COUNTRY LIFE

Country Life is Roxy Music in their finest hour. The album evokes various styles of music ranging from the dark Berlin cabaret genius that is "Bittersweet", the over the top pop with "All I Want is You" and a bizarre country tinged rocker "Prairie Rose" But Country Life rocks out as well and probably is their hardest hitting release. The bizarre "Triptych" is unlike anything I am familiar with in modern rock and the band rocks with good times rock and roll with "If it Takes All Night". It stands to mention that this is guitarist Phil Manzanera's finest album with great soloing throughout especially on the aforementioned "Prarie Rose" where he follows up a nice sax solo by Andy MacKay Never an official member but a very important part of the sound, bass player John Gustafson is magnificent on this album as well. Why he was never an official member is really a crime. He plays some great bass throughout especially on the haunting "Out of the Blue" which also includes a great violin solo from Ed Jobson. Of course legend has it that Country Life made many a teenage boy go blind mind you and that is why the album cover was changed shortly after it't release. Other highlights include "The Thrill of it All", "Really Good Time" and "Casanova"...one of my all time favorite versus sung by Ferry on "Casanova" is where Ferry questions his colleague "You're flirting with heroin, or is it cocaine?" This album has it all and is also for anyone interested in what glam was all about.