I put this at the head of my desert island disc choices...
07/25/1999
(5 out of 5 stars)
"because ever since I read its over-the-top gushing review in the late great PHONOGRAPH RECORD MAGAZINE circa 1972 & bought it, the damn thing's held up year after year! The majority of these reviews are well-put & dead-on accurate: THIS is the band's best, most original, wild & crazy, fun, chance-taking, 'hungry' album... with a timeless Duchampian/Warholian/alienated-genius/sci fi/girl-gettin'/cinematic/all stops out! ambience... After which, gradually the commercialising conservatising effects of 'success' & slickness increasingly took their toll...The 2* geeks have major personality disorders & will not get into heaven..."
Ahead of their time
05/21/1999
(4 out of 5 stars)
"Roxy Music is one of those bands that you never heard of, but you more than likely have heard of it's members(Brian Ferry and The Great Eno). Their first album is definitly a mixture of different styles and is quite innovative. If one has enough listining experience, you can easily pick out the Ferry contributions(tracks like If There Is Something and 2.H.B.) and Eno's injections that he aquires from some other planet(like Ladytron and Virginia Plain). The Bob(Medley) is perhaps the most bizarre Roxy Music track ever, I can't even begin to explain it. To sum it up, if you like strange music, weirdos,and a little sleaziness, this is for you."
Love it
B. E Jackson | Pennsylvania | 08/08/2009
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Wow, it's been 10 YEARS since someone last reviewed the original CD version of Roxy Music's debut that came out in 1989? I was still in high school the last time someone submitted a review! Anyway, considering it was 1989 when this particular version came out, it's not a remaster job or anything, but the sound quality is STILL really really good.
I'm a big Roxy Music fan because I love Bryan's voice, his vocal range, his ability to impliment emotions during the verse melodies in a tricky way, the distinct sound and style of his voice, the bands frequency to experiment some of the wildest ideas that probably haven't been done in such a way before the band came out in 1972, or at least, haven't been done as cleverly as they are here.
Yup, Roxy Music is one of the best bands from the 70's. Amazing they weren't more popular in America during the 70's when the band was in their prime. Hey some of us would have liked them... had I been alive during the early 70's that is, hehe. I know 10cc came out the same time Roxy Music did, and apparently us Americans immediately preferred 10cc. Hey there could have been room for TWO great bands!
Anyway, the music on Roxy's debut is a bit more energetic and noticeably more in the punk style. That's what the first half of the album is like- the second half sounds like the band was heavily influenced by the late 50's doo wop scene. You'll hear what I mean. Bryan's voice fits really well with those 50's-style songs, but I'm glad the whole album isn't dominated in that style or it would probably get old in a hurry. Then again, Roxy Music knows how to keep your attention a lot better than most bands, so maybe I shouldn't write off some of their experimental ideas so quickly!
What makes Roxy Music so interesting is that, you can interpret some of their songs as punk, hard rock, straight rock, creative rock, art rock, whatever kind of "rock" you want to label them as. It's because Roxy Music was insanely creative during those early 70's years. INSANELY creative. Don't believe me? Just listen to the verse melodies and all the instrumental ideas taking place behind Bryan's voice. Notice the sax solos, the guitar workouts, the drums, the rhythm section, and keyboards? So not only does Bryan Ferry deliver all these creative fills and emotions in his voice whenever he sings, but the other band members are doing their own creative things as well, and it happens constantly- it's not like I'm talking one or two moments here, I mean lots and lots of creativity the entire time the album is playing.
The first four Roxy Music albums are the best IMO, and the debut would be a great place to start with the bands career."
Track Listings (10) - Disc #1