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Go back to the lady of the night of the opera ... (that is, to say, Queen)... A Night at the Islands
Overall Album Score: 9.0 out of 10 I'm not going to do it! I'm not going to pretend that I don't love Queen and their A Night At the Opera album so that I can gain some sort of level of respect in the community of music snobs. ... I hide not my admiration to this band and for all the happiness that they used to give me and still do. This is the first Queen album that I ever bought (and the first Queen album in their discography that I used to listen to frequently). It was probably even my favorite rock album at the time, even though I probably only had about 12 of 'em at that point. In the past year, before sitting down and reviewing this album, I only listened to it once, so my fascination for it has totally worn off, but still ... I love this album! It contains what's clearly Queen's best and most famous moment ("Bohemian Rhapsody") and a bunch of other real keepers. There's not a single solitary bad song in the bunch. I used to hate "Sweet Lady," but I even have to recognize that as being a good song. Yup, A Night At the Opera is a certified rock-and-roll classic, and there's no if, ands, or butts about it. The story behind A Night At the Opera is as oft-told as anything, but just in case I'm talking to new blood, I'll briefly explain it here! This album most creatively combines opera and rock to create a very pompous but very entertaining brand of music. If you've heard "Bohemian Rhapsody," then you've heard what this combination of music can do! However, not every song on here sounds like "Bohemian Rhapsody." There's some 20s-ish pop music, hard rock, and some folky stuff in here as well. Not only does this album have some wonderful melodies in it, but diversity, too! In close, this album is the stuff. Overall Album Score: 9.0 out of 10 (It's not a perfect 10, but don't let that disappoint you. I do like this album more than many of the albums that scored higher than this, if that makes you feel better.) Average Song Score: 9.1 (Gotta love these songs! "Bohemian Rhapsody" was a shoe-in for my ever-so-bloody-coveted 10plus rating ... and there are a good handful of other classics on here as well. Nothing on here is really bad, either.) Album Tilt: 9.0 (I loooooooove this album! ... to a healthy extent, of course ...... Heck, I can love albums without giving them a perfect rating, can't I?) Artist Rating: 9.0 (I probably should give it a 9.5. It was a unique album at the time and the material within it is pretty consistent. But, at the same time, I think this stuff is a wee bit shallow and showy to be considered a true artistic success.) Track Reviews Death on Two Legs (Dedicated to ... Margaret Thatcher) 9.5/10 Freaking awesome, man! Theatrical piano abounds (as well as some very appreciated 'lectric guitar) in this really-quite-awesome hard-rock song. Certainly, the opera and rock synthesis is illustrated right here on the first track. More impressive than that, however, is the band's sense of energy and the hooky melody. A really good, rollicking introduction to the album, methinks. Lazing on a Sunday Afternoon 9/10 Only a minute long, this is a very pleasant discourse into what might be considered 20s pop. The only thing missing is hisses and scratches from the gramophone! I'm in Love With My Car 9/10 Roger Taylor's odd little love proclamation to his automobile makes for a pretty great hard rock tune! The hooks are abundant, but better is the really cool electric guitar playing. I don't reckon that I'll ever get enough of that. Not *intelligent* music, but it's fun music, and sometimes a girl's just got to have fun ... and a guy, too. You're My Best Friend 9.5/10 This is practically classic. An insufferably happy song, it'll be the center of your hatred or the center of your affection. I'm a dork, so I love this along with all the other cretin Queen fans. '39 10/10 Awesome!!!! Certainly my second favorite song from the album. It's an operatic-type folk song, and ...... wow! It's another absolutely happy track, and I can't get enough of that melody. ... and that stupid, thumping bass ...... This is the awesomest! (Back in the height of my Queen fandom, I used to play this song after passing a calculus test ... I was always a dork.) Sweet Lady 7.5/10 I suppose the trouble of reviewing an album that I listened to so consistently three years ago is that I still remember which songs I used to loathe (I seriously would have given this a 2/10). I still pretty much don't like this, but listening to this using my since-discovered "critic-ear," I must realize that this isn't really that bad. It has a nice hard rock feel to it if I can't really appreciate the chorus. Seaside Rendevouz 9.5/10 A longer discourse into goofy "20s pop," this is utterly delightful! A nice little tune that you can feel like a true dork for not only listening to it, but for liking it as well. ... So bob your head agreeably to this wonderful tune! The Prophet's Song 8.5/10 For some odd reason, I could never really warm up to this tune. Other than "Bohemian Rhapsody," this is the only other epic song on here. Of course, the medieval tune is solid and I like the general feel of it. I don't really like the length of it (more than 8 minutes long) and that round robin thing in the middle of it. Other than that, this is an entertaining song! It might have been one of my utter favorites of the album if'n I weren't such a dork (or if I were more of a dork ... whichever one ...). Love of My Life 9/10 Very pritty! 'Tis a very nice theatric piano-pop type song that'll either lift your spirits or have you vomiting in your top hat. I don't have a top hat, so I'll just have to let the pritty song lift my shallow spirits. Good Company 8/10 This is another song that I didn't like at all during the height of my Queen fandom, but after pretending to be a critic for awhile, I have to change my mind about it. It's a fun, quirky little song that utilizes the ukulele as the lead instrument. It's not bad at all ... but it's not the best song on the album, either. Bohemian Rhapsody 10plus/10 Yup, I put the plus on there. I'm a Queen fan, so I guess that's to be expected. "Bohemian Rhapsody," embodies the height of goofiness and pomposity that so infamously personifies the 70s. And it's really good, too! I'm sure you've heard it before (or at least seen it lip-synced to on Wayne's World) ... and yup, it's definitely a classic. I won't nominate it for the greatest song of rock-and-roll (as it oftentimes is), but I do nevertheless proclaim it as the awesomest. God Save the Queen 8/10 Indeed. God Save the Queen. I'm not sure why Queen felt the need to produce an electric guitar version of the British national anthem and tack it on the end of their album, but hey! Whatever! BONUS TRACKS More stupid remixes crap from some guy who was doing remixes one day. After your night at the freaking opera, send me your freaking comments about this freaking album here! seikopatek@yahoo.com (Eric) received August 29, 2004 Hi, would like to make a correction in one of you rack reviews...... I'm in Love With My Car 9/10 "Brian May's odd little love proclamation to his automobile makes for a pretty great hard rock tune!" Actually, the one who wrote and sang on that track was the drummer, Roger Taylor. Don Ignacio responds: Thanks, Eric! (...My goodness, though, that did sound an awful lot like Brian May!) My factual error has been corrected! slb23@shaw.ca (Simon B.) received Sept. 1, 2004 I listened to A NIGHT AT THE OPERA years ago at a cd store
and I thought it was good, but didn't buy it. Then I finally picked it
up from a used record shop for $5 and I think it's really quite good.
This album contains many different styles: pop, rock, vaudville, folk,
glam, even artrock. At one time, this was the most expensive album ever
made. Contains the hits "You're My Best Friend" and "Bohemian Rhapsody".
sean.umphlet@gmail.com (nosebleed) received Sept. 14, 2005 Wow! I have never seen some one who's opinion is so similar to mine. The only real exception is Sweet Lady. I love this song and will always love it (it's pretty funny). Anywho: 1. Death On Two Legs: 10/10
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All reviews are copyrighted by the author, Michael Lawrence. He's an opera diva.
