Queen II

discão do Queen. um dos poucos hard rocks que eu dou conta

I'm pretty sure I've never heard any of these songs. Remarkable that this album hides out as it does. Also hilarious - very dark fantasy centric, to a nerd-asst level seldom seen pre D and D, which I think it was. Anyway all the queen ingredients and bombast are present, Brian May's guitar, immaculate songcraft, sweeping harmonies, stadium drums etc etc.

If you only know the Queen songs from the radio or greatest hits albums then there’s a lot you don’t know. Sometimes you’re really missing out on a treasure. Sometimes it’s an epic about fighting orcs.

Classic Queen riffage. Gotta love Brian May’s tone

Alright

🔥

Noteworthy songs - 808080808 Magical Dream - Kinda catchy synth, but the rest is bland. Ancodia - Good background noise. Cobra Bora - Actually kind of cool, reminds me of Bomberman Hero. Pacific 202 - N64 vibes, but melody isn't great. Donkey Doctor - Nothing too special, weird ending. 808080808 - Really cool beginning. A little slow in the middle but stays interesting enough. Sunrise - Nothing remarkable. The Fat Shadow - Eerie. Very short.

I don't think I've heard hardly any of these songs before, but Queen is still being Queen here and I'm all about it.

great gutar and sound

Oh, second Queen album in as many weeks. I was hugely into them around the time Freddie died, and have since taken a more nuanced view. They're one of the major singles bands to me but never really did it for me as an album band. And this album confirms that. Very much. There are sooooo many ideas in this, but they're not very focused. Sure, Bohemian Rhapsody a few years later also had tons of idea, but the song structure actually made some sense and was coherent. Whereas here there's a lot of "oh, let's just stick this chanting and screaming here, attach the weird guitar overdub to it, too, because, hey, props to Brian, we can't leave that out". The production is also weirdly muddy and overall it ends up not being a particularly coherent or great album.

Very well made. However, it falls flat in their future projects, as most music does.

The album is okay. I don't know really. For 1974, it sounds very clean and smooth. The lyrics, I felt I was listening to some video game explanation. The music is fine, guitars especially. All in all, it's a nice Queen album, but because of their fame, I expected more tbh

It reminded me of David Bowie

Queen when they were just a bit dull, rather than dull, over-blown and pompous. 2 stars, but "Seven Seas of Rhye" absolutely slaps so they can have a rounded 2.6/5

I was not aware of this record or really any of the songs on it but wow it's so good! There are some seriously good songs on here with a lot of variety in sounds and instruments. I also love the transitions between songs. I love the prog elements of it. I really wish I had known about this sooner.

What a rad album! Its interesting to me that most people know Queen through their Greatest Hits record (myself included), but in reality, a lot of their records were like this. Kind of glam rock dabbling in prog. Its kind of a messy concept album with fantasy elements, but it seriously rocks so hard. Every song on this record is a gem. It flows together super nicely, its fun to listen to, its moves up and down where it makes sense. This record is totally a gem.

SUCH A GOOD ALBUM. Behold the wonders of fresh ears. This album flows into each other so neatly. I love it. And the musicianship is astounding.

Bombastic and a bit silly, but quite entertaining

Passabler Rock. Werde ich dennoch nicht noch einmal hören

For a band I quite enjoy, and previously would have listed as a favourite, this was not the vibe

Rollo.

Queen must be one of the bands that I am the most tired of hearing. First off, I am not that keen on their choir and glam-like sound. Second, they have been played so extremely much over the years that all of their hit songs have lost their charm since long. This record doesn't contain any of their most popular songs, which could have been an opportunity for me to enjoy another side of Queen without their hits. But I think I am just so burnt on it that I can't enjoy it. Or it's not that great. Probably deserves more, but a strong 2 for me.

Meh, generational talent but not my cup of tea, one or two good songs but that's it.

This rocks. That is all.

Great

Progehtava, loistava

3 1/2 Tasaisen kova.

Rollo.

It was ok, I like Queen but this just didn't grip me like other Queen albums have in the past.

The surprise to open 1001albumsgenerator.com and find that I'm already listening to my assigned album? (I’m on my way to my nine-hundredth play, actually.) ── ࣪˖ ࣪ ⊹ ࣪ ˖ ── I'm going to say it now, loud and clear: Queen II is Queen's best album. Although Queen II is neither as glamorous nor eclectic as its successors, the songs synchronize into one another and offers the foundation of Queen's sound. Queen II is a semi-conceptual album based loosely around the theme(s) of fantasy and love: The White Side (disc 1) offers a range of melodies — the powerful “Father To Son," the folksy “Some Day, One Day” (iirc, Brian May’s vocal debut), the stark “The Loser In The End," and more outstandingly, “White Queen (As It Began)," a powerful testament to the beauty and sting of love: “My Goddess hear my darkest fear, I speak too late — It's for evermore that I wait! Dear friend, goodbye No tears in my eyes So sad it ends, As it began” The Black Side (disc 2) is even more alluring, featuring Queen’s six-minute-long operatic masterpiece (no, I am not referring to “Bohemian Rhapsody”.) “ The March Of The Black Queen” definitely paved way for Queen’s later theatrical experimentations. The transition b/w “The March Of The Black Queen”, “Funny How Love Is” and “Seven Seas Of Rhye” is among the most beautiful things I heard. Be it "Father To Son," "White Queen" or even "Nevermore," you can distinguish Queen's later influences in Queen II. This album's rawness and imperfection is genuinely so beautiful and everything falls into place like a jigsaw.

As a fan of prog and Queens hits, I should love it! However, I feel like the dynamic range of Queens pop hits is lacking here. So is the adventurous writing of the prog greats. The album lacks dramaturgical developement and sadly ends up sounding just like most stuff in the early 70s — straight grooves, standarized guitar playing and lyrically focused vocals. I don't really dislike any of these things. However, it just seems disapointing when Queen is doing something more prog-like. The sad thing is that parts of the album is brilliant. Father and Son, Ogre Battle, and Seven Seas of Rhye are all great. Funny How love is and Some day One day are also beautiful at times. But this is also where they try to explore things that separate them from other rockers of the time. Sadly most of this album is relying to heavy on rock tropes that were already explored before this record. Queen did the tropes well, but the album ends up feeling very «meh».

Really enjoyed listening to a bunch of Queen songs I didn't know.

Sounds like Queen...

It’s definitely Queen but it’s different. Not an album I knew much about, it doesn’t have any of the “massive” Queen songs - a bit early. It’s a bit heavier and possibly a bit rougher but is undeniably Queen.

I hadn’t heard most of these Queen songs and I was kind of excited to discover them. And they sound like Queen, good musicality, good vocals, but very little memorability sadly. Guess there’s a reason why most of these weren’t hits.

Never spun this before, seems quite the rarity. Not full of hits like some of their others, but still a good listen.

This was my first listen to this album and it was one of the few where I didn't know at least one song. It has some of the quintessential Queen moments; changes in tempo, layered vocal harmonies and a penchant for the dramatic, though none of the songs were memorable enough to embed themselves in my skull like other classic Queen bangers that would come with later albums. Although it is an intriguing curiosity it is not an album I would readily return to.

Es un discazo, de los mejores de Queen que escuche. Es tremendo conceptualmente, casi como ninguno de ellos. Por ahí individualmente sus canciones no son una locura, incluso tiene un sólo hit y es bastante popero.

It's not the Queen that I personally know well! Guitar is so hardcore in places! Mercury's voice rises above it all and the breakneck transitions that so highlight what Queen was legendary for. Pretty good. Not my fav.

“Queen II” is a very consistently solid Queen album. It also doesn’t have any Queen hits. And nothing that sounds quite worthy of their greatest. Is it just that we know the hits so well? Or are they genuinely special songs that naturally stand out above others? I wonder this often when listening to classic hits on the 1001 in their full context (often for the first time).

It’s got the grandiose-ness of Queen for sure. However, I feel like there is a tendency to cram as much into the sound as possible without critically thinking about what belongs best. For me, this album is mid.

I’m very glad they kept going after this. I just listened to it and already forgot what it sounded like.

per quanto mi sforzi, non riuscirò mai ad essere totalmente imparziale con i Queen, sono stati parte integrale della mia infanzia e sono tutt'ora una delle band che potrei ascoltare a ripetizioni senza stancarmi mai. detto questo, questo è uno dei loro album meno conosciuti, e infatti conoscevo a malapena un paio di canzoni, e ascoltando ho pensato che al di là del mio essere una fangirl, avrebbe potuto meritare quattro stelle perchè non è il mio preferito tra i loro album, ma quando sono arrivata alla fine, quando ho ascoltato seven seas of rhye e mi sono venuti i brividi dappertutto, ho capito che stavo mentendo a me stessa. è un 5/5. e se non lo è per il mondo, lo è per me.

Molto bello. “Father and Son” è da annoverare nella categoria dei banger totali.

Bello senz’altro, si capisce perché sono stati riconosciuti anche quando la scena rock era così satura. Nonostante mi senta di mancare di rispetto a leggende del genere non posso dare 5, ma è stato un piacevole ascolto comunque, insomma sono i Queen

Very different to other queen albums

Ever since my formative years I’ve held the belief that Queen is a singles-only band. This album is a great example of that.

3.5/4

I said for Sheer Heart Attack "I like Queen, but... Confession time.... I've been alive for 46 years nearly, and never actually listened to one of their albums. I grew up on the Greatest Hits albums, and some of those appear here, but the rest are just kinda meh?" and this can be echoed here. Hard to believe this is the same band as 80s Queen.

Queen II encapsulates the band's trademark flamboyance but often strays into over indulgence. Despite showcasing Queen's musical prowess, the album occasionally lacks the infectious energy of their later releases. The songs heavily rely on Freddie Mercury's vocals, leaving a noticeable void when he isn't in the spotlight. Queen II serves as a transitional record for the band, laying the groundwork for their future successes but falling short of fully realising their potential. While not their most accessible effort, it still offers glimpses of the innovative artistry that would define Queen's legacy. NUMBER OF BANGERS - 1 STAND OUT TRACK - Seven Seas of Rhye

Fab fab

Rollo.

Cool

Queen to Bon Jovi to Queen? Worried that I am going to get over-Queened. Half a track in and I am already feeling that this is much Queenier ;). This Queen album is wildly better than Sheer Heart Attack. Crazy that these were put out the same year. This one is loosing steam for me. I liked the album to start and it started to fall off for me.

Not a super exciting Queen album. Probably never listen to this one again..

No surprise the third album on the list is another Queen album. Feel like this album has had just as much of an impact as Sheer Heart Attack. Fav song from this album is Seven Seas of Rhye, such a classic

Nothing memorable; wouldn’t listen again

It's funny. I feel like the album morphs from general 70s rock to suddenly by the end, I recognize them as Queen. The last three songs in particular I loved. March of the Black Queen, Funny How Love Is, Seven Seas of Rhye. It was all kind of blendable background noise while I did chores and then Black Queen came on and I was like *gasp QUEEN* So I loved hearing that evolution from beginning to end. Great album. Ends super strong.

One of my two favorite queen albums. Not the all thing is consistent but the second half is a prog masterclass from freddie

Probably one of their more forgettable albums, but it’s Queen so you still get an above average listening experience

Feels like a proper rock album, the instruments are amazing and freddy's voacals are absolutely marvelous. It doesn't contain any of their top known songs, but somehow it feels more rock and roll than those. I specially like "ogre battle"! "the march of the black queen" feels very much like a rock orchestra (this is meant as a compliment), similar to "bohemian rhapsody" in the fluctuations of sounds and instruments. Added all of the songs to my liked songs.

As much as I respect Queen and as good as Freddie was as a front man, I dont really like them, a few songs here and there but none are on this record

Whimsical, bombastic and peculiar songs. Freddie's singing is impressive as always. Stand-out: The Fairy Fellers Master-Stroke, Seven Seas of Rhye

Absolutely phenomenal record. As close as Queen came to a metal album. Favourite songs: Seven Seas of Rhye, The Loser in the End Least favourite songs: none.... Perfection on vinyl 5/5

Not my fave Queen release.

Queen’s Queen II is a cool little album. From a band I’ve heard alot about, I was expecting for this to be somewhat good, and it delivered to an extent. The first half was mostly worse, with the only song I really liked being Father to Son, which was evidently extremely recognizable, and a nice listen. However, my favorites are definitely Nevermore and The Fairy’s Feller’s Master-Stroke. The latter felt really switched up in vibes compared to the album as a whole, and Nevermore was just almost perfection. All in all, Queen II is a good album. Best Song: Nevermore Worst Song: The Loser In the End

Really great, perhaps too heavy for my liking, but definitely opened my eyes to some Queen songs I hadn’t initially considered ‘good listens’.

Love the band. Album was okay

Not quite Queen’s finest hour, but still pretty great. Goofy and dramatic, long epics mixed with short ballads, piano-heavy arrangements mixing with thick guitar showcases, overall a great listen despite a couple weak songs. Can’t help but enjoy the incredible harmonies they put together.

So good. No night at the opera, but I love the theatrics

Had high expectations for this one. A bombastic sound but everything seemed one note

Interesting to hear them before they really pinned down the iconic sound. In any case, Freddie Mercury steals it and great instrumentals. I'm sure I'd enjoy other Queen records more, however.

Pretty sure this is the first repeat artist that I actually listened to. And much like Opera, this wasn't super enticing. It unfortunately doesn't have a Bohemian Rhapsody to bring itself up so.

excellent, strong album from top to bottom.

What a surprise! My music knowledge is more wide than deep. I had never heard any of these songs, so I was thrilled to get an unexpected prog masterpiece. I will definitely be returning to this one. Four stars.

I had somehow never heard any of the songs on this album before, but I love it. It’s them as a badass rock band before their more artistic operatic excesses and anthemic exclamations. I dig the fantasy elements on the black side too.

3.9/5 listened 1x

Pretty generic 70s rock album. I was kind of surprised by this given it's Queen. Not bad, but quite forgettable.

I can't stand musical theatre

Great drums, shredding guitar, classic queen that rocked generations. Songs were like stories. Couldn’t quite hold my attention though

I tend to like Night at the Opera more, but Queen II is still a classic.

Surprised i never listened to this before...

I like everything about this album, except for the songs. Not that they are bad, but they are a little all over the place. Once you get into the groove of the song, they switch up to a completely different part/pattern, and after a while, another song starts. I only had the time to listen to the album 1,5 times, and would perhaps have rated it higher if I had more time to get familiar with the songs. Seven Seas of Rhye is a banger, though.

Definitely a stronger Queen sound - some of the songs were standout but still doesn't have the super strength of their later albums. I enjoyed Black Queen and Ogre Battle a lot -- wonder why all the fantasy imagery so early on?

It's like seeing a baby picture of your husband, you can see what they'll become but the features are still a little blurred, puberty hasn't quite hit. And the further you go into the album the more it sounds like Queen. Nevermore and Seven Seas of Rhye, especially. Enjoyed this more then I thought I would. The songs sound great together, the whole is greater than the sum of its parts.

I forgot how bluesy Queen could be. I listened to the deluxe version, and there were some live recordings. It was so interesting to hear them next to the studio recorded song. They sounded almost identical.

Good album. It never reaches the genius levels of A Night At the Opera, but you can see them heading that direction

This is easily their best album tbh

Seems like a baby version of Queen. Not yet at full power.

It was fine but it’s not really the Queen I’m going out of my way to listen to

Was surprised to find a Queen album that was entirely new to me, but this was great (less surprised by that part)

Loved this album! A look at Queen music that I had never heard before but could see all the pathways that led to the music that I know and love

Discovering albums like this are what this project is all about. Somehow never heard any of these songs but liked it. Definitely a more classic hard rock sound than some of their later more famous stuff. You can still see the theatricality, particularly in the march of the black queen.

Reminder that the following albums are not on this list: - Donuts - The Idler Wheel / When the Pawn - In the Aeroplane Over the Sea - Blonde - Stop Making Sense - ANTI - De La Soul Is Dead - The Infamous - Lemonade - Diana - Currents - Sketches of Spain - Reasonable Doubt / The Black Album - New Day Rising - Discovery - Pretty Hate Machine - Ram - Black Messiah - Dictionary of Soul - Aquemini - Baduizm - Just As I Am - Criminal Minded - One in a Million - Ege Bamyasi - Post - Fucking MADVILLAINY

So many damn ideas and I feel like none of them last long enough. I respect it tho. Probably wouldn’t come back to this one much. I love the over the top guitars but sometimes they drown everything out.

There’s two of them?

The album starts out with an epic intro and I thought I was really in for a treat, but then the real songs come in feeling a little lackluster. The first half I didn't like. But everything after "The Loser In The End" is pure genius and talent. Though I hate that fade out when the drums start going crazy

This is a bit meh.

Anthemic, stadium rock, masterpiece!

Amazing. How?

Another one I listened to with a friend, but this was felt a little more subdued. Would rate it pretty low on the Queen scale, but even a 0 on that is higher that a lot of other bands' best output.

Queen II was an album that honestly, came so close to being great but just missed the mark. The songs on this album were generally pretty fun and had fast and catchy vibes but some of the songs i feel did need a bit more of work done on them. Though thankfully, even when the songs were long, they still managed to be interesting when they were. It is a good album but it just lacks that small spark for it to be great. Best Song: The March of The Black Queen Worst Song: Some Day One Day

Is every queen album considered a classic? This ones good. Fun, grandiose.

3.5 My husband got this album a while ago and, if I recall correctly, described it as just okay with glimpses of what makes Queen so good. I wouldn't say falling short of A Night At the Opera, etc. is mediocre, but I'm certainly biased by knowing what comes after. Side White was fine but Side Black has the operatic quality that I love about Queen. The Fairy Feller's Master-Stroke and The March Of The Black Queen are going in the permanent rotation.

Queen is just so good at making a big sound and they did it on Queen II. Not all tracks hit for me but most did. It may be a true 3.5 but I’ll round up bc of how much I liked Ogre Battle, just an excellent sonic pummelling track. 4 stars

I want hear seven seas of rhye with banjo. This album really grew on me as I listened, I think I need to give it another go and see what comes out in future passes

I can't stand Queen. This over dramatic album confirms why. The Loser in the End was listenable.

A perfect album.

I actually hated this a lot less than A Night At The Opera.

Queen has better, still good.

I sadly just thought this was really bland

Not my favorite queen album :/

3.5

It's Queen all right -- but not the Queen I know and love.

Now we're talking - classic album. It's got it all: Production values, variety of styles, dynamics, great musicianship, good lyrics, varied instrumentation: sitar, gong, clever arrangements, palindromic intros. Hair. There's so much here, I challenge anyone to say they can't say \"I like this bit\" to something. I also challenge you not to have learned some vocabulary after listening to the Fairy Feller's Master Stroke. Even filler tracks like some day one day are so well arranged, I like them. I had this and Sheer Heart Attack on both sides of a TDK D90 and played it often on my headphones at college. Roger Taylor songs are so weird. But again, I can't help but like them.

Nice work!

Can theatrical rock harmonies become too much, yes

Never dug Queen. This album didn't help.

I've never been a Queen fan and arena-glam is definitely not my thing. I was pleasantly surprised by this album at first; it starts with some decent understated tunes. Kinda dark and jammy and proggy in places. By track six however we're firmly planted in 70s boomer-bait and bombast. Blech.

a little too much, but enjoyable

Boring

Correcto.

Below average queen is still great

It's Queen

It may not have any of the atomic bomb tracks that Queen is known for but this is probably my favorite Queen album. It shows the clear transition from hard rock to full-on rock opera all within the course of a single album. And every track is so good. Every. Track. Loved every moment of it. Full marks

A different side of Queen than I'm used to! I didn't know a single song off this album; I liked it OK, but it didn't blow me away.

Slayyyy what a good way to start

Oceanically epic.

This is the most I've ever wanted to have half stars. This is good, and I can't only give it a three, but I don't really feel it's a four either. But for Queen, I'll round up!

Father To Son // The Loser In The End //

In which Queen goes all out medieval/middle earth fantasy prog rock. Its still got that rock opera thing happening, but this is a slightly more straight-ahead record, a little less over the top. It’s not unwelcome and serves as nice counterpoint to their better-known stuff that we are all more familiar with.

Hadn't heard this before. Wasn't into it but maybe I wasn't in the right mood for it because I like other Queen music.

Quite a surprise as a a very casual Queen enjoyer - a much heavier sound than they evolved into later, and the fantasy-inspired second side is also quite cool. I quite like how the dark side doesn't have gaps, it gives it a proggy feel. I didn't LOVE this album but it shows an additional side of their songwriting that probably isn't what made them one of the biggest bands in the world

Queen is good but more and more I hear Queen they just aren’t for me. They are talented and I understand why people enjoy them. Not me though.

No conocía ni una sola de las canciones de este disco, pese a su portada tan icónica. Creo que eso influyó a que me gustara más.

Its no 'night at the opera' but Q2 is more consistent than the eponymous debut and a reminder they were not just a singles band but could really, really rock in those early days.

Even though this is before they were "famous", it's a fantastic album

Nope

Amazing

What a racket. I quite liked Some Day One Day though

First time hearing this album. Loved it!

You can certainly hear the beginnings of What became came the signature sound of Queen …. Certainly not my favorite album by them, but solid…

So I’m a big Queen fan, and am well-versed in their catalog – and have to say that this is among their weakest efforts… I get that this album changed a lot for them in terms of their maturing in the studio… Sorta like Neil Peart the drummer from Rush always used to say that they never would have gotten to “2112” – the album that broke the band big-time, without all that they learned from creating their album “Caress Of Steel” (i.e. which is really NOT a very good album at all…) – so I get that… At the end of the day however, I judge these albums by the quality of the material… To be honest, other than the “White Queen” & “Black Queen” songs – along with “The Seven Seas Of Rhye” – there is not a lot on here to like… Yes – I enjoyed hearing the evolution of their sound – especially on the longer pieces, but other than that – it really left me wanting – and I’m a big rock guy… Really thought I would enjoy “Ogre Battle” as I had heard so many praise it over the years, but I’d probably only give that a 3-stars out of 7-stars on my little ratings scale… Glad I listened, as I had never run this one all the way through before, but was a bot disappointing, as compared to what I was expecting…

Seven Seas of Rye is my favorite song off this album. It's generally quite good.

It's hard not to like Queen.

can't not love queen ! vibes. esp Seven Seas Of Rhye of course. 4/5

Hmm, interesting inclusion. Starts with a medieval "Here Comes the Bride", or it least sounded that way, so could it redeem itself? Their ability to rock is not in question, especially as a live act, and that is in evidence here ("Father to Son"), as is their apparent devotion to the overly-bombastic ("Father to Son"). I guess they were still finding their way. May's guitar tone would become legendary nevertheless and Freddie could hold a tune. Not sure it's aged terribly well (and it's deffo over-produced). Would award **.5 if I could, so I've rounded that up.

Of a time, busy prog rock, concept album, wizards kings and queens, Yes, ELP, Zep, I guess that was the trend. Thick as a Brick made fun of it all. Punk rock smashed it. I like the softer stuff, 'Some Day, One Day'. "The Loser in the End" and "Funny How Love Is" seems from another album. 'Ogre Battle' is a blueprint for some future hits. it is an interesting album from a Queen development perspective. Is it one of 1001 albums you must hear, that's debatable. 3*

Favorite Tracks: The March Of The Black Queen Seven Seas of Rhye Ogre Battle

cool

It's ok but doesn't really hit until Seven Seas of Rhyme. That one's a banger!

Kinda boring, forgettable

L'album si dice sia conosciuto soprattutto per aver riscritto la storia del rock, avendo dato inizio all'Art Rock, un sottogenere del rock psichedelico riconducibile allo stile musicale dei Pink Floyd e dei Led Zeppelin, che perciò deve la sua futura popolarità tra le band britanniche degli Anni Settanta proprio a Queen II. Al momento del suo inserimento nella prestigiosa Rock and Roll Hall of Fame è stato definito un pilastro della storia della musica. Non uno dei migliori album dei Queen, ma uno degli LP che suonavo da giovane appassionato dei Queen.

This album was alright, nothing offensive, but nothing to really grip onto

70’s rock was weird but interesting.

The whole 'good versus evil' album has been done by many. But few could do it as well or with as much excitement as this band. This is the album where Queen really became Queen, with more complicated structures, multi-layered songs, and heavy use of overdubs. The various talents of the band are on full display here, particularly the progressive rock stylings of Brian May and the louder than life vocals of Freddie Mercury. What's striking is how little known this album is. It speaks to Queen's ability to create both iconic and instantly recognizable singles elsewhere, as well as perfectly crafted albums like this one. 'Queen II' is heavy, detailed, and utterly fantastical.

Very glam rocky. Not my cup of tea.

I liked this album. It’s like a softer, younger Queen than I’m used to. I think I like Some Day One Day the best. But I didn’t mind any of these songs really.

Being the first of what I'm sure will be many rock albums to come, I want to clarify my current relationship with the genre: I respect it, but it isn't my forte. But who isn't familiar with Queen? I'm happy to say that this album did grow on me, and I'm thankful that I don't have to write a bad review for it, because I got a taste of what that would feel like this morning about half way through my first listen. I'm glad that I decided to re-listen to some of the songs on here at a later time, and furthermore look into the album a bit, because I can now proudly say that I have grown to appreciate it more and that I enjoy a rock album. Well, half of a rock album. One disadvantage of listening to this album in the modern era is that you lose the whole Side A, Side B structure to the album, which apparently, this one relies pretty heavily on. Upon first listen, I noticed that I liked the second half of the album a lot more, starting at Ogre Battle (a bop), and especially into the March of The Black Queen. I realized that the second half was written by Freddie Mercury (the only member of Queen who's name I could tell you), but also, upon further research, I found out that this was the Side B of the vinyl, and that these songs were entitled 'Side Black'. The wiki points out that these tracks lean more into a more fantastical theme versus the first half of the album which is set more in reality, and I must say, this, along with the overall sound puts the second half much above the first, for me. A realization I've had today is that Queen songs can have a LOT going on, and I think the first half really misuses this trait. It just doesn't really work with the rock outfit those first 5 tracks wear. The second half leans more into Queen's iconic flamboyance, and that's where the album truly starts for me. You've got tales of Ogres, Fairies, Black Queens, and even swashbucklers. The final run is just a fun experience, but I think this album overall is a bit peg-legged. I know I'm really drilling what some might consider some great songs, but those first few tracks really don't give the album good feet to stand on. That being said, I can see why this album is not very esteemed amongst the rest of their discography, and the way I had to scroll a good ways down their profile on Apple Music to find a singular track from the album speaks to that. Do I like it? Yes. Do I love it? No. Favorite Track: Ogre Battle - I think Black Queen will grow on me, but man, I just want to hear this one over the speakers opening the second half of a football game this season. I got to reward this one for reviving the album for me. Least Favorite Track: Father to Son - This one kind of symbolizes the entire first half of the album for me. It's so long, the instrumentals are fine but don't really catch my ear, and the words just kind of blend in amongst the music. The kind of song I would maybe enjoy more live. It's just too much going on and not in the way that Bohemian Rhapsody does it. I couldn't have handled a full album of this. Final Rating: 6 out of 10.

I'm getting this as my second Queen album on this list. I've never listened to this album before and was not familiar with any of the songs on it. This is a very good progressive rock record and I can hear Queen developing their signature sound. Comparing this to "Sheer Heart Attack" which was the other record I have had on the list, I would give the nod to the 3rd album, but this one has several shining stars. One thing that I came to realize from both of the records was that I enjoy Roger Taylor's contributions as some of my favorite Queen songs. Highly underrated.

The loser in the end, the march of the black queen, and seven seas of rye are bangers. Everything else was pretty meh tbh

Wow! Very different from the Queen music that gets overplayed. Fun stuff.

5/5. This is a bias pick for sure, objectively some silly and naïve songwriting but gosh darn does this go hard. It got through me through my teenage years (no wonder it was so hard to make friends lol). The dual sided structure with light and dark, love the exploration of that concept. Although the love song stands out on side 2, it's overall a great front to back, great vocals and instrumentation, as always from Queen. Give it a listen for the nerdiness alone or for the great music as a bonus!

Hadn't heard this album before but it's really good. Fun to listen to.

Queen - Queen II I was always familiar with the cover for this album, but upon listening to it this morning, I realized I had never listened to this album. And I didn't really like it. It feels a bit over the top and I don't find any songs on it to be memorable. I see how this album gets us to their more famous ones, but something about this one just doesn't resonate with me. 2/5

Good stuff

I'm a bad music fan. Not a huge fan of Queen. I enjoy a lot of their big hits but any deeper into their discography loses me.

4.5/5

Queen is always good.

Procession 3.1 Father to Son 3.5 White Queen (As It Began) 3.3 Some Day One Day 3.3 The Loser in the End 3.4 Ogre Battle 3.4 The Fairy Feller's Master-Stroke 3.4 Nevermore 3.1 The March of the Black Queen 3.4 Funny How Love Is 3.6 Seven Seas of Rhye 3.3 Score: 3.345454545

Seems like a concept album. I had not heard any of the songs before, but clearly a good Queen album.

This is a 70s hard rock Queen, it has Led Zeppelin vibes but without the dirty blues sound. I think I prefer the more bombastic sound they would have later. Ogre Battle is awesome though

One review says "Queen hits hard as a rock band here, where even the blasts of vocal harmonies feel like power chords, no matter how florid they are." No. Those blasts seem out-of-place and get irritating fast

Not so well known album of Queen, but with outstanding quality. I think it is one of the best Queen - records

Great album! Queen knew how to write interesting and playful music.

March of the black queen was the only proper highlight

The definition of the sound of Queen as a band

Wacky queen opening very similar to the national anthem at the end of night at the opera. Father to son was a fucking banger and acted well as the first song of the album. It had me very excited for the rest. I then also really like the accustic guitar on some day one day before being hit round the face with the super loud drums and bass on the loser in the end. The fairy feller’s master stroke was super wacky and the way it transitioned into nevermore was awesome. Overall very yummy and pure queen wackiness. Well done Freddy Jupiter 8.5/10

Mid

not bad, some mm songs but some actually yes good yum songs 7/10

Pretty good

pretty poggers Some of the Songs were good Father and son i liked but lots where repetitive

DISCAZO

Pretty solid. Very theatrical and mostly deep cut album but really does showcase what a powerhouse talent this group was. This also feels fairly experimental between father and son, ogre battle, White Queen etc. There are still some great power guitars and epic harmonies/drum rolls that do define this band. Too much has already been said about Freddie but that voice really is unmistakable. I never thought of them as an album band more of a greatest hits band but pretty solid listening if you're into classic rock and a pillar band in the genre.

Queen are absurdly talented. This isn't my favorite of theirs though, and even my favorites don't always work for me. Still can't go below a 3 though.

4 stars

Nah

Whoa. I knew Queen had a different sound before “A Night at the Opera” and “Jazz,” but I didn’t know how hard they rocked. There’s a ton of different influences to be heard here. The Who jumps to mind immediately. But also some Zeppelin and Bowie, maybe a bit of the Stones. Anyway this was a thrill. Some real artistry on display, even on their second album. I liked the separation of songs May and Taylor wrote on side 1 from songs Mercury wrote on side 2. It really gives the album two distinct feels, which was intentional. Freddie’s vocals shine because Freddie’s vocals always shine. Brian May is unleashed in a few of the songs and it’s just a joy to listen to. You even get what I consider a precursor to “Bohemian Rhapsody” in “The March of the Black Queen.” Overall it’s a great album, though side two did start to lose me a bit as it went on. Still, 4 stars. Standout tracks: Father to Son, Some Day One Day, The Loser in the End, Ogre Battle, The March of the Black Queen

I mean, what can I say? It's Queen. In the 5 weeks it's been since I listened to Sheer Heart Attack, my opinion of Queen has not changed much. They're still one of my favorite bands, and Queen II adds further reinforcing to that. This is an interesting album to include on the list, as it serves as a good representation of what early Queen was like before they started to lean more into the stadium appeal of songs like "We Will Rock You" and "Don't Stop Me Now". As great as those songs are, I actually really like the sound that albums like this and Sheer Heart Attack are going for. Everything I said about that album remains true here. The instrumental work is still amazing. Freddie Mercury was one of the greatest singers of all time even in 1974. The transitions on this thing are unlike any other. One thing that makes this album stand out is just how fantastical it is, particularly in the second half. Songs like "Ogre Battle" and "Seven Seas of Rhye" just have this whimsical and magical feel to them that makes them such great listens. Another standout track is "The March of the Black Queen", which almost acts a sort of precursor to "Bohemian Rhapsody" in that they both feature very distinct sections across a fairly long run-time. The first half is good too, just not as good as the second half. Overall, this album is great and Queen is still one of my favorite bands ever. 5/5.

Goat

An absolute stomper. Amazing musical complexity. The gold standard for metal/rock bands to come. And that voice… *shivers*

This is the kind of album I was hoping to get more of in this list. An album I had never listened to before but it’s a great album

Ja wel goed ofc maar niet hun beste album

A new side to Queen. Original, I need to listen to it again.

That's two 80s albums now that have decided to invent a whole new fantasy world rather than be annoyed at this one. Can someone who knows about music history explain why they stopped? Anyway, decent fun but it did get a bit samey until the end. 3/5.

I don’t love Queen as much as most. But I think that’s because all their big hits are just loud songs for loud people to shout loudly. This album isn’t Queen for the laypeople, who love to shout songs, screaming about Galileo and bicycles. It’s Queen for intellects like me, who prefer music about Ogres. I enjoyed it a lot more than most Queen I knew already, but I still think Queen don’t do it for me.

Very similar to Led Zeppelin. I enjoyed the album never heard those songs before.

5 Big Stars. Always enjoyed Queen but never listened to much of their music. Really enjoyed this album.

would have gotten a 5 if bohemian rhapsody was on this album

A few of the songs are straight filler, more than a few overstay their welcome, and the production quality is quite poor, even for the era. Nevertheless, the band's creativity and songwriting abilities shine through nicely on a number of tracks, resulting in some fantastic moments. A reluctant 3.5 stars rounded up to four. 3.5/5.0: Very Good

ehh...it was fine

queen ii is, not surprisingly, queen's second album. i definitely hear their signature sound, though it's not fully formed quite yet. i hear little snippets of what queen would eventually become, like the beautiful piano work, or songs just bordering on opera-esque in terms of intensity. the biggest hit on here is "seven seas of rhye," but that song doesn't even crack queen's top songs now because they had such an elaborate discography. still, even without a big hit to entice the listener, the album is extremely good. the song "white queen (as it began)" contained some south asian-like sounds, almost like a sitar but there was no credit to anyone using one. but i take it as a nod to freddie mercury's heritage!

This is an interesting Queen album to include, as it does not include any of their hits. Instead, it really hones in on the art rock, hard rock, and prog rock side of Queen. These are aspects of the band that get to shine brightly with this inclusion that otherwise don't show up as strongly in their more mainstream hits. Even though none of these songs were hits, ultimately resulting in this being a lesser known Queen album, the irresistible magic of Queen is still incredibly present here.

Nothing special - I liked the prog elements but felt like the mixing was kind of messy, and the songs blended together in my head. Nothing really stood out to me except for Seven Seas of Rhye.

I forget that Queen hits that weird fantasy-rock niche, like with Ogre Battle on this album or when they did that album for Highlander. they hit such a wide gamut but stay consistent to their sound, if you dont like something here chances are you'll find it on another album.

I enjoyed this album and think I’ll like it more on subsequent listens. Nevermore and Seven Seas of Rhye are my standouts on this listen

Not as many bangers as I had hoped for. This reinforces what I long suspected, that I’m not a big Queen fan

I love classic rock but would never to think to put on a queen album. I enjoyed it, definitely re-listening to this one

I like the fantasy theme The 7 seas of rye is the only song I knew before listening Overall, this album is fun to listen to, I really liked the silliness

Meh

I hope this makes me not think queen is mid Genesis clears Better than the other queen tho

glad to not hear overplayed songs by them. i like the piano and wierd time signatures; not a huge fan of the stops in songs to interrupt the flow. i appreciate the ground broken here though.

For a band I normally associate with well known pop/ rock classics, I didn't know a single somg on this album. It's still a great time and you can see a lot of precursors to things like Bohemian Rhapsody in the White/ Black Queen tales. I liked it, though I don't think it's peak Queen. For the year this came out in, 1974, this rocks quite hard, and Brian May's guitar sounds timeless to me.

Almost forget how PROG ROCK Queen was in early days but why? Everything they did was PROG.

The earliest Queen I've heard to date. Solid record, of course. Sick drum intro on The Loser In The End, but not keen on Roger Taylor's RAWWWK vocal delivery. Favourite tracks: Procession, Father to Son, Some Day One Day, Nevermore.

Not what people usually think of when they think of Queen. Haven't gone for it in a while but I did enjoy this listen. Probably cracks top 10 Queen albums.

Some great songs, but not my favourite Queen album.

Really good

I love Queen and this is some good stuff but it is definitely some of their earlier work. Seven Seas of Rye is an absolute slapper and this album has some solid other entries. Overall a good album that I would come back to. Probably wouldn't be my first choice of Queen but it's still Queen and still good.

I really like the medieval fantasy rock aspects and the band played great. I don't think it did anything to ascend higher though.

Pretty interesting other side to queens music

1974 Iconic sound. 4/5

I'm more familiar with their later songs.

Another one I enjoyed more than I thought I would. Moody and proggy. And ogres.

You could see how this band ended up becoming great from listening to this album, but this didn’t really do it for me. Brian Mays guitar playing is good and obviously Freddie Mercury sings his ass off, but this is just fine.

3/4/24. New week kicking off with the legends: Queen. It was cool to hear this album for the first time without the band's biggest hits, and all the songs still carry themselves really well. Good, fun glam rock with Freddie's strong vocals and unique composition.

Het blijft een fenomeen dat je Queen direct herkent en dat niets anders zo klinkt als Queen. De zang van Freddy, de gitaar van Brian, de superieure productie, de onnavolgbare experimenten. Dus je zet Queen op, zet je schrap, en... waar is het wauw-gevoel? Het is een verzameling aardige glamprogrock-nummers, maar je wilt van deze heren muziek horen waarmee je Wembley plat krijgt. Ik snap dat ze eerst dit moesten maken voordat ze de echte hoge toppen zouden bereiken, maar zet DIE albums dan in de lijst.

Een zeer gevarieerd album. De muziek is al duidelijk met volle kleuren weergegeven, maar heeft nog niet de fluoriserende kleuren, waar Queen later om bekend is geworden. Maar zelfs met de nog wat matte kleuren weten ze een voorstelling neer te zetten. Het label theatraal kunnen we er wel opleggen. Een label waar ik zelf wat op afknap. Als je iets doet, moet je het goed doen. De meest theatrale nummers (wellicht de nummers met het sterkste Queen signatuur) komen dan ook bovendrijven. The March of the Black Queen bijvoorbeeld.

"While the album remains one of the band's lesser-known works, it has since retained a cult following and has in recent years been cited by a number of music publications, fellow artists and fans as one of Queen's finest works." Hier staat dus "snobkeuze" in hoofdletters geschreven. Als je ziet wat Queen voor status heeft en had, al dan niet terecht, is het wel weer typerend voor deze lijst, dat er alleen maar oude albums in staan. Alsof Queen daarna niet de grootste stadionact van zijn tijd is geworden en ze geen albums meer uitbrachten. Als ik de snob zou zijn, zou ik juist Innuendo uitkiezen. Maar ik mag hier de snobkeuzes niet maken, dat hebben anderen voor ons gedaan. En nu moet ik dus luisteren naar een album waarvan we geen enkel nummer kennen. Ok, here we go. We krijgen een klassiek, zowel qua muziek als qua reputatie, Queen te horen. Best rocky, de herkenbare samenzang is er, Brian May die helemaal los mag gaan op zijn gitaar, met allerlei effecten. Ik mis wel duidelijk de stadionbangers, al zit het bombastische er al wel vroeg in. Maar ik heb niet het idee dat Freddie Mercury hier de hele zaal in mee kon krijgen. Het nummer dat Roger Taylor zingt klinkt ook totaal niet als Queen, maar als elke willekeurige glamrockband uit die tijd. Het laatste nummer is verreweg het beste nummer van het album en heeft dus wel die aspecten waar we Queen van kennen. Al met al was het prima om naar te luisteren, dit samenraapsel van experimenten, om te kijken wat zou werken of welke kant ze op wilden gaan. Dat betekent dus ook dat de helft van de nummers achteraf af hadden kunnen vallen. Prima dat ze daarmee experimenteerden en wellicht heeft het later hele mooie liedjes opgeleverd, die daaruit voortgekomen zijn. Maar ik heb niet het idee dat ik iets gemist zou hebben als ik dit album niet had moeten luisteren als huiswerk. Als album zou ik het 3 sterren kunnen geven, maar omdat het zo'n verschrikkelijke snobkeuze is, geef ik dit een minpunt. Iedereen die het hiermee oneens is, kan een postduif sturen naar r.dimery@snobkeuzes.com

Pretty good

Sounds like queen

BL: An album I grew up with. Though never really ever intentionally listening to it in it's full until the past year or so. The production on this album is absolutely stellar, and solidifies Brian May as one of the best guitarists of all time. Will be a pleasure to relisten AL: Just as good as I remember, if not better. The harmonics, the guitar, the backing vocals, just total perfection the whole way through. I think post "News of the World" Queen experienced a decline for me personally. This is still my favourite album by a long way FT: "Procession", "Father to Son", "White Queen", "The Loser In The End", "Seven Seas of Rhye" 5/5

Not really any explaining to do

I enjoy this album more than my previous from the list (Sheer Heart Attack) despite not knowing any of these songs. There are definitely typical Queen glam sounds but in general a bit heavier. I like the fantasy subject matter, some beautiful lyrics throughout. White queen on A-side, black queen on B-side. 3.5/5

It's like if bohemian rhapsody were a whole album. Had only heard two songs on this album before, and they made no sense as singles. Grew on me a ton by the third listen through

Three tracks in particular point the way, The Fairy Feller, Nevermore, and March of the Black Queen show you where this band is headed. Great album full of songs I had never heard.

Any band who is renowned for having incredible ‘greatest hits’ albums - especially plural greatest hits albums generally have terrible albums. Queen should have just stuck with their first 2 greatest hits albums and night at the opera. Apart from that who cares? Had to listen to 35 minutes of guff before getting to a bonefide banger ‘seven seas of Ryne’ 1.3

Absolutely delightful 80s rock.

Not the Queen I remember.

Epic queen. Beautiful melodies, and I didn't know any of the songs, but I enjoyed it. Production sounded a little muddy, but will spin again!

I dont like Queen

Not bad

Banger, enough said

I have listened to Queen a lot but never got round to listening to this particular album yet. I love Queen so it was a fun and easy listen. The song that spoke the most to me was: White Queen. But I was dancing along to most of the other tracks. Will definitely listen again!

These Queen dudes are really good at what they're doing, but I have never liked what they're doing. The pathos in every note, the flourishes of it all, the operetta/musical-esque grandiosity. Blerg. This here however, I don't mind too much. Unrefined Queen > Polished Queen. Still pretty blerg.

❤️Queen

sounded like Queen

Queen... die Anfänge. Man spürt schon das da was großes kommt.

Banger

Queen playing prog is not the Queen most people think of. I found this pretty boring and dated.

Solid Queen album, but it didn't stand out as much as others. Not much sticks with me from my first listen.

My favorite was “The Fairy Feller’s Master-Stroke.”

Nice rock ballads. I bet if I could pay attention to lyrics that there's a pretty good story in there, too.

Not my favourite Queen album, but I get it.

Eu consigo entender como esse eh um álbum clássico do rock, todas as músicas são incríveis, com aquela vibe dramática de queen, com a composição das melodias e das harmonias sendo mt épicas, com um sentimento de propósito, em toda música, sempre parece que vc tá escutando a obra prima daquele artista, mas eh apenas uma outra do álbum, vc consegue sentir o amor que eh colocado em cada projeto, e como cada um foi pensado e revisitado várias vezes até ficar perfeito. Queen eh uma banda única que colocou o patamar de música rock Mt alto, não tem como comparar com alguma outra, tanto no quesito artistico como no de quão famoso a banda é. Entretanto, esse estilo não me entretem, não eh uma coisa que eu me interesso, e eu acho meio brega, justamente por toda música ser épica, me da preguiça de ouvir, e fica meio pesado escutar ao álbum inteiro de uma vez, porém, concordo que com cada ouvida, eu vou me impressionar e achar detalhes incríveis em toda música, mas, por enquanto, não eh meu favorito e nem me considero um fã de queen. Outro ponto, eh Mt reconhecível oq eh uma música do queen, toda a banda tem seu jeitinho e deixa a marca em quase toda a música, não apenas o Freddy Mercury eh super reconhecível, com a voz bem específica, mas a guitarra, piano, bateria e baixo também tem seus tons únicos. Mas, eu não consigo dar uma nota pro álbum, teria que de fato escutar mais, mas não eh minha vontade no momento, deixarei a nota em aberto.

Love it

Very 80's. Big, dramatic, and a lot of energy. A fun listen but probably not something I'd come back to too frequently.

Not worthy of this list. A little prog, a little glam and the songs aren’t here just yet.

Queen has always been more of a greatest hits band for me. I enjoy their music, but I haven't explored their discography much. The only song on this album I was already familiar with was "Seven Seas of Rhye." That said, I enjoyed this album quite a bit. And I think it's because it's more diverse than a lot of their stuff (at least side A). Freddie was amazing, no argument there—but he sure could suck all the air out of a room. It's easy to forget just how great the other guys in the band were too. With all the overdubbing and vocal layering of Freddie's voice, you could be forgiven for not remembering how much the other guys added to the choral effects of "Bohemian Rhapsody" and other classics. You get to experience their individual contributions on this album, with Roger and Brian each taking lead vocal duties on a song and a more varied sound on the first half of the album. The first instrumental song is a throwaway (sorry, Brian). Luckily, it's short. Then we're on to two great songs with Freddie at the helm that are very Queen, but also have shades of Led Zeppelin. The acoustic guitar solo on "White Queen" is fantastic. The fourth song wouldn't be out of place on one of Zeppelin's folkier albums, and it really showcases what a great voice Brian has. The closing track of side A is a bittersweet ode to mothers with Roger taking lead on vocals. The song is heavier, with echoes of both Zeppelin and The Who. Again, it's easy to forget that Roger has a great voice too, even with all the harmony work he did with Freddie. The second half of the album is much more standard Queen—all the songs feature Freddie on lead vocals, and there's a lot more of the melodrama and theatrical flair the band is most known for. It's still an enjoyable listen, but, if I'm honest, it can get to be a lot after a while. Whereas the variety on the first half of the album was refreshing and gave me a chance to cleanse my palate, so to speak, the second half is like an unstoppable onslaught. Still fun, and it's interesting to hear Queen's take on some of the dark fantasy themes popularized by bands like Zeppelin. But after a while, the songs started to run together. I'll give this album a 4. It's not perfect, but I'd enjoy repeat listens.

Etheral Good song continuity Like -Loser in the End -Funny How Love Is Ogre Battle starts harsh Freddie Mercury's voice is golden

3.5 First Listen

So very operatic for a rock album. I really appreciate what they’re doing here but it is not at all for me.

"arguably the heaviest Queen album"

Pretty good. Technically proficient. Just nothing that really hooked me. But not bad at all.

I'm a simple person. I drink coffee, I sleep on my side, and I enjoy Queen's music. It's interesting listening to early Queen; I can hear where their influence bled into artists after them, but I can hear them wear their own influences on their sleeve. I can hear The Who all over "Father To Son" and The Beatles on "White Queen (As It Began)." They were still fully in their rock bag on 'Queen II,' with some glimpses of the high-drama to come. That all being said, there are Queen albums I like more. Highlights: Some Day One Day, The March Of The Black Queen, Seven Seas Of Rhye

For an album with no hits songs, it's quite good. I didn't know someone besides Freddie sang lead. Whoever it was sounded good, kind of like Roger Daltrey. Might go up to a 5/5 after I listen to it again.

Awesome album. Queen was such a talented and entertaining band and they show it off on this album. One of their best!

It was Queen sound. Probably wouldn't listen again.

Ok, so here's the thing, I don't like this. But the serious dedication is worth a 3 ... would rate 2 if it wasn't tight as hell.

An amazing album! You definitely hear how their sound started and would continue to develop. Absolutely loved the second half of the album especially, though every song had its charm. The Fairy song was probably my fave.

Meh

Early Queen is "harder" rock than their later material, making it further from my "sweet spot". This album also has little that I'm familiar with, although I recognize the unmistakable sound (including Freddy's vocals). I loved the vocals in the last few minutes of Father to Son. Didn't enjoy White Queen, Some Day One Day, or The Loser in the End so much. Ogre Battle is an awesome title for a good song that lives up to the promise of its title. I also enjoyed The Fairy Feller's Mission. There was a passage in the last minute of The March of the Black Queen that felt like a precursor to Bohemian Rhapsody.

Another Queen album and we're going backwards in time. The last one they were just finding that "Queen sound" so I'm interested what this proto-Queen-sound album will be like. It turns out that it is fine in a lot of ways and perfectly listenable all the way through. Tracks 2 and 9 stood out a bit for me but overall it is never going to be one of my favorites. Track reactions: 1 - Fine intro track that makes sense going into track 2 2 - I like the build up to the vocals. The do-do-di-di-di's are not what I expected. 3 - A nice gentle tune. Its ok. 4 - Such a tame tune for Queen. Fine track. 5 - Almost sounds like a Beatles song that is more on the hard rock side. It's fine! 6 - Well this one is a little wild and gave a bit of that classic Queen sound with the vocals. 7, 8 - A couple quick and just fine tracks. 9 - This one rocks a bit. 10 - Not my favorite style. 11 - Another fine track :)

Just a truly sublime album. Ive always slightly preferred the two albums flanking this: Queen and Sheer Heart Attack since the latter is when they really became QUEEN and the former has all the energy and hunger to prove themselves of a debut album. It was nice to take the time with this album this time and fully recognize just how strong the back half is in its fairytale psuedo-concept album. Also, this quote: The band included the comment "and nobody played synthesiser... again" on the album sleeve, a purist principle of May's, as some listeners had mistaken their elaborate multi-tracking and effects, produced by guitar and vocals, as synthesisers.

Queen is definitely still developing here. Some good stuff…some not as much. The Roger Taylor composition is (as usual) the weakest part of the album. The musicianship is good, but it, too, is still developing. Good album, but not as great as what’s to come.

The fact that all but one song on this album could be described as deep tracks is telling. This is an album not without considerable charms, but it's overshadowed by much of the rest of Queen's discography. It's an odd thing, a well-made album that has so much skippable material on it. I mean, the elements are all here, the wildly adventurous instrumentation, the creative use of studio effects, a lead singer for the gods, big flashes of brilliance peppered throughout. What's missing though is the hook. A lot of these songs are fun enough to listen to, but not especially memorable. The exception of course is "Seven Seas of Rhye," which is a sonic delight and blast to sing along to. This album belongs to Brian May. Intricate, adventurous and heavy as hell, May's doing things here with a guitar that few others can touch. The combination of that early, heavy May sound with Freddie Mercury's heavenly tenor and what would become the band's signature use of massive vocal layers... it's almost jarring. But this is still very much a band developing their sound here and the quality from song to song is a bit uneven. The lyrics are frequently silly, and mostly without enough substance to grab onto as a listener. A middling Queen album is still a pretty great album though. Fave Songs: Seven Seas of Rhye, Nevermore, The March of the Black Queen, Ogre Battle, White Queen (As It Began), The Fairy Feller's Master-Stroke

Boring, from start to finish. The loose theme of emotional "side A" songs and fantasy "side B" material makes no sense, the guitar work is (to my ears) generic and presages Metallica and the like, all of whom are emotionally vacuous and musically grinding. Queen made wonderful songs throughout their careers and none of them are here.

Great album throughout Standout songs: Father to Son Ogre Battle March of the black queen

A heavier version of Queen than I'm used to but that's not a negative really. The main negative here for me is the lack of hits. Other than that though it's a solid album, awesome guitar work as always and the drumming was a highlight as well I'd say. Excited to see what else Queen has in this 1001 albums list. Fav songs: - Father to Son - The Loser in the End - The March of the Black Queen - Seven Seas of Rhye

I like queen but I didn't resonate with this album. I thought the instrumental and singing was good like the vocal performance had attitude in a good way, but I just couldn't really get into any songs. This was not the kind of music I really listen to. I wasn't the biggest fan of this album.

It was very good and had lots of cool harmonies.

Æææ mér fannst þetta nokkuð slappt, fyrir utan Seven Seas of Rye sem er banger. Ekki komnir með rétta soundið. Hetjuhljómurinn feidaði burt fljótlega og ég nennti þessu varla. 2.5 stjörnur frá mér.

Alltof mikið prog. Queen enn að finna sinn hljóm. Gera það í síðasta laginu sem er langbest.

The best songs on this record are the slower, low key songs. I just cannot stand the operatic qualities of Queen's music.

Wasn’t familiar with this album of early Queen upbeat prog rock.

I'm generally not a huge fan of Queen and how over-theatric they are. This record is surprisingly heavy. There is a lot of good prog stuff on here too. I think side 1 is the stronger side.

It was fine, which is a terrible indictment for a Queen album. Felt a bit like Queen trying to do a generic rock album

Very cool and rich in polyphony and interesting vocal moves album. But it seems more like an experiment album, with musicians bringing new ideas, not yet fully polished perhaps. That's not a bad thing, it's just an observation.

I actually wasn’t familiar with any of these songs. But it’s great, I love Queen they are a classic.

Great album. I thought the two sides (white and black) were unique from each other and I loved that there were songs on each side that represented different points of view (White Queen, March of the Black Queen.) There were some riffs that felt like they were clearly inspiration for some of Queen's more popular songs later on ("Bicycle" and "Bohemian Rhapsody").

3 star

While I love Queen, I was not very familiar with this album. Seems like a kind of strange deep cut when “A Day At The Races” was omitted from this list. Nonetheless, it was fun to listen to an album of early and unfamiliar tracks. It feels like Queen knew they were going to go on to do great things, but hadn’t quite figured out their sound or identity yet. Sure, the operatic harmonies and overdubbed guitar parts remained, but this feels more like a prototype for “Sheer Heart Attack” which came out later that same year. Still, without knowing what Queen was to become, I probably would have given this album 4.5 or 5 stars. So though I don’t think it’s necessarily an album of theirs that I would include on the list, it’s only because they would go on to become even better. And so, I’m giving it 4 stars.

Fantasy hair rock! Yes please

Incredible album that displays so much of the talent with more of a conceptual vibe. Still not sure how Roger Taylor’s effort fit inside the scope of this with its more distinctive Zep sound but altogether, it’s clear how they used the songs here as a way of moving their sound forward.

Ashamed I haven't listened to this before. Incredible. Raw, awesome guitar riffs, killer metal combined with sublime musicality. Stunner.

It was fine. Really good guitar work but the songs weren’t interesting to me

Queen are one of the most famous bands of the 70s and 80s, and although I was only alive during the later stages of the latter decade, for me Queen's best known work is super-glam. I enjoyed this album as it feels pre-stadium era, a little less polished and a little truer. RIP Freddie

Overrated cringe

Singles band - bang average album

Some Day One Day Nevermore. It’s Funny How Love Is.