QUEEN II

Right from the beginning we get the feeling this is going to be a more special affair overall. Things are more bombastic, they rock skillfully out of the gates, and Freddie is utilizing his singing, which saves the band in many places.

It also helps that the melodies are stronger. Procession is a completely throwaway introduction, but Father To Son has an amazing melody and sound, with the fun vocal harmonizing these guys pull of so excellently. The so called open experimentation on here, doesn't grip me. It all feels like a tacked on gimmick form a band that could have easily explored ideas closer to home, without being boring. They hit harder. And I like that. No one needs soft hard rock. Brian May is still sloppy, but maybe he intends it that way. Still nothing I can bang my head to, or enjoy for the lyrical quality. Yes, they are still some of the worst lyricists to ever come to popular music.

And then you have the soft/hard alterations that seem to litter each and every song they do. It might seem progressive, but it isn't that new of an idea. And they drive it so far into the ground as to make it almost unbearable. If the soft playing wasn't so pedestrian maybe it would interest me more. The next song has a fine acoustic sound. If only those dirty (not in a good way) guitars didn't trample on it. This ends up being a mid tempo soft to hard rocker that is the same as everything else they made. Pompous, yeah. But it isn't brilliant. The Loser in the End is a bit more groovy, and it complements them in a good way. The vocals are actually kind of good. Even if Freddie isn't the main attraction on it. Nor is this song very unique, but it is a good song.

Ogre Battle is so much better than everything else on this disc so far. It rocks so gallantly, and the vocals are so superb. The album's highlight by far. The vocal hooks pop in and the guitars crash, even if Bryan May kind of sucks. The Fairy Feller's Master Stroke is more quirky, but boring hard rock with their specially made style of distorted rock with softer sides. I must say the piano fills are not too bad, however. The lyrics are still awful.

Nevermore softens things up, and the piano screams Broadway. The melodic album peak. It isn't too hard, but it has the best writing and feel out of everything. For only a minute long, I wish they had fleshed it out, more. It is my favorite part of the entire album. The second side is more pomp oriented, and happens to be my favorite side. Although none of this album deeply affects me. It is Queen, after all. But March of the Black Queen has the most to offer over all. The most fully realized musical idea. Funny How Love Is, happens to be the weakest part of the second half. It has nice melodies, but the drums are terrible, and it feels so insincere. Well, at least Mercury is singing about something deep and intelligent, right? Hardly. Still not too bad. The full version of Seven Seas of Rhye ends this album. And it closes on a majestic note. Not that the song is perfect, but it has a good rock. The vocals make me jump, though. And May delivers his best solo (here is a hint it is only sort of good) I sometimes wonder if Queen would have done better if it were a Freddie Mercury solo project.

An improvement over Queen I, it still doesn't culminate in any musical ideas that will blow my mind or make the entire face of music tremble. No, this is a fine collection of hard and pompous rock.

Best Song - March of the Black Queen/Nevermore

Worst Song - Some Day One Day

*** Stars.

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