Tuesday, March 4, 2008

No. 394: For Your Pleasure


Band: Roxy Music
Album: For Your Pleasure
Why Rolling Stone gets it right: Roxy Music's second album is among the band's smartest. Brian Eno's contributions make for a more interesting and enjoyable record, as compared to the post-Eno work.
Why Rolling Stone gets it wrong: I'm not the world's biggest Roxy Music fan, so I can't speak to this album being brilliant.
Best song: "Editions of You" has some excellent solos. "For Your Pleasure" is one of Eno's best contributions.
Worst song: I don't love "Grey Lagoons."
Is it awesome?: Eh. Sorta.

Brian Eno's contributions to Roxy Music are felt on this record and they make for an excellent record. Eno cut his teeth in Roxy Music and set himself up for his career working with Robert Fripp, the Talking Heads and his own solo career.

Eno's presence is known particularly on the title track, as the slow beat and piano plunking are Eno signatures. The keyboard-driven song is pretty amazing. As is Eno's way, the notes not played are as important as the notes played.

I can't say it's my favorite album ever. It's not. Bryan Ferry's melodramatic voice doesn't do it for me. The dance beats are fun, but get repetitive.

Still, with Eno at his side, this is Ferry's best album.

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