Reality
by David Bowie
  • Record Label: Sony
  • Release Date: Sep 16, 2003
User Score
8.3

Universal acclaim- based on 63 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 59 out of 63
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 63
  3. Negative: 2 out of 63

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  1. clinteastwoo
    May 11, 2016
    10
    ......................................................................................................................................................These two reviews are trash
  2. raciocinio
    Apr 4, 2016
    10
    .......................................................................................................................................I Get fade way...................
  3. Zanessa250QI
    Apr 4, 2016
    10
    ...........................................................................................................................................................A Masterpiece of Bowie
  4. sicrano
    Jul 20, 2015
    10
    Obra-Prima!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Incluindo a Bonus Track "Fly".......... Super Álbum mas é um exagero dizerem que é o melhor álbum desde o Scary Monsters 1980.........
    Sendo que Let's Dance (1983),Never Let Me Down (1987),Earthling (1997) e principalmente 'Hours...' 1999 é obras-primas de Bowie
  5. LoRevisor
    Dec 23, 2014
    10
    O Melhor Desde Hours... 1999.
    Um Álbum Excelente.
    Começa Com O Rock New Killer Star Seguindo O Mesmo Padrão Com Pablo Picasso Never Get Old E Reality A Faixa Título
    É A Cara De Bowie A Balada Melancólica The Loneliest Guy,Days,Bring Me Disco King.
    E O Rock Melancólico Tipico De Bowie Looking For Water,She'll Drive The Big Car,Fall Dog Bombs The Moon
    Ótimo Disco
  6. Ricko
    Dec 16, 2014
    7
    "Reality" see Bowie further developing and building on the good work done on "Heathen". "Reality" is a more consistent album than its predecessor and represented some of the best work in several decades at the point of release. I would argue it was his best album in 20 years, essentially since "Let's Dance" in 1983. Stylistically, "Reality" has a typical Bowie sound (if there is such"Reality" see Bowie further developing and building on the good work done on "Heathen". "Reality" is a more consistent album than its predecessor and represented some of the best work in several decades at the point of release. I would argue it was his best album in 20 years, essentially since "Let's Dance" in 1983. Stylistically, "Reality" has a typical Bowie sound (if there is such thing) and is as adventurous and ambitious as we have come to expect from him. In addition to this he seems to have rediscovered his ear for melody in a serious way on this record. Ranging between the upbeat and the dreary, its always a lively affair and vocally Bowie is on fine form. A quality record from a legend. "Looking For Water", "She'll Drive The Big Car" and "Fall Dog Bombs The Moon" are the stand out tracks for me.… Collapse
  7. Avaliante
    May 25, 2013
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. O Melhor Desde Earthling 1997.
    Um Album Completamente Ótimo.
    Começa Com A Ópera De Rock New Killer Star Seguindo O Mesmo Padrão Com Pablo Picasso Never Get Old E Reality A Faixa Título
    É A Cara De Bowie A Balada Melancólica The Loneliest Guy,Days,Bring Me Disco King.
    E O Rock Melancólico Tipico De Bowie Looking For Water,She'll Drive The Big Car
    Ótimo Disco    … Expand
  8. JArdana
    Apr 2, 2013
    7
    Obviously his best album since...maybe Scary Monsters (no...don't say Let's Dance ¬¬).

    Rocker numbers, pop numbers, and some kind of Flamenco stuff ('Pablo Picasso' and yes, I'm Spanish) mixed with Pop-rock. Great album with two instant classic (New Killer Star and Reality). Unfortunately, Bowie was so great with The Spiders and in his Berlin Era that this have to be a 7 album and    Obviously his best album since...maybe Scary Monsters (no...don't say Let's Dance ¬¬).

    Rocker numbers, pop numbers, and some kind of Flamenco stuff ('Pablo Picasso' and yes, I'm Spanish) mixed with Pop-rock. Great album with two instant classic (New Killer Star and Reality).

    Unfortunately, Bowie was so great with The Spiders and in his Berlin Era that this have to be a 7 album and not a 9 or 10 one, but obviously is better than any average Pop artist from the 2010s.

    Those who don't like it: sorry, you don't like the REAL David Bowie.    … Expand
  9. KylarL
    Oct 27, 2006
    10
    Finally a return. This most definitely is his best work since Let's Dance. Let's hope for more along this quality.
  10. FourSkin
    Oct 31, 2004
    10
    I bought the version with the DVD. It works as well live as does in the studio. So much for the layering. His band is fantastic. I always like Bowie music best when its got a kickarse bass played by a kickarse bass player.
  11. AmandaM
    Apr 29, 2004
    10
    This is one of those albums you really have to live with for you to realize just how brilliant, textured, nuanced, and hard-rocking it really is. I've been a Bowie fan for over 20 years now, and some of his albums are tougher than others. "Outside" "hours" and even "Heathen" never really did it for me. But "Reality" has made all those other efforts worth it. For the past few years This is one of those albums you really have to live with for you to realize just how brilliant, textured, nuanced, and hard-rocking it really is. I've been a Bowie fan for over 20 years now, and some of his albums are tougher than others. "Outside" "hours" and even "Heathen" never really did it for me. But "Reality" has made all those other efforts worth it. For the past few years he's been searching, God love 'im, developing his current band, and this fabulous album is the result. Finally, if you haven't seen Bowie in concert, you MUST make the trip on his current North American swing -- the man is just a God on stage -- you won't believe how good he is.… Expand
  12. NseE
    Dec 14, 2003
    9
    Very good cd which just gets better with each spin. Standouts include 'New killer star' (which is a killer), 'Pablo Picasso' 9Great guitar finale), 'Never grow old', 'Looking for water', 'Days' and 'Bring me the disco king' which has a jazzy feel and reminds me of 'Wild is the wind'. Fab outing from the thin white duke.
  13. QBrick
    Sep 25, 2003
    9
    More energetic and more rough than Heathen, Bowie more and more gets in contact with own self again.
  14. michaelz
    Sep 25, 2003
    9
    I'm a huge Bowie fan, but it usually takes about 6 months for me to fall in love with on of his cds. I don't know why. Anyways, all I need to say about the new cd Reality is that I've had it for 5 days and I'm already in love with it. I wasn't at first, but after finding my self listening to Reality endlessly with only breaks to listen to Station To Station and I'm a huge Bowie fan, but it usually takes about 6 months for me to fall in love with on of his cds. I don't know why. Anyways, all I need to say about the new cd Reality is that I've had it for 5 days and I'm already in love with it. I wasn't at first, but after finding my self listening to Reality endlessly with only breaks to listen to Station To Station and Heathen and Earthling and . . . Ha, I've been very Bowie-core lately . . . I'm already in love with Reality. The flow of the songs is great, and even Pablo Picasso (which I hated at first) grow on you. A return to form . . . blow that out your ass, he's been in top form since 1.Outside, and this is another brilliant album in an incredible cannon. t… Expand
  15. HowardP
    Sep 24, 2003
    9
    Terrific! Brought the album with me on a trip to Middle East and have been humming songs from it for past 2 weeks. I haven't done that to Bowie for a few years! Can't wait for the SACD surround version in October! WooHoo!
  16. WarrenM
    Sep 23, 2003
    9
    Once again, Bowie is in a league of his own. Instantly accessible without rehashing past glories, he continues to make art his way. Having come to grips with his age on "...hours", Bowie surprised us with "Heathen" and continues to awe with "Reality." This should make those who slagged him off in the 90s re-evaluate his post-"Sound+Vision" body of work.
  17. DarrylG
    Sep 22, 2003
    9
    Sweet God in Heaven this Star is a Killer. Praise all who not only think of what could have been but rather what is ...and those who dwell in the day still to come. Bowie will rock me from my cradle to my grave!
  18. EdS
    Sep 21, 2003
    8
    Tight production that really kicks in starting with New Killer Star. He puts fun into this song with the "loose" guitar sounds. I get to play this often now than Heathen's "Sunday", one of my favorite Bowie tunes (or "Cactus" lol).
  19. Jules
    Sep 21, 2003
    9
    Great stuff - finally the duke stops trying so hard. His nineties albums had their moments, after all the man's a genius, but it was painful to hear these often labored works, all running too hard from the terrible ghosts of his eighties albums. Every song here is spanking fresh - back in the groove at 56!
  20. PedroM
    Sep 21, 2003
    9
    I think this is one of the best Bowie's albuns of the past 10 years. Great songs: New Killer Star, Never Get Old, She'll Drive the Big Car.
  21. BrandonS
    Sep 20, 2003
    8
    As a lifelong fan, I don't know why it's so hard for people to see latter-day (black-tie and on) Bowie for what he really is, exciting, energetic, restless ... Sure, Outside is about a half-hour too long, and ditto for Hours - but Buddha of Suburbia, Black Tie, and Earthling are fantastic. Heathen upped the ante, and Reality is a fantastic follow-through, a natural counterpart As a lifelong fan, I don't know why it's so hard for people to see latter-day (black-tie and on) Bowie for what he really is, exciting, energetic, restless ... Sure, Outside is about a half-hour too long, and ditto for Hours - but Buddha of Suburbia, Black Tie, and Earthling are fantastic. Heathen upped the ante, and Reality is a fantastic follow-through, a natural counterpart to the previous album. Relentlessly creative and very enjoyable.… Expand
  22. StoopMonkey
    Sep 20, 2003
    8
    "Tara True", you're a true idiot. Get off your true high horse and just listen to the true music. It is people like you that give music lovers a bad name. Bowie's new album is good but not great. It seems less inspired than his works throughout the 90's. He certainly brings his edge and talent, but I'd be lying if I claimed that this is one of his best works to date.
  23. TrevorG
    Sep 19, 2003
    10
    A fantastic example of why David Bowie is the worlds most important & influential recording artist. Totally amazing........... zoki p (Rating 1???) don't worry there's alway's the best of Boyz Zone.
  24. RodP
    Sep 19, 2003
    9
    Excellent songs with a rawer edge than the past couple of albums (Heathen & Hours).
  25. LodiJ
    Sep 19, 2003
    10
    Everyone is freakin nuts, they judge bowie way too hard. All his 90's albums were great, and this one really kicks ass as well!
  26. ToniE
    Sep 18, 2003
    8
    Well....I don't know what to say,I have only listened it truh like 2 times...but it does sound good already.Mayby it will hit me later. I do lookforward to go see him playing live on the concert ....Man that he can rock!
  27. MarcP
    Sep 17, 2003
    9
    awesome again... different from heathen in a very nice way... buy it now
  28. TaraTrue
    Sep 17, 2003
    9
    You Must Listen to His Songs More Than ONCE...You must be intelligent to get his music. Not everyone will get it..not everyone has...He is unique and that is why we LOVE him. I like this Album more than Heathen. The more I listen...the more I will appreciate it just like Ive been doing for 32 years.
  29. WenM
    Sep 17, 2003
    10
    As always, Bowie's music and enthusiam is overwhelming. A GREAT album
  30. Andrea
    Sep 15, 2003
    7
    A very simple rock album,something very inspired,something usefull...Two covers are too much for a 11's songs album!

Awards & Rankings

48
#48 Most Discussed Album of 2003
24
#24 Most Shared Album of 2003

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
74

Generally favorable reviews - based on 18 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 15 out of 18
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 18
  3. Negative: 0 out of 18
  1. Launch.com
    80
    Reality is easily one of his most emotionally transparent albums.
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  2. Dot Music
    70
    It's the sound of a man who's worked out how to be good again, who finally understands his own strengths and limitations.
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  3. AllMusic
    80
    It's a little artier than Heathen, but similar in its feel and just as satisfying.
    Read full review
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