Album: Scary Monsters“¦ and Super Creeps

Introduction
"Scary Monsters ... and Super Creeps" is the fourteenth studio album by English musician David Bowie, launched on September 12, 1980, by RCA Records. The album marked a turning point in Bowie's profession, as it saw him step away from the speculative noise of his Berlin Trilogy (consisting of "Low", "Heroes", and "Lodger") and go back to a more commercial, rock-oriented noise. The album was a vital and business success, including the hit singles "Ashes to Ashes" and "Fashion".

Background and Recording
After finishing the Berlin Trilogy, Bowie decided to move away from the avant-garde, ambient sounds that he had explored with manufacturer Brian Eno. He enlisted the assistance of guitar player Robert Fripp (of King Crimson), bassist George Murray, drummer Dennis Davis, and guitarist Carlos Alomar. The album was taped at The Power Station, a recording studio in New York City, and was co-produced by Bowie and long time partner Tony Visconti. The recording sessions occurred between early February and late April 1980.

Throughout the recording of "Scary Monsters ... and Super Creeps", Bowie was also dealing with other jobs, consisting of a movie look in "The Elephant Man" and contributing vocals to the Iggy Pop album "Soldier". This hectic duration of work enabled him to explore different designs and offered him the self-confidence to produce an album that was less experimental and more focused on attaining commercial success.

Music and Lyrics
The music on "Scary Monsters ... and Super Creeps" handles a more industrial rock sound, integrating components of new wave, post-punk, and glam rock. The album also includes influences from Bowie's previous work, consisting of the electronically-driven soundscapes of the Berlin Trilogy and the soulful melodies of the "Young Americans" album. This mixing of styles can be heard on tracks like "Teenage Wildlife" and "Because You're Young".

Lyrically, "Scary Monsters ... and Super Creeps" deals with styles of alienation, self-destruction, and loss. Bowie frequently uses a dark, morbid sense of humor in his lyrics, as he explores the darker aspects of fame and pop culture. The album opener, "It's No Game (No. 1)", includes a mix of English and Japanese lyrics in a frantic, disjointed manner, setting the tone for the rest of the record.

The standout tracks and songs from the album, "Ashes to Ashes" and "Fashion", showcase Bowie's capability to create memorable pop songs with a distinct twist. "Ashes to Ashes" is a follow up to Bowie's iconic 1969 single "Space Oddity", and presents a darker extension of the story of the astronaut character, Major Tom. "Fashion", on the other hand, is a critique of superficiality and conformity in the music industry.

Reception and Legacy
"Scary Monsters ... and Super Creeps" was both a crucial and commercial success, arriving of the UK Albums Chart and number 12 on the United States Billboard 200 chart. The album received prevalent appreciation from music critics, with lots of considering it among Bowie's greatest works.

The legacy of "Scary Monsters ... and Super Creeps" withstands as an essential album in Bowie's discography, typically seen as a bridge between his more experimental 1970s work and the pop-oriented instructions he would embrace in the 1980s. The album has actually been pointed out by different artists as an influence by themselves music, including Trent Reznor of Nine Inch Nails, who declared it had a significant impact on his work.