Not All Music Sounds Like Roxy

Overall Album Score: 9.1 out of 10

Long before Roxy Music had those early '80s hits called "More Than This" and "Avalon," they were a weird glam band............................

I have a weird nostalgic connection with this album. I would say that it related to a weird point of my life ... it was my sophomore year of college when I downloaded this album from Limewire. I couldn't stop listening to it. (Screw the RIAA --- I bought immediately when I saw it in a store ... like 16 months later.) So, whenever I hear this album, I think of my sophomore year of college ... oh what wild and crazy music I was just becoming familiar with back then. If it's even possible, I like this album even more now than I did back then.

How do I get started talking about this weird album? First of all, it's not for all tastes. These guys were obviously going after unusual, uncharted waters in rock music ---- some of it seems like their being weird for weird's sake. At that same time, they want their music to be accessible. Well, they don't quite get accessibility all the time. Bryan Ferry's melodies aren't always the hookiest, but they always seem good enough and they accompany his warbly voice well.

Of course Brian Eno makes his first appearance anywhere on this album. He doesn't write the music, but he's largely responsible for the weirdness. You can find out Eno's real super powers when you check out Roxy Music's follow-up For Your Pleasure ... and pretty much all the work he would do through the '80s. Anyway, it's pretty obvious that Eno was testing the waters here so this isn't his most impressive work. But he did succeed to make some really strange and effective atmospheres and moods ... and that was definitely revolutionary.

Despite the non-accessibility, this is such an off-the-wall album (especially when you consider this was released in 1972, it was absolutely revolutionary) that I can't help but love it to pieces. There's nothing I love hearing more than musical artists try to push the boundaries. Besides, they're usually quite enjoyable. Even hearing songs like "If There is Something," you can note that they can be poppy too! This album is pure classic.

Overall Album Score: 9.1 out of 10 (This album is a load of weirdness. Like a piece of weird cheese. It might be difficult from some listeners to take, but I'm sure you'll enjoy yourself.)

Average Song Score: 9.3 (These are some phenomenal songs! Naturally, they'll even get better later on...)

Album Tilt: 8.5 (There's an amount of inconsistency here that can be off-putting to even fans of this group. They'll get a lot better at it as soon as their follow-up album.)

Artist Rating: 9.5 (They're pushing the boundaries right from the beginning. This is probably this group's most daring release although they'll certainly be better when they're channeling their creative energies in more constructive ways!!!)

Track Reviews

Re-Make Re-Model 10/10

This track begins with some ambient noise taken in, I presume, a restaurant. We hear some crowded talking and some clinking sounds of silverware on plates... I'm not sure what the point of it is, but you probably won't dwell on it too much. Because when the detached groove starts up, and we hear some of the crazy instrumentation, you're pretty much going to be weirded out beyond repair if you're not prepared for it. Not only is the groove crazy, but there are bizarre sound effects strewn throughout the work (no doubt the work of Brian Eno). The saxophone work is really funny in here ... and you've got to get a load of this coda. There's some funny, mini-solos ... very fun. And then it all very gradually slows down ... the ending is brilliant. Bryan Ferry's wacky, crooning vocals prove to be just the perfect thing for it all!

Ladytron 9.5/10

This one begins with a little, strange sound-effect (a mini-synth scape from Brian Eno) and an oboe playing something rather pretty. It's completely unusual but also appealing. Then, Bryan Ferry starts to sing in his warbly and crazy vocals, and it gets relatively normal. The melody is catchy and the instrumentation is enjoyable. The bass is even pretty danceable! But they contrast that pretty well with their completely strange instrumental interludes --- it's unconventional but appealing. They're so artistic, that I almost want to call them prog in a way. There's so much going on in these interludes that I'd hard to describe. It's wild, dazzling and nothing you've ever heard before.

If There is Something 10/10

This features Bryan Ferry's most passionate vocal performance so far in his career. (I know it's only been three albums so far!) This is a very brilliant track that also features one of the finest sax solos ever done --- I dare someone to prove me wrong. This is a very upbeat song (and danceable if you're weird) but it's also highly unusual and a good track for people who love the art of music too...

Virginia Plain 9.5/10

This is another pop friendly track with an absolutely catchy melody and instrumentation that's loony. This isn't my favorite track of the album only because it's so short. Three minutes long? That's not enough loon for me, baby. That woodwind (or whatever) is playing a perfect harmonic line, by the way. Nice!

2 H.B. 10/10

These melodies are so catchy that I'm having a hard time figuring which one is the catchiest. Well, this is certainly up there. This would have made a perfectly great faux lounge song, except there's all sorts of weirdness strewn throughout for good measure. Brian Eno's sound effects give this track a really bizarre atmosphere.... And that sleepy saxophone duet in the middle is another example of this band's innovative weirdness.

The Bob (Medley) 9/10

I used to be non-impressed with this track, but I guess I changed my mind. I guess as far as songs go, this one isn't structured at all... Maybe it's more of a rock 'n' roll sandcastle or something. There's sections that Ferry sings as if he were doom-ridden, others sections are peculiar sound effects and random instrumental solos, and another section sounds like a happy-drunk party song (barring the lyrics of course). This is all too loony to snub.

Chance Meeting 8.5/10

This one features Ferry sounding like he's more desperate than ever. Apart from Brian Eno's weird screetches going off, it's almost a normal piano-pop tune. This is another example of how freakishly unusual this band is...

Would You Believe? 9.5/10

You'd almost forget that Roxy Music is considered a Glam band until you heard this. Well, there was always two types of glam: the trashy and the artsy. Naturally, Roxy music is the later. This track, however, begins as a ballad of sorts, but then it escalates into a more upbeat and poppy section. Well, that part's fun, and it features some great sax.

Sea Breezes 8/10

This track has always been difficult for me to swallow. It's seven minutes long. The first half is slow and depressing. What you could try doing is sitting back and trying to soak it in. Now that we know Eno is great for stunning synthscapes, you'll probably woefully note that this is a largely barren track! A hugely disjointed drum pipes up in the second half --- delivering a lot of strangeness. This section is creepy but I have a feeling there was no method to the madness.

Bitters End 9/10

It sounds like an alien's interpretation of a '50s easy-pop tune. The melody is rather catchy although completely normal for '50s music. What makes it weird is the completely disjointed intrumentation (notably a sax solo that only seems half-aware of what Ferry is singing) and also those completely bizarre sound effects courtesy of our friend Eno.

Do you think this is an accurate review for ROXY MUSIC, or did I let it screw up my brain? Leave your comments here!

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

I came to Roxy Music's albums through Brian Eno's involvement with their first two records. Their debut is very innovative for its time, but IMO, only about 3/4 of it is good. The rest are not as successful, but the effort is admirable ("The Bob (Medley)" and "Sea Breezes"). "The Bob", for example, attempts to blend too many styles and genres together, and it comes out as a mess, but the repeated main section gives it some cohesiveness. The rest of the songs give off a stylish glamour shine of fancy parties full of fashionable people. The music pours some of the past into the then-present and comes up with something oddly futuristic.
Song Ratings:
1. Re-Make/Re-Model (9)
2. Ladytron (8)
3. If there Is Something (7)
4. Virginia Plain (8)
5. 2HB (8)
6. The Bob (Medley) (4)
7. Chance Meeting (7.5)
8. Would You Believe (8.5)
9. Sea Breezes (3)
10. Bitter's End (7.5)
Album Cover: (7)
Album Rating: 77.5/110 (70%)