Roxy Music - Country Life

No Wonder I Never Got Into This Band In The Slightest

Turgid, plodding music. Could barely get through a single playing of the CD before taking it hastily out of the player. August 29, 2008

Roxy's #1 Recording

After reading a few ho hum reviews about this album, I scrolled up and looked at the songs again. Not a loser in the bunch. I have owned at least 5 versions of this as an LP, cassette or cd and this is absolutely the one to buy if you want to experience Roxy Music at it's best. The lineup is incredible and each song is a unique experience. If this music doesn't get you up and moving, you must be dead. June 2, 2008

Get It Right

The Bill Holdenship editorial review is not accurate. The first lp sans Eno was Stranded, not Street Life. Street Life was the title of the lps first song. There is no other band like Roxy Music. With Eno or without, every 70's lp was a classic. If you are going to write an editorial review, get it right. I first heard Roxy music on Canadian radio while growing up in Detroit, CJOM! Mother of Pearl was only heard on CJOM at the time. It made me a Bryan Ferry fan for life! May 5, 2008

music to enjoy again and again

Roxy Music's Country Life is a rather interesting listen. It's not really country music, if you ask me. It's more like experimental vocal melody-dominated pop music. "The Thrill of It All", in no way related to the Black Sabbath song, begins the album and shows you how experimental the band can be. Not your ordinary album opener with its David Bowie-like vocal melody, jazzy instruments, and guitar soloing. Right from the beginning you can tell these guys are going to give you an experimental adventure, and aren't afraid to hold back.

"Three and Nine" has wonderful vocals and harmonica and saxophone playing, I believe. Very strange intro! Hmm... maybe that isn't a harmonica. The back of the CD case doesn't say anything about a harmonica. Well, whatever it is, it's great. "All I Want Is You", in no way related to the Emerson, Lake and Palmer song, again excites the listener with a vocal melody that's incredibly catchy. It's almost glammy in spots. "Out of the Blue" is another vocal highlight. It's a bit spooky as well. The musical variety at the end rules.

"If It Takes All Night" is a bluesy song, I think. I can't really tell with this band just WHAT direction they're taking their music! They jump around with creativity quite often, throwing off the listener a little bit each time. The piano tinkling is excellent. "Bitter Sweet" is the strangest song on the disc. Just what is it, you ask? A quiet, atmospheric little tune with the occasional loud bursts of drums and weird vocals. It's appealing, though.

"Triptych" might be even MORE weird, haha. It has a deliberately demanding vocal section in the middle. It's pretty cool. It's time to rock out and get funky with "Casanova". Those weird instruments in the background are awesome. I can't remember what they're called, but they give the song a mysterious/underwater feel. For all I know, they might be synthesizers. The guitar playing rules as well. "A Really Good Time" isn't a party-like tune like I'm suring you're thinking, haha. It's a very serious-sounding song lyrically.

"Prairie Rose" might just be my favorite song on the album with its highly enjoyable and almost tearful vocal melody. I love it a lot. You have to buy this album. Roxy Music never had much success in the States but trust me, it's really good creative rock/pop.
October 14, 2007

Yes, it's every bit as good as the cover!

Took me a long long time to get past that album cover (20 y/o testosterone, and all that) - but 2 of my favorite Roxy songs are on here. 1) "Bittersweet," the concluding chorus to which, Ferry sounds like he's being carried away by Hitler's troups (although a 2 hour glance thru a German textbook belonging to my wife, revealed that Ferry's just really bellowing, "NO, IT'S NOT THE END OF THE WORLD, I THINK I'LL JUST SIT HERE AND DRINK!") And 2) "If It Takes All Night" - about the closest thing Roxy ever did to a regular 12-bar/3 chord song. But those are MY faves, not a bad song on the album at all. And, yes, the word to keep in mind, while experiencing "Street Life," is, of course, DECADANCE. January 27, 2007

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