Posted in
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Queen
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Genre
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Rock
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Media
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CD
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Label | EMI Records | ||
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Reviewer
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Gareth
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Track List
1. Keep Yourself Alive
2. Doing Alright
3. Great King Rat
4. My Fairy King
5. Liar
6. Night Comes Down
7. Modern Times Rock 'n' Roll
8. Son And Daughter
9. Jesus
10. Seven Seas Of Rhye
Description
Queen's 1973 debut is definitely their most underrated album of that decade. Although most tracks aren't as well known as the band's later material, QUEEN proves to be an impressively consistent listen from beginning to end. It's extraordinary how many of the group's future musical trademarks were already detectable in their debut--Brian May's orchestrated guitar harmonies, multi-tracked vocal "choirs", imaginative songwriting and dynamics that could switch from head-bangingheavy metal to reflective balladry in the blink of an eye.
Although QUEEN was recorded off and on over a three-year period, the tracks still manage to be focused and unified. The rocker "Liar" contains a middle section that foreshadows Queen's future hits (1975's "Bohemian Rhapsody", 1976's "Somebody To Love", etc.) while "The Night Comes Down" and "Doing All Right" are two gorgeous ballads. But make no mistake: the majority of QUEEN is raucous hard rock--see "Great King Rat" and the grand Zeppelin groove of "Son & Daughter". Alsoincluded as a CD bonus track is the forgotten composition "Mad The Swine", and an instrumental version of their future hit "Seven Seas Of Rhye".
Review
This is where it all began, folks. Before Bohemian Rhapsody; before Another One Bites The Dust - this is Queen as they first sounded - stripped down to their core.
The songs are raw; powerful; full of energy and life. This was a band who were pushing their limits, trying to find their sound and what a sound that was. When I first heard this album -and bearing in mind, like most people, I had grown up with Queens Greatest Hits- I was staggered by this album.
Even from the opening riff of Keep Yourself Alive; the whole song is just a joy and the guitar solo in the middle reminds me of Brian's earlier work with the band Smile, where he would layer his harmonies tightly.
There are some beautifully soft and gentle melodies, with Freddie's gorgeous vocals hitting all the right notes before resting into a gentle grooves. Then, of course, the album kicks into something far heavier with songs such as Liar and Great King Rat.
One thing that has to be mentioned is Freddie's exceptional piano skills, as I don't feel that many people appreciate just how talented he was, especially as during the latter part of his touring life he focused more on the singing and less on the piano -which in many ways was a shame.
The album is really well produced by Roy Thomas Baker, with Rogers drum kit sounding explosive and satisfying!
There are also some blistering rock songs, like Modern Times Rock ‘n' Roll which whips through at a cracking pace with Roger supplying the vocal.
I also have to mention the song Jesus - don't let the subject matter put you off, for this is an amazing song for the guitar "solo" alone. The irony with this is that it isn't a solo as such, rather the first example of Brian really layering his sound. I think at one stage I counted at least 6 guitars (including one or two acoustics) - and all of them intertwine beautifully without one taking too much dominance and losing the song structure. It's songs like Jesus and Liar that made Queen stand out from the rest - they had a quality of their own; a thoughtfulness that very few other bands had.
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