Entertainment For Lively Minds
Low or "Heroes"?
Posted by Ola Claesson on 13 March 2011 - 2:31pm.
"Heroes" is one of my favourite Bowie-songs, but as an album I think Low is superior to "Heroes", despite quotation marks used nicely on the latter. On both albums I prefer the instrumental sides to the ones with singing, even if he´s one of my favorite singers. And Lodger is ridiculously underestimated.
But the question is - Low or "Heroes"?
- More from Ola Claesson.
- Login or register to post comments
-
i'll be brief
Low.Why? Because in my life
I've loved it more.
Low
Every time. Always struggled a bit with Heroes truth be told, think both sides on low are suberb
'Heroes'
It wasn't until a few years back that 'Heroes' became such an important album to me, so much so that I began going to Berlin and wandering round with it playing on my iPod. And then I moved here. It's hard to explain just why, but as well as the dark lyrical themes, its that monstrous sound, the metallic, crunchy texture and evocative atmosphere.
A friend of mine who grew up in the DDR during the 80s says that 'Sense Of Doubt' was the 'sound' of a cold Sunday afternoon in East Berlin, whilst to me, it all just sounds wonderfully 70s, retro-futuristic, tortured and ugly-beautiful.
'Low' on the other hand, doesn't quite grip me as much - Side 1 is beautiful, dry, icy, despairing and dispassionate, but side 2, not so much as 'Heroes'.
Hunky Dory
Over Ziggy. And both over Low and Heroes.
Low
For me - I think it's because at the time, it was so different and unexpected. "Heroes" is great, but it's more of the same, really.
Low was the original and best.
Have to say I never really got on with Lodgers, which is one of my least favourite Bowie albums.
Low
it just is
Low.
But, Sons of the Silent Age is the best track on either album.
good call
Couldnt agree more; Sons of the silence age is a top track.
Low
Only album i have on vinyl, cassette and CD.
I have heard...
... neither.
The only Bowie I have is a best of and Aladdin Sane. Both of which are pretty good. I should perhaps explore the works of this young shaver Mr Bowie. He shows promise.
Low
partly because some of the songs on side one are among the best Bowie wrote sounding like pure pop from another planet - and partly because I cannot think of anyone as well known, as well loved and as high selling making an album as brave as Low is. By its bravery, it encouraged so many others to be different, to be challenging, to be brave themselves.
Side Two
sounds like something from another planet too but perhaps that's David's recycling of the soundtrack album he intended for The Man Who Fell To Earth.
That soundtrack is really an album
I would have liked to hear. An entire A-Z of that spaced out (hardly no pun at all intended) beautiful music. I think I´ve said this before, but Low´s B-side is possibly my favourite of everything he´s done.
"Heroes" for me
they're both excellent, but the grey one has an unhinged, loose yet astonishingly accomplished quality (gulp)
Off the top of my head
I'd say "Heroes" but only because I've played it a lot more (and more recently - I can't remember the last time I listened to Low).
Perhaps it's time I gave Low some attention again. I know I loved it when it first came out.
Low
I'm not a massive Bowie fan *constructs fort* but Low is more resonant.
oh dear...
... we might have to discuss this at the next meet - april?
That would give me time to marshall my arguements in advance...
It's me, not him
I'm not *against* him, and I can appreciate what he has done without feeling any great emotional connection with it. I'm sure he'd be a fascinating guy to go round an art gallery with, and he's been very open about his sources but for me, he didn't improve on his sources.
I like Low, I like Pinups, I listen to "Heroes" every so often (and The Idiot, and Lust For Life which are as much his as they are Iggy's). I love the fact that when Iggy was struggling for money to pay a tax bill Bowie recorded several of his songs on the current album.
But the records just don't move me. (This was why Vorgongod offered me outside at the last London meet).
If you would like to prepare a "Bowie Conversion Kit" CD, I'll gladly give it a listen.
April ? All a bit complicated with travel just now, but will organise one before high summer.
You have yourself a deal!
I'll get to thinking about the CD while you are on tour.
And of course, if there is a Glagow date we would all like to know.
Me to.
Bowie sounds like head music rather than heart music to me, and he doesn't really move me as a result. I know the problem is mine, but I've never "clicked" with Bowie, that's all.
Head vs Heart
Low can feel very glacial and remote and I've seen it dimissed as one for the over serious cerebral rock fan. But I find it really moving.
However, Heroes has a great claustrophobic energy to it that appeals to me. Maybe its time to listen to them again.
Low...
...for me.
Low
The instrumentals on 'Heroes' were a bit weird-for-weird's sake, whereas on 'Low' they seemed more organic. Side one of both records are brilliant.
Low Low Low
The quality on Low doesn’t let up – The poppier tracks are irresistible, while those on Heroes can at times be a tad dense (notably “African Night Flight”)
The more abstract tracks on Low also beat those on Heroes – the former being more melodic, while those on Heroes often drift too far into non-descriptive ambient realms.
- That said, when it peaks, Heroes, like Lodger, can be forgiven it’s flaws. Sons of the Silent Age, Heroes, V-2 Schneider, Fantastic Voyage, DJ and Boys Keep Swinging are sooo good and sooo ahead of their time that their inclusion renders both LP’s classic, regardless of the accompanying chaff…
- the best bits of Lodger / Heroes would make a classic LP
...I'll leave you to make your own lists...
I'm down with Low
Low was a really pivotal album in my teenage years, and will always have a special place in my heart (yes, heart!). I used to listen to it very loud in my study on a Saturday evening; in fact I'm experiencing something of a "Proustian rush" even thinking about it. I think it does cohere more as an album - which is strange in a way, as most of the songs on side 2 of "Heroes" flow into each other. I don't think Moss Garden and Neukoln are up to the standard of the instrumentals on Low.
When it comes to individual songs, Heroes and Secret Life Of Arabia are a match for the highlights on Low, but as an album Low wins easily.
Incidentally, one of my favourites on Low is the opener, Speed Of Life, which I find truly thrilling. Innit?
I didn´t expect Low to win by such a margin
Low 13 - "Heroes" 3. And one vote for Hunky Dory (pompeygeorge did his best there).
Will now give "Heroes" a spin. Haven´t played it in a while.