Reality (album)

Infobox Album
Name = Reality
Type = studio
Artist = David Bowie


Released = start date|2003|9|16
Recorded = The Looking Glass Studios, New York City
Genre = Rock
Length = 49:25
Label = Iso/Columbia
Producer = Tony Visconti, David Bowie
Reviews =
*Allmusic Rating|3.5|5 [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:je3zefbk3gf8 link]
*Pitchfork Media (7.3/10) [http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/record_review/15612-reality link]
Last album = "Best of Bowie"
(2002)
This album = "Reality"
(2003)
Next album = "The Collection" (2005)
Misc = Singles
Name = Reality
Type = studio
Single 1 = New Killer Star
Single 1 date = start date|2003|9|29
Single 2 = Never Get Old
Single 2 date = start date|2004|2

"Reality" is an album by the British singer-songwriter David Bowie, released in 2003. The album was well received by fans and critics and was one of Bowie's most critically acclaimed albums since "Scary Monsters (and Super Creeps)", alongside "Heathen". It is his latest album to date.

Some of the lyrics found in "Reality" deal with Bowie's perception of himself as an old person, as in the songs "The Loneliest Guy", "Days", the ironic "Never Get Old", and especially on the nostalgic "Bring Me The Disco King". The album also makes reference to the 9/11 attacks in "New Killer Star" and the concept of "Reality" as subjective.

Over the promotional period, the album was released in a variety of formats. The standard release was a single jewel case CD version, followed by the CD with a three track bonus CD in digipak format. The album was then released as a multichannel hybrid SACD, and then reissued with a bonus live DVD recorded in London.

Track listing

All songs written by David Bowie, except as noted.
# "New Killer Star" – 4:40
# "Pablo Picasso" (Jonathan Richman) – 4:06
# "Never Get Old" – 4:25
# "The Loneliest Guy" – 4:11
# "Looking for Water" – 3:28
# "She'll Drive the Big Car" – 4:35
# "Days" – 3:19
# "Fall Dog Bombs the Moon" – 4:04
# "Try Some, Buy Some" (George Harrison) – 4:24
# "Reality" – 4:23
# "Bring Me the Disco King" – 7:45

Limited edition bonus disc

# "Fly" – 4:10
# "Queen of All the Tarts (Overture)" – 2:53
# "Rebel Rebel" (2002 re-recording) – 3:10

Limited DVD tour edition

The DVD features a promotional concert where the whole album was played live track by track. It was recorded at the Riverside Studios, Hammersmith, London, 8 September 2003. On the regular CD a recording of The Kinks song "Waterloo Sunset" was released as a bonus track. On the Canadian reissue, the live DVD was truncated down to five tracks, while the Japanese release did not include "Waterloo Sunset" as a bonus.

DualDisc edition

A DualDisc edition was released initially in the Boston and Seattle regions of the US only. The CD-side contains the album, whereas the DVD-side contains the album in 5.1 surround sound and bonus material (photo gallery, lyrics, biography and discography). Of most interest is the otherwise unavailable "Reality" film featuring full length videos of "Never Get Old", "The Loneliest Guy", "Bring Me the Disco King" and "New Killer Star". About half a year later this edition was released countrywide in the US and Canada.

Personnel

*David Bowie – vocals, guitar, keyboards, percussion, saxophone, stylophone, synthesizer
*Sterling Campbell – drums
*Gerry Leonard – guitar
*Earl Slick – guitar
*Mark Plati – bass, guitar
*Mike Garson – piano
*David Torn – guitar
*Gail Ann Dorsey – backing vocals
*Catherine Russell – backing vocals

Additional personnel

*Matt Chamberlain – drums on "Bring Me the Disco King" and "Fly"
*Tony Visconti – bass, guitar, keyboards, vocals
*Mario J. McNulty – additional percussion and drums on "Fall Dog Bombs the Moon"
*Carlos Alomar – guitar on "Fly"

Charts

Album