r/queen • u/ApprehensiveNatural9 Sheer Heart Attack • 2d ago
Music A Kind of Magic - Queen Discography Review #12
It was nice getting to write something positive again for the previous album, it'd been a bit since I was able to. I'm really glad to see that people also love that one for the most part! Though I also liked seeing some discussion from the people that didn't, it was neat seeing two sides.
Anyways moving on, this one was another studio album that was partially a soundtrack album; though this one has quite a few moments. Here are the final thoughts on it.
A Kind of Magic Review
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Queen falls into the trap of inconsistent material once more after hitting a much-needed home run, and also into the bland, slick 80's production. If you were to hear this without being told it was the band, you probably wouldn't even realize this was an album by them if not for Freddie's vocals on these tracks. Most of the songs don't hold a torch to the album before, or any of their 70's releases, but despite the inconsistency and the approach of duller, sometimes uninspired lyrics, it has a very slight appeal and sways on the edge of if it is solid or not. It actually manages to almost punt its way to a positive score; but the strikes on this inning were a tad too many.
The album starts off with "One Vision" which is a highly energetic great rocker that manages to work up genuine excitement. This is also one of the tracks you can enjoy without having seen the film this was made as a score to. The buildup crescendo that slowly introduces the synthesizer over a steady, pulsing beat, and Freddie's vocals coming in is impeccable. It gives way to some excellent guitar riff work from Brian, who gives it his all in flash with his guitar wizardry, especially in the solo which is the first time in a long time since Brian used the tapping technique he used on "It's Late". But then "A Kind of Magic" follows and recycles the exact same lyrical ideology that the former track had, making it too repetitive and it has a uninspired, boring 80's pop groove. It also recycles multiple lyrics from the previous song, and its quite noticeable considering its the very second one you listen to, the guitar solo this time also doesn't do anything unique and is something you end up forgetting.
There's a lot of wasted potential with "One Year Of Love". Freddie's overly-emotive wailing comes across as a lack of heart rather than actual feeling. It goes extremely overkill with his voice, the performance of which is much more fitting for a heavier song, especially since its on top of the string arrangement that was obviously meant for a much softer song. The thing is, I don't find myself hating the instrumental, actually its quite nice and takes obvious influence from classical music, I would have liked to hear some more of this style explored by the band, the saxophone work is amazing too, but this is the extremely rare instance where Freddie doesn't do the song justice, it'd of fit better with Brian on vocals for this one, or if he toned it down a bit.
Next up is a genuine highlight that isn't taken from the Highlander soundtrack, "Pain Is So Close to Pleasure", which despite being an easily radio-friendly pop song, and could have been done by anybody, it is a treat to the ears. Freddie's vocals going into falsetto exactly show what should have been done with the previous song, it would have worked much better. The bassline is the standout on this track, it sounds very akin to something you'd hear off a Motown album, and they absolutely nail this style, and the synthesizer is heavenly. Then unfortunately, "Friends Will Be Friends" has Mercury desperately try to convince you this is a deep song with incredible meaningfulness with his attempt at a heart-wrenching delivery, but it doesn't help the song as it is one that isn't worth much of your time. It feels like it is an attempt to be a more updated version of "We Will Rock You" or "We Are The Champions", but the spark those songs had doesn't even let this one come close. Much like those songs as well, it makes use of Brian's more melodic playing style to the point it feels like a ripoff of themselves. It flows in one ear and out of the other, like much of their 80's work.
On the other hand, "Who Wants To Live Forever" is actually moving and beautiful, making it the very highlight of the record. It's a masterpiece, and the idea to use inverted chords in the first verse, and to have a beautiful harmony is amazing, and Brian's vocals are heart-wrenching. Verse two hands the microphone to Freddie who gives a raw, vulnerable, and open performance that hits right in the heart, and the orchestration reaches a height with the repeat of the chorus before giving away to Brian's guitar solo, which is powerful and evokes a feeling of dramatic intensity despite being more slow.
Following what was probably one of the bands greatest achievements, the next two songs are aggressively directionless slabs of loud, guitar-wailing rock n roll with lyrics referencing Highlander and leaving those who haven't seen the film wondering what the fuck is going on. The latter song also repeats the same line over, and over, and over, and over, drilling "Don't Lose your head!" into your head to the point it made me want to actually lose my head with how obnoxious it is. If there's a form of torture that was made from music, this would be it. This is the only song I'd say is actually really atrocious on this album, because even the 'bad' songs are just mere missteps.
"Princes of The Universe" is another gem, being heavier and managing to sound good again at the same time, its surprisingly complex as well with an acapella three-four harmony in the first phrase, and rhythm guitars enter with the drums entering on the fourth beat in the intro before giving way to an instrumental break that builds up more hype, and the verses change some chords and change the harmonies as well. This feels very much akin to the experimenting and interesting things Queen used to do with their music, and its nice to see it come back.
Overall, this album is pretty hard to classify. Because on one hand, there's four songs here that are truly great pieces of work, and actually stick with you despite the production. On the other hand, there is also four songs that for the most part are just merely missteps missing a bit to turn them into being decent, and one song that just outright sucks. Track for track shows this is another bad album, but it comes very close to being pretty decent, and it does have quite a few stand-out moments. I would say this is the least bad of their lesser material, and definitely a step up over their other soundtrack album.
Rating: ★★☆☆☆
TRACKLIST RATING:
- One Vision: ★★★★
- A Kind of Magic: ★★
- One Year Of Love: ★★.5
- Pain Is So Close to Pleasure: ★★★★
- Friends Will be Friends: ★★
- Who Wants To Live Forever: ★★★★★
- Gimme The Prize: ★★
- Don't Lose Your Head: ★
- Princes Of The Universe: ★★★★★
THE JOURNEY SO FAR (Other Reviews!):
Queen review (4/5 stars)
Queen II review (5/5 stars)
Sheer Heart Attack review (5/5 stars/BEST ALBUM)
A Night At The Opera review (5/5 stars)
A Day At The Races review (4/5 stars)
News of The World review (5/5 stars)
Jazz review (3/5 stars)
The Game review (4/5 stars)
Flash Gordon review (0/5 stars)
Hot Space review (2/5 stars)
The Works review (4/5 stars)
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u/Nice-Howard-177 Queen II 2d ago
I love this album, as I think it must have been the first one I bought at the time due to my age. I think 2-stars is harsh, but it is a strange mish-mash of album and soundtrack. I do quite like 7 & 8 though, used to be able to recite the dialogue from both of them
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u/ApprehensiveNatural9 Sheer Heart Attack 2d ago
Thats a nice memory to have though!! It's always nice getting to have a memory to hold onto like that when you really connect with an artist; I think thats beautiful.
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u/Drivingfrog I’ve got mortgages on homes, I’ve got aching in my bones 2d ago
The live versions of the title track from the Magic Tour are so much better than the studio versions. It came to life onstage.
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u/ApprehensiveNatural9 Sheer Heart Attack 2d ago
I can believe it, unlike Hot Space or Flash Gordon the material itself isnt the issue sometimes, but rather it just not being arranged right
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u/TomGerity 2d ago
Honestly, if you listen to the live versions of the Hot Space tracks they performed at Milton Keynes on 1982, they sound great.
I’ll die on the hill that if they “rocked up” the Hot Space tracks (especially adding more guitar) and recorded them at a faster tempo, it would be considered a very good album.
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u/Deluxe_24_ Jazz 2d ago
I'm glad you liked Pain Is So Close To Pleasure. I've never seen anyone say anything positive about the song which is a shame because it's very underrated.
It was also a single in the US iirc, so check out the single mix of the song if you haven't heard it before. I like it much more than the album mix.
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u/ApprehensiveNatural9 Sheer Heart Attack 2d ago
The bassline is so great, its very Motown-like, and I love Motown stuff
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u/not-now-silentsinger The Miracle 2d ago
Wow, you've been harsh with Friends Will Be Friends and A Kind Of Magic!
I either like or love every song on this album, the only one I dislike is One Year Of Love. I don't think you need to see the movie to appreciate the songs. Incidentally, I also really like the album artwork!
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u/ApprehensiveNatural9 Sheer Heart Attack 2d ago
That's understandable! Yeah, to me A Kind of Magic takes a bit too much from One Vision to the point its almost completely just a clone of the song, and its very noticeable when its the second track on the album, its a bit unforgivable really.
I understand the enjoyment though for the album overall, I don't like it myself but it comes close to being one I can like!
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u/TomGerity 2d ago
A Kind of Magic and One Vision are completely different musically. I can’t fathom thinking they’re too similar!
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u/TomGerity 2d ago
I think Friends Will Be Friends is one of the worst songs Queen ever recorded and potentially their worst single ever released (only Body Language really gives it any competition).
It’s so unbelievably cheesy. It sounds like the closing song from a children’s after-school TV movie from the 1980s.
I’m in complete agreement with [u/ApprehensiveNatural9](u/ApprehensiveNatural9) and if anything, I think he could’ve been even harsher.
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u/not-now-silentsinger The Miracle 2d ago
Haha, it's interesting how different people can feel about the same song! I completely disagree, I think it's a beautiful song even if the lyrics are admittedly rather cheesy.
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u/Sweet_Measurement624 Sheer Heart Attack - Glam Rock masterpiece 2d ago
Everyone is surprised but no, no, it tracks! I feel it's not their worst but it's their third worst album according to me, I'd rate it just a little bit higher, that's it.
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u/ApprehensiveNatural9 Sheer Heart Attack 2d ago
I agree with the same thing, I find it their third worst as well, but I still think it has some GREAT moments
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u/Sweet_Measurement624 Sheer Heart Attack - Glam Rock masterpiece 2d ago
Same!!! I don't believe it deserves to be totally bashed, like a lot of people do, it's much better than people give it credit, but still, it's not the best.
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u/ApprehensiveNatural9 Sheer Heart Attack 2d ago
For every problem I find with this album, there is still quite a few really great tracks; I really feel with some editing of some of the songs after them already being used for the movie, and some changes to some performances that this could have been a very good album. Unfortunately, there's quite a lot of bad here.
I will say though that Princes of The Universe and Who Wants To Live Forever are genuinely some of my favorite songs ever released by Queen in general, they're just that amazing. Pain Is So Close To Pleasure is one I find myself listening to on its own as well.
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u/MillionaireWaltz- 2d ago
I always think of the review that called it "heavy plastic".
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u/ApprehensiveNatural9 Sheer Heart Attack 2d ago
I saw it too, I mean...its not entirely wrong? But at the same time with my reviews, I don't wanna be super mean or anything when I give negative reviews; I like to talk about the positives at the same time and say what is good about them still unlike most critics.
I know I did that for Hot Space, and this
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u/MillionaireWaltz- 2d ago
While I like a lot of the album - no, it's not entirely wrong. Personally, for some of the tracks (mainly 1 and 2), all the life and awesomeness were over-produced out of those tracks. Live - they are way better.
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u/ApprehensiveNatural9 Sheer Heart Attack 2d ago
Yeah, the mixing is pretty bad. Its like scrubbing it too clean if that makes sense. Queen did that too much in the 80s
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u/jcrawford79 Hot Space 2d ago
With the exception of your take on One Year of Love, I agree with your assessment almost word for word. This album was a major stinker for the band. Also, glad to see someone else like Pain is so Close to Pleasure. I love it, but it seems like I never read anything positive about it from the fans.
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u/AlternativePin876 2d ago
Yeah, not a great album. Bad production and the stinkers really stink.
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u/ApprehensiveNatural9 Sheer Heart Attack 2d ago
I do think that it has its moments, moreso than the other albums I gave negative reviews to, but I agree overall definitely. I think its the least bad of their bad stuff though
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u/Valerian_Dhart 2d ago
Queen is very much overrated band. And they wouldnt have been as famous or even cult if Freddie Mercury didnt die of aids
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u/Salty_Software_2092 2d ago
If my grandma had wheels, she'd be a car
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u/Valerian_Dhart 2d ago
And someone would write a song about how he is in love with a car 🙃
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u/ApprehensiveNatural9 Sheer Heart Attack 2d ago
Queen's lyrics are not meant to always be taken seriously; its theater. It's fun.
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u/ApprehensiveNatural9 Sheer Heart Attack 2d ago
No they're not at all; actually they deserve their status today. Queen experimented with a PLETHORA of different music styles and genres, as well as using complex chord changes, changing tempoes and even genres in A SINGLE song multiple times. Their rhythms and music arrangements are hard to emulate because of that, not to mention producing their own albums a lot of times as well.
They are to this day the ONLY band with all four members in the songwriter hall of fame and all making a hit, and not only that but Freddie's vocal range is hardly ever seen in any other singers. Plus he was objectively one of the best frontmen.
If thats not enough; James Hetfield sees them as a major influence and they inspired the thrash genre (an ENTIRE GENRE) with Stone Cold Crazy and Brighton Rock, David Bowie (a LEGEND) loved their music and wad the one to recommend them a studio for their Jazz album.
Brian Wilson, another highly revered musician, loved Bohemian Rhapsody and complimented their music, Paul McCartney had high respect for them, as did John Lennon.
They are amazing, and that shows they are not overrated. Try again.
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u/Valerian_Dhart 2d ago
No. They have 2-3 good (even great albums) a Sheer Heart attack and a night at the opera. The rest are mediocre albums. Perhaps these albums contain great singles - like for instance Jazz have Dont Stop me Now, and News of the World have We will rock you / We are the champions - but otherwise they are mediocre at best.
After opera / races - Queen has become a singles band. Not an album band. Read the reviews - they weee never very much ceitically acclaimed band
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u/ApprehensiveNatural9 Sheer Heart Attack 2d ago
Reviews from then don't know shit. Led Zeppelin was never acclaimed nor was Black Sabbath initially. Modern reviews have extremely high praise for Queen II, Sheer Heart Attack, and A Night At The Opera.
A Day At The Races is cited as one of the best albums (though I dont agree) by multiple publications if you wanna go that far. The Game and Innuendo are decently acclaimed as is The Works. Checkmate.
Also love how you skipped over my other points. If Queen are so "bad" how come modern times have come around to them in reviews? How come they experiment so much and change up a lot to not stay formulaic?
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u/Valerian_Dhart 2d ago
Come on. I made these claims:
1. Queen made 2-3 good (even great albums)
2. Then they become singles band. Yup they released good singles, but overall mediocre albums (everything after The Game is mediocre at best)
3. If Freddie Mercury didnt die of AIDS, albums like Made in Heaven would never been as commercially successful as they were. And made in heaven is perhaps their worst album.So were they great entertainers? Yes. Have they become overrated after Mercury died of AIDS - absolutely.
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u/Fit_Front6239 2d ago
Wow this rating surprised me lol. This is my favourite 80s Queen album