Tin Machine II released

Tin Machine II Tin Machine II

Released: September 9, 1991 Peak: 126 US, 23 UK, -- CN, -- AU Sales (in millions): -- Genre: classic rock veteran

Tracks: Song Title (Writers) [time] (date of single release, chart peaks) Click for codes to singles charts. Baby Universal (Bowie/Gabrels) [3:18] (11/2/91, 48 UK, 21 MR) One Shot (Bowie/Gabrels/Sales/Sales) [5:11] (8/31/91, 17 AR, 3 MR) You Belong in Rock & Roll (Bowie/Gabrels) [4:07] (8/14/91, 33 UK) Amlapura (Bowie/Gabrels) [3:46] Betty Wrong (Bowie/Gabrels) [3:48] You Can’t Talk (Bowie/Gabrels/Sales/Sales) [3:09] Stateside (Bowie/Sales) [5:38] Shopping for Girls (Bowie/Sales) [3:44] A Big Hurt (Bowie) [3:40] Sorry (Sales) [3:39] Goodbye Mr. Ed (Bowie/Sales/Sales) [3:24] Hammerhead (hidden track) Bowie, H. Sales) [0:57] Total Running Time: 43:24 The Players: David Bowie (vocals, rhythm guitar) Reeves Gabrels (guitar) Tony Sales (bass, backing vocals) Hunt Sales (drums, backing vocals)

Rating: 2.871 out of 5.00 (average of 18 ratings)

About the Album: “The second (and essentially final) Tin Machine installment finds the group polishing up their sound significantly making a well-produced collection of songs. Many songs — notably Amlapura or Goodbye Mr. Ed — come as less than raucous rock songs (as heard on the previous record) but more as sonic works of art. Strong opener Baby Universal is infectiously catchy. Bowie is featured on saxophone on several numbers, particularly You Belong in Rock & Roll — an interesting side to this record. Admittedly, this album takes some getting used to, but repeated listenings are very rewarding.” AMG “Much of the difficulty with Tin Machine II rests in some general confusion with what guitarist Reeves Gabrels is doing with his guitar; he doesn't play it like a guitarist is supposed to play. He plays long textural notes that shift in pitch and intensity. He does not play on the beat, and he does not play licks that you will be humming when the song is over.” AMG “Frequent listenings will prove this a beautiful enhancement to the music rather than a mosquito buzzing in the ear. Lead vocals by Hunt Sales on Stateside and Sorry; his high, somewhat whiny voice adds yet another dimension to the sound of this group.” AMG “Much of their work came to light before the radio-listening/music-buying public was really ready to hear it — a later release of this music may have faired better in public opinion. This is a well-conceived and well-executed recording. The cover of the U.S. release of this record features the Kouros statues on the front with their genitalia apparently broken off. European releases show the statues anatomically intact.” AMG

Resources and Related Links: DMDB encyclopedia entry for David Bowie AMG All Music Guide review by Stephen Thomas Erlewine WK Wikipedia First posted 2/20/2008; last updated 8/2/2021.

Tin Machine debut released

Tin Machine Tin Machine

Released: May 22, 1989 Peak: 28 US, 3 UK, -- CN, 42 AU Sales (in millions): -- US, 0.1 UK Genre: classic rock veteran

Tracks: Song Title (Writers) [time] (date of single release, chart peaks) Click for codes to singles charts. Heaven’s in Here [6:01] (7/29/89, 47 AR, 12 MR) Tin Machine (Bowie/Gabrels/Sales/Sales) [3:34] (8/89, 48 UK) Prisoner of Love (Bowie/Gabrels/Sales/Sales) [4:50] Crack City (Bowie/Gabrels/Sales/Sales) [4:36] I Can’t Read (Bowie/Gabrels) [4:54] Under the God [4:06] (5/27/89, 8 AR, 4 MR, 52 UK) Amazing (Bowie/Gabrels) [3:06] Working Class Hero (John Lennon) [4:38] Bus Stop (Bowie/Gabrels) [1:41] Pretty Thing (Bowie) [4:39] Video Crime (Bowie/Sales/Sales) [3:52] Run (Armstrong/Bowie) [3:20] Sacrifice Yourself (Bowie/Sales/Sales) [2:08] Baby Can Dance [4:57] Songs written by David Bowie unless indicated otherwise. Total Running Time: 55:46 The Players: David Bowie (vocals, rhythm guitar) Reeves Gabrels (guitar) Tony Sales (bass, backing vocals) Hunt Sales (drums, backing vocals) Kevin Armstrong (rhythm guitar, Hammon organ)

Rating: 3.044 out of 5.00 (average of 19 ratings)

About the Album: “A remarkable recording for many reasons. The debut of Tin Machine predates by nearly half a decade much of the guitar-oriented alternative pop that followed the grunge explosion of 1991-1992. This does not sound like Bowie in a band; missing are the quirkiness and theatrics that characterize much of Bowie’s solo work. This is a band with a band attitude, not exactly what the fans were wanting at the time. Stunt guitarist Reeves Gabrels provides much in the way of ambient guitar solos, not unlike Adrian Belew's work. Drummer Hunt Sales provides a sticky tenor vocal similar to Bowie’s own voice in a higher register; they blend very well together.” AMG “The music is hard-edged guitar rock with an intelligence missing from much of the work of that genre at the time. Highlights include the emotional Prisoner of Love and the driving Under the God. The band does a rocking rework of John Lennon's Working Class Hero, with a killer machine-gun fire-sounding riff that permeated the track. The strongest analog to Bowie's earlier work is a five-minute number toward the beginning of the record called I Can't Read; with its deliberately out-of-tune guitars and halfhearted vocals, it's a nice piece of artistry. This record would have been more popular had it been released five or six years later.” AMG Notes: Another version of “Bus Stop” is included on a reissue.

Resources and Related Links: DMDB encyclopedia entry for David Bowie AMG All Music Guide review by Stephen Thomas Erlewine WK Wikipedia First posted 2/20/2008; last updated 8/2/2021.