AVALON

Roxy Music is Art Rock...absolutely, and Avalon sits excellently in this genre because it is such a clever musical composition with all the artistic greatness from ' More Than This' right through to ' Tara', It is full of swirling moody atmospheres and I think both Ferry and Manzanera were at their artistic peak on Avalon. Just listen to the opener on side 2 . ' The Main Thing' and the continued build to the climatic and beautiful ' Take A Chance With Me' Other highlights recommended are the instrumental ' India' and the ballad ' To Turn You On'. Highly recommended for any Art Rock enthusiast.

I like the opportunity to write about some good non-prog albums as well. Avalon is arty pop which comes already close to Bryan Ferry's solo output - and Ferry compilations always have Roxy Music tracks like 'More Than This', 'Avalon' and 'To Turn You On' from this album. Yet it can't be said that Ferry IS Roxy Music, for also Phil Manzanera (g) and Andy Mackay (oboe, sax) have a lot to say in that smooth clear sound into which the suave, charming style of Mr Ferry fits perfectly. I could imagine he appeals for ladies especially! Most of the album would suit for luxurious night clubs where people drink martinis and dance and flirt with the opposite sex.

I love the fresh airiness of the opening track 'More Than This'. To me another highlight is 'While My Heart Is Still Beating', the saddest song. The way the last percussion patterns of the instrumental 'India' precede that song is the most artistic moment. Quite unforgettable is also the female voice solo in very sensual 'Avalon'. ONE OF THE COOLEST POP ALBUMS EVER (represents the 80's at its best).

The ethereal, otherworldly atmosphere that permeates Avalon makes for a lovely and striking pop album. Here, Bryan Ferry has hit upon the inextricable link between love and tragedy, delivering his words of love as a spirit fading in and out of our world, flotsam on the ectoplasmic ebb and flow of music. It's a different album than anything Roxy Music or Ferry had yet made, inviting comparison as much to Brian Eno's languid Another Green World as the wilting romance of Flesh + Blood. The difference may be that Mackay and Manzanera are fully engaged here; the perfectly placed guitar parts and spectral keyboards are equal partners in the ultimate outcome, defining Avalon as much as Ferry's voice. But Avalon's real achievement is its songs: "More Than This," "Avalon," "Take A Chance With Me" and "To Turn You On" are so sophisticated that the love songs from Manifesto and Flesh + Blood pale in comparison. These are the album's centerpiece, around which more visceral tracks like "The Main Thing" and "The Space Between" simply act as a buffer. Also included here are a pair of instrumentals that reinforce the album's wistful, delicate mood. After an album this spectral and spectacular, the band's imminent demise carries less of a sting. It's the crowning achievement of the band's second coming, and by far the most flattering setting that Ferry has found for his romantic muse.

I preferred by far Roxy Music's first period. From Manifesto onwards, I found them too disco oriented with here and there some good songs (but too few to be honest).

When I listen to the opener, "Modern Than This" I guess that this album will not be different. Good pop / commercial music, for easy radio listening. It peaked at the sixth spot in the UK charts. The song was rehearsed for the Avalon tour but was dropped after the first show in Dublin. It was played at the first few shows on the reunion tour in 2001 in a lower key as Bryan found it more comfortable to sing in the new key.

"The Space Between" is a disco/soul tune with no flavour, and truely monotone. Insipid. The title track is a more classic Roxy song : the crooner style of Ferry being brought once more in evidence. But the song is just OK. It lacks in passion from. The single peaked at number 12 in UK.

The song I prefer is "While My Heart Is Still Beating" : a slow intruiging tempo with good bass and piano. Ferry's interpretation is fairly good. "The Main Thing" is a bit of the same vein, but not so good : a bit experimental but with little feeling. It was the opener of the "Avalon" tour.

My second fave is "Take A Chance With Me" : this is not a wild one (there won't be any on "Avalon") but it's catchy and has a good melody. It sounds very fresh and nice. It was the last Roxy single released during the life of the band. It only peaked at number twenty-six in the UK charts.

I guess that "Avalon" is an album representative of an era (disco / pop). There are a sum of average tracks here but no highlights (on their two last efforts there was at least one or two great tracks which can not be found here).

Four tracks are rather weak : "The Space Between", "India", "To Turn You On", "True To Life" and "Tara" which makes this album rather boring, I'm afraid.

When John Lennon was killed, Roxy decided to do a tribute single to him and recorded "Jealous Guy" in 1981. They needed a new song for the b-side and as "To Turn You On" was ready they released it as such. When Roxy recorded "Avalon", Bryan said : "this is a quality track and I don't want it to be lost as a b-side." As far as I'm concerned, it could have remained so.

Avalon was a huge commercial success reaching number one in the UK album charts and their most successful album in US. IMO, this is an album that is absolutely not necessary to own. It has nothing to do with the great Roxy we all know and love. No real highlights here. No hits. Just supermarket music. Two stars (and I am generous).

The cover artwork promises much and the album almost delvers. Sophisticated, at times sensual music, full of swathes of keyboards, sax and occasional bursts of guitar overlaid by Ferry's crooning vocals. It's somewhat otherworldly, not of this time and place; the only other album that feels similar is Wishbone Ash's masterpiece Argus. Highlights are the beautiful Take a Chance With Me, the opener More Than This and the title track. Some of the rest feels a bit fillerish, but there's nothing unpleasant. Main complaint is that it's very short and needed another quality track or two to provide value for money, though the recording quality is exemplary (not at all 80s) and allows the many layers to be distinguished. It's their best work and a very good 3 star album, but not quite worth the extra star.

"Avalon" is the 8th full-length studio album by UK pop/rock act Roxy Music. The album was released through E.G. Records/Polydor in May 1982. It´s the successor to "Flesh & Blood" from 1980. "Avalon" was a great commercial success for Roxy Music and the only of their albums to reach platinum sales (1 million copies) in the US. Avalon was produced by Rhett Davies (Genesis, King Crimson, Camel, Talk Talk, Dire Straits, Brian Eno) and Roxy Music. The trio lineup of Bryan Ferry (lead vocals, keyboards, guitar synthesizer), Phil Manzanera (lead guitar), and Andy Mackay (saxophones) is intact from "Flesh & Blood (1980)".

"Avalon" is the peak of Roxy Music´s second more pop oriented accessible period (after their 1978 reunion). It´s a synth heavy release dominated by Bryan Ferry´s vocals and synth/keyboard arrangements, while Manzanera and Mackay play lesser roles. This is smooth, clever, and sophisticated pop music often ambient in nature. The lyrics are loosely based on the romantic idea of the Avalon island in the tale of King Arthur, but "Avalon" is not as such a concept album. The single track "More Than This" and the title track are probably the most standout tracks on the album, but "Avalon" is a pleasant and well composed listening experience throughout.

"Avalon" features a well sounding production, and overall it´s a good quality pop/rock release and a suiting swansong album ending Roxy Music´s career. It´s a far cry from the band´s early unpredictable and harder rocking releases, but it´s still an interesting release on its own terms, and definitely the most interesting release out of the three reunion albums. A 3.5 star (70%) rating is deserved.

This is ROXY MUSIC's final album released in 1982. I remember well hearing 3 of these songs on the radio back then and really liking them even though I was into RUSH, FLOYD, ZEP etc. The fact was these were good songs and I liked the singers voice. I really knew nothing of the band back then, I didn't own any of their records but I had an appreciation for their sound. That grew when they released that Neil Young cover "Like A Hurricane". Fast forward over 25 years and I finally buy "Avalon" just to see if the magic was still there for me. It is, especially on the song "Take A Chance With Me" probably because of the three tracks I knew from the radio back then this is the one I heard the least, so it really brings me back to when I felt like I was on top of the world in my early twenties. Some have stated that this is almost like a Bryan Ferry solo album because he really made the album he always wanted with "Avalon". This might have a commercial flavour but man this is so sophisticated and smooth. Very subtle and mature. Very much mood music, and i'm sure many a guy used this album to get his lady in that special mood.

"More Than This" is of course one of the hits on this record. Just a gorgeous soundscape with Ferry's one of a kind vocals. "The Space Between" sounds like a track that would have been played in the dance clubs back then. A sexy song if there ever was one. "Avalon" is another hit. This sounds so good.The female backing vocals were a nice touch. "India" is a short instrumental. "While My Heart is Still Beating" opens with percussion and drums as the vocals come in.Themes are repeated. I like the sax late. This song's ok. "The Main Thing" is one I do like a lot. It's all about the beat here. A catchy little tune that reminds me of THE TALKING HEADS.

"Take A Chance With Me" is my favourite if only for reminding me of my youth. This is a Ferry and Manzanera composition. Some atmosphere early as the sax comes in. The main melody kicks in before 1 1/2 minutes."I was blind can't you see ? Through the long and lonely night, heaven knows I believe. Won't you take a chance with me ?". "To Turn You On" has the focus on Bryan's almost spoken vocals early before it all picks up. Tasteful guitar 2 1/2 minutes in followed by piano. "True To Life" is another song I really like. Percussion, vocals and atmosphere are like the holy trinity of this album if you know what mean. Great song. "Tara" is the short closing instrumental. Sax and atmosphere.

Even the pictures of the guys in the liner notes show a band who has shed the bizarre clothes and makeup. They look so real and mature. This was their biggest selling album by far. I have to give 4 stars for the ambience they created here. A unique album with well crafted songs that has the ability to take me to another place.

And the life was sucked dry

Roxy Music has always appealed to me so much more as live band than on their studio albums, and probably no where more so than here. "Avalon" is an album that frustrates the hell out of me because there is so much potential here. But she is an album killed by production: a dry, lifeless slickness that sucks the passion and energy of these formidable performers right away. This is the music coming out of the little round speakers in the ceiling of your dentist's office as he cleans your teeth. Music that makes you glaze over, music that won't threaten the older ladies chatting away with the receptionist. And it's a real shame because I've seen some of these tracks in their live videos and they do come to life in that setting. Both "Avalon" and "While My Heart is Still Beating" in particular are outstanding pieces of sophisticated art-pop that can be gripping under the right circumstances. But here, alongside the stock beats and the toned down instrumental flourishes that sound like studio musicians bored out of their minds, there is nothing here I can care about. Nothing that grabs me. Nothing more than pure professionalism devoid of any musical vibrancy or magic. Perhaps it's an album Ferry needed to make but it's not the one curious proggers should choose to investigate this great band. I'd suggest watching their live DVDs for the Roxy experience and then dig back through their earlier studio works if you like what you hear. As I read some of almost unanimous 5-star ratings on sites like Amazon and RYM, where people proclaim this a mature masterpiece of romantic pop perfection, I have to say it's completely lost on me. I love many pop albums but even from that perspective "Avalon" is a toothless, disappointing exercise. I struggle to give the second star.

By the end of the 70ties, Roxy had shifted from art rock to pop music of mostly high standards. Avalon is a collection of easy listening, accessible and smooth songs that are nevertheless very well crafted, memorable and emotional. As much as I hated this in 1982, time has been gentle with it. And as it turned out, I would now say Roxy were still relevant and fresh so late in their career. They sure set the standard for how to write classic pop material.

The stumbling block for me is the polished sound that is so glossy and clean that everything has lost most of its edge. Also the fact that they ran out of ideas by the end of the album doesn't help, I'm usually losing my interest by the time the album is halfway through. There are strong highlights though. Next to the well known hits, there is The Space Between, a song that could have featured on a Japan album, Heart Still Beating and The Main Thing. Also True To Life is a graceful song but it sits amidst a number of drowsy tunes that make it hard to get so far into the album.

All in all, not an overwhelming but still a graceful end to the Roxy studio chapter. 2.5 stars

Avalon was Roxy Music´s eighth and final studio album. And one of their best, even if completely different from what they were doing when they started. In fact it represents their capacity of reinventing themselves completely like it was announced from the very first track on their debut in 1972 (re-make/re-model). it was also one of the groundbreaking albums of the 80´s with its perfect production (some say too perfect) and atention for the smallest detail. The band, or more specific, Bryan Ferry had taken the band into the most sophisticated art rock product thus far.

Ferry´s songwriting skills were at their peak after two relatively weak albums (Manifesto and Flesh + Blood). Avalon on the other side has a strong sense of musical direction that is all over the album, and not on just on some tracks as it happened on the previous effords recorded after their come back in 1979. The arrangements and performances are terrific, and the high quality sound reminds me of the Peter Gabriel´s works of the time. The band used some of the finest session man available to great effect and some of them (bassist Alan Spenner and drummer Andy Newmark) would eventually join the band full time for their last tour.

The result was both an artistic and commercial success, just like their debut ten years before. But this time the album went straight to number 1 spot in the UK and spent over an year in the charts. It was their biggest selling album of their entire career and it set the pattern for all future solo Ferry´s works like the highly successful Boys And Girls and Bete Noire. Unfortunatly it was also Roxy´s very last (studio) record and the end of Ferry´s creative powers in revolutionary terms. He would be stuck in the mode for the next twenty years. Still, Avalon was a great feat for the time.

It is hard to point a highlight, since all the tracks are very strong and could have become hits, but I like very much While My Heart Is Still Beating (a live favorite and the closest thing they recorded here that resembles of the original band). Even the two brief instrumentals are interesting: India would serve as the opener for their last tour and the beautiful Tara would get a much better and longer version on their 2001 tour (fortunatly, recorded on CD and DVD for posterity).

A classic pop album that has its prog features too, at least for the time. Of the many pop albums that were number ones, this is probably the one that has stood the test of time with greater results. it still sounds fresh and sophisticated after all those years. Rating: for a pop album I´d gladly give it a five estar rating. In fprog terms it deserves al least four. A very graceful way to say goodbye from one of prog´s most interesting and influential bands.

One of my favorite albums from the 80s--and one of the few from that decade that still stands up well 25 years later. A real aural treat for its subtle instrumental ensemble work; rarely does a Roxy member solo get too much time or attention, rather every moment of everyone's work seems to merely add to and augment the whole. You might call it 'gestalt music.'

1. "More Than This" a 'classic' 80s tune, oft covered, Bryan Ferry's vocal is still tough to top. 8/10

2. "The Space Between" a jazzed up 80s sound, Phil Manzanera's almost R&B guitar riffs and Andy Mackay's sax diddies seem to sneak into the spaces between the song's rhythm section. A kind of spacey vocal (effect) from mellifluous Bryan. 7/10

3. "Avalon" steals a kind of Steely Dan Gaucho feel?especially it's use of female background vocals. Very powerful they are, these women. 8/10

4. "India" is a short yet very likable Simple Minds-like instrumental groove that finishes with a soulful drum rhythm. Again, great background kitchen music. 9/10

5. "My Heart Still Beating" is such an unusual song that it is a tough one to compare or describe. Besides the repetitive bass line and tom-tom beats, the instrumental contributions are very sparse and sporadic?rather like gunshots or flashes of light. 7/10

6. "The Main Thing" contains a prototypic 80s synth bass line over which a rather beautiful and interesting song is thoughtfully constructed. The vocal here is but a very small contribution to this group jam. Cool song. 8/10

7. "Take a Chance With Me" begins as a very Hackett-sounding song construct?something off of Cured or Defector. Until the 2:10 mark when a very straightforward, almost C&W song rises up. The album's weak spot. 5/10

8. "To Turn You On" is a true pop song with some very catchy hooks and a classic BF knee-weakening lyric and vocal. Very nice Manzanera solo. 6/10

9. "True to Life" was immediately and remains my favorite song on the album. The bouncy synth chord foundation just sucks me in! Then, when coupled with Ferry's flanged vocal chorus and I don't know why but I am almost orgasmic. Add all those beautiful 'backround' incidentals from Manzanera and Mackay and take me away! 10/10

10. "Tara" is a little instrumental diddie in which Andy Mackay is allowed to close out the album with his magic over the waves. 7/10

Truly a SMOOTH album with no showy songs but all very solid contributions. 4.5 stars downgraded to 4 for the sake of 'Hey! It's the 80s!"

Talk about sophistication. From raw experimental electrified Rock to highly depuration in language and structure music-wise; the one that really concerns us; more than concepts and postures ..This kind of refinement was well forewarned in "Siren" (Roxy 5); midly reached in "Flesh & Blood"(Roxy 7) and of course the route Bryan Ferry´s solo works were heading. It was inevitable; the system was already rolling; since Roxy "1". And "Roxy Music" never intended to create a "style" or a "trend" (apart from the humurous proposed; unexistent, upcoming and fabulous "STRAND" ) . They just followed their "tue to life"- instincts (well; Ferrys´s) ; therefore; this structure developed naturally and easily; as the band grew in its wide scope of musical skills; as every record dared intentionally to out-do the last. ("Manifesto" if not for 2 songs; almost out-did all the discography!! for the worst)....BUT; some composers have a clear picture of the sound that haunts them to the point of never declining their self-imposed endeavor to "uncover" it. "AVALON" is elegant, personal and full of restrained; near to perfect songwriting; as Mr. Ferrys´s concept had developed to "Less is More" and the least; is even better; so; why scream? when you can whisper, why repeat?.. what already has been done (even by you). And of course; yes!.. this is the less prog oriented Roxy effort; you will come close to... But It is here; because the band self-evolution started somewhere around the Prog-sphere; But ROXY never tied themselves down ; but to creativity (sacrifices included; which will explain the lack of commercial success). They went their own way. Natural evolution in all its extension. Crystal clear compositions; effective production and oh! yes; the band sounds better than ever. Each member sounds more than comitted to this album. I suppose it was clear for eveyone in the band; (well; the base 3-unit members); that Roxys´s way; was really going to fade away some day soon... The pinnacle of a close to perfect discography. And of course the less prog oriented recommendable ROXY album ("Siren" still hold some.).***** 5 "Masterpiece Stars; even IF..it will never head the top-10-Prog-list-band, and that is; at the end of the day; irrelevant when it comes to music; more if the music is flawless, "More than this there is nothing"

After reuniting for the rather limp Manifesto and Flesh + Blood, Roxy Music regrouped and reimagined themselves for this glorious swansong. The secret to the band getting their groove back was that they realised that the New Romantic crowd were a) looking back to the classic era of Roxy Music for inspiration and b) coming up with some damn fine ideas themselves.

In a way, Avalon is a sort of surrender - Bryan Ferry and his Knights of the Roxy Table passing on the sword to a new generation by embracing that generation's aesthetic and the smooth sophisti-pop tones whilst still creating a space for Ferry's emotive lyrics, Manzanera's guitar work (which is more complex and intricate on this album than you might imagine at a first listen, and Andy Mackay's soulful sax.

It's delicious enough on first listen, but both in the context of Roxy's own discography and the sophisti-synthpop sounds of the time, it risks coming across as rather overpolished and tamed - Roxy Music dancing to someone else's beat rather than blazing their own trail as they had from their debut up to Siren. They just about manage to avoid that trap, with classics like Avalon or More Than This being impossible to imagine anyone other than Roxy Music producing, but it's not quite on the level of their magnificent early work. It's not an absolutely classic send-off, but it's the best exit they could have made at the time.

Roxy Music is one band that I loved through all of their line-ups and styles. In my opinion, they made all of their style adjustments in a sophisticated manner. From the extreme prog music of their early days, to their sophisticated, lush sounds at the end of their discography, I think their music rises above so many others that tried to adjust their sound to reflect the present day. Yes, it's true that the music on "Avalon" has got that certain "romantic, dance style" and inspired somewhat to the disco sounds of the time, they weren't satisfied to just make run of the mill dance music, they rose above it, perfected and improved on it. The end result is this near perfect album of mature, sophisticated rock, and it remains, in my opinion, deserving of the progressive rock status because of their ability to take a genre of music above the norm.

This album is simply beautiful music. "Avalon" is the perfect song, with the background vocals of Yanick Etienne, who they discovered when she was with her own band in the same studio. Ferry was so impressed with her vocals, that he knew her voice was exactly the thing needed to make that song perfect. She was added in at the last moment, not even understanding a word of English they completed the final recording the next day. Not only that, but the song "More Than This" is the perfect example of Roxy Music in their last days. A perfect album opener, introducing the listener to the lushness and rhythmic sound that this album has to offer. Other great highlights are "The Main Thing", "The Space Between", "While My Heart is Still Beating" and even the shorter, transitory tracks are even great. This is the perfect Progressive Pop.

The main lineup was down to 3 people for this album including Bryan Ferry, Phil Manzanera and his stylistic guitar layers and sounds, and Andy Mackay with his lush and never overbearing sax. Along with session musicians, they turned this into a beautiful experience, with all instruments and vocals working together to create not just music, but a feeling of sophisticated rock, with plenty of ambience and emotion that buries you into the sound. It makes you want to just float in the sound that is created.

I know there were a lot of Roxy fans that didn't like the new sound, and that is the risk that you run when you explore different sounds. But I find it just as inventive as their previous sounds. I absolutely hate disco music, but I love this album and all of their music that had that same style. Like I said, they perfected the sound and gave it personality and life. It's just so smooth. It's like it's own sub genre; sophisti-prog. If only more bands could have taken this cue to expand and improve on the sounds of the era, and yes there were a few, like "Icehouse" and "Talk Talk" that did so. I can't give this album anything less that a 5 star rating, essential in the fact that it inspired a lot of music made in the decade of the 80s and definite masterpiece in that it was the best in the style of music it inspired.