Queen
A Night At The Opera
Elektra Records [1975]
Going into this review I only knew the hits from Queen. Everyone around me (especially my older brother) has talked about the power of Freddie Mercury and how Queen made real albums. He told me that not one record in their catalog was just a “singles” album and that their tracks were meant to be heard together as they always offer a solid slice of classic rock.
I of course being from the age of now and a big Foo Fighters, Queens of The Stone Age and National fan I didn’t think a record from 1975 would really impress me. Wow was I totally wrong! A Night At The Opera blew me away right from the opening track “Death on Two Legs (Dedicated To…)” which has a true and surprisingly metal roar with each guitar solo and venom as it apparently was written to describe the hatred Mercury had towards an ex-manager. You immediately notice the passion behind the song as the more British side of the band pours out on “Lazing on a Sunday Afternoon” with its playful stroll and vocal effects. You then reach the more acoustic and harmonized “’39” which has a sort of country backdrop rhythm that totally surprised me while I found my feet tapping along.
Of course I don’t think I need to discuss “Bohemian Rhapsody” because its mesmerizing transitions, spectacular shifting vocals and crazy popularity speak for itself. What is surprising is that A Night At The Opera is so much more than that one song. There is the over 8 minute epic “The Prophet’s Song” which I loved and the theatrics on the exploding “I’m in Love with My Car” made me hit repeat. Checking this record out not only made me a fan of Queen but ensured that I will be visiting their entire catalog very soon!
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