CONSUMER GUIDE
Maybe he’s lost touch so completely that he’s reduced to cannibalizing himself just when the market dictates the most drastic image shift of his chameleon career. But maybe this is just his way of melding two au courant concepts, Springsteenian rock and multi-producer crossover.
CONSUMER GUIDE
Robert Christgau
DAVID BOWIE Never Let Me Down (EMI America)
Maybe he’s lost touch so completely that he’s reduced to cannibalizing himself just when the market dictates the most drastic image shift of his chameleon career. But maybe this is just his way of melding two au courant concepts, Springsteenian rock and multi-producer crossover. After all, why pay good money to outsiders when your own trunk of disguises is there for the rummaging? Of course, crossover artistes can generally sing. When Bowie wants to play the vocalist, he puts on a bad Anthony Newley imitation. C +
THE CULT Electric (Sire)
Rick Rubin meets the former Southern Death Cult and concocts the metal dreams are made of. One reason it’s a great joke is that in 2087 almost nobody will be able to tell it from Aerozep. The other reason it’s a great joke is that right now almost anybody can. Inspirational Verse: “Zany antics of a beat generation/ln their wild search for kicks.” B +
CUTTING CREW Broadcast (Virgin)
Hip punky look, hip_hop name, superhip label (and airline), pop dreck. The only good Brit is a good Brit. • C +