Queen II [2011 Remaster]

Rating

Album: Queen II [2011 Remaster]
#	Song Title		Time
1)	Procession	More Info...	0:01
2)	Father to Son	More Info...	0:06
3)	White Queen (As It Began)	More Info...	0:04
4)	Some Day One Day	More Info...	0:04
5)	The Loser in the End	More Info...	0:04
6)	Ogre Battle	More Info...	0:04
7)	The Fairy Teller's Master-stroke	More Info...	0:02
8)	Nevermore	More Info...	0:01
9)	The March of the Black Queen	More Info...	0:06
10)	Funny How Love Is	More Info...	0:03
11)	Seven Seas of Rhye	More Info...	0:03

Album: Queen II [2011 Remaster]
#	Song Title		Time
1)	Procession	More Info...	0:01
2)	Father to Son	More Info...	0:06
3)	White Queen (As It Began)	More Info...	0:04
4)	Some Day One Day	More Info...	0:04
5)	The Loser in the End	More Info...	0:04
6)	Ogre Battle	More Info...	0:04
7)	The Fairy Teller's Master-stroke	More Info...	0:02
8)	Nevermore	More Info...	0:01
9)	The March of the Black Queen	More Info...	0:06
10)	Funny How Love Is	More Info...	0:03
11)	Seven Seas of Rhye	More Info...	0:03

Performer Notes

Personnel: Brian May (vocals, guitar, piano, bell); Freddie Mercury (vocals, piano, harpsichord); Roger Taylor (vocals, percussion); John Deacon (acoustic guitar, bass guitar); Roy Thomas Baker (castanets).
Recording information: Trident Studios, London.
Photographer: Mick Rock .
Although QUEEN II borders on heavy metal (it wasn't until their next release, SHEER HEART ATTACK, that they began experimenting with other musical forms), the songwriting and playing is still top-notch. Queen was criticized by some in the press upon the release of QUEEN II, since there was simply nothing to compare it to--it encompassed glam, progressive, and metal, with a healthy dose of studio wizardry.
QUEEN II contained the band's first official UK hit--the mystical "Seven Seas of Rhye"--and, as on their debut a year prior, the lesser-known material is just as delightful. Singer Freddie Mercury and guitarist Brian May contribute one lovely ballad each--"White Queen (As It Began)" and "Some Day One Day." The latter does a splendid job of breaking up this otherwise continuously hard-rocking album. Other intriguing titles include "Ogre Battle," "The March of the Black Queen," and a strong bonus b-side--the bluesy "See What a Fool I've Been."

Professional Reviews

Q (Magazine) (p.119) - "[W]ith operatic vocals and multitracked guitars crashing about the place, and a handful of soaring songs popping up among them -- not least 'Seven Seas Of Rhye,' their first real hit."

Q (Magazine) (p.118) - 4 stars out of 5 -- "Brian May brings a scientific precision to his guitar playing on 1974's wonderfully over-the-top Queen II..."

Record Collector (magazine) (p.99) - 4 stars out of 5 -- "'Ogre Battle' crunches the speakers like full-on Zeppelin..."