Track Listing

1. Love Is the Drug
2. End of the Line
3. Sentimental Fool
4. Whirlwind
5. She Sells
6. Could It Happen to Me?
7. Both Ends Burning
8. Nightingale
9. Just Another High

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #17734 in Music
• Brand: Roxy
• Released on: 2000-03-14
• Number of discs: 1
• Formats: Original recording reissued, Original recording remastered
• Dimensions: .21 pounds

Amazon.com
Released before Roxy Music became a de facto Bryan Ferry project, but after their Brian Eno-influenced art-rock stage, Siren is a snapshot of a band in flux, and loving it. There's little of the boundary-pushing primitivism that marked their self-titled debut. Still, Ferry's youthful edge and the band's rough-hewn melodicism will shock those expecting to hear the adult-contemporary silkiness found on 1982's massive-selling Avalon. Both camps should nevertheless admire this record for so recklessly and beautifully straddling that massive stylistic gap. Featuring their first modest hit in the U.S., "Love Is the Drug," the record overflows with choruses that reveal their hooks slowly while drawing on sunny, spare instrumentation and Ferry's loopy, still-developing croon. As the band wrestles between glam-pop, sleek dance tunes, and shiny, Moody Blues-esque rock & roll, they don't sound at all like a band running from its past. Ferry and his cohorts are just taking back the reins, revealing the brisk melodies and strong songwriting that were the one constant in Roxy Music's lifespan. --Matthew Cooke

Customer Reviews

Siren Song
The self titled debut Roxy Music(72) and its follow-up For Your Pleasure(73) gave the band a reputation as being a kind of English Velvet Underground. By discs three and four, Stranded(73) and Country Life(74), the bands sound was more under control, but still their sound from record to record changed so much that it was hard to know exactly where or how to categorize them. Siren(75) is their fifth record and apparently was one the band was never completely happy with. However like everything else Roxy Music did between 72-75 it has a certain unique appeal. 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 because its done so well. Some of the early Roxy records are brilliant but kind of patchy and some of the later ones feather light disco. Siren is a solid listening experience all the way through. If you want kitschy art collages get those first two records. If you want Roxy Music the thinking mans refined rock show get Stranded or Country Life or the live Viva. But 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 name is irresistable. Everything in my opinion the band did up to 75 is worth your time. After 75 Avalon is the only one you need.

The Best Roxy Music CD
"Siren" is the best of all of Roxy Music's CDs. If you have not heard or bought any Roxy Music albums this is the place to start. When this album came out in 1975 I was very surprised that it was not a hit. It has catchy, radio-friendly songs like "Love is the Drug" and "She Sells" as well as more FM rock like "Both Ends Burning" and "Whirlwind". Roxy Music's "Art Rock" is more in line with 1970s David Bowie than Yes or Rush, both of which stress long, meandering strong structures and instrumental prowess over self-contained songs. While the players here (especially Paul Thompson on drums and Phil Manzanera on guitars) are virtuosos on their instruments their virtuosity never gets in the way of melody or strong song structures. The audio effects, such as the synthesizer swirls and guitar feedback that open "Sentimental Fool" or "Both Ends Burning" are at the service of the songs and not visa versa. Vocalist Bryan Ferry's distant and ironic interpretations of these songs tend to heighten lyrics obsessed with loneliness and the search for love. Now about the cover: the "siren" here is a young Jerry Hall currently (?) Mrs. Mick Jagger and then Bryan Ferry's girlfriend.

I love this album the start of a more mature Roxy
This is one of my favorite Roxy albums period, atomspheric, rocking smooth perfect for it's time and place.This is where Roxy Music grew up as a band. It's glam, art- rock, dance music for hipsters and where I really got into them after listening to Avalon. My favorite songs on this album is "End of the line", for it's folk/lounge singer guality lyrics by Ferry as always and the Violin intro by Jobson is amongst my favorite Roxy Song. "Love is the Drug" for it's faux dance- funk rhythms with Mackay's sax counterpoint the rocking "Whirlwind" with Ferry and Phil Manzanera(so underrated a guitarist)rocking out like a banshee. Siren indicates a change in the Roxy sound (which would piss off fans to this day)those who prefer the first 5 albums as true "Roxy Music" albums as opposed to the Manifesto - Avalon albums as the band became a Bryan Ferry solo venture. This band deserves to be in the Rock - n- Roll hall of fame for the groundbreaking albums they released between 1972- 1982. Siren being their midway benchmark for their artistic vison. I would tell anyone to get this album & Avalon first. it's a great introduction to a great band