Roxy Music - Manifesto

Good transitional album

This album very nicely has one foot in the older catalog (first five studio albums), and one in the latter period (Flesh+Blood, Avalon). It also still has many of the original band members (Ferry, Manzanera, Mackay, Thompson) to continue the creative and cool sound that is destinctive of the band.

I'd even argue that this is more enjoyable than the preceeding album Siren (which sounds a bit like the band is going through the motions and is a bit uninspired). Manifesto sounds a band ready to try some new things, but not necessarily out of scope or character for the band.

The title track itself is a strange rambling piece that seems to stalk the countryside. Trash is a personal favorite; uptempo and fun, and reminiscent of the very early days of Roxy. Angel Eyes is strong funky song that kind of punches it's way along. Still Falls the Rain is in the classic Roxy Music vein. Other notable tracks are Dance Away (gorgeous song), and the quieter Spin Me Round.

Very nicely done. Good balance. Still creative and origin enough to have a slightly weird edge, but also new and modern enough to be enjoyable by the many.
March 10, 2008

The man who wants tomorrow, there's one in every town...a crazy guy, he'd rather die than be tied down...

This album is an equal mix of Roxy Music seeking a new direction and, at the same time, reconciling that search with the current music trends that surrounded them. The result is more focused, more assertive, more energetic, more enigmatic, more "Roxy" than "Siren," the previous album. Of course, a three and a half year hiatus allows ample time for reinvention. "Angel Eyes" and "Dance Away" are perhaps the best known tracks here, but the title track is the one that cuts right to the essence of Roxy...the fluid, elastic bass line snakes through the track with a constant air of menace. The lyrics, delivered with classic Bryan Ferry ennui, talk about his penchant for "friendship and plain sailing through frenzied ports o' call..."

Ferry also addresses the "what is life" riddle in definitive fashion when he croons "Hold out when you're in doubt, question what you see, and when you find an answer, bring it home to me..."

That's what really lies at the heart of "Country Life" (or should I say "Street Life"), at least through Roxy Music's filter of perception: You're bored, you're restless, but hey...you LOOK like a million bucks. Dance away, everyone. Just dance away. Nothing wrong with being clueless while you're making a fashion statement.

"...but you blew my mind..." (cue air guitar here)

:-) July 8, 2007

Almost the album I wanted

Don't get me wrong - I *love* this album. Not as much as some other Roxy Music albums, but enough that I was hankering to replace my cassette tape with CD. My eurodisco favorite, "Angel Eyes" was REPLACED however with some glam-like mediochre creature without the fun and innocence of the version I love so much - All I'm saying is be careful because not all is the same with the CD. January 23, 2007

The Last Roxy Music Album...

This is Roxys last gasp...I mean "wheres Eddie Jobson??" Actually this really a good recording, its just that the first 5 Roxy Music albums were so flawlessly perfect that its hard to stand up against that level of perfection...anyway..with that said...I have NO IDEA why they took off the great rock version and put the disco-fluff version of Angel Eyes, which is hard to find on CD. This, to me is really the last Roxy Music Album, because you just CANT have Roxy Music without Paul Thompson...sorry. I mean Avalon and the others are nice pieces, but they really should have been Bryan Ferry solo albums because Andy and Phil are really playing more as session players there. November 12, 2005

The weakest of the canon

Unlike the rest of Roxy Music's catalogue I was disappointed with this album. A weak comeback attempt after 4 years out, this album is little more than a pale shadow of Roxy Music's early work. 'Dance Away', 'Still Falls the Rain' and 'Ain't That So' are good Roxy tracks but the rest falls short. The title track is almost abhorrent. If they were looking for new musical styles, then they found it on the next one 'Flesh and Blood' and 'Avalon'. Forget this one. April 22, 2005

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