Rocks Review

07/13/2005 6:05 AM, AMG


Queen were never adverse to commercialism -- after all, Freddie Mercury made sure that he recorded a full album's worth of vocal tracks on his deathbed, so his colleagues could record a posthumous album. So, it shouldn't be surprising that just two years after the release of that posthumous record, the surviving members went back into the vaults to assemble Rocks, Vol. 1. As the title suggests, Rocks, Vol. 1 captures Queen at their most rockin', or, to be more accurate, their heaviest. Despite its breakneck conclusion, "Bohemian Rhaposdy" is not here, but "Seven Seas of Rhye," "Stone Cold Crazy," "We Will Rock You," "Sheer Heart Attack," "Fat Bottomed Girls," "I Want It All" and "I'm In Love With My Car" are, along with several underappreciated album tracks, new remixes of "Tie Your Mother Down" and "I Can't Live With You," and "No One Like You," a tribute to Mercury recorded by the surviving members of Queen. In other words, Queen Rocks, Vol. 1 is a bit of a hodgepodge and one that most fans will be able to ignore. But for casual fans of Brian May's searing, melodic guitar, Mercury's operatic wail, and the surprisingly swinging backbeat of John Deacon and Roger Taylor, this compilation will suit their needs quite nicely. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide