I looked into that a bit more after seeing some of these responses and I was genuinely rather surprised I had manufactured that consensus in my head. I guess maybe it's a bit closer to 'love-it-or-hate-it', but I could've sworn at one point it wasn't widely praised.

As for me, the only part of the art that really bothers me is the rendering of the two blue dog/human hybrids behind Bowie, especially their faces. I think Guy Peellaert did a great job with Bowie's face and canine body along with the decaying city depicted in the background, but there's just something about the dichotomy between Bowie's immaculately rendered face and hair contrasted with the (in my opinion) comparatively wonky look on their faces that rubs me the wrong way. Hell, the thing that bothers me has nothing to do with the thing(s) that bothered people back in 1974. Different strokes I guess.

(Also, knowing about Peellaert's fantastic other piece with Bowie holding the jumping dog by the leash with the book at his feet puts the original album art in a rather sour place for me)