Four years had passed since Roxy Music released "Siren" and hit the U.S. big time sorta, with "Love Is The Drug." Most assumed the band had broken up, but it was apparently just a hiatus and it was back to business with 1979's "Manifesto" and a coinciding tour.
(I saw this tour at The Palladium and witnessed Phil Manzanera changing guitars mid-song at least five different times. Blew my mind.)
But I digress.
I liked the record, but I didn't love it. "Siren" remains my favorite Roxy album, an album that took the art rock and glam of their previous records, tightened up the songwriting and created what I think is one of the best sounding records in the history of recorded music. Drummers, if you're reading, when you're in the studio making your band's first record, insist your drums sound like Paul Thompson, regardless of the type of music you're playing. No one will listen to you, but at least you can say you tried.
But I digress.
In my world. "Manifesto" was never going to live up to "Siren." But what made me truly angry, were the rock critics, who as usual, only listened to enough of the record to make their review seem plausible. Some, didn't listen at all and just read press releases and hype stickers.
I recall a review by the Daily News' health editor/podiatrist turned music journalist Hugh Wyatt who wrote a lukewarm review of the just released Talk Talk album "The Colour Of Spring," except he wrote,"The Colour Of Spring's new album 'Talk Talk.'" The guy should have stuck to jazz, his purported specialty, since he could barely read a rock and roll hype sticker. (I wish I could remember if Wyatt reviewed "Manifesto," but I can't.)
Once again, I digress.
"Manifesto" was called among other things, a failed attempt at new wave and light weight disco. All Music says it's unsatisfactory "disco-pop" even though that's not a thing.
The title track is massive! It's nothing but verse after modulating verse. No chorus. No bridge. It's genius. And if there's one song that sounds like the proper progression after "Siren" it's "Manifesto." The extended instrumental intro contradicts All Music's claim that the band has "edited out the instrumental interludes in favor of concise pop songs." Okay, it begins the song, so it's not an interlude. Sue me.
I'd say the first single "Trash" was indeed a successful attempt at new wave. It bashes away so quickly, there's no time to argue what it is. It works, and that's what counts.
The slightly strange horn lines in "Angel Eyes" call back the arrangements found on the debut and "For Your Pleasure." Two more songs that are hardly "concise pop songs" are "Still Falls The Rain" and "Stronger Through The Years." These tracks are dramatic and ominous with beautiful melodies, sounds that Ferry would consistently opt for on his solo work only with smaller testicles.
"Manifesto" is not all good. "My Little Girl" is a little too twee, and the two songs that close out Side Two just maybe...maybe fall into that "disco-pop" thing. But Side One is a winner from head to tail, and how bad can Side Two be if you get to listen to "Ain't That So," another song that could have been on the first album, and the gorgeous hit "Dance Away."
CAVEAT EMPTOR:
You want the original pressing, as subsequent pressings pretty much fucked things up with bad ideas that label heads hoped would be user friendly, like remixes and alternates.
On a five star scale-
1979- **1/2
2025- ***1/2
14 comments:
I have two vinyl copies of "Siren". I love it that much. I played "Manifesto" once when it came out. I thought it telling that the cover was filled with manikins instead of living beauties. In the 90's, I bought a used CD from you at NYCD and played it again. It had improved a little. I just now ran through the whole thing, and the only song I really dislike is "Dance Away". Half the songs are cowrites with Phil and Andy, and sound like it. Once again, I couldn't agree more.
Those guys fall into a category (for me) which I refer to as "Lord knows, I've tried." With one or two exceptions they do absolutely nothing for me.
Ain’t That So got a fair amount of airplay in Northern California and I was already enamored with Country Life and Siren. Manifesto isn’t as strong as those two or For Your Pleasure or Stranded, but I listen to it more often than Flesh and Blood or their debut, and more now than when I was young.
- Paul in DK
"Manifesto isn’t as strong as those two or For Your Pleasure or Stranded"
Of course not! I wasn't saying that. BUT...I do think "Manifesto" plays much better than the debut, which may have been groundbreaking, but doesn't work so well now. Whereas, "For Your Pleasure" is a huge jump from the debut and is my next fave after "Siren."
Ditto to Steve
I bought Manifesto when it was first released and always liked it. I don't hear any "disco pop" on it. And I think the side 2 closer "Spin me Round" is a strong closer
Steve-
Let's hear the exceptions rather than the usual disdain.
Always liked Manifesto, and still do. But thanks, Sal, for sending me back to Siren--one I enjoyed back then but haven't played much lately. Time for another listen.
Manifesto was definiitely a disappointment to me when it came out. Depending on which way the wind blows, it may be my least favorite RM studio effort. Although that's a toss up with Flesh + Blood. Nevertheless, all of their albums are worth owning. But I'm a completist.
I'm very partial to the first three. At the time of their release, I thought that Country Life and Siren were Roxy Music gradually selling out. Since then, I softened on that.
Manifesto was a disppointment but that didn't stop me from seeing a couple of shows on that tour. They were always such a good live band! Many may disagree with me, but I wished Viva! Roxy Music was a double live album. I first saw Roxy Music in 1972. They blew me away both musicaly and visually. They were third on the bill with Ten Years After headlining. I actually went to the gig to get another look at 2nd billed Wild Turkey, who impressed me when I saw them open for Sabbath earlier that year. Roxy Music was terrific! I didn't know jack about them. Got their album the next day. About a week later, a guy that worked for Phonograph Record magazine invited me along to their gig at the Whisky a Go Go. Holy cow! They owned me after that one!
On the Manifesto tour a good chunk of the show was from the new album. But they didn't play Dance Away. I had just gotten a Sony D5, which was the best field recorder I had up to that point. Something happened with my AKG mic connection and the tape came out worthless. A pisser. Gotta keep those male connectors clean. The new material sounded better in a live setting. But it didn't even come close to the older songs in the set.
I judge the Manifesto through Avalon albums separately from the first five albums. I don't completely loathe Manifesto but I can't say that over time it sounds better. At least for me.
VR
"I judge the Manifesto through Avalon albums separately from the first five albums."
I hear that. The hiatus also brought in Gary Tibbs, Alan Spenner and Paul Carrack. It wasn't the same band. It felt...wrong. But as weak as "Flesh & Blood" is, there are still a few moments that feel like the Roxy of the first five. "Avalon" is where I got off the bus. That's all Ferry. It's a good Ferry solo record. But it's a real shitty Roxy record. I prefer "Flesh & Blood."
Sal:
I think you're right. I just gave Avalon a spin and it's not very good. I must have been drinking wine, dropping Soma, sniffing snow and engaging in shallow dreamlike sex to excess during 1982. Boy, talk about being worse than I remember ....
I have to say your critique of Manifesto is on the money with regard to the songs you mentioned. When I saw Roxy Music on that tour they did all of Side One and Ain't That So. Every song you praised except Dance Away. And I must say they were better in a live setting, especially Manifesto and Trash. Not to be denied by the Pasadena fiasco, I did manage to get a good 1979 tape of them in San Diego. But that's another story.
VR
You're right this is a lot better listening experience than I expected. Hope you have a few more to share.
Two days late and two dollars short here…
Dance Away was the second song I knew as being by Roxy Music, the first being Love Is The Drug. That’s all the Roxy that got played on the radio where I grew up. I liked it so much I went and bought the album, which I think hit the cut-out bin about a month after its release. But the song is still one of my favorite Roxy songs, and it brings back many fond memories.
Now, I get that Avalon sounds more like a Ferry solo record, but it does have Phil and Andy on it. So I still include it firmly in the Roxy camp. But either way, it’s a damn fine record. For me, it still holds up after all this time. I just listened to it 2 weeks ago. Please don’t hurt my baby. :-)
Excellent review of my fave RM record and one that I played to death
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