Customer Reviews

More Than This: The Best Of Bryan Ferry And Roxy Music

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I'm not sure what Virgin was thinking of when they put this collection together. It's not exactly new (the same CD was released overseas a couple of years ago)and the song selection is curious. Clearly this was designed for those folks who had heard Roxy's (and Ferry's) most popular singles.

While the choice of Roxy tracks are fairly predictable, the Ferry tracks are downright bizarre. The solo tracks aren't representative of Bryan's best songs. Instead, we see a couple of popular singles, but no songs from his best album (The Bride Stripped Bare)and latest album (Mamouna). Ferry's 5 albums with original material could easily be condensed into a single, great Best of collection. The same is true of Roxy Music. The band's 8 studio albums (and three live albums) would be represented better by a 2 disc retrospective. The key word here is marketing, marketing and, oh yes, marketing.

What More Than This lacks is depth. Sure Ferry and Roxy crafted some terrific singles (most of which are overlooked on this collection)but by focusing on the singles the strongest album tracks are neglected. Clearly someone at Virgin didn't feel that there were enough "hits" to sell the package. That fact alone hints at the real reason this package exists--it's product.

Streetlife (the previous Roxy/Ferry greatest hits combo) has a stronger selection of tunes and has a couple of surprising album tracks (although it, too is far from definitive). For Roxy Music fans that came on board with Avalon, Manifesto or Flesh & Blood this collection will probably be the perfect compilation. Unfortunately for the bulk of fans and casual listeners this CD isn't the best place to start.

If you like Bryan Ferry I'd suggest The Bride Stripped Bare, In Your Mind (it has a stronger R&B feel than Ferry's Roxy stuff), Boys & Girls, Bete Noire and Mamouna. I'd suggest Roxy Music, For Your Pleasure, Stranded, Country Life, Siren and Manifesto as these are some of the stronger albums from the band. If your a fan of Roxy's dreamy romantic Avalon sound I'd suggest that album along with the r&b tinged Manifesto and new wavish dance album Flesh & Blood.

It's nice to see that this has been re-released, I bought this greatest hits CD when it was first released probably about 10 or so years ago, and I can attest from the travels and plays that it has endured that it is one of my all time favorites. For those hopeless romantics, Ferry's dreamy voice is enough to make you want to fall in love all over again. And for those fan's of his classic Roxy Music era it has it all.

This CD is a 19 tracks taken from both Bryan Ferrys solo career and the ten year career of Roxy Music.

The track selection as another user said is quite predictable especially when it comes to the Roxy Music selections but where as the Streetlife CD still is a good sampler of Roxys songs, it at the same time is somewhat outdated when it comes to the best of Ferrys solo works.

More Than This does some work on that by including a track grabbed from Bete Noire and Taxi but even then the 'best of' title isn't always true. The 'best of' title is more of an individuals opinion than a fact because while it may be called 'The Best of Bryan Ferry & Roxy Music' too much of Ferrys strongest solo songs are left off particularly the enigmatic New Town, the shimmering The Right Stuff & the danceable classic Limbo. There is an import version of this CD that does include the beautiful Your Painted Smile that is not included on the US version and it's a pity because the US has been deprived of so much great music. Another thing about this CD that makes it so flawed is that it doesn't include anything from In Your Mind or Bride Stripped Bare.

On the other hand it does include a track from the 30s oriented As Time Goes By which I found dissapointing but have now come to gradually appreciate.

Veteran fans may not see much point in getting this CD because a good share of them might own most or all of these songs on their parent albums. For those who've never heard of either Roxy Music or Bryan Ferry, this CD is a great collection for the newbie fanbase. Still though it doesn't do either Ferry or Roxy a lot of justice.

I give this CD a five anyway because it's jam packed with just plain great music.

There is not much on this collection that is surprising, and in fact all of it has been available in several forms before except one track. And that one will be released on an album that is planned for an October 19th release. Most glaringly overlooked on this album is no inclusions from his latest album MAMOUNA. And when I was in the store it was labled "AS SEEN ON TV". Where did that come from? All in all, a great set if you are unfamiliar but die-hard fans probably own it all already or soon will.

This CD is a great selection of singles from both Roxy Music & Bryan Ferry packed onto one incredible CD. My favorite songs are Avalon, I Put A Spell On You, Slave To Love, Windswept, & Oh Yeah.

Only one problem with this CD is that it doesn't include any songs off the 1994 masterpiece Mamouna. It would have been great if they could have squeezed Your Painted Smile onto here. This CD would,ve been perfect if that had been included.

Apart from the lack of any songs off that album I still would recommend this collection but ultimately getting all of Roxys and Ferrys albums are the best bet.

The two previous reviewers obviously know a lot more about Bryan Ferry than I do; for me he was the guy whose music I would occasionally hear played on the car radio, like, and promise myself I was going to buy, and then -- forgot his name.

I finally remembered it, bought this disk, and have not regretted the purchase.Out of nineteen selections, there are only three dogs, and all of the music that I liked so much (e.g., "A Hard Rain's A Gonna Fall," "More Than This," "Avalon") is there. If you're not a Bryan Ferry fan, this disk will make you one.

The only disconcerting thing is that his voice keeps reminding me of Tiny Tim!

Originally bought after hearing the song "Slave to Love" used in many films, I was amazed at how many Bryan Ferry/Roxy Music songs I knew without realising. This is a great CD, well worth a listen, although to be honest - I do skip the first few tracks....

Not the CD Roxy Music fans are looking for. Any CD called the Best Of Roxy Music should have Do The Strand, Mother Of Pearl, Song For Europe, and Editions Of You. Of course, this one does not. This is another record company which does not have a clue about their artists. Roxy Music was much more than Bryan Ferry's backing group and would be better served with their own anthology, not lumped together with Ferry. Also, the group deserves a boxed set. When you realize Weird Al, Nick Lowe, etc have boxed sets, it is a shame that there isn't one domestically available for Roxy. This CD is good in that it gives Roxy Music some attention.

Very excellent variety of Bryan Ferry & Bryan Ferry and Roxy Music during the early years. Makes you want more CDs of this man's unique voice and style. I also recommend "Dylanesque".

Roxy Music was very innovative for their time and their sound progressed with every album. In particular, they used the synthesizer in a new way to create compelling textures in their fresh take on art rock.

Much variety is displayed here in the frenzied pop of their first major hit Virginia Plain, the majestic buzz of Love Is The Drug and the slick croon of Dance Away and More Than This, another take on plastic soul?

Avalon impresses with its mature lyricism while their interpretation of the classic Smoke Gets In Your Eyes has stood the test of time very well. But my favourite is Ferry's bizarre version of Bob Dylan's A Hard Rain's Gonna Fall, a truly amazing tour de force of hypnotic beats and weird vocals giving the song a complete make-over.

This is a good collection of songs and though it may not be complete nor please all the hardcore fans, it provides the cream of Roxy and Ferry's hit singles from their peak period, making it a good anthology for exploring the man and the band.