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Bryan Ferry: Bête Noire (Reprise)

Richard Riegel, Creem, March 1988

BRYAN FERRY was easier for a common clod like me to take back in the 1970s, when his precocious elegance and studied world-weariness were contained by the twin musical formats they inhabited. Roxy Music was fleshed out by fellow egotists like Brian Eno and Phil Manzanera, who didn't hesitate to tread on Ferry's patent-leather pumps if it meant asserting their own instruments. And Bryan Ferry's solo albums of that time were nicely checkered with those bizarre cover versions of unlikely rock standards. In either context, Bryan Ferry's innate egomania was kept greased back in a smooth pompadour by the multitude of disparate personalities who lent their styling combs to each album.

Total word count of piece: 771

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