Hunky Dory Review: Bowie's Brilliant Songwriter Album
9.5/10 — David Bowie - Hunky Dory (1971)
Pros
- 'Life on Mars?' and 'Changes'
- Great piano and strings
- Varied songwriting
Cons
- A few lighter songs
Hunky Dory was Bowie’s breakthrough as a songwriter, recorded just before Ziggy Stardust with Mick Ronson and Rick Wakeman. It opens with the piano-led ‘Changes’.
What works
‘Changes’, ‘Life on Mars?’ and ‘Oh! You Pretty Things’ are among his best, and ‘Quicksand’ and ‘Song for Bob Dylan’ show his range. Wakeman’s piano and Ronson’s arrangements are lovely.
Where it falters
A few songs, like ‘Fill Your Heart’, are lighter, and the tone is quirky.
Verdict
A wonderfully varied, melodic album.
