THE WORKS

10 ? Best Song: I Want to Break Free

So now we've finally succumbed entirely to the dreaded 1980's recording and production values and are forced into recording such massive hits as 'I sucked a big dick today and recorded it on sunset strip while nikki Sixx lit my ass-hairs on fire'. What I meant to say was 'Radio Ga Ga' is a fine, catchy little synth-pop song where Freddie Mercury sings skillfully over a skinny electronic beat, and the chorus is priceless, if not venomously predictable. Ya know, if you pay very close attention to the evolution of the album, you can see a very tumultuous battle between Queen supposedly taking it upon themselves to sell out as fast and hard as possible, but still retain their artistic integrity and creativity under the stress of that kind of choice. 'It's a Hard Life' is just like a classic Queen song, with te uplifting vocal harmonies, and very 1970's-ish lyrical themes. I can't be too hard when the guy sings about it being all his fault and trying to mend the broken pieces. Mercury is being sincere? I don't think so for a second, but he's riveting when he pretends to be. The Works, for all the poisonous repetition and predictability, shows the band in a sympathetic light, where you can almost pretend it came out just about 1979. 'Man on the Prowl' is another Elvis tribute, and only a few songs fall hard to the newer elements coming out, like the stricken beat of the new wave 'I Want To Break Free'. For that, I'll probably be alone in rating this thing as high as Queen II, but I will, because it's my right. Don't try and prey upon the Works, but for the love of god give it a chance, it's interesting.

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