 "QUEEN'S FINAL MASTERPIECE" | 2009-12-08 |
| - Reviewed By MRT |
| After finishing "The Miracle", QUEEN went straight to recording this album.This is quite possibly Queen's most personal work as it was recorded during Freddie's last days.." He was in incredible pain throughout and often had to rest for long periods. Queen did not know if Freddie would even live long enough for the album to be completed.The album, comprised of songs dealing with mortality, sadness and yet, the light at the end of the tunnel, leaves you with mixed emotions. Not to the quality of the songs but what you actually feel inside.It all begins with the epic, title track "Innuendo", recalling the glory days of "Bohemian Rhapsody" with it's THREE styles of music included...it's lyrical nature very Zeppelin-esque."I'm Going Slightly Mad" sounds like The Cure with pep.The album's emotional weight comes from two main tracks. "These Are the Days of Our Lives" has Freddie "going back through life on a roller-coaster ride", reliving his past joys. "The Show Must Go On"...even with AIDS ravaging his body, his voice was never stronger singing with courage "My make-up may be flaking but my smile still stays on..." & "I'll face it with a grin, I'm never giving in.."This album isn't all morbid as evidenced by the all for nothing rockers "Headlong" and "The Hitman". Even silliness reigns with Freddie's own dedication to his favorite cat in "Delilah". |
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 "Innuendo" | 2009-11-14 |
| - Reviewed By Bjorn Viberg from European Union |
| Innuendo being Queens 14th studio and the last album to be composed of all new material. Queen being Queen hear explores a variety of music styles and the album can be said to feature rock, hard rock, heavy metal, psychedelic rock and progressive metal. The album was met with in my own opinion harsh reviews. Allmusic and Rolling Stone gave it 3/5 which I think is too low. Songs that stand out on this release are "Innuendo", "I'm Going Slightly Mad", "These Are The Days Of Our Lives" and "The Show Must Go On". The booklet has all the lyrics and a list of whom plays what on the album. 4/5. |
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| "A Memorable Exit at the End of the Show" | 2009-11-02 |
| - Reviewed By GFT from Biloxi, MS USA |
Queen ceased to tour in 1986; rumors that Mercury was ill began to surface in 1987, and music videos and photographs associated with the 1991 INNUENDO showed him disturbingly thin. Mercury was a shy, very private person who disliked personality publicity; nonetheless, on 23 November 1991 he released a press statement, admitting that he had AIDS. Astonishingly, he died the following day, even while INNUENDO remained on the charts in many nations around the world.
INNUENDO was created by Queen in full knowledge that it would likely be Mercury's last project and many of the selections are emotionally charged, some very openly so on the subject of personal mortality. This is particularly true of the opening and closing tracks, the title "Innuendo" and the closing "The Show Must Go On," both astonishing cuts that show the band surpassing itself. Insiders indicate that "I'm Going Slightly Mad" was Mercury's own very ironic take on the issue of AIDS-related dementia; "These Are The Days Of Our Lives" has a nostalgic meloncholia. All four are extraordinary, emotionally and musically wrenching, showing Queen at its best. But Queen was like most other bands in at least one sense: their albums always included one or two pieces that could be described as commercial filler and now and then even a clunker or two. INNUENDO is no exception.
"Headlong" was chosen as the opening single for the American market, and it is easy to see why: it is a straight forward rocker well-written, expertly performed, and without the emotional or intellectual depth that Americans shy away from in terms of radio airplay. Even so, it is the sort of song that Queen could do without five minutes of thought--and the "boomp-diddy-diddy, boomp-diddy-diddy-do" refrain is hardly inspired. "I Can't Live With You," "Don't Try So Hard," "Ride The Wild Wind," "All God's People," and "The Hitman" are much the same: commercial rock performed as only Queen could, which is to say beautifully done, but not really approaching the full scope of the band's abilities. INNUENDO also has a clunker or two. The first of these is "Delilah," Mercury's ode to his pet housecat. In truth, the piece starts out well. But while the music remains strong throughout, the lyrics faulter and ultimately seem trivial and self-indulgent. And then there is "Bijou," which is merely maudlin in a calculated sort of way.
When all is said and done, INNUENDO is very much "old school" Queen, anthem-like, exotic, an odd mixture of flash-bang and cool introspection, and including several extraordinary songs that transcend the rest of the album, which is on balance very good. Whatever his health issues at the time, Mercury's voice was never better, flowing across four octaves and then some; Deacon, May, and Taylor spot on their performances as well. It is not a perfect album. Few albums are. It may not even be the "best" Queen album--many would give that title elsewhere. Even so, the presence of "Innuendo," "I'm Going Slightly Mad," "These Are The Days of Our Lives," and the incredibly soaring "The Show Must Go On" make INNUENDO an absolute must-have.
In the months before his death Mercury recorded as many tracks as possible, and these were worked with by his surviving band mates to create the 1995 MADE IN HEAVEN, which is technically the last recording Queen released with Mercury as vocalist. All the same, and in spite of its flaws, INNUENDO "feels" more akin to Mercury's exit: his voice has grace and power, and while a fair number of songs on the recording are somewhat beneath his talents--and the talents of his bandmates--it is overall quite haunting. Strongly recommended.
GFT, Amazon Reviewer |
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| "Another Classic" | 2009-07-11 |
| - Reviewed By Louise from Winton, CA |
That just depends on what constitues Classic. Truthfully I put off buying Innuendo because I really didn't think I'd like the product. Afterall you can see it all on YouTube...So why buy.
Well why buy? Simply having Innuendo CD playing on your own MP3, IPod, Cell or what ever, you will get better quality of sound and not have to be bothered by all the buffering that goes on with YouTube.
Truthfully I can not tell you which is Classic Queen I just know that their music is and always will be the very best on this planet. Nobody has ever or will ever be able to come close to Freddie Mercury's vocal stylings. So there you got my opinion. These are awesome and unique melodies put forth my the very best musicians in the history of this galaxy.
Yes I admit that I am totally addicted to music of Freddie Mercury and Queen. Surely I'm not alone. Join us. |
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 "I know I'm in the minority here, but...." | 2009-05-13 |
| - Reviewed By Jack from Island Heights,NJ |
| The raves for this CD surprised me a bit. I found INNUENDO an interesting Queen recording, but not a classic. Starting off with the ridiculously grandiose (in a good way!) title cut, this CD starts well and there are other cuts that support the idea that this is a good Queen project. "Headlong" rides Taylor's drums right into a nice rocker, "I Can't Live with You" spins a very basic concept into one of those nice Queen harmonies that move right along with Freddie leading the pack, "These are the Days of Our Lives" should have been a maudlin piece but is saved by Freddy's great interpretation of the nostalgic lyrics, and "The Show Must Go On" ranks as one of the great closing numbers of all time. But their best work? "Bijou" would have been a better fit for Joe Satriani, "Hitman" and "Ride The Wild Wind" are just silly flights of fancy with no hook to ground them and I could have went my whole life without having to listen to Queen's homage to "Delilah" with it's ridiculous "Meeow" chorus. One of my favorite band's and while this is worth having and I'm glad some love it so much, but for me, it's just OK. |
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| "The Best of the Best" | 2009-01-20 |
| - Reviewed By An Amazon User |
| Growing up Queen was always one of my favourite bands, and I still love them as much today. Very talented, never sounding like anyone else, excellent live band, it's too bad this CD is their swan song with Freddie. I loved Freddie Mercury, amazing voice, so talented. Some of these songs just make me want to cry cause you know what was happening at this time. There are a couple of songs that are just ok, but in all outstanding work, even Delilah(Freddie's song for one of his cats) is bittersweet. |
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International Available
![Queen - The Works [Bonus Tracks]](product_images/169000/169965_thumb.jpg)
