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Rating: THE REVIEW
After a year of separation, Queen reunited and began the second phase of their history with The Works.
The Works, despite having only 9 songs, gives the impression of being a beautiful almost complete album: including I Was Born To Love You, Made In Heaven, or Thank God It's Christmas from the same recording sessions would not have spoiled it at all.
The album is symbolized by 4 new hits, both successful on the charts. First and foremost are the legendary Radio Gaga (Taylor's idea) and I Want To Break Free (Deacon's idea) and secondly It's A Hard Life (Mercury's idea) and Hammer To Fall (May's idea). Of the latter two, the first stands out for the INTRO with hints taken from Leoncavalli's "Pagliaccio" (Freddie and the operatic world again!), the second for its aversion to nuclear power, not too explicitly stated in the lyrics. The rest is no less than the hits (just to avoid falling into the usual trap!): the raw and hard Tear It Up, Freddie "turning into" Elvis Presley in the original experiment of Man On The Prowl, the energy and crescendos of Machines (Or Back To Humans) which could have truly become splendid with better arrangements.
Two misunderstood and underrated jewels are the remaining tracks. Keep Passing The Open Windows (which is part of a movie but I can't remember which one...) is an anthem to life against its difficulties leading to suicide; it has a great intro (nothing to envy in It's A Hard Life) and also a compelling reason.
Is This The World We Created...?, born from the first and only collaboration between Freddie and Brian, is a brief but rarely intense piece, not for nothing does it represent the Queen's pivotal moment at Live Aid, especially for the issue it addresses, that of world hunger. In summary, we can speak of The Works as a "small great album" that will lead them to full maturity in the '80s.
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Summary by Bot
Queen's 'The Works' marks a mature phase for the band after reuniting. The album features four major hits and showcases diverse musical influences, from rock anthems to operatic elements. Some lesser-known tracks carry deep social messages. Despite having only nine songs, it offers a powerful and well-rounded listening experience emblematic of 80s rock.Tracklist Lyrics Videos
Queen
British rock band formed in London in 1970. Core classic lineup: Freddie Mercury (lead vocals), Brian May (guitar), Roger Taylor (drums) and John Deacon (bass). Known for genre-crossing albums and stadium anthems such as "Bohemian Rhapsody", and for legendary live performances (notably Live Aid 1985). Freddie Mercury died in 1991.143 Reviews
Other reviews
By Viva Lì
The most overrated band in music history... releases this tedious 'The Works', the umpteenth duplicate, the umpteenth disappointment.
Mercury’s voice isn’t ungracious, it’s gritty, it’s passionate, fine, okay, but the music, the lyrics, the atmospheres, are often recycled stuff.
By Walterstarman
The Works is a great album, the grandchild of a wise grandfather ('The Game') and the child of an overly subversive father ('Hot Space').
'Radio Ga Ga' was loved by 80s electronic music enthusiasts and the world but not well-regarded by usual rock-centrists.
By claudio carpentieri
Radio Ga Ga is a child of that technological creative streak, paving the way for uncontainable lyricism and reaching a wide audience.
The fiery fusion present in Tear It Up reminds us of the band’s ability to strike a pose, paired with the powerful riff and choruses of Hammer to Fall.
