Album Review: A Reality Tour by David Bowie

The most surprising thing about A Reality Tour, a live album documenting David Bowie’s titular 2003-04 tour, is that the Thin White Duke still sounds like the Thin White Duke. At the time of this recording, Bowie was 56 years old. Yet, listening to this recording, the man barely sounds a day past Station to Station. Bowie remains vital, spry, and preternaturally alluring.

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Originally released as a home video in 2004, David Bowie's A Reality Tour saw a two-CD audio release slated for January 2010, with three previously unreleased bonus tracks -- "Fall Dogs Bombs the Moon," "Breaking Glass," "China Girl" -- adding value to those hardcore fans who already own this concert as a DVD. In either the video or audio incarnation, this November 2003 Dublin, Ireland show is an entertaining, open-hearted set, finding Bowie running through a generous selection of oldies -- both hits and album tracks, including songs written by Bowie, like "All the Young Dudes" and "Sister Midnight" -- and new songs that hold up well next to the classics. This is Bowie in his mode as a crowd-pleasing professional, playing with considerable charm and skill, offering no surprises but plenty of pleasure: it's not the first album that will come to mind when thinking of live Bowie, but as it's playing, it's hard to resist.

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Bowie’s continuing hunger sets a fabulous example to new artists. Mike Diver 2010 “David Bowie’s greatest hits live!” reads the sticker on the attractive packaging of this newly released, but recorded back in 2003, two-CD set. And nobody’s going to be complaining that the promise isn’t delivered, as Bowie – backed by a solid yet flexible band that hits each peak with precision – runs through elegant renditions of his most-pervasive successes.

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