Beginning with a heavy guitar by Mazanera , this opener is a fantastic rush into the world Roxy has created on Country Life . Leaving behind the keyboard driven sound Roxy often had with Eno , this song rips into full blown guitar-driven rock , followed by the delightful and unique sound of the electric violin . The electric aspect of the violin sums up the electrifying sounds the album has to offer .
Three And Nine : A slower , more melody driven tune that might seem a bit dull compared to the opener , but the song is just so pleasant and mysterious that one can't help but like it . It has a playful seductive quality , as if one can imagine Ferry winking suggestively while he sings .
All I Want Is You : The song that brings down the house on the album . A pure rush of lust and love , this song has the guitars driving just as crazily as the object of Bryan's affection must have been driving him . Just a classic rock n ' roll song , with a fresh new sound ! The best thing about Roxy's music during this era is that it so heavily steeped in rock n ' roll , but doesn't have that droning 1970s feel that its contemporaries do . It's a fresh , new experience into the sound , and an exhilarating one at that .
Out Of The Blue : This song swirls in , right out of the previous one , and takes you on a fabulous ride . The time changes make it a truly unique experience , and one that is never boring , no matter how many times you hear it .
If It Takes All Night : The classic 1950s , rockabilly homage song that reflects those on their previous albums . What is so great about Roxy Music is that they don't cover their influences songs , but rather invent their own based on what their heroes ' music sounded like , and in turn create modern-day classics .
Bitter Sweet : Like the song that precedes it , Bitter Sweet is an homage song to the style of the notorious Kurt Weill . Ferry not only pays homage the sound , but pushes the envelope of inventive rock with this epic and chilling tune . It works so well because of its originality , highlighting the hallmarks of a Weill tune while also exemplifying Ferry's disenchanted playboy persona .
Triptych : To me , this is the albums shining jewel achievement . For people skeptical about Roxy's innovative and experimental qualities without Eno , this track with certainly change their minds . Filled to the brim with religious imagery , the song is structured in three parts of nothing but pure harpsichord and harmony . Sounding like something of a medieval chant under the influence , the song might catch one off guard at first . However , upon multiple listening , the perfectly suited structure and divine lyrics make the song an absolute hallmark of Roxy's brilliance as a rock band unafraid of any territory in music , including harmonious and baroque epics of religious subject .
Casanova : For those who think Bryan Ferry incapable of writing a song with truly biting lyrics , this will change your mind . Nothing but a string of insults , the song is reputed to be inspired by none other than former band mate Brian Eno . With an intoxicated guitar and violin , Ferry lets the songs subject know just exactly what he feels about the said casanova , ending with bitter result and one of Ferry's most cynical songs .
A Really Good Time : A sort of ' All Tomorrow's Parties ' of Roxy , this song assures us that though Bryan has his hatred , he's still a guy with a heart . A typical Ferry ballad , it shows the more optimistic side of Bryan , yet he remains distant , only to assure us that it is someone else who'll be having all the fun rather than himself .
Prairie Rose : One hell of an ending , this song let's us know that Roxy is going out with a BANG . Inspired by the long , tall Texan Bryan was dating at the time , Jerry Hall , the song draws on its rockabilly and Western influences and produces a thrilling trip about the gorgeous land and lady that capture Bryan's attentions . Once again , this song proves Roxy's flexibility and utter eclecticism that makes Roxy , to me , the best rock n ' roll band of the post-Beatles era .
I can only say so much about how good this album is . For anyone who is skeptical about it due to the lack of Eno , or perhaps the half-naked babes on the cover , I think the music speaks for itself . Bryan and the band had pushed themselves to a new level or experimentation and all around uniqueness that the band never captured quite so well as they did here . Truly thrilling , exciting , and never a dull moment , this album will appeal to anyone looking for that extra kick , seeking a sound fretted with the rocking quality that puts the ' rock ' in ' rock n ' roll ' .
So , if you'll excuse Bryan for his grandiose ideas of a country life filled with goregous German women , the music will take you to a place so grand that even the cover might seem dull by comparision .
001 4 This is Roxy Music's most overtly rock album . Part of the reason for this is that the group was writing less complex material . Whether this was as a reaction to their prior art-rock leanings , an attempt to become more commercial , or because Bryan Ferry was hearkening back to his soul and pop roots is immaterial ; it's probably a little of all the above .
Another factor in this was that the band , at this point , had a very strong power trio at its core . Guitarist Phil Manzanera and drummer Paul Thompson ( who is not called The Great Paul Thompson by fans for nothing ! ) were joined by studio bassist John Gustafson . His heavy , muscular bass playing seems to drive Manzanera and Thompson to new heights , especially on The Thrill of it All , All I Want is You , Casanova and Bittersweet .
Musically the album is a fairly varied affair , ranging from hard rock to swirling psychedelia ( Out of the Blue with Eddie Jobson's flanged violin / keyboards , is classic ) to more-or-less straight blues and almost-country stylings . All of it works , even the odd Triptych , which seems to be Ferry's attempt at writing a hymn .
One of the more interesting things about this record is that it is one of the most ripped-off of all Roxy Music albums . For example , Duran Duran built their entire career around rewriting The Thrill of it All . And the creepy Bittersweet , with its deliberately maudlin Brecht / Weill opening and the jarring 1930s-Berlin-on-acid section , was stolen lock , stock and barrel by Roger Waters ( and bloated beyond endurance ) to create the last quarter of the Pink Floyd's pity-me epic , The Wall . As in most cases , the original leaves the imitators looking pale . And whether he means to or not , Ferry out-Elton Johns Elton John with A Really Good Time , which probably should have been a hit in America . Not to mention All I Want is You , which is one of the great lost power-pop gems from a band that nobody would suspect of power-pop .
All in all this is a grand record . It's stylish , smart , sharp , and yet has a heart . In an era where rock was often bloated , dunderheaded blues jams played by shaggy guys who hadn't bathed in a while and wore dirty jeans onstage in an attempt to appear authentic , this record ( like all Roxy's records ) stood out . And to this day it doesn't sound dated at all . A great accomplishment and still one of the best Roxy Music albums .
002 4 For my money the finest period in the stellar career of Roxy Music is the middle one , sandwiched between their Eno-infused art rock origins and the more pop-oriented later years . This era began with the brilliant , brooding masterpiece Stranded and concluded with the catchy though uneven Siren . Between them lay the band's classic rocker Country Life . Probably best known for its controversial album cover , Country Life nevertheless delivers a steady stream of unabashed rock ' n roll that represents the band's musical virtuosity at its finest . Phil Manzanera's hot guitar licks and Bryan Ferry's cool crooning perfectly offset one another while Andy Mackay's chunky riffs on oboe and sax , Eddie Jobson's stylish keyboards and Paul Thompson's steady thumping keep the tempo offbeat in typical Roxy fashion .
From the opening soaring strains of The Thrill of it All , Country Life sets off with a soaring energy the band rarely displayed before or after this release . Even when the pace slows , as it does for the hypnotic Bitter-Sweet , you can cut the group's creative tension with a knife . Country Life is not merely for the highbrow art-rock set , either . I've turned folks who wouldn't know the Velvet Underground from Velveeta onto this record , and it's due mostly to the hard-driving rock standards such as Out of the Blue , All I Want is You and If It Takes All Night . One for the ages .
003 4 If you didn't know anything about Roxy Music in 1974 by chance walked into a concert on the Country Life tour , you would have thought these guys were one of the best straight-ahead hard-rocking bands in the world . Unfortunately , the buzz Roxy got in the U.S . effectively convinced most folks that Roxy was some artsy , difficult band that should play in conservatories instead of arenas . As a result , NO ONE HEARD THEM HERE !
Well , almost no one . I caught them in Boston at a small hall that was mostly empty . You could tell they were not real happy about the size of the crowd , but they proceeded to rip through most of Country Life and some of their beloved uptempo early stuff . Rockers like The Thrill Of It All , All I Want Is You , Prairie Rose with barely a trace of irony . All at a loud breakneck pace that bordered on frightening .
Since that Roxy never resurfaced after Country Life , this album is all the more essential . The predominant mood here is set by the pounding drums of Paul Thompson Phil Manzanera's guitar work . Incredibly , there is even a straight-up blues ( If It Takes All Night ) with Bryan Ferry blowing a credible harp solo . It also has one of the very best Roxy songs ever , Out Of The Blue , perhaps the only song featuring violin oboe that is capable of taking your head off at high volume levels . A great , great album .
004 4 Although they would continue to develop and produce albums just as good as this , COUNTRY LIFE became Roxy's most accomplished and mature album . The songs are terrific and the few weak ones are ably supported by great band arrangements playing .
This is the album where Roxy fans began to really appreciate Paul Thompson's powerful drumming . Manzanera's guitar playing is both masterful and inventive .
COUNTRY LIFE is certainly one of the best albums of the 70 ' s and , despite misguided critical observations about SIREN , their best effort .
005 4 This album is everything that is good about Roxy Music . It's hard to imagine any album that so perfectly encompasses what they're all about . Don't let the racy sleeve make you think this album is trying to sell itself on that . It rocks all the way through , and it just sounds like a great exercise in how to sound stylish and not at all boring .
Roxy Music weren't actors - they lived the songs . So if you like slightly quirky old-fashioned style rock and having a great time , do yourself a favour and buy yourself this great album . Bryan Ferry has a real natural talent for making music .
006 4 For anyone who doubts and scoffs at the thought of post-Eno Roxy Music , this album is bound to put a deafening end to anyone's complaining . Roxy , simply put , rocks on this album .
The Thrill Of It All : Beginning with a heavy guitar by Mazanera , this opener is a fantastic rush into the world Roxy has created on Country Life . Leaving behind the keyboard driven sound Roxy often had with Eno , this song rips into full blown guitar-driven rock , followed by the delightful and unique sound of the electric violin . The electric aspect of the violin sums up the electrifying sounds the album has to offer .
Three And Nine : A slower , more melody driven tune that might seem a bit dull compared to the opener , but the song is just so pleasant and mysterious that one can't help but like it . It has a playful seductive quality , as if one can imagine Ferry winking suggestively while he sings .
All I Want Is You : The song that brings down the house on the album . A pure rush of lust and love , this song has the guitars driving just as crazily as the object of Bryan's affection must have been driving him . Just a classic rock n ' roll song , with a fresh new sound ! The best thing about Roxy's music during this era is that it so heavily steeped in rock n ' roll , but doesn't have that droning 1970s feel that its contemporaries do . It's a fresh , new experience into the sound , and an exhilarating one at that .
Out Of The Blue : This song swirls in , right out of the previous one , and takes you on a fabulous ride . The time changes make it a truly unique experience , and one that is never boring , no matter how many times you hear it .
If It Takes All Night : The classic 1950s , rockabilly homage song that reflects those on their previous albums . What is so great about Roxy Music is that they don't cover their influences songs , but rather invent their own based on what their heroes ' music sounded like , and in turn create modern-day classics .
Bitter Sweet : Like the song that precedes it , Bitter Sweet is an homage song to the style of the notorious Kurt Weill . Ferry not only pays homage the sound , but pushes the envelope of inventive rock with this epic and chilling tune . It works so well because of its originality , highlighting the hallmarks of a Weill tune while also exemplifying Ferry's disenchanted playboy persona .
Triptych : To me , this is the albums shining jewel achievement . For people skeptical about Roxy's innovative and experimental qualities without Eno , this track with certainly change their minds . Filled to the brim with religious imagery , the song is structured in three parts of nothing but pure harpsichord and harmony . Sounding like something of a medieval chant under the influence , the song might catch one off guard at first . However , upon multiple listening , the perfectly suited structure and divine lyrics make the song an absolute hallmark of Roxy's brilliance as a rock band unafraid of any territory in music , including harmonious and baroque epics of religious subject .
Casanova : For those who think Bryan Ferry incapable of writing a song with truly biting lyrics , this will change your mind . Nothing but a string of insults , the song is reputed to be inspired by none other than former band mate Brian Eno . With an intoxicated guitar and violin , Ferry lets the songs subject know just exactly what he feels about the said casanova , ending with bitter result and one of Ferry's most cynical songs .
A Really Good Time : A sort of ' All Tomorrow's Parties ' of Roxy , this song assures us that though Bryan has his hatred , he's still a guy with a heart . A typical Ferry ballad , it shows the more optimistic side of Bryan , yet he remains distant , only to assure us that it is someone else who'll be having all the fun rather than himself .
Prairie Rose : One hell of an ending , this song let's us know that Roxy is going out with a BANG . Inspired by the long , tall Texan Bryan was dating at the time , Jerry Hall , the song draws on its rockabilly and Western influences and produces a thrilling trip about the gorgeous land and lady that capture Bryan's attentions . Once again , this song proves Roxy's flexibility and utter eclecticism that makes Roxy , to me , the best rock n ' roll band of the post-Beatles era .
I can only say so much about how good this album is . For anyone who is skeptical about it due to the lack of Eno , or perhaps the half-naked babes on the cover , I think the music speaks for itself . Bryan and the band had pushed themselves to a new level or experimentation and all around uniqueness that the band never captured quite so well as they did here . Truly thrilling , exciting , and never a dull moment , this album will appeal to anyone looking for that extra kick , seeking a sound fretted with the rocking quality that puts the ' rock ' in ' rock n ' roll ' .
So , if you'll excuse Bryan for his grandiose ideas of a country life filled with goregous German women , the music will take you to a place so grand that even the cover might seem dull by comparision .
007 4 Music fans love to dissect and categorize the manic and diverse recorded output of Roxy Music . The fact of the matter is , the band sounds so totally different from album to album , sometimes from even * track * to * track * that they do in fact present an irresistable problem of taxonomy . Always one to keep it simple , I've just broken them into Quiet and Loud periods . The loud ' period started with the eponymous debut , and in my mind , peaked with the brilliant Country Life , and ended completely after Flesh and Blood . While Avalon will always remain my favorite Roxy , the scuzzy , fuzzy brillance of Country Life is undeniable . The fascinating thing about Roxy is the fact that Eno almost had more of an impact * after * he left the band . The sonic oddness of ' Country Life ' is certainly an artifact of Eno's tenure . Atonal washes of snyths , Eddie Jobson's fractured electric string parts , all juxtaposed with Manazanera's melodically simmering guitar playing and Ferry's cooing vox proves that Eno's skewed sense of sound left a mark on the core Ferry / Manazanera / Mckay lineup and seeped into their composing and arranging . Country Life is not always an easy listen . It definitely falls into the ' loud ' category and has almost nothing in common with the post - Flesh and Blood ' Roxy . It shows it's proto-punk influences loud and proud . The killer riffs often lurk just below the noise , so careful , repeated listens are rewarded ( and required ) . My highlight track is the bizzarely appealing closer . A British synth-art band playing country ? ? Brilliant . Just like ( almost ) everything else they've done .
008 4 It is 1930 ' s Germany and you are ensconced in the cold and bleak Black Forest . . .
Distant sounds draw you to a strange yet inviting tavern . You enter , to be immediately bombarded with a futuristic electric wall of sound . Its familiar - yet combines the past and the future . Phil Spector will create similar . . . but this is a sleazy , decadent version that aggrandizes drug taking , narcissism and hedonism .
The folk inside are clad in leather , fishnets , military uniforms or nothing ! Intoxicating substances abound . . .
The soundtrack is Roxy Music's Country Life and these are the images and atmosphere it conjures . And the two semi-clad German femme-fatales in foliage on the cover truly epitomise this decadent world .
It is my opinion that Roxy's fourth album is the pinnacle of their career . The stylish London band had aural singular jewels like Mother of Pearl , In Every Dream Home Heartache and Ladytron on previous albums - but this entire CD has a soundscape that is unrelenting , lush and melodic . Indeed , Suede , Placebo , Ultravox and Pulp would try and fail to emulate this 70s rock masterpiece .
It commences and finishes with the incendiary guitar of Phil Manzanera , and in between throws up gems such as The Thrill of It All : its syncopated drum , lead guitar and piano offer Bryan Ferry a platform to deliver his SS Officer's like vocal delivery .
The string tinged Three and Nine melodiously praises that great year of cinema . All I Want Is You is Ferry's most straight forward song - boy adores girl lyric , with accessible back-beat . It would be the only single from the album .
Out Of The Blue features a soaring violin solo , which is underpinned by the Great Paul Thompson on drums . An R'N'B number , If It Takes All Night is Roxy playing for fun . Casanova is a venomous concoction about an anti-hero who flirts with drugs , and is probably the album's centre-piece : complete with swirling , almost heavy rock production . A Really Good Time utilises Eddie Jobson's violin and piano to underscore a memorable and haunting refrain .
Finally , the piece-de-resistance : Prairie Rose - my all-time favourite number ! Ferry sings exuberantly and Roxy play with great gusto and passion . It's his ode to Texan flame and former Jagger beau , Jerry Hall , and it's not hard to note the unrestrained joy in El Ferrari's voice . Andy Mackay's sax blows up a storm and Manzanera's jingle-jangle coda lingers long after its fadeout .
Overall , this is my favourite seventies album because of the tunes , playing and production . The HDCD version greatly improves the sound quality of this lush production as individual instruments can be distinguished , and this was the last time that Ferry , with Roxy , delivered a half-spoken , half - sung style that I prefer .
Country Life is influential to the point of plagiarism for many later English bands . It is quite simply Roxy's magnum opus .
009 4 Back in high school in the 1970 ' s , it seemed as if all of the girls ( well , at least the ones who knew anything about music ) used to melt at the mention of Bryan Ferry's name . But Roxy Music was much more than just its suave , dynamic front man , as evidenced by the musical genius of guitarist Phil Manzanera and sax man Andy McKay , and in earlier years , Brian Eno . Country Life , released after Eno was long gone , may be , from top to bottom , their best album , soaring with such Roxy staples as The Thrill Of It All and Out Of The Blue . The real gem here , however , is Prairie Rose , weird , tinny production and all . And for a band noted for featuring hot models on its album covers ( including the future Mrs . Mick Jagger , Jerri Hall , on Siren ) , Country Life is the hottest , so much so that it was temporarily taken off the market at one point in time .
011 4 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 .
012 4 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 .
013 4 Roxy Music's fourth album Country Life was released in November of 1974 .
The album was produced by the band and recorded at AIR Studios in London in July and August of 1974 .
Country Life has the band playing well and their sound moving towards the sound they would perfect on their next album , 1975 ' s Siren ( that album would also feature the same lineup as on this album ) .
Country Life has alot of great songs like the 6 minute plus opening The Thrill of it All with frontman Bryan Ferry's vocals being stellar . Out of the Blue is a great song and has a stellar Edwin Jobson violin solo and this track I first heard on the 1990 live album Heart Still Beating . The 50s-ish sounding If It Takes All Night is another standout as is the closing track Prairie Rose which is an awesome song .
Phil Manzanera's guitar work was incredible as always and this was the album before their arguable masterpiece Siren .
Highly recommended !
014 4 Even though I'm a big fan of the first two albums ( The Eno Albums ) , as well as later albums ( such as Manifesto ) , I must say that this is probably the best overall Roxy Music album . All of the songs are strong , and there are lots of variety to the songs . There are heavier songs - like The Thrill of It All and Out of The Blue - and quieter songs , like Tryptich , with the others falling somewhere in the middle .
Although the quality of music tends to vary quite a bit from album to album , with a few duds in between ( namely Stranded and Siren ) , the band really got it right on this one .
015 4 Absolutely the peak of Roxy's seminal period ( ' 72 - ' 75 ) , COUNTRY LIFE is an essential recording , a virtual greatest hits album of new material . The band prove to be accomplished at every style they attempt , and Bryan Ferry's Lonely Everyman persona reaches a zenith on several songs including the intoxicating opener The Thrill Of It All , a brilliant , stylish rocker propelled by a slamming rhythm and Barry White-style strings . All the musicians are exceptional , but special mention must go out to The Great Paul Thompson ( tied with Chic's Tony Thompson as the most under-appreciated drummer ever ) , and Eddie Jobson , Roxy's Weapon X . Most rock bands have violin parts to make you shudder , but Eddie can really soar and shred ( the showcase violin solo on Out Of The Blue is great , but the definitive version is on VIVA ! ROXY MUSIC , the 1976 live album . )
All I Want Is You , If It Takes All Night and Prairie Rose all showcase the incredible Roxy Music attack . Casanova may be the most decadent song in the Roxy canon , with a wicked Superstition - style keyboard line . Ferry channels Brecht , Weill , and Marlene Dietrich on Bitter-Sweet , and A Really Good Time turns on the backhanded charm , perhaps the most urbane stupid girl song ever written .
These are ten tracks of touchstone rock , as relevant as anything from the era . You won't go wrong with any of Roxy's first five albums , but COUNTRY LIFE belongs on everyone's shelf . Absolute class .
016 4 Rather than writing about the wonderful music , since the other reviewers have done such a good job of it , I'll comment on the newly issued remasters of the Roxy Music and Bryan Ferry releases . They are spectacular ! Each release sounds markedly better than any previous version , including the original vinyl pressings . You will hear things on this record that you didn't know were in the grooves . And the HDCD encoding is a special treat for those people with compatible CD players , though not required to hear the glories of one of the all-time great bands .
017 4 This album is by far the best of Roxy's catalogue ( I own all their albums except Heart Still Beating and Live 2001 ) . It deserves 10 STARS ! If you buy only one Roxy studio album ( hard not to , they're all bloody brilliant , even a few tracks of Manifesto ) , this must be it ! Here are my opinions on the tracks :
1 . The Thrill Of It All 10 / 10 - What a brilliant way to start the album , Bryan Ferry's lyrics and Phil Manzanera's guitar are an excellent combination and this song could be released today and not sound dated one bit !
2 . Three And Nine 15 / 10 - Sweet acoustic guitar driven song with some sonic textures and some excellent sax and harmonica work
3 . All I Want Is You 10 / 10 - The most recognised song off this album , again excellent guitar rock and lyrics !
4 . Out Of The Blue 13 / 10 - The standouts just keep rolling here , this is Eddie Jobson's moment with his violin solo - there will NEVER be anything in rock music like this AGAIN !
5 . If It Takes All Night 8 / 10 - 50s doowop parody , the weakest track here but still 8 / 10 !
6 . Bitter-Sweet 9 / 10 - A ballad and ' elephant march ' in one song , great German chorus too
7 . Triptych 9 / 10 - This song should have been in Monty Python And The Holy Grail , which coincidentally was being made at the same time as this album
8 . Casanova 10 / 10 - Another killer track with creepy organ and sax solos
9 . A Really Good Time 10 / 10 - Sweet piano and violin ballad , sweet lyrics too and is the only real soft song here
10 . Prairie Rose 9 / 10 - What a brilliant way to close this magnificent masterpiece with an ode to Texas !
Overall 12 / 10
PS - This album is worth the sticker price for the sleeve alone ( ESPECIALLY THE VINYL VERSION !
018 4 For me it's impossible to consider this album removed from the context of its predecessor , Stranded . Oh , I can certainly LISTEN to it on its own - - it's a fabulous rock album by one of the greatest bands ever , at the peak of its form . And before the advent of this remastered CD , the production has always sounded cluttered and noisy - - but now I can recognize that it may be the greatest wall of sound recording ever ! The introduction of the first song , The Thrill of It All , is one of the most exciting beginnings to an album I have ever heard - - the ostinato piano figure yielding to the pummelling onslaught of the rest of the band , and Ferry's desperate mating call - - ah , heaven ! ! It's like the aural equivalent of glass bricks , heavy AND shimmering at the same time - - a thing of raw , hard beauty . The rest of the album is similarly stunning - - it should be a touchstone for any student of rock music or rock production . The songs are uniformly excellent , taken on their own terms - - quirky at times , but always compact and interesting . And the lyrics are simply brilliant , Ferry at his best - - a balancing act of wit and depth , art and entertainment , that ( along with Stranded ) has never been topped , in my opinion . The whole album is rocking , challenging , scrumptious FUN .
So in case you didn't know it , I think that anybody who takes their rock music seriously ( as I do ) should have BOTH these albums in their collection . For me , they are a source of endless pleasure .
019 4 This remastered edition of the band's best album finally does this classic justice . On a good stereo you can hear better clarity , crisper sound and make out details that the previous CD edition only hinted at .
After Eno left the band many Roxy fans felt that the band would fold as he had become as much a focal point as Ferry ( although Ferry wrote all the material ) . Roxy struck back with two great efforts . Stranded captures the band in transition but with some of Ferry's finest songs . Eddie Jobson ( ex-Curved Air and all of 17 or 18 when he joined Roxy ) ably stepped into Eno's shoes providing additional depth to the band's sound .
This album is a snapshot of the band in peak form . For all intents and purposes this is Ferry and Manzanera's album . Ferry's singing is less mannered but still quirky enough to give the band an edge . There isn't a weak song on the album and Ferry comes up with some unusual melodies and arrangements to continue to give the band an edge over their competion .
Manzanera shines throughout the album . His slashing guitar solos bring considerable power to many of the best songs on the album . He also contributes two fine songs written with Ferry .
Jobson's phased electric violin solos bring an other wordly element to the songs . Andy Mackay's playing is , as always , superb . The albums secret weapon though is Paul Thompson's driving percussion . Thompson was one of the finest drummers of the era .
Although they would continue to develop and produce albums just as good as this , COUNTRY LIFE became Roxy's most accomplished and mature album .
COUNTRY LIFE is certainly one of the best albums of the 70 ' s and , despite misguided critical observations about SIREN , their best effort .
020 4 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 !
021 4 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 .
022 4 If you are musically educated or have been told by soneone ( other than a salesman ) that you have a good ear this is the one . It's the most consistent , probably the best bass playing in rock from that time.I saw this line up in Auckland early ' 75 , they opened with Prarie Rose , great gig . The bass player determind the bands sound on this cd and the other 2 he played on . Ferry said it was Eddie Jobsons 21st that night at the gig . Get it .
023 4 For those who know Roxy Music only through AVALON , listening to Country Life must be something of a smack on the forehead . Roll with it .
This is a classic disk . It starts out with a rocker Thrill of it all and proceeds down so many musical paths , it's amazing that it achieves any cohesion . Yet it does ! COUNTRY LIFE is truly what the term Art Rock is all about . Experimentation , synthesis or styles cultures , and for some . . . fun ? Yes fun . At this point in their career , Roxy seemed like Pink Floyd's opposite number from some high-note-yet-melancholy Bizzaro World . Experimental but not conceptual . Often sad but also reckless and hedonistic .
If you give this record a chance , you'll also learn to appreciate Bryan Ferry as a singer . This man had a wide range of vocal style and delivery ( what happened Bryan ? ) . Ferry flexes his vocal muscle on Country Life . Try Out of the Blue or Casanova . The man rocks . And so does the ever-taseteful cover photo .
024 4 Roxy Music's fourth album isn't their best , so don't start here . Get their first three albums , and possibly their greatest hits . However , once the band has completely enveloped your consciousness , and their sound has got you hooked , buy this album . The Thrill of it All opens the album with quite a rush . Three and Nine follows as a sweet crooner . You've probably heard All I want is You and Out of the Blue before , and are strong songs . If It Takes All Night is a fun , raucous sing-a-long . Bitter-Sweet is just that , bitter-sweet . One reveiwer was right in that it does sound a bit like a Lou Reed song , something off Berlin or Ride , Sally , Ride . This isn't bad though , this is just Ferry delving into something a little diifferent . Actually it's not much different from other Ferry songs . Country Life is a good album , just missing the mark of great album . But still , not many bands can even make good albums . . .
025 4 Personally , I am a bigger fan of SIREN , but this definitely captures the subtle , jazzy feel that makes Roxy Music one of the better ' 70 ' s bands . COUNTRY LIFE does not have the singles of the self-titled disc , and it doesn't have the consistency of SIREN , but it is definitely a stand out disc for any collection . Ferry's vocals slither in and out Three and Nine in a Bowie fashion . The music recalls Heroes / Low era Bowie . Like Bowie , Ferry is so talented he makes vocal dexterity appear effortless . One can almost hear him dance through If it Takes all Night in a Presley slide step . Casanova may be my favorite song for it appears to be the most original of the discs singles . I give any disc with out seven stand singles the highest of ratings because a solid disc such as that is hard to find .
026 4 This review is from :
Country Life ( Audio CD )
This record is for the fan of ROCK and ROLL who loves immediately memorable hooks accompanied with amazingly hard driving Pop Rock . No one who LOVES rock and roll couldn't love The Thrill Of It All or Casanova or any other song on this superb album . This is the hot whip crack ROXY MUSIC ; the band that does not have a bad album , but despite the bickering between fans that occur due to allegiances to particular incarnations ( all the way through AVALON ) COUNTRY LIFE is undoubtedly one of their very best . Brian Ferry could not stop writing wonderful , masterful , Rock and Roll songs , exploring all of their roots , which come to fruition with this album and Roxy's next masterpiece SIREN . COUNTRY LIFE is one of the 1970s most fun , resonant , compelling , and , well , offensively wrapped albums . . . please note only BLIND FAIT。's eponymous album cover was presumed more scandalously overt ( okay , maybe LENNON and ONO's TWO VIRGINS which was , however , sold in most places in a plain brown wrapper . ) I expect Brian Ferry did not mean to offend , but merely to lampoon his lusty ideals . One cannot listen to this album , look at that cover , and not love the 1970s and ROXY MUSIC , and this HOT as HOT POP ROCK CAN GET record album . And ROXY MUSIC , at that point , would apparently do nearly anything ( All I Want Is You ) to chart a record in the USA . . . and they did , with those booby models on the cover , this record album peaked in March of 1975 at number 37 on the BILLBOARD Top 40 Albums chart with a mere 3 weeks on that chart ( and there were still no USA single hits at this point ) . There were a lot of great albums out there in 1974 and 1975 . Even with its scandalous ( so to speak ) cover , COUNTRY LIFE was overlooked in the USA , yet , relentlessly , has slowly floated to the surface , elbowing its way past contemporaries to be recognized as one of the VERY BEST of that year and that decade . You can hear everybody who was influenced by it . . . just listen to it ! !
Ferry switching from a Nashville informed ( or is it California ? ) Country Pop on If It Takes All Night , finds the true venue for some of his most artistic predilections on Bitter Sweet which gets challenging in a theatrical kind of way , but is played with such humor it wins one over ( Roger Waters favorite Roxy tune ? Sounds much like very late PINK FLOYD ) . Three Of Nine is an unexpected marvel . And I'm terribly fond of the instant classic Out Of The Blue and All I Want Is You and the 16th century stylings of Triptych ( a little PHYSICAL GRAFFITI anyone ? In all fairness , I think it goes both ways . I hear a bit of HOUSES OF THE HOLY from ' 73 here as well . )
A lesser band would have saved the epic scorcher The Thrill Of It All for the close , but this band had more and more tunes to boggle their listeners with . Casanova is postured a supremely smarmy rock song , self conscious , revealing more than the narrator intends . The majestic second to the last track , A Really Good Time defines this album . How did ROXY MUSIC keep it up ? So many wonderful songs so beautifully produced , so financially unrewarding in USA sales including concert tickets . I know when you listen close , that you won't miss the inspiration and influence of the last and perhaps best track Prairie Rose and it's subtle progression and beauty . Brian Ferry is a master , and had for a brief moment assembled around him the best Rock and Roll band in the world .
027 4 This record is for the fan of ROCK and ROLL who loves immediately memorable hooks accompanied with amazingly hard driving Pop Rock . No one who LOVES rock and roll couldn't love The Thrill Of It All or Casanova or any other song on this superb album . This is the hot whip crack ROXY MUSIC ; the band that does not have a bad album , but despite the bickering between fans that occur due to allegiances to particular incarnations ( all the way through AVALON ) COUNTRY LIFE is undoubtedly one of their very best . Brian Ferry could not stop writing wonderful , masterful , Rock and Roll songs , exploring all of their roots , which come to fruition with this album and Roxy's next masterpiece SIREN . COUNTRY LIFE is one of the 1970s most fun , resonant , compelling , and , well , offensively wrapped albums . . . please note only BLIND FAIT。's eponymous album cover was presumed more scandalously overt ( okay , maybe LENNON and ONO's TWO VIRGINS which was , however , sold in most places in a plain brown wrapper . ) I expect Brian Ferry did not mean to offend , but merely to lampoon his lusty ideals . One cannot listen to this album , look at that cover , and not love the 1970s and ROXY MUSIC , and this HOT as HOT POP ROCK CAN GET record album . And ROXY MUSIC , at that point , would apparently do nearly anything ( All I Want Is You ) to chart a record in the USA . . . and they did , with those booby models on the cover , this record album peaked in March of 1975 at number 37 on the BILLBOARD Top 40 Albums chart with a mere 3 weeks on that chart ( and there were still no USA single hits at this point ) . There were a lot of great albums out there in 1974 and 1975 . Even with its scandalous ( so to speak ) cover , COUNTRY LIFE was overlooked in the USA , yet , relentlessly , has slowly floated to the surface , elbowing its way past contemporaries to be recognized as one of the VERY BEST of that year and that decade . You can hear everybody who was influenced by it . . . just listen to it ! !
Ferry switching from a Nashville informed ( or is it California ? ) Country Pop on If It Takes All Night , finds the true venue for some of his most artistic predilections on Bitter Sweet which gets challenging in a theatrical kind of way , but is played with such humor it wins one over ( Roger Waters favorite Roxy tune ? Sounds much like very late PINK FLOYD ) . Three Of Nine is an unexpected marvel . And I'm terribly fond of the instant classic Out Of The Blue and All I Want Is You and the 16th century stylings of Triptych ( a little PHYSICAL GRAFFITI anyone ? In all fairness , I think it goes both ways . I hear a bit of HOUSES OF THE HOLY from ' 73 here as well . )
A lesser band would have saved the epic scorcher The Thrill Of It All for the close , but this band had more and more tunes to boggle their listeners with . Casanova is postured a supremely smarmy rock song , self conscious , revealing more than the narrator intends . The majestic second to the last track , A Really Good Time defines this album . How did ROXY MUSIC keep it up ? So many wonderful songs so beautifully produced , so financially unrewarding in USA sales including concert tickets . I know when you listen close , that you won't miss the inspiration and influence of the last and perhaps best track Prairie Rose and it's subtle progression and beauty . Brian Ferry is a master , and had for a brief moment assembled around him the best Rock and Roll band in the world .
028 4 Country Life was the best album produced by the earlier incarnation of Roxy , and was rivalled only by the beautiful
Avalon
from 1982 .
In contrast to the piano-dominated
Stranded
( also great ) , Country Life focused more on the band as a whole , this announcing itself in the utterly wonderful opener The Thrill Of It All , characterised by guitar / violin interplay quite unlike anything in rock history . Jobson showed he could more than match Eno in the way his violin matched it with Manzanera's powerful guitar leads . Echoes of this sound can be heard twenty years later on Fumbling Towards Ecstasy , but nobody could ever match its six minuites of emotional , hard , yet still feminine ecstasy . All I Want Is You was a fast rocker with Manzanera at his most forthright - and brutally effective . Out Of The Blue opened gently with melodic playing from Jobson ( who surpasses Eno throughout this album ) and turned into a melodic rocker driven by Thompson's drumming and Ferry's simple piano line . On this song , like The Thrill Of It All , Roxy show brilliant interplay between the instruments unlike any other band of the day .
Bitter Sweet was the most difficult song on the album , its movement from slow piano-based balladry with a yearning vocal from Ferry to dense synth-based rock without ever failing to flow . The range of textures this song offered was always surprising even if is does take getting used to .
Triptych , the next song , was another story entirely . I cannot imagine a song which baffles virtually every listener who hears it ( and turns some converted by the early albums away from Roxy altogether ) . The harpsichord-based melody of the song was captivating with Andy Mackay's sparse and piercing oboe line , and Ferry's castrato-like vocal gave an atmosphere a little like Avalon , but the choral vocal was something quite unique in 1974 and still captivating .
The religious imagery in Triptych made a mockery of the controversy over the cover that made Country Life the first Roxy album to hit the Billboard Top 100 - imagine it without the models and you will get a good idea !
Casanova returned the album to more typical grounds with a classic Roxy rocker , with Jobson again in fine form , and John Gustafson providing his best bass guitar break on the album . A Really Good Time showed Ferry at his most delicate vocally ( quite unlike the upfront tone of many Roxy songs ) , and the interplay with Eddie Jobson was again superb throughout , as was Andy Mackay's oboe work - more prominent than on later Roxy releases . The lyrics again showed Bryan Ferry's typical themes of romantic longing , but here expressed very differently from his more famous pieces . Country Life closed with Prairie Rose , which was a rocker more typical of the band's earliest work , with Mackay returning to saxophone and lyrical imagery reflective of the big spaces of the US midwest . However , the added sophistication of this album was shown in the movement to a faster tempo late in the song .
The atmosphere and sophistication of Country Life was unique in its day and more challenging that such piano-based ballads as Psalm and Sunset . Nonetheless , Ferry's lyrical themes , vocal style and sophiticition make Jobson-era Roxy quite possibly the first adult alternative music - though these themes were taken even further on the equally masterful
Avalon
. Country Life was and is essential listening .
029 4 Roxy Music's music has always had an air of seduction and slinkiness to it . After all , who can't get turned on by the sound of Bryan Ferry's voice or the prominence of saxophone on almost every song ? Even the covers of Roxy's albums have exploited the strange-but-true fact that sex sells . The scantily clad women on the front of ROXY MUSIC ( 1972 ) , FOR YOUR PLEASURE and STRANDED ( both 1973 ) surely must have turned on a few young boys as the music and Bryan Ferry may have young girls . Thinking they hadn't crossed the line yet , for COUNTRY LIFE , Roxy Music decided to have the women take it all off . The result was an album cover that was instantly banned and sold in a shrink wrap so the more discerning music buyers weren't scandalized . But the skin-baring cover only hinted that Roxy Music's music had reached its sexiest , most exotic peak on COUNTRY LIFE . This was back when Roxy Music was more about rhythm than romance , and the bulk of COUNTRY LIFE contains songs that may not have been out of place on your average ' 70s funk album . Songs like the progressive-sounding Out Of The Blue , the ' 50s throwback If It Takes All Night , the frenzied Casanova and the ode to ' 70s hedonism The Thrill Of It All swing with a ferocity that could easily have transferred well to bedrooms everywhere . And whether you're gay or straight , Bryan Ferry's voice is the most powerful aphrodisiac in the world ! But lest Roxy get too winded from all this energy , they slow down just as well on Three & Nine ( great use of a foreign instrument - - - at least to Roxy - - - harmonica ) , All I Want Is You ( Bryan Ferry at his least abstract lyrically ) , the sad longing A Really Good Time and the sprawling closer Prairie Rose , which is both a tribute to the big ol ' state of Texas , and Bryan Ferry's girlfriend at the time Jerry Hall ( who would become Mrs . Mick Jagger 20 years later ) . While not as easily memorable as the rest , lesser songs like Bitter Sweet and Triptych work well in the context of the rarefied wonder that is COUNTRY LIFE . The title may not seem very accurate for if the country was this decadent and fun , we wouldn't have so many jokes about rednecks and the like . In some people's eyes , COUNTRY LIFE is Roxy Music's undisputed masterpiece , with their swansong AVALON not far behind . But because Roxy's history was divided into two parts ( the early art-rock period and the later smooth-pop era ) , I think COUNTRY LIFE is the best album from the time when it was all about the backbeat . AVALON , therefore , was the best album from when Roxy was as slick as the hair gel Bryan Ferry used . However , both eras are worth looking into , for as different as they are , they're all Roxy Music , and that alone should be the selling point for it all .
030 4 Having listened to the remastered Country Life CD , I find it amazing that this music was originally released in 1974 . Being so adept at tastefully blending various musical styles makes Roxy Music an entertaining , if not one of the truly forward thinking groups of their time . While their music defined a period of experimentation in the 70 ' s , it's influence affected groups years later . Country Life is somewhat hard-driving compared to previous Roxy albums yet reveals an array of songs from German cabaret to choral to Country . This album has an energy that grabs the listener's attention , thanks to fine musicianship and expert production . It shows Roxy Music at their peak .
Avalon has proved to be very popular . Many music critics prefer Siren . But for me , Country Music is the definitive Roxy Music album .
031 4 Art-rock was a genre of rock that could be frightening . Roxy Music was one of the few limelights , and this album is second only to SIREN as their finest . Starting off with the truly thrilling Thrill of It All , the band is not stopped except for vinyl sides . Prairie Rose , in particular , should , by all rights , be a classic in the pantheon of rock . In fact , the majority of these songs could be , and the album is an example of romantic allure and eerie slowness working together to increase the album's strenghts . If the music's not enough for you , there's always that cover !
032 4 Many will say that COUNTRY LIFE is the finest ROXY MUSIC album . While it truly is a spectacular work ( really , all their works are with the exception of Manifesto ) , this album fails to create an atmosphere like some of their other works . This is not , however , to say that this by any means a week album . In fact , it contains some truly amazing and infectious songs .
While most will be familiar with OUT OF THE BLUE and , perhaps , CASANOVA , the best songs on COUNTRY LIFE are the deeper cuts that are so incredibly bizarre , but altogether entertaining . It's hard to resist the upbeat rocker , ALL I WANT IS YOU , the loungy A REALLY GOOD TIME , and the repeated hey , hey at the end of the twangy PRARIE ROSE .
033 4 Country Life is THE essential Roxy studio release . It successfully combines their arti-ness with power and precision and production to match . Everything smokes musically . Eddie Jobson shines for the first time after a hesitant debut on Stranded . Manzanera's power chords are seering while Paul Thompson's drums drive the Roxy engine fueled to the maximum . It's hard to pick favorites here , because there isn't a weak tune to be found .
034 4 bryan ferry and company created there best work on country life.if you have the chance to listen to this album please do.if you dont love this album then roxy's not for you.to an awesome opening with the thrill of it all to the amazing tune prairie rose this album is just incredible.its hard to believe its nearly 30 years old.its better than anything out there now.bands of today could learn a thing or two by listening to roxys catologue.especially country life . enjoy
035 4 This is a triumphant art-rock album from Roxy Music's heyday . Though it was the second album without Brian Eno , Roxy was still an experimental outfit , but without ever sacrificing good songs for experimentation ( the big problem with today's experimental groups is that they simply lack decent tunes ) .
From takes on a strange kind rockabilly crossed with country ( ' If It Takes All Night ' ) , to romantic balladeering ( ' Three And Nine ' ) , Roxy never lose their identity , and they're one of the few bands who are able to pull of as majestic a number as ' The Thrill Of It All ' without becoming pretentious , or unleash such a rocking parody as ' Prarie Rose ' without becoming downright silly . In between they have heartbroken items like ' Bitter-Sweet ' , the classic singles , & the two songs that sound most like ' traditional ' , glammy , ' For Your Pleasure ' / ' Stranded ' ' era Roxy ; the bouncy ' Out Of The Blue ' and the awesome , raunchy & romanticly rocking plea of ' All I Want Is You ' . And then there is the hard-hitting ' Casanova ' , the ethereal , but also bizarrely noisy , ballad ' Triptych ' , and ' A Really Good Time ' with its thrilling intro & orchestral verses .
' Country Life ' may not be Roxy's very best album , but its a very consistent collection of marvellous post-glam rock , that , with its wide range of influences , should satisfy most everyone . Most of it follows up on ' Stranded ' , but the band also shows tremendous growth , even if the manic pop of ' Street Life ' remains unrivalled . After all , ' Stranded ' never had anything so filled with humour as ' Prarie Rose ' , or anything just remotely comparable to the triumphs of ' If It Takes All Night ' or ' The Thrill Of It All ' .
036 4 In my thousands of CDs covering Rock of all types , classical and jazz this is the one album I keep returning to for the music contained within . All the songs are strong with a wide variety of sound using the wide variety of instruments that Roxy contained . Out of the Blue does contain the best rock violin solo ever ( still sends a shiver up my spine as the song progresses ) and Prairie Rose is a beautiful country tune filtered through British Rock .
Oh and my copy is signed by Phil !
037 4 Yes a fine fine album from the Roxy Musikers . Great songwriting , Prairie Rose ab fab and the rest from irony to all out dissolution , this is one life-affirming statement . Rock & roll , folks . The cover , however , needs a bit of improvement - - a scratch & sniff version , please ?
038 4 This was my second Roxy Music LP back in the covered wagon days of my 70 ' s youth . I lived in BFE and had to travel at least 40 miles to a college town to get a good off the beaten track LP . I had already purchased Siren on the merits of Love Is the Drug alone and thought the rest was pretty good . Then somehow I managed to hear the songs All I Want Is You segued into Out Of The Blue and those sounded as if they had been broadcast from some off-world station . Country Life is Roxy's best release overall to me . From the bludgeoning Thrill of it All to great crazy songs such as If it Takes All Night to the hopped up fuzz wash of Manzanera's guitar on Prairie Rose they put it all together.I believe they actually had fun amking this recording . This mini-sleeve's sound is more open and Bryan Ferry's warbling vocals are better distinguished . Not to mention I saw these on another website for literally three times the price . The site rhymes with flower . I also want a good rhythm section . Thompson and Gustafson provide and their sound is enhanced on the Japanese issue discs as well . Mackay's reeds never sounded so grandiose . The disc packaging is darn nice too if that matters to ya . I'm ready to live the country life .
039 4 I really must agree with some of the other reviewers . This may very well be the pinnacle of a classic band's career . Though I have always held a soft spot for Avalon , this one's edgy and beautiful , rocking and soothing . It combines Bryan Ferry's alluring voice with the players in top form . One picks up instantly on the romance and dreams of the time and the uncanny realization that Roxy did in fact fill a gap in the world of music so perfectly and uniquely .
Roxy was one of the best bands ever , so why is it that many of that generation say , Roxy who ? They should be ashamed .
This is a great album in every sense , for all your senses .
040 4 Lately I've been reading over and over again in a number of places that this is considered the Roxy Music masterpiece , or highpoint .
I do like this disc . The hits are incredible Thrill of it All , Out of the Blue All I Want is You . I also like the two country themed postcards from Jerry Hall country 3 9 and especially Prairie Rose .
I'm not as crazy about Bitter Sweet which is this records European number . It sometimes sounds good but its so heavy that it brings the discs feel down . Ferry comparing life to wine . . . these vintage years . . seems more than a bit too much . ( On Stranded , Ferry's A Song for Europe was too much but funny in an over the top kind of way )
I don't care at all for the medieval Triptych , Ferry gets a little religious here . . . . until heaven opens . . . .
Casanova is just alright , a funky and listenable groove but nothing extraordinary , at least its light .
Actually the box set THRILL OF IT ALL eliminates Triptych as well as the fifties number If It Takes All Night , which is good but really belongs not here but on a Ferry solo album .
With that cover and my favorite song Prairie Rose which is equally sexy in my mind I might just have to agree with the general assessment but a more perfect Country Life would have left Ferrys serious numbers in the vault or on a Ferry solo effort . Rock and Roll with sophistication and humor ( excepting a couple tracks ) and of course sex appeal . Hard to find that magnetic combination elswhere . Somewhere between Four and Five stars . The cover sways me to be generous .
041 4 but that's just the thing : this is a great glam rock album , but i'm not a huge glam rock fan . i loved this when i was listening to it on vinyl at my last place of residence . our landlord , a 50 - year-old recently restored bachelor , had piles of dusty records and this one caught my eye ( hint : might have had something to do with the cover art ) . whenever i found myself upstairs where the record player was , i'd listen to this and the beegees ' debut over and over again . later , after moving out , a fried gave me a copy on CD . . . and well , i rarely ever listen to it ( favoring eno's post-roxy work much more ) . at any rate , in so far as roxy music turned gaudy songs into classy ones , this is a success .
042 4 OK , granted I'm not a 1st incarnation Roxy Music fan . That stated , this is a turgid album . There might be some good songs and musicianship here , but the murky production seems to weigh them down . I know there are those out there that find such denseness alluring , but I am not one of them . Leave Avalon out of the picture : If you have just listened to Manifesto , Flesh and Blood , or even Love Is The Drug , for God's sake , how can you then listen to this ? It's an adjustment I can't make ( I tried ) , and frankly don't want to . It's a critics fav , but there are many Roxy , Ferry , and Manzanera albums I'll play before I'll ever even think about this one .
043 4 While Roxy Music definitely falls into the overrated category , CL is a perfect example of what their straight-ahead glamorized rock and roll can positively produce if expectations are kept at bay .
044 4 The first five songs are superb and superbly juxtaposed . They are heavy , meaning laden with sound , but with great rythym and rhyme . The first half of the album reminds me of Let It Bleed , with its range of characters and tones and styles . The second half of the album will have you changing discs to listen to the Captain and Tenille .
045 4 If you love Roxy Music just get this . That is all that needs to be said .
046 4 Roxy Music-Country Life * * *
A solid effort from a band that has always been more hype than delivery . The thing about Roxy Music for me personally is that the album covers are all among the greatest of all time but once you get past the cover art there isn't much there .
The pretentious attitude that comes with each album , not so much here but still is felt is done better by Roxy Music than any other group in history ; attitude only goes so far in rock n ' roll .
The musicianship is still tops and Ferry's vocals are magnificent but they still couldn't put all the pieces together to make a essential classic .
' The Thrill Of It All ' ' All I Want Is You ' Out Of The Blue ' and ' Casanova ' serve as the albums high points , the rest is really just hit or miss .
' Avalon ' the groups most lush album and less guitar driven record still serves as their definitive statement even after all these years .
047 4 I absolutely love the two first Roxy Music albums ( Roxy Music and For Your Pleasure ) and I am also a big fan of most of Roxy Music's and Bryan Ferry's music after this album . Country Life however has very little resemblance with all the other things Bryan Ferry has made . It consits mostly by noisy , serious rock-songs , far from the arty , strange , romantic and beautiful sound and the unreal , almost surrealistic lyrics that Ferry usually provide . Country Life sounds more like a Lou Reed album , than a Roxy Music album . Ferry is great being Ferry , he doesn't have to pretend he is Lou Reed . There are one or two good songs on the album , though .
048 4 Turgid , plodding music . Could barely get through a single playing of the CD before taking it hastily out of the player .
