ANOTHER ONE BITES THE DUST / DRAGON ATTACK

For this single, John Deacon, the bassist for Queen, is the star. The reason for this is that it is his bass guitar that drives both of the songs presented. Certainly the grittily flamboyant Freddie Mercury has many moments in the spotlight, but these are bass-led songs, one of which is still extremely popular on classic rock radio. "Another One Bites the Dust," the single from the album The Game has one of Queen's trademark riffs and Mercury's coarse vocals. So many people are familiar with this one, and it, like several other Queen songs, is popular at both sporting events and in karaoke bars. The urban, criminal feel relays the bad boy persona of the lead singer perfectly (in contrast to his more fanciful, operatic nature). "Dragon Attack" has one of the most badass grooves in rock music, with a hi-hat-led rhythm from Roger Taylor. The band's guitarist provides a wailing solo, but admittedly it seems rather empty without Deacon's thudding underneath it. The album had a number of great songs, many of which were released as singles, but the idea of using these two together is genius, because they exemplify the talent of the oft-overlooked rhythm section of Queen marvelously.

THE GAME was pretty much the end of the line for myself and Queen. Disco and more unimaginative songs came to the forefront and these 2 tunes off of THE GAME album are good examples. Driving bass lines on both, with a guitar solo thrown in for good measure. Nothing exciting. "Another One Bites the Dust" was overplayed at the time and has never gotten any better for me as the years passed. It is on my all-time "annoying song" list. "Dragon Attack" is almost it's clone. Pointless single- only for true lovers of the later Queen and completionists. 1 star is all I can cough up here.