This is part of Creative Loafing Tampa's new issue, The Year In Music. See and listen to the rest of our top albums here.
David Bowie, Blackstar (Columbia) For his final work, the maestro went out with a bang. Released within the opening days of 2016 and on his 69th birthday, Blackstar is rock icon David Bowie’s final masterstroke on his brilliant canvas.
THE GIANTS WE LOST: DAVID BOWIE
Written and recorded while knowing he was falling victim to cancer, Bowie kept his condition and the creation of the album a secret, making the LP was as much of a surprise as his untimely death two days after its release. Blackstar is a haunting, dreamlike journey through Bowie’s last attempt to pour his incomparable aura and presence into his art while also leaving his hordes of devout fans with a parting gift. Lyrically, “Lazarus” is chilling and gut wrenching in light of David’s last flight from earth. A brilliant album and a poignant goodbye from an artist who redefined and recreated all the rules of rock ‘n' roll throughout his colorful career, and did things his own way. —Gabe Echazabal
Listen to Blackstar below. Read Cathy's Bowie rememberance from January here.
