Country Life

Now I know what this album sounds like I can confirm that my dad just had this for the baps

Country Life by Roxy Music (1974) This is my first experience with Roxy Music, and I can’t help but observe that British art rock from the 1970s is well represented in this lushly composed and arranged treat—a nice demonstration of how good a group can sound after saying ‘no’ to Brian Eno (who left the group in 1973 to do his laundry—yeah, look it up). I guess excellent rock has room for only one oversized ego. Songwriter/lead vocalist Bryan Ferry’s lyrics are thoughtful and inventive enough, treating standard themes, if one can take one’s eyes off the cover in order to read the words while listening (I had to play the album twice. Well, three times. Thank God for only giving women two hands). There’s lots of flanging, phase shifting, chorus, echo, synth, and other effects deftly adding color to the soundscape (listen to “Out of the Blue”—this, kids, is how it’s done). Easy on the ears without being ‘easy listening’ elevator music. Lovers of thrash, punk, and head-banging rock will probably think this album is not that good, but I would invite them to consider the musicality of Roxy Music. At least try to be impressed. For those who like the history of avant-garde (oxymoron?), there’s “Bittersweet”, a Bertolt Brecht/Kurt Weil-styled kiss-off to a failed love. Well, at least it’s not violent. Listen to “If It Takes All Night” and hear what a saxophone sounds like when it’s in tune (with a dazzling solo on “Prairie Rose”). Of course reed horn player Andy Mackay was also an oboist, hence he had both ear and embouchure, but I listened hard for oboe and could only hear it on the aforementioned “Bittersweet”, a really really cool track. We hear superior guitar performances by Phil Manzanera, such as on “All I Want Is You”, “Out of the Blue” (wow!) and “Casanova”. And there are very nice orchestrations, (especially on “The Thrill of It All” and “A Really Good Time”, where the strings save this song from being the album’s only clunker). Listening to this album for the first time, I can only lament missing out on it when it came out. I think I bought something by Three Dog Night instead. Silly me. 4/5

This album was more than just appealing for its album cover. The songs on this album were unique and caught my ear. I've never heard of this group or the album or any songs on it. I would listen to this album again.

When I listened to For Your Pleasure by Roxy Music two days ago, as part of this challenge/list I concluded by saying I need to hear more of the band. Well my request was answered and I got Country Life by Roxy Music. This is an altogether better album than For Your Pleasure which was in itself great. The thing about this is that the band's music clicks with me and I am now a fan. I never go to listen to this growing up, God knows the reaction my strict father would have had to the baudy artwork. By the time I was old enough to seek them out for myself, to my own detriment I wasn't bothered. I can see now why this band is so influential. Along with the Sparks that same year, Roxy Music transcended glam rock with this album and sewed the seeds of British punk and New Romantic that would follow

Just think of some of your favorite bands, the ones who bring you the most pleasure… and then glam ‘em all up, heavily, and top it all off with a hot mound of pure hedonistic decadence. Now you’re listening to Roxy Music’s 'Country Life.' For example, the jaunty rockin’ n’ rollin’ ‘Casanova.’ What is that if not a glam take on the Rolling Stones? I can absolutely see the Stones covering this, in 70’s drag. ‘All I Want Is You,’ is what happens when glam and Led Zepplin mix it up. Hey, before you dismiss this as silly, take a listen to the driving, pounding drums Paul Thompson lays down on this song and tell me if that’s not Bonham in bra and panties? (By the way, I mean all this in the most complimentary way- I’ve been a Roxy Music from way back, turned on to them, actually, by a DJ spinning records for an apres ski club in Aspen, CO during the 70s. But that’s another story.) The closer, ‘Prairie Rose,’ offers a double cross dressing with the outer wear being a glam Eagles look, but finally stripped down to the concluding chorus, given plenty of time to develop and gradually fade out to end, which struck me as a very Beatles-esque move to make, like a glam ‘Hey Jude.’ Again, I loved it. And while its true that risk sometimes involves failures along the way, I wouldn’t call the glam blues number at the end of side one, ‘If It Takes All Night,’ a failure, necessarily; but, I will profess my own for glam endurance. This is a lot of glam coming at you, and it makes a fella a little woozy from time to time. Let’s talk Bryan Ferry for a moment. The Pepe Le Pew of pop, resplendent in vocal affectation and lyrically reveling in purely decadent hedonism. ‘Something's got to give,’ a sexually exasperated Ferry cries on the opening, ‘The Thrill of It All,’ and I believe him. He’s not gonna make it for the remaining nine songs on this LP. Somebody needs to attend to this. ‘Casanova, is that your name or do you live there? I know my place is here with you, tonight, but not together (‘Casanova).’ That’s rather sad, don’t you think, the recognition that the cure is not going to necessarily eliminate the dis-ease? Sadder still, he makes the choice nonetheless. Well, as Smiley the bartender (another employee of said Aspen apres ski club) once proclaimed publically, and delivered with pathos (or just plain pathetically, as others perceived it), ‘I’m so horny the crack of dawn isn’t safe.’ I mean, for cryin’ out loud, Ferry actually makes the claim on the LP’s closer that the very state of Texas is seducing him! Or is this just some slick double entendre? Side two begins in contrast to the ascending fun of the first with a descent, creating the feel of the later stages of an all-night party, when the amount of unconscious individuals has overtaken the ones still functioning. ‘Bitter Sweet’ features a Ferry vocal that sounds as if he’s from the earliest decades of 20th century America, and Germany, to boot. ‘To taste, both sweet and dry. These vintage years! Lovers you consume, my friend, as others their wine.’ It’s very sad, and very good. Then, ‘Triptych,’ unbelievably, thrusts the traveling listener to none other than Calvary. Yes, Roxy Music also manages to glam up Easter, but with an innocent heart, paying homage to rather than mockery of, even if in their own unusual way. They simply added a pair of high heels to rest alongside the cast off burial shrouds laying on the dirt floor of the empty tomb. And, the minor key for the duration of the song properly ended in a major, something I don’t typically enjoy, but in this case it worked, conveying the final joy of the resurrection. From there we return to the fun of ‘A Really Good Time.’ Super camp, over the top hedonistic, but never threatening, betraying the fierceness of Ferry’s bark to be greater than his bite? Whatever, it all works. Guitarist Phil Manzanera, saxophonist Andy Mackay, and keyboardist Eddi Jobson all get turns blaring out raucous solos. And John Gustafson travels hither and yon on his bass, yet always returning home, as on ‘Out of the Blue,’ for example. These guys are operating on all levels, lassoing a musical tornado like Pecos Bill and riding it out to the end. Hey, we might as well camp up Texas, too. Roxy Music certainly sings her praises. ‘If I were you,’ Ferry purrs on ‘Out of the Blue,’ ‘I would stay for a little while.’ And then follows with this lil’ tease: ‘If you were me would you walk out in style?’ Thus is the glam yin/yang of Roxy Music’s 'Country Life.'

Such a fun and brilliant album. First time I had heard any of it, but hugely enjoyable from start to finish. Not a record done by half measures - the band throw everything at every song. It occasionally sounds a bit too busy, but it's hard to begrudge them making the absolute most of every single number. And not one track without something interesting going on. Tempted to give this a 4, what with it being new to me, but sod it.

Quite an interesting listen at times, bridging the gap between Pop and Prog The highlights include the tender but odd 'Bitter Sweet', 'Three and Nine' with interesting chord changes and spooky backing, 'Out of The Blue' which interchanges uptempo rock and trippy instrumental interludes whilst 'Triptych' almost sounds medieval at times. All in all, it's a very weird but enjoyable album, probably best sampled with a beer or three. Shame about the awful cover because it actually has put me off listening to this fab record. A Roger Dean designed cover would have been much more apt.

As a Brian Eno fan, I’ve heard and enjoyed the first two Roxy records, but they never really made their way in my rotation, aside from a few songs hear and there. Never really took the time to listen to Roxy Music without Eno until now (except for Avalon, which I do not care for). Country Life is a solid and enjoyable art-rock record with some fantastic high points. Opener “The Thrill of It All” goes hard out of the gate and feels a bit like a sister song to “Remake/Re-Model” from their debut. If you’ll excuse the comparison, “All I Want is You” has a Bowie-esque swagger that sits comfortably between Bowie’s glam-era and plastic soul-era and probably had some influence. Things get psychedelic and funky on “Out of the Blue”. “Prairie Rose” closes things out in style with slide guitars, funky bass and horns and great double tracked guitar solo courtesy of Phil Manzanera. The album dips in the middle for me. There are excursions into boogie rock, medieval tinged prog and some shouting in German that don’t really work for me, but the band’s playing and ability still carries the songs well. I don’t consider them bad songs, by any means…just not for me. This record is a high 3/5 for me, but I’m rounding up today, so let’s call it a 4. RIYL: Bowie circa Aladdin Sane/Diamond Dogs, Brian Eno’s “Here Come the Warm Jets”.

03/16/2022 Even my gay ass loves that cover; if only the album was even half good.

Naw, I wasn't about to use that lame US album cover. This cover is much more interesting. "Country Life" is Roxy Music's fourth album and is named after the glossy British magazine with the same name. This album is regarded by some as their most diverse with styles in funk, country, blues, psychedelic, medieval and some of chanting in German. I definitely appreciated all those styles as it made for a great album. Although, I will say that you know it is Roxy Music in every song with their distinct sound. That was never totally lost. The original album cover of German models, Constance Karoli and Eveline Grunwald, was censored in some countries including the US and Spain with a different cover put in its place. Lyrically a lot of songs are about women or relationships but not all. Bryan Ferry seems to at times compare music to women or at least leave that intrepretation open. "The Thrill of It All" starts off the album and was the first single. The song is fast paced with the band thrusting forward. Great drama with the big sound of Roxy Music. "Out of The Blue" is one of my favorite Roxy Music songs. It starts slowly and softly and quickly ignites as the band kicks in. Great drumming and bass. And a spiraling, psychedelic ending highlighted by Phil Manzanera's guitar. "Casanova" amps up the funk for the group and is one of their more unique songs. Actually, this whole second side is unique with songs about the crucifixion of Jesus, the state of Texas and that song with the German chanting. This is my second Roxy Music album to come up in the 1,001 along with their debut. I would give the slight edge to the debut for its more experimental nature. But, "Country Life" is an outstanding album and a great listen.

More rocking than one expects – especially the opener and the sizzling solo on “Out of the Blue” (one can hear Ultravox and early 80s guitars that were on the way). And just great fun all the way around (“If It Takes All Night,” “Casanova”). A lot more than meets the eye beyond the cover (which was a favorite and first stop on visits to any record store in any mall for this teenage boy).

Theatrical, orchestral, campy and nothing like what I expected from the album cover

It’s crazy how ahead of its time this album is. It’s both glam and Proto-new wave. They were playing around with sonic vibes and FX that wouldn’t get popular for another 10 yrs. Lots of big sounds, electronic soundscapes. The guitar solo that sounds like violin on Out of The Blue is epic. Rocy music has such an interesting vibe, they seem to take themselves half seriously, but sound like the coolest kids in the room at a club, most of the time it works for them, other times it lands a bit too goofy. DEVO owes everything to Roxy Music. This album, like many of their albums has a lot of great songs and a few bad ones. I like Roxy Music a lot but they never hit that, perfect album echelon IMO, however they’ve got a sick greatest hits album library. Brian Eno would go into to better things and 5 rated albums in his solo career, but this doesn’t get there: 4.

Surprisingly good. I especially liked some of the more subtle touches underneath what could pass for pretty standard rock-fare on a superficial listen. The cover art is pretty weird for a music album - I wonder how it affected sales numbers.

It rocks! Bryan Ferry and Brian Eno arguing over how to spell their name.

Best Song: Out of the Blue. The instrumentals at the end went in a really explosive direction that I wish the rest of the album even slightly approximated. Worst Song: Bitter Sweet. Goddamn I hate this campy, talking-over-circus-music nonsense. Overall: I will always struggle through these theatrical albums that don't actually come from theatre. There's no drama here, no storytelling. I feel like sometimes weaker artists of this era leaned on a theatrical presentation in an attempt to hide their inabilities.

This feels like a disgraced Tory MP is trying to reinvent himself by restarting the band from his old Uni days and is trying hard to come across as a bit "edgy" an mysterious.

This is amazing! I've heard Roxy Music before but never really put on the headphones and gave it a full listen until now and my god what took me so long! It's hard to understate just how far ahead of its time this album is. You can hear the influence this had on a lot of my favorite current artists (Tame Impala, Flaming Lips, etc.). Once this album was finished I started it again and that's usually how I know the album is a total banger! Absolutely incredible!

I just bloody ruddy love this album. Bryan Ferry's voice is so good and the songs go all over the shop, you have no idea what's gonna happen but it all comes together perfectly. Whack a harpsichord in there, woah, it sounds great!

The thrill of it all is just so overwhelming. It came out of the blue, my enjoyment of this record. I cannot rate this from anything between three and nine. There was no way they would have stopped their prior triptych but they did. It was bittersweet knowing that it had to end, for Country Life made this casanova had a really good time and I ended up feeling as though I were a prairie rose. I would be more than happy to tell one of the ladies on the cover that "all I want is you", even if it takes all night.

Love Roxy Music with or without Eno. The godfathers of art-rock. So ahead of their time.

Really dug this one. They have one of my favorite weird finds that was featured on Mindhunter

My favourite Roxy albums by far are the first four. This was the 4th, the 2nd without Eno. It’s not full of great songs but it does well enough. The Thrill Of It All, Three And Nine & All I Want Is You are the standouts for me. As are Ferry’s lyrics throughout the album. He’d already released his 2nd solo album a few months before this, complete with dress suit & bowtie on the cover, and that would be the Ferry we’ve watched for almost 50 years now. No surprise then that, except for Cole Porter (who was always in a dinner suit), he’s the only songwriter I’ve come across to use the phrase “that old ennui” (If It Takes All Night). Favourite lyric though is from Casanova : Now you’re nothing/ But second hand/In glove. Great to hear Ferry attack the harmonica a couple of times on Side 1. The band are all fabulous. Not their best album, but in the running.

Great mix of sound, really tried alot of different music and nailed alot of it

I sure do love Roxy. This one is far from my favourite though, cans aside. Interestingly the models are Michael Karoli of Can's girlfriend and sister. Off to listen to Can instead.

It’s fine.

Good first and last tracks - the rest was a little disappointing. His vocals are hard to love, although some good lyrics popped out. Some of it sounds quite dated (the bluesy chug in the middle) but if you compare it to any music from the 60s it must have sounded very modern in 1974, and it's clearly influenced a load of arty alternative bands from the 80s onwards.

Je n'ai absolument aucune inspiration pour ce review, je vais donc vous partager ci-dessous une liste des anciennes fréquentations de mon camarade ellebese avec lesquelles je ne suis pas sorti :

Je n'ai absolument aucune inspiration pour cette review, par consequent je vais vous partager ci-dessous une liste des qualités de mon camarade robtunnelier:

nothing entirely remarkable about this album, some moments were nice, but this just felt like background filler/grocery store mall music. Not gonna return probably

decent album but nothing spectacular in my opinion. best thing about the album was the cover

I didn't find a single track on this album that grabbed me. Good bass player though.

It was alright. Cover art kept distracting me. 😐 2.5

boobs, hehe. uglavnom na ovom albumu nisam našao ništa što mi pravo paše. krenuo je taj neki niz niskog rejtinga, možda je aplikacija prepoznala da dajem dobre ocjene šakom i kapom.

I tried to like it. Even listened to it twice. But it just sounded like a near retirement school disco band badly covering other songs.

I am absolutely floored by this album. Been a long Eno, Bowie, and Talking Heads fan but never got into Roxy. Now I am into it for sure

Brilliant!!

I was always so focused on the first three albums I never got to this one properly but it turns out it is great.

Amazing. Energetic, chaotic, creative. How have I not heard this before.

This album was excellent and a perfect Friday morning listen. No surprises there at all.

Another W. Never listened to before. Familiar with Avalon, but not this one. Teen me was familiar with the album cover haha

I enjoyed this album. I've heard of the group but couldn't name any of their songs.

Judging this album based off the art, I thought this was going to be garbage. But this might be one of the most unexpected pleasant surprises I've come across in this project. I absolutely love the sound quality and production, and each song is so unique and different making this a very eclectic and accessible album. An excellent listen. Top tracks: The Thrill Of It All, Out Of The Blue, Casanova

A new favourite type of rock (band). I loved the emotions, arrangements, sounds and how they were all tied together

Both Adam Ant and John Taylor named tracks on Country Life as being amongst their favourite songs, which was enough to send me scurrying to the shops for this in the early 80s. Having grown up in the 70s thinking Bryan looked a bit creepy on Top of the Pops, I'd been won over by Avalon in 1982, and a friend and I then lost no time in filling in our knowledge of what had come before by buying half of Roxy's albums each and swapping now and again. (Some home taping may have gone on, ahem.) So, this one was mine, which meant I had to stick a piece of paper over the cover when transporting it to school. Anyway, ever since, Roxy Music have been one of my favourite bands. I never get bored by them, and although there are a few tracks (across their whole catalogue) that I can't get on with, I usually love the melodies, chord structure, instrumentation and of course their style. Phil Manzanera is definitely one of my favourite guitarists. On this album, I particularly like All I Want Is You, Out of the Blue, and A Really Good Time. Their songs are nearly always about people and relationships, but there's always an interesting edge. All of their albums are fantastic.

Sublime. OK, Triptych is unintentionally hilarious, but groundbreaking at the time. And Ferry’s voice remains a thing of wonder.

Exceptionally great album, with an unique and interesting sound that is still listenable and accessible. The band showed how much ahead they were in time and they made really great music even after Eno's departure from the band. I love music with many twists and turns where I don't know where the next notes will lead but it still comes together so well as an album. The production is fantastic, too. I rated their first two albums as a 4, and I had to wait hundreds of albums for their next one, so I'll give this a deserved 5.

I remember seeing this album in record stores growing up. I went through every album looking for new music, of course I eyeballed this. But this is my first time listening. Just awesome. Doing morning things and this is mostly background, Casanova was the track that caught my attention. Now I'm relistening. This album is pro. All the instrumentation is outstanding, the guitar playing in particular. Thanks album generator. Super Badass.

Really interesting, diverse selection of good songs. Elements of everything from early glam to English folk.

Phenomenal stuff here!

I've always been a fan of Roxy Music since I saw them on "The Kenny Everett Video Show" in the 80s. I have all their records on vinyl in my collection. Amazing glam rock and Brian Ferry is the poster boy for "suave". Smooth as well-aged whisky. I also love their album covers. 5 stars!

Ein af mínum allra uppáhalds. Þrusugott stöff.

Pure sleazy, art rock party music.

Surprised by how clean and together this was. The sound is as attention grabbing as the cover lol

A truly superb listen as Roxy Music demonstrate there is life after Eno.

I've been a fan of Bryan Ferry for awhile and had previously sampled Roxy Music, but never been puzzled and delighted over and over again by it in this way. I held off returning a score for awhile, and I've found I can't quit this record.

Sure, the peaks in the first two Roxy Music LPs make the latter iconic selections for this list. But *Country Life* is certainly the British band's most cohesive record, with no dud in sight, and with a string of sellar cuts that must have made the quite recently departed Brian Eno mad with envy--odd how the songs on this album are still very much in tune with Eno's contemporary solo forays in those years, as if he and Ferry still had some sort of psychic connection, in spite of their rivalry.  Ferry undoubtedly had flair for the dramatic AND the melodic for this fourth LP. On side one, "The Thrill Of It All", "All I Want Is You" and "Out Of The Blue" see his band honing their glam-rock skills to perfection. And side two is near-perfect as well, thanks to the moodier, cabaret-like, nightmarish or dreamlike "Bitter-sweet", "Triptych" and "A Really Good Time", not to mention the explosive closer "Prairie Rose". *Very* close to a 5/5 mark for this one. Number of albums left to review: less than 150 approximately - I've temporarily lost count here. Number of albums I'll include in my own list: half so far, approximately (including this one) Number of albums I *might*  include: a quarter, approximately Number of albums I'll never include: another quarter, or just a little more (many other albums are more important to me)

I definitely gave this album a try at some point several years ago. If I'm being completely honest, the cover was probably what piqued my interest back then. But the music didn't click with me at that time. Listening to it again now, I can appreciate it much more, maybe because I'm familiar with a lot more of the music that came after which was heavily influenced by Roxy. There are some fantastic songs on here, and no real bad ones. I think Brian Ferry's voice is a bit of an acquired taste, so maybe that is what put me off before. He has some great melodies though. I think I prefer their earlier album For Your Pleasure (which I only got via this generator last week, interestingly enough), but this is pretty much on par with that. 9/10

Relistening to Roxy Music makes me wonder if they're one of the greatest bands of all time. I'm honestly shocked Siren, Stranded, and Avalon aren't on this list when so much other crap is. This is art rock done right. Weird yet accessible. Influential while still being popular in their own way. Shocking while at the same time acting almost lame. I love it.

The opening track's guitar drama sets the the tone for the album's exploring the singularity of the Roxy approach. This is often called glam rock, but that doesn't really capture the complexity of Ferry's voicings or the shifting guitar, sax, synth interplay. When you think something's over, it's not, taking on new avenues. Deservedly brought Ferry into the higher echelons of rock wizardry.

I really like Brian Eno’s solo material, but never really listened to Roxy Music. I remember seeing the album cover and thinking it looked a little trashy ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ Anyways, man can these freaks really rock. Loved it, the vibes were A+

Excellent intro to a band I’ve heard about but never truly experienced.

Casi le doy un 4 o un 3. Pero lo escuché de nuevo y ...¡5!

Stunning first side, fine second and a double punch of Really Good Time and Prairie Rose to finish. Slightly more guitar-based with the departure of Eno, and after a shift taking place from the wild art experimentalism of the Eno era to their mid-era sophisticated Euro pop this is Roxy at the top of their game.

Classic Roxy album. I can't sit still when I hear "The Thrill of it All".

9/10 slightly weak for a Roxy album, but that’s like slightly less perfect than perfection

So cool

Beautiful, wonderful, love it

This album has a more or less conventional first few songs (with some non traditional rock elements) before hitting a rockabilly/blues rock track which leads into a suite like series of songs that are experimental, incredibly arranged, and very well executed. This is art rock of the highest degree and may represent the best of Roxy Music.

Great Album! Very Horny Cover)

Casi le doy un 4 o un 3. Pero lo escuché de nuevo y ...¡5!

Hef hlustað mjög oft á hana þessa, en mikill Roxy Music maður. Ég veit ekki með ykkur, en mér finnst hún frábær.

Weird but extremely listenable! Several highly skilled musicians exercising their creativity.

Clearly, the best British band ever with the best lyrics ever in general. Consensus back in the early 90s or so seemed to focus on the first three Roxy Music albums as being the ultraclassic albums. Only found out ten years later that Stranded and Siren and Avalon are 5* star alums too, and consensus seem to have changed in the meantime.

The best Roxy Music album here yet, by a long shot. Fun, focused, great songs, great production, this was everything I wanted an old school art rock album!

OK. I've never been a fan of Bryan Ferry's voice and really was't looking forward to the Roxy Music albums I knew we'd have to listen to as part of this project. The glistening ladies on the cover weren't helping with my dread either. But then...I loved it despite myself. I'm still not enamored with the vocals but this is bold and theatrical and I want to hear it again. I also want to give the cover models some towels and some warm, comfortable clothes.

While I’ve always heard about them, I have never listened to a Roxy Music album before. I’m impressed! The music is wonderfully complex, with orchestration and complex rhythms and arrangements. Some songs feel almost like show tunes. Really great! I’m impressed!

4 star minimum

I LOVED them! Glam rock is definitely on my radar now.

A really good album, it was a great plasure too listen to it… Thanks 🙏🏽

Country Life is arguably the best album Roxy Music ever made. The band has refined a lot of the more experimental/proggy aspects of their sound here, resulting in a really stylish, richly composed group of songs. But it's also still really musically diverse and full of all kinds of surprises. The band uses all the elements you might find in more mainstream music at that time - the bluesy piano, the saxophone, the guitar solo, the funky bass, the soulful vocals. But the band is painting with different brushes here. Their sound is more dramatic, artful, sensual, campy and strange. It elevated expectations for what you could do in in a rock or pop record in ways that changed how music would sound for years. This is the kind of album you can listen to endlessly and never get bored with it. Fave Songs (All songs, from most to least favorite): Out of the Blue, Casanova, The Thrill of It All, Triptych, Bitter-Sweet, Prairie Rose, A Really Good Time, All I Want is You, Three and Nine, If It Takes All Night

Yo there are nips on the cover! Don’t get much better than that

I thoroughly enjoyed this.

Weird, in a cool way

Capa polémica, som interessante

Sweet, songs for dancing to and songs for vibing!

I liked it a lot. Very eclectic

This rules

The height of glam rock, and my favorite Roxy album so far! "Bitter-Sweet" is epic!

british art rock w complex synths

Casi le doy un 4 o un 3. Pero lo escuché de nuevo y ...¡5!

Great album. Roxy Music is kind of a blind spot for me.

Never heard of them before, but I was into it

Insane. Brilliant. Absolute stormer

## In-Depth Review of *Country Life* by Roxy Music Roxy Music's *Country Life*, released in 1974, marks a significant point in the band's evolution, showcasing their unique blend of art rock, glam, and pop sensibilities. This album stands out not only for its musical innovation but also for its lyrical depth, production quality, thematic exploration, and cultural influence. Below is a comprehensive analysis of these aspects, along with a discussion of the album's pros and cons. ### Lyrics ****Exploration of Themes**** The lyrics of *Country Life* are characterized by Bryan Ferry's sophisticated wordplay and thematic diversity. The album often explores themes of love, desire, and the complexities of human relationships. Songs like “The Thrill of It All” and “All I Want Is You” delve into romantic longing and emotional intensity, while “Casanova” presents a more cynical view on love and attraction. Ferry's lyrics frequently juxtapose romantic imagery with darker undertones, as seen in lines from “Casanova,” where he provocatively mentions drug use alongside flirtation. This duality reflects the glam rock ethos of the time, blending allure with an underlying sense of danger. The song “Triptych” further showcases Ferry's lyrical prowess with its madrigal-like structure, evoking a sense of nostalgia and reflection. ****Narrative Style**** Ferry employs a narrative style that invites listeners to interpret the songs on multiple levels. For instance, in “Out of the Blue,” the lyrics oscillate between a sense of euphoria and existential contemplation. The phrase “If you ever change your mind / I’ve a certain cure” suggests both romantic hope and an acknowledgment of fleeting moments. ### Music ****Musical Composition**** Musically, *Country Life* is a rich tapestry that incorporates various genres including rock, funk, blues, and even elements reminiscent of country music. The album opens with “The Thrill of It All,” which features a powerful bassline and dynamic instrumentation that sets an energetic tone. Phil Manzanera’s guitar work throughout the album is particularly noteworthy; his solos are both expressive and technically proficient. Tracks like “Out of the Blue” highlight Roxy Music's ability to blend melodic hooks with avant-garde soundscapes. The song transitions from a gentle introduction to an explosive climax, showcasing the band's knack for dramatic contrasts within their compositions. ****Production Quality**** Produced by John Punter at George Martin’s AIR Studios, the production quality on *Country Life* is exceptional. Punter’s approach adds clarity and depth to the sound, allowing each instrument to shine while maintaining cohesion across tracks. The use of flanging and echo effects enhances the psychedelic elements present in songs like “Bitter Sweet,” creating an immersive listening experience. ### Themes Thematically, *Country Life* encapsulates a range of ideas reflective of the early 1970s cultural landscape. The album’s title itself references the British magazine known for its portrayal of rural life, contrasting with the urban sophistication embodied by Roxy Music. This duality is mirrored in the music and lyrics—there’s an exploration of both high society and more grounded experiences. ****Cultural Commentary**** Ferry’s lyrics often serve as social commentary on fame and desire. In tracks like “Casanova,” he critiques superficial relationships while simultaneously embracing their allure. This tension between aspiration and reality resonates throughout the album, making it relevant not just as music but as a reflection of societal attitudes during that era. ### Influence *Country Life* had a significant impact on both contemporary music and subsequent generations of artists. Its blend of styles influenced genres such as new wave and post-punk, with bands like Duran Duran citing Roxy Music as a key inspiration. The album's artistic approach paved the way for future explorations in glam rock and art pop. Moreover, *Country Life* has been recognized for its bold aesthetic choices—both musically and visually. The controversial cover art featuring scantily clad models sparked discussions about sexuality in music marketing, further solidifying Roxy Music's position as provocateurs in the industry. ### Pros and Cons #### Pros - **Diverse Musical Styles**: The album showcases a wide range of musical influences—from glam rock to funk—demonstrating Roxy Music's versatility. - **Lyrical Depth**: Bryan Ferry's lyrics are sophisticated and thought-provoking, offering listeners multiple layers to explore. - **Production Quality**: John Punter’s production enhances the overall sound quality, making it one of Roxy Music’s most polished albums. - **Cultural Impact**: The album has left a lasting legacy on various music genres and continues to influence artists today. #### Cons - **Uneven Track Quality**: Some critics note that certain tracks do not reach the same heights as others; for example, songs like “If It Takes All Night” have been described as less engaging. - **Accessibility**: While innovative, some listeners may find the experimental nature of certain tracks challenging or off-putting. - **Initial Controversy**: The provocative cover art may overshadow the music for some audiences, leading to misinterpretations about the album’s content. ### Conclusion Roxy Music's *Country Life* stands as a landmark achievement within their discography and within 1970s rock music at large. Its intricate blend of lyrical sophistication, musical innovation, high production values, thematic richness, and cultural significance makes it an enduring classic. While it may have its uneven moments, the highs far outweigh any shortcomings, solidifying its place in music history as both an artistic triumph and a reflection of its time.

Pretty solid! Reminded me of bowie.

4/5

si si

Unevenly brilliant; sound feels too full in parts. 4

I liked this a lot. Writing this a day later though I can't remember any standout moments so I'd have to listen to it again.