Ziggy Stardust: 30th Anniv (Bonus CD)

David Bowie

Thirty years on, Ziggy Stardust more than holds up, sounds incredibly refreshing, is truly timeless, comes as a revelation, etc., etc. Over the years, much has been made of what a visionary work this is, and it's still fun to marvel at how its themes encapsulate the entire history of rock--including rock-yet-to-come in the forms of punk, and even the deaths of Elvis and Kurt Cobain. Bowie merged rock archetypes from the '50s and '60s with theater to create a brand-new mythology. In that sense, he was sort of Bruce Springsteen in makeup. But beyond that, it's astonishing to hear how great the late, wonderful Mick Ronson's guitar and the Spiders from Mars still sound today. When they sing "Wonderful" behind Bowie on the "Rock 'N' Roll Suicide" finale, they could be referring to this album. This 30th anniversary edition includes a second disc of demos, singles (including the very Berlin cabaret-esque "Arnold Corns" releases), and a few essential outtakes--notably the decadent "Sweet Head"--that haven't been available in nearly a decade. --Bill Holdship

Ziggy Stardust: 30th Anniv (Bonus CD) Album: