Tater Thoughts

A rare Roger-Brian collab, "Machines (or Back to Humans)" features blipping Fairlight synths, programmed drums and a vocoded Roger bounced against Brian's rocking guitars, John's jiving bass and Roger's energized live percussion. Freddie's lead vocal is magnificently aggressive and commanding. Fans forget about this, but it's a ridiculously relevant topic of the moment, as the boys create a lively battle between man and machine. And about that instrumental remix...

A lively rockabilly tune, Freddie's "Man on the Prowl" bops and jives like another tune before it. Though its familiar vibe feels less original and is certainly less complex, Freddie provides dynamic and impressive stylized vocals and piano, Roger and John hold it down with snappy live drums and a boogie woogie bass, and Brian rocks out on a Fender Telecaster. Bonus: The ending features some impressive piano glissandos, courtesy of guest musician Fred Mandel.

I intended to talk about this weeks ago, and since then, so much has happened in the world of artificial intelligence. Copyright concerns. Regulations. Experiments. In many ways, AI isn't new. In the music world, it's been around in various forms for decades. But thanks to recent technology advancements, we're all hyper-focused on AI, and whether you're inspired or terrified, it's good to be aware.

Freddie delivers a powerhouse vocal performance in his touching and dramatic declaration "It's a Hard Life". Incorporating operatic and ballad elements, this song echoes several earlier Freddie compositions and continues his journey of love. It's also a welcome return to Queen's no-synths approach, with all the boys returning full force to their respective instruments and wall of sound choral harmonies. As impactful and powerful as the album version is, I'm surprisingly torn about the live performances. And  the flashy video polarized the band.

The heaviest tune on The Works, "Tear It Up" comes at us hard and fast, courtesy of Brian's composition genius and Freddie's aggressive vocals. It echoes many previous Queen tracks (and not all of them are Brian numbers) but we welcome its unabashed sexiness and rousing, gritty rock 'n' roll vibe. It even mentions a previous well-known Queen song. Not a lot is said about this by critic or fan, and it's not the most impressive live Queen performance. But something about it keeps me coming back for more.

Roger's first big hit with Queen, "Radio Ga Ga" kicks off The Works with invigorated, celebratory energy; and of course, nostalgia. Inspired by a phrase blurted by Roger's young son Felix, this song has become an anthem that features classic Queen enthusiasm and heart, with a healthy dose of synthesizers. It's the most atmospheric we've heard the boys, and despite the indifference from many (including fans), I think people really like this...and it's not just because of the Live Aid performance. Or the imaginative video (or its outtakes).

After the lackluster response to funk-infused Hot Space, Queen took a break and came back fresh, uniting with enthusiasm to create their 11th album, The Works. For the first time, the boys made a conscious decision to rely on their tried and true rock 'n' roll style while retaining some of their recent and more minimal pop and dance vibes. They "played it safe" to reaffirm their presence and reconnect with fans. Press and the public lauded this as the boys' return to form. Its tracklist is short, and some find the fusion of rock and pop uneven. But it packs a joyous punch that's fresh and invigorating.

In the ever-changing rapidly shifting digital world, social media is one element that never sits still. And as sentiments change and concerns arise and questions are asked, I had to ask myself...how do I feel about the social media platforms I use? When I'm on them, how does that affect me? And when you're on social media, how do you feel? The good news is...if something's not working for you, there's always another option. It's possible to find your social happy place.

The synth bass. The dynamic compositions. The attitude. The vocals. When I listen to Queen's tenth album and its many funky and danceable twists and turns, one man stands out to me more than the rest. We're reminded that his ability to perform in every genre ever is innate, and his confidence and swagger are through the roof. From his impressive falsetto to his album art concept, this man epitomizes Hot Space.

Evolved from a Queen demo called "Feel Like", and fueled by an iconic bassline, "Under Pressure" is the miraculous unplanned collaboration between Queen and David Bowie that continues to win new fans. Its universal relevancy makes it a timeless piece of intense urgency contrasted with cautious optimism. Bowie's experimental approach to songwriting ignited Queen's talents, and what we ended up with, live or in the studio, is a song that deserves all the praise it gets; and then some.