Okay, so this one doesn't technically fall under the category of "basement find" seeing as how everyone and their mother (including mine) is well aware of David Bowie's glam-rock, gender bending turn as fallen space oddity Ziggy Stardust during the early 1970's. That said, I felt I should be upfront: my knowledge of the Thin White Duke's oeuvre extends only to his mega hits "Ashes to Ashes," "Let's Dance," "Modern Love" and "China Girl." That and a viewing of D.A. Pennebaker's "Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars: The Motion Picture" when I was 16. To some this ignorance is enough to label me a heretic, be that as it may I set forth to rectify the lack of Bowie in my collection by picking up what is perhaps his most lasting and seminal work, "The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust & The Spiders from Mars."

To be clear, this isn't just an article on the plane Jane homogenized CD found on every Wal-Mart and Target rack across the country, that would hardly merit a write up. No, this is a feature on the remastered Super Audio CD release from aught-three. Now there are some who would debate the purpose and importance of a three decade old rock album receiving the full multi-channel audio treatment. After all, the work was originally engineered with the standard two speaker stereo set up in mind. How would such music even translate into the realm of 5.1 fidelity? In a word: miraculously.

Perhaps the most notable "classic" rock album to receive the surround sound upgrade was Pink Floyd's "Dark Side of the Moon" (also released in 2003). But whereas the Floyd's album, like much of their work, is densely layered and meticulously arranged so as to provide the listener a mind bending experience on even a traditional stereo, Bowie's album is not as evidently remix friendly. Those looking for whiz-bang effects coming from all directions like the latest summer blockbusters should probably skip this release. However, fans and attentive listeners with premium equipment will be in hi-fi heaven with this release.

The greatest revelation to be mined from listening to the multi-channel mix is the increased resolution in the fidelity of the tracks. Switching between the standard CD audio and Super Audio layer, the differences are startling, like moving from VHS to Blu-Ray.

Does the extra resolution and channels make this or any other 5.1 release definitive? Not necessarily. As a purist I feel the original mix will always have a place in a re-release if only because said mix represents the original product put forth by the artist. That said, the great artists are never content with the limitations of current technology and are always looking for the next possible avenue to showcase their work. For fans it provides an opportunity to hear their favorite musicians in a way that has never been possible before and rediscover music once though old and familiar. Multi-channel audio may not be the answer to the record industry's woes but it does make for a great way to rock out and annoy the neighbors.

- By JOE CORTEZ