Artist: Bryan Ferry Album: These Foolish Things

Year: 1973
Duration: 0:0-1

These Foolish Things Album Review - A Critic's Take on Bryan Ferry's Classic

As listeners, we all come across albums that we instantly hit it off with while others, we need a little bit of time to sink into. Bryan Ferry's These Foolish Things falls somewhere in between. If you're a fan of the unique genre of glam rock, you might have a little idea of who Bryan Ferry is. But even if you're not, the album has enough diversified songs to sway you in its essence. So let's jump into the world of Bryan Ferry, his album These Foolish Things, his music genre, the album's top songs, and what makes it distinctive.

Bryan Ferry, an English rock singer-songwriter, first made his mark in the music industry as the lead vocalist and main songwriter of the band Roxy Music in the 1970s. After the group's temporary disbandment, Ferry launched his solo career in 1973 and has given many successful albums since. These Foolish Things, his debut solo album, was released in 1973. The album's concept is founded on Ferry's deep admiration for popular music from the forties and fifties. The impression with which Ferry interprets these songs is what makes him so unique; his nostalgic voice and personal styles will leave a mark on you.

The album's genre is a mix of glam rock, soft rock, and pop that transports you into a musical time warp. Each song in the album is a cover, from the '40s to the early '60s, with Bryan's twist added to it. Although the era he references is the foundation of his interpretation, the song's music arrangement and the contemporaneous rendition lend these compositions a very modern feel. It's a perfect watch for anyone interested in glam rock or looking for something out of the ordinary.

Let's dive into the album's songs and figure out why they stand out. The album opener, A Hard Rain's A-Gonna Fall, is a classic Bob Dylan original. Ferry arranges the track in such a way that you might miss the underlying apocalyptic lyrics if you don't pay careful attention. The second top song on the list is the Gershwin classic, Summertime. The track's effortless notes blend with Brian's singing in such a way that it feels almost chimerical. These Foolish Things is another top song and one of the album's few tracks with a more robust sound. The album rewards the listener with River Of Salt, a traditional soft rock song that showcases Ferry's evocative phrasing and sultry tone.

As we dissect the album's most imaginative parts, we land on Ferry's voice and his ability to reinterpret songs and make them his own. Throughout the album, Ferry's vocal delivery is sensitive and indulgent, emphasizing his love for the songs' melodies. It's All Over Now, Baby Blue, a song by Bob Dylan, is a good example of his ability to translate a song into something completely new. Ferry's version has a more upbeat tempo, a guitar solo over the bridge, and de-emphasizing the importance of the song's lyrics.

There is so much to love about These Foolish Things and Ferry's music. However, it wouldn't be a complete review without my personal takes on the album's shortcomings. Although the songs are impressively produced and arranged, the album's consistencies lie in the similarities between the songs. The sound becomes monotonous at times, and this may lead to some listeners losing interest.

In conclusion, Bryan Ferry's These Foolish Things is a beautiful album, perfect for anyone whose musical tastes are adventurous and open. Ferry is an artist with a unique vision, and this album, with its imaginative arrangements and impactive covers, showcases that vision entirely. The album's genre might take a little time to get into, but if listed to more, the listener would ultimately come to appreciate the varied blend of easily recognizable songs. We might not all appreciate the same thing, but These Foolish Things has something in it to be appreciated by any music lover.