Ziggy Stardust (30th Anniversary Remaster)

The mix on this isn't nearly as good as that of Aladdin Sane. The stereo balance seems skewed to the left speaker, and the vocals are very low in the mix while the drums are very prominent. Overall I'm just not as impressed with this remaster. Still a brilliant album, and on the quieter sections where the songs really shine, but once they pick up the drums overpower everything while the vocals disappear. While with Aladdin the bonus tracks were nice but not necessary, here they are more interesting to listen to than the remaster part of the album. The first alternate version of Moonage Daydream has a grittiness missing in the official version, and Velvet Goldmine makes you forget the muddy mix of disc one. If you are a Bowie completist this is nice to have for the bonus tracks, but the Rykodisc remaster offers a better listening experience of the core album.

Hot Spots: Velvet Goldmine, Moonage Daydream (Arnold Corns version), The Supermen, Round and Round