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Roxy Music - Avalon CD (album) cover

AVALON

Roxy Music

 

Crossover Prog

3.73 | 255 ratings

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BrufordFreak
4 stars 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!"

BrufordFreak | 4/5 |

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