The Album Review Club - Week #148 - (page 1953) - Sheer Heart Attack - Queen

Haven’t heard this album for ages. I was in my final years at school at the time and everyone seemed to buy it regardless of whether their allegiances were mod (revivalist) or rocker. It just seemed to fit somewhere in the middle of the two genres.

I also remember there being two different cover colours and there being plenty of discussion about how red was rarer than blue. (There was a green one at a later stage too). I got the blue one.

Will listen again but think it’ll be a middling score.
 
One for the not for me category, sadly.

The Celtic slant is interesting, not original by any stretch, but quite well done. Beyond that, to me, I can't tell it from other generic 80s power pop soft rock by numbers. Doesn't have the same songcrafting as the likes of Runrig who to me are probably the closest comparissaon. A bit of Levellers and Alarm too, but more focus on a 'big' sound than the songs themselves. The guitar sound of bagpipes does work and is quite unique and is the thing that stands out about it, and swings it to a 5.
 
Time has not been kind to this record.
Can understand why folk think it is samey.
The guitar sound grates as the record goes on.
The drums and bass sound work well though.Best thing about the album.
Harvest Home,Fields of Fire and Angle Park my top picks.
Weird how the last two picks were 80's records.One has stood the test of time and the other hasn't.
Now off to listen to some Skids to see if they pass the test of time.5/10
ALBERT TATLOCK.
 
As others have said, time has not been kind to this album. I own it, which is a bonus, but the last time I actually sat down and listened to it was years ago. The singles from the album are by far the best thing on here as the rest of the album is filler at best. After a while the "trying to get as close to bagpipes as we possibly can" guitar sound really grates as does the singing.

I also have a problem with the production. Stuart's voice struggles to be heard so it appears he is bellowing to compensate. I'm also not a fan of the drumming. Far too much going on.

Hard to score really, it's probably no better than a 3 for the muddle that is the whole album, but I'll add a point on for Fields of Fire as I've always liked that song.

4/10
 
Coatigan said:
One for the not for me category, sadly.

The Celtic slant is interesting, not original by any stretch, but quite well done. Beyond that, to me, I can't tell it from other generic 80s power pop soft rock by numbers. Doesn't have the same songcrafting as the likes of Runrig who to me are probably the closest comparissaon. A bit of Levellers and Alarm too, but more focus on a 'big' sound than the songs themselves. The guitar sound of bagpipes does work and is quite unique and is the thing that stands out about it, and swings it to a 5.
Click to expand...
I hear a bit of The Proclaimers in there, although they came much later.
I like the sound but am actually warming more to the rest of the album that doesn’t dwell on the bagpipe sound of the guitars.

Inwards
Chance
Close Action

Nice songs.

I think I see where Sadds is coming from with comparisons to Argus. I get a faint hint of ‘Warrior’ from The Storm, only faint though.

I think the few accusations of sameness are perhaps levelled at the vocals as much as the guitar.
Certainly from myself anyway.
I like his voice but a lot of his singing style just seems to blend from one song into the next.

This is great nostalgia.
I don’t want to sound negative or down on it, I’m enjoying it very much, I’m not sure if I’ll playlist any of it however or how much I’ll revisit them after this week.

Another big bonus with this pick is it’s palatable for all the family. We can all listen without complaints.
That in itself probably says where the scoring will be. I see a range of 5-7 with only those that grew up with it and it having a meaning in the soundtrack of their life scoring higher.
Am I right?
 
mancity2012_eamo said:
I hear a bit of The Proclaimers in there, although they came much later.
I like the sound but am actually warming more to the rest of the album that doesn’t dwell on the bagpipe sound of the guitars.

Inwards
Chance
Close Action

Nice songs.

I think I see where Sadds is coming from with comparisons to Argus. I get a faint hint of ‘Warrior’ from The Storm, only faint though.

I think the few accusations of sameness are perhaps levelled at the vocals as much as the guitar.
Certainly from myself anyway.
I like his voice but a lot of his singing style just seems to blend from one song into the next.

This is great nostalgia.
I don’t want to sound negative or down on it, I’m enjoying it very much, I’m not sure if I’ll playlist any of it however or how much I’ll revisit them after this week.

Another big bonus with this pick is it’s palatable for all the family. We can all listen without complaints.
That in itself probably says where the scoring will be. I see a range of 5-7 with only those that grew up with it and it having a meaning in the soundtrack of their life scoring higher.
Am I right?
Click to expand...
Although I picked it I certainly wouldn’t be scoring it a ten for anything but nostalgia as it takes me to a time and place. That said, it’s better imo than ‘a muddle’.
I used to live a few doors away from Donnie Munro of Runrig. Our two youngest lads used to play together. Now that is a Scottish band I could never stomach for some reason.

there Is a conversation as to the best Scottish/Irish band I think :-)
 
Saddleworth2 said:
Although I picked it I certainly wouldn’t be scoring it a ten for anything but nostalgia as it takes me to a time and place. That said, it’s better imo than ‘a muddle’.
I used to live a few doors away from Donnie Munro of Runrig. Our two youngest lads used to play together. Now that is a Scottish band I could never stomach for some reason.

there Is a conversation as to the best Scottish/Irish band I think :-)
Click to expand...
I’m going all nostalgic with today’s lunchtime listen.
This has put Simple Minds into my head for some reason also that one instrumental track by Dire Straits that was very Scottish sounding.
It’ll come to me. It was the theme tune to some series or other with Martin Clunes I think.

I’ll dig it out, keep me busy for a while.

Edit: scratch that. I’m getting mixed up with the theme tune to Local Hero. (Knopfer)
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Unread Posts

Don't have an account? Register now and see fewer ads!

SIGN UP
Back
Top
✖
  AdBlock Detected
Bluemoon relies on advertising to pay our hosting fees. Please support the site by disabling your ad blocking software to help keep the forum sustainable. Thanks.