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Blackstar (Album)

2016-02-19T04:59:44Z

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{{use dmy dates|date=October 2015}}
{{Infobox album 
| Name = Blackstar
| Type = studio
| Artist = [[David Bowie]]
| Cover = Blackstar (Front Cover).png
| Border = yes
| Released = 8 January 2016
| Recorded = 2014–15
| Studio = {{unbulleted list|The Magic Shop|{{small|([[New York City]])}}|Human Worldwide Studios|{{small|(New York City)}}}}
| Genre = {{hlist||[[Art rock]]|[[jazz]]|[[experimental rock]]}} 
| Length = 41:13
| Label = {{hlist|ISO|[[RCA Records|RCA]]|[[Columbia Records|Columbia]]|[[Sony Music|Sony]]}}
| Producer = {{hlist|David Bowie|[[Tony Visconti]]}}
| Last album = ''[[Five Years (1969–1973)]]'' (2015)
| This album = '''''Blackstar''''' (2016)
{{Extra album cover
| Upper caption = Vinyl cover
| Type = studio
| Cover = Bowie-Blackstar-vinylcover.jpg
}}
| Misc = {{Singles
| Name = Blackstar
| Type = Studio album
| Single 1 = [[Blackstar (David Bowie song)|Blackstar]]
| Single 1 date = 19 November 2015
| Single 2 = [[Lazarus (David Bowie song)|Lazarus]]
| Single 2 date = 17 December 2015
}}
}}
'''''Blackstar''''' (stylised as ★) is the twenty-fifth and final [[studio album]] by English musician [[David Bowie]]. It was released worldwide through Bowie's ISO Records label<ref name="pitchfork">{{Cite web|url=http://pitchfork.com/news/61774-david-bowie-confirms-new-album-blackstar-coming-in-january/ |title=David Bowie Confirms New Album Blackstar Coming in January |accessdate=26 October 2015 |work=Pitchfork}}</ref><ref name="NME">{{cite web|url=http://www.nme.com/news/david-bowie/89248 |title=Details of David Bowie's 25th album 'Blackstar' revealed |accessdate=26 October 2015 |work=NME}}</ref> on 8 January 2016, Bowie's 69th birthday.<ref name="BBC">{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-34638413 |title=David Bowie announces new album Blackstar for January release |accessdate=26 October 2015 |publisher=BBC News}}</ref><ref name="Guardian">{{cite web|url=http://www.theguardian.com/music/2015/oct/26/david-bowie-25th-album-released-january-2016 |title=David Bowie confirms 25th album will be released in January 2016 |accessdate=26 October 2015 |work=The Guardian}}</ref><ref name=Blackstar>{{cite web|url=http://www.davidbowie.com/news/watch-video-teaser-online-now-55121|title=Watch ★ video teaser online now|publisher=Davidbowie.com|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20151113154049/http://www.davidbowie.com/news/watch-video-teaser-online-now-55121|archivedate=13 November 2015|deadurl=no|accessdate=13 November 2015}}</ref> Bowie would die two days after its release. Co-producer [[Tony Visconti]] described the album as Bowie's intended [[swan song]] and a "parting gift" for his fans before his death.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/celebritynews/12092542/Bowies-last-album-was-parting-gift-for-fans-in-carefully-planned-finale.html|title=David Bowie's last release, Lazarus, was 'parting gift' for fans in carefully planned finale|date=11 January 2016|work=The Daily Telegraph}}</ref>

''Blackstar'' was met with critical acclaim and commercial success, reaching the number one spot in a number of countries in the wake of Bowie's death and becoming Bowie's first and only album to reach number one on the [[Billboard 200|''Billboard'' 200]] album chart in the U.S.<ref>"[http://www.theguardian.com/music/2016/jan/18/david-bowie-finally-tops-us-billboard-charts-with-blackstar David Bowie finally tops US Billboard charts with Blackstar]. ''[[The Guardian]]''. 18 January 2016. Retrieved on 18 January 2016.</ref> The album remained at the no. 1 position in the [[UK Albums Chart|UK charts]] for three weeks before being replaced by one of Bowie's [[compilation albums]], ''[[Best of Bowie]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/david-bowie-sees-off-sia-to-replace-himself-at-number-1__13758/|title=David Bowie sees off Sia to replace himself at Number 1|work=Official Charts|accessdate=10 February 2016}}</ref>

==Background and recording==
Bowie recorded the album in the midst of an ongoing battle with cancer. His illness was only known by those very close to him and that remained so until the news of his death became public, two days after the album's release. It became apparent immediately after that many lyrics seem to come from a man who knows death is near.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/celebritynews/12092542/Bowies-last-album-was-parting-gift-for-fans-in-carefully-planned-finale.html|title=David Bowie's last release, Lazarus, was 'parting gift' for fans in carefully planned finale|date=11 January 2016|work=Telegraph.co.uk}}</ref> Like ''[[The Next Day]]'', recording of this album took place in secret at The Magic Shop<ref>{{cite web | url=http://hollandude.com/producer-tony-visconti-talks-david-bowie-and-blackstar/ | title=Producer Tony Visconti Talks David Bowie and Blackstar | journal=Hollandude | date=6 January 2016 | accessdate=12 January 2016 | first=Eric|last=Holland}}</ref> and Human Worldwide Studios in [[New York City]].<ref name="album notes"/> Bowie began writing and making demos for songs that appear on ''Blackstar'' as soon as sessions for ''[[The Next Day]]'' concluded. The two songs that appear on ''Blackstar'' that were previously released, "[[Sue (Or in a Season of Crime)]]" and "'Tis a Pity She Was a Whore", were re-recorded for ''Blackstar'', including new saxophone parts played on the latter song by [[Donny McCaslin]] (replacing parts Bowie played on the original release).<ref name="wsj2016">{{cite web | url=http://www.wsj.com/articles/blackstar-review-ziggy-stardust-plays-jazz-1452030425 | title='Blackstar' Review: Ziggy Stardust Plays Jazz | date=5 January 2016 | accessdate=6 January 2016 | publisher=[[The Wall Street Journal]] | first=Jim | last=Fusilli}}</ref> The title of the latter derives from the title ''[['Tis Pity She's a Whore]]'', a play by [[John Ford (dramatist)|John Ford]], an English dramatist of the 17th century.<ref>[http://www.rollingstone.com/music/features/the-inside-story-of-david-bowies-stunning-new-album-blackstar-20151123 ''The Inside Story of David Bowie's Stunning New Album, 'Blackstar'], rollingstone.com, 23 November 2015</ref> McCaslin and the rest of the jazz group recorded their parts in the studio over a period of about one week a month from January to March 2015, and were unaware of Bowie's declining health.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.nytimes.com/2016/01/12/arts/music/david-bowie-allowed-his-art-to-deliver-a-final-message.html?smid=fb-nytimes&smtyp=cur | title=David Bowie Allowed His Art to Deliver a Final Message | journal=The New York Times | date=11 January 2016 | accessdate=12 January 2016 | first1=Joe | last1=Coscarelli | first2=Michael | last2=Paulson}}</ref> The song "Lazarus" was included in Bowie's [[Off-Broadway]] musical [[Lazarus (musical)|of the same name]].<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.broadwayworld.com/off-broadway/article/David-Bowies-New-Album-BLACKSTAR-Featuring-Lazarus-Track-Out-Today-20160108 | title=David Bowie's New Album BLACKSTAR, Featuring 'Lazarus' Track, Out Today | date=8 January 2016 | accessdate=18 January 2016 | journal=Broadway World}}</ref>

==Composition==
The music on ''Blackstar'' has been characterized as incorporating [[art rock]],<ref name="CBC music">{{cite web | url=http://music.cbc.ca/#!/blogs/2016/1/David-Bowie-gains-immortality-with-Lazarus-the-boldest-character-of-his-career | title=David Bowie gains immortality with Lazarus, the boldest character of his career | publisher=[[Canadian Broadcasting Company]] | date=11 January 2016 | accessdate=19 January 2016 | author=Kinos-Goodin, Jesse}}</ref><ref name="Q review"/> [[jazz]],<ref>The following references cite the album as jazz:
* {{cite web | url=http://music.cbc.ca/#!/blogs/2016/1/David-Bowie-gains-immortality-with-Lazarus-the-boldest-character-of-his-career | title=David Bowie gains immortality with Lazarus, the boldest character of his career | publisher=[[Canadian Broadcasting Company]] | date=11 January 2016 | accessdate=19 January 2016 | author=Kinos-Goodin, Jesse}}
* {{cite journal |title=David Bowie: ★ |journal=[[Q (magazine)|Q]] |issue=354 |date=January 2016 |last=Doyle |first=Tom}}
* {{cite web | url=http://www.teamrock.com/reviews/2015-11-27/david-bowie-blackstar | title=David Bowie: Blackstar | publisher=''[[Classic Rock (magazine)|Classic Rock]]'' | date=27 November 2015 | accessdate=7 January 2016 | author=Dalton, Stephen}}
* {{cite web | url=http://www.digitalspy.com/music/news/a779532/david-bowies-new-album-blackstar-was-his-perfect-goodbye/ | title=David Bowie's new album Blackstar was his perfect goodbye message to fans | publisher=''[[Digital Spy]]'' | date=11 January 2016 | accessdate=19 January 2016 | author=Corner, Lewis}}
* {{cite web|url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/music/what-to-listen-to/david-bowie-blackstar-first-listen-extraordinary/|title=David Bowie, Blackstar, review: 'extraordinary'|author=Neil McCormick,|date=8 January 2016|work=The Telegraph}}</ref> and [[experimental rock]].<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.thestar.com/entertainment/music/2016/01/08/david-bowie-aims-high-with-blackstar-review.html | title=David Bowie’s Blackstar a nearly perfect goodbye: review | work=[[Toronto Sun]] | date=8 January 2016 | accessdate=15 January 2016 | author=Rayner, Ben}}</ref> According to producer [[Tony Visconti]], they deliberately attempted "to avoid rock’n’roll"<ref name="guardian2015">{{cite web | url=http://www.theguardian.com/music/2015/nov/24/david-bowie-blackstar-inspired-by-kendrick-lamar-features-lcd-james-murphy| title=New David Bowie album, inspired by Kendrick Lamar, features LCD's James Murphy | date=24 November 2015 | accessdate=11 January 2016 | publisher=[[The Guardian]]}}</ref> while making the album, and he and Bowie had been listening to rapper [[Kendrick Lamar]]'s 2015 album ''[[To Pimp a Butterfly]]'' during the recording sessions and cited it as an influence. Electronic duo [[Boards of Canada]] and experimental hip-hop trio [[Death Grips]] have also been cited as influences.<ref name="guardian2015" /><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nme.com/news/david-bowie/89960|title=David Bowie's new album 'Blackstar' inspired by rap group Death Grips|author=NME.COM|work=NME.COM}}</ref> Saxophone was the first instrument Bowie learned, and he was a keen listener to jazz in his youth.<ref>{{cite web|title=David Bowie: Verbatim|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b06z5pts|website=BBC Radio 4}}</ref> <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.theguardian.com/music/musicblog/2016/jan/11/was-david-bowie-saying-goodbye-on-blackstar?CMP=fb_gu|title=Was David Bowie saying goodbye on Blackstar?|author=Tim Jonze|work=the Guardian}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nme.com/blogs/nme-blogs/how-david-bowie-told-us-he-was-dying-in-the-lazarus-video|title=How David Bowie told us he was dying in the 'Lazarus' video|author=NME.COM|work=NME.COM}}</ref> Both [[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] and [[CNN]] noted that Bowie's lyrics seem to revolve around his impending death,<ref name=CNNdeath>{{cite web|last1=Griggs|first1=Brandon|title=David Bowie's haunting final album hints at death|url=http://www.cnn.com/2016/01/11/entertainment/david-bowie-blackstar-lazarus-death-meaning-feat/|website=CNN|accessdate=12 January 2016}}</ref><ref name=Billboarddeath>{{cite web|last1=Payne|first1=Chris|title=David Bowie's Final Album 'Blackstar' & 'Lazarus' Video Were Goodbye Notes|url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/rock/6836563/david-bowie-blackstar-goodbye-note-death-lazarus-2016|website=Billboard|accessdate=12 January 2016}}</ref> with CNN noting that the album "reveals a man who appears to be grappling with his own mortality".<ref name=CNNdeath/>

==Release and packaging==
The [[Blackstar (David Bowie song)|title track]] was released as a first single on 19 November 2015<ref name="US Blackstar Single release">{{cite web|url=https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0184MM29W/|title=Amazon.com: Blackstar: David Bowie: MP3 Downloads|publisher=|accessdate=15 January 2016}}</ref> and was used as the opening music for the television series ''[[The Last Panthers]]''.<ref name="Panthers">{{cite web|url=http://www.nme.com/blogs/nme-blogs/david-bowie-7-things-we-already-know-about-his-2016-album-blackstar |title=David Bowie: 7 Things We Already Know About His 2016 Album 'Blackstar' |accessdate=26 October 2015 |work=NME}}</ref> "[[Lazarus (David Bowie song)|Lazarus]]" was released on 17 December 2015 as a [[music download|digital download]], and received its world premiere on [[BBC Radio 6 Music]]'s ''[[Steve Lamacq|Steve Lamacq Show]]'' the same day.<ref>{{cite web|title=David Bowie launches trailer of new single Lazarus|url=http://www.theguardian.com/music/2015/dec/14/david-bowie-new-single-lazarus-black-star?CMP=twt_a-music_b-gdnmusic|website=[[The Guardian]]|accessdate=18 December 2015|date=14 December 2015}}</ref>

The artwork for ''Blackstar'' was designed by [[Jonathan Barnbrook]], who had designed the artwork for Bowie's ''[[Heathen (David Bowie album)|Heathen]]'', ''[[Reality (David Bowie album)|Reality]]'', and ''[[The Next Day]]''. The CD cover is adorned with a large black star on a plain white background, with the six star segments below the main star forming the word 'B O W I E' in stylized letters.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.creativereview.co.uk/cr-blog/2015/november/bowie-barnbrook-and-blackstar/| title=Bowie, Barnbrook and the ★ artwork | date=26 November 2015 | accessdate=11 January 2016 | publisher=Creative Review}}</ref> The vinyl cover, in black, features the star as a cutout section, revealing the vinyl (with an all-black picture label) beneath it. It was observed that the [[Unicode]] for a black star symbol (★) is U+2605, 26 May being the birthday of Bowie's former guitarist [[Mick Ronson]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.theguardian.com/music/2016/jan/21/final-mysteries-david-bowie-blackstar-elvis-crowley-villa-of-ormen?CMP=fb_gu|title=The final mysteries of David Bowie’s Blackstar – Elvis, Crowley and 'the villa of Ormen'|author=Jude Rogers|work=the Guardian}}</ref> It was also observed that a "black star [[lesion]]," usually found inside a breast, suggests to medical practitioners evidence of certain types of cancer.<ref>{{cite web| last = Britton| first = Luke Morgan| title = Did David Bowie name 'Blackstar' album after his own cancer lesion?| work = [[NME]]| publisher = [[Time Inc. UK]]| date = 13 January 2016| url = http://www.nme.com/news/david-bowie/90741| accessdate = 24 January 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web| last = Vincent| first = Alice| title = Was David Bowie's Blackstar named after a cancer lesion?| work = [[The Daily Telegraph]]| publisher = [[Telegraph Media Group]]| date = 12 January 2016| url = http://www.telegraph.co.uk/music/news/was-david-bowies-blackstar-named-after-a-cancer-lesion/| accessdate = 24 January 2016}}</ref> This is one of only three Bowie album covers that do not feature his image, the others being the original US pressing of ''[[The Man Who Sold the World (album)|The Man Who Sold the World]]'' and the UK release of ''[[The Buddha of Suburbia (soundtrack)|The Buddha of Suburbia]]''.

''Blackstar'' sold 146,000 copies in its first week on sale in the United Kingdom<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/david-bowie-matches-elvis-presleys-official-albums-chart-record__13677/|title=David Bowie matches Elvis Presley's Official Albums Chart record|last=Myers|first=Justin|date=29 January 2016|publisher=[[Official Charts Company]]|accessdate=11 February 2016}}</ref> (a week which saw four other Bowie albums in the top 10 and a further seven in the top 40, the latter equalling [[Elvis Presley]]'s chart record).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/how-the-loss-of-david-bowie-impacted-the-uk-charts-this-week__13564/|title=How the loss of David Bowie impacted the UK charts this week|last=Copsey|first=Rob|date=15 January 2016|publisher=[[Official Charts Company]]|accessdate=15 January 2016}}</ref> and more than 181,000 in the United States.<ref name="BB200"/> Within days of the album's release, online retailer [[Amazon.com]] temporarily sold out of both the CD and LP editions of the album.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fuse.tv/2016/01/bowie-amazon-albums-sold-out-prices|title=Amazon Is Sold Out of Every David Bowie Album (And Accused of Price-Jacking)|work=Fuse|accessdate=15 January 2016}}</ref> In the week 11–17 January, Blackstar was the number 1 most downloaded album in 25 [[iTunes]] national charts.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.musicweek.com/businessanalysis/read/international-charts-analysis-bowie-s-blackstar-dominates-charts-worldwide/063914|title=International Charts Analysis: Bowie's Blackstar dominates charts worldwide|work=Music Week}}</ref>

==Critical reception==
{{Album ratings
| MC = 87/100<ref name="MC">{{cite web |url=http://www.metacritic.com/music/blackstar/david-bowie |title=Reviews for Blackstar by David Bowie |publisher=[[Metacritic]] |accessdate=27 December 2015}}</ref>
| rev1= ''[[The A.V. Club]]''
| rev1score= A–<ref name="AV Club review">{{cite web |url=http://www.avclub.com/review/david-bowie-goes-noir-intoxicating-blackstar-230272 |title=David Bowie goes noir with the intoxicating Blackstar |work=[[The A.V. Club]] |date=8 January 2016 |accessdate=11 January 2016 |last=Vishnevetsky |first=Ignatiy}}</ref>
| rev2= [[AllMusic]]
| rev2score = {{rating|4|5}}<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/blackstar-mw0002894417 |title=Blackstar – David Bowie |publisher=[[AllMusic]] |accessdate=11 January 2016 |last=Erlewine |first=Stephen Thomas |authorlink=Stephen Thomas Erlewine}}</ref>
| rev3 = ''[[Entertainment Weekly]]''
| rev3score = A–<ref>{{cite journal |url=http://www.ew.com/article/2016/01/08/david-bowie-blackstar-ew-review |title=David Bowie's Blackstar: EW review |work=[[Entertainment Weekly]] |date=8 January 2016 |accessdate=11 January 2016 |last=Greenblatt |first=Leah}}</ref>
| rev4 = ''[[The Guardian]]''
| rev4score = {{rating|4|5}}<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.theguardian.com/music/2016/jan/07/david-bowie-blackstar-review-a-spellbinding-break-with-his-past |title=David Bowie: Blackstar review – a spellbinding break with his past |work=[[The Guardian]] |date=7 January 2016 |accessdate=11 January 2016 |last=Petridis |first=Alexis |authorlink=Alexis Petridis}}</ref>
| rev5 = ''[[The Independent]]''
| rev5score = {{Rating|4|5}}<ref name="independent-review">{{cite news |url=http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/reviews/david-bowies-blackstar-exclusive-first-review-a-bowie-desperate-to-break-with-the-past-a6783456.html |title=David Bowie's Blackstar – exclusive first review: A Bowie desperate to break with the past |work=[[The Independent]] |date=22 December 2015 |accessdate=28 December 2015 |last=Gill |first=Andy}}</ref>
| rev6 = [[Pitchfork Media]]
| rev6score = 8.5/10<ref name="Pitchfork Review">{{cite web |url=http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/21332-blackstar/ |title=David Bowie: Blackstar |publisher=[[Pitchfork Media]] |date=7 January 2016 |accessdate=7 January 2016 |last=Dombal |first=Ryan}}</ref>
| rev7 = [[PopMatters]]
| rev7score = 9/10<ref name="PopMattersReview">{{cite journal |url=http://www.popmatters.com/review/david-bowie-blackstar/ |title=David Bowie –'Blackstar' Review |work=[[NME]] |date=8 January 2016 |accessdate=11 January 2016 |last=Gerard |first=Chris}}</ref>
| rev8 = ''[[Q (magazine)|Q]]''
| rev8score = {{Rating|4|5}}<ref name="Q review">{{cite journal |title=David Bowie: ★ |journal=[[Q (magazine)|Q]] |issue=354 |date=January 2016 |last=Doyle |first=Tom}}</ref>
| rev9 = ''[[Rolling Stone]]''
| rev9score = {{Rating|4|5}}<ref name="rollingstone">{{cite journal |url=http://www.rollingstone.com/music/albumreviews/david-bowie-blackstar-20151223 |title=Blackstar |work=[[Rolling Stone]] |date=23 December 2015 |accessdate=28 December 2015 |last=Fricke |first=David |authorlink=David Fricke}}</ref>
| rev10 = ''[[Spin (magazine)|Spin]]''
| rev10score = 7/10<ref>{{cite journal |url=http://www.spin.com/2016/01/review-david-bowie-blackstar/ |title=Review: David Bowie Remains the Original Starman on '★' |work=[[Spin (magazine)|Spin]] |date=6 January 2016 |accessdate=11 January 2016 |last=Soto |first=Alfred}}</ref>
}}

''Blackstar'' received widespread acclaim from music critics. At [[Metacritic]], the album received an average score of 87, which indicates "universal acclaim", based on 41 reviews.<ref name="MC"/> ''[[Rolling Stone]]'' critic [[David Fricke]] described the album as "a ricochet of textural eccentricity and pictorial-shrapnel writing".<ref name="rollingstone"/> Andy Gill of ''[[The Independent]]'' regarded the record as "the most extreme album of [Bowie's] entire career", stating that "''Blackstar'' is as far as he's strayed from pop."<ref name="independent-review"/> Reviewing for ''[[Q (magazine)|Q]]'' magazine, Tom Doyle wrote, "''Blackstar'' is a more concise statement than ''The Next Day'' and a far, far more intriguing one."<ref name="Q review"/> In a favourable review for ''[[Exclaim!]]'', Michael Rancic wrote that ''Blackstar'' is "a defining statement from someone who isn't interested in living in the past, but rather, for the first time in a while, waiting for everyone else to catch up".<ref name="exclaim">{{cite journal |url=http://exclaim.ca/music/article/david_bowie-_blackstar |title=David Bowie – Blackstar |work=[[Exclaim!]] |date=7 January 2016 |accessdate=7 January 2016 |last=Rancic |first=Michael}}</ref>

''[[The New York Times]]'' described the album as "at once emotive and cryptic, structured and spontaneous and, above all, willful, refusing to cater to the expectations of radio stations or fans".<ref name=NYT>{{cite news |url=http://www.nytimes.com/2016/01/07/arts/music/review-blackstar-david-bowies-emotive-and-cryptic-new-album.html?_r=0 |title=Review: 'Blackstar,' David Bowie's Emotive and Cryptic New Album |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=7 January 2016 |accessdate=11 January 2016 |last=Pareles |first=Jon}}</ref> [[Pitchfork Media]]'s review of ''Blackstar'' was written on the day of the album's release, two days before Bowie's death, and concluded with the line "This tortured immortality is no gimmick: Bowie will live on long after the man has died. For now, though, he’s making the most of his latest reawakening, adding to the myth while the myth is his to hold."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/21332-blackstar/#|title=David Bowie|work=Pitchfork}}</ref>

==Track listing==
* All songs, words & music David Bowie, except where noted.

{{track listing
| headline = ''Blackstar'' — {{nobold|[[Compact disc|CD]] – [[Gramophone record|vinyl]] – [[Music download|digital download]]}}
| title1 = [[Blackstar (David Bowie song)|Blackstar]] 
| length1 = 9:57
| title2 = [['Tis a Pity She Was a Whore]]
| length2 = 4:52
| title3 = [[Lazarus (David Bowie song)|Lazarus]]
| length3 = 6:22
| title4 = [[Sue (Or in a Season of Crime)]]
| note4 = Bowie, Maria Schneider, Paul Bateman & Bob Bharma
| length4 = 4:40
| title5 = [[Girl Loves Me]]
| length5 = 4:51
| title6 = [[Dollar Days]]
| length6 = 4:44
| title7 = [[I Can't Give Everything Away]]
| length7 = 5:47
|total_length = 41:13
}}
{{tracklist
| collapsed = no
| headline = Digital download bonus track
| title8 = Blackstar
| note8 = [[Music video|Video]]
| length8 = 9:59
|total_length = 51:12
}}

==Personnel==
Personnel adapted from ''Blackstar'' liner notes.<ref name="album notes">{{cite AV media notes|title=Blackstar|others=[[David Bowie]]|year=2016|type=album liner notes|publisher=ISO Records}}</ref>

{{Div col||30em}}
* [[David Bowie]] – [[Singing|vocals]], [[acoustic guitar]], [[Audio mixing (recorded music)|mixing]], [[Record producer|production]], [[String section|string]] [[arrangement]]s, "Fender Guitar" (3), [[harmonica]] (7)
* [[Donny McCaslin]] – [[flute]], [[saxophone]], [[Woodwind instrument|woodwinds]]
* [[Ben Monder]] – [[guitar]]
* [[Jason Lindner]] – [[piano]], [[Organ (music)|organ]], [[Keyboard instrument|keyboards]]
* [[Tim Lefebvre]] – [[Bass guitar|bass]]
* [[Mark Guiliana]] – [[Drum kit|drums]], [[Percussion instrument|percussion]]
* [[Kevin Killen]] – [[Record engineer|engineering]]
* Erin Tonkon – assistant engineer, [[Backing vocalist|backing vocals]] (2)
* Joe Visciano – mixing assistant
* Kabir Hermon – assistant engineer
* [[Joe LaPorta]] – [[Remaster|mastering]] engineer
* [[Tom Elmhirst]] – mixing engineer
* [[Tony Visconti]] – production, strings, engineering, mixing engineer
* [[James Murphy (electronic musician)|James Murphy]] – percussion (4 and 5)
{{Div col end}}

==Charts and certifications==
{{col begin}}
{{col-2}}

===Weekly charts===
{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
|-
! scope="col"| Chart (2016)
! scope="col"| Peak position
|-
! scope="row"| Argentine Albums ([[Argentine Chamber of Phonograms and Videograms Producers|CAPIF]])<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.diariodecultura.com.ar/rankings/los-discos-mas-vendidos-18/ |title=Los discos más vendidos |work=Diario de Cultura |publisher=ILHSA Grupo |accessdate=19 January 2016}}</ref>
| 1
|-
! scope="row"| Australian Albums ([[ARIA Charts|ARIA]])<ref name="Hung Medien"/>
| 1
|-
! scope="row"| Austrian Albums ([[Ö3 Austria Top 40|Ö3 Austria]])<ref name="Hung Medien"/>
| 1
|-
! scope="row"| Belgian Albums ([[Ultratop]] Flanders)<ref name="Hung Medien">{{cite web|url=http://www.ultratop.be/nl/album/4735f/David-Bowie-&9733|title=ultratop.be – David Bowie – ★ [Blackstar]|publisher=Hung Medien|accessdate=16 January 2016}}</ref>
| 1
|-
! scope="row"| Belgian Albums ([[Ultratop]] Wallonia)<ref name="Hung Medien"/>
| 1
|-
{{albumchart|BillboardCanada|1|artist=David Bowie|rowheader=true|accessdate=20 January 2016}}
|-
{{albumchart|Croatia|1|artist=David Bowie|rowheader=true|week=6|year=2016|id=1607|accessdate=20 January 2016}}
|-
!scope="row"|Czech Albums ([[IFPI|IFPI Czech Republic]])<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ifpicr.cz/hitparada/index.php?a=titul&hitparada=14&titul=154400&sec=8a12a4c860b13813eeb0179187090137 |title=TOP50 Prodejní: BOWIE DAVID – Blackstar |language=Czech |publisher=[[International Federation of the Phonographic Industry|IFPI Czech Republic]] |accessdate=30 January 2016}}</ref>
|1
|-
! scope="row"| Danish Albums ([[Tracklisten|Hitlisten]])<ref name="Hung Medien"/>
| 1
|-
! scope="row"| Dutch Albums ([[MegaCharts]])<ref name="Hung Medien"/>
| 1
|-
{{albumchart|Finland|1|artist=David Bowie|album=Black Star|rowheader=true|accessdate=17 January 2016}}
|-
! scope="row"| French Albums ([[Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique|SNEP]])<ref name="Hung Medien"/>
| 1
|-
! scope="row"| German Albums ([[GfK Entertainment Charts|Offizielle Top 100]])<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.offiziellecharts.de/album-details-291679|title=Offizielle Deutsche Charts – Offizielle Deutsche Charts|publisher=}}</ref>
| 1
|-
!scope="row"| Greek Albums ([[Greek Albums Chart|IFPI Greece]])<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ifpi.gr/charts_en.html|archiveurl=http://www.ifpi.gr/charts_en.html|archivedate=1 February 2016|title=Top-75 Albums Sales Chart Week: 3/2016|publisher=[[IFPI Greece]]|accessdate=3 February 2016}}</ref>
| 3
|-
{{albumchart|Hungary|4|year=2016|week=1|rowheader=true|accessdate=15 January 2016}}
|-
{{albumchart|Ireland|1|year=2016|week=2|rowheader=true|accessdate=16 January 2016}}
|-
! scope="row"| Italian Albums ([[Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana|FIMI]])<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fimi.it/classifiche#/category:album|title=FIMI Classifiche|accessdate=15 January 2016}}</ref>
| 1
|-
{{albumchart|Oricon|5|date=2016-01-25|rowheader=true|accessdate=27 January 2016}}
|-
!scope="row"|Mexican Albums ([[Asociación Mexicana de Productores de Fonogramas y Videogramas|AMPROFON]])<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.amprofon.com.mx/top-album.php|title=Top Album - Semanal ( del 15 de Enero al 21 de Enero )|publisher=Amprofon|accessdate=9 February 2016|archivedate=9 February 2016|language=Spanish}}</ref>
| 2
|-
! scope="row"| New Zealand Albums ([[Recorded Music NZ|RMNZ]])<ref>{{cite web|url=http://nztop40.co.nz/chart/albums?chart=4190|title=NZ Top 40 Albums Chart – The Official New Zealand Music Chart|publisher=[[Recorded Music NZ]]|accessdate=15 January 2016|}}</ref>
| 1
|-
! scope="row"| Norwegian Albums ([[VG-lista]])<ref>{{cite web|url=http://lista.vg.no/artist/david-bowie/album/blackstar/13713|title=VG-lista - David Bowie / Blackstar|publisher=}}</ref>
| 1
|-
{{albumchart|Poland|1|id=1000|rowheader=true|accessdate=21 January 2016}}
|-
! scope="row"| Portuguese Albums ([[Associação Fonográfica Portuguesa|AFP]])<ref name="Hung Medien"/>
| 1
|-
{{albumchart|Scotland|1|artist=David Bowie|date=2016-01-15|rowheader=true|accessdate=15 January 2016}}
|-
! scope="row"| South Korean Albums ([[Gaon Album Chart|Gaon]])<ref>{{cite web |url=http://gaonchart.co.kr/main/section/chart/album.gaon?termGbn=week&hitYear=2016&targetTime=03&nationGbn=T |title=2015년 03주차 Album Chart |language=Korean |publisher=[[Gaon Music Chart]] |accessdate=17 December 2015}}</ref>
| 29
|-
! scope="row"| South Korean Albums International ([[Gaon Album Chart|Gaon]])<ref>{{cite web |url=http://gaonchart.co.kr/main/section/chart/album.gaon?termGbn=week&hitYear=2015&targetTime=50&nationGbn=E |title=2016년 03주차 Album Chart |language=Korean |publisher=[[Gaon Music Chart]] |accessdate=17 December 2015}}</ref>
| 2
|-
! scope="row"| Spanish Albums ([[Productores de Música de España|PROMUSICAE]])<ref name="Hung Medien"/>
| 1
|-
! scope="row"| Swedish Albums ([[Sverigetopplistan]])<ref name="Hung Medien"/>
| 1
|-
! scope="row"| Swiss Albums ([[Swiss Hitparade|Schweizer Hitparade]])<ref name="Hung Medien"/>
| 1
|-
!scope="row"|Taiwanese Albums (Five Music)<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.5music.com.tw/CDTop.asp?top=6|title=Weekly Top 20 – Five Music Chart 2016/1/29 – 2016/2/4|language=Chinese |publisher= Five Music |format=Select Week 6, Year 2016 from the bottom of the list |accessdate=February 16, 2016}}</ref>
|18
|-
{{albumchart|UK2|1|date=2016-01-15|rowheader=true|accessdate=16 January 2016}}
|-
!scope="row"|US [[Billboard 200|''Billboard'' 200]]<ref name="BB200">{{cite web | url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/chart-beat/6844036/david-bowie-blackstar-album-debuts-no-1-on-billboard-200-charts | title=David Bowie's 'Blackstar' Album Debuts at No. 1 on Billboard 200 Chart | publisher=''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'' | date=17 January 2016 | accessdate=17 January 2016 | author=Caulfield, Keith}}</ref>
| 1
|-
{{albumchart|BillboardAlternative|1|artist=David Bowie|rowheader=true|accessdate=30 January 2016}}
|-
{{albumchart|BillboardDigital|1|artist=David Bowie|rowheader=true|accessdate=30 January 2016}}
|-
{{albumchart|BillboardRock|1|artist=David Bowie|rowheader=true|accessdate=30 January 2016}}
|-
{{albumchart|BillboardTastemaker|1|artist=David Bowie|rowheader=true|accessdate=30 January 2016}}
|-
|}
{{col-2}}

===Certifications===
{{Certification Table Top}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Australia|relyear=2016|certyear=2016|award=Gold|type=album|autocat=yes|certref=<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ariacharts.com.au/chart/albums|title=ARIA Australian Top 50 Albums|publisher=Australian Recording Industry Association|date=25 January 2016|accessdate=23 January 2016}}</ref>}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Austria|relyear=2016|certyear=2016|artist=David Bowie|award=Gold|type=album|accessdate=18 January 2016}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Belgium|relyear=2016|certyear=2016|artist=David Bowie|award=Platinum|type=album|accessdate=18 January 2016}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Canada|relyear=2016|certyear=2016|artist=David Bowie|award=Gold|type=album|salesamount=40,000|accessdate=11 February 2016}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Denmark|relyear=2016|salesamount=10,000|certyear=2016|artist=David Bowie|award=Gold|type=album|accessdate=18 January 2016}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Germany|relyear=2016|certyear=2016|artist=David Bowie|award=Gold|type=album|accessdate=18 January 2016}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Italy|relyear=2016|certyear=2016|artist=David Bowie|title=Blackstar|award=Gold|type=album|autocat=yes|date=22 January 2016|accessdate=25 January 2016}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=New Zealand|relyear=2016|certyear=2016|artist=David Bowie|award=Gold|type=album|recent=website|id=4193|accessdate=29 January 2016}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Spain|relyear=2016|certyear=2016|artist=David Bowie|award=Gold|type=album|accessdate=3 February 2016}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|relyear=2016|certyear=2016|artist=David Bowie|award=Platinum|type=album|accessdate=15 January 2016}}
|-
!scope="row"|United States ([[Recording Industry Association of America|RIAA]])
|{{N/A}}
|316,000<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/chart-beat/6875126/grease-live-movie-soundtracks-billboard-200-chart-moves|title=‘Grease Live’ & ‘Grease’ Movie Soundtracks 'Go Together' Up the Chart: Billboard 200 Chart Moves - Billboard|work=Billboard|accessdate=17 February 2016}}</ref>
|-
{{Certification Table Bottom}}
{{col end}}

==Release history==
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders"
|-
! scope="col"| Region
! scope="col"| Date
! scope="col"| Format(s)
! scope="col"| Label
! scope="col"| Ref.
|-
! scope="row" | Europe
| rowspan="3" | 8 January 2016
| rowspan="3" | {{hlist|[[Compact disc|CD]]|[[Music download|digital download]]|[[Gramophone record|vinyl]]}}
| {{hlist|ISO|[[Sony Music|Sony]]}}
| <ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.discogs.com/David-Bowie-/master/939598 | title=David Bowie – ★ | publisher=[[Discogs]] | accessdate=16 January 2016}}</ref>
|-
! scope="row" | United Kingdom
| {{hlist|ISO|[[RCA Records|RCA]]}}
| <ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.amazon.co.uk/Blackstar-David-Bowie/dp/B017VORJK6/ | title=Blackstar by David Bowie | publisher=[[Amazon.com|Amazon.co.uk]] | accessdate=3 December 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/blackstar/id1059043043 | title=Blackstar by David Bowie | publisher=[[iTunes|iTunes Great Britain]] | accessdate=3 December 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.amazon.co.uk/Blackstar-VINYL-David-Bowie/dp/B017VORJLA/ | title=Blackstar [VINYL] by David Bowie | publisher=[[Amazon.com|Amazon.co.uk]] | accessdate=3 December 2015}}</ref>
|-
! scope="row" | United States
| {{hlist|ISO|[[Columbia Records|Columbia]]}}
|<ref name="iTunes US">{{cite web | url=https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/blackstar/id1059043043 | title=Blackstar by David Bowie | publisher=[[iTunes]] | accessdate=21 November 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.amazon.com/Blackstar-David-Bowie/dp/B017VORJK6/ | title=David Bowie – Blackstar | publisher=[[Amazon.com]] | accessdate=3 December 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.amazon.com/Blackstar-Vinyl-David-Bowie/dp/B017VORJLA/ | title=David Bowie – Blackstar (Vinyl) | publisher=[[Amazon.com]] | accessdate=3 December 2015}}</ref>
|}

==References==
{{reflist|30em}}

==External links==
* {{official website|http://davidbowie.com/blackstar/}}
* {{Discogs master|master=939598|name=Blackstar|type=album}}

{{David Bowie |state=collapsed}}

[[Category:2016 albums]]
[[Category:David Bowie albums]]
[[Category:Albums produced by Tony Visconti]]
[[Category:Columbia Records albums]]
[[Category:RCA Records albums]]
[[Category:Avant-garde jazz albums]]
[[Category:Jazz albums by English artists]]
[[Category:English-language albums]]

Blackstar (Album)

2016-02-19T04:59:44Z

Gentlecollapse6:

Reflektor (Album)

2016-02-13T02:40:06Z

Gentlecollapse6: /* Critical reception */

{{about|the Arcade Fire album|the album's title track|Reflektor (song)|the documentary film about the making of the album|The Reflektor Tapes}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2015}}
{{Infobox album
| Name = Reflektor
| Type = studio
| Artist = [[Arcade Fire]]
| Cover = ArcadeFireReflektor.jpg
| Released = {{Start date|2013|10|28|mf=yes}}
| Recorded = 
| Studio = Sonovox Studios, [[Montreal]], Trident Castle, [[Port Antonio]], [[Jamaica]], [[New York City|New York]], [[New York State|New York]]
| Genre = {{flatlist|
*[[Art rock]]<ref name="telegraph">{{cite news | url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/cdreviews/10402764/Arcade-Fire-Reflektor-album-review.html | title=Arcade Fire, Reflektor, album review | publisher=[[The Daily Telegraph|The Telegraph]] | date=October 24, 2013 | accessdate=October 28, 2013 | author=McCormick, Neil | location=London}}</ref>
*[[dance-rock]]<ref>http://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/50-best-albums-of-2013-20131202/arcade-fire-reflektor-19691231</ref>
}}
| Length = {{Duration|m=75|s=12}} / {{Duration|m=85|s=14}} (with hidden track)
| Label = [[Merge Records|Merge]] (US), Sonovox (CAN), [[Mercury Records|Mercury]] / [[Virgin EMI Records|Virgin EMI]] / [[Universal Music|Universal]] (international)
| Producer = [[Markus Dravs]], Arcade Fire, [[James Murphy (electronic musician)|James Murphy]]
| Last album = ''[[The Suburbs (album)|The Suburbs]]'' (2010)
| This album = '''''Reflektor''''' (2013)
| Next album =
| Misc = {{Singles
| Name = Reflektor
| Type = studio
| Single 1 = [[Reflektor (song)|Reflektor]]
| Single 1 date = 9 September 2013
| Single 2 = [[Afterlife (Arcade Fire song)|Afterlife]]
| Single 2 date = 28 September 2013
| Single 3 = [[We Exist]]
| Single 3 date = 26 May 2014
| Single 4 = You Already Know
| Single 4 date = 22 August 2014
| Single 5 = Get Right
| Single 5 date = 25 September 2015
}}
}}

'''''Reflektor''''' is the fourth studio album by the Canadian [[indie rock]] band [[Arcade Fire]], released on October 28, 2013 on [[Merge Records]]. A [[double album]], ''Reflektor'' was co-produced by former [[LCD Soundsystem]] frontman [[James Murphy (electronic musician)|James Murphy]], regular Arcade Fire producer [[Markus Dravs]], and the band itself.

Influenced by Haitian [[rara]] music, the 1959 film ''[[Black Orpheus]]'' and [[Søren Kierkegaard]]'s essay, "[[The Present Age]]",<ref name="rollingstone">{{cite web |url= http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/win-butler-reveals-secret-influences-behind-arcade-fires-reflektor-20131022 |title=Win Butler Reveals Secret Influences Behind Arcade Fire's 'Reflektor'|first=Patrick |last=Doyle |work=rollingstone.com |accessdate=24 October 2013}}</ref> ''Reflektor'''s release was preceded by a [[guerrilla marketing]] campaign inspired by [[veve]] drawings, and the release of a limited edition single, "[[Reflektor (song)|Reflektor]]", credited to the fictional band ''The Reflektors'' on September 9, 2013.

The album was recognized as one of The 100 Best Albums of the Decade So Far, a list published by [[Pitchfork Media]] in August 2014.<ref name="pitchfork.com">{{cite web|url=http://pitchfork.com/features/staff-lists/9465-the-top-100-albums-of-2010-2014/}}</ref>

==Background==
The album's origins stem from a trip that both vocalist/guitarist [[Win Butler]] and multi-instrumentalist [[Régine Chassagne]] took to her family's home country of [[Haiti]]. Butler said: "Going to Haiti for the first time with Régine was the beginning of a major change in the way that I thought about the world. Usually, I think you have most of your musical influences locked down by the time you're 16. There was a band I [feel] changed me musically, just really opened me up to this huge, vast amount of culture and influence I hadn't been exposed to before, which was really life-changing."<ref name="rollingstone"/> Inspired by the country's [[rara]] music, Butler and Chassagne incorporated elements of this sound into the band's new material, alongside [[Jamaican]] influences. Butler stated, "I mean, it's not like our band trying to play Haitian music. I just felt like we were opened up to a new influence. [[Bob Marley]] probably felt the same way the first time he heard [[Curtis Mayfield]]."<ref name="rollingstone"/>

==Recording==
Recording in [[Louisiana]], the band began work on ''Reflektor'' in 2011, and subsequently moved to [[Jamaica]] the following year with producer [[Markus Dravs]].<ref name="rollingstone"/> Working on roughly sixty song ideas, the band wrote and recorded in an abandoned [[castle]], named Trident: "The castle was built in 1979, or something, by this eccentric Jamaican dude who just wanted to hang out with royalty. And it kind of worked. After about five years he couldn't afford to pay the bill, so it had been sitting empty for many years. I met a dude who was planning on turning it into a hotel, so we just rented it off him for cheap and there was nothing in there. We brought in some beds and a piano and some gear."<ref name="rollingstone"/> The album was mostly recorded on [[analog tape]].<ref>http://radiofreecanuckistan.blogspot.ca/2013/10/arcade-fires-reflektor.html</ref>

In August 2012, the band also began working with producer and former [[LCD Soundsystem]] frontman [[James Murphy (electronic musician)|James Murphy]], whom the band had been wanting to work with for over six years. Butler: "LCD Soundsystem to me is like [[New Order]] and the [[B-52's]] and we deeply share a lot of those influences, and we did completely different things with it. [[Régine Chassagne|Régine]] is kind of the person who dances. At any given minute, if you can get Régine to dance, you're kind of on the right track, so I think we just wanted to make a record that Régine could dance to."<ref name="rollingstone"/>

Regarding the band's decision to record a [[double album]], Win Butler stated, "The record is really long. We intended to make a short record and we ended up with 18 songs that were all between six and eight minutes and we were like, 'Uh oh, I think we screwed up making a short record.' Splitting it over the two halves enables you to get into the different worlds of the records."<ref name="rollingstone"/> According to Butler, 50 or 60 songs were written for the album.<ref name="Phillips, Amy">{{cite web | author = Phillips, Amy| date = September 10, 2013| url = http://pitchfork.com/news/52234-arcade-fires-win-butler-offers-reflektor-details|title = Arcade Fire's Win Butler Offers Reflektor Details| publisher = [[Pitchfork Media]]| accessdate = November 15, 2013}}</ref>

==Writing and composition==
Primary lyricist [[Win Butler]] notes that the 1959 film ''[[Black Orpheus]]'' inspired his lyrics on ''Reflektor'', in particular its themes of [[Solitude|isolation]] and [[death]]: "''Black Orpheus'' is one of my favorite films of all time, which is set in Carnival in [[Brazil]]. The [[Orpheus]] myth is the original [[love triangle]], [[Romeo and Juliet]] kind of story. Lyrically, it's not literally about my life. I feel like I'm kind of a bit of a sponge in a way. Like, if people around me are going through things, I find it very hard not to be empathetic."<ref name="rollingstone"/> Also influential to the album's lyrical content is an essay by Danish philosopher [[Søren Kierkegaard]], entitled "[[The Present Age]]". Butler states, "[It's] about the reflective age. This is like in 1846, and it sounds like he's talking about modern times. He's talking about the [[news media|press]] and alienation, and you kind of read it and you're like, 'Dude, you have no idea how insane it's gonna get.'"<ref name="rollingstone"/>

The album tracks, "Here Comes the Night Time" and "Here Comes the Night Time II", each appear on the album's respective halves, with Butler noting, "The second one was actually written first and it almost starts the second half of the record – kind of like after the [[Haitian Carnival|[Haitian] Carnival]]. Both of them are very much influenced by when the sun is just starting to go down in [[Port au Prince]], and it's really intense because most of the city doesn't have [[electricity]] so everyone is just racing to get home before dark."<ref name="rollingstone"/> The first of the two tracks references [[missionaries]], in part: "The absurdity that you can go to a place like Haiti and teach people something about [[God]]. Like, the opposite really seems to be true, in my experience."<ref name="rollingstone"/>

The track "Supersymmetry" was originally written for the film ''[[Her (film)|Her]]'', which the band was composing simultaneously while working on ''Reflektor''. A different version of the song appears during the film's end credits.<ref>{{cite web|last=Battan|first=Carrie|title=Spike Jonze Says Arcade Fire's "Supersymmetry" Was Originally Made for His Film Her|url=http://pitchfork.com/news/53018-spoke-jonze-says-arcade-fires-supersymmetry-was-originally-made-for-his-film-her/|work=[[Pitchfork Media]]|accessdate=December 3, 2013|date=November 15, 2013}}</ref>

The lyrics include singing in both [[English language|English]] and [[French language|French]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rollingstone.com/music/songreviews/reflektor-20130910 |title=Arcade Fire – "Reflektor" |work=[[Rolling Stone]] |first=Jon |last=Dolan |date=September 10, 2013 |accessdate=November 30, 2013}}</ref>

==Promotional campaign==
[[File:Reflektor logo in Wapping, London.jpg|thumbnail|left|An example of the Reflektor graffiti.]]
In early August, a cryptic logo, which incorporated the word "reflektor", appeared on the walls of cities around the world. The [[street art]] was reported to be part of a [[guerrilla marketing]] campaign for the new Arcade Fire album.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2013-10-15/arcade-fires-marketing-machine-rolls-out-reflektor | title =Arcade Fire's Marketing Machine Rolls Out Reflektor | author =Claire Suddath | author2 =''[[Bloomberg Businessweek]]'' | publisher =businessweek.com | date =October 15, 2013}}</ref> The upcoming album and its release date had already been announced via a message on Twitter, written as a reply to a single fan. An Instagram account posted pictures of the symbol, and included a video of one being drawn.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://pitchfork.com/news/51508-arcade-fires-new-album-titled-reflektor/ | title =Arcade Fire's New Album Titled Reflektor? | author =Amy Phillips | author2 =''[[Pitchfork Media]]'' | publisher =pitchfork.com | date =August 5, 2013}}</ref>

On August 26, Arcade Fire confirmed that the work was related to them, with a large mural on a building in downtown Manhattan, which included four of the symbols and the words "Arcade Fire 9pm 9/9".<ref>{{cite web | url=http://pitchfork.com/news/52041-arcade-fire-finally-confirm-reflektor/ | title =Arcade Fire Confirm Reflektor Campaign Is Theirs | author =Jenn Pelly | author2 =''[[Pitchfork Media]]'' | publisher =pitchfork.com | date =August 26, 2013}}</ref> On September 9, 2013, the band released two videos for the [[Reflektor (song)|first single and title track]] from the album.<ref>{{Cite news|title = Arcade Fire Debuts Funky 'Reflektor' Single With Interactive Video|date = 9 September 2013|url = http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/5687268/arcade-fire-debuts-funky-reflektor-single-with-interactive-video|last = Wete|first = Brad|work = [[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|accessdate = 9 September 2013}}</ref><ref name=Vulture>{{cite web|last=Dobbins|first=Amanda|url=http://www.vulture.com/2013/09/heres-the-other-new-arcade-fire-video.html|title=Watch The Arcade Fire's 'Reflektor' Video|publisher=Vulture|date=9 September 2013|accessdate=9 September 2013}}</ref> [[Win Butler]] later wrote that the Reflektor graffiti was inspired by Haitian [[veve]] drawings.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://news.iheart.com/articles/trending-471311/arcade-fire-frontman-responds-to-graffiti-11652334/ | title =Arcade Fire frontman responds to graffiti complaint | author =''[[iHeartRadio]]'' | publisher =iheart.com | date =September 13, 2013}}</ref>

The Reflektor campaign received negative publicity when an article that appeared in [[Slate (magazine)|Slate]] in September 2013 depicted instances of property damage that resulted from the advertisements. The band made an apology, explaining that the viral wall stencils were meant to use chalk or other washable media, rather than spray paint, nor binding glues under the paper advertisements.<ref>[http://www.slate.com/blogs/browbeat/2013/09/12/arcade_fire_graffiti_marketing_vandalism_or_both_relektor_ads_are_a_nuisance.html My Wife Was Vandalized by Arcade Fire], Ian Dille, [[Slate (magazine)|Slate]], 12 September 2013</ref>

The build-up to the release of the album was described by [[Pitchfork Media|Pitchfork]] as "unusual, ambitious, vague, confounding, a little heavy-handed, and very successful". It was compared to similar campaigns for albums by [[Daft Punk]] and [[Kanye West]], also released in 2013. In such campaigns, the music itself becomes one part of a wider experience. Although the events surrounding the album's release take place in the real world, their impermanence suits the use of social media, where the campaign is documented and shared.<ref>[http://pitchfork.com/thepitch/108-promo-campaigns/ Reflektor, Year Zero, and a Brief History of the Elaborate Album Rollout], Stephen Deusner, [[Pitchfork Media|Pitchfork]], 21 October 2013</ref> In an interview, Butler stated that he enjoyed anticipating the release of an album, and that the build-up to the release of Reflektor felt like "a weird art project" or "throwing a good party".<ref name="Phillips, Amy"/>

==Artwork==
The album's artwork features an image of [[Auguste Rodin]]’s sculpture of [[Orpheus]] and [[Eurydice]].<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.spin.com/articles/arcade-fire-reflektor-review-first-listen/ | title =Arcade Fire's 'Reflektor': 12 Observations About the New Album After One Listen | first=Jem |last=Aswad |work=[[Spin (magazine)|Spin]] |date=October 2, 2013 |accessdate=November 30, 2013}}</ref>

==Release==
The band released a 15-second music clip on [[Spotify]] on September 2, 2013, titled "9pm 9/9" under the album name ''Reflektor''.<ref>{{Cite news|title = Arcade Fire release snippet of new music on Spotify - listen|date = 2 September 2013|url = http://www.nme.com/news/arcade-fire/72410|work = [[NME]]|accessdate = 2 September 2013}}</ref> On September 9, 2013, the band announced a last-minute secret show under the name "The Reflektors" at Montreal's Salsathèque Club, at 9PM for $9.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://voir.ca/nouvelles/actualite-musicale/2013/09/09/arcade-fire-a-la-salsatheque-ce-soir/ |title=Arcade Fire à la Salsathèque ce soir |work=[[Voir]] |trans_title=Arcade Fire at Salsathèque tonight |language=French |last=Ledoux |first=Julie |date=9 September 2013 |accessdate=2013-10-02}}</ref> Following the band's September 28 appearance on [[Saturday Night Live]], a 30-minute concert special aired on [[NBC]] featuring cameos including [[Rainn Wilson]], [[Bono]], [[Ben Stiller]], [[James Franco]], [[Michael Cera]] and [[Zach Galifianakis]].<ref>{{cite web | url=http://buzzworthy.mtv.com/2013/09/30/arcade-fire-saturday-night-live-tv-special-video/ | title =Arcade Fire Debuts New 'Reflektor' Songs On 'Saturday Night Live' | author =Althea Legaspi | author2 =''[[Music Television]]'' | publisher =mtv.com | date =September 30, 2013}}</ref> The band debuted three tracks, "Here Comes the Night Time", "[[We Exist]]" and "Normal Person".<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.slate.com/blogs/browbeat/2013/09/29/arcade_fire_s_post_snl_concert_special_watch_the_band_play_new_songs_reflektor.html | title =Watch Arcade Fire’s Oddball Post-SNL Concert Special | author =Forrest Wickman | author2 =''[[Slate Magazine]]'' | publisher =slate.com | date =September 29, 2013}}</ref> On October 12 the band released a teaser video containing thirty seconds of the song "Awful Sound (Oh Eurydice)".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.spin.com/articles/arcade-fire-awful-sound-preview-brooklyn-show/ | title =Preview Arcade Fire's 'Awful Sound' Ahead of Probable Brooklyn Shows |first=Marc |last=Hogan |work=[[Spin (magazine)|Spin]] |date=October 14, 2013}}</ref> On October 21, the song "[[Afterlife (Arcade Fire song)|Afterlife]]" was debuted in a music video, playing over edited clips of [[Marcel Camus]]'s 1959 film ''[[Black Orpheus]]''. On October 21, the song "Normal Person" aired on [[The Colbert Report]], with the band identified not as Arcade Fire but only as "The Reflektors". On October 24, a [[lyric video]] for the Official Reflektor Full Album Teaser,<ref>{{YouTube|CBjqUEMlHTY|"Arcade Fire - Reflektor (Full Album Teaser - Official)"}}</ref> playing over longer clips of Marcel Camus's 1959 film ''Black Orpheus'' was posted to the band's website.

In September 2015, a Deluxe edition was released. It featured five new tracks (that didn't make it on the original album), and a new remixed version of "Flashbulb Eyes" by [[Dennis Bovell]] featuring [[Linton Kwesi Johnson]]. "Get Right" was released as a single.

==Reception==

===Critical reception===
{{Album ratings
| MC = 80/100<ref name="metacritic1">{{cite web |url=http://www.metacritic.com/music/reflektor/arcade-fire |title=Reviews for Reflektor by Arcade Fire |publisher=[[Metacritic]] |accessdate=October 25, 2013}}</ref>
| rev1 = [[AllMusic]]
| rev1Score = {{rating|3.5|5}}<ref name="allmusic">{{cite web |url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/reflektor-mw0002581228 |title=Reflektor – Arcade Fire |publisher=[[AllMusic]] |accessdate=October 26, 2013 |last=Monger |first=James Christopher}}</ref>
| rev2 = ''[[Clash Music]]''
| rev2Score = 4/10<ref name="Clash">{{cite news |url=http://www.clashmusic.com/reviews/arcade-fire-reflektor |title=Arcade Fire 'Reflektor' |work=[[Clash Music]] |date=September 30, 2013 |accessdate=February 12, 2016 |last=Diver |first=Mike}}</ref>
| rev3 = ''[[Entertainment Weekly]]''
| rev3Score = B<ref>{{cite journal |url=http://www.ew.com/article/2013/12/13/reflektor-review |title=Reflektor |work=[[Entertainment Weekly]] |date=December 13, 2013 |accessdate=December 16, 2015 |last=Catucci |first=Nick}}</ref>
| rev4 = ''[[The Guardian]]''
| rev4Score = {{rating|3|5}}<ref name=guardian>{{cite news |url=http://www.theguardian.com/music/2013/oct/24/arcade-fire-reflektor-review |title=Arcade Fire: Reflektor – review |work=[[The Guardian]] |location=London |date=October 24, 2013 |accessdate=October 30, 2013 |last=Petridis |first=Alexis |authorlink=Alexis Petridis}}</ref>
| rev5 = ''[[The Independent]]''
| rev5Score = {{rating|4|5}}<ref name="independent">{{cite news |url=http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/reviews/album-review-arcade-fire-reflektor-sonovox-8887399.html |title=Album review: Arcade Fire, Reflektor (Sonovox) |work=[[The Independent]] |location=London |date=October 19, 2013 |accessdate=October 30, 2013 |last=Gill |first=Andy}}</ref>
| rev6 = ''[[NME]]''
| rev6Score = 4/5<ref>{{cite journal |url=http://www.nme.com/reviews/arcade-fire/14888 |title=Arcade Fire – 'Reflektor' |work=[[NME]] |date=October 28, 2013 |accessdate=December 16, 2015 |last=Sheffield |first=Hazel}}</ref>
| rev7 =''[[Q Magazine|Q]]''
| rev7Score = {{rating|3|5}}<ref name="metacritic1">{{cite web |url=http://www.metacritic.com/music/reflektor/arcade-fire |title=Reviews for Reflektor by Arcade Fire |publisher=[[Metacritic]] |accessdate=October 25, 2013}}</ref>
| rev8 = [[Pitchfork Media]]
| rev8score = 9.2/10<ref name="Pitchfork Media">{{cite web |url=http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/18667-arcade-fire-reflektor/ |title=Arcade Fire: Reflektor |publisher=[[Pitchfork Media]] |date=October 28, 2013 |accessdate=October 28, 2013 |last=Zoladz |first=Lindsay}}</ref>
| rev9 = ''[[Rolling Stone]]''
| rev9Score = {{rating|4.5|5}}<ref name=rs>{{cite journal |url=http://www.rollingstone.com/music/albumreviews/reflektor-20130927 |title=Reflektor |work=[[Rolling Stone]] |date=September 27, 2013 |accessdate=October 6, 2013 |last=Fricke |first=David |authorlink=David Fricke}}</ref>
| rev10 = ''[[Spin (magazine)|Spin]]''
| rev10Score = 8/10<ref>{{cite journal |url=http://www.spin.com/2013/10/arcade-fire-reflektor-album-review-merge/ |title=Arcade Fire Sharpen Their Edges on the Sprawling, Frequently Awesome ‘Reflektor’ |work=[[Spin (magazine)|Spin]] |date=October 28, 2013 |accessdate=December 16, 2013 |last=Harvilla |first=Rob}}</ref>
}}

''Reflektor'' has received generally favorable reviews from music critics. At [[Metacritic]], which assigns a [[standard score|normalized]] rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, the album received a [[weighted mean|average]] score of 80 based on 48 reviews, indicating "generally favorable reviews".<ref name="metacritic1"/> [[David Fricke]] of ''[[Rolling Stone]]'' called the album "a perfect summary of their group's still-fervent indie-born hunger after a decade of mainstream success" and, noting its "decisive, indulgent ambition", cited it as "the best album Arcade Fire have ever made".<ref name=rs/> Lindsay Zoladz of [[Pitchfork Media]] described as "a triumph, but not a victory lap; the band never sounds content enough for that."<ref name="Pitchfork Media"/> ''[[USA Today]]'' gave three out of four stars and stated that on the album, "much of the music — audacious, heavily distorted and bubbling with electronics — sounds magnificently fresh. As the ensemble shape-shifts from the cleaner rock template of ''[[The Suburbs (album)|The Suburbs]]'' and ''[[Neon Bible]]'' to exotic beat-driven mashups, Arcade owes a debt to [[David Bowie]] (who has a brief cameo) and ''Achtung''-era [[U2]]. Co-producer [[James Murphy (electronic musician)|James Murphy]] of defunct LCD Soundsystem also brings his rhythmic chops to the mix in dizzying dance hybrids."<ref name=usa>{{cite news |url=http://www.usatoday.com/story/life/music/2013/10/25/album-review-arcade-fire-reflektor-three-stars/3185647/ |title=Review: 'Reflektor' reflects Arcade Fire's bold vision |work=[[USA Today]] |date=October 25, 2013 |accessdate=October 25, 2013 |last=Gunderson |first=Edna}}</ref> [[Kitty Empire]] of ''[[The Observer]]'' was impressed by the album's production and songwriting, but felt that "every track outstays its welcome by a couple of minutes", resulting in ''Reflektor'' not being an "astonishing album", but "merely very, very good one instead."<ref name=observer>{{cite news |url=http://www.theguardian.com/music/2013/oct/27/arcade-fire-reflektor-review |title=Arcade Fire: Reflektor – review |work=[[The Observer]] |date=October 27, 2013 |accessdate=October 24, 2013 |last=Empire |first=Kitty |authorlink=Kitty Empire}}</ref>

''[[The Quietus]]'' notes that "the question of what comes next, though, isn't one that Arcade Fire need fear any longer. With Reflektor, they've answered it strongly. Four albums in, their sound glitters with many facets and possibilities – they can be proud of how it reflects on them."<ref name=Quietus>{{cite web |url=http://thequietus.com/articles/13700-arcade-fire-reflektor-review|title=Reviews: Arcade Fire - 'Reflektor' |author=Emily Mackay|date=October 25, 2013 |accessdate=October 29, 2013}}</ref>

[[PopMatters]] journalist J.C. Maçek III said "''Reflektor'' doesn't contain any actually bad songs (the closest we can peg on the collection would be a small amount of filler material), but the impact of a full listen is one of catchy excitement and impressive pop rock which slowly rolls downhill into the murky sonic depths of the more somber second half without any truly punctuating final moment of the record itself."<ref name=PM>{{cite web|work=[[PopMatters]]|first=J.C.|last=Maçek III|url=http://www.popmatters.com/review/176118-arcade-fire-reflektor/|title=Arcade Fire: Reflektor|date=30 October 2013}}</ref>

''Reflektor'' fails to "fully justify the size of it and it doesn't end so much as unravel", according to ''[[Q (magazine)|Q]]''. "While ''Reflektor'' isn't so flawed as to strip them of their sash, it's a wobble on the podium, a needless error of judgement that could have been easily avoided had they heeded that... old truism. Here is proof you really can have too much of a good thing,” reviewer Simon Goddard concluded, giving it a 3/5 rating.<ref name="q">Goddard, Simon. "New releases. Arcade Fire - Reflektor". ''[[Q magazine|Q]]'', November 2013. P. 101</ref>

===Accolades===
''Rolling Stone'' ranked the album at No. 5 on their "50 Best Albums of 2013" list, writing that the fact that album has the "ability to provoke actual feelings is what makes this great."<ref name=rs50>{{cite web|url=http://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/50-best-albums-of-2013-20131202/arcade-fire-reflektor-19691231|title=50 Best Albums of 2013; Arcade Fire, "Reflektor"|author=''Rolling Stone''|date=2 December 2013|publisher=[[Jann Wenner]]|accessdate=5 December 2013}}</ref> [[Stereogum]] ranked ''Reflektor'' at number ten on their "The 50 Best Albums of 2013" list, stating: "[''Reflektor'' is] the record that Arcade Fire didn't need to risk making, but they did anyway and we're lucky to have it. This is an album that sets a new milestone. From now on, we're listening to a post-''Reflektor'' Arcade Fire, and they've never been more exciting.".<ref name="stereogum50">{{cite web|last=|first=|title=The 50 Best Albums of 2013: Arcade Fire - Reflektor|url=http://www.stereogum.com/1567541/the-50-best-albums-of-2013/list/attachment/arcade-fire-reflektor-5/|publisher=[[Stereogum]]|accessdate=3 December 2013|date=3 December 2013}}</ref> ''Drowned in Sound'' placed ''Reflektor'' 5th in their favorite albums of the year list, despite initially giving the album a negative review.<ref name=dis50>{{cite web|last=|first=|title=Drowned in Sound's Favorite Albums of 2013: Top 20|url=http://drownedinsound.com/in_depth/4147268-drowned-in-sounds-favourite-albums-of-2013--top-20|publisher=[[Drowned in Sound]]|accessdate=13 December 2013|date=9 December 2013}}</ref> 17 music journalists of the Polish media company [[Agora SA]] (''[[Gazeta Wyborcza]]'', [[Gazeta.pl]], TOK FM) placed ''Reflektor'' at number one in their ranking of 10 Best Foreign Albums of 2013.<ref name="Wyborcza"/>

The album was shortlisted nominee for the [[2014 Polaris Music Prize]].<ref name=shortlist>[http://www.ctvnews.ca/entertainment/arcade-fire-drake-shad-make-polaris-music-prize-short-list-1.1914616 "Arcade Fire, Drake, Shad make Polaris Music Prize short list"]. [[CTV News]], July 15, 2014.</ref>

The album was nominated at the [[57th Annual Grammy Awards|57th Grammy Awards]] for [[Grammy Award for Best Alternative Music Album|Best Alternative Music Album]], whilst the track "[[We Exist]]" was additionally nominated for [[Grammy Award for Best Music Video|Best Music Video]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/music/la-et-ms-grammys-2015-nominees-winners-list-story.html |title=57th Grammy Nominees |publisher=[[Los Angeles Times]] |accessdate=December 27, 2014}}</ref>

{|class="wikitable"
|-
! Publication
! Rank
! List
|-Ad
| [[Consequence of Sound]]
| align=center| 7
| Top 50 Albums of 2013<ref name=cos50>{{cite web|url=http://consequenceofsound.net/2013/12/albums-of-the-year-2013/|title=Top 50 Albums of 2013|last=Kivel|first=Adam|date=13 December 2013|publisher=Consequence of Sound|accessdate=14 December 2013}}</ref>
|-Ad
| [[Drowned in Sound]]
| align="center"|5
| Drowned in Sound's Favorite Albums of 2013<ref name=dis50 />
|-Ad
| ''[[Gazeta Wyborcza]]''
| align="center"| 1
| 10 Best Foreign Albums of 2013<ref name="Wyborcza">{{Cite web|url=http://wyborcza.pl/piatekekstra/1,134668,15168270,Ranking__Wyborczej___Najlepsze_zagraniczne_plyty_2013.html |title= Ranking "Wyborczej". Najlepsze zagraniczne płyty 2013 r. [WIDEO] |work=[[Gazeta Wyborcza]] |language=Polish |date=20 December 2013 |accessdate=21 December 2013}}</ref>
|-Ad
| The Line of Best Fit
| align=center| 15
| Best Fit Fifty: Albums of 2013<ref name=lbf50>{{cite web|url=http://thelineofbestfit.com/features/lists/best-fit-fifty-albums-of-2013-143059|title=Best Fit Fifty: Albums of 2013|author=The Line of Best Fit|date=16 December 2013|publisher=The Line of Best Fit|accessdate=31 December 2013}}</ref>
|-Ad
| NME
| align=center| 7
| 50 Best Records of 2013<ref name=nme50>{{cite web|url=http://www.nme.com/photos/nme-s-50-best-albums-of-2013/326689/1/1?recache=1&t=1231316#44|title=50 Best Records of 2013|author=NME |date=26 November 2013|publisher=NME|accessdate=26 November 2013}}</ref>
|-Ad
| ''[[Rolling Stone]]''
| align="center"| 5
| 50 Best Albums of 2013<ref name=rs50 />
|-Ad
| [[Stereogum]]
| align="center"|10
| The 50 Best Albums of 2013<ref name=stereogum50 />
|-Ad
| [[Pitchfork Media]]
| align="center"|10
| Top 50 Albums of 2013<ref>http://pitchfork.com/features/staff-lists/9293-the-top-50-albums-of-2013/5/</ref>
|}

The album was recognized as one of The 100 Best Albums of the Decade So Far, a list published by [[Pitchfork Media]] in August 2014.<ref name="pitchfork.com"/>

===Commercial performance===
The album debuted at number one on the [[Canadian Albums Chart]], selling 49,000 copies. This marks an increase from their previous album's debut week.<ref>{{cite web|first=Paul |last=Yuch |url=https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/67270545/Canadian%20Newsletters/nielsen_music_canadian_update_Nov6_2013.pdf |title=Arcade Fire Scores Third Chart-Topping Album |work={{noitalic|[[Nielsen Media Research|Nielsen Music]]}} |publisher=[[Dropbox (service)|Dropbox]] |accessdate=November 30, 2013}}</ref> The album sold 101,000 copies in Canada in 2013.<ref name="canada sales">{{cite web|url=http://www.billboard.com/biz/articles/news/record-labels/5869529/canadas-digital-music-sales-rise-in-2013-unlike-the-us|title=Canada’s Digital Music Sales Rise in 2013 Unlike the U.S.; Eminem, Robin Thicke Among Top Selling Artists|last=Bliss|first=Karen|date=January 10, 2014|accessdate=January 11, 2014|work=Billboard}}</ref>

In the US, the album also reached number one on the [[Billboard 200|''Billboard'' 200]], with 140,000 copies sold in its first week, according to [[Nielsen SoundScan]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/5778250/arcade-fires-reflektor-debuts-at-no-1-on-billboard-200 |title=Arcade Fire's 'Reflektor' Debuts At No. 1 On Billboard 200 |author=Keith Caulfield |date= November 6, 2013 |work=Billboard }}</ref> It was the third best-selling vinyl album in the US in 2013, selling 31,000 copies.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.usatoday.com/story/life/music/2014/01/03/2013-in-music-biggest-hits-top-albums-justin-timberlake-robin-thicke/4304139/ |title=2013 in Music: The biggest hits, the top albums |author=Brian Mansfield|work= USA TODAY |date= January 3, 2014 }}</ref> As of December 2014, ''Reflektor'' has sold 367,000 copies total in the US.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/events/grammys-2015/6327754/arcade-fire-grammys-album-of-year-reflektor-prediction |title=Will Arcade Fire Repeat as Grammy Darlings? |last=Payne |first=Chris |work=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |publisher=[[Prometheus Global Media]] |date=December 3, 2014 |accessdate=December 4, 2014}}</ref>

The album debuted at number one in the UK with sales of 45,252.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.musicweek.com/businessanalysis/read/official-charts-analysis-arcade-fire-lp-sells-45k-to-hit-no-1/056607 |title=Official Charts Analysis: Arcade Fire LP sells 45k to hit No.1 |first=Alan |last=Jones |work=[[Music Week]] |date=November 4, 2013 |accessdate=November 30, 2013}}</ref>

==Track listing==

Note: On CD and digital releases, "We Exist" is the second track of the album, but the fourth on the vinyl version (as the first song of Side B, or ''1:4'' <ref name=Discogs>{{cite web|url=http://www.discogs.com/Arcade-Fire-Reflektor/release/5041370 |title=Arcade Fire – Reflektor |publisher=[[Discogs]] |accessdate=November 30, 2013}}</ref>). Disc one of the CD release contains 10 minutes of hidden reversed samples of tracks from the disc in the pre-gap before the first track, while a five-minute soundscape follows "Supersymmetry" on disc two.
{{Track listing
| headline = Disc one
| title0 =
| note0 = [[Hidden track]]
| length0 = 10:02
| title1 = [[Reflektor (song)|Reflektor]]
| length1 = 7:34
| title2 = [[We Exist]]
| length2 = 5:43
| title3 = Flashbulb Eyes
| length3 = 2:42
| title4 = Here Comes the Night Time
| length4 = 6:30
| title5 = Normal Person
| length5 = 4:22
| title6 = You Already Know
| length6 = 3:59
| title7 = Joan of Arc
| length7 = 5:24
}}
{{Track listing
| headline = Disc two
| title1 = Here Comes the Night Time II
| length1 = 2:51
| title2 = Awful Sound (Oh Eurydice)
| length2 = 6:13
| title3 = It's Never Over (Hey Orpheus)
| length3 = 6:42
| title4 = Porno
| length4 = 6:02
| title5 = [[Afterlife (Arcade Fire song)|Afterlife]]
| length5 = 5:52
| title6 = Supersymmetry
|note6 = includes untitled hidden track
| length6 = 11:16
}}

{{Track listing
| collapsed=yes
| headline = Deluxe edition bonus tracks
| title1 = Apocrypha
| length1 = 5:18
| title2 = Women of a Certain Age
| length2 = 3:16
| title3 = Flashbulb Eyes
| note3 = Dennis Bovell [[remix]] featuring [[Linton Kwesi Johnson]]
| length3 = 2:49
| title4 = Soft Power
| length4 = 5:43
| title5 = Get Right
| length5 = 4:41
| title6 = Crucified Again
| length6 = 5:03
}}

==Personnel==

{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}

===Arcade Fire===
*[[Win Butler]] - lead vocals, rhythm guitar, electric bass, piano, synthesizers, banjo & mandolin
*[[Régine Chassagne]] - lead & backing vocals, synthesizers, piano, accordion, xylophone, [[hurdy-gurdy]], drums, elephant's trunk, recorders & percussion
*[[Richard Reed Parry]] - rhythm and lead guitars, piano, synthesizers, organ, xylophone, accordion, electric & upright bass, celeste, drums, backing vocals & percussion
*[[Tim Kingsbury]] - rhythm guitar, electric and upright bass, piano, synthesizers & backing vocals
*[[William Butler (musician)|Will Butler]] - rhythm guitar, electric and upright bass, synthesizers, piano, sitar, trombone, clarinet, panpipes, glockenspiel, musical saw, omnichord, concertina, backing vocals, percussion & gadulka
*[[Jeremy Gara]] - drums, rhythm guitar, piano, synthesizers & percussion

===Additional musicians===
*[[Sarah Neufeld]] – strings, orchestral arrangements, backing vocals, vocals, synthesizers, piano
*[[Owen Pallett]] – orchestral arrangements, strings, piano
*[[Marika Shaw|Marika Anthony-Shaw]] – strings
*FILMharmonic Orchestra Prague – orchestra
*[[Colin Stetson]] – horn arrangements, saxophones
*Stuart Bogie – saxophones
*Willinson Duprate – additional percussion
*Verrieux Zile – additional percussion
*Baptiste Jean Nazaire – additional percussion
*Wilkenson Magloire – additional percussion
*Dieuveut Marc Thelus – additional percussion
*Wichemond Thelus – additional percussion
*[[Kid Koala]] – sample manipulation (''1.1'')
*[[David Bowie]] – vocals (''1.1'')
*[[Jonathan Ross]] – vocal sample (''1.6'')

{{col-2}}

===Recording personnel===
*[[Arcade Fire]] – production, mixing (''1.3'' and ''2.1'')
*[[James Murphy (electronic musician)|James Murphy]] – production (except tracks ''1.3'' and ''2.1''), additional recording, mixing (''2.2'' and ''2.6'')
*[[Markus Dravs]] – production (except tracks ''1.3, 2.1, 2.3, 2.4'' and ''2.6''), additional recording
*Mark Lawson – recording, additional production (''1.1, 1.3'' and ''1.4'')
*Korey Richey – recording, mixing assistant
*[[Tom Elmhirst]] – additional recording, mixing (''1.1, 1.2, 1.4, 1.7, 2.3'' and ''2.5'')
*Damian Taylor – additional recording
*Pascal Shefteshy – additional recording
*David Farrell – recording assistant
*Eric Heigle – recording assistant
*[[Craig Silvey]] – mixing (''1.2, 1.5, 1.6'' and ''2.4'')
*Mark Lawson – mixing (''1.3'' and ''2.1'')
*Matt Shaw – mixing assistant
*Ben Baptie – mixing assistant
*Joe Visciano – mixing assistant
*Eduardo de la Paz – mixing assistant
*[[Ted Jensen]] – mastering

===Artwork===
*Caroline Robert – album artwork, photography
*Korey Richey – photography
{{col-end}}

==Charts==

{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
! scope="col"| Chart (2013)
! scope="col"| Peak position
|-
{{albumchart|Australia|3|artist=Arcade Fire|album=Reflektor|rowheader=true|accessdate=10 November 2013}}
|-
{{albumchart|Austria|4|artist=Arcade Fire|album=Reflektor|rowheader=true|accessdate=26 November 2013}}
|-
{{albumchart|Flanders|1|artist=Arcade Fire|album=Reflektor|rowheader=true|accessdate=26 November 2013}}
|-
{{albumchart|Wallonia|2|artist=Arcade Fire|album=Reflektor|rowheader=true|accessdate=26 November 2013}}
|-
{{albumchart|BillboardCanada|1|artist=Arcade Fire|album=Reflektor|rowheader=true|accessdate=6 November 2013}}
|-
{{albumchart|Croatia|1|id=1252|rowheader=true|accessdate=January 1, 2014}}
|-
{{albumchart|Denmark|4|artist=Arcade Fire|album=Reflektor|rowheader=true|accessdate=26 November 2013}}
|-
{{albumchart|Netherlands|6|artist=Arcade Fire|album=Reflektor|rowheader=true|accessdate=5 November 2013}}
|-
{{albumchart|Finland|8|artist=Arcade Fire|album=Reflektor|rowheader=true|accessdate=5 November 2013}}
|-
{{albumchart|France|3|artist=Arcade Fire|album=Reflektor|rowheader=true|accessdate=26 November 2013}}
|-
{{albumchart|Germany3|6|artist=Arcade Fire|album=Reflektor|rowheader=true|accessdate=5 November 2013}}
|-
{{albumchart|Hungary|27|year=2013|week=44|rowheader=true|accessdate=7 November 2013}}
|-
{{albumchart|Ireland|1|year=2013|week=44|rowheader=true|accessdate=5 November 2013}}
|-
{{albumchart|Italy|8|artist=Arcade Fire|album=Reflektor|rowheader=true|accessdate=26 November 2013}}
|-
{{albumchart|New Zealand|5|artist=Arcade Fire|album=Reflektor|rowheader=true|accessdate=26 November 2013}}
|-
{{albumchart|Norway|3|artist=Arcade Fire|album=Reflektor|rowheader=true|accessdate=13 November 2013}}
|-
{{albumchart|Poland|19|id=837|rowheader=true|accessdate=8 November 2013}}
|-
{{albumchart|Portugal|1|artist=Arcade Fire|album=Reflektor|rowheader=true|accessdate=26 November 2013}}
|-
{{albumchart|Scotland|1|artist=Arcade Fire|date=2013-11-09|rowheader=true|accessdate=16 November 2013}}
|-
{{albumchart|Spain|4|artist=Arcade Fire|album=Reflektor|rowheader=true|accessdate=6 November 2013}}
|-
{{albumchart|Sweden|9|artist=Arcade Fire|album=Reflektor|rowheader=true|accessdate=6 November 2013}}
|-
{{albumchart|Switzerland|4|artist=Arcade Fire|album=Reflektor|rowheader=true|accessdate=26 November 2013}}
|-
{{albumchart|UK2|1|artist=Arcade Fire|date=2013-11-09|rowheader=true|accessdate=5 November 2013}}
|-
{{albumchart|UKDigital|1|artist=Arcade Fire|date=2013-11-09|rowheader=true|accessdate=16 November 2013}}
|-
{{albumchart|Billboard200|1|artist=Arcade Fire|album=Reflektor|rowheader=true|accessdate=6 November 2013}}
|}

===Year-end charts===
{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
|-
! scope="col"| Chart (2013)
! scope="col"| Position
|-
! scope="row"| Canadian Albums(''Billboard'')<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2013/top-canadian-albums|title=Top Canadian Albums: 2013 Year-End Charts |publisher=Billboard |date= |accessdate=2015-01-15}}</ref>
| 23
|-
! scope="row"| US ''Billboard'' Alternative Albums <ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.billboard.com/biz/charts/year-end/2013/alternative-albums|title=Alternative Albums: 2013 Year-End Charts|work=Billboard|publisher=Prometheus Global Media|accessdate=January 16, 2015}}
</ref>
| 21
|-
!scope="row"|US ''Billboard'' 200<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2013/top-billboard-200-albums | work = [[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] | accessdate = December 9, 2014 | title = 2013 Year End Charts - Top Billboard 200}}</ref>
|135
|-
!scope="row"|US ''Billboard'' Rock Albums<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2013/top-rock-albums | work = [[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] | accessdate = December 9, 2014 | title = 2013 Year End Charts - Top Billboard Rock Albums}}</ref>
|30
|-
! scope="col"| Chart (2014)
! scope="col"| Position
|-
! scope="row"| Canadian Albums(''Billboard'')<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2014/top-canadian-albums|title=Top Canadian Albums: 2014 Year-End Charts |publisher=Billboard |date= |accessdate=2015-01-15}}</ref>
| 25
|-
! scope="row"| US ''Billboard'' Alternative Albums <ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.billboard.com/biz/charts/year-end/2014/alternative-albums|title=Alternative Albums: 2014 Year-End Charts|work=Billboard|publisher=Prometheus Global Media|accessdate=January 16, 2015}}
</ref>
| 18
|-
!scope="row"|US ''Billboard'' 200<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2014/top-billboard-200-albums | work = [[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] | accessdate = December 9, 2014 | title = 2014 Year End Charts - Top Billboard 200}}</ref>
|140
|-
!scope="row"|US ''Billboard'' Rock Albums<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2014/top-rock-albums | work = [[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] | accessdate = December 9, 2014 | title = 2014 Year End Charts - Top Billboard Rock Albums}}</ref>
|29
|-
|}

==Certifications==
{{Certification Table Top}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Canada|artist=Arcade Fire|title=Reflektor|award=Platinum|number=3|type=album|relyear=2013|accessdate=22 March 2014}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=France|artist=Arcade Fire|title=Reflektor|award=Gold|type=album|certyear=2014|certref=<ref>http://www.snepmusique.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/Certifications_Albums_2013.pdf</ref>}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|artist=Arcade Fire|title=Reflektor|award=Gold|type=album}}
{{Certification Table Bottom|nounspecified=true}}

==References==
{{reflist|30em}}

{{Arcade Fire |state=collapsed}}

[[Category:2013 albums]]
[[Category:Arcade Fire albums]]
[[Category:English-language albums]]
[[Category:Albums produced by Markus Dravs]]
[[Category:Albums produced by James Murphy (electronic musician)]]
[[Category:Merge Records albums]]

Blackstar (Album)

2016-01-30T23:36:55Z

Gentlecollapse6: /* Composition */

{{use dmy dates|date=October 2015}}
{{Infobox album 
| Name = Blackstar 
| Type = studio
| Artist = [[David Bowie]]
| Cover = Blackstar album cover.jpg
| Border =
| Released = 8 January 2016
| Recorded = 2014–15
| Studio = {{unbulleted list|The Magic Shop|{{small|([[New York City]])}}|Human Worldwide Studios|{{small|(New York City)}}}}
| Genre = {{hlist||[[Art rock]]|[[jazz]]|[[experimental rock]]}} 
| Length = 41:13
| Label = {{hlist|ISO|[[RCA Records|RCA]]|[[Columbia Records|Columbia]]|[[Sony Music|Sony]]}}
| Producer = {{hlist|David Bowie|[[Tony Visconti]]}}
| Last album = ''[[Five Years (1969–1973)]]'' (2015)
| This album = '''''Blackstar''''' (2016)
| Next album =
{{Extra album cover
| Upper caption = Vinyl cover
| Type = studio
| Cover =
}}
| Misc = {{Singles
| Name = Blackstar
| Type = Studio album
| Single 1 = [[Blackstar (David Bowie song)|Blackstar]]
| Single 1 date = 19 November 2015
| Single 2 = [[Lazarus (David Bowie song)|Lazarus]]
| Single 2 date = 17 December 2015
}}
}}

'''''Blackstar''''' (stylised as ''★'')  is the twenty-fifth and final [[studio album]] by English musician [[David Bowie]]. It was released worldwide through Bowie's ISO Records label<ref name="pitchfork">{{Cite web|url=http://pitchfork.com/news/61774-david-bowie-confirms-new-album-blackstar-coming-in-january/ |title=David Bowie Confirms New Album Blackstar Coming in January |accessdate=26 October 2015 |work=Pitchfork}}</ref><ref name="NME">{{Cite web|url=http://www.nme.com/news/david-bowie/89248 |title=Details of David Bowie's 25th album 'Blackstar' revealed |accessdate=26 October 2015 |work=NME}}</ref> on 8 January 2016, Bowie's 69th birthday and two days before his death.<ref name="BBC">{{Cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-34638413 |title=David Bowie announces new album Blackstar for January release |accessdate=26 October 2015 |publisher=BBC News}}</ref><ref name="Guardian">{{Cite web|url=http://www.theguardian.com/music/2015/oct/26/david-bowie-25th-album-released-january-2016 |title=David Bowie confirms 25th album will be released in January 2016 |accessdate=26 October 2015 |work=The Guardian}}</ref><ref name=Blackstar>{{cite web|url=http://www.davidbowie.com/news/watch-video-teaser-online-now-55121|title=Watch ★ video teaser online now|publisher=Davidbowie.com|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20151113154049/http://www.davidbowie.com/news/watch-video-teaser-online-now-55121|archivedate=13 November 2015|deadurl=no|accessdate=13 November 2015}}</ref>

The [[Blackstar (David Bowie song)|title track]] was released as a first single on 19 November 2015<ref name="US Blackstar Single release">{{cite web|url=https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0184MM29W/|title=Amazon.com: Blackstar: David Bowie: MP3 Downloads|publisher=|accessdate=15 January 2016}}</ref> and was used as the opening music for the television series ''[[The Last Panthers]]''.<ref name="Panthers">{{Cite web|url=http://www.nme.com/blogs/nme-blogs/david-bowie-7-things-we-already-know-about-his-2016-album-blackstar |title=David Bowie: 7 Things We Already Know About His 2016 Album 'Blackstar' |accessdate=26 October 2015 |work=NME}}</ref> "[[Lazarus (David Bowie song)|Lazarus]]" was released on 17 December 2015 as a [[Music download|digital download]] and received its world premiere on [[BBC Radio 6 Music]]'s [[Steve Lamacq|Steve Lamacq Show]], on the same day.<ref>{{cite web|title=David Bowie launches trailer of new single Lazarus|url=http://www.theguardian.com/music/2015/dec/14/david-bowie-new-single-lazarus-black-star?CMP=twt_a-music_b-gdnmusic|website=[[The Guardian]]|accessdate=18 December 2015|date=14 December 2015}}</ref> The album was met with critical acclaim and commercial success, reaching the number one spot in a number of countries in the wake of Bowie's death and becoming his first and only album to reach number one on the [[Billboard 200|''Billboard'' 200]] album chart in the U.S.<ref>"[http://www.theguardian.com/music/2016/jan/18/david-bowie-finally-tops-us-billboard-charts-with-blackstar David Bowie finally tops US Billboard charts with Blackstar]. ''[[The Guardian]]''. 18 January 2016. Retrieved on 18 January 2016.</ref>

==Background and recording==
Like ''[[The Next Day]]'', recording of this album took place in secret at The Magic Shop<ref>{{cite web | url=http://hollandude.com/producer-tony-visconti-talks-david-bowie-and-blackstar/ | title=Producer Tony Visconti Talks David Bowie and Blackstar | journal=Hollandude | date=6 January 2016 | accessdate=12 January 2016 | first=Eric|last=Holland}}</ref> and Human Worldwide Studios in [[New York City]].<ref name="album notes"/> Bowie began writing and making demos for songs that appear on ''Blackstar'' as soon as sessions for ''[[The Next Day]]'' concluded. The two songs that appear on ''Blackstar'' that were previously released, "[[Sue (Or in a Season of Crime)]]" and "'Tis a Pity She Was a Whore", were re-recorded for ''Blackstar'', including new saxophone parts played on the latter song by [[Donny McCaslin]] (replacing parts Bowie played on the original release).<ref name="wsj2016">{{cite web | url=http://www.wsj.com/articles/blackstar-review-ziggy-stardust-plays-jazz-1452030425 | title='Blackstar' Review: Ziggy Stardust Plays Jazz | date=5 January 2016 | accessdate=6 January 2016 | publisher=[[The Wall Street Journal]] | first=Jim | last=Fusilli}}</ref> The title of the latter derives from the title ''[['Tis Pity She's a Whore]]'', a play by [[John Ford (dramatist)|John Ford]], an English dramatist of the 17th century.<ref>[http://www.rollingstone.com/music/features/the-inside-story-of-david-bowies-stunning-new-album-blackstar-20151123 ''The Inside Story of David Bowie's Stunning New Album, 'Blackstar'], rollingstone.com, 23 November 2015</ref> McCaslin and the rest of the jazz group recorded their parts in the studio over a period of about one week a month from January to March 2015, and until later in recording were unaware of Bowie's declining health.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.nytimes.com/2016/01/12/arts/music/david-bowie-allowed-his-art-to-deliver-a-final-message.html?smid=fb-nytimes&smtyp=cur | title=David Bowie Allowed His Art to Deliver a Final Message | journal=The New York Times | date=11 January 2016 | accessdate=12 January 2016 | first1=Joe | last1=Coscarelli | first2=Michael | last2=Paulson}}</ref> The song "Lazarus" was included in Bowie's [[Off-Broadway]] musical [[Lazarus (musical)|of the same name]].<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.broadwayworld.com/off-broadway/article/David-Bowies-New-Album-BLACKSTAR-Featuring-Lazarus-Track-Out-Today-20160108 | title=David Bowie's New Album BLACKSTAR, Featuring 'Lazarus' Track, Out Today | date=8 January 2016 | accessdate=18 January 2016 | journal=Broadway World}}</ref>

==Composition==
The music on ''Blackstar'' has been characterized as incorporating [[art rock]],<ref name="CBC music">{{cite web | url=http://music.cbc.ca/#!/blogs/2016/1/David-Bowie-gains-immortality-with-Lazarus-the-boldest-character-of-his-career | title=David Bowie gains immortality with Lazarus, the boldest character of his career | publisher=[[Canadian Broadcasting Company]] | date=11 January 2016 | accessdate=19 January 2016 | author=Kinos-Goodin, Jesse}}</ref><ref name="Q review"/> [[jazz]],<ref>The following references cite the album as jazz:
* {{cite web | url=http://music.cbc.ca/#!/blogs/2016/1/David-Bowie-gains-immortality-with-Lazarus-the-boldest-character-of-his-career | title=David Bowie gains immortality with Lazarus, the boldest character of his career | publisher=[[Canadian Broadcasting Company]] | date=11 January 2016 | accessdate=19 January 2016 | author=Kinos-Goodin, Jesse}}
* {{cite journal |title=David Bowie: ★ |journal=[[Q (magazine)|Q]] |issue=354 |date=January 2016 |last=Doyle |first=Tom}}
* {{cite web | url=http://www.teamrock.com/reviews/2015-11-27/david-bowie-blackstar | title=David Bowie: Blackstar | publisher=''[[Classic Rock (magazine)|Classic Rock]]'' | date=27 November 2015 | accessdate=7 January 2016 | author=Dalton, Stephen}}
* {{cite web | url=http://www.digitalspy.com/music/news/a779532/david-bowies-new-album-blackstar-was-his-perfect-goodbye/ | title=David Bowie's new album Blackstar was his perfect goodbye message to fans | publisher=''[[Digital Spy]]'' | date=11 January 2016 | accessdate=19 January 2016 | author=Corner, Lewis}}
* {{cite web|url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/music/what-to-listen-to/david-bowie-blackstar-first-listen-extraordinary/|title=David Bowie, Blackstar, review: 'extraordinary'|author=Neil McCormick,|date=8 January 2016|work=The Telegraph}}</ref> and [[experimental rock]].<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.thestar.com/entertainment/music/2016/01/08/david-bowie-aims-high-with-blackstar-review.html | title=David Bowie’s Blackstar a nearly perfect goodbye: review | work=[[Toronto Sun]] | date=8 January 2016 | accessdate=15 January 2016 | author=Rayner, Ben}}</ref> According to producer [[Tony Visconti]], it was inspired by rapper [[Kendrick Lamar]] with his 2015 album ''[[To Pimp a Butterfly]]'', with electronic duo [[Boards of Canada]] and experimental hip-hop trio [[Death Grips]] also being cited as influences.<ref name="guardian2015">{{cite web | url=http://www.theguardian.com/music/2015/nov/24/david-bowie-blackstar-inspired-by-kendrick-lamar-features-lcd-james-murphy| title=New David Bowie album, inspired by Kendrick Lamar, features LCD's James Murphy | date=24 November 2015 | accessdate=11 January 2016 | publisher=[[The Guardian]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nme.com/news/david-bowie/89960|title=David Bowie's new album 'Blackstar' inspired by rap group Death Grips|author=NME.COM|work=NME.COM}}</ref> Visconti also said that Bowie had planned for it to be his [[swan song]] or "parting gift" for his fans before his death, which took place two days after the album's release.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/celebritynews/12092542/Bowies-last-album-was-parting-gift-for-fans-in-carefully-planned-finale.html|title=David Bowie's last release, Lazarus, was 'parting gift' for fans in carefully planned finale|date=11 January 2016|work=Telegraph.co.uk}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.theguardian.com/music/musicblog/2016/jan/11/was-david-bowie-saying-goodbye-on-blackstar?CMP=fb_gu|title=Was David Bowie saying goodbye on Blackstar?|author=Tim Jonze|work=the Guardian}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nme.com/blogs/nme-blogs/how-david-bowie-told-us-he-was-dying-in-the-lazarus-video|title=How David Bowie told us he was dying in the 'Lazarus' video|author=NME.COM|work=NME.COM}}</ref> As such both [[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] and [[CNN]] noted that Bowie's lyrics seem to revolve around his impending death,<ref name=CNNdeath>{{cite web|last1=Griggs|first1=Brandon|title=David Bowie's haunting final album hints at death|url=http://www.cnn.com/2016/01/11/entertainment/david-bowie-blackstar-lazarus-death-meaning-feat/|website=CNN|accessdate=12 January 2016}}</ref><ref name=Billboarddeath>{{cite web|last1=Payne|first1=Chris|title=David Bowie's Final Album 'Blackstar' & 'Lazarus' Video Were Goodbye Notes|url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/rock/6836563/david-bowie-blackstar-goodbye-note-death-lazarus-2016|website=Billboard|accessdate=12 January 2016}}</ref> with CNN noting that the album "reveals a man who appears to be grappling with his own mortality".<ref name=CNNdeath/>

==Packaging==
The artwork for ''Blackstar'' was designed by [[Jonathan Barnbrook]], who had designed the artwork for Bowie's ''[[Heathen (David Bowie album)|Heathen]]'', ''[[Reality (David Bowie album)|Reality]]'', and ''[[The Next Day]]''. The CD cover is adorned with a large black star on a plain white background, with the six star segments below the main star forming the word 'B O W I E' in stylized letters.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.creativereview.co.uk/cr-blog/2015/november/bowie-barnbrook-and-blackstar/| title=Bowie, Barnbrook and the ★ artwork | date=26 November 2015 | accessdate=11 January 2016 | publisher=Creative Review}}</ref> The vinyl cover, in black, features the star as a cutout section, revealing the vinyl (with an all-black picture label) beneath it. It was observed that the [[Unicode]] for a black star symbol (★) is U+2605, 26 May being the birthday of Bowie's former guitarist [[Mick Ronson]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.theguardian.com/music/2016/jan/21/final-mysteries-david-bowie-blackstar-elvis-crowley-villa-of-ormen?CMP=fb_gu|title=The final mysteries of David Bowie’s Blackstar – Elvis, Crowley and 'the villa of Ormen'|author=Jude Rogers|work=the Guardian}}</ref> It was also observed that a "black star [[lesion]]," usually found inside a breast, suggests to medical practitioners evidence of certain types of cancer.<ref>{{cite web| last = Britton| first = Luke Morgan| title = Did David Bowie name 'Blackstar' album after his own cancer lesion?| work = [[NME]]| publisher = [[Time Inc. UK]]| date = 13 January 2016| url = http://www.nme.com/news/david-bowie/90741| accessdate = 24 January 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web| last = Vincent| first = Alice| title = Was David Bowie's Blackstar named after a cancer lesion?| work = [[The Daily Telegraph]]| publisher = [[Telegraph Media Group]]| date = 12 January 2016| url = http://www.telegraph.co.uk/music/news/was-david-bowies-blackstar-named-after-a-cancer-lesion/| accessdate = 24 January 2016}}</ref>

This is one of only three Bowie album covers that do not feature his image, the others being the original US pressing of ''[[The Man Who Sold the World (album)|The Man Who Sold the World]]'' and the UK release of ''[[The Buddha of Suburbia (soundtrack)|The Buddha of Suburbia]]''.

==Critical reception==
{{Album ratings
| MC = 87/100<ref name="MC">{{cite web |url=http://www.metacritic.com/music/blackstar/david-bowie |title=Reviews for Blackstar by David Bowie |publisher=[[Metacritic]] |accessdate=27 December 2015}}</ref>
| rev1= ''[[The A.V. Club]]''
| rev1score= A–<ref name="AV Club review">{{cite web |url=http://www.avclub.com/review/david-bowie-goes-noir-intoxicating-blackstar-230272 |title=David Bowie goes noir with the intoxicating Blackstar |work=[[The A.V. Club]] |date=8 January 2016 |accessdate=11 January 2016 |last=Vishnevetsky |first=Ignatiy}}</ref>
| rev2= [[AllMusic]]
| rev2score = {{rating|4|5}}<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/blackstar-mw0002894417 |title=Blackstar – David Bowie |publisher=[[AllMusic]] |accessdate=11 January 2016 |last=Erlewine |first=Stephen Thomas |authorlink=Stephen Thomas Erlewine}}</ref>
| rev3 = ''[[Entertainment Weekly]]''
| rev3score = A–<ref>{{cite journal |url=http://www.ew.com/article/2016/01/08/david-bowie-blackstar-ew-review |title=David Bowie's Blackstar: EW review |work=[[Entertainment Weekly]] |date=8 January 2016 |accessdate=11 January 2016 |last=Greenblatt |first=Leah}}</ref>
| rev4 = ''[[The Guardian]]''
| rev4score = {{rating|4|5}}<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.theguardian.com/music/2016/jan/07/david-bowie-blackstar-review-a-spellbinding-break-with-his-past |title=David Bowie: Blackstar review – a spellbinding break with his past |work=[[The Guardian]] |date=7 January 2016 |accessdate=11 January 2016 |last=Petridis |first=Alexis |authorlink=Alexis Petridis}}</ref>
| rev5 = ''[[The Independent]]''
| rev5score = {{Rating|4|5}}<ref name="independent-review">{{cite news |url=http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/reviews/david-bowies-blackstar-exclusive-first-review-a-bowie-desperate-to-break-with-the-past-a6783456.html |title=David Bowie's Blackstar – exclusive first review: A Bowie desperate to break with the past |work=[[The Independent]] |date=22 December 2015 |accessdate=28 December 2015 |last=Gill |first=Andy}}</ref>
| rev6 = [[Pitchfork Media]]
| rev6score = 8.5/10<ref name="Pitchfork Review">{{cite web |url=http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/21332-blackstar/ |title=David Bowie: Blackstar |publisher=[[Pitchfork Media]] |date=7 January 2016 |accessdate=7 January 2016 |last=Dombal |first=Ryan}}</ref>
| rev7 = [[PopMatters]]
| rev7score = 9/10<ref name="PopMattersReview">{{cite journal |url=http://www.popmatters.com/review/david-bowie-blackstar/ |title=David Bowie –'Blackstar' Review |work=[[NME]] |date=8 January 2016 |accessdate=11 January 2016 |last=Gerard |first=Chris}}</ref>
| rev8 = ''[[Q (magazine)|Q]]''
| rev8score = {{Rating|4|5}}<ref name="Q review">{{cite journal |title=David Bowie: ★ |journal=[[Q (magazine)|Q]] |issue=354 |date=January 2016 |last=Doyle |first=Tom}}</ref>
| rev9 = ''[[Rolling Stone]]''
| rev9score = {{Rating|4|5}}<ref name="rollingstone">{{cite journal |url=http://www.rollingstone.com/music/albumreviews/david-bowie-blackstar-20151223 |title=Blackstar |work=[[Rolling Stone]] |date=23 December 2015 |accessdate=28 December 2015 |last=Fricke |first=David |authorlink=David Fricke}}</ref>
| rev10 = ''[[Spin (magazine)|Spin]]''
| rev10score = 7/10<ref>{{cite journal |url=http://www.spin.com/2016/01/review-david-bowie-blackstar/ |title=Review: David Bowie Remains the Original Starman on '★' |work=[[Spin (magazine)|Spin]] |date=6 January 2016 |accessdate=11 January 2016 |last=Soto |first=Alfred}}</ref>
}}

''Blackstar'' received widespread acclaim from music critics. At [[Metacritic]], the album received an average score of 87, which indicates "universal acclaim", based on 41 reviews.<ref name="MC"/> ''[[Rolling Stone]]'' critic [[David Fricke]] described the album as "a ricochet of textural eccentricity and pictorial-shrapnel writing".<ref name="rollingstone"/> Andy Gill of ''[[The Independent]]'' regarded the record as "the most extreme album of his [Bowie's] entire career", stating that "''Blackstar'' is as far as he's strayed from [[Pop music|pop]]."<ref name="independent-review"/> Reviewing for ''[[Q (magazine)|Q]]'' magazine, Tom Doyle wrote "''Blackstar'' is a more concise statement than ''The Next Day'' and a far, far more intriguing one."<ref name="Q review"/> In a favourable review for ''[[Exclaim!]]'', Michael Rancic wrote that ''Blackstar'' is "a defining statement from someone who isn't interested in living in the past, but rather, for the first time in a while, waiting for everyone else to catch up".<ref name="exclaim">{{cite journal |url=http://exclaim.ca/music/article/david_bowie-_blackstar |title=David Bowie – Blackstar |work=[[Exclaim!]] |date=7 January 2016 |accessdate=7 January 2016 |last=Rancic |first=Michael}}</ref> ''[[The New York Times]]'' described the album as "at once emotive and cryptic, structured and spontaneous and, above all, willful, refusing to cater to the expectations of radio stations or fans".<ref name=NYT>{{cite news |url=http://www.nytimes.com/2016/01/07/arts/music/review-blackstar-david-bowies-emotive-and-cryptic-new-album.html?_r=0 |title=Review: 'Blackstar,' David Bowie's Emotive and Cryptic New Album |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=7 January 2016 |accessdate=11 January 2016 |last=Pareles |first=Jon}}</ref> [[Pitchfork Media|Pitchfork]]'s review of ''Blackstar'' was written on the day of the album's release, two days before Bowie's death, and concluded with the line "This tortured immortality is no gimmick: Bowie will live on long after the man has died. For now, though, he’s making the most of his latest reawakening, adding to the myth while the myth is his to hold."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/21332-blackstar/#|title=David Bowie|work=Pitchfork}}</ref>

==Track listing==
* All songs, words & music David Bowie, except where noted.

{{track listing
| headline = ''Blackstar'' — {{nobold|[[Compact disc|CD]] – [[Gramophone record|vinyl]] – [[Music download|digital download]]}}
| title1 = [[Blackstar (David Bowie song)|Blackstar]] 
| length1 = 9:57
| title2 = [['Tis a Pity She Was a Whore]]
| length2 = 4:52
| title3 = [[Lazarus (David Bowie song)|Lazarus]]
| length3 = 6:22
| title4 = [[Sue (Or in a Season of Crime)]]
| note4 = Bowie, Maria Schneider, Plastic Soul
| length4 = 4:40
| title5 = [[Girl Loves Me]]
| length5 = 4:51
| title6 = [[Dollar Days]]
| length6 = 4:44
| title7 = [[I Can't Give Everything Away]]
| length7 = 5:47
|total_length = 41:13
}}
{{tracklist
| collapsed = no
| headline = Digital download bonus track
| title8 = Blackstar
| note8 = [[Music video|Video]]
| length8 = 9:59
|total_length = 51:12
}}

==Personnel==
Personnel adapted from ''Blackstar'' liner notes.<ref name="album notes">{{cite AV media notes|title=Blackstar|others=[[David Bowie]]|year=2016|type=album liner notes|publisher=ISO Records}}</ref>

{{Div col||30em}}
* [[David Bowie]] – [[Singing|vocals]], [[acoustic guitar]], [[Audio mixing (recorded music)|mixing]], [[Record producer|production]], [[String section|string]] [[arrangement]]s, "Fender Guitar" (3), [[harmonica]] (7)
* [[Donny McCaslin]] – [[flute]], [[saxophone]], [[Woodwind instrument|woodwinds]]
* [[Ben Monder]] – [[guitar]]
* [[Jason Lindner]] – [[piano]], [[Organ (music)|organ]], [[Keyboard instrument|keyboards]]
* [[Tim Lefebvre]] – [[Bass guitar|bass]]
* [[Mark Guiliana]] – [[Drum kit|drums]], [[Percussion instrument|percussion]]
* [[Kevin Killen]] – [[Record engineer|engineering]]
* Erin Tonkon – assistant engineer, [[Backing vocalist|backing vocals]] (2)
* Joe Visciano – mixing assistant
* Kabir Hermon – assistant engineer
* [[Joe LaPorta]] – [[Remaster|mastering]] engineer
* [[Tom Elmhirst]] – mixing engineer
* [[Tony Visconti]] – production, strings, engineering, mixing engineer
* [[James Murphy (electronic musician)|James Murphy]] – percussion (4 and 5)
{{Div col end}}

==Charts and certifications==

===Commercial performance===
''Blackstar'' sold 146,000 copies in its first week of sales in the United Kingdom<ref name="UK sales"/> and more than 181,000 in the United States.<ref name="BB200"/> Within days of the album's release, online retailer [[Amazon.com]] temporarily sold out of both the CD and LP editions of the album.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fuse.tv/2016/01/bowie-amazon-albums-sold-out-prices|title=Amazon Is Sold Out of Every David Bowie Album (And Accused of Price-Jacking)|work=Fuse|accessdate=15 January 2016}}</ref> In the week 11 January-17 January, Blackstar was the number 1 most downloaded album in 25 iTunes national charts. <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.musicweek.com/businessanalysis/read/international-charts-analysis-bowie-s-blackstar-dominates-charts-worldwide/063914|title=International Charts Analysis: Bowie's Blackstar dominates charts worldwide|work=Music Week}}</ref>
{{col begin}}
{{col-2}}

===Weekly charts===
{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
|-
! scope="col"| Chart (2016)
! scope="col"| Peak position
|-
! scope="row"| Argentine Albums ([[Argentine Chamber of Phonograms and Videograms Producers|CAPIF]])<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.diariodecultura.com.ar/rankings/los-discos-mas-vendidos-18/ |title=Los discos más vendidos |work=Diario de Cultura |publisher=ILHSA Grupo |accessdate=19 January 2016}}</ref>
| 1
|-
! scope="row"| Australian Albums ([[ARIA Charts|ARIA]])<ref name="Hung Medien"/>
| 1
|-
! scope="row"| Austrian Albums ([[Ö3 Austria Top 40|Ö3 Austria]])<ref name="Hung Medien"/>
| 1
|-
! scope="row"| Belgian Albums ([[Ultratop]] Flanders)<ref name="Hung Medien">{{cite web|url=http://www.ultratop.be/nl/album/4735f/David-Bowie-&9733|title=ultratop.be – David Bowie – ★ [Blackstar]|publisher=Hung Medien|accessdate=16 January 2016}}</ref>
| 1
|-
! scope="row"| Belgian Albums ([[Ultratop]] Wallonia)<ref name="Hung Medien"/>
| 1
|-
{{albumchart|BillboardCanada|1|artist=David Bowie|rowheader=true|accessdate=20 January 2016}}
|-
! scope="row"| Danish Albums ([[Tracklisten|Hitlisten]])<ref>http://hitlisten.nu/</ref>
| 1
|-
! scope="row"| Dutch Albums ([[MegaCharts]])<ref name="Hung Medien"/>
| 1
|-
{{albumchart|Finland|1|artist=David Bowie|album=Black Star|rowheader=true|accessdate=17 January 2016}}
|-
! scope="row"| French Albums ([[Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique|SNEP]])<ref name="Hung Medien"/>
| 1
|-
! scope="row"| German Albums ([[GfK Entertainment Charts|Offizielle Top 100]])<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.offiziellecharts.de/album-details-291679|title=Offizielle Deutsche Charts – Offizielle Deutsche Charts|publisher=}}</ref>
| 1
|-
!scope="row"| Greek Albums ([[Greek Albums Chart|IFPI Greece]])<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ifpi.gr/charts_en.htm|archiveurl=http://www.ifpi.gr/charts_en.html|archivedate=25 January 2016|title=Top-75 Albums Sales Chart Week: 2/2016|publisher=[[IFPI Greece]]|accessdate=25 January 2016}}</ref>
| 5
|-
{{albumchart|Hungary|4|year=2016|week=1|rowheader=true|accessdate=15 January 2016}}
|-
{{albumchart|Ireland|1|year=2016|week=2|rowheader=true|accessdate=16 January 2016}}
|-
! scope="row"| Italian Albums ([[Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana|FIMI]])<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fimi.it/classifiche#/category:album|title=FIMI Classifiche|accessdate=15 January 2016}}</ref>
| 1
|-
{{albumchart|Oricon|5|date=2016-01-25|rowheader=true|accessdate=27 January 2016}}
|-
! scope="row"| New Zealand Albums ([[Recorded Music NZ|RMNZ]])<ref>{{cite web|url=http://nztop40.co.nz/chart/albums?chart=4190|title=NZ Top 40 Albums Chart – The Official New Zealand Music Chart|publisher=[[Recorded Music NZ]]|accessdate=15 January 2016|}}</ref>
| 1
|-
! scope="row"| Norwegian Albums ([[VG-lista]])<ref>{{cite web|url=http://lista.vg.no/artist/david-bowie/album/blackstar/13713|title=VG-lista - David Bowie / Blackstar|publisher=}}</ref>
| 1
|-
{{albumchart|Poland|1|id=1000|rowheader=true|accessdate=21 January 2016}}
|-
! scope="row"| Portuguese Albums ([[Associação Fonográfica Portuguesa|AFP]])<ref name="Hung Medien"/>
| 1
|-
{{albumchart|Scotland|1|artist=David Bowie|date=2016-01-15|rowheader=true|accessdate=15 January 2016}}
|-
! scope="row"| Spanish Albums ([[Productores de Música de España|PROMUSICAE]])<ref>http://www.spanishcharts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=David+Bowie&titel=%26%239733%3B+%5BBlackstar%5D&cat=a</ref>
| 1
|-
! scope="row"| Swedish Albums ([[Sverigetopplistan]])<ref name="Hung Medien"/>
| 1
|-
! scope="row"| Swiss Albums ([[Swiss Hitparade|Schweizer Hitparade]])<ref name="Hung Medien"/>
| 1
|-
{{albumchart|UK2|1|date=2016-01-15|rowheader=true|accessdate=16 January 2016}}
|-
!scope="row"|US [[Billboard 200|''Billboard'' 200]]<ref name="BB200">{{cite web | url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/chart-beat/6844036/david-bowie-blackstar-album-debuts-no-1-on-billboard-200-charts | title=David Bowie's 'Blackstar' Album Debuts at No. 1 on Billboard 200 Chart | publisher=''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'' | date=17 January 2016 | accessdate=17 January 2016 | author=Caulfield, Keith}}</ref>
| 1
|-
|}
{{col-2}}

===Certifications===
{{Certification Table Top}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Australia|relyear=2016|certyear=2016|award=Gold|type=album|autocat=yes|certref=<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ariacharts.com.au/chart/albums|title=ARIA Australian Top 50 Albums|publisher=Australian Recording Industry Association|date=25 January 2016|accessdate=23 January 2016}}</ref>}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Austria|relyear=2016|certyear=2016|artist=David Bowie|award=Gold|type=album|accessdate=18 January 2016}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Italy|relyear=2016|certyear=2016|artist=David Bowie|title=Blackstar|award=Gold|type=album|autocat=yes|date=22 January 2016|accessdate=25 January 2016}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=New Zealand|relyear=2016|certyear=2016|artist=David Bowie|award=Gold|type=album|recent=website|id=4193|accessdate=29 January 2016}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|relyear=2016|certyear=2016|artist=David Bowie|award=Gold|type=album|salesamount=227,571|salesref=<ref name="UK sales">{{cite web|url=http://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/how-the-loss-of-david-bowie-impacted-the-uk-charts-this-week__13564/|title=How the loss of David Bowie impacted the UK charts this week|last=Copsey|first=Rob|date=15 January 2016|publisher=[[Official Charts Company]]|accessdate=15 January 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.musicweek.com/businessanalysis/read/official-charts-analysis-david-bowie-still-no-1-album/063911|title=Official Charts Analysis: David Bowie still No.1 album|last=Jones|first=Alan|date=22 January 2016|work=[[Music Week]]|publisher=Intent Media|accessdate=22 January 2016}}</ref>|accessdate=15 January 2016}}
{{Certification Table Bottom|noshipments=true}}
{{col end}}

==Release history==
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders"
|-
! scope="col"| Region
! scope="col"| Date
! scope="col"| Format(s)
! scope="col"| Label
! scope="col"| Ref.
|-
! scope="row" | Europe
| rowspan="3" | 8 January 2016
| rowspan="3" | {{hlist|[[Compact disc|CD]]|[[Music download|digital download]]|[[Gramophone record|vinyl]]}}
| {{hlist|ISO|[[Sony Music|Sony]]}}
| <ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.discogs.com/David-Bowie-/master/939598 | title=David Bowie – ★ | publisher=[[Discogs]] | accessdate=16 January 2016}}</ref>
|-
! scope="row" | United Kingdom
| {{hlist|ISO|[[RCA Records|RCA]]}}
| <ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.amazon.co.uk/Blackstar-David-Bowie/dp/B017VORJK6/ | title=Blackstar by David Bowie | publisher=[[Amazon.com|Amazon.co.uk]] | accessdate=3 December 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/blackstar/id1059043043 | title=Blackstar by David Bowie | publisher=[[iTunes|iTunes Great Britain]] | accessdate=3 December 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.amazon.co.uk/Blackstar-VINYL-David-Bowie/dp/B017VORJLA/ | title=Blackstar [VINYL] by David Bowie | publisher=[[Amazon.com|Amazon.co.uk]] | accessdate=3 December 2015}}</ref>
|-
! scope="row" | United States
| {{hlist|ISO|[[Columbia Records|Columbia]]}}
|<ref name="iTunes US">{{cite web | url=https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/blackstar/id1059043043 | title=Blackstar by David Bowie | publisher=[[iTunes]] | accessdate=21 November 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.amazon.com/Blackstar-David-Bowie/dp/B017VORJK6/ | title=David Bowie – Blackstar | publisher=[[Amazon.com]] | accessdate=3 December 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.amazon.com/Blackstar-Vinyl-David-Bowie/dp/B017VORJLA/ | title=David Bowie – Blackstar (Vinyl) | publisher=[[Amazon.com]] | accessdate=3 December 2015}}</ref>
|}

==References==
{{reflist|30em}}

==External links==
* {{official website|http://davidbowie.com/blackstar/}}
* {{Discogs master|master=939598|name=Blackstar|type=album}}

{{David Bowie |state=collapsed}}

[[Category:2016 albums]]
[[Category:David Bowie albums]]
[[Category:Albums produced by Tony Visconti]]
[[Category:Columbia Records albums]]
[[Category:RCA Records albums]]
[[Category:Avant-garde jazz albums]]
[[Category:Jazz albums by English artists]]
[[Category:English-language albums]]

Blackstar (Album)

2016-01-30T23:36:55Z

Gentlecollapse6: /* Composition */

Blackstar (Album)

2016-01-11T19:58:44Z

Gentlecollapse6: /* Critical reception */

Blackstar (Album)

2016-01-11T19:58:44Z

Gentlecollapse6: /* Critical reception */

Blackstar (Album)

2016-01-11T17:03:18Z

Gentlecollapse6: /* Critical reception */ How many identical 4/5 reviews do we need? Swapping for a more accurate spread of ratings

Blackstar (Album)

2016-01-11T17:03:18Z

Gentlecollapse6: /* Critical reception */ How many identical 4/5 reviews do we need? Swapping for a more accurate spread of ratings

Blackstar (Album)

2016-01-11T16:31:59Z

Gentlecollapse6: /* Lyrics */

Blackstar (Album)

2016-01-11T16:31:59Z

Gentlecollapse6: /* Lyrics */

Blackstar (Album)

2016-01-11T16:30:55Z

Gentlecollapse6: /* Lyrics */ Visconti says nothing about the lyrics, nor states that Bowie was so explicit in "foretelling" anything

Blackstar (Album)

2016-01-11T16:30:55Z

Gentlecollapse6: /* Lyrics */ Visconti says nothing about the lyrics, nor states that Bowie was so explicit in "foretelling" anything

Blackstar (Album)

2016-01-11T16:25:50Z

Gentlecollapse6: /* Background and recording */

Blackstar (Album)

2016-01-11T16:25:50Z

Gentlecollapse6: /* Background and recording */

Blackstar (Album)

2016-01-11T16:23:46Z

Gentlecollapse6: added bit about critical reception, removed "final" from first sentence as its unsubstantiated (i.e. he could have recorded a yet-to-be-released studio album, etc)

Blackstar (Album)

2016-01-11T16:23:46Z

Gentlecollapse6: added bit about critical reception, removed "final" from first sentence as its unsubstantiated (i.e. he could have recorded a yet-to-be-released studio album, etc)

Blackstar (Album)

2016-01-08T16:57:50Z

Gentlecollapse6: /* Critical reception */

Blackstar (Album)

2016-01-08T16:54:22Z

Gentlecollapse6: /* Critical reception */

Blackstar (Album)

2016-01-08T16:54:03Z

Gentlecollapse6: /* Critical reception */

Blackstar (Album)

2016-01-08T14:49:22Z

Gentlecollapse6: /* Critical reception */

Blackstar (Album)

2016-01-07T22:03:33Z

Gentlecollapse6: lot of identical 4-star reviews; let's leave some space for some more diversity as reviews come in, no need to rush them in