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Dec 04, 2014 Web Exclusive By Cody Ray Shafer

David Bowie compilation albums come and go, adding bits and pieces along the way and growing fatter with each new accomplishment in his ridiculously long and fantastic career. They work best as starting points, giving glimpses of eras and themes that the listener can chase down once they decide whether they prefer the Eno-produced Berlin period over the ‘80s pop of “Let’s Dance.”

Nothing Has Changed works backward from the present, allowing the listener to experience The Thin White Duke before Ziggy Stardust. Later Bowie is more adult, and the characters have been replaced with an arc of Bowie evolutions, each time a new façade falling away to reveal a more exposed man. In this arrangement, Bowie is adding layers of makeup and glam costumes to cover up his more personal work.

Normally, compilations like this aren’t preferable if you already own the artist’s work, or even previous collections. Yes, you could grab all of Bowie’s massive discography, but his singles are so comprehensive that they stand out as a body of work on their own. Plus, Nothing Has Changed comes with the brand new song “Sue (Or In the Season of Crime),” which is remarkably unlike anything he’s ever done before. (www.davidbowie.com)

Author rating: 9/10