Any attempt to critique “Blackstar” seems futile at this
point. Even if it were flawed in any
way, the scope of the metaphorical and symbolic message renders all other
points moot. “Blackstar” is the 26th
and final album by arguably the most influential artist the world has ever
seen, David Bowie.
Transcending genre, gender and often even physical form,
Bowie was a chameleon in every sense of the word, with every new skin being as
enigmatic as the last. His final form on
“Blackstar”, that of a tortured artist facing the end is the heart wrenching
and harrowing yet. Every track is laden
with intricate indications and signs, so much so that listeners will be
deciphering its hidden messages for years to come. The esoteric instrumental outro of the title
track to the broken finality of “I Can’t Give Everything Away”, Bowie shows he
clearly believed he had something to prove.
Unwilling to rest on 25 utterly game changing stellar albums, he
provided a masterpiece from his deathbed.
There aren’t many
relevant descriptions I can make of “Blackstar” and merely thanking David Bowie
for everything he has done for humanity seems insufficient. While the world will be a bleaker place
without him, I wish him all the best on whichever plain of existence he has
chosen to inhabit from now on.
Charlie McCartney
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