The Next Day

Recorded under a veil of absolute secrecy by Bowie and longtime creative partner Tony Visconti, 2013's The Next Day is a thrilling, musically varied comeback. The unabashed rock of the title track sets a no-nonsense tone furthered by the moody funk of "Dirty Boys" and the rattling, high-octane "If You Can See Me." The sweeping, cinematic "Where Are We Now?" and the introspective atmosphere of "Heat" add a hard-earned poignancy, while the careening "I'd Rather Be High" shows he'd lost none of his experimental attitude.