First single lifted from his 2002 album 'Heathen'. Includes 5 tracks, 'Slow Burn' (Album Version), 'Wood Jackson' (Previously Unreleased / Japanese album bonus track), 'Shadow Man' (Previously Unreleased), 'When The Boys... more » Come Marching Home' & 'You've Got A Habit Of Leaving'. Guests include Pete Townshend on guitar & Lisa Germano on violin.« less
First single lifted from his 2002 album 'Heathen'. Includes 5 tracks, 'Slow Burn' (Album Version), 'Wood Jackson' (Previously Unreleased / Japanese album bonus track), 'Shadow Man' (Previously Unreleased), 'When The Boys Come Marching Home' & 'You've Got A Habit Of Leaving'. Guests include Pete Townshend on guitar & Lisa Germano on violin.
"The great thing import singles from non-pop artist is that instead of giving you remixes they opt for previously unreleased tracks. David Bowie s Slow Burn , the song which features a screechy guitar by Pete Townshed, is the first single from Bowie s Heathen . With rock guitar combined with Bowie s soulful vocal and agonizing lyrics, this song is a classic. Four non-album tracks follow and all of them are mournful and melancholy. The object of ridicule, Woody Jackson , is a very sympathetic character and Bowie s whispering vocal makes it a very worthy album track. It does appear on the Japanese edition of Heathen . Shadow Man and When the Boys Come Marching Home are also standout works. The fifth track is worth the price of the import alone. You ve got A Habit Of Leaving is punk rock with old R&B crooning and alternative rock sensibility. It s a pseudo twisted love song with a rousing jam session after the all too short lyrical section of the song are over. Unfortunately, Bowie is not one the musicians on this track but his upbeat vocal through this bitter song leave their impression. For those wanting yet another companion disc to Heathen (that is, assuming you own the American special edition of this disc or the Japanese import), this should tide you over til the next single (hopefully, Cactus )."
The Best Heathen Single
Jimmy Verona | Ga | 12/17/2003
(5 out of 5 stars)
"The five stars are clearly for single status. This is in no way an album, and when you look at buying a single, you understand that it isn't an album.
That being said, I think this is a great single. Five tracks, all different, only one of them (Slow Burn)on Heathen itself. Pretty much what we're getting here is stuff that could have mad the "Toy" album, and well, I hope that one day that album comes out, but until then, it's single buying times, and this single is worth your money.
I personally think Shadow Man is a great song, perhaps my favorite of the single. Go get it."
Worth Getting, but not quite 5 stars
MN audio | 01/25/2003
(4 out of 5 stars)
"Excepting the song Slow Burn which is on the Heathen cd (and a real classic), the other songs are interesting or pretty good. The standout is You've Got a Habit of Leaving -- it should have been on Heathen."
::sigh:: Toy: What could have been!
MN audio | 02/27/2003
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This is brilliant: Bowie at his very, very best. His voice has never been better than on the title track, and the bonus songs from the discarded "Toy" only make the Bowie fan wistful for what seems to be a lost masterpiece.Mark Plati, find a way to leak all of Toy online! ; )"
4 great songs, one re-make
MN audio | St. Paul, MN United States | 05/25/2003
(4 out of 5 stars)
"I love Wood Jackson, Shadow Man, & When the Boys Come Marching Home These 3 songs are mellow & slow, but excellent Bowie songs. Very much in the Heathen mood. His voice sounds great. 3 must-have songs for Bowie fans. The last track You've got a Habit of Leaving is a remake from Pinups I think. Doesn't do much for me. And of course Slow Burn is good."