David Bowie-Scary Monsters (1980)

"Scary Monsters" marked David Bowie's most "conventional" return after several albums of electronic and post-punk soundscapes reflected in the so-called "Berlin Trilogy" ("Low", "Heroes", and "Lodger"). On this occasion, the Thin White Duke once again delights us with a repertoire full of catchy songs, yet simultaneously boasting complex musical arrangements. For this fourteenth album, the British musician reunites with some of his regular collaborators, such as Robert Fripp and Carlos Alomar on guitars and Tony Visconti on acoustic guitar, in addition to other prominent musicians like Pete Townshend, Andy Clark, George Murray, and Dennis Davis. Songs like the addictive "Ashes to Ashes" alone make this album essential to Bowie's career, but it also features other great highlights like "Scream Like a Baby", which still retains glimpses of the creative brilliance of his earlier period. Other standout tracks like "Because You're Young", "Up the Hill Backwards", "Teenage Wildlife", and the surprising "It's No Game (Part 1)" make up one of his greatest recordings. With this album, David Bowie closed out a decade of immense creativity, producing some of the best albums in the history of rock music.