A wonderfully crafted song, uncomfortable, eerie and claustrophobic (like the whole album) and still a top tune - This is what I love about Bowie he did not stick to musical rules just his instincts and imagination.

The melody in the chorus is one of those ones that you end up humming all day.

The original LP had a run-out groove at the end, so that "BRUH-BRUH-BRUH-BRUH" would just keeping going until you took the needle off. It's such a fitting end to the record.

I'm still lobbying for "Low" (but "Young Americans", his next album would be cool because it's such a departure!)

Ziggy is definitely the way to go, the opening and closing songs on that album are some of my favourite Bowie tracks.

The skipping voice at the very end was one of several brilliant recording mistakes throughout his career which Bowie ended up using in the final product. I hope at some point you will get to do Blackstar ☆

Hunky Dory (1972), Rise and falls of Ziggy...(1972), Aladdin Sane and Pin Ups (both 1973) all have really good parts. I am not sold on all songs from all Bowie’s albums but in total he is one of the best world ever had the honor to be blessed with.

Ziggy would be a great choice. Other selections you might consider: Low. Lodger

This is a damn great album. Big Brother is all mellotron! The 8 choir, the sax, you can hear the key clicks when he plays the sax on the mellotron! the strings all mellotron it’s flipping incredible. This album is always overlooked and I don’t know why? I love Bowie however far you go back.

Just had my second covid shot, feeling like poo and then I see Jp listening to Bowie! For a few minutes you made my world better, thank you so much for the reprieve.

This album is Dave at his most misunderstood, and I think one of his best moments. And yes to Sweet Thing!!!! Love how it ends with "It's got claws, it's got me, it's got you. It's got you!" When I heard you say: "Ziggy" I literally got shivers. Fasten your seatbelt JustJP! Big love from Toronto.

Bowie was on the Mellotron - surprising, because on his earlier albums, Rick Wakeman was hired because he knew how to sustain the notes on it before the tape loops ran out.

This is the first David Bowie album I ever listened to. At the end of May 1974 I came home from my first year at college. My 17 yo brother had this album and I gave it a listen. I had never heard David before but this album changed my life. I had never heard anything like it before. From that moment on I couldn't get enough David Bowie. Both my brother and I went to see him in concert later that year my brother at Radio City Music Hall on Halloween and myself 2 weeks later at the Music Hall in Boston. RIP David we miss you

Great video Justin. Ziggy is Bowie's most iconic album, but I think you would find Aladdin Sane or Scary Monsters more interesting. All of them have hits, but musically, he accomplishes much more on Aladdin Sane. At the same time, Fripp's fingerprints are all over Scary Monsters. Can't go wrong with either choice.

This Whole Album was a Huge part of my youth. It had such an impact on me. I saw Bowie 4 times in concert in L.A and Orange Co. where I lived the first 30 years of my life. David Bowie changed me. I Loved his music and him and was very sad when he passed. 💔

Happy that you’re considering Ziggy next. The album that made him a commercial success though the earlier Hunky Dory is arguably a better album. Whatever you decide, Bowie is always interesting

Would love to see you listen to Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust!

You should go for Blackstar. The amazing swansong.

YEESSS : Ziggy Stardust ! My favorite (just after Diamond Dogs)

The opening to me sounds Spanish/Hispanic, like something you'd hear as a matador first faces the bull. Just a suggestion for Ziggy, you might want to listen to tracks 2 and 3 together (Soul Love and Moonage Daydream), not because they belong together any more than other tracks on the album, but because if you separate the two tracks you'll miss the greatest and most thrilling segue in rock history - I first heard it nearly 50 years ago and it STILL sends shivers down my spine :)

Did you notice that when "bruh-bruh-bruh" is fading out it starts sounding like "run! run! run!"? I've always found that really chilling. Well, I've said it before and I'll say it again, I'd love to see you do "The Man Who Sold The World" next.

Next Bowie LP to explore should be Low which is the next phase of his artistry - Art Rock but you can’t go wrong with Ziggy of course. It is interesting you picked Diamond Dog though cos it’s like a transitional album between his glam rock and plastic soul phases.

Favorite two tracks to wrap up a great album! "Ziggy" or "Hunky Dory" are popular next picks, and they're both excellent. But here's another Bowie album to keep in mind..."Lodger"!

Bowie is always welcome.

maybe wait until July to listen to Ziggy and play starman on the 6th? as 6th July 1972 was the date Bowie appeared on Top Of The Pops playing Starman in the UK...and a few weeks later we had Roxy Music with Virginia Plain...fantastic times for a 10 year old kid...

I’d recommend another album, not Ziggy yet but Young Americans, since it’s the next album to Diamong Dogs, and it can make a sweet connection between DD and Station to Station, somehow closing this “chapter” if I can call it that way, of Bowie’s discography. And in this logic, Ziggy could be right after Young Americans, no problem about it But you call it, Justin and Justnettes (it came up right now in my mind lol)

You got this song fairly quickly. Essentially, the people living in Hunger City have submitted themselves to the brainwashing their government has tried to do throughout the album. They're entranced by the idea of their oppressors being a savior. Apollo is Greek god of the sun, music, healing, and truth. They look to Big Brother as guidance in the way the Ancient Greeks looked to Apollo, and become thoroughly deluded into supporting the great evil. The final moment of Chant is special. The audio switch from bruh to run is very subtle. These people know they need to get away, but are too far gone. The last of their individuality flitters away. The next direction is going to be interesting. Honestly, based on your reaction to this album, though Low seemed like a good next move, you'd really like Ziggy or Young Americans more. Ziggy is captured in the youth and chaos of songs like Diamond Dogs and Rebel Rebel, while Young Americans has more in common with 1984 and this song, and definitely Station to Station. Personally, I prefer Young Americans. It's more consistent. Ziggy's concept can also be really loose, even moreso than Diamond Dogs. Young Americans has work with Luther Vandross, David Sanborn, Robin Clark, and John Lennon. You'll hear a lot of great saxophone. On the other hand, Ziggy has great riffs, strings, and piano from Mick Ronson. You'll be happy either way. Ziggy will probably be eclipsed for you by Aladdin Sane at some point, though. It's an introduction to glam, while Aladdin Sane is a masterpiece of glam, complete with Mike Garson's piano solos you heard used sparingly on this record. Ziggy has to come before Aladdin, though. Young Americans will close out the soul period and needs no follow-up. Honestly though, you're going to be surprised by every album. People shy away from several of them for various reasons, but Space Oddity, Hunky Dory, Scary Monsters, Let's Dance, the Labyrinth soundtrack, Never Let Me Down, 1.Outside, Heathen, and The Next Day will 100% impress you. I have no doubt you'll get the underrated albums. People don't view them as "reactable", but I think in some ways they're more complicated than an album like Ziggy or Low that's really very simple but has great atmosphere. None are to be underestimated. Great to see you've finished the main part of the album. I have to tell you, the bonus tracks are even better than some of these songs. Station to Station had no bonus tracks, so this topic didn't come up, but the Candidate demo and Dodo from the Diamond Dogs Rykodisc editions are incredible. I'm not overselling them. They really are that good. Ziggy and Young Americans have equally good bonus tracks. Top 100-worthy tracks, imo. If you ever do them, you'll definitely be happy about it. Keep up the great work, Justin! 🧡

You should try the Berlin trilogy of Bowie: "Low", "Heroes" (both 1977) and "Lodger" (1979); these albums and his last one "Blackstar"(2016) are our favorites of him. "Lodger" is considered to be the weakest of the trilogy by most; we consider it to be the best of it though, especially because of the contribution of electric violin player Simon House of High Tide and Hawkwind (you mistook his playing for synthesizer in the only Hawkwind track you heard and found too repetitive. Which we think it is definitely not, by the way; the rhythm is repetitive, yes, but that's part of the style of Hawkwind, and there are always a lot of things going on beside it, and in this track too. And there is a huge change when that violin comes in). House is classically trained and one of the very best violin players in progressive rock

I had this album in 74. I totally forgot. I love the jam portion of this song.

Yes, Ziggy next. Many people's favourite Bowie album, and very popular generally, but if you're working your way through his albums then either go in order or just pick some of the best. In my opinion the best has to start with Hunky Dory, and include The Man Who Sold the World, Aladdin Sane and Blackstar. Of course I could go on naming albums but we'd be here all day and I'd probably end up listing all of them.

Bowie person since forever. This was my first Bowie. Had the 8 track and still have the vinyl. Telling my age? One of my favorites. Maybe it's just nostalgia? Can't believe I only heard Lady Grinning Soul a year ago. Certainly you've reviewed Loving The Alien? The acoustic. Just he and his guitar guy. I'll never cease to be amazed. So glad I lived while he did. I appreciate you. Thanks.

In one of the biggest musical 180's to ever happen, one year later, Bowie would release his 'Philly blue eyed soul' album "Young Americans". Where he lost a few fans, but gained a whole lot more. Wedged in between 'Diamond Dogs' and 'Station To Station'.

Enjoyed your reaction and insights. Thank you.

Love Big Brother!!! Could be my favorite Bowie song.

I always loved this album and particularly love the intro and outro. Although "Skeletal Family" is undoubtably a bit of a throwaway, I love its churning motion....and it always reminds me of the skeletons in "Jason and the Argonauts" (my favourite film as a child). Thanks for the review, Justin! 😎

Absolutely killer bass line!

You definitely have to do Ziggy Stardust next, it’s like a rite of passage.

EPIC!!!!

One of the greatest album endings of all time. Thanks for all the Bowie reactions. I think you'd appreciate Aladdin Sane more than Ziggy Stardust but I'll check out any Bowie you do.

It has always impressed me how early Bowie picked up on disco being the next big thing (disco really only just beginning around '74, at least on the popular music scene, and really exploding in the mainstream around '76. At least, that's how I remember it). And as I mentioned in an earlier post, it's interesting how Bowie pretty much ignored disco as a style to adopt (with a couple of notable exceptions, such as "Chant Of The Ever Circling...", and "The Secret Life Of Arabia" off the "Heroes" album.) Diamond Dogs is a thoroughly enjoyable album, but I tend to think Station To Station is a better, more mature album (even though I probably listen to Diamond Dogs more often!). Enjoyed your reaction, and very glad you reacted to this particular album! Ziggy Stardust is probably the next one you should do, however I can't wait to see you discover Low and "Heroes". Anticipation is part of the fun!

We used to play the Skeletal Family part over and over, that riff was so incredible.

Yup. Thought the record was skipping! :0). Man all these years later I still LOVE this album. Incredible stuff. It also holds significance for me in that I found a diamond dog’s songbook and that started me on my journey to learning guitar (it was Bowie and Ronson that inspired me to learn). The book fell apart after a while....wish I still had it. It had some great pictures from the DD tour. I would recommend Aladdin Sane next....or you could go in the other direction and do Young Americans (his next studio release and TOTAL departure)

Not heard BB for years, forgot how much loved it, thank you for the revisit. Ziggy is fabulous especially 'Lady Stardust' is heaven! but Scary Monsters after that (or next) please :) x

Hi Justin! Great reaction, as ever :) ! You actually got most of the meaning of the song (as much as I can see: with Bowie, you can never really be sure to get 100% of the significance or references of a song). I really appreciate you went through the whole album to the end despite the fact you didn't actually liked the first 2 songs : that's very honest of you, thanks a lot! As for recommandations, though Ziggy is of course a milestone in Bowie's carrer (the 1st album to offer him a worldwide audience and to unleash a global frenzy only comparable to Beatlemania nearly 10 years before), I'd still recommand 1-Outside : - Like Ziggy or Diamond Dogs, it's a concept album, with the concept left aside, the way Bowie does all the time - It's from 1995, the music had evolved and Bowie, although considered by the time (and the critics...) "a star from the past with no future" proved that he was still avant-garde both conceptually and musically - The album comes with a booklet full of information about the world where the action takes place, very much like "The lamb lied down...", if you see what I mean ;)... - To my knowledge, very few people have reacted to a 1-Outside song, and no-one did the actual album all the way through Of course, any Bowie album would be a good choice, but I'll be vouching for this one again and again, you can trust me on this :-D Keep up the good work!

A cool thing with the skip at the end, I always liked how it continues uniformly for just long enough for you to wonder if something's wrong, before the reverb picks up and it begins to fade, letting you know it was intentional. I think you'd love the "Young Americans" album, it's maybe my favourite of his from a pure enjoyment perspective, though I'd recommend if you do you include the bonus tracks from the rerelease ("Who Can I Be Now", "It's Gonna Be Me", and "John I'm Only Dancing (Again)"), because they're all great.

I feel like a salmon fighting upstream with most wanting to go backwards but, I’m actually going backwards by going way forward to Heathen or maybe Earthling. This would give a clue to the future. In the future... people will not need fingers. Love DDogs and agree with its placement slightly above Station to S and there are others to slightly place above these two. The dude was awesome, sorry to see him go. Time to play my handpicked best of CD named: Well Done Mr. Bowie, today. Peace and Bowie Music

I dig your understanding of David's thoughts.

Two very different suggestions for where to go next with Bowie... His "Berlin Trilogy" starts with the album Low and it would be an excellent album to explore. Some of my favorite Bowie tracks are on Low... Speed Of Life, Sound And Vision, Always Crashing In The Same Car, Be My Wife, Warszawa (although the live version on his album Stage is even better). The other suggestion is his final album Blackstar, which is remarkably good, and which fans of classic Bowie may have overlooked entirely. Also, I should mention that his last album got a lot of attention after his death, but his previous album The Next Day is every bit as good and as interesting but it didn't get nearly the same attention.

I'm looking forward to your doing Scary Monsters, but Ziggy is a,classic, but keep in my some of the featured players on SM as well because I they are some of your favorite musicians...I THINK.

His last one 'Dark Star' is brilliant. My personal favourite is 'Hunky Dory' .

Great reaction. Glad you enjoyed the Diamond Dogs album. May I suggest his Man Who Sold The World album next. It's Bowie's launching pad for the whole Glam movement. The Width of a Circle is a great album opener.

I enjoyed your reactions to DD. thanks! now on to Scary Monsters. haha

I hate those pesky coughs lol. I was really looking for this one today. This album is probably my favorite one of his after Ziggy Stardust. Just the way he composed his music...so unique. Rick Wakeman was a good friend of his, he almost joined David's band just before he joined Yes. In an interview after Bowie's death, Rick talked about working with him and what a remarkable songwriter he was. Glad you enjoyed the album.

Bowie’s weirdest album has got to be Outside, it’s well worth the listen, it’s full of amazing performances…but I’d try Low and Heroes first…

Might be worth a look, Justin, at "The 1980 Floor Show," Bowie's turn on "The Midnight Special" from late '73. They aired a portion of an October, 1973 gig he did at London's legendary Marquee Club, which featured riveting performances and memorable costumes, plus a guest shot by Marianne Faithfull as a nun! 'Twas the last appearance of Bowie as Ziggy Stardust.

"Diamond Dogs" is in my top 5 albums by this late and sorely missed genius, the one and only David Bowie

Run, run, run, run ,run run.

Athena is the goddess of wisdom. Apollo has the sun-chariot and is also the god of music. And yeah, hope you'll do Ziggy next. That's definitely my favorite DB album.

I may be the only poster whose favorite song on this album is "Chant of the Ever Circling Skeletal Family" :-). Can I make a suggestion? Perhaps you should take a poll to see which Bowie album should be reacted to next. I'd be happy to vote in that poll. Perhaps make it for patrons only (nudge nudge, wink wink LOL). Anyway, great reaction as always. This channel is a real treasure.

The ending - like a robot factory assembly line that breaks.

there are moments of this that remind me of both Eno's 'Here Come the Warm Jets' album and also Lou's 'Transformer' album... both from the same period.

I'd love if you went for Scary Monster, it's such a great album and shows how far he had gone at the time.

Always loved this weird song in college, 1980 Diamond Dogs grew on me

Justin, get ten Bowie fans in a room and they'll all choose a different favourite album, from 'Space Oddiity' to 'Black Star'. He had so many so many personas, and covered so many styles, it's not surprising. 'Ziggy' is a great next choice, and my favourite album is 'Hunky Dory', or is that 'Aladdin Sane' , no wait ,'The man who sold the world' is seriously overlooked, err 'Low', what about 'Scary Monsters'? 🤣🤣

Apollo, in Greek mythology is the Sun, Ra, Horus, Christ, all deities syncretized with solar attributes, illumination, truth, light of consciousness, the dawn, etc. You corrected yourself though! I'm happy that you were exploring this meaning, making the effort to expound on it. You remind me of my best friend who passed on. Watching your channel brings fond memories. Thank you for being here and being, you, JP!

I think you should do the Berlin Trilogy..and then Scary Monsters.

Justin, I think I can see what you mean with the comparison to Peter Gabriel on the introduction of "Big Brother" ("Start", the intro of "I Don't Remember" may vaguely recall that, or maybe am I wrong?). You've summed up these final two tracks and the Diamond Dogs album perfectly well. I agree with you, I also prefer Diamond Dogs over Station to Station (which is however one of Bowie's very best albums), because probably the 1974 album is more homogeneous than the one from 1976, if only because "Golden Years" and "TVC15" are a bit lighter compared to other Station to Station tracks. Glad you liked these two albums (especially Diamond Dogs who didn't seem to get you excited at first!). Regarding the cover of Diamond Dogs, I find it very successful because it very accurately reflects the dark and disturbing character of this concept album. If you ever do Ziggy Stardust (which isn't one of my favorite from Bowie), expect something more classic rock in form and content (in my opinion its predecessor Hunky Dory is much better in this style and you will have as a bonus the presence of Rick Wakeman as a guest !). otherwise, if you're looking for something more unexpected, you can dive into Low, Heroes, and Lodger (although the latter isn't an album I really like but it's worth a try).

Hunky Dory is also a consistently great album as is Station to Station.

It's great to see someone discovering this stuff roughly around the time I decided to take the dive into his discography. Haven't been really disappointed yet. My one question to you sir, is how do you bear making something like The Wall a subscriber goal?! In this case, I think your subscribers owe you to get you there.

Yes, Ziggy Stardust seems quite logical as it is a fantastic album but keep in mind the Berlin Trilogy (Low, Heroes & Lodger). I really enjoy seeing you reacting to the Great David Robert Jones!

Haven't listened to the LP in years, but I think the end of that was loop locked to play infinitely on you turntable, much like the cricket menace sound at the end of Eno's "The Great Pretender"

Either Ziggy or Aladdin Sane would be great next. Then perhaps followed by Hunky Dory.

If I'm not mistaken, this LP is about the novel 1984 by George Orwell. The entire LP is a story very well done. This is by far my favorite Bowie lp. Followed closely by The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders From Mars.

That Massive Attack shirt brings up a great opportunity. David performed a cover of Nat King Cole's Nature Boy with them for the Moulin Rouge soundtrack. There's an orchestral version as well, but the David Bowie & Massive Attack version has one of his best vocal performances, imo. For a non-album reaction, I strongly recommend it.

Bhuda of Suburbia is a brilliant Bowie album, although most dont see it as an official Bowie record, it's still brilliant.

Exellent intelligent analysis as allways with your commentary. Check out the album ALLADIN SANE,his first number one album.

A fitting climax to the album. Mellotron heaven on Big Brother. I see a lot of suggestions for Ziggy as the next album to do. Yes, it's a great album, but it also has some low points for me. Diamond Dogs, I think, is a more consistent album. I would favour Low as the more interesting choice.

Pretty much any Bowie album sits well with me as you see my profile pic on here is with his lovely bass player Gail.. I would be ok with Hunky Dory, Heathen, Ziggy, Low heck any of them would be great!!👨🏻‍🎤💙👨🏻‍🎤

The album artwork is in reference to Todd Browning and his travelling freak show (lyric line in Diamond Dogs).

Wow! Nice and smart reaction. Thank you for that. Yeah, big brother! The society looks for someone who gives it the feeling to be sincere. Regardless of whom it will be, even it is one like big brother, who watches them all the time. Psycholocically the naked truth and very predictibel when you have a look at todays Covid-situation.

I got the inside scoop from Tony Visconti himself about the end. He told me that they had the first evintide multi processor. The last lyric was supposed to be “BROTHER” but the sample time wasn’t long enough. That’s why it became “BRA BRA BRA BR they just went with it.

I`m with you on Ziggy Stardust, although i`ve probably heard a few of the songs, there`s enough left there to keep atleast me interested I should think.

IF, some time in the future you want to hear a live album of Bowie’s May I suggest David Live at the Tower Theatre (double album). 🤔

Apollo was the sun god, he rode his chariot (the sun) across the sky each day. These two songs encapsulate what the album is all about, which is, of course, a dystopian world ruled over by a government that controls absolutely EVERYTHING you think, do and say. EVERYTHING! It is acceptance and willing submission. It's just downright creepy. My first copy was on 8-track tape, so I knew it wasn't skipping. LOL! Would love to see/hear you check out 'The Man Who Sold The World'. Another dark album with songs that can send chills down your spine while you tap your foot along. BTW, LOVE the t-shirt!! Are you a Massive Attack fan? Please say yes . . .

love how the album ends with BRUH BRUH BRUH BRUH BRUH BRUH BRUH BRUH

LOW please!!!!

A minor album for me, even though i love Rebel Rebel, 1984 and the great ominous groove of Chant of the Ever Circling... If going back, i'd do Hunky Dory before Ziggy and then Alladin Sane, his first master trilogy, the real start of his amazing 70's. DD, just like Young Americans, is Bowie searching the next chapter and not quite finding it, even though he manages to come up with good stuff. And then, Station To Station/Low/Heroes was the second set of masterpieces.

The way it's sung and the very theatrical music tells me that maybe this is Bowie in his most emphatic phase but it fits well at the end of this album which ends in ellipsis (Bro-Bro-Bro-Bro-Bro-Bro....).

If you're going to do Ziggy Stardust, you should follow it with Alladin Sane. It's the same band with the addition of pianist Mike Garson that really made his mark on this record. Bowie is in a similar artistic place, although where The Rise And Fall Of Ziggy Stardust And The Spiders Of Mars introduces the character Ziggy Stardust, his band and his plight; Alladin Sane (A Lad Insane) is written during touring in America and exposes his life on the road with this band. I'd like to add a David Bowie album to your list: 'Lodger' which I see as a natural progression from 'StationToStation' (where Low and Heroes before it, although are good albums, sound less commercially accessible). Here Bowie continues to work with Brian Eno plus has Carlo Alomar, Earl Slick and Adrian Belew on guitars. Definitely a must hear album amongst the Bowie cannon.

Yeah...I miss out the title track when playing this album. Love the rest of it though.

Space Oddity!😊

Now that you’ve finished Diamond dogs, I beg of you to do a one off video of Cygnet Committee. Bowie’s first masterpiece

Like a bullfight (at the beginning with the trumpet sounds).

Definitely try 1984 Dodo and candidate, both are extra tracks that got reworked for final release…until you hear them, you haven’t fully experienced Diamond Dogs!

You can't go wrong with ANY '70s Bowie album, I grew up on them. He ended the decade with his Berlin trilogy. That was followed by the popular "Scary Monsters (and Super Creeps)" which brought a couple of hit singles. Then came his trilogy of pop albums starting with "Let's Dance", his commercial peak but artistically less adventurous. Then he formed a rock band Tin Machine. You could never predict where he'd go next.

Try his "Low" album...

Apollo was the Greek and Roman god of light. He was also the god of archery, music and dance, truth and prophecy, healing and disease, the sun, poetry and more. Ra was the Egyptian god of the sun. Helios was the one who drove the chariot of the sun in Greek and Roman mythology.

Jesus im really Irked now cos back in the 70's my older sister said Diamond Dogs was crap, and i never listened to it from that.....but now i hear its mega! GGrrrr!

The Bowie album "Hunky Dory" should be next. But hey, any Bowie album is a sure bet.

Can't go wrong with Ziggy. Buy my choice would be the one before it, Hunky Dory. Or something more recent, like Earthling. You've already done my favorite, Diamond Dogs, anything else really is worth it.