Music Reviews

By time queen went in to the studio to record what would be, at that time, the most expensive album ever recorded, they had broken up with their manager, Norman Sheffield. A man so evil by all accounts that, despite having a number one hit, Freddie had to beg to Continue Reading

The first real “anthem” in the bands catalog, Lap has little to do with the Side Two opener save the name. Instead, it’s a stadium ready beast that seems to say (well, Freddie is the one saying it, really) “we are meant to pay for thousands, nay, HUNDREDS of thousands Continue Reading

Utilizing a wall of sound, heavy breathing and some elegiac harmonies reminiscent of The Monkees’ The Porpoise Song, Brian May comes up with the only…ballad? It’s a fitting coda to this hodgepodge of a record if the least inventive or interesting. I enjoy the nightmare city sounds that overwhelm the Continue Reading

Another harbinger of what would come on the next record this is a retro vaudeville song complete with brian may on ukelele, jangly piano, some terrific noodling by Brian on electric and some neat bass playing by John. The real treat here is Freddie. Doubling, tripling, acting, echoing, he does Continue Reading

The first John Deacon penned track is the tritest song on the record. And the one that harkens the most to The Beatles. Mostly in instrumentation, with the loopy lick and the bouncy McCartney bass line. The song itself is the definition of forgettable, so thank goodness it’s just 1:50. Continue Reading

In keeping with the concept of this being the boys’ Abbey Road, Brian May follows the shredtastic Stone Cold Crazy with a piece of piffle. A little piano piece featuring Freddie’s exceptional vocals. Another song that could be longer but end up being the perfect length and just over a Continue Reading

Have you ever heard Metallica do this song? They really didn’t have to do much to make it sound authentically metal. It’s a shredder of a piece. Spitfire rapped out verses with no melody to speak of sandwiched between the title as chorus sung as in signature harmony. There’s a Continue Reading

Perhaps the most bizarre song in the bands earlier catalog. It’s not the first operatic venture (March of the Black Queen) but it is easily the main precursor to BoRhap. But much weirder.The opening verse starts with the obligatory opera shrieks but turns into a ballad where Freddie’s voice is Continue Reading

The first real stadium ready, blues breaking, anthem in the bands repertoire, comes at the end of Sheer’s first side. It’s raucous, fun and a showcase for Brian. Who perhaps was making up for lost time on the first record. Sort of the spiritual cousin of Brighton Rock, Now is Continue Reading

The kindred spirit of Nevermore. It’s a lovely, if super short ballad featuring Freddie on piano and vocals and vocals and vocals. Wen the rest of the band comes in, you’d swear this song is longer and even more fully realized than it is. But it’s just 1:45. And it’s Continue Reading