COUNTRY LIFE

Is this Prog? I don't know, but it's some great music. 1974 new wave music? B. Ferry has kind of a baratone, quirky, sound with a little verbrado and a clipped style. To go with funky love story type lyrics. I'm usually not a fan of "relationship lyrics" unless they are very clever or off the wall. These would qualify as both. The music itself is layered and mostly hard driving with great bass-lines and piano. Keys, violin, sax, and oboe... they all work in and out with great guitar work of course. The songs are perky, fun, and will keep your interest. This was my first Roxy album and I could get enough after I heard this one. "Praire Rose" may be the coolest song here, with a "country rock style". But there's jazzy sounds, blues, funk, metal riffs, a litle bit of everything. Not a bad track here. "All I Want Is You", is a great rocker, with a nice backbeat. "Out of The Blue" zips with rolling piano and violin, with awesome bass and synth. Maybe Eno left Roxy, but his influence is obvious until the album "Avalon". Lots of cool synth, and weird Eno-sounds to spice up the music. I guess this is quintessential "Glam, Rock", and even though I don't get the makeup and the drag look, I love the music. Bowie's "Glam" era also produced some great, very cool music too. If you like Country Life, you are bound to like "For Your Pleasure", "Siren", and "Stranded" for sure. Is Country Life a masterpiece? I don't know, but it's one of the coolest albums I've heard.