Diamond Dogs

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Editorial reviews

Amazon.co.uk Review
George Orwell's classic tale of totalitarianism, I1984/I, was the inspiration for a project that David Bowie hoped would further solidify his standing as a rock visionary. Bowie was a natural artist to helm a musical companion to Orwell's allegory, since his own music exhibits an innate alienation. The concept ultimately broke down, but the music didn't. "Rebel Rebel" has become a rock staple, while "Sweet Thing," "Candidate," and the forthright yet experimental title track (Bowie as puppet master) offer additional highlights. Still, despite such benchmarks and its conceptual flaws, IDiamond Dogs/I is best listened to as a thematic collection. I--Rob O'Connor/I

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Customer reviews

review by: Kev Tivey date: 2009-06-07 rating:
Concept at its best
I first bought this album in the 70's, I heard a track from it recently and got an longing to hear it again. This is a sci fi concept album with elements of George Orwell and bleak proficies of future degredation and I love it. I dont think anyone would even contemplate making something like this now let alone being able to raise the financial backing to produce it. Although all the tracks are good my favourite is "rock and roll with me". This album came from a "stadium rock" pre punk era and may sound dated to the modern ear but for what it costs give it a try.

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review by: Beatle Nut Bowie Nut date: 2009-04-17 rating:
Wonderful and Frightening...............
The summer of 1974 - I was 9 years old and already a 'Bowie-Nut' We were living in Bounds Green Road, Nth London and my folks went out on a saturday evening, leaving my eldest brother (15 then - 50 next month!)to look after his four younger siblings, and gave him the price of a chinese take away for all (a very rare luxury in those days). The take away cash was spent on Whiskey, most likely some smokes, Cider, Coke, Crisps and Sweets. His mate came round with the newly released Diamond Dogs, it was played repeatedly and everyone went crazy - I was strictly teetotal and non smoking then (of course) but the excess sugar was enough to keep me bopping. br / br /I remember being terrified by the howl that opens the album, and by the imagery of Future Legend; hopping around in an infantile Jagger like way to the (let's face it - very Stones like) title track; being absolutely enthralled by the beauty and complexity of the Sweet Thing cycle (many a tennis racquet guitar mime to the feedback bit that leads into Rebel Rebel would follow); Rebel Rebel was like an old friend (having already been released as a single) There was the TV Cop Show funk of '1984', the sinister mellotron 'choir' on Big Brother, the despair of 'We Are The Dead' and the thrilling finale 'The Chant of....' which ends with Bowie shouting 'Brian Brian Brian' (actually its 'Bro bro Bro' - I think) on a repeat tape loop until the whole thing fades and there is bugger all you can do with your shattered senses except start the whole thing all over again. br / br /In all the years since this album has not lost one bit of it's impact, and with the advent of CD, every listen reveals something new, not heard before. For recording and biog history, there are some great biogs out there - this is my own personal review, based on my discovery and life long love of a truly brilliant album. br / br /Incidentally, by the time Mum and Dad returned we were tucked up in bed, all was quiet and the truth about the Chinese that never was remained a well kept secret. As the lights went out and the house went quiet, all I could hear was that horrible howl...................

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review by: date: 2008-10-17 rating:
Future Legend
Diamond Dogs is my favourite Bowie album. I can't directly measure or directly explain why it comes in first before other greats in the Bowie back catalogue - it just does. The imagination, diversity of style, background unease of a bleak social chaos sprinkled throughout - it all cooks together marvellously to serve up a punchy, fragrant banquet of classics. My only criticism of the album is that it begins to flag a wee bit in in the middle before the final few songs deliver the best of finishes - and I think that one less song could have made it perfect. Nevertheless - DD is a firm favourite. br / br /There's no point echoing the rest of the comments that have preceded mine. Bowie could have disappeared altogether after Aladdin Sane - but he managed to conjure up 3 of his best albums in Diamond Dogs, Young Americans and Station To Station. br / br /Diamond Dogs was daring, different, and for the lack of another D word - absolutely bloody fantastic. There's nothing else quite like it - so give it a try if you don't own it as it's a bargain at today's prices. br / br /

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review by: date: 2008-07-11 rating:
Hugely underrated
Looking around the net I was really surprised to see the amount of negative reviews this 1974 album got- personally I think it's very good. Yes, it is overblown, but then again Bowie has never been subtle. Whilst the concept behind the album (a dysptopian future along the lines of Orwell's 1984) doesn't hold up too well, you can't fail to admire the scope of Bowie's imagination and creativity here, especially considering that partner-in-crime Mick Ronson had left the ranks, leaving him to handle many of the instruments himself. Most people will be familiar with 'Rebel Rebel' and the title track, the former being one of the most perfect pop singles of all time in my opinion. Just don't buy this album expecting another nine tracks of the same; what we have here is a gloomy, atmospheric set, with brilliant (as ever), cinematic and at times disturbing lyrics. To me this album represents Bowie at a crossroads: the glam hallmarks (sleazy saxophones, those crunchy guitar chords) remain, yet it foreshadows the loneliness and gloom of the 'Berlin' albums. With it's proto-disco rhythm, '1984' points to where he would go next (the 'plastic soul' of '75's 'Young Americans' and the paranoiac funk of 'Station to Station'). It's also infinitely better than both the album that preceded it (the dire-by-all-accounts 'Pin Ups') and the one that followed it (the syrupy 'Young Americans'). Overall, this may not be as immediately satisfying as say, 'Ziggy' but it is still a great album that displays Bowie's amazing artistic vision. If you're already a fan, you NEED 'Diamond Dogs', but if you're new I'd start with the classics first ('Ziggy', 'Aladdin Sane' or 'Low' are all fantastic).


review by: date: 2008-02-17 rating:
Something kind of hit me today
Right up there in the revolving 'db favourites' portfolio for me. Haloween Jack is a real cool cat, but this sounds a warning of what may yet come to pass in the world of Bowie/Orwell, as well as our own. br / br /Great imagery and very theatrical, i love all of these tracks and, as is often the case, there is much depth to Bowie's lyrics, his music too. br / br /Someone to claim us, someone to follow, br /Someone to shame us, some brave Apollo, br /Someone to fool us, someone like you..... br / br /Exactly who is he talking to in this? You, me, br /both of us, all of us, or just... Big Brother, big brother? br / br /Fantastic album more relevant today than 30-odd years ago.

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