That track actually would fit pretty well on Lodger.

>I wonder if the fact that the album doesn't have any
>instrumentals is why it's not held in quite the same
>esteem as Low and "Heroes".

Not in my case. I don't think a single track on Lodger bests any of the instrumental tracks on Low and "heroes", let alone the tracks with vocals on those two records (which are generally my favorites).

For me there are a couple of highlights on Lodger - really just the two big singles - and the rest is of no real interest at all. I've listened to the record dozens of times, and it just bounces off. I find parts of it annoying I suppose. The rest seems fairly pointless.

Which, come to think of it, is kinda the reaction I have to Reality and Heathen! Not bad really, but annoying in spots and, well, kinda 'eh. An improvement from Earthling and Hours to be sure (the former being extremely annoying, the latter deadly dull), but not really up to his best except in patches.

Sorry, Lodger lovers!

If Bowie does record another record, instead of aiming for his Berlin period, as he seems to have done on his last couple of releases, he should go all Tokyo disco and aim for the vibe Scary Monsters achieved. Get Gwen Stefani's producers!

And her wardrobe!