348 of 1001 Albums: David Bowie's Station to Station

It's 1976 and David Bowie is continuing to mix it up. So far every album has a had a different flare, and Station to Station is no exception to this. It sounds like he has come back to combine elements of his Ziggy Stardust days with some of the blend of what he was beginning to explore on Fame, and what you get is a new mix from David Bowie. This might leave Bowie fans of his older sound a little conflicted, but you can't help but like the new spin he has put on it.

"Station to Station" is the longest song, and the opener. Give it a few minutes and the song really kicks into a great opening. The fact that it does have the build test your patient, but it also makes it an epic way to begin the album. The album continues on after this with strong songs that keep you listening.


Bowie did incorporate a new character into this album, The Thin White Duke. This would be his last album he portrayed a character with. This album also does delve into deeper places than his previous ones had. He was still making the movement through his funk and soul interest, but also preoccupied with the new territory that Kraftwerk, and Neu! had established at the time. His themes in the album mostly revolve around his new fascination in philosophy and religion. These interests were probably also heavily fueled by Bowie's drug problem at the time.

What you find in this album though is Bowie officially declaring the journey on the rest  the albums featured on this list. With songs like TVC15 you get a flare that is Bowie, but more reminiscent of his new sound. There is something still quirky about it, and you might even want to move to it, but there is also something more serious about it, and it isn't anything you could listen to without growing a little more curious about the lyrics behind it.

There are a lot of themes and tones that do overshadow the album. It makes you instead look forward to what is to come since this definitely seems to be a transitional stage. Not all songs are as strong like "Stay", which has it's moments but definitely doesn't hold as well. You do hear a greater range of talent though as far as instrumentals on the album though.

Depending on your style this might or might not be the place to begin listening to Bowie at. It's more interesting to start from the beginning and see how he progresses to later albums like Low from Station to Station. It shows an artist that is maturing, and beginning to explore his own identity instead of relying on other identities. The album ends appropriately with a somber and slower tune, "Wild is the Wind".

Rating 8 of 10.