Just days before his death this week, David Bowie marked his 69th birthday with the release of a new album, Blackstar, with critics giving the thumbs up to the latest and final work in a long and innovative career.
Bowie died Sunday night (Monday NZT) at age 69 after an 18-month battle with cancer.
The singer, songwriter, actor and artist made his return to the music scene after 2013's chart-topping The Next Day, itself released after a 10-year gap.
Blackstar, co-produced by Bowie's long-time collaborator Tony Visconti, features only seven songs, but critics praised the latest work, with Britain's Guardian newspaper calling it "a spellbinding break with (Bowie's) past".