For me Sheer Heart Attack has to be Queen's best album. The mixture of hard rocking songs and balladry is perfect while songs such as Bring Back That Leroy brown and Misfire show a development in Queen's ability to tackle all sounds in this case, ragtime and CSN flavored pop. I love how songs segue into one another; I think the transition from the Bowiesque strut of Tenement Funster to mercury's metallic Flick Of the Wrist is superb. Brighton Rock is a great showcase for brian may's talents whilst Now I'm here and Stone Cold Crazy prove that they could rock witout too many of his multi-tracked embellishments, in a more raw fashion.
The balladsa are stunning. lily Of The valley and Dear Friends are simply gorgeous, and demonstrate the orchestrations that would later be heard on Love Of my Life. The only let down is She Makes me but aside from that, it is great.
A harder more edgy album than ANATO, a more down-to earth piece than Queen II and a more sophisticated piece than any of Queen's eighties work, Sheer heart Attack should be remembered for two classic songs if nothing else;Killer Queen with its intricate melodies and seamless transitions and Lap of the Gods revisited, a song even more anthemic than We Are The Champions. A diverse and convincing album- no more to be said.
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I really wanted to write here something but couldn't put it into words. It is my favourite album, yet I started writing here about five times- and never finished. Finally- the poster above me said exactly what I wanted to:
"A harder more edgy album than ANATO, a more down-to earth piece than Queen II and a more sophisticated piece than any of Queen's eighties work"
I simply second that. I'll try to write some more later, this time in my own words :)
"A harder more edgy album than ANATO, a more down-to earth piece than Queen II and a more sophisticated piece than any of Queen's eighties work"
I simply second that. I'll try to write some more later, this time in my own words :)
Asterik thanks. I couldn't have said it better.
This is my favourite Queen album and I haven't yet made a comment on it!
Anyways...
This is the album where Queen firmly find their feet. The medley of Tenement Funster, Wrist and Lily work superbly, the segue from Lap Of The Gods to Stone Cold Crazy....
And all this with Brian in hospital for some of the time? Roy Thomas Baker has really come into his own here, his contribution to ANATO is widely acclaimed and quite rightly but his work here is just as exceptional. Lester likened this to Abbey Road in terms of the flow and medleys apparent, but it also follows on from Queen 2 in that sense...except SHA is more down-to-earth than it's predecessor.
Unfortunately there is one disappointment on this album...I have never liked She Makes Me and never will. But that doesn't spoil the brilliance of Sheer Heart Attack.
To finish, just a special mention for John Deacon. His only track on the album is Misfire, and what a good song! Like with Roger's Tenement Funster, it shows what is to follow in terms of songwriting....
Anyways...
This is the album where Queen firmly find their feet. The medley of Tenement Funster, Wrist and Lily work superbly, the segue from Lap Of The Gods to Stone Cold Crazy....
And all this with Brian in hospital for some of the time? Roy Thomas Baker has really come into his own here, his contribution to ANATO is widely acclaimed and quite rightly but his work here is just as exceptional. Lester likened this to Abbey Road in terms of the flow and medleys apparent, but it also follows on from Queen 2 in that sense...except SHA is more down-to-earth than it's predecessor.
Unfortunately there is one disappointment on this album...I have never liked She Makes Me and never will. But that doesn't spoil the brilliance of Sheer Heart Attack.
To finish, just a special mention for John Deacon. His only track on the album is Misfire, and what a good song! Like with Roger's Tenement Funster, it shows what is to follow in terms of songwriting....
Although not one of my absolute favourite Queen albums, I have to say that SHA does feel more 'complete' than QII, or even ANATO, come to that. The track order is as perfect as it could have been, and the merging of one track into another, continuing the idea from QII, is inspired. SHA was the second Queen album I bought (following ANATO), and I have to admit, at the time, I preferred it to it's successor. It's just that over the passage of time, ANATO has stood firm, whereas SHA has somewhat dated. I may change my mind again, if it ever appears on DVD-A.
As has been said, the only bad track on SHA is the monotonous She Makes Me, which is the real weak link on side 2. I think the production is slightly heavier than on QII and ANATO, which SHA benefits from, however, listening to it today, it somehow doesn't sound as crisp as either of it's 'neighbours', and again, it's Roger's drum sound which is the main problem, although it's no where near as bad as on Jazz.
It was interesting at the time, that each album seemed to relate to the last in some way. Seven Seas (QI / QII), the 'seaside' end of QII and the intro to Brighton Rock, then the re-appearance of the echoplex on The Prophet's Song seemed like Freddie's answer to Brian's BR solo.
Overall, SHA contains many great tracks, perhaps only let down by She Makes Me and Misfire, and it was probably an improvement on QII, which, if we're being honest, does contain three or four duffers, along with the masterpieces.
Although SHA may not be one of the Crown Jewels, it's certainly a very accomplished effort, especially given the circumstances the band were having to deal with during it's recording, and it was certainly a worthy successor to QII. Little did we know what was to come!
As has been said, the only bad track on SHA is the monotonous She Makes Me, which is the real weak link on side 2. I think the production is slightly heavier than on QII and ANATO, which SHA benefits from, however, listening to it today, it somehow doesn't sound as crisp as either of it's 'neighbours', and again, it's Roger's drum sound which is the main problem, although it's no where near as bad as on Jazz.
It was interesting at the time, that each album seemed to relate to the last in some way. Seven Seas (QI / QII), the 'seaside' end of QII and the intro to Brighton Rock, then the re-appearance of the echoplex on The Prophet's Song seemed like Freddie's answer to Brian's BR solo.
Overall, SHA contains many great tracks, perhaps only let down by She Makes Me and Misfire, and it was probably an improvement on QII, which, if we're being honest, does contain three or four duffers, along with the masterpieces.
Although SHA may not be one of the Crown Jewels, it's certainly a very accomplished effort, especially given the circumstances the band were having to deal with during it's recording, and it was certainly a worthy successor to QII. Little did we know what was to come!
your nuts!...Sheer heart attack is truly one of queens crown jewels. It's one of their most brilliant albums, and is my third favorite only slightly behind queen2 and anato. Killer queen, stoned cold crazy, now i'm here and in the lap of the gods revisited is among their most influencial songs. Brians "she makes me" is the weakest song on this album, but it's still pretty good.
No doubt Sheer Heart Attack can be considered a foreshadowing to A Night at the Opera. Queen hits so many musical styles in this albums, it really shows off how amazingly diverse this band was. Although missing that BoRhap style epic song, it's not like the rest of the album doesn't give a good attempt to make up for that.
Brighton Rock: 10/10
love the powerful vocals in the beginning and end of song, the guitar solo in the middle is magic. Not a very good live song, truely a great studio creation though.
Killer Queen: 10/10
ah, Queen's first real hit. Definetely a classic.
Tenement Funster: 7/10
Pretty average song by Roger.
Flick of the Wrist: 9/10
Great guitar work, powerful, biting lyrics.
Lily of the Valley: 8/10
Good for being only a minute or so long, but a little boring IMO
Now I'm Here: 10/10
Just an awesome rocker, I can't help but sing along with this one.
In the Lap of the Gods: 7/10
The intro of the song with Roger's scream followed by that mystical piano is awesome, kinda dies in the middle, a little better at the end.
Stone Cold Crazy: 8/10
Always reminded me of a compact version of Led Zep's "Black Dog". Awesome riff, solid throughout.
Dear Friends: 3/10
Always skip this one, boring and pointless
Misifre: 9/10
Surprising Deacy's first contribution is so cool.
Bring Back That Leroy Brown: 8/10
this song just makes me laugh every time I hear it, what the hell is this doing on a rock album?
She Makes Me: 7/10
Really underrated methinks. No, not Brian's best, but still a solid song
In the Lap of the Gods (rev): 9/10
Some of Fred's best work. Their first real anthem, great lyrics, you cna really get into the repetition at the end
105/130 81%
Brighton Rock: 10/10
love the powerful vocals in the beginning and end of song, the guitar solo in the middle is magic. Not a very good live song, truely a great studio creation though.
Killer Queen: 10/10
ah, Queen's first real hit. Definetely a classic.
Tenement Funster: 7/10
Pretty average song by Roger.
Flick of the Wrist: 9/10
Great guitar work, powerful, biting lyrics.
Lily of the Valley: 8/10
Good for being only a minute or so long, but a little boring IMO
Now I'm Here: 10/10
Just an awesome rocker, I can't help but sing along with this one.
In the Lap of the Gods: 7/10
The intro of the song with Roger's scream followed by that mystical piano is awesome, kinda dies in the middle, a little better at the end.
Stone Cold Crazy: 8/10
Always reminded me of a compact version of Led Zep's "Black Dog". Awesome riff, solid throughout.
Dear Friends: 3/10
Always skip this one, boring and pointless
Misifre: 9/10
Surprising Deacy's first contribution is so cool.
Bring Back That Leroy Brown: 8/10
this song just makes me laugh every time I hear it, what the hell is this doing on a rock album?
She Makes Me: 7/10
Really underrated methinks. No, not Brian's best, but still a solid song
In the Lap of the Gods (rev): 9/10
Some of Fred's best work. Their first real anthem, great lyrics, you cna really get into the repetition at the end
105/130 81%
I believe its as great as Queen 2 but not as misterious.
Lester, any chance of carrying on with the Discussion Threads? The Game is next...
[QUOTE][QUOTENAME]bitesthedust<br><h6> The QZ gentleman... wrote: [/QUOTENAME]Lester, any chance of carrying on with the Discussion Threads? The Game is next...[/QUOTE]
I totally second that, please.
These threads must never die.
I totally second that, please.
These threads must never die.
Don't see 'In the Lap of the Gods' appreciated very much... one of the best songs in Queen catalogue, for me anyways. Anyway, no other Queen album sounds as tight as this one, although it somewhat falters at the end. The weakest in my opinion is In the Lap of the Gods Revisited.
[QUOTE][QUOTENAME]Kuku wrote: [/QUOTENAME]Don't The weakest in my opinion is In the Lap of the Gods Revisited.[/QUOTE]
That's a strange choice in my opinion. Lap of The Gods revisited is a thunping, grandstanding anthem, wooah wooah la la. Anyway the worst song has to be the pitiful She Makes Me...
That's a strange choice in my opinion. Lap of The Gods revisited is a thunping, grandstanding anthem, wooah wooah la la. Anyway the worst song has to be the pitiful She Makes Me...
[QUOTE][QUOTENAME]Asterik wrote: [/QUOTENAME]Anyway the worst song has to be the pitiful She Makes Me...[/QUOTE]
Most people slam this track because it's slow and not as musically bombastic as the majority of the tracks on the album. Not everything has to be uber-busy to be good. Just look at Radiohead. I'll always take Muse over Radiohead personally, but Radiohead are a band whose brilliance is usually about the minute details, not the grand things that are obvious.
Most people slam this track because it's slow and not as musically bombastic as the majority of the tracks on the album. Not everything has to be uber-busy to be good. Just look at Radiohead. I'll always take Muse over Radiohead personally, but Radiohead are a band whose brilliance is usually about the minute details, not the grand things that are obvious.
she makes me is my least favorite track on this album, but it's far from pitiful. Sheer heart attack is one of queens crown jewels in my opinion. tenament funster/flick of the wrist kick butt.
She Makes Me is actually one of my favorite songs. Its simple yes and not as bombastic as someone said, but still great in its simplicity.
It reminds me of the rising and fall of the tides and waves of the ocean. And this track has an air of mystery to it, like many of Brian's early love tracks.
Simply lovely track.
It reminds me of the rising and fall of the tides and waves of the ocean. And this track has an air of mystery to it, like many of Brian's early love tracks.
Simply lovely track.