Queen - Rocks 1

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Music reviews of Rocks 1

Music Review: Great concept, incredible music
Rating: 5 Stars

I usually tend to be suspicious about compilation albums, as they usually seem to be nothing more than shameless ploys to get some more money (note 'Beatles 1' and 'Queen +' especially... and how come there are six Hendrix compilations when he only made four albums...?), as the band's loyal fan wouldn't be able to resist buying the new release even though he already has all the songs on album CDs (and on other compilations, probably).

Queen Rocks, though, works on a very different level for me. though I still wouldn't recommend this for a major fan who owns all the albums, it would make a great buy for most music fans, who may or may not already own another Queen compilation, and also for hard-rock fans who look down at Queen as a mainstream pop group. This collection shows a side of Queen most people are not familiar with - their heavier side, and reminds us that Queen were, after all, a rock band. It skips, therefore, all the overplayed (though still great) Queen songs like Bohemian Rhapsody, We Are The Champions and A Kind Of Magic, and gives some unknown songs the attention they deserve, including several lesser known hits (Seven Seas Of Rhye, Now I'm Here, One Vision, Headlong, and Tie Your Mother Down - the ultimate live song that was somehow left out of the greatest hits compilation) as well as some fantastic songs that appeared only on Queen's albums. Highlights include Stone Cold Crazy (later covered excellently by Metallica), I Can't Live With You, Keep Yourself Alive, It's Late and Roger Taylor's superb I'm In Love With My Car.

There are some songs which, I think, should have been included but weren't. As always, the first two albums were relatively neglected (although this is the first collection to include a song from the debut album); I would have liked to see more selections from Freddie Mercury's early heavy-prog-rock, like Liar, Great King Rat or Ogre Battle. Also missing are Brian May's Father To Son (which has been called a Led Zeppelin copy, but I'm not sure why), White Man, the very heavy Son And Daughter, and the forgotten b-side I Go Crazy; Freddie's Get Down Make Love, John Deacon's Need Your Loving Tonight and Roger Taylor's Modern Times Rock n' Roll or Loser In The End. I would be willing to exclude Tear It Up and Put Out The Fire. But, well, there's only so many songs you can cram on one CD.

Then there's the new song, which is of course the main attraction of the album, and I'm sure many fans bought the CD just for that. No-One But You is a great song, a reunion of the three remaining members of the band, dedicated to their departed friend Freddie Mercury. The song is indeed very touching, beautifuly performed (both Brian and Roger sing lead vocals), even if strangely placed - No-One But You is about as far from rock as Queen get, and it doesn't really sit well with the collection.

Queen Rocks is a head-banging album; it's certainly not a good Queen album or Queen compilation by its own right, as it is totally out of balance, but if you're in the mood for some heavy rockin', and don't feel like hearing any soft, tender ballads or long, strange epic prog-rock songs, it's perfect. My advice: keep this CD in your car at all times. It's an ideal driving album, when you want to hear some great rock music and not think too much.

Description of Rocks 1

Classic Rock CDs

• Music > Styles
• Hard Rock & Metal
• Pop
• Rock