MUSIC REVIEW OF THE DAY: DAVID BOWIE - THE RISE AND FALL OF ZIGGY STARDUST AND THE SPIDERS FROM MARS 40th ANNIVERSARY EDITION

If you are keeping track, this is the third major reissue of the Bowie classic, plus there have been basic repacking jobs done when he's switched labels several times.  There was a deluxe 20th anniversary set on Rykodisc, and then an even better one for the 30th anniversary from EMI.  This time, there are competing versions depending on your pocket book.  Annoyingly, you don't get all the bonus cuts offered on the 30th edition; you also don't get the very cool booklet from the Ryko set.  This time you get improved sound, and the more you spend the more of that you get.  You need a bloody map to get through the variations.

This time, you have two choices:  You can get the basic CD, which there's a good chance you already have.  What will be different is the sound, polished up with a new remastering.  Okay, you ask, what can they possibly improve this time that makes it any better than, say the 30th anniversary edition?  Well, the technology keeps getting better, and they do manage to find a little more to perk up the audio.  Not a whole lot, but I know this album pretty well, and I heard such interesting moments as the subtle string parts in opener Five Years, boosted to more prominence.

But that's it, none of the bonus cuts, just the basic original disc.  If you're looking for extras, you'll have to go to the more expensive ($25 - $30 bucks) vinyl edition.  That's cool right there, it's 180-gram, plus you get a DVD with some interesting alternatives.  You get a new 5.1 mix and the new stereo mix, plus four bonus cuts remixed in 2003 but never issued, also in 5.1 and stereo.  So, that's kinda cool, but again, it's for those interested in high quality audio and subtle variations. 

Oh, the music you ask?  It's just one of the great rock 'n' roll albums, duh.