
Format(s): Album (40:19 minutes)
Genre(s): Art Rock / Ambient / Electronic
Release Date(s): October 14, 1977

The best David Bowie album. David Bowie has obtained a glib reputation for being a constant innovator, but in reality he was always more of a trendsetter, cleverly appropriating his influences but nonetheless as deeply indebted to them as many claim “every artist ever now” is indebted to David Bowie himself. The credit David Bowie does deserve is hugely substantial, but he surpassed that in pop culture a long time ago.

It does beg the question then, if so many people worship Bowie as a creative genius, then where is the non-hyperbolic praise for what actually is his most idiosyncratic work as an artist? These glittering, bleak, paranoid, ecstatic, alien, krautrock jams are the only thing in his career that can’t be compared to another part of it because they’re so wholly original and inspired.

My one major complaint with this album is that while Brian Eno‘s instrumental works on Low were interesting, the instrumentals here are very predictable in atmosphere and unnecessary. Also, the album is almost half-split between the A-side’s traditional Bowie songs, and the second half’s ambient, Brian Eno instrumentals. This is very jarring and doesn’t make the album flow well. Brian Eno both helps this album be as great as it is and also holds it back in this way. I would do anything for an album full of Bowie rockers in this style, but it seems I’ll never get my wish now.

Bowie’s vocals possess his typical rock swagger, and Robert Fripp’s erratic guitar work and Brian Eno’s backing synthesizers all combine perfectly to make this one of the most schizophrenic pop rock albums ever made. Move over Ziggy Stardust; “Heroes” is real music from Mars.