Now, is my mission, to tell you why this is one of the best compilation albums ever and why it is so relevant.
First of all, there are 4 editions of the album so far: 1CD, 2CDs, 3CDs and Vinyl.
Let's focus on the most popular and complete one, the triple album.
So, in this version we have 59 (!) songs.
Back in 2002 Bowie released his most popular (until now): Best of Bowie that covers his career from Space Oddity to Heathen. Since that album, Bowie only released two original albums, Reality and The Next Day.
The biggest difference between this compilation and Nothing has Changed are the 90's and the 60's. In my opinion the first compilation didn't covered very well the 90's but, in the new one we have a lot of songs from that time. Songs from hours... and Buddha of Suburbia didn't appear there and, finally, they are here.Great moments on the album with Thursday's Child, Buddha of Suburbia, Seven or Strangers When We Meet.
Bowie's career in the 60's are not very popular, although there are there really good songs before he emerged has a solo artist. Liza Jane, You've Got a Habit of Leaving fit like a glove on Nothing has Changed, and shows an "oldies" Bowie, marvellous really.
He even choose two songs from is unreleased album Toy.
Well, obviously, on a best of like this, you have to pick mostly the hit singles. Bowie is such a musical genius that, there are hundreds of songs you can pick for a best of. It's a pity that moments like Rock n' Roll Suicide, Five Years, Time, Heathen, or If I'm Dreaming All My Life are not there, but understandable. But we have Moonage Daydream there, which is a song that impersonates very well the singer, but was never a hit or even a single.
Also, a nice curiosity, this compilation albums, normally have the tracklist in chronological order (from old to new) or like a concert, with the biggest hits first and a ballad to end. Well, Nothing has Changed has the tracklist in chronological order but from the new songs to the old songs!! I can't explain why, but I think that is amazing.
And the Cover Art of the album is, again, spectacular. Seems like a coincidence but David took photos in mirrors during almost all is career. So, you have photos of Bowie has Ziggy Stardust, Thin White Duke, from the beginning of the 70's, from the 90's, and from today! It looks like he was planning this, since the 60's.
The title of the album came from the song Sunday but, as Bowie is often called the chameleon of music, because of his alter-egos and changes. So, call the album "Nothing has Changed". Priceless! But, then, open the 3CD box and you read, "Everything has Changed". Oh yeah, Bowie can play with your thoughts very easily.
The only thing I would change a little little bit, would be the Berlin years. Although the main songs are there, these era of Bowie is so good and different that he could have put one of his acclaimed instrumental on the album. And my choice would be, for sure, Warszawa.
Most of the songs are in their shorter single versions and some are the single remixes. Mostly of these remixes are actually worse than the album versions (Hallo Spaceboy, I'm Afraid of Americans or Love Is Lost) but, as the album versions are available on their respective LPs, makes sense to choose the single versions.
The album reached #9 on the UK album charts (but it deserved #1).
Listen to Nothing has Changed and you will listen to 50 years of amazing music, through a lot of different style and times. Best Christmas gift this year, by far and, probably, the best compilation album ever released.
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