The Next Day

After 10 years of studio silence, David Bowie shocked everyone by dropping "Where Are We Now?" on his 66th birthday. We soon learned it was the first single to an album he'd recorded on the sly with producer Tony Visconti, the man behind many classic Bowie albums. The single alludes to Berlin-era Bowie, and the album cover reimagines that of "Heroes", the centerpiece of his Berlin trilogy. Not surprisingly, the sounds on The Next Day are among the most challenging of Bowie's career. A heart attack curtailed his 2004 tour, but it let Bowie step back and recharge. Fans will search for clues (and they appear to be here) that link the songs to others in his catalog. But even without an advanced degree in Bowie, one can marvel how chords and rhythms sound different when he and Visconti put them to work. Even a cruiser like "Dancing Out in Space" has an apocalyptic worry chasing it. The hook to "How Does the Grass Grow?" is taunting. "You Feel So Lonely You Could Die" strikes an isolated pose.