You Mow the Avalon With an Avalon Mower

Overall Album Score: 8.4 out of 10

Abalone!

Hey! That's what the spellchecker thing on my computer says is the correct way to spell "Avalon." I guess not everybody in the world can be cool like I am and know that the correct way to spell "Avalon" isn't "Abalone." What's an "Abalone," anyway? Meat-mush from the Oscar Meier factory? The contents of Britney Spears' head?

Hey! Look at this! The Roxy Music are about to leave us! It's 1982, and the band decided that they've had just about enough (they haven't been very good, anyway) and it was time to fold. Oh well. Since it was the last time that they would ever be able to deposit anything on this wonderful planet, they decided to pull it together and deliver something GOOD ... not just that half-assed dance dribble that they did for Manifesto and Flesh & Blood. Not only did they come up with a better album, but also a different album! This one doesn't have New Romantic-posturing dance grooves at all! It's cool and breezy (much like that album cover) and it features a bunch of synthesizers.

I've always given Roxy Music due credit for their ability to properly arrange and mix their songs. And that is their main strength with Avalon. In fact, if it wasn't for that, there would be no Avalon at all! It would just be a bunch of ticking noises...

Synth textures are Ferry's prime motivation here ... and nothing else really seems to matter. The only tracks here that have it good as far as melody is concerned are "More Than This" and "Take a Chance With Me." A few other songs were also rated about as highly, but that was because of the TEXTURES. TEXTURES!

I just wanna say one word to you. Just one word.
Yes, sir.
Are you listening?
Yes, I am.
"TEXTURES"

Oh yeah! Textures, baby! Now, this album certainly could have been MUCH better, but who wants to go about life saying, "coulda?" I coulda been a woman! Avalon is an entirely wonderful 80s smooth synth album, and while Roxy Music didn't exactly leave with a *bang*, they left on the top of their own game. It's a little bit boring and unexciting, unlike their glory days, but at least they didn't fizzle away like they looked like they were going to...

Overall Album Score: 8.4 out of 10 (This is STILL far away from the quality that this band used to exert on their albums, but at least it's not a *far cry* away from it. All in all, this is a nice set of atmospheric synth tunes.)

Average Song Score: 8.6 (This is an entirely decent set of tunes for a once-great, exiting art-rock gurus. It's not ambitious, but it's smoooooooth and something that the band's never tried before.)

Album Tilt: 8.0 (It's a bit slow. I had to struggle a bit through it. Nevertheless, it was a worthwhile effort altogether.)

Artist Rating: 8.5 (Well, at least Roxy Music pulled it together after their 'comeback' and put forth a decent album before they would permanently disband.)

Track Reviews

More Than This 9/10

Alright, I'll be the first to admit that this isn't really a perfect song ... it has a mesmerizing beat that could have been more memorizing, a catchy melody that could have been catchier, and a soaring infrastructure that could have been more soaring. Nevertheless, "More Than This" is strong in all of those categories and proves to be an intriguing album opener.

The Space Between 8/10

It's cool, slick, and breezy as if it were really "space between something!" Although, I hate to mention that "cool, slick, and breezy" is about all this song has (which is quite a stark contrast from the band's more bold early days). Nevertheless, it's entirely fine if you're going to use it as background music.

Avalon 8.5/10

This is another slick & cool synth song! Boy ... you know, this one really doesn't catch fire for me, but I'm thinking that it's probably not supposed to! It's something that'll probably put you in a nice, calm state-of-mind. That said, it doesn't really strike me as being such a great song. It's nice, though.

India 8/10

Another nice synthy atmospheric piece. It's almost negligible, though, cause it's so danged short! It's really pretty good, though. Roxy Music were always good with the studio system.

While My Heart is Still Bleeding 8/10

Hoy! All of these songs are good and everything ... I'm enjoying this album like a duck who's just discovered my neighbor's swimming pool ... but MAN! These songs are so dreary and uneventful! ... Of course, unlike Roxy's previous dreary album, this one seems to have more of a purpose! To be drearrrrrrry, yet romantic! There is a specific mood that this album wants to put you in. Unfortunately, it's not engaging me enough to work completely.

The Main Thing 8.5/10

This one starts out with a rather intriguing beat and synth-loops that makes me think of dear old Brian Eno! Even as it progresses, the song still remains fairly interesting ... but it's a far cry from "great."

Take a Chance With Me 10/10

Whoah! Hey! "Take a Chance With Me" has got to be this dreary album's most engaging piece of work! Once it had a chance to get started, it'll draw you in with a *most* catchy tune! This is late-era Roxy Music at their best for sure! I bob my head with the utmost of charm and enthusiasm.

To Turn You On 8.5/10

Awwwwwwww! Look! Bryan Ferry would do anything to turn me on! ...Anything but removing your clothing, please! ... Um ... Neverthemind ... This song is pretty good! This one's a bit more on the New Romantic spectrum than the cool, breezy synth-pop one, but that's never a bad thing.

True to Life 9.5/10

Well, this song is pretty spiffy! It has a more engaging atmosphere than many of these other songs do ... *PLUS* it's cool and breezy. Who could ask for more?

Tara 8/10

Hmmm... This isn't the world's greatest album-closer ... an under-two-minute synth thing that's really quiet and slow. Er ... whatever ... I don't care ...

Do you avalot of thoughts? Leave your comments here!

slb23@shaw.ca (Simon B.) received July 24, 2004

This was my first Roxy Music album, and for a long time, I've thought it to be one of their best. Gone was the stylish glam experimentalism, now enters polished synth rock/pop. And they do it pretty well.
Song Ratings:
1. More Than This (9.5)
2. The Space Between (8.5)
3. Avalon (6.5)
4. India (7.5)
5. While My Heart Is Still Beating (8)
6. The Main Thing (5)
7. Take a Chance With Me (9)
8. To Turn You On (9)
9. True To Life (9)
10. Tara (7.5)
Album Artwork (8.5)
Album Rating: 88/110 (80%)