QUEEN II

Queen's second album is easily their best, and most progressive.

The original LP was divided into "Side White" and "Side Black", presumably for the two Queens described in the music. For the most part, "Side Black" is the darker, and better side. But both sides are filled with great music.

After a brief intro, Father To Son begins the album in earnest. The song always reminds me a bit (in a good way) of The Who. White Queen (As It Began) showed that Queen could be delicate and beautiful without being saccharine, something they forgot in later years.

Ogre Battle, an early prog metal piece, in one of Queen's hardest rocking songs ever. Fairy Feller's Master-Stroke is a fantastic song that does an incredible job describing an even more fantastic painting (look it up).

There are a couple of misses. Some Day One Day and Funny How Love Is just aren't as good as the rest of the material. But they don't keep this from being a great album.