Originally got out in 1995 and now re-released, The Thrill of It All box set hits all the high points of the Roxy canon. Early records had a more jagged sound thanks to Brian Eno’s synth experiments, but when he split to pursue tape-loop electronica, singer Bryan Ferry was left at the helm. His interests lay in smooth, lushly romantic pop. If he’d been born 25 years earlier, he would have been perfectly comfortable as a Crosby-style crooner. Instead, Ferry navigated the waters between disco, prog, soul, and Bowiesque glam, charting a new course toward adult contemporary. At times, the sophistication gave way to something soporific or preening. But there are moments of suave transcendence on all their studio records. While you’d still want Avalon and Country Life as separate albums, Thrill essentially replaces the rest of the Roxy catalog for the casual fan; you don’t miss much by culling the two good songs from Flesh and Blood and discarding the rest.
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