317. Sheer Heart Attack

Sheer Heart Attack
Queen
1974

Tracks
1. Brighton Rock

2. Killer Queen
3. Tenement Funster
4. Flick Of The Wrist
5. Lily Of The Valley
6. Now I'm Here
7. In The Lap Of The Gods
8. Stone Cold Crazy

9. Dear Friends

10. Misfire
11. Bring Back That Leroy Brown 
12. She Makes Me (Stormtrooper In Stilettos)
13. In The Lap Of The Gods (2)

Happy Valentine's Day, everybody!  In honor of the occasion, I am sitting alone in my bedroom listening to a Queen album.  A happy day indeed.

Anyway, I consider myself a bit of a Queen fan, but this was quite disappointing.  It's weird, because this album is fun and pretty much a continuation of Queen II.  Absolutely no risks were taken with this album, and I guess I expected something a little more cutting edge with Queen.  Still, it's a fun album that you should listen to today.  Wait, you have other plans today?  Strange…

RATING: 3/5

316. Winter in America

Winter in America
Gil-Scott Heron and Brian Jackson
1974

Tracks
1. Peace Go With You, Brother
2. Rivers Of My Fathers
3. A Very Precious Time
4. Back Home
5. The Bottle
6. Song For Bobby Smith
7. Your Daddy Loves You
8. H2Ogate Blues
9. Peace Go With You Brother

I started this album a week ago and only just finished it today.  I enjoyed it, but it was quite a lot to take at once; it is an extremely angry album.

This is a brilliant mix of jazz, soul, and blues.  In fact, some tracks even felt like the beginning of the rap genre.  The music is quite beautiful, I was sometimes lured into thinking that this was a pleasant album.  However, when you listen to the lyrics, you realize Heron is condemning America for the treatment of African Americans (can't say I blame him).  "H20gate Blues" is a particularly angry track that is not that hard to interpret as a criticism of the entire government.

A very beautiful, I could listen to his voice all day.  Even if he is mad at me.

RATING: 5/5