The Country Life album is probably the highpoint of Roxy Music’s post-Brian Eno career. The mood for the album is set by the powerful pounding drums of Paul Thompson and Phil Manzanera's guitar work. Surprisingly, there is even a straight-ahead blues number ("
If It Takes All Night") with
Bryan Ferry performing an unbelievably brilliant harp solo. It also has one of the very best Roxy songs ever, "Out Of The Blue," perhaps the only tune featuring violin & oboe that is capable of making your head spin at high volume levels. All in all this is a grand record. It's stylish, smart, sharp, and yet has a heart. It’s one of the best albums the 70s had to offer.
