1. Death on Two Legs (Dedicated to..
.) (3:43) 2. Lazing on a Sunday Afternoon (1:08) 3.
I'm in Love With My Car (3:05) 9. Love of My Life (3:38) 12. God Save the Queen (1:11) 13.
I'm in Love With My Car* (1991 Remix) (3:05) Finally we have Queen in the prog archives. Their first five albums are all prog, combinated with elements of pop, rock, swing, folk, blues, classic, musical. They played all these different styles and introduced the influences to the unique combination, which make Queen finally to one of the best bands the world had ever seen and heard.
The Opera" album, it's also the most flexible and monumental the band had ever done. of the record is the best progressive hard-rock epic of all time, called "Prophet Song". tunes in the middle part!
is, here in the magic "39". It is sensational, how Queen managed all of it here, to a time as the prog rock was going down and slowly died with the upcoming punk-revolution, which inspired not only the next prog giant in the form of Rush, but also younger talents like Savatage, Dream Theater, Symphony X or Spock's Beard. Posted Friday, July 29, 2005, 13:32 EST |
the style, the changing tempo and of course the dark lyrics (even though lyrics is not a known worldwide by all music buffs, be it pop, rock or jazz lovers.
When I heard Marillion's "Script for a Jester's Tear" (the song) I remembered Bohemian Rhapsody. Not in terms of similar melody, but in terms of how the style changes with the flow of music with a nice transition between style. Yes, Bohemian is much more abrupt in change of style compared to Script.
My point is simple: if we consider Marillion's music under prog category judging from Script, why not Bohemian Rhapsody? Queen albums. My best favorite track is odd to many people and probably to you, i.
e. "The Prophet's Song". Why?
The melody of the song is really touchy. Musically, I like the choral section of this song performed a capella. It reminds me to Gentle Giant even though the choir style is totally different.
Whenever I listen to this song, my pulse is running swiftly and I cannot let my mouth shut; I always sing with the band. It's so powerful song! The It's a highly recommended album.
Keep on rockin' ..!
Peace on earth and mercy mild, GW Posted Sunday, July 31, 2005, 06:52 EST |
Ah! This is it! The album which contains both Freddie's piece de resistance (Bohemian history) and the amazing Brian May masterclass The Prophet's Song.
Anyone who listens to these two afore-mentioned epics is really a thing of beauty. May's controlled aggression in The inventive and ambitious. They are two of the greatest prog songs I've ever heard and on the basis of this two tracks alone, A Night At The Opera is worth owning.
Amazingly, the rest of the album is a fascinating diverse collection of theatrical hard rock (Lazing On A Sunday Afternoon, Seaside Rendezvous and Good Company) and piano-pop While I still believe Queen II to be the group's greatest prog achievement, this is a very, very close second. ..
. 90% on the MPV scale Posted Sunday, July 31, 2005, 07:19 EST |
An album of considerable variation, both in style and quality. The best bits (Bohemian Rhapsody and The Prophet's song) are as good as it gets, using multiple overdubbed harmonies and searing guitar, characterised by May's masterful use of effects (as befits a man with PhD in physics).
Other tracks are also enjoyable (39, You're my Best Friend, Love in Love with my Car is no exception; it sounds crude. The rest tends to have a Vaudeville feel and is just OK but, overall, the album doesn't quite have the consistency of it's predecessor, hence the 4* rating. Still well worth buying.
Posted Sunday, July 31, 2005, 10:26 EST |
One of the classic rock albums of all time! BUT, is it prog? Here and there, yes it is.
Putting aside my own mild reservations as to whether or not Queen should be in the archives, there is no getting away from the fact that this album is progressive in its own right. ANATO is a collection of brilliantly crafted, eclectic songs; fusing styles and moods with drama, comedy and camp. 'Death on Two legs' is a brilliant opener, with screaming guitar effects and a dramatic Cello build up, and witty bitchy lyrics about someone they know, but refuse to identify on the sleeve notes!
comedic time machine and celebrating/lampooning a quintisessential English time gone by. Queen at their eccentric best! 'Prophets Song' is probably my favourite on this album.
It's atmosphere of foreboding prophecy, is consolidated by the hypnotic depth of the multi tracked vocals, and dramatic heavy guitar interludes. May tinkles his mandolin over howling desert winds at the start of this semi epic, while Mercurys soft trembling vocals warn us of 'storm that gathers here' One of Queens greatest pieces IMO..
'Love of my Life' is simply a great love song, complete with wafting waves of Harp! The lyrcis are heartfelt and the piano part exquisitely sad. Dont listern to this at the tail end of failed relationship!
!! Queen were masters at switching from comedy to tragedy in the space of a couple of songs, and ANATO is one of Queens finest hours in this respect.
The beauty of this album is it's variety of moods and themes, which interweave with each other,cleverly avoiding any loss of continuity. The only weak points IMO, are 'Sweet Lady' and '39' and they're not that bad, just relativly not as good as the rest. I need say nothing about Bohemian Rhapsody.
It's a masterpiece, but I've heard it so much, that when I play this album, I always skip it! Such is the tragedy of radio/TV overplay. You cant blame Queen for that.
Posted Wednesday, August 03, 2005, 10:20 EST |
one of the inevitable album of the 70's. I mean there was no escaping this album (or Queen in general) as you lived though those years! Even my grandparents had to admit to Somebody To Love , Scaramouchka the Bohemian that raps-sods-and-dies , etc.
..) simply because of the clever songwriting outstanding arrangements and sheer ingenuity.
How could a male teenager resist the I'm In Love With My Car even if his car was a rust bucket? Bohemians reasons. I mean there are weaker songs on this album , (I will not single them out, though) and songs thay are a bit too easy (Seaside RV) to my tastes!
However , Posted Friday, August 05, 2005, 08:58 EST |
In the early 90's, Mike Myers and Dana Carvey litteraly resurrected Bohemian Rhapsody from it's ashes. The movie Wayne's World really showed to a huge crowd of youngsters that Queen is a huge band. I remembered that the national radio station brought the song back on air at a very high rotation.
And it's true, Queen has tremendous, enourmous talent and the album A Night at the Opera is certainly not a bore. You won't yawn one minute. It is a very, very good rock and roll record but also a fairly good attempt at making it progressive.
As Queen would shout it loud: 'NO SYNTHETISERS!' This record has no synths and it feels good to change of pace. Queen were capable of standing on their own legs and even creating the wave.
Roger Taylor had his style, so did Brian May, Freddie Mercury and Deacon. They were better musicians than the Beatles, expand their tastes, but we do feel the shadow of the White Album once in a while. Side 4 of the White Album).
Those are not the most progressive but they're fun like hell! I'm very impressed by the containing of the record. It aged kinda well (like most Queen albums) and it has a lot of humor in it.
Not a 'progressive rock' masterpiece, but certainly a real rock n' roll piece of history. Owning this record is possessing a true, genuine gem of the 70's that you play over and over throughout the years.k Long live the Queen!
Posted Monday, August 08, 2005, 21:41 EST |
I liked Queen from the beginning, buying 'Seven Seas Of Rhye' long before it became a hit. Nevertheless, 'A Night At The Opera' was the first of their albums that I bought. I always thought this one to be probably their best one, although a friend of mine, and equally long standing Queen fan, has always declared his favourite to be the previous one, 'Sheer Heart Attack'.
The more I have listened to that one over the years, the more I have almost come to the same conclusion. Their best has to be one of those two, (although 'Queen 2' creeps into the equation as well at times). Anyway.
Back to this album. I always admired the cover of this record, it is so neat and tidy, and looks almost Royal in its simplicity. Also, on the old vinyl LP, the record label is the same Queen crest as on the cover.
This was a trick they were to repeat with the next offering, 'A Day At The Races', where the cover became black instead of white and the crest was altered somewhat. Even 'News Of The World' the next offering, had a crest for the label, although, again, it was an altered one. 'Death On Two Legs.
..' is an excellent opener, a rock song with good lyrics and harmonies, and nice piano.
That has always been one of Queen's strengths, the wonderful harmonies. How Roger Taylor hits some of the high notes he hits, I dread to think. Pliers between the legs?
Or is he a closet eunuch? The second track, 'Lazing On A Sunday Afternoon', is a typically theatical performance from the boys, very old fashioned in melody, with good piano and a concise but effective solo from Brian May. (My mother used to like most of this album!
) 'I'm In Love With My Car' is a classic Roger original. Always the rockiest of the band, this is a simple but catchy song, with typically whisky soaked vocals from the drummer, and heavy guitar chords throughout. So simple, in fact, that even I was able to pick it up on the guitar!
'You're My Best Friend' was a single, and, again, is a catchy number, though not one of my faves. Interesting electric piano from John Deacon on this one. '39' has superbly atmospheric acoustic guitar work, and nice harmonies.
Brian sings this one, and it conjures up what it is supposed to conjure up! Listen and see if you don't agree. Then comes the only average song on the album, the very ordinary, almost Stones influenced 'Sweet Lady'.
Too heavy and strangely almost melody free. My least fave on here..
.and my mother didn't like this one either! 'Seaside Rendezvous' ends the old side one, and is another old-fashioned trip down memory lane.
Well constructed, it again shows the writing talents of this outfit, and again has superior piano work. Another song to sing along to. 'Prophet's Song' opens side two, and is a genuine progressive piece, and the longest on here.
Mysterious and enjoyable, with the classic ear-swapping vocals and guitar work shown off to good effect here. Listen through the headphones. 'Love Of My Life' is a nice ballad, starting off with atmospheric harp work that then leads in to that wonderful piano again.
Not my favourite track, but a good song. 'Good Company', sung by Brian, is another old- fashioned tune, almost George Formbyish in construction, but very clever at the same time. Excellent.
No need to mention 'Bohemian Rhapsody' as most people on the planet will know it. I used to play this loads, although even I am a tad tired of hearing this now. The instrumental version of the National Anthem, 'God Save The Queen' is a very apt way to end this record.
I can't comment on the two bonus tracks, not having heard them, but this album is well worth the investment. Buy it!
News RSS