Siren - ROXY MUSIC****

Love Is The Drug/End Of The Line/Sentimental Fool/Whirlwind/She Sells/Could It Happen To Me/Both Ends Burning/Nightingale/Just Another High

Siren was the final early 1970s album from the art rock band Roxy Music. It would be four years before the next release when Bryan Ferry would take them in a more pop direction. Features the pounding UK No. 2 hit Love Is The Drug. (US:50 UK:4)

“This is certainly as mainstream as art rock gets without ceasing to be art rock. It's accessible, often danceable and relatively catchy. It features little of the overt weirdness associated with early Roxy Music. It's just mainstream, good pop-rock. Ferry is a decent writer, his lyrics are fine and his melodies are interesting enough, and there's saxophone and violin to keep things slightly off kilter.”

“Like its predecessors, Siren is rooted in art rock and glam, but unlike those albums, more funk and soul elements have been incorporated and much of the angular arrangements and experimentalism have been sanded down to a smoother sheen.”

“Roxy Music's least experimental album to date finds Bryan Ferry in a contemplative mood that lends thematic strength to the strong set of melodies. Virtually every track is a winner, whether it is the pulsing Love Is The Drug or the winding Sentimental Fool.”

“Perhaps Roxy Music's most pop-oriented album to date. Siren significantly moved away from the fresh innovative avant-garde experimentalism that dominated their first two albums. Though less satisfying artistically this is still is an intriguing listen.”

“This version of Roxy Music lacks the artistic verve of the band that made earlier albums, but it is also hard to argue against the quality. Ferry sings better than ever and the tracks are consistently strong. Best of all, after so many songs about dancing, here is a Roxy record that actually makes you want to dance. Love Is The Drug remains the band's funkiest moment.”

“Siren is a combination of rock and very melodic pop. Which might not sound like a very infectious or exciting listening experience but it is done so well. If you want a solid batch of classic and listenable pop melodies that will not insult your intelligence but will please your ears over and over again, Siren like its namesake is irresistible.”