A Thoroughly Underrated Release
Of Roxy Music's eight studio releases, "Flesh + Blood" tends to be the most overlooked. While probably not the best (the usual nod for that goes to either "Siren" or "Avalon") or filled with the jaded ennui of their first four albums, "Flesh + Blood" marks the transition that was fully realized in "Avalon" to a quieter, less threatening (and Brian Eno-less) Roxy Music. The opening track, a cover of Wilson Pickett's "In The Midnight Hour" paves the way for a more tuneful, less quirky album, filled with sentimental gems such as "Oh Yeah" (one outstanding make-out track) and "My Only Love" and the brooding "Flesh And Blood." It's a fine collection of tunes, and serves as an excellent starting point for people interesting in checking out one of the most underrated bands of the '70's and early '80's.
An Underrated Classic!
Sadly, FLESH & BLOOD is considered to be one of the lesser Roxy Music albums. While it is clearly not as chaotic and amazing as, say, FOR YOUR PLEASURE and COUNTRY LIFE, or as expertly crafted as the later AVALON, it is a collection of amazingly well-written, well-played songs that come together quite nicely. Furthermore, if one listens to many of the songs on FLESH & BLOOD, they will realize why Roxy Music was so far ahead of their time. Songs on this disc look forward to not only AVALON, but also works by other bands of that era such as DURAN DURAN and BLONDIE, to name just two.
IF you can get past the mediocre, at best, covers of EIGHT MILES HIGH and THE MIDNIGHT HOUR, you will be in for a treat. OVER YOU, OH YEAH, SAME OLD SCENE, MY ONLY LOVE, and RUNNING WILD rank as some of the finest Ferry-penned songs of the 1980's. Give it a listen. You won't be disappointed!
there's a band playin' on the radio
I never understood why the critics hated this so. Sure, the glam posturing is fading, and the remakes of 8 Miles High and the Midnight Hour are campy. But Ferry's unique crooning and songcraft are starting to supplant the fashionista gimmicks of Roxy's 70's art-rock schtick with work that sticks in your head because of its beauty and content, not its image. Oh Yeah is a beautiful, wistful song of lost love that that doesn't sound dated after 24 years. My Only Love is heartache in melody, and Flesh + Blood is still hard to figure out but impossible to resist. Running Wild is a melodic musing on self-destruction, and if you've seen someone else crash-and-burn, it becomes all the more interesting. Overall, this album is better than its precursor Manifesto, and a great prelude to the classic, unforgettable Avalon. Buy it, put on your pyjamaramas,play it in a dark room with a good bottle of wine, and let it wash over you. Then see what's in your Dreamhome...
Roxy, least adventurous but man did it sell
In 1980 Roxy Music released Flesh & Blood. The beginning of the Ferry Lounge Lizard phase, it was less than favourably received by the critics who continued to expect ground breaking progressive rock from Bry & the Boys. For me this is the least dated sounding of all the albums and probably the most influential in terms of the New Wave thing that occured with OMD, Simple Minds, Human League, ABC et al. Highlights are the Byrd`s Eight Miles High with the Funky brilliant, ending. Over You a great pop tune. My Only Love, Ferry`s ode to whoever he was involved with at the time. Oh Yeah another poignant moment with great vocal delivery. I just wonder what McKay did whilst waiting for his sax pieces which are few & far between. It appears Roxy were pretty much Ferry, Manzanera, McKay at this time with lots of session superstars, Andy Newmark, Paul Carrick ex Squeeze & other mid 70 British pop bands, Neil Hubbard & Garry Tibbs on bass of Adam & the Ants became Roxy`s touring bassist. Realistically there are no weak moments on the album. A step up from Manifesto & certainly Siren.
Drowning The Sound of My Tears
Probably Roxy Music's least critically-lauded LP, FLESH+BLOOD has always been my favorite Roxy record.The covers--"The Midnight Hour" and "Eight Miles High"--are lame and dull, but if you strip them away and listen only to the Roxy originals, this is a fine LP.
I rarely played side two of my old vinyl copy, because side one was just so great. "Oh Yeah," "Same Old Scene," "Flesh and Blood," (with a scorching guitar/synth riff) and "My Only Love" rank as some of the best music Roxy Music ever recorded.
Limited Edition 'LP Style 'Cardboard Sleeve Remastered Edition.
