Customer Reviews:
Showing reviews 1-5 of 21
 The first album - and the heaviest? January 28, 2005
ronster500 (Liverpool, England, UK)
10 out of 11 found this review helpful
Ah, early Queen, the halcyon days before they went out and bought that synthesiser... pQueen's debut is often overlooked by casual fans, and those unfamiliar with their early output will find this album almost unrecognisable from their 80s hits. For fans of hard rock however, this is probably the most satisfying album of the band's output.pKicking off with 'Keep Yourself Alive', with Brian May's phased guitar riff reminiscent of Led Zeppelin (their influence is apparent on several numbers here), we are then taken down a little with the slowie 'Doing All Right' (written with former 'Smile' colleague Tim Stafell). The Freddie epics arrive with 'Great King Rat' and 'My Fairy King', the latter of which is a precursor to much of what is found on Mercury's 'Side Black' of the next album. Roger Taylor's high-pitched shriek is introduced here, and is a feature of their early material. pThe real meat of the album comes with 'Liar' and 'Son and Daughter', which will satisfy even the hardest rockers, but this album features plenty of good chunky guitar throughout. 'Liar' even has a bit you can play air bass to, along with 'Deacon John' (as he was credited here)!pDrummer Roger Taylor gets to exercise his voice with the fast paced 'Modern Times Rock 'n' Roll', which leads into 'Son and Daughter'. The album closes with the gospel inspired 'Jesus' and the unfinished 'Seven Seas of Rhye'.pQuibbles? Too short, no real need for a partially completed track to close the album, and the production does sound a little 'muddy' - but we are talking about a debut album that has passed its 30th birthday. Speaking as a fan of heavy rock in general however, this album is one I remain drawn to when reaching for the Queen section of my record collection and so I award it the full five stars.
absolutely marvelous debut album. September 5, 2000
4 out of 4 found this review helpful
this album was realeased in 1973 but some songs are from earlier on when they formed in 1971. every song bar jesus and the unfinished 7 seas of rhye are exellent,my personal favorite and the one i cant seem to get out of my head is the night comes down with its neck tingling guitars and freddie`s soaring vocals. this album is an absolute must for rock fans out there. if this album came inbeetween say sheer heart attack and night at the opera,no one would have batted an eyelid,but because its a debut it gets top marks.
Fantastic February 14, 2003
10 out of 12 found this review helpful
Most people look at this album and place emphasis on Brian not having his unique guitar sound apparent enough for this album to be great. Or on Freddie's vocal range not having 'fully developed'. For me, however, this album spectacularly showcases the excellent percussion works of Roger Taylor. There is a truly oustanding use of a drum kit here that I didn't think was ever going to make its way into rock. For me the percussion dictated this album, introducing flavours of culture and genre which seemed almost entirely absent in Queen's subsequent works. Add into the equation the fact that - even on a bad recording session - the rest of the band comprises some of the best musical talent to ever be discovered, and I have no choice but to draw this the greatest of Queen's albums. Surpassed only by their 'Compilation' releases.
It was all downhill for Queen after this spectacular debut!! July 29, 2005
Stargazer (Slough, UK)
9 out of 11 found this review helpful
Probably quite a bold statement you may be thinking, but being a fan of real rock music, the sound on this album is exactly what I like, and is really the only Queen album that I keep coming back to. Great King Rat and Liar are the standout tracks here, two tracks that really do thunder along; in the track Jesus you have one of the greatest guitar riffs you're likely to hear, whilst all the other tracks will simply knock you out. Had Queen continued in this vein with their subsequent albums, they could have become one of the greatest hard rock acts of our time, but as we all know, they did take a very different musical direction after this debut. Personally, I find their 80's output practically unlistenable to, so if that is what you like you'll probably hate this album.brDid I say it was all downhill for Queen after this debut? Well, let's be fair, it was probably more a gentle slope before falling off the edge of the cliff after the News Of The World album. But this is the Queen album that does it for me, and is definitely one for the desert island.
An Unsuccessful Success! June 11, 2006
Shazzeth
6 out of 7 found this review helpful
I really can't work out why this début didn't set Queen off to their amazing start earlier. Queen I is the forgotten album really. Despite it being a début of catchy riffs, brilliant lyrics, and their heaviest rock to date - it was a failure in the charts and the first single "Keep Yourself Alive" never even charted. And yet, any experts, or producers, and highly rated music know-it-all's all go on to discuss what an amazing album it is; so why did it do so poorly in the beginning?
br /This may be due to the fact that Queen through their early years were quite often compared to Led Zeppelin. I have no idea why, because there is absolutely no likeness in my opinion. Each are very individual bands and I really can't hear the similarities that many picked up on at the time.
br /
br /Anyway back to the music - the opening track "Keep Yourself Alive" really does play the role of one of the greatest album openers of all time; which is made better by the fact that it's a début album. All of the music after this flows brilliantly and each track is completely unique and well crafted in the ways that only Queen could achieve. What I find more incredible is the fact that the band achieved such an amazing sound, having recorded the album in studios in the early hours of the morning (when they could record for free). The amount of intricate guitar work on this album is astonishing and extremely catchy. The sort of playing that makes you wish you could pick up a guitar and instantly play it; but of course like all these things it takes a lot of practise!
br /
br /As with Queen II, the contrasts between acoustic work, and heavy rock are fantastic and all of it blends so well into something truly beautiful. Even the track "Jesus", which is famously known as the worst song Queen ever wrote is catchy and quite pleasing to the ear. Even if you don't like to vocals, one must admire the amazing guitar solo in the middle of the song. That, if anything pulls the bad title away from this song.
br /
br /Queen I will remain in your CD player for a very long time.
Showing reviews 1-5 of 21
|
