Queen is the monumental progressive rock band that originally consisted of Freddie Mercury (lead vocals, piano), Roger Taylor (drums, vocals), Brian May (guitar, vocals) and John Deacon (bass guitar, vocals). The band formed in 1971 and their debut album, Queen was released in 1973. With the 40th anniversary of the band, several of their albums were remastered and bonus tracks were added. Queen has six bonus tracks, many of them original demos from 1971.
“Liar” is an explosion of drums, guitar and feeling that rings out like a plea for forgiveness in a confessional, “Liar” radiates contrition, frustration and a genuine desire to follow the right path in life. Mercury’s epic voice lights up the stage like diamonds in the night sky. “Liar, liar. Everything you do is sin. Liar nobody believes you. Liar. They bring you down before you begin.” This song is a window into the prayers of a heart that has been hurt by betrayal and stained by the guilt of his sins. At the same time wanting to find redemption, there is a moment of arrogance and revelry in the humanity of his condition, and then back to contrition. The bonus track of this song begins with more guitar blazing action than the original version. It is a worthy addition to this remastered album.
“My Fairy King” is one of the most beautiful Queen songs ever released. It is a fairy tale of the land of Rhye, invented by Mercury and his sister when they were children. Opening up with guitars climbing toward the sky, a blazing piano and the operatic voice of Mercury, the song escalates from a utopic scenario, and then descends into the stuff of nightmares. Mercury, then Freddie Bulsara, was so influenced by the lyrics of this song “Mother Mercury. Look what they’ve done to me,” that he changed his last name to Mercury. This song is haunting in its complexity and reveals the depth of Mercury’s creativity, his magnificent vocal range and the musical capabilities of the band. It is one of a several songs that touch on Mercury’s childhood fantasy land of Rhye.
“The Night Comes Down” has a pensive beginning, building pressure with guitars climbing toward a rolling piece of musical bliss. Mercury begins to sing about youth and how easy it was to believe in everything and everyone around him. Then the night falls, and he becomes afraid of getting lost in the darkness. Things that used to be black and white are now grey to him. The musical backdrop to the song is elegant, creating a perfect framework for the delicate vocals that perpetrate the track. The bonus track is very similar to the original, but it gives you a window into the early days of Queen and the demo process.
Queen is one of the most popular classic rock bands of all time. Mercury’s creative drive and the complexity of the music behind the voice are what it’s all about. Taking issues like a loss of innocence in “The Night Comes Down,” or the conundrum of the human condition in “Liar,” you have a band that has lasted the test of time and is just as popular now as it was at the inception of the band 40 years ago. Remastering Queen gives a whole new digital crispness to the album, while retaining the original vinyl quality of the sound experience. The bonus tracks add a historical component, and in all cases, prove just how talented this band was and is.
Key Tracks- Liar, My Fairy King, The Night Comes Down
Dana Wright-Muzikreviews.com Staff
August 2, 2011