ROXY MUSIC - Stranded (1973-2015) RM / SHM-CD / FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

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. by Stephen Thomas Erlewine

Tracklist:

1 Street Life 3:29

Written-By – Ferry

2 Just Like You 3:36

Written-By – Ferry

3 Amazona 4:16

Written-By – Ferry, Manzanera

4 Psalm 8:04

Choir – The London Welsh Male Choir (Written-By – Ferry)

5 Serenade 2:59

Written-By – Ferry

6 A Song For Europe 5:46

Written-By – Mackay, Ferry

7 Mother Of Pearl 6:52

Written-By – Ferry

8 Sunset 6:04

Bass [String Bass] – Chris Lawrence (Written-By – Ferry)

Credits:

Bass – John Gustafson

Drums, Timpani – Paul Thompson

Guitar, Other [& Treatments] – Phil Manzanera

Oboe, Saxophone, Other [& Treatments] – Andy Mackay

Violin, Synthesizer, Keyboards – Eddie Jobson

Voice [Voices], Piano – Bryan Ferry

ROXY MUSIC - Country Life (1974-2015) RM / SHM-CD / FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

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. by Stephen Thomas Erlewine
Tracklist:
1 The Thrill Of It All 6:22
Written-By – Ferry
2 Three And Nine 4:01
Written-By – Mackay, Ferry
3 All I Want Is You 2:52
Written-By – Ferry
4 Out Of The Blue 4:45
Written-By – Ferry, Manzanera
5 If It Takes All Night 3:09
Written-By – Ferry
6 Bitter-Sweet 4:49
Written-By – Mackay, Ferry
7 Triptych 3:09
Written-By – Ferry
8 Casanova 3:23
Written-By – Ferry
9 A Really Good Time 3:43
Written-By – Ferry
10 Prairie Rose 5:07
Written-By – Ferry, Manzanera
Credits:
Bass – John Gustafson
Drums – Paul Thompson
Guitar – Phil Manzanera
Oboe, Saxophone – Andrew Mackay
Strings, Synthesizer, Keyboards – Edwin Jobson
Vocals, Keyboards, Art Direction – Bryan Ferry

ROXY MUSIC - Siren (1975-2015) RM / SHM-CD / FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

Abandoning the intoxicating blend of art rock and glam-pop that distinguished Stranded and Country Life, Roxy Music concentrate on Bryan Ferry's suave, charming crooner persona for the elegantly modern Siren. As the disco-fied opener "Love Is the Drug" makes clear, Roxy embrace dance and unabashed pop on Siren, weaving them into their sleek, arty sound. It does come at the expense of their artier inclinations, which is part of what distinguished Roxy, but the end result is captivating. Lacking the consistently amazing songs of its predecessor, Siren has a thematic consistency that works in its favor, and helps elevate its best songs -- "Sentimental Fool," "Both Ends Burning," "Just Another High" -- as well as the album itself into the realm of classics. by Stephen Thomas Erlewine
Tracklist:
1 Love Is The Drug 4:05
2 End Of The Line 5:14
3 Sentimental Fool 6:11
4 Whirlwind 3:34
5 She Sells 3:45
6 Could It Happen To Me? 3:37
7 Both Ends Burning 5:12
8 Nightingale 4:05
9 Just Another High 6:28
Credits:
Bass – John Gustafson
Drums – Paul Thompson
Guitar – Phil Manzanera
Oboe, Saxophone – Andrew Mackay
Strings, Synthesizer, Keyboards – Edwin Jobson
Vocals, Keyboards – Bryan Ferry
Written-By – Mackay (tracks: 1, 3), Ferry, Jobson (tracks: 5), Manzanera (tracks: 4, 8)

 

ROXY MUSIC - Manifeto (1979-2015) RM / SHM-CD / FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

Returning to action after four years of solo projects, Roxy Music redefined its sound and agenda on Manifesto. More than ever, Roxy sounds like Bryan Ferry's backing band, as the group strips away its art rock influences, edits out the instrumental interludes in favor of concise pop songs, and adds layers of stylish disco rhythms. Although the songwriting is distressingly inconsistent, there are a number of wonderful moments on the record, particularly in the sighing "Angel Eyes" and the heartbroken "Dance Away." Still, trading sonic adventure for lush, accessible disco-pop isn't entirely satisfactory, even if it is momentarily seductive. by Stephen Thomas Erlewine
 

Tracklist:
1 Manifesto 5:29
2 Trash 2:14
3 Angel Eyes 3:32
4 Still Falls The Rain 4:13
5 Stronger Through The Years 6:16
6 Ain't That So 5:39
7 My Little Girl 3:17
8 Dance Away 3:48
9 Cry, Cry, Cry 2:55
10 Spin Me Round 5:15
Performer – Alan Spenner, Andy Mackay, Bryan Ferry, Gary Tibbs, Paul Carrack, Paul Thompson, Phil Manzanera
Written-By – Mackay (tracks: 3), Ferry, Manzanera (tracks: 1, 2, 4, 7)