#1

Need to get the disclaimer out the way first…I’m not talking about artists at the level of Bowie, or even necessarily similar in sound. I started thinking about it after reading about Bowie comparisons made with Harry Styles. That in itself was insulting, but I wondered which modern artists do follow some of the ethos that Bowie stood for. It could be someone who makes truly unique, oddball music…someone who changes styles in an inventive way (as opposed to just "doing a “Kid A”)…someone who doesn’t stick to the usual album/tour cycle every 3 years. I’m hoping this makes sense…anyway here’s a below list. I’ll probably explain my choices in the ensuing thread if asked.

Burial
Spencer Krug
Frank Ocean
Sufjan Stevens
Solange
Swans
Julia Holter
Joanna Newsom
Destroyer
Mount Eerie

#2

I can also use this thread to say I had no idea Destroyer had a new album out this year! For the record, he’s definitely the most Bowie-sounding (certainly early Bowie, anyway) artist on my list

#3

Kanye? Generally goes away and comes back with a new sound, and often a new style to go with it. Massively influential and popular but not afraid to go against the grain. Think he fits the bill pretty well

11 Likes
#4

Yeah, actually that was a big oversight!

I considered Kendrick but, as much as I like DAMN, it feels like a slight scaling back of his ambition. Maybe that’s not a good enough reason, idk

#5

mark kozelek

1 Like
#6

Razorlight

2 Likes
#7

St Vincent?

5 Likes
#8

came to say this

1 Like
#9

Nick Cave?

1 Like
#10

I love Nick Cave…but he doesn’t fit this entirely arbitrary category in my head. I feel like his body of work is more of a gothic exploration of the darker side of humanity…he’s been really inventive but I feel like he works in a narrower palate than Bowie.

I realise this argument is brought down by the fact that I’ve got the likes of Joanna Newsom and Swans in my list…but for me Cave is more an heir to Leonard Cohen, Tom Waits or even Dylan than Bowie.

#11

Possible addition: Bon Iver. Though only if you think 22, A Million is good (I do). If you don’t, just pretend I didn’t write this

3 Likes
#12

how long until we stop comparing every motherfucker who slightly shakes up their sound to David Bowie?

#13

Yeah…I did try to make it clear that none of these artists are even close to Bowie. Comparisons aren’t helpful in any case, I guess.

#14

It’s obviously Kanye but people never give him that kind of credit for… “reasons”

1 Like
#15

Jake bugg

1 Like
#16

disqualified forever by Beth/Rest

#17

Don’t get the hate. It just has a few 80s style keys and autotune (like a good number of his songs)

#18

it sounds like the absolute worst song on the soundtrack for the worst film of the 80s. absolutely taking the piss to put out something so obviously and deliberately lame in 2011.

#19

he’s basically trolling. he might as well have ended the album with a rickroll.

#20

I think he really likes that song. It’s no less tasteful than The War on Drugs is it?