The Best of Roxy Music

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Editorial reviews

Amazon.co.uk Review
At the start of the 1970s, when the music world was ruled by grim longhairs and wafflesome prog rockers, Roxy Music appeared to have beamed in from another planet. Impossibly alien and exotic, they bucked contemporary trends by being kitsch, avant-garde, experimental and yet unashamedly pop. Bryan Ferry was the louche, sensual front man, Brian Eno threw his deconstructionist spanner in the works and they played songs that sounded like demented, sexy logarithms. After Eno left in 1973, frustrated that Ferry was marginalising his input, Roxy became a different beast entirely, developing a suave, sophisticated pop-soul that abandoned the art-rock niche to embrace a wider audience. This lush Best Of compilation, released to accompany their reunion tour (minus Eno), captures both sides of Roxy and, true to the subversive spirit that informed their early years, does so in reverse order. This anti-chronology means they open with the languid, supper-club croon of 1980s hits "Avalon" and "More Than This", plus the beauteous cover of John Lennon's "Jealous Guy", then peel back the years through mid-period gems like "Dance Away" and "Love Is The Drug" before closing with the hyperventilating, superbly twisted bubblegum of "Pyjamarama" and "Virginia Plain". A bonkers track-listing then but an essential souvenir of a band--and a talent--in a million. --Ian Gittins

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Customer reviews

review by: swillia389 date: 2008-09-12 rating:
Timeless classics.
I was never a Roxy fan,I was only a kid during the 70`s and only knew of them because my oldest sister was in love with Ferry,I heard some of the early Roxy songs and never thought about them much until I started getting into music myself at the start of the 80`s and remembered hearing Avalon,More Than This and Same Old Scene on the radio very often.
The surprising thing to me on this collection of songs is just how good and how many hits Roxy had,the only thing that drops a star for me is that the early stuff is harder for me to like but hey I`m an 80`s child.
For me this record has done what it was intended to,it`s made me want to go out and buy the other Roxy albums.

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review by: date: 2008-05-08 rating:
A Review by someone who isn't a Roxy Music Fan
Browsing through the many offers and ratings for different albums, I found this best of Roxy Music cd, highly rated at 4.5 and only £5. As I'm trying to branch out my collection of music through the ages and genres including the 80's/70's, I though Roxy Music would be an excellent addition to my ever improving collection. Having read all the 5 star reviews it sounded like a worth while purchase.

Now... If I was born in the 60's/70's, I may be interested in the band but from this album I can only say I would have probably gone back to 60's and 70's for some severe help. This is never in a million years 5 star album. All I can think is that quite a lot of Roxy Music fans are trying to improve the rating of their childhood band. 'Love is the Drug' and 'Virginia Plain' are the stand out tracks which are unfortunately 10 and 17 tracks down the line, by which time I was so bored I was starting this raving review.

Maybe it's just me, or maybe I'm just missing the mellow sounds and uninspiring vocals. No wonder so many reviews are annoyed about the sound not being surround sound. It sounds terrible up to track 9 which is ok at best. A pleasant version of 'Jealous Guy' makes a nice track 3 but thats it for me.

Maybe it just sounds average compared to the three other albums I bought along side it: 'Takk by Sigur Ros', 'Good Morning Vietnam (Soundtrack)' and 'With Love and Squalor by We are Scientists'.

Sorry Roxy Music fans. Not a great album I'm afraid. An album not suited for the younger generation, maybe.

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review by: date: 2007-07-12 rating:
Five-star Roxy
The sound quality on this release is outstanding. Some people may bemoan the lack of multi-channel but the stereo sound is terrific - we should all be thankful these songs are available on SACD at all! Owners of Roxy's Avalon SACD will surely buy this disc.

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review by: date: 2006-08-09 rating:
Excellent compilation
As someone who's always liked Roxy, but never really rated their albums, this is an ideal compilation of their best known songs from every phase of their career. The reverse chronological sequencing works really well and gives the songs a slightly unfamiliar context - much better than the random track order of a lot of comps.


review by: date: 2005-08-02 rating:
re the "missing song" in jez1153's note
Slave to Love is "missing" becasue it's not a Roxy track.

This is a well-judged single disk Roxy compilation. Bit pricey though.

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