Earthling is the 20th studio album by David Bowie, released in February 1997. The album showcases an electronica-influenced sound partly inspired by the industrial and drum and bass culture of the 1990s like Prodigy and Underworld.
This was the first album Bowie self-produced since 1974. Recorded in just 2,5 weeks right after returning from the Outside [MOVLP500] tour, the album is a snapshot of what Bowie was going through musically at the time. Making extensive use of sampling their own material on high BPMs, the album was the first Bowie album to be recorded digitally.
The first pressing consists of 2000 numbered copies on transparent green vinyl. The second pressing consists of 2000 numbered copies on transparent blue vinyl.
- 180 gram audiophile vinyl
- Gatefold sleeve
- Printed innersleeve
Review:
Jumping on the post-grunge industrial bandwagon with Outside didn't
successfully rejuvenate David Bowie's credibility or sales, so he switched his
allegiance to techno and jungle for the follow-up, Earthling. While jungle is a
more appropriate fit than industrial, the resulting music is nearly as awkward.
Though he often gets the sound of jungle right, the record frequently sounds as
if the beats were simply grafted on top of pre-existing songs. Never are the
songs broken open by a new form; they are fairly conventional Bowie songs with
fancy production. Fortunately, Bowie sounds rejuvenated by this new form, and
songs like “Little Wonder” and “Seven Years in Tibet” are far stronger
than the bulk of Outside. Still, the record falls short of its goals, and it
doesn't offer enough intrigue or innovations to make Earthling anything more
than an admirable effort.
All Music Guide – Stephen Thomas Erlewine