Roxy Music: frickin' nice or frickin' not nice

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such a square

― David, Monday, 29 July 2002 00:00 (twenty-one years ago) link

That didn't help.

― Roger Fascist, Monday, 29 July 2002 00:00 (twenty-one years ago) link

As Tom already said, if it ain't your thing, that's that, and nothing anyone can say will change that. I sure don't get Roxy in the same way Jane Solanas/mark s do. But "Virginia Plain" is about as perfect as the 7" single ever got. And the 12" extended mix of "Angel Eyes" is about as perfect as that format ever got.

― Jeff W, Monday, 29 July 2002 00:00 (twenty-one years ago) link

Interesting that this thread happens to be revived today, as I happened to get out Stranded earlier and listened to it. Their first three are all great, but this is my favourite. It's strange, beautiful, surprising, with a wonderful sense of how to create an atmosphere and build up through a song. Song For Europe and Mother Of Pearl still sound like almost nothing else ever.

― Martin Skidmore, Monday, 29 July 2002 00:00 (twenty-one years ago) link

three months pass...

omar was most otm on this thread. the first side of the first album is truly amazing. so many ideas, so maný styles. most songs begin rather conventional and then they turn into free-jazz or baroque music. second half sounds more like king crimson. i think a kc member produced that album. the last song even has crimson in the lyrics. rm probably are the only interesting band which came out of the horrid 70s.

― alex in mainhattan (alex63), Monday, 11 November 2002 00:46 (twenty-one years ago) link

I never got the big deal about Avalon myself, but the 1977 "Greatest Hits" album is probably my favorite (much for the same reason Christgau liked it, if you check his consumer guide). Fave to least fave (noting I have no live albums or Flesh + Blood). Siren-Roxy Music-For Your Pleasure-Country Life-Stranded-Avalon-Manifesto. Though "Manifesto" the song is pretty awesome.

― Anthony Miccio, Monday, 11 November 2002 01:06 (twenty-one years ago) link

i have to correct myself. there were other good bands in the 70s esp. at the end of that decade.

― alex in mainhattan (alex63), Monday, 11 November 2002 09:05 (twenty-one years ago) link

Possibly the best band ever. The reality as good as the idea.

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.

― James Ball (James Ball), Monday, 11 November 2002 10:55 (twenty-one years ago) link

one year passes...

Paul Thompson *DID* play on the reunion shows btw.

― Sean (Sean), Friday, 26 December 2003 05:17 (twenty years ago) link

also btw, the reunion tour is beautifully documented on a concert dvd which is so good i don't even know where to start.

― dan (dan), Friday, 26 December 2003 05:24 (twenty years ago) link

how are the remasters? I've gotten so tired of repurchasing remasters of albums from this period (crimson, yes, etc) every few years that I didn't bother, although I am easily tempted by gatefold cd covers and I think a lot of these wound up as cutouts. Is the sound significantly improved?

― anthony kyle monday (akmonday), Friday, 26 December 2003 17:13 (twenty years ago) link

Of the remasters, I have For Your Pleasure and Country Life (which sounded like it was mastered off a flapjack on the first reissue). Both sound fantastic...

― Naive Teen Idol (Naive Teen Idol), Saturday, 27 December 2003 04:48 (twenty years ago) link

Roxy Music's first four albums are somewhat overrated. Their later output is often sadly underrated though.

― Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Saturday, 27 December 2003 14:13 (twenty years ago) link

Yeah true

― Andrew Thames (Andrew Thames), Saturday, 27 December 2003 14:33 (twenty years ago) link

It's all about as great as the rest is the thing

― Andrew Thames (Andrew Thames), Saturday, 27 December 2003 14:53 (twenty years ago) link

for me, "Do The Strand" is the same sort of sarcasm as "Song for Europe"
not nice, but honest
i especially love that thing duane and others have commented on already, his progressive (sleazy-ish) "man of taste" projection-of-slick thing with all its ambiguities, his contest with &or response to jagger, which worked out in such a way as to be slithtly sick i suppose, as has been suggested as a band attribute in the "fricki' not nice" of this threads title, but still self-fulfillingly.

― george gosset (gegoss), Sunday, 28 December 2003 14:16 (twenty years ago) link

Unlike last time I posted, I definitely like Stranded more than For Your Pleasure or Roxy Music now (though side 1 of Roxy is better than Stranded. It's side 2 that's the stinker). Gonna be reappraising Country Life soon.

― Anthony Miccio (Anthony Miccio), Monday, 29 December 2003 21:46 (twenty years ago) link

two months pass...

I heard "Avalon" this morning in a CVS (!). I don't even like that song that much, but I was excited to hear it there. I walked in and I recognized that something a little unusual was playing, but couldn't identify it immediately.

― Rockist Scientist, Saturday, 13 March 2004 14:50 (twenty years ago) link

eleven months pass...

Hadn't heard about it beforehand, but I picked up The High Road DVD (apparently released in the US in late January). Looking forward to watching it tonight!

― Spencer Chow (spencermfi), Monday, 7 March 2005 22:39 (nineteen years ago) link

Haha "Casanova" came on my itunes as you were reviving this...

― Don't Ever Antagonize The Horny (AaronHz), Monday, 7 March 2005 22:42 (nineteen years ago) link

I thought you'd appreciate that.

― Spencer Chow (spencermfi), Monday, 7 March 2005 22:46 (nineteen years ago) link

two months pass...

[rather a cheeky request, but since we're talking about roxy music, could anyone possible tell me the name of the song they did about a mannequin? a flatmate of mine had a copy of it years ago, but i can't remember the title and i've never heard it since. thanks...]
-- the real life of sebastian knight (dou...@...), June 5th, 2001 12:00 AM. (link)
That would be "In Every Dream Home A Heartache", off For Your Pleasure.
-- Patrick (cal...@...), June 5th, 2001 12:00 AM. (link)

...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.

― alex in mainhattan (alex63), Friday, 13 May 2005 16:29 (nineteen years ago) link

yeah, but after "In Every Dream Home A Heartache," the second side blows, as it should. How can you top a song about a blowup doll?

― Alfred Soto (Alfred Soto), Friday, 13 May 2005 16:35 (nineteen years ago) link

"Bogus Man" BLOWS?!? I rate that cut right up there with Bowie's "Station To Station" in the lurching, metallic, electro-funk genre.

― Daniel Peterson (polkaholic), Friday, 13 May 2005 16:42 (nineteen years ago) link

Yeah, I was about to say...

"CHIC-KA!"

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Friday, 13 May 2005 16:44 (nineteen years ago) link

It doesn't blow but it's certainly not compelling enough to keep chic-ka chic-ka-ing for 10 minutes. Bowie is better at aloofness than Ferry.

― Alfred Soto (Alfred Soto), Friday, 13 May 2005 16:47 (nineteen years ago) link

RM side 1 = FYP side 1 > FYP side 2 >>>>>>>>>>>>>> RM side 2

― peter smith (plsmith), Friday, 13 May 2005 16:52 (nineteen years ago) link

x-post

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.

― alex in mainhattan (alex63), Friday, 13 May 2005 17:08 (nineteen years ago) link

I just recently added "Love Is the Drug" as a liner to the sportstalk show I produce. Cheap thrills where I can find 'em.

― Pleasant Plains /// (Pleasant Plains ///), Friday, 13 May 2005 17:09 (nineteen years ago) link

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.

― Naive Teen Idol (Naive Teen Idol), Sunday, 15 May 2005 02:13 (nineteen years ago) link

I became a little obsessed with A Song For Europe this past week. Played Stranded several times in the car since I felt I hadn't played it enough to make a final judgement on it, and I still think A Song For Europe is the best track. I love how he cops this French accent and it becomes this overwrought dramatic tradgedy - you can just picture him on a stage squinting his eyes and sticking the knife in his chest when he says "the bridge - it sighs..." and that gorgeous orchestral crescendo in the middle (complete with timpani! my ears did not lie!) and best of all when he gives up and lapses into French at the end, terrible terrible romantic suffering...oh god I love it.

― The Silent Disco of Glastonbury (Bimble...), Sunday, 15 May 2005 03:21 (nineteen years ago) link

Indeed -- for anyone who thinks Avalon is the apex, this is the track they need to hear. It's everything Avalon isn't: ironic, bittersweet, tragic. Just fantastic.

― Naive Teen Idol (Naive Teen Idol), Sunday, 15 May 2005 03:50 (nineteen years ago) link

Bryan Ferry was writing so many great songs that even throwaway album tracks were keepers. I've always been a fan of "Serenade," for ex.

― Alfred Soto (Alfred Soto), Sunday, 15 May 2005 12:37 (nineteen years ago) link

ten months pass...

Roxy Music, my God I would die for that band. Love them. I think Manifesto is a very underrated song, just listened to it now. The only band in my music collection where I love every single album they have released. How f*kin great is Mother of Pearl? Magic!!!

― Miranda Leigh (Miranda Leigh), Sunday, 9 April 2006 02:21 (eighteen years ago) link

I'm just wondering if Alfred has eaten his words about For Your Pleasure's second side since last May...

― Naive Teen Idol (Naive Teen Idol), Sunday, 9 April 2006 03:50 (eighteen years ago) link

"Manifesto" is sooooo great. I haven't listened in a while, but I recall that the version of it on the live album from that time (Concerto?) is great too. Nice and bassy.

― Patrick South (Patrick South), Sunday, 9 April 2006 04:03 (eighteen years ago) link

best Ilxor ever!

― latebloomer: someone's been drinking my youth! (latebloomer), Sunday, 9 April 2006 04:15 (eighteen years ago) link

One of my favorite bands. Stranded and For Your Pleasure are classics, not to mention the excellent Avalon.

― Harrison Barr (Petar), Sunday, 9 April 2006 05:00 (eighteen years ago) link

I pulled out Stranded last weekend, seemed to enjoy it more than before.

― Porcupine Kiss, Novacaine Lips (Bimble...), Sunday, 9 April 2006 07:11 (eighteen years ago) link

can we discuss the impending remix album? lindstrom's doing a track on it!

― haitch (haitch), Sunday, 9 April 2006 08:53 (eighteen years ago) link

what other stuff is on the Avalon/'Dance Away' type side of Roxy Music?

― splates (splates), Sunday, 9 April 2006 09:32 (eighteen years ago) link

The Flesh & Blood album and its singles.

― Alfred, Lord Sotosyn (Alfred Soto), Sunday, 9 April 2006 12:39 (eighteen years ago) link

The good Mr. Remy mentioned he picked up the Thrill Of It All box set the other day, which of course is a sign of wisdom, not least for all those B-sides finally in one place.

"Your application's FAILED!"

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Sunday, 9 April 2006 12:54 (eighteen years ago) link

Would someone like to list all their b-sides?

― Patrick South (Patrick South), Sunday, 9 April 2006 15:14 (eighteen years ago) link

Eight Miles High and Rain Rain Rain are top of the downbeats.

― stet (stet), Sunday, 9 April 2006 16:22 (eighteen years ago) link

A bit off-topic, but since the why ess eye threads is no longer, I guess I'll ask here.

Does anyone know if the original "rock" version of Angel Eyes appears on CD anywhere?

― someone let this mitya out! (mitya), Monday, 10 April 2006 01:50 (eighteen years ago) link

On the box set I just mentioned.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Monday, 10 April 2006 02:44 (eighteen years ago) link

Has the late 70s Greatest Hits (gold disc/leopardskin cover) ever been released on CD? This is the one I come back to. There is hardly any gap between each track & the listener just gets pummelled by these amazing songs, one after another (Editions of You, Do the Strand, Mother of Pearl, The Thrill of It All, All I Want is You etc etc).
It just sounds totally punk rock: I put it on the other night after listening to Magazine & it just blew them away.

― bham (bham), Monday, 10 April 2006 08:25 (eighteen years ago) link

That was my first Roxy album. I'm not really one of those "I still love vinyl" people, but for whatever reason, these Roxy albums are ones that I'd want to listen to the old LPs.

Thanks for calling my attention to the box set. I just I sort of ignored it when it came out because I felt like I already had everything. Just listened to Sultanesque for the first time!

― someone let this mitya out! (mitya), Monday, 10 April 2006 15:21 (eighteen years ago) link

Heh. I was just listening to Stranded. It's the only one I own, though I've bought it twice now. For some reason, that's the only one I ever see used. I am glad that I picked it up. My parents owned Avalon, which I used to really like as a kid and kinda grew out of (maybe I should give it another chance now, but it just got to be too much schmaltz for me, especially after my brother started playing it nonstop for his high school girlfriend), and my only other exposure was a Greatest Hits cd that my girlfriend had that was really crappy. Still, I kept hearing about this band, so I figured I'd give it a shot and pick up Stranded, and I'm really glad I did. Someday, when I have a bit more cash, I'll pick up another one (either the s/t or Country Life).

― js (honestengine), Monday, 10 April 2006 15:54 (eighteen years ago) link

Skipping 121 messages at this point... Click here if you want to load them all.

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

― PaulTMA, Thursday, 31 March 2022 23:28 (two years ago) link

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

― Ned Raggett, Monday, 4 April 2022 17:06 (two years ago) link

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

― akm, Monday, 4 April 2022 18:07 (two years ago) link

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

― doug watson, Monday, 4 April 2022 19:28 (two years ago) link

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

― doug watson, Monday, 4 April 2022 19:30 (two years ago) link

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

― Elvis Telecom, Monday, 4 April 2022 20:13 (two years ago) link

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. 😬

― Naive Teen Idol, Thursday, 14 April 2022 12:08 (two years ago) link

two years pass...

hell....yes

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

― frogbs, Friday, 19 April 2024 16:58 (one month ago) link

The Brie Of It All

― Gerald McBoing-Boing, Friday, 19 April 2024 19:03 (one month ago) link

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