SIREN

"Siren" is the fifth studio album of Roxy Music that was released in 1975. This album and the previous "Country Life" are considered by many critics as two of the most sophisticated original and consistent British albums of those times. It follows the same oath of "Stranded" and "Country Life". Thus, the last studio album of their second phase is no longer really new accents, which doesn't mean that the band would have completely lost their sense for bizarre sound compositions. In general, witty little ideas in rhythm and arrangements are always incorporated into the songs, really.

The lovely front cover of the album features Bryan Ferry's then girlfriend and model Jerry Hall, on rocks near the South Stack Island, Anglesey in Welsh. Jerry Hall later became the wife of Mick Jagger of The Rolling Stones. At this time Bryan Ferry had a relationship with this American supermodel. We can't deny the great impact of her on the music and image of the band. Beyond appear on the front cover of "Siren", she served as inspiration for several songs of the band and also on the music video for "Let's Stick Together", the third solo studio album of Bryan Ferry, released in 1976.

The line up on "Siren" is the same of their two previous albums and is Bryan Ferry (vocals and keyboards), Andy MacKay (oboe and saxophone), Phil Manzanera (guitar), Eddie Jobson (violin, synthesizers and keyboards), John Gustafson (bass) and Paul Thompson (drums).

The album has nine tracks. The first track "Love Is The Drug" written by Bryan Ferry and Andy MacKay is another great beginning of a Roxy's Music album. It's an incredible great song, very melodic and with a very good quality. I know that this is more a Pop/Disco song but it has an incredible musical performance. Andy MacKay and his saxophone are absolutely great, Phil Manzanera and his guitar are very well and Bryan Ferry and his vocals are fantastic as always. It's a song played live in the live tours of the group since it was released. The second track "End Of The Line" written by Bryan Ferry is a very soft, melodic and pretty ballad. It has sentimental vocals, nice piano, beautiful harmonica, a very melodic violin and a good rhythm section. The third track "Sentimental Fool" written by Bryan Ferry and Andy MacKay is another very nice ballad with a prolonged and agonizing atmosphere in the beginning and then go to a romantic pain love song. The performance of all members of the band functioned particularly well on this song too. The fourth track "Whirlwind" written by Bryan Ferry and Phil Manzanera is another giant rock song of the group. We may say that this is a really hard rock song of the band. It's a powerful song with an incredible rhythm very well performed by all band's members. Eddie Jobson and Phil Manzanera are at their best, John Gustafson on bass is great and Paul Thompson on drums is very energetic. The fifth track "She Sells" written by Bryan Ferry and Eddie Jobson is a simple song very well performed with some good and interesting musical moments. Despite being a very good song I think this is probably the less interesting song on the all album. The sixth track "Could It Happen To Me?" written by Bryan Ferry is another very good, beautiful and melodic song with interesting and energetic rhythm. In style, is more a commercial pop song, but once again is performed with an impeccable, irreproachable and fantastic professionalism. The seventh track "Both Ends Burning" written by Bryan Ferry is a classic Roxy Music's song. It's one of the highest moments on the album, one of my favourite songs, one of the most loved by their fans and is also one of the songs most performed live by the band too. This is a great musical moment with an absolutely, fantastic and incredible performance. It's absolutely an unforgettable song. The eighth track "Nightingale" written by Bryan Ferry and Phil Manzanera is another very great musical moment on this album. It's very well sung and has also excellent guitar, violin, bass and drums. This is, without any doubt, a great moment on this great album. The ninth track "Just Another High" written by Bryan Ferry provides a very well end to this album. It's a soft rock and very melodic song, once more fantastically performed by all members and represents another highlight on this album. Are musics like this that keep high the quality of this album, naturally.

Conclusion: "Siren" marks the end of the second era of Roxy Music. The first era includes the first two studio albums of the band, "Roxy Music" and "For Your Pleasure" and corresponds to their experimental avant-garde period with Brian Eno. The second era includes their next three studio albums, "Stranded", "Country Life" and "Siren" and corresponds to their art rock period. "Siren" marks the end of their most experimental, innovative and creative period of music. Brian Eno himself later acknowledged the quality of "Stranded" and "Country Life" that followed his departure of the group. I will add "Siren" to that list. "Siren" is a fantastic album and a landmark in the prog rock music of the 70's. It's a model of the modern rock and we can't forget that Rolling Stone magazine considered "Siren" as the Roxy Music's masterpiece and ranked it in number 371 on their list of the 500 greatest albums of all time, published in 2003.

Prog is my Ferrari. Jem Godfrey (Frost*)

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