Today’s David Bowie’s 66th birthday(!), and he’s got a birthday gift for all of us. This is not the usual flow of birthday gifting, but as they say, you do not look a gift David Bowie in the mouth: It is 1/8/13, and the artist formerly known as Stardust is releasing a dramatic new ballad, and its video, and news of a full-length due in March. The record’s called The Next Day, a 14-track effort recorded in NYC and produced by longtime Bowie collaborator Tony Visconti. The fact that Visconti worked on Bowie’s Berlin trilogy (Low, “Heroes”, Lodger ) seems relevant to “Where Are We Now?” and its video, which is littered with lyrical references to the city, and footage “of the auto repair shop beneath the apartment he lived in along with stark images of the city at the time.” Visconti was also the producer who helmed Bowie’s last few records, 2002’s Heathen and 2003’s Reality, so it’s as much a throwback to a classic era as it is picking up where he left off. This is David’s first record in 10 years, and his 30th record overall. It’s OK to celebrate.

You can watch the Tony Oursler-directed video in its siamese-dreamy, fourth-wall breaking weirdness at the newly renovated davidbowie.com, or below. Shoutout Nürnberger Strasse.

iTunes is has the single available now, and the album available for pre-order in its regular (14 tracks) and deluxe (17 tracks) editions. The tracklists are below:

Regular Version
01. The Next Day 3:51
02. Dirty Boys 2:58
03. The Stars (Are Out Tonight) 3:56
04. Love Is Lost 3:57
05. Where Are We Now? 4:08
06. Valentine’s Day 3:01
07. If You Can See Me 3:16
08. I’d Rather Be High 3:53
09. Boss Of Me 4:09
10. Dancing Out In Space 3:24
11. How Does The Grass Grow 4:33
12. (You Will) Set The World On Fire 3:30
13. You Feel So Lonely You Could Die 4:41
14. Heat 4:25

Deluxe Version
01 “The Next Day” (3:51)
02 “Dirty Boys” (2:58)
03 “The Stars (Are Out Tonight)” (3:56)
04 “Love Is Lost” (3:57)
05 “Where Are We Now?” (4:08)
06 “Valentine’s Day” (3:01)
07 “If You Can See Me” (3:16)
08 “I’d Rather Be High” (3:53)
09 “Dancing Out In Space” (3:24)
11 “How Does The Grass Grow” (4:33)
12 “(You Will) Set The World On Fire” (3:30)
13 “You Feel So Lonely You Could Die” (4:41)
14 “Heat” (4:25)

Bonus tracks:
15 “So She” (2:31)
16 “I’ll Take You There” (2:44)
17 “Plan” (2:34)

Happy Bowieday everyone.