Bowie is back with Earthling, music
by David Bowie, Reeves Gabrels, and Mark Plati. It's one of musical highlights
of 1997, and just in time for the holidays. Bowie scores bigtime with I'm
Afraid of the Americans created with Brian Eno, although all the tracks
are almost equally compelling.
I was just starting to sink into the holiday dread in anticipation of America's highest tribute to materialism when I first heard 'Americans'. 'God is an American...' it goes...what a refreshing antidote to the pious, sanctimonious, American religious hypocrisy in its high season regalia!
At last, at the millenial end, there is a mass cultural icon calling a spade a spade. I could almost hear the Europeans and Asians smiling in relief.
David also shined in live concert December 7, '97 at Kezar Pavilion in San Francisco. I went to see Bjork who canceled due to illness, but thanks to Bowie, who looked like a cross between a sushi chef and a hairdresser, the evening was saved.