The Man Who Sold The World
by David Bowie

From Nowhereman1965 09/09/2018 16:02 | #220838 | TOP COMMENT Vote up your preferred comments and the comments with the most votes will be flagged.

Bowie dips into heavy rock. I love this album. Width of a Circle blows me away every time. All the Madmen and After All give us a little glimpse into Bowie’s mindset. With mental illness sadly stalking his family history. A lot of credit goes to Mick Ronson and Tony Visconti who arranged and produced the album while Bowie was partly distracted by the birth of his first child. Coming up with his lyrics at the very last minute. Overall an underrated album in the Bowie canon. (Edited)

From Brandon8 TOP 100 COMMENTER 08/16/2018 03:41 | #219740 | TOP COMMENT Vote up your preferred comments and the comments with the most votes will be flagged.

Overlooked upon its initial release and still not one of his best known albums this is a great album. It starts off with a 1 2 punch of The Width of A Circle and All the Madmen. This is Bowie’s psychedelic rock album and Mick Ronson’s guitar playing is amazing. The title track is a classic and made a lot more popular after being covered by Nirvana. (Edited)

From DeusExMackia TOP 100 COMMENTER 03/12/2018 11:56 | #210742 | TOP COMMENT Vote up your preferred comments and the comments with the most votes will be flagged.

A stellar dip into hard rock for Bowie; it lacks polish and doesn't feel as accomplished as his later work, but it fulfills a more improvisational, semi-experimental/let's-see-what-works sort of vibe that feels appropriate for this early stage in his career.

Early signs of his lyrical genius can be found on the brilliant 'All The Madmen' and on the album's title track, while he draws on hints of progressive rock on the opener 'The Width Of A Circle' and employs a gorgeous bass riff on 'Black Country Rock'.

It doesn't quite have the wow factor you want it to have, and some of the quirky elements like the synthtrumpet (I think that's what it is?) on 'Saviour Machine' can push you away to some extent, but for the Bowie enthusiast, there is a hell of a lot to like too. As an album it's hard to question the pacing or the length too.

Not one to dive into then if you haven't tried his other, more notable albums. But, to suggest that it is anything less than an essential piece in any Bowie collection is to undermine the high points of one of the more unusual early-70s hard rock releases. (Edited)

A top 5 album of mine! David Bowie trades spaced out folk for gothic hard rock and it works! From the unsettling 'Width of a Circle' to the glorius 'Supermen' every note on this record is perfect. (Edited)

David Bowie's third album is not that dissimilar to the, space oddity, LP. It has the same psychedelic rock feel, and has hints of the whimsical stuff of his first record. TMWSTW, kicks off in epic style with the eight minute, width of a circle, and that's followed by, all the madmen, one of the best tracks here. Other highlights are, black country rock, and, she shook me cold. But, the title track is the standout here, a brilliant song. I always feel that space oddity and this record are companion albums, but the great leap forward would come on Bowie's next release, hunky dory. (Edited)