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Roxy Music singer's latest solo show suave, spellbinding and spectacularBryan Ferry - Live In LyonDVD Review (Eagle Rock Entertainment) 4 1/2 stars (out of 5 stars) October 9, 2013 |
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Review by Andy Argyrakis As the singer of Roxy Music, Bryan Ferry's already earned seminal status in the glam, art-rock and new-wave worlds, though he continues to make sophisticated strides in his solo career. His brand new Blu-ray/DVD "Live In Lyon" is nothing short of spellbinding as it captures the tour behind his first non-covers collection in eight years, "Olympia" (Virgin), marking a suave and soulful evolution for the veteran. Between classic band material, Ferry's stylish pop/rock blend, and several well-tailored covers, the set list spans over 40 years of gems backed by one of the tightest bands in the business and a smattering of stunning showgirls.Break it all down and that means soothingly hypnotic solo songs like "I Put A Spell On You" and "Slave To Love," a sophisticated stab at Bob Dylan's "Just Like Tom Thumb's Blues" though a glammy rendering of Roxy's "If There Is Something." The "Olympia" album also gets plenty of air time with the now 67-year-old sounding absolutely ageless on the charging "You Can Dance," and shortly thereafter, crooning his way through "Reason Or Rhyme" with unwavering class. Of course, the Roxy tunes earn the most applause with the sublime "Avalon" and the sputtering "Love Is The Drug" amongst the many highlights, though the singer also has no trouble taking complete ownership of tunes as diverse as Sam & Dave's soul standard "Hold On (I'm Coming) or John Lennon's gentle "Jealous Guy." In other words, Ferry doesn't just demonstrate a mastery of his own material, but the ability to browse all the greats that came before him, concurrently serving as one of this century's greatest innovators and supreme interpreters. Throw in a bonus documentary tracing the "Olympia" studio sessions (including interviews with Ferry, plus all-star collaborators like David Gilmour, Flea, Nile Rodgers, Dave Stewart and members of Scissor Sisters), and "Live In Lyon" is simply the latest treasure in a career chock full of jewels. |