Roxy Music: frickin' nice or frickin' not nice

That said, I still am not going to see them in concert this summer. I would have paid that kind of money to see the 70's version of Roxy Music, but now? Eh.

Also, I saw them at Radio City Music Hall at age 13, and am thrilled to have 8th row tickets to see them this summer!

Speaking of which - Fred? You still there? What do I think about Amnesiac? You see that last paragraph in the thread? That was me, that was.

More to the point, I wish I had been 16 when Amnesiac came out. As much as one tries to keep up, the instinct becomes blunted by the overburdened baggage of underused knowledge. These days I just try to be happy.

Their first proper album is absolutely smashing, but the second ("For Your Pleasure") - Christ, it's still amazing, nearly 30 years on.

Even with Eddie Jobson subbing for Eno, "Stranded" smoked. "Country Life" was very solid, but cracks were beginning to appear in their carefully manicured facade.

Roxy died with "Siren" - it's almost wholly disposable. They bounced back "Viva!," an unexpectedly powerful live compilation. "Manifesto" was quite good, but after that... I just couldn't be bothered.

Download disc five from "The Thrill of It All" - their early B-sides are brilliant...

Happy Holidays,

Laura N.

So anyway, I have found the courage to stand up and say "I think Roxy are balderdash" but by the same token, I feel like I'd quite like to like them, even though I think Ferry is a slimy old lounge lizard with about as much style as brownshirt. And Eno is overrated, although I quite like that Music for Airports stuff.

Anyway, I have this nagging feeling that Roxy might be really good but I just can't quite seem to feel it. I had that Greatest Hits package one time and like the guy up there said, it utterly failed to make a dint in my consciousness.

Why do Roxy fans like Roxy when it seems to me that they're clearly not very good? Can anyone help?

For Your Pleasure is pretty much my favourite album by anyone, but the first five are all essential. Remake/Remodel, Ladytron, In every Dream Home, Mother of Pearl, Love is the Drug, Both Ends Burning, Virginia Plain, Editions of you. It doesn't get any better than this.

I dislike intensely they way that some people see Bryan Ferry and Roxy Music as synonymous, but I do like a lot of his solo stuff as well. Particularly Bride Stripped Bare.

I'll buy pretty much anything associated with Roxy, no matter how ropey (Rock Follies!), but apart from the obvious Eno stuff, Diamond Head by Phil Manzanera is well worth getting.

...it's actually about an inflatable doll, but I assume that's the song you're talking about.
-- Patrick (cal...@...), June 5th, 2001 12:00 AM. (link)

Great response but I think the song in question is Beauty Queen off For Your Pleasure as well though. It has those great shaky keyboards which are all over that album and the second verse is:

oooh the way you look
makes my starry eyes shiver
then I look away
too much for one day

That album really delivers what its title promises.

"CHIC-KA!"

i don't think so. bogus man is groovy and far out like hell. what a jam. i think i prefer it to most miles davis. grey lagoons is slightly weaker but that mouth harp solo (is that eno with his tapes?) is absolutely gorgeous. for your pleasure finally rounds up this album nicely. the keyboards reverb like they have drunk about a million gallons. otherworldly. as if it had all been a blurred dream.

I'm with you, alex -- perfect.

irl lol f. hazel

fuck it, just coughed up $150

Only going to go to this if Paul Thompson is on drums.

it is

It's basically the classic line-up, but not the first iteration with Brian Eno. I didn't think Eno would join, but Jesus I would've splurged for the $300 seats if he did...

i suppose it's possible he might pop into a London show but I wouldn't count on it (more likely, he may go to the show and not perform, ala Gabriel at the last Genesis gig)

the 2001 Roxy show I saw is by far the best “reformed band plays back catalogue” show i have seen - and i have probably seen too many - they were so good! i went as a casual listener and left a devoted fan

saw Ferry a few years back and found it a bit disappointing - he was cool but i found his band a bit underwhelming, i was hoping for a hyper-drilled unit of young guns recreating the studio sheen of his best solo stuff - but it just felt a bit tired and session-y

I remember at the 2011 (?) Roxy shows there was meant to be a bit of tension re Bryan wanting to fold his solo hits into the setlist, and the band resisting - i think they played Let’s Stick Together as a compromise - i certainly would have been outraged if the show i saw had ended with that instead of For Your Pleasure, it was a perfect way to close out a show

Wonder if that was the tour I saw in the little theater at MSG with Rufus Wainwright opening.

If you mean 2001, yes.

when was the last time eno was even on stage performing for a crowd?

Singing with Stephen Colbert and Michael Stipe in 2011?

I did not know this existed

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c_72UC9npjg

xxp I guess in 2016?

https://www.setlist.fm/setlists/brian-eno-3bd6a03c.html

i saw Eno perform live in 2009 - it was an event called Pure Scenius, a live semi-improvised collaboration with Karl Hyde, Jon Hopkins, The Necks, Leo Abrahams maybe some other people i've forgotten about! there were three concerts in one evening, with Eno directing the course of each improvisation from a little control station onstage (and very occasionally singing and playing a bit of keyboard). if it wasn't quite as good as it could have been, there were definite highlights and felt like a legitimate way to "see Eno live" - ambitious and interesting, rather than just a trad live show.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SDs70rPj36A

Well, went for tickets for SF so bring on the stately chaos, if you will.

I believe Eno did something live with his brother in the past six months in Athens.

Yes, at the Acropolis last August:
https://vk.com/video/@brianeno

Just noticed that the link works on my desktop but not my phone, where I'm prompted to register.

youtube-dl works on that link if anyone wants to d/l for later.

I briefly thought that Eno Bros at the Acropolis concert was for this summer and contemplated taking my family to Greece. I’m glad I checked. 😬

hell....yes

https://i.imgur.com/zqHLGph.jpeg

The Brie Of It All