The Album Review Club - Christmas Break Until 8th January

[threespires]

Understand where your coming from.Listened to the Stones one as a huge fan of both.
Disappointed in the drawl on the recording.
This was the first record of hers that the drawl was prominent to myself although I have heard others talk about it.
She could drawl a lot worse on the Dylan lp and it would still be an improvement.lol.
She had a stroke 4 years ago so not sure if this was recorded before or after.

I think all the Lu's Jukebox albums were post stroke and in the case of the earlier ones not that long after? They're a bit hit and miss to say the least and there's only a few songs on each that I like that much, but the intent behind them was pretty noble. The idea that at 70+ she was still out there flogging herself to help out small venues just makes me like her all the more, she's a class act.

 

[jimharri]

Sheer Heart Attack - Queen

I put Queen in the same category as ABBA; I can quite happily listen to their greatest hits, but I don’t feel the need to listen to any of their studio albums in full. Both bands seem to be regularly scoffed at by “serious” music fans, the impression I get is that both are somehow penalised for being able to write incredible singalong songs that you never tire of hearing

In the case of Queen, an incredible run from the mid-70s to the late 80s brought them one hit after another, and how can anybody not admire songs of the quality of “We Are The Champions”, “Another One Bites the Dust”, “Crazy Little Thing Called Love” and “A Kind of Magic”? They are, quite simply, British rock and pop royalty.

Sheer Heart Attack is a new album for me, “Killer Queen” being the only song that I am familiar with here. Listening to this album has been an interesting experience. My first listen, whilst moving like a slug in traffic on the Mancunian Way, was enjoyable. In that half-listening state, some great guitar riffs and solos jumped out at me, but strangely on subsequent listens, it didn’t grab me until a final 4th listen. Maybe some of these songs would embed themselves after a few years repeat plays.

“Brighton Rock” seems like a guitar noodle-fest without much song structure, and Freddie Mercury’s chipmunk vocals didn’t help the song. “Tenement Funster” is better, from its acoustic arpeggio opening, bass and power chords drive that the song, and the way that it flows seamlessly into the piano of “Flick of the Wrist” is impressive. The vocals arrangement and performance combined with the guitar in the chorus makes this one of the more enjoyable songs on the album.

“Now I’m Here” is another catchy guitar-driven number with some satisfying riffs from Brian May. Speaking of May, he certainly has a distinctive sound – the short solo during the opening of “In The Lap of the Gods” being a good example, and whilst this song is a bit hit and miss for me, the vocal arrangement is somehow influenced both by Pink Floyd and The Beach Boys, which is a neat trick.

I enjoyed “Stone Cold Crazy”, which is a dynamic song with furious hard rock guitar riffing throughout. “Bring Back Leroy Sane Brown” had an early 20s jazz feel with the piano and ukulele. Despite a nice vocal, “She Makes Me” drones on for longer than it should.

There are lots of changes in style across the songs on this album, which I generally like, but there are so many of them that the album feels less cohesive because of them. There is plenty to enjoy here, but this scattergun approach to the sound means that 7/10 is the highest that I will go.

Brighton Rock is a fantastic track. And, performed live, is a tour de force for Brian and the red special....

 

[Mancitydoogle]

SHEER HEART ATTACK

I was a fan when this was released but much less so nowadays, so this was an interesting and nostalgic listen.Its aged quite well and sounds now typically Queen you can hear how their sound would evolve particularly on ‘Lily of the Valley’ a definite precursor to ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’.
There’s some really good tracks on this album ,obviously the singles but also ‘In the Lap Of The Gods’ Brighton Rock ‘Stone Cold Crazy ‘ to name but a few.i thought the weakest track was ‘She Makes me’ The Brian May song.On the Vaudeville sounding songs I can definitely hear a 10cc influence.

All in all great to hear again after all these years, good pick OB1

8/10

 

[journolud]

I told myself this would probably be alright, despite my antipathy towards Queen based on songs like I Want to Break Free, Another One Bites the Dust and the let's face it, fucking awful We Are The Champions. It almost, I say almost, makes me glad we won't win the title this year just so we don't have to have it blasting out of the tannoy.

Back on topic though, my optimism that this might be OK was based on it being an earlier album, having Killer Queen on it and actually, despite it's overexposure I do like Bohemian Rhapsody.

Optimism misplaced. The first few bars sounded like when you put an album accidentally on 45. Now I'm not going to say the obvious thing that I wish it had been played at the wrong speed and was over quicker, I'll just think it.

I don't know what I was expecting really, I did still like Killer Queen but that was about it until She Makes Me although whether I actually liked that or it just came as a refreshing change from what had come before, not just Bring Back Leroy Brown but the rest of it too.

@Mancitydoogle has just beaten me to the 10cc comparison, I'm surprised no-one else has made that connection. And it seems a bit churlish of me to dismiss the vaudeville sounding songs (I'm not sure that is quite the right word but I'll go with Mancitydoogle's as I can't think of a better one) when the 10cc album they most put me in mind of, The Original Soundtrack is one I would give a solid 8 out of 10 to.

A few people have mentioned the changes of pace and style and being OK with it. They made the whole experience worse for me and I guess it's fair to say that Queen ain't my bag. It's good in a way to have it confirmed by listening to something other than the stuff we know so well and hear so often. But for me it's in there with Meat Loaf and the War of the Worlds for over theatrical, pompous, whatever you want to call it.

I suppose I can't fault the musicianship or Mercury as a front man and ironically a friend who shares my view of Queen said how much he had enjoyed the Mercury biopic. Not that he's convinced me to watch it, not if it's going to have Queen songs in it...

One positive but nothing to do with the music. I sort of knew about Brian May's activism but not in as much detail as I do now. I may not agree on all the positions he has held but strikes me as a clever, passionate and emotionally intelligent guy. Doesn't get him off the hook for this though and for me I can't muster more than a 5. Although I hate it I can't score it less because it doesn't come into the category of being lazy, cynical or perfunctory. In fact I suspect it is very well and thoughtfully crafted. But take it away please

 

[southamptonblue]

This isn't a Queen album I've really listened to, as I found our this last week, and why....the rockier songs are generally my thing with Queen, the "should be a musical score on broadway" stuff really isn't, and there's too much of it on here for me! Better than some on here, but been quite a few better.
4

 

[Black&White&BlueMoon Town]

Sheer Heart Attack - Queen

I've spent more time listening to this during the past week than thinking about a review. Given I'm running out of time, I'll (try to) be concise here.

Like Rob, I've been more of a Greatest Hits fan of Queen, enjoying to hear their hits ("Killer Queen" from here), but in the case of this album, there are some really good songs I've missed.

"Brighton Rock" starts out with that carnival sound until the guitar comes in to blend in with it, and this album is off and running. I can hear the glam rock approach to many of the songs, and that is evident here. Brian May wrote this tune and his guitar solo is one that really grabs you.

"Tenement Funster" really shines with Roger Taylor on lead vocals and reminds me in places of the title song off of the Heavy Metal 1981 soundtrack.

I also liked how the previous song runs right into "Flick Of The Wrist", which is a very strong song vocally by Freddie Mercury. Those that say that he really helped the band find their voice on this album I believe was thinking of this song, and the follow-up "Lilly of the Valley".

I had heard "Stone Cold Crazy" before, and like the 2nd track from the GH compilation, really make statements on this group as a proper Rock band.

"Misfire" was another gem I had not heard before, and it in addition to the keys and guitars, was just a fun song to listen to. Kudos to the band and Freddie giving a nod to the then recently deceased Jim Croce with "Bring Back That Leroy Brown", another song that harkens to past musical vaudeville and ragtime influences with the music, and the backing vocals were strong here too.

"In the Lap of the Gods...Revisited" serves as a great closer and reminds me in parts of some later songs of theirs, including "Bohemian Rhapsody" off their next album.

Thanks to @OB1 for nominating this, as it was an enjoyable listen. I appreciated the band all taking turns at songwriting, some singing, and just overall input into this. It's a respectful 7.5/10 with some enjoyable moments and songs I'd not heard before.

 

[GornikDaze]

Enjoyed giving this a ‘spin’ again. Don’t remember listening to much Queen after News of the World but the early albums were all pretty solid. Some belting tracks on this - personal favs being Brighton Rock (great guitar); Now I’m Here and Stone Cold Crazy. Easy 8/10 for me cheers OB

 

[threespires]

Queen are one of many bands that in my younger years I liked to be sniffy about and just chucked in the 'naff' bin without really listening to them. Over the years I've revisited lots of artists who I was dismissive of. Some of them I now really like and others I think I was probably justified. Queen fall between the two stools but much closer to the like. 'Like' being the operative word because though I admire them and recognise their undoubted abilities, I'll probably never be a proper fan.

Listening to this and reading the comments on the theatricality, I found it hard not to mentally fast forward to the final video they made together with it’s unapologetic vaudevillian aesthetic and the four of them together one last time after, like them or not, an incredible journey together. It’s easy to be wise in hindsight but there’s a lot in this album that presages aspects of their journey to come. I listened to the first two albums as part of this week and you can hear on this album the evolution and beginnings of what they would (for better and/or worse) become from the harnessing of the extravagance, to the slightly lachrymose tone of some of the music, the trademark multitracked voices and ultimately a pop sensibility heavily overlaid on the rock base.

We shouldn’t mistake theatricality for a lack of focus on the music, for all the fun and at times silliness this album sounds like it is made by a bunch of fastidious and serious musicians. Even on tracks like Leroy Brown you can hear the care with which it was recorded.

I have definitely mellowed in my old age because there’s lots on this that would have annoyed younger me, but now I find myself just going along with it and appreciating a still young band experimenting both with their style and sound.

Brighton Rock has the energy of one of those spiritually orientated 70’s rock musicals and you can easily see the eager young cast energetically jumping round the stage to this as a show opener. The following four tracks represent probably the strongest passage of the album for me and again you cannot escape the theatricality as it segues from one song to another. Killer Queen probably remains my favourite track off the album, the lyrics are not as good as I suspect Freddie thinks they are but there's an elegance to the song and a decent amount lot going on without it becoming too OTT. After that it’s a mixed bag for me with lots of enjoyable moments in songs but I equally find my attention drifting somewhat or disliking certain aspects.

Other random thoughts:

What a solid drummer Roger Taylor is, not flashy, no unnecessary drama the old but valid cliché of the right drummer for the band, but more broadly Tenement Funster shows him to be a versatile and talented guy.

Viscerally I’ve never been a huge fan of listening to May’s signature guitar tones at least not over a prolonged period but that doesn’t mean I can’t appreciate them and his invention and intelligence in how he sets himself up and then plays. I’ve heard many explanations from it being mostly a function of the Red Special through to his style being a function of him being a frustrated singer. Whatever the reason you can’t argue with his musicianship and that’s true of all of them I think.

Do I love this? No. Will I continue to listen to this regularly? Unlikely though I will certainly revisit some of it. Do I appreciate it as a both enjoyable and fascinating insight into four young men who were finding their feet and embarking on a roller coaster ride which they shared all the way to the end of that final look into the camera by a desperately ill Mercury? Absolutely. That they ploughed their own furrow and never seemed that concerned about the vagaries of fashion, simply choosing to entertain in a way that appealed to them was something that young me wouldn’t have awarded brownie points for, but older me certainly does. A very enjoyable nomination and 7/10.

 

[Coatigan]

Queen - Sheer Heart Attack

I think i just dont like rock stars. The most outrageous thing you can be right now is conservative. Rock sold out and what was once outrageous and challenging now appears on Jeremy Clarksons Best Road Riffs cds available in all good motorway service stations. They challenged the establishment and the establishment welcomed them in because toffs like super models and cocaine as well.

50 years post Queen rockstars are still wearing eyeliner and getting sweaty. Queen may have done it better and possibly first but looking back i cant shake the feeling that even Freddy Mercury is doing an impression of Freddy Mercury.

It is a great impression. Opening track Brighton Rock sees Mercury singing the male and female parts of a duet. When he does the descending run from the female into the male it is impressive.

Tenement Funster, Flick of the Wrist and Lilly of the Valley are presented as a medley and whilst the transitions are nicely handled it does feel like it is the cast of a west end musical performing at the royal variety show. Now I'm Here sounds like the part of the show where the main character suddenly finds the confidence to be who he is destined to be.

In The Lap of the Gods has an interesting bit where the volume drops and then the song comes back in. I would like to know what this was trying to convey. It is possible they were just cutting out an 8 minute Brian May solo.

Stone Cold Crazy is at least a bit of fun but the classic Queen choir harmonies gives it the same theatre feel which is definitely not helped by the cold opening of Dear Friends. Misfire is played over a montage of a young couple; they are painting their lounge and oh no he's put paint on her nose; now they are walking their dog in the park and it shakes muddy water all over their faces; then they are snuggled smugly on the sofa.

Bring Back That Leroy Brown is a banger but again is damaging to Queens credibility. She Makes Me is a nice enough song which fails to build to anything. I do like the outro but it needed some of the theatre of Lap of The Gods Revisited. Here the theatre i have been maligning works to the advantage of the song which is quite repetitive but enjoyable.

I so far have deliberately not commented on Killer Queen. It is a classic song with a lyrical complexity not evident on a lot of the other tracks. However its a party classic like Dancing Queen, I Will Survive and Mambo No 5.

None of this is Queens fault. Im looking back through a crowd of people like Mika and The Darkness and Waynes World. Queen are rock stars and whilst that should be subversive it is pretty vanilla these day's. I think i just don't like rock stars. Or musicals (with the exception of War of the Worlds)

6 out of 10

Have you been to your idles gig yet btw Belfrezi?

 

[RobMCFC]

It's fair to say that reaction to Queen's Sheer Heart Attack album was a mixed bag. Still, it managed to average 6.82 across 14 votes, and like many @OB1 selections, reaches a respectable place in our table.

Next up is @Saddleworth2.

This week will be the last Album Club review before we take a 3-week break, with the next new album nomination coming on 8th January.

I've decided not to run a Christmas Break playlist this time for a number of reasons:-

1. We only had one a few reviews ago.
2. There are plenty of ongoing threads to keep people busy: see the Album of the Year, playlist and Rock Evolution threads for plenty of good listening and discussion.
3. I'm going to be away for most of the Christmas period