The Jukebox Rebel

“Siren” was widely acclaimed, but I can’t escape the feeling that they’re slowly slipping away from me at this stage. The smoother they get, the less I’m loving them, but the edginess and inventiveness remains here and there; overall there’s enough to register as another worthwhile document in the Roxy story. As they always seem to do, they start with a cracker, “Love Is The Drug”, a huge #2 hit in the UK pop chart, with a bassline from John Gustafson which is up there with George Harrison’s “Taxman” in the great 20th century bassline stakes. “Whirlwind” kicks in with some much-needed attitude and drama at the end of side 1: “How far is Shangri-la from here, and is it this way? There she blows, tear me down tornado. Whirlpool! Drag me to the deeps below.” The only other track which takes my fancy is “Both Ends Burning”, ironically the smoothest, most-suave offering on the LP, which is New Romantic way before its time, and could easily be placed on Top of The Pops 1981, in between Japan and Duran Duran. File under evolving underground art-rockers deliver decent pop record.

The Jukebox Rebel
27–Feb–2010

A1	[04:11] Roxy Music - Love Is The Drug (Bryan Ferry, Andy Mackay) New Wave
A2	[05:14] Roxy Music - End Of The Line (Bryan Ferry) Cerebral Pop
A3	[06:14] Roxy Music - Sentimental Fool (Bryan Ferry, Andy Mackay) Cerebral Pop
A4	[03:38] Roxy Music - Whirlwind (Bryan Ferry, Phil Manzanera) New Wave
B1	[03:39] Roxy Music - She Sells (Bryan Ferry, Eddie Jobson) Rock
B2	[03:36] Roxy Music - Could It Happen To Me? (Bryan Ferry) Cerebral Pop
B3	[05:16] Roxy Music - Both Ends Burning (Bryan Ferry) New Wave
B4	[04:11] Roxy Music - Nightingale (Bryan Ferry, Phil Manzanera) Cerebral Pop
B5	[06:31] Roxy Music - Just Another High (Bryan Ferry) Cerebral Pop

ratings by TJR