'A Kind Of Magic' appreciation thread

I share the same view as Fenderek...sigh...he always says just what I'm thinkin' *blushes*

when i first heard albums like hot space and magic, also the works i despised them, Why? cos i was a 16 year old closed minded hard rock metal head, well I'm now in my mid thirties and to me there's more to music than glam or hard rock. hot space and magic weren't ment to sound like stone cold crazy, Queen were not the type of band to do the same things over and over like AC/DC. these albums has since grown on me to a great extent. I now love all their eighties albums.

Mr.Jingles79 wrote:

However, ever since they came out the band has hardly changed their sound, and by that I mean trying something outside their common progressive/hard rock ground, and crossing over to other genres. Perhaps the main reason why they haven't done it is because they're afraid that their loyal fanbase will call them "sell-outs"

How about: that's the music they love and that's the music they're enjoying playing most...? They did change their sound- compare "Images And Words" with "Train Of Thought"- first one had almost poppy production (clear, clean, not too heavy)- ToT however sounds VEEERY heavy, thick- different. Just because they didn't record reagge doesn't mean they didn't change their sound... They took a lot from new bands like System of A Down or the likes- that's a new influence! That is a new sound! They didn't change totally because they found THEIR sound, they found the PERFECT way to express themselves. Why to change that...?

Mr.Jingles79 wrote:

Just look what happened to Metallica with 'The Black Album', their most keen fans called them "commercial sell-outs", and "ballad making softies"... but guess who was the winner in the end?... Metallica, because for every hard-core fan they lost, they gained 10 more. I mean, if you see it from another point of view even 'Load' wasn't that bad. It would have definitely been received better if it wasn't made by Metallica. The change was radical, but not as bad as many people say it was.

I agree about "Load"- it grew on me. BUT- I can't say a good word about Re-load (Ok- there's one- "Fuel")... I agree that "Black Album" was actually a great, classic album. It didn't sound like "Master of Puppets" BUT it was still metal- they didn't do pop, did they...? And those morons who accused them of writing ballads and called them softies- listen to "Ride The Lightning" and go to track 4... If this isn't ballad than what is...? So my point is that they changed but not that radically. AND- recording "Black Album" they didn't go for what was popular at that moment!!! Ppl went for grunge, ppl went for G'n'R- BUT Metallica wasn't copying the trend back than- "Black Album" was a risk as much as "...And Justice For All"...! With Queen and Genesis IMO- that was going for what was at that moment popular, not for artistic reasons... As I said- IMHO...

Mr.Jingles79 wrote:

That's the reason why bands like Queen and Genesis are bigger and better. They're not afraid of trying something different. There might be some misses, but they learn from those mistakes. For instance, at the time that Queen started using synths, perhaps it sounded kinda cheesy on some songs, but they eventually learned how to use them properly later on in their careers.

I can agree on that one- can't complain about synths on "Innuendo"... Yet I still believe that it was more because of Freddie's illnes rather than musical evolution...

Mr.Jingles79 wrote:

Say what you want, but 'A Kind Of Magic' still captures for the most part the main essence of Queen.

IMO it doesn't at all- maybe 2-3 songs do (WWTLF, One Vision, POTU... that's about it...). BUT- that's just my opinion. IMO they went for something safe- something that's not a risk. "Releasing "Innuendo" as a single was a risk. AKOM was a very safe record- not for die hards, but for all those that listen to radio all day and like the music as a walpaper- many ppl heard AKOM (song) on the radio, thought "oh what a charming tune" and bought record... I agree that maybe some of them later checked out SHA or ANATO and became die hards as well- fair enough. Nevertheless- I don't like AKOM- it's to simple for my taste, I can hardly feel anything lis

I think it's the best Queen album of the 80s. Absolutely love Friends Will Be Friends, Who Wants to Live Forever, One Year of Love, Friends Will Be Friends Will Be Friends... and the Forever instrumental.

it was a great album
and i think that the 'magic' tour was the greatest tour. such an amazing set list!!