QUEEN II

This album is extremely warm, extremely cozy, but still goes extremely hard. It got a lot of ups and downs, but unlike most albums, it handles them with grace. It doesn't feel half baked or unfinished.

It starts off by ripping Speak To Me off Dark Side Of The Moon, except they've not taken care of their heart and need to go to the doctor. Father To Son sets up the sound of this album beautifully. The rest of the side continues the sound with nice consistency. Except The Loser In The End which totally ruins it right at the very end, good song, should've been a b-side or on a different album.

Ogre Battle starts off side 2 with one of their best songs, some of the best prog lyrics, paints an incredible chaotic and expansive picture. The side continues on its medley with a The Fairy Feller's Master-Stroke, a Barrett-esque stupid little number which somehow transitions into Nevermore, a soft heartfelt ballad. Only a band like Queen that can make that sort of transition work. They did something like that devastatingly well on A Night At The Opera, connecting The Prophet's Song to Love Of My Life.

The March Of The Black Queen is a great song, but it feels kind of off, it's definitely just me. Hopefully I'll be able to enjoy this one as much as other Queen fans on a later relisten of this album. Because it seems to be a fan favorite. It's not a bad song, just hasn't clicked.

Funny How Love Is and Seven Seas Of Rhye give a smooth ending to this album. They don't go too hard in the paint. I think that was a good option opposed to ending the album on The March Of The Black Queen. I don't really like the talking at the end of Seven Seas Of Rhye, but it doesn't ruin the pacing that much.