Welcome back to Regarding…Outside, where Chaz, Wolfie, and Mikey continue their investigation into David Bowie's 1995 musical murder mystery. This week, the gang tackles the album's third track, “The Hearts Filthy Lesson,” and discovers that understanding the music might be considerably easier than understanding the story.
But first, Professor Mikey has homework.
A spirited Discord discussion about the nature of art sends the boys back into Nathan Adler's diaries, where cows, Monet paintings, and the Venice Biennale raise some uncomfortable questions about who gets to decide what qualifies as art.
Then there's Leon Blank. Could those seemingly random dates from the album's opening track actually be an attempt to establish an alibi? A motion is made, seconded, and unanimously approved to revisit the evidence.
Eventually, the investigation reaches “The Hearts Filthy Lesson,” a menacing collision of industrial rock, acoustic piano, electronic percussion, and unmistakable Bowie vocals.
And suddenly, the questions get considerably darker.
Who exactly is Ramona A. Stone? What is her connection to the murder of Baby Grace? And why does Detective Nathan Adler sound less like an impartial investigator and more like someone who might be personally involved?
Along the way, the gang considers whether a detective can become so immersed in a criminal underworld that the line between investigator and participant disappears entirely.
There's also room for a few digressions, including Bowie's extraordinary versatility, Tony Visconti, and the fearless artistic experimentation that defined this period of his career.
THIS WEEK'S MUSIC:
“The Hearts Filthy Lesson” — David Bowie
Plus a return visit to “Leon Takes Us Outside,” because apparently we're allowed to go backward in this investigation.
FINAL VERDICT:
The music is compelling. The evidence is circumstantial. The detective is suspicious.
And we're only three tracks into the album.
We listen so you don't have to.
Although at this point, reading the case file might be advisable. You can watch the eff'ed up video for this song here.
","author_name":"Chaz Charles, Greg Wolfe, Scott Monroe, Corey Morrisette, Michael Pastore"}