ROXY MUSIC: "Stranded"

Original released on LP Island ILPS 9252

(UK 1973, November 1)

Without Brian Eno, Roxy Music immediately became less experimental, yet they remained adventurous, as "Stranded" illustrates. Under the direction of Bryan Ferry, Roxy moved toward relatively straightforward territory, adding greater layers of piano and heavy guitars. Even without the washes of Eno's synthesizers, Roxy's music remains unsettling on occasion, yet in this new incarnation, they favor more measured material, whether it's the reflective "A Song for Europe" or the shifting textures of "Psalm." Even the rockers, such as the surging "Street Life" and the segmented "Mother of Pearl," are distinguished by subtle songwriting that emphasizes both Ferry's tortured glamour and Roxy's increasingly impressive grasp of sonic detail. (Stephen Erlewine in AllMusic)

ROXY MUSIC: "For Your Pleasure"

Original released on LP Island ILPS 9232

(UK 1973, March 23)

On Roxy Music's debut, the tensions between Brian Eno and Bryan Ferry propelled their music to great, unexpected heights, and for most of the group's second album, "For Your Pleasure", the band equals, if not surpasses, those expectations. However, there are a handful of moments where those tensions become unbearable, as when Eno wants to move toward texture and Ferry wants to stay in more conventional rock territory; the nine-minute "The Bogus Man" captures such creative tensions perfectly, and it's easy to see why Eno left the group after the album was completed. Still, those differences result in yet another extraordinary record from Roxy Music, one that demonstrates even more clearly than the debut how avant-garde ideas can flourish in a pop setting. This is especially evident in the driving singles "Do the Strand" and "Editions of You," which pulsate with raw energy and jarring melodic structures. Roxy also illuminate the slower numbers, such as the eerie "In Every Dream Home a Heartache," with atonal, shimmering synthesizers, textures that were unexpected and innovative at the time of its release. Similarly, all of "For Your Pleasure" walks the tightrope between the experimental and the accessible, creating a new vocabulary for rock bands, and one that was exploited heavily in the ensuing decade. (Stephen Erlewine in AllMusic)

ROXY MUSIC Debut Album

Original released on LP Island ILPS 9200

(UK 1972, June 16)

Falling halfway between musical primitivism and art rock ambition, Roxy Music's eponymous debut remains a startling redefinition of rock's boundaries. Simultaneously embracing kitschy glamour and avant-pop, Roxy Music shimmers with seductive style and pulsates with disturbing synthetic textures. Although no musician demonstrates much technical skill at this point, they are driven by boundless imagination - Brian Eno's synthesized "treatments" exploit electronic instruments as electronics, instead of trying to shoehorn them into conventional acoustic patterns. Similarly, Bryan Ferry finds that his vampiric croon is at its most effective when it twists conventional melodies, Phil Manzanera's guitar is terse and unpredictable, while Andy Mackay's saxophone subverts rock & roll clichés by alternating R&B honking with atonal flourishes. But what makes Roxy Music such a confident, astonishing debut is how these primitive avant-garde tendencies are married to full-fledged songs, whether it's the free-form, structure-bending "Re-Make/Re-Model" or the sleek glam of "Virginia Plain," the debut single added to later editions of the album. That was the trick that elevated Roxy Music from an art school project to the most adventurous rock band of the early '70s. (Stephen Erlewine in AllMusic)

ROXY MUSIC: "Country Life"

Original released on LP Island ILPS 9303

(UK, 1974, November 15)

Continuing with the stylistic developments of "Stranded", "Country Life" finds Roxy Music at the peak of their powers, alternating between majestic, unsettling art rock and glamorous, elegant pop/rock. At their best, Roxy combine these two extremes, like on the exhilarating opener "The Thrill of It All," but "Country Life" benefits considerably from the ebb and flow of the group's two extremes, since it showcases their deft instrumental execution and their textured, enthralling songwriting. And, in many ways, "Country Life" offers the greatest and most consistent set of Roxy Music songs, illustrating their startling depth. From the sleek rock of "All I Want Is You" and "Prairie Rose" to the elegant, string-laced pop of "A Really Good Time," "Country Life" is filled with thrilling songs, and Roxy Music rarely sounded as invigorating as they do here. (Stephen Erlewine in AllMusic)

ROXY MUSIC: The High Road Live EP

Original released on Live EP EG Polydor EGMLP1

(UK, March 1983) 

"The High Road" is an excellent sounding live EP. It includes two Roxy songs:  "Can't Let Go" which was debuted on the EP and "My Only Love" from "Flesh + Blood".  It also includes two well-done covers: Neil Young's "Like A Hurricane" and John Lennon's "Jealous Guy".  I recall wanting to pick up the EP when I heard the live version of "My Only Love" on the radio.  It is still an enjoyable listen, though perhaps not essential.  There is also a "The High Road" tour DVD available which contains fourteen selections (including the four mentioned above) and may give fans a better feel for what an early 1980's Roxy Music show was like. (in RateYourMusic)

ROXY MUSIC: "Avalon"

Original released on LP EG, Polydor EGHP 50.2302.116

(UK, May 1982)

"Flesh + Blood" suggested that Roxy Music were at the end of the line, but they regrouped and recorded this lovely "Avalon", one of their finest albums. Certainly, the lush, elegant soundscapes of "Avalon" are far removed from the edgy avant-pop of their early records, yet it represents another landmark in their career. With its stylish, romantic washes of synthesizers and Bryan Ferry's elegant, seductive croon, "Avalon" simultaneously functioned as sophisticated make-out music for yuppies and as the maturation of synth pop. Ferry was never this romantic or seductive, either with Roxy or as a solo artist, and "Avalon" shimmers with elegance in both its music and its lyrics. "More Than This," "Take a Chance with Me," "While My Heart Is Still Beating," and the title track are immaculately crafted and subtle songs, where the shifting synthesizers and murmured vocals gradually reveal the melodies. It's a rich, textured album and a graceful way to end the band's career. (Stephen Erlewine in AllMusic)

WALLPAPER: "Roxy Music"