Queen - Sheer Heart Attack
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CD Details
Artist: QueenEdition: Music CD
CD Release Date: 1991-03-05
Music Label: Hollywood Records
Soundtracks:
- Brighton Rock
- Killer Queen
- Tenement Funster
- Flick of the Wrist
- Lily of the Valley
- Now I'm Here
- In the Lap of the Gods
- Stone Cold Crazy
- Dear Friends
- Misfire
- Bring Back That Leroy Brown
- She Makes Me (Stormtrooper in Stilettoes)
- In the Lap of the Gods...Revisited
- Stone Cold Crazy [1991 Bonus Remix by Michael Wagener][*]
Music reviews of Sheer Heart Attack
Music Review: Queen's Killer Album - An overlooked classic
Rating: 5 Stars
Sheer Heart Attack (1974.), Queen's third studio album
In the early 1970's, there were plenty of hard rock bands trying to make it big in the music world. Many of these bands were influenced by bands such as Led Zeppelin and Deep Purple, who were both carving out a new direction in music. One such new band in the early 1970's was the London-based British band, Queen. Queen's first two albums showed immense potential. Both albums (`Queen I' and `Queen II') showed the band could rock, however that was only half of the story. Queen's second album in particular showed a much more progressive side of the band but also began to unveil the signature `operatic' style that Queen became famous in incorporating into their music. Following a well received reception from rock fans of `Queen II' as well as extended radio play and popularity from the song `Seven Seas of Rhye', the band were indeed gaining popularity and momentum. The next challenge which faced the band would be to build on their great start and produce something even more potent with their next album effort.
`Sheer Heart Attack' was an album that was plagued with a number of problems during its creation. The chief problem was that Queen were in fact a three piece for much of the recording process as guitarist Brian May fell ill during that time. Eventually he had to record his parts onto the music recorded by Mercury, Taylor and Deacon. However `Sheer Heart Attack' proved, just like the Who's `Who's Next' and Led Zeppelin's `Led Zeppelin II' before it, that a disrupted recording process need not prevent a classic album from being produced. `Sheer Heart Attack' is, for me Queen's finest album effort of their career. Many may disagree, often citing the groundbreaking `A Night At The Opera' as the band's greatest work. Indeed, I will not stand in the way of this opinion, as `A Night At The Opera' is in many ways Queen's creative pinnacle. However, there is something which always caught my eye with `Sheer Heart Attack'. There is an edge to the songwriting on this album which makes much of the work extremely memorable. It is also a display of Queen hard rocking in full swing, with their operatic and quirky take thrown in. Some songs are shorter pieces and others are much more fully developed works but the course of the album weaves a very colourful tapestry of sounds which never has a dull moment. The album marks the continuation of the band working as an effective songwriting unit, with all band members contributing at least one song (John Deacon's first songwriting effort is featured on this album). The album also spawned a couple of classic Queen hits in `Killer Queen' and `Now I'm Here' as well as the brilliant `In The Lap Of The Gods' and `In The Lap Of The Gods...Revisited' which acted as concert finales for the band for much of the rest of the band's live career. In many respects this album is a melting pot of some sorts for the band as it marks the junction between the band's hard rocking beginnings, with the big Led Zeppelin-esque influences, with their much more grandiose operatic sounds and textures which were seen even more increasingly on subsequent albums. The result of this transitional period...a fascinating work which for me Queen would never quite again top.
`Brighton Rock' opens the album in an express fashion. This is an excellent hard rocker to open the album and is more than anything a great showcase for Brian May who fires out some excellent guitar work in the instrumental part of the song. `Killer Queen' is next; there is little that needs still be said about this one. It is a fantastic single and one of Queen's best - a career hallmark. Following this the album tempo changes for `Tenement Funster'. This is an excellent song written by Roger Taylor and is one of the best tracks on the album. Roger Taylor's songs, often of youth, rebellion and freedom are regularly the overlooked dimension to Queen's catalogue and this acoustic driven song is no exception. The song runs into `Flick Of The Wrist', which is an excellent hard rocker with a classic Queen chorus. One of the shorter songs on the album, `Lily Of The Valley', is led by a strong Mercury vocal coupled with weeping guitar work. Another excellent album single is next in `Now I'm Here', centered around a fantastic May guitar line; this builds into a masterfully crafted song. The first part of the fan favourite `In The Lap Of The Gods' is next. The song has all of the drama we expect from Queen in the opening before settling into a slow but unwavering groove.
My personal favourite track is next in `Stone Cold Crazy'. This, my friends, is thrash metal before its time. For a song from 1974, `Stone Cold Crazy' is unusually heavy and fast and proved to be a highly influential song. Indeed it was later covered by thrash metal pioneers Metallica on their `Garage Days...Revisited' release in 1987. `Stone Cold Crazy' cannons out of the speakers throughout its short 2 minute run time and is coupled with an atmospheric Mercury vocal and pacy drumming. `Dear Friends' again shifts the tempo with a slow lyrical yearn from Mercury. `Misfire' is an upbeat, enjoyable jingle - it is also John Deacon's first album composition. `Bring Back That Leroy Brown' is an amusing song - a typical humourous jaunt for Queen with some quirky mandolin work and operatic vocals. You could easily mistake this song for something from a musical. `She Makes Me' is a classic, slow ballad with more excellent Mercury vocals and has a refreshing retro feel to the music. `In The Lap Of The Gods...Revisited' is the perfect finisher for the album. It has a waltz-like 3/4 meter which paves the way for an entrancing exit chorus that never tires over its many repetitions.
`Sheer Heart Attack' is one impressive album and demonstrates a legendary band on top of their game. Queen have put out their fair share of albums, all of which have their own unique stamp. `A Night At The Opera' and a `A Day At The Races' amongst others are deserved classics but for me this underrated masterpiece has the edge on both of them. I hope after reading this review that I can convince many of you to give this album a go. It is sadly often overlooked but I can guarantee that you will definitely not regret listening to this excellent work...its not to be missed!!
MY RATING: 9.5/10
Description of Sheer Heart Attack
QUEEN Sheer Heart Attack (1991 US Hollywood Records 14-track digitally remastered CD includes bonus track Stone Cold Crazy - 1991 Remix picture sleeve HR-61036-2)Classic Rock CDs
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