This is an odd transitional album. Although the Spiders are gone David hasn't quite jettisoned the Ziggy persona yet elements of the Thin White Duke are starting to show. While there are great stand alone classic song (1984, R&R With Me, Diamond Dogs and of course Rebel, Rebel) this album is best listened to in it's entirety. In vinyl it breaks perfectly into an act 1 and 2 with having to turn the record over. From start to finish a frightening vision for the future. In interviews David said he remembered almost nothing of recording or writing this album due to extreme drug/alcohol abuse and the ensuing paranoia which goes a long way to explaining the bleak outlook. My only complaint is that I wish he would have retained Mick Ronson. David's guitar is never more than adequate and Mick could have added a layer of shimmer that is missing. Still that's a minor complaint and this is an essential album, a must have for any Bowie fan.