greatkingrat
07-02-2004, 01:01 PM
A Day At The Races
1976
Queen are:
Freddie Mercury - vocals, piano
Brian May - guitars, vocals
Roger Taylor - percussion, vocals
John Deacon - bass
this album was the follow up to Queen's hugely successful 'A night at the Opera' album and as such, has a lot to live up to. This album showcases Queen's unique ability to stray away from rock conventions and still produce top quality music.
intro
a typically over-the-top introduction to the album. featuring gongs and Brian May's trademark multi-layered guitar sound. not a song as such so doesn't really warrant a score.
Tie Your Mother Down
This is a quite heavy, fast paced song. featuring infectious rhythm guitar and a wonderfully powerful vocal performance it is one of the most enjoyable songs of the album. upbeat and defiant, it is one of queen's most under-rated songs.
5/5
You Take My Breath Away
an incredibly beautiful love song in which Freddie makes good use of the higher parts of his vocal range. the lyrics are stirring and sound very genuine. the song is mainly piano based but there is a very brief solo section. the guitar is not complex but is completely suitable for the song. a classic for so many different reasons
5/5
Long Away
a gentle accoustic song now. the most notable thing about this song is that Brian May takes over the vocals. to be honest, his voice is a bit weak and lacks the spectacular power of Freddie's. nether-the-less, this is an enjoyable song and shows off another string in Queen's bow in terms of styles of songs.
3/5
Millionaire Waltz
an odd but strangley enjoyable song based on the classic waltz rhythm. some good piano work at the beggining is followed by Freddie returning with some over the top vocals(including a section sung in a german accent). there is a truly astounding section of Guitars in which over twenty separate layers of guiatrs are recorded. an amazing technical feat by Brian May.
3/5
You and I
an upbeat and warm piano based song. a song that i often skip when listening to the CD but when i do listen to it away from the rest of the album i get a lot of enjoyment from it. perhaps a little too much piano in the early parts of the album cause this, i don't really know.
3/5
Somebody To Love
this is one of my favourite songs of all time. it amazes me how someone could write this, the was only one freddie mercury. its a sort of duet between Freddie and the 'gospel choir' backing vocals, which were done by just three people. a brilliant little guitar solo in the middle. i can't help but sing along with this song. a classic.
5/5
White Man
a return to the heavy guitar replecing the piano. based on a pretty simple riff, its the lyrics that capture the imagination, especially when coupled with the passionate vocals of Freddie.
4/5
Good old Fashioned Lover Boy
Probably my least favourite on the album, but thats due to me being very partial to the other songs here. this song is an excellent example of Queen not taking themselves too seriously. an enjoyable, if slightly camp, romp.
3/5
Drowse
another odd song. slide guitar is used to give this song a sleepy feel. Roger Taylor takes over the vocals and gives a very good performance. his slightly husky voice is suited to the style of the song. the lyrics are also pretty good, at least i feel i can relate to them somewhat. not a classic but very good.
4/5
Teo Torriate(let us cling together)
a harmonium provides the rhythm sections of this song. quite simply, this song has the most wondrous vocal performance of all time. the amount of emotion that freddie puts into this song is palpable. faultless. the chorus is partly in japanese which is a little annoying as it would be nice to know what he is singing. i cant get enough of this song
5/5
overall
this album's greatness lies not in the strength of just a few songs but in the consistently high standards that it sets itself. also, this album can be enjoyed by people who don't generally listen to rock music as only two or three are really guitar based. an example to others as to how an album should be.
5/5
1976
Queen are:
Freddie Mercury - vocals, piano
Brian May - guitars, vocals
Roger Taylor - percussion, vocals
John Deacon - bass
this album was the follow up to Queen's hugely successful 'A night at the Opera' album and as such, has a lot to live up to. This album showcases Queen's unique ability to stray away from rock conventions and still produce top quality music.
intro
a typically over-the-top introduction to the album. featuring gongs and Brian May's trademark multi-layered guitar sound. not a song as such so doesn't really warrant a score.
Tie Your Mother Down
This is a quite heavy, fast paced song. featuring infectious rhythm guitar and a wonderfully powerful vocal performance it is one of the most enjoyable songs of the album. upbeat and defiant, it is one of queen's most under-rated songs.
5/5
You Take My Breath Away
an incredibly beautiful love song in which Freddie makes good use of the higher parts of his vocal range. the lyrics are stirring and sound very genuine. the song is mainly piano based but there is a very brief solo section. the guitar is not complex but is completely suitable for the song. a classic for so many different reasons
5/5
Long Away
a gentle accoustic song now. the most notable thing about this song is that Brian May takes over the vocals. to be honest, his voice is a bit weak and lacks the spectacular power of Freddie's. nether-the-less, this is an enjoyable song and shows off another string in Queen's bow in terms of styles of songs.
3/5
Millionaire Waltz
an odd but strangley enjoyable song based on the classic waltz rhythm. some good piano work at the beggining is followed by Freddie returning with some over the top vocals(including a section sung in a german accent). there is a truly astounding section of Guitars in which over twenty separate layers of guiatrs are recorded. an amazing technical feat by Brian May.
3/5
You and I
an upbeat and warm piano based song. a song that i often skip when listening to the CD but when i do listen to it away from the rest of the album i get a lot of enjoyment from it. perhaps a little too much piano in the early parts of the album cause this, i don't really know.
3/5
Somebody To Love
this is one of my favourite songs of all time. it amazes me how someone could write this, the was only one freddie mercury. its a sort of duet between Freddie and the 'gospel choir' backing vocals, which were done by just three people. a brilliant little guitar solo in the middle. i can't help but sing along with this song. a classic.
5/5
White Man
a return to the heavy guitar replecing the piano. based on a pretty simple riff, its the lyrics that capture the imagination, especially when coupled with the passionate vocals of Freddie.
4/5
Good old Fashioned Lover Boy
Probably my least favourite on the album, but thats due to me being very partial to the other songs here. this song is an excellent example of Queen not taking themselves too seriously. an enjoyable, if slightly camp, romp.
3/5
Drowse
another odd song. slide guitar is used to give this song a sleepy feel. Roger Taylor takes over the vocals and gives a very good performance. his slightly husky voice is suited to the style of the song. the lyrics are also pretty good, at least i feel i can relate to them somewhat. not a classic but very good.
4/5
Teo Torriate(let us cling together)
a harmonium provides the rhythm sections of this song. quite simply, this song has the most wondrous vocal performance of all time. the amount of emotion that freddie puts into this song is palpable. faultless. the chorus is partly in japanese which is a little annoying as it would be nice to know what he is singing. i cant get enough of this song
5/5
overall
this album's greatness lies not in the strength of just a few songs but in the consistently high standards that it sets itself. also, this album can be enjoyed by people who don't generally listen to rock music as only two or three are really guitar based. an example to others as to how an album should be.
5/5