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15 years ago, this album was released.
A return to the global scene for someone who had been the cornerstone of the Queen for all the twenty years and more of activity. A man who never disappointed, who was able to move and be moved. Never a mistake, never a flaw in two decades of activity. Twenty years of experience that are evident throughout this album.
Brian and his Red Special manage to create something that, even if not spectacular, can worthily honor this man/instrument couple, which has now become something more. Here is the real "Back To The Light," a return to the light for "the six strings of the Queen." Some have said that in this album May leaves everything behind, but in my opinion, another thing happens: Brian tries (and succeeds) to slightly renew the standards that made the Queen great, all with his voice, which is less intense and powerful than Freddie's but certainly sweet and delicate, providing the perfect frame for the old and new tracks on the album. Nonetheless, the changes are there and visible, especially in the lineup where Cozy Powell stands out on drums, holding up very well to the comparison with Taylor.
The album starts with a very particular intro: what seems like a lullaby transforms into a powerful guitar riff with a few but quite significant words in the background: "...We will rock you..." After this emblematic introduction, here is the Title Track. "Back To The Light" seems like a return to the Queen, with the power of the drums and guitar, with the classic rhythm that carries you along. You can feel all Brian's dedication, who does double the work. His voice manages to be both delicate and powerful at the same time and accompanies the choirs with the Red Special. In the middle of the song, in fact, here's the solo that manages to be both classic and innovative. The very unique touch of the Red Special can be felt and provides a unique background to the songs. A new final solo ends the song, a beautiful song, intense, in the full regal style and in the full May style.
At track 3, we immediately hear what seems like a vague hint at "Headlong" or "I Want It All", but which later reveals itself to be new and with another style. Unfortunately, the slightly too "Hard" tone of the guitar doesn't hold up to May's voice, perhaps better suited to more delicate pieces. Despite this, the unmistakable technique and art unite even here in the magical and unreachable Brian. "Love Token", therefore, also turned out very well, and here comes "Resurrection", which starts with powerful drums and charged guitar. "Feels a lot like Hard Rock" similar to "Sheer Heart Attack". The fifth song is well known to us. Here indeed is "Too Much Love Will Kill You" simply unique. Although the song is known to us sung by Mercury, in this album it appears for the first time, only to return in its original form 3 years later with "Made In Heaven". You can feel that Brian is giving it his all and it's clear that this song is something different for him. With "Driven By You", the atmosphere becomes more hard and it shows May's ability to keep moving forward while looking back. "Nothin' But You" looks to "Innuendo" between psychedelic rock and hard rock, followed by "I'm Scared" very lively and very classic.
The following songs are fairly monotonous, so I'll skip the track by track to get directly to the beautiful "Last Horizon", splendid instrumental execution, very melancholic like much of the album.
Ultimately, "Back To The Light" is a nice album that I would recommend but it's still quite pop and not very demanding. It's clear that May did not strive too hard to find new sounds, but it's still a work to be appreciated and to know, especially after the latest ones.
Tracklist Lyrics Samples and Videos
05 Too Much Love Will Kill You (04:28)
I'm just the pieces of the man I used to be
Too many bitter tears are raining down on me
I'm far away from home
And I've been facing this alone for much too long
I feel like no-one ever told the truth to me
About growing up and what a struggle it would be
In my tangled state of mind
I've been looking back to find where I went wrong
Too Much Love Will Kill You
If you can't make up your mind
Torn between the lover and the love you leave behind
You're headed for disaster 'cos you never read the signs
Too Much Love Will Kill You - every time
I'm just the shadow of the man I used to be
And it seems like there's no way out of this for me
I used to bring you sunshine
Now all I ever do is bring you down
How would it be if you were standing in my shoes
Can't you see that it's impossible to choose
No there's no making sense of it
Every way I go I have to lose
Too Much Love Will Kill You
just as sure as none at all,
It'll drain the power that's in you
Make sure you plead and scream and crawl
And the pain will make you crazy
You're the victim of your crime
Too Much Love Will Kill You - every time
Too Much Love Will Kill You
It'll make your life a lie
Yes, Too Much Love Will Kill You
And you won't understand why
You'd give your life you'd sell your soul
But here it comes again
Too Much Love Will Kill You
In the end.......
In the end.
06 Driven by You (04:11)
Oh - everything I do I do for you
Oh yeah
We touch and you're afraid of me and
We burn and now I'm at your feet
High speed,but you know you're in safe hands
In the dark we make a brighter light
From one spark to the horizon wide
We trust and together we tame the land - yeah
You'd be forgiven if you think you're dreaming
But we're working night and day to make a dream come true - yeah
Everything I do is driven by you
Oh - come on babe
Oh well it's tough to make a journey through
The right stuff is dead ahead of you and me
And you know we've still got time
Hold on tight to the driving wheel
This ride is really out of line
Raw deal, but there's no other that's worth a dime
You know I love you but you drive me crazy
Because you're saying all the things I want to say to you
You say
Everything I do is driven by you
Everything we do
Everything we do
Everything we do
Everything we do
Everything we do is driven by you
Inner children lost their way
Now they know the price you pay
I'm holding on to life with you
Because life without you just won't do
Driven by you
You know I'm never going to know who's dreaming
But we're working night and day to make a dream come true - yeah
Everything I do is driven by you
Everything we do
Everything we do
Everything we do
Everything we do
Everything we do
Everything we do
Everything we do
Everything we do
Everything we do is driven by
Driven by
Driven by you
Oh - everything I do I do for you
08 I'm Scared (04:00)
You take me to the party
You put me on the stand
You're pumping up my heart
To the beating of the band
You toss it in the air
And you don't care where it lands
You take it, you break it
You're hurting me
Because I wasn't prepared
I couldn't go where you dared
You got my whole soul bared
I never knew that you cared (No it just ain't fair)
I'm scared (I'm scared)
I'm scared (I'm scared)
I'm scared (I'm scared)
I'm scared (so scared)
I'm scared I'm scared I'm scared I'm scared I'm scared
You take me out to dinner
And you swallow me whole
You're nothing but a sinner
With a dark black soul
I figured I could handle you
But I'm just a toy
You're getting bolder and bolder
You're just a bad bad boy
Because I wasn't prepared (I'm scared I'm scared)
I couldn't go where you dared (I'm scared I'm scared)
You got my whole soul bared (I'm so so scared)
I never knew that you cared (yeah yeah yeah)
I'm scared (I'm scared)
I'm scared (I'm scared)
I'm scared (so scared)
I'm scared (afraid)
I'm scared I'm scared I'm scared I'm scared I'm scared
What you staring at
You're such a scaredy cat
When I know that I just can't fight it
So what you staring at
You're such a scaredy cat
Because I'm only scared that maybe I might like it
I'm scared to move,I'm scared of standing still
I'm scared to change,I'm scared to stay the same
I'm so scared I want to die
I'm scared of dying
I'm scared of not being liked,not being loved
I'm scared to be alone
I'm scared of being with people
I'm scared of disapproval
I'm scared of life
I'm scared to lose what I have built
I'm scared of feeling scared
I'm scared of being ugly,being boring,being dull
I'm scared of my thoughts
I'm scared of being found out
I'm scared of Steven Berkhoff
I'm scared to dance,I'm scared to speak,to sing
I'm scared my body's awkward, the wrong shape,wrong smell
I'm scared to say what I think
I'm scared to say no,or yes too often
I'm scared of disappointing
I'm scared of losing control
I'm scared of pain
I'm scared of hurting,being hurt
I'm scared this will go on 'til I die
I'm scared of losing my home,my love,my kids,my kids,my kids
I'm scared my heart will break
I'm scared of losing myself
I'm scared of finding myself
Because there might be no-one there at all
I'm scared of the unknown future
I'm scared to make a wrong turn
I'm scared of the dark
I'm scared of failing
I'm scared it may all be for nothing
You take me to the limit
You take me to the brink
You left me with the blues
When you found me in the pink
You know just what you're saying
But your metaphors stink
I gotta lick it,or stick it
Or this is the end
Because I wasn't prepared (because)
I couldn't go where you dared (because I'm)
You got my whole soul bared (because I'm so)
I never knew that you cared (I'm scared)
(I'm scared)
I'm scared (I'm scared)
I'm scared (I'm scared)
I'm scared (I'm scared)
I'm scared (I'm scared)
I'm scared (I'm scared)
I'm scared (I'm scared)
I'm scared (I'm scared)
I'm scared I'm scared I'm scared I'm scared I'm scared
I'm scared (I'm scared)
I'm scared (I'm scared)
So scared (I'm scared)
So scared (I'm scared)
I'm scared (I'm scared)
I'm scared (I'm scared)
I'm scared (I'm scared)
I'm scared (I'm scared)
I'm scared I'm scared I'm scared I'm scared I'm scared
I'm scared
I'm scared
I'm scared
12 Rollin' Over (04:36)
Goodbye sunshine I'm on my way
I'll be long time gone by the break of day
Tell everyone that I'm gonna find it
Ther ain't nothin' gonna stop me-
Save all your lovin' till I get home
To the sweetest lovin' sunshine that I've ever known
Tell everyone that I'm gonna find it
There ain't nothin' gonna stop me-
Rollin' over, Shak-do-way
Rollin' over, Yeah-yeah-yeah......
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Other reviews
By AR (Anonima Recensori)
The beginning is very psychedelic and overwhelming: 'The Dark'.
'Too Much Love Will Kill You' is a splendid ballad echoing 'Save Me', Queen era.
By Starblazer
"Back To The Light" is a terrific and almost perfect solo debut for Mr. May.
Brian May pours his heart into every riff, every small solo of the Red Special, and even in every vocal interpretation.
