"Earthling" is the 20th studio album by English musician David Bowie, released in February 1997 via Virgin Records. This groundbreaking album marked a turn towards electronic music, specifically jungle and drum and bass, resulting in a diverse blend of electronic and rock music. The album showcased Bowie's interest in the postmodern exploration of contemporary musical trends and was a stark move away from his previous album, "Outside."
The album was recorded in New York City and Mountain Studios in Montreux, Switzerland. Excitingly, many of the tracks were developed during improvised live performances; Bowie would often write and revise lyrics mid-concert.
Some of the notable tracks from the album include "I'm Afraid of Americans", "Little Wonder", and "Dead Man Walking". Overall, the album received positive reviews from music critics and peaked at No. 6 on the UK Albums Chart and No. 39 on the Billboard 200.
In terms of personnel, the album included Reeves Gabrels on guitar, Mark Plati on bass guitar, Gail Ann Dorsey on bass guitar and backing vocals, Mike Garson on keyboards and piano, and Zachary Alford on drums. Gabrels, Plati, and Bowie handled the bulk of the album's production tasks.
"Earthling," despite its experimental nature and a marked departure from Bowie's more traditionally rock albums, stands as a testament to his continual evolution as an artist. Its fusion of electronic and rock elements shows Bowie's readiness to embrace and adapt contemporary music forms, reinforcing his legacy as an innovatively stylish icon in the world of music.
