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Reality
Rock · 2003 · 11 tracks · 49m

Reality

A sharp, guitar-driven reflection on aging and a post-9/11 New York. Polished art-rock that balances restless energy with a haunting, jazz-inflected finale.

September 15, 2003 · M Power Records

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A sharp, post-9/11 New York anxiety tightens the jaw on this muscular, guitar-driven collection. Working again with producer Tony Visconti, the performance trades the spiritual weight of the immediate past for a gritty, street-level perspective that confronts the friction of aging in a rapidly changing city.

Tracklist · 11 Tracks · 49m
01
New Killer Star
4:41
02
Pablo Picasso
4:06
03
Never Get Old
4:25
04
The Loneliest Guy
4:12
05
Looking for Water
3:28
06
She’ll Drive the Big Car
4:35
07
Days
3:19
08
Fall Dog Bombs the Moon
4:04
09
Try Some, Buy Some
4:25
10
Reality
4:24
11
Bring Me the Disco King
7:45
Moments Worth Listening For
11Bring Me the Disco KingThe closing track 'Bring Me the Disco King' strips away the rock instrumentation for a sparse, jazz-inflected drum pattern and a deeply nostalgic vocal.
Reviews
Uncut4/ 5 stars
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Metacritic74/ 100
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AllMusic3.5/ 5 stars
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The Guardian4/ 5 stars
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Pitchfork7.3/ 10
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Entertainment WeeklyC+
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USA Today3/ 4 stars
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Rolling Stone3.5/ 5 stars
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The Rolling Stone Album Guide3/ 5 stars
BBC Music
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How does Reality sound next to the rest of David Bowie's catalogue?

Wistful+1.7σ

The record leans heavily into a wistful atmosphere, wrapping its sharp guitar lines in a weary, late-night contemplation of time slipping away.

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