the band’s self-titled first album was recorded in late 1988 and early 1989. it produced mixed but generally positive reviews upon release in may 1989, picking up favourable comparisons with bowie’s two more recent solo albums. commercially, the album initially sold well, reaching no. 3 in the uk albums chart, but sales quickly tailed off. gabrels claimed in 1991 that album sales from the first album were "ten times better" than he had anticipated. at the time of the release of the album, bowie was enthusiastic about the band and the work they'd done, and felt that band had in them "another two albums at least."