This is not a bad album. This is not an amazing album. This is nevertheless a pivotal album for a fairly influential band and deserves critical listening. For a an Enophile like myself, this album marks Eno's departure and the shift in creative control to one Bryan Ferry (a good singer, mediocre songwriter with an amazing head of hair). Long gone are the fabulous electronic flourishes which marvelously decorated the first Roxy Music record. There is still an atmospherical quality here created with good old fasioned sound/silence dynamics and some exquisite 70's delay effects. The tasteful yet adventurous use of these effects are best executed by Roxy Music's shining star Phil Manzanera. Regardless of the many line up changes that would follow, Manzanera's guitar work would remain a signature quality of Roxy Music's sound and his work on this record is no exception. Often subdued, sometimes fiercly dominant, the guitar play on this record always works. Think a relaxed Robert Fripp. It's no wonder Eno would often recruit Manzanera for future projects.
This album serves as a good example of Roxy Music's niche in British rock music of the seventies. They had plenty of nostalgic throwback to early rock and roll without too much emphasis on "glam" fashion, complimented very well by Andy Mackays sax work. They also managed to appeal to the art school crowd with moments of arhythmic meandering and ethereal imagery. However these two qualities worked in a strange harmony to make them accessible to a large audience. Weirder than T-Rex or Slade but with good pop sensibilities. If your having a party or making a mixtape for a cute rocker girl or boy, throw on "Do the Strand" or "Beauty Queen". If your high on salvia or looking to lose yourself in sounds, try "In Every Dream Home a Heartache" or "The Bogus Man". If you enjoy a good balance of hooks and non-hooks, play from start to finish.
Following this album, Roxy Music enjoyed more commercial success with some great pop tunes (mainly "Love is the Drug" and "More Than This") and Eddie Jobson replaced Brian Eno, who went on to make some of the greatest records of all time. But that's another blog. Listen to this record and find a place for it in your grand scheme of things.
RATING: 6/10
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