I began listening to Roxy Music in August 2022.
Roxy Music (1972): B+
For Your Pleasure (1973): B+
Stranded (1973): B
Country Life (1974): A-
Siren (1975): B
Manifesto (1979): B-
Roxy Music (1972):
This is the most unconventional conventional rock group I've ever heard. At their basis, the guitarist, bassist, and drummer make a fairly standard but talented rock group. Joining their company, however, is a saxophonist, a synthesizer specialist (a fellow by the name of Brian Eno), and Bryan Ferry, a captivating front man who sings with some sort of croon vibrato. It's hard to choose one person who steals the show of this strange outfit--Ferry could obviously snatch it for highly original approach to rock singing while Eno’s synthesizers always surprise with their delightful hooks while guitarist Phil Manzanera is clearly one of the most talented newcomers in the English rock scene. On side two, things fall apart a little. Eno fails brilliantly and his compositions become much too immersed in random synthesizer and recording techniques. As much as I am impressed with side one, there's hardly five worthwhile minutes on side two. B+
For Your Pleasure (1973):
Their debut was at its best when it married the band's artistic ambition with hard rock hooks. On their sophomore effort, Roxy Music become too confident in their abilities and focus their time on slow burners meant to show off their high IQ. Because they do have some material worth bringing to the table, they mostly get away with it. Eno doesn’t have as large a role in his last album with the band but there are still a decent amount of solid melodies and this time, Eno's most experimental track continues to develop. I like the album quite a bit but I have reservations about it even the best moments. Anyone who doesn't admit the hilarity of "In Every Dream Home a Heartache" is much too stuck up; anyone who takes it as seriously as Ferry is following the band down the wrong road. B+
Stranded (1973):
Though they replace Eno with a new synthesizer guy and Andy Makay is now credited with the "treatments," Roxy Music become a much more strait-laced band. As the band settle into a more focused and united vision, however, there's something that holds them back. On their debut, there was so much insanity to pay attention to that it didn't matter who the vocalist actually was. Now, especially on the slow songs, my captivation wanes as I try and fail to find a reason to care about Ferry’s vision at all. It could just be the songs though--I'm only impressed with "Mother of Pearl." B
Country Life (1974):
In which the band's vision on Stranded comes to fruition. Side one opens with Ferry at the peak of his powers and just a bit later is "All I Want Is You," one of the greatest distillations of art rock onto the single format. While side two isn't brilliant, it continues the album's vision very satisfyingly and wraps up their best and most cohesive record to date. If they're still glam rock (it wouldn't be a stretch), Manzanera has established himself as the greatest glam rock guitarist out there. A-
Siren (1975):
Despite the band's relatively good grade performance so far, I've only recently started coming to grips with just how few of Ferry's strange ideas about the world and music I can fully embrace. This one in particular cements Roxy Music as an art rock band with too much reliance on middle/high class aesthetics. Because it's not so much distasteful as it's hard to care about, I continue listening with a fairly open mind as I wait for a song with wicked guitar or a surprisingly vocal line that I can snatch out of the void. And the band is fantastic at turning out at least one song per album that is undeniably captivating--on this one, it's "End of the Line." B
Manifesto (1979):
Quite groovy and surprisingly mainstream but, in the end, the album burns out and admits its own lack of meaningful character. I don't blame their lack of ideas--I doubt there's much left to explore in their unique corner of rock--but I'm also not sure if they've ever fully exploited Manzanera's incredible talent. B-
