During the 1970’s Queen was one of rock’s biggest acts. They created a cult following that still stands today, 15 years after the demise of lead singer Freddie Mercury. During the 70’s they basically bragged on every album about how they did not use a synthesizer. On The Game, their first album of the 80’s, they used a synthesizer. After that they harnessed its power constantly. This is probably their worst album, but it isn’t bad since it was basically written and recorded in a heartbeat.
Queen:
Freddie Mercury: Vocals, Piano
Brian May: Guitar, Vocals
Roger Taylor: Drums, Vocals
John Deacon: Bass
1. Radio Ga-Ga
This was Queen’s last big hit. This is a great song, but is basically an attack on music videos, something Queen helped innovate. There’s plenty of weird synth, but great bass and keyboards. This is one heck of a good song to be performed live, with all the clapping along that you do. Brian (my all-time favorite guitarist) plays a really good slide guitar solo here. The only bad thing is that it kind of grows old on you, like most of Queen’s 80’s stuff.
2. Tear It Up
Here’s a fast paced hard rocker full of Queen’s energy. Freddie’s voice soars here. The verses are pretty weird, and they remind me of the song Body Language. It’s easy to love this song.
3. It’s A Hard Life
This is a sad sounding song about breakup. Sadly, Queen sounds like they are trying to do nothing but recreate Bohemian Rhapsody and Play The Game with this, something they failed at. The piano playing and guitar go together great though. Brian’s solo is wonderful. Not a bad song, just not very original sounding in any way.
4. Man On The Prowl
In my opinion, this is the album’s worst song. The bass line is exactly the same as Crazy Little Thing Called Love, but this song lacks the melody that that song had. It sounds like it was made in the 50’s, just like, you guessed it, Crazy Little Thing Called Love! Freddie sounds like he’s looking for a lover here, something that kinda gives me the creeps.
5. Machines (or Back To Humans)
This is another hard rocker. Freddie sings about how people think the future will be ruined with the creation of robots. A lot of theories have been made about how machines will eventually overcome humans, due to the fact that their mental capacity is unlimited and that they don’t fell pain. Brian’s guitar soars here.
6. I Want To Break Free
This is definitely a Queen classic. Freddie’s vocals are as good as ever here. There’s quite a lot of synth involved, but it doesn’t get in the way. Brian’s guitar solo is kind of “out-there.” Basically all I have to say is that you gotta love this track.
7. Keep Passing The Open Windows
This song is another one that kind of sounds like Crazy Little Thing Called Love. It sounds like the lyrics are kind of anti-suicidal. The song’s definitely has something to do with depression. Decent song at best.
8. Hammer To Fall
The guitar playing in this song is just so rocking you have to love it. The huge riff screams back and forth all throughout. The lyrics are completely about the negative sides of war. “What the hell we fighting for/Just surrender and it won’t hurt at all.” I’ve also heard that Brian wrote this about the end of the world, and how nothing would matter at all if the world ended tomorrow. The solo is beautiful, and basically every line Freddie sings is poetic and fits the music perfectly. Definitely the best song on the album.
9. Is This The World We Created…?
Basically nothing more than an acoustic outro to Hammer To Fall. The lyrics are very sad, and focus on things like starvation and overpopulation. It’s a very short song, and the album ends on a very sad note.
Basically Queen just came up with some songs and recorded them as quickly as possible. So the album does feel a little rushed, but I don’t complain. I wish bands these days would make albums more often. If you can find this for a decent price then you should get it, because Queen’s albums are always so much better than the thousands of greatest hits packages that they offer.
3/5
