Queen II: Review:

Synopsis:

Queen II is the second studio album by the British rock band Queen. It was released on 8 March 1974 by EMI Records at midnight in the UK and by Elektra Records in the US. It was recorded at Trident Studios and Langham 1 Studios, London from February to August 1973 with co-producers Roy Thomas Baker and Robin Cable, and engineered by Mike Stone. The album is notable for its combination of a heavy rock sound with an art rock sensibility. It has been called "a pillar of grandiose, assaultive hard rock" by the Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame

Procession:

Writer: Brian May

Written: 1972

Recorded: Monday, February 5, 1973

Released: Friday, March 8, 1974

Key: (g-minor), F-major, (d-minor), C-major, G-major, (D-major)

Tempo: 57

First Performed: Monday, November 12, 1973

There really isn't much to say about this song. Its really only an intro to the album.

Rating: 62% - Short but epic!

Father To Son:

Writer: Brian May

Written: 1972

Recorded: Tuesday, February 27, 1973

Released: Friday, March 8, 1974

Key: (g minor), G-Major, F-Major, E-Major

Tempo: 151

First performed: Thursday, September 13, 1973

This song is very interesting. It starts of as a joyful rock song about the bond between father and son. All of a sudden it turns into heavy metal. The song is really about a father's perspective of when he is talking to or thinking about his son. Its a really catchy tune at times like the heavy metal part. May does a good job on the piano too.

Rating: 79% - Heavy, Epic, & worth listening to.

White Queen (As It Began):

Writer: Brian May

Written: 1968

Recorded: Thursday, March 8, 1973

Released: Friday, March 8, 1974

Key: G-major/e-minor, a-minor, C-major

Tempo: 75

First Performed: Thursday, March 8, 1973

This is a really sad song. May wrote this song for a girl in his biology class in 1968. When school ended, he never saw her again so he wrote his despondency into the paper. It's a very poignant song. Brian May stated that the song was a song about regret. Why didn't he ask the biology girl in class out. She had a boyfriend. He wrote this song and its saying"You should've asked her sooner!".

Rating: 86% - Beautiful

Some Day One Day:

Writer: Brian May

Written: 1972

Recorded: Friday, March 23, 1973

Released: Friday, March 8, 1974

Key: A Major

Tempo: 115

First Performed: Friday, March 23, 1973

This song is very lovely. It's the first son with just one person singing, that's not Freddie. Brian's vocals are lovely! It contains very philosophical lyrics!

83% - Lovely song! Great philosophical gem!

The Loser In The End:

Writer: Roger Taylor

Written: 1972

Recorded: Sunday, March 25, 1974

Released: Friday, March 8, 1974

Key: A Major & D Major

Tempo: 145

First Performed: Sunday, March 25, 1974

This is a pretty cool song that has a kind of dark meaning. The meaning of the song is a mother's perspective on her son leaving. But all he says is goodbye and leaves, nothing special.

Rating: 67% - It's pretty cool. It's worth listening to!

Ogre Battle:

Writer: Freddie Mercury

Written: 1971

Recorded: Saturday, April, 14, 1973

Released: Friday, March 8, 1974

Key: D Major

Tempo: 110

First Performed: Wednesday, December 20, 1972

I find this song one of the heaviest Queen songs in their history. It starts with some crazy effects from something. Later we get some heavy guitar riffs (written by Freddie on the guitar). I'm gonna take a quick guess and say this is the sequel to My Fairy King. It's really catchy and epic. During the pre bridge, Freddie lets out some extremely intimidating screams.

Rating: 87% - Totally heavy and put together amazingly. I recommend listening to it!

The Fairy Feller's Master-Stroke

Writer: Freddie Mercury

Written: 1973

Recorded: Thursday, May 3, 1973

Released: Friday, March 8. 1974

Key: C Major

Tempo: 160

First performed: Thursday, May 3, 1973

This song is certainly.. Interesting. This was inspired off of a painting of the same name. This song definitely makes the fairy tale series a trilogy, This song is pretty bizarre, even a harpsichord was used in the song.

Rating: 55% - This is Interesting..

Nevermore:

Writer: Freddie Mercury

Written: 1972

Recorded: Wednesday, May 23, 1973

Released: March 8, 1974

Key: F Major

Tempo: 120

First Performed: Wednesday, May 23, 1973

This song is a very beautiful piece. It is about a man who doesn't want to live anymore and wants to escape from the stress to paradise. He doesn't want to be pushed to the point of suicide. This song is surprisingly short.

Rating: 80% - Lovely but too short.

The March Of The Black Queen:

Writer: Freddie Mercury

Written: 1973

Recorded: Tuesday, July 17, 1973

Released: Friday, March 8, 1974

Key: A Minor

Tempo: 113

First Performed: Tuesday, July 17, 1973

This is a huge agglomeration of genres and is amazing. This song is one of the most underrated Queen songs ever. There are 5 genres to this song. Freddie Mercury began writing this song in December 1971 and never finished until November 1972. No wonder it would have taken that long.

Rating: 94% - One of the most amazing pieces to ever exist from Queen

Funny How Love Is:

Writer: Freddie Mercury

Written: 1972

Recorded: Sunday, August 5, 1973

Released: Friday: March 8, 1974

Key: C Major

Tempo: 146

First Performed: Sunday, August 5, 1973

This song is really lovely. It's pretty good! I enjoy it and some fans do too! But it is pretty underrated. Not as underrated as it's preceder though.

Rating: 78% - Really Good!

Seven Seas Of Rhye:

Writer: Freddie Mercury

Written: 1973

Recorded: Tuesday, December 19, 1972

Released: Saturday, February 23, 1974

Key: D Major

Tempo: 125

First Performed: Tuesday, December 19, 1972

This song is amazing! It's another fairy tale song (Its Freddie Mercury writing this stuff its gonna be a fantasy song) It starts with a expeditiously perplexed piano intro and it leads into this epic song in general

Rating: 89% - Amazing!

See What A Fool I've Been:

Writer: Brian May

Written: 1969

Recorded: Monday, August 27, 1973

Released: Saturday, February 23, 1974

Key: E Major

Tempo: 170

First Performed: Thursday, February 27, 1969

This song really scares me. Freddie's vocal noises really are giving me cold shivers and not in a good way. This song is pretty cool but if the vocals were to change a little (A LOT), it would be a huge improvement!

Rating: 47% - Please.. If you're faint-hearted, please take caution when listening to it.

Conclusion:

Best Song: The March Of The Black Queen

Worst Song: See What A Fool I've Been

First Recorded Song: Seven Seas Of Rhye

Last Song Recorded: See What A Fool I've Been

Length: 40:42

Whole Album Rating: 75% - One of their best albums yet.