May 26th, 2024 - A Fresh and Juicy Country Life

 

Happy Sunday ravers, rockers, and hop lovers!  The Meista here today pairing Roxy Music's brilliant, "Country Life" album with a tasty Fresh and Juicy Session India Pale Ale from the fine folks at Silver Reef Brewing Company!

Album Info:

• Artist: Roxy Music
• Title: "Country Life"
• Recorded: July through August 1974 at AIR Studio in London, England
• Release date: November 15th, 1974 (4th studio album by Roxy Music)
• Record company: Island / Atco
• Production: John Punter and Roxy Music
• Album cover art: Eric Boman (photography) and Bryan Ferry (design)
• Personnel: John Gustafson (bass guitar), Bryan Ferry (lead vocals, keyboards, and harmonica), Eddie Jobson (strings, synthesizer, and keyboards),  Andy Mackay (oboe and saxophone), Phil Manzanera (guitars), and Paul Thompson (drums)
• Musical style: Glam rock/art rock with elements of blues, R&B, Cabaret, pop, classical, and jazz
• Sound: Arguably one of their best albums, "Country Life" is an elegant pop/glam rock album with refined depth and sexual undertone... and overtones.  Building from 1973's "Stranded," Bryan Ferry and the boys deliver a solid, refreshing and well textured work of artistic musicianship.  It is musically precise and well-produced, yet emotionally raw.  The infusion of jazz, rock, glam, pop, and Ferry's crooning is compelling.  Songs like the quintessential "The Thrill Of It All" and the sleek, sexy, classic "All I Want Is You," and the light but melancholy "A Really Good Time," seem to breathe "summer".  Manzanera's guitar work is near perfect, and Mackay's jazzy tone is brilliant throughout the album, especially on songs like "Three And Nine" and "Out Of The Blue."  There's even a bit of a honky-tonk twang to "If It Takes All Night."  And "Prairie Rose" is absolute magic.
• Major themes: Themes on the album include love, lust, relationships, life, sorrow, the " hollowness of the contemporary jet set", etc.
• Tracks:  

1. "The Thrill Of It All"
2. "Three And Nine"
3. "All I Want Is You"
4. "Out Of The Blue"
5. "If It Takes All Night"
6. "Bitter-Sweet"
7. "Triptych"
8. "Casanova"
9. "A Really Good Time"
10. "Prairie Rose"

Brew Info:

• Brewery: Silver Reef Brewing Company (Saint George, Utah)
• Website: https://sgbev.com/
• Brew: Fresh and Juicy Session India Pale Ale
• Style: India Pale Ale (IPA) 
• Serving: 12 ounce can
• ABV: 5.0%
• IBUs: 45
• Pour: The Fresh and Juicy pours a clear, bright golden yellow hue with a bubbly, thin white head with good retention and light soapy lacing.
• Nose: The nose is hoppy, floral, citrusy, and fruity.  There are aromas of wildflowers, grapefruit, orange, tangerine, mango, pineapple, lemon zest, crackery biscuit, and soft caramel/toffee.
• Taste: The taste of the Fresh and Juicy follows the nose with citrusy and fruity flavors.  There are notes of pink grapefruit juice, orange juice and peel, tangerine, mango, lemon zest, pale malt, lemongrass, and sweet toffee.
• Mouthfeel: Medium-bodied and moderately carbonated, the mouthfeel is very crisp, juicy, and refreshing, with a dry, clean finish.

Overall pairing: The crisp, drinkable, yet robust and well-balanced flavors of the Fresh and Juicy Session India Pale Ale from Silver Reef Brewing Company work wonderfully well with the crooning vocals of Ferry and the brilliant musicianship of the entire band!  The hoppy flavors and aromas are great for punchy songs like "Casanova", while the sweeter flavors mingle well with Manzanera's guitars and Mackay sax!

Cheers!!