Tater Thoughts

A more simple and square structure builds the framework for " In the Lap of the Gods... Revisited ". Thanks to subtle nuances of chromatic notes, juxtaposed and evocative high and low vocals from Freddie, and addictively rousing melodies, this culminates into a wonderful closing track. It was a mainstay closer on Queen's tours for several years and shined brightest as a live number ; being Freddie...

Odd, a little weird, kind of dark, but lovely and luscious, " She Makes Me (Stormtroopers In Stilettos) " is a Brian May number that wins me over every time. He takes the lead vocally (and in all harmonies) with sleepy acoustic guitars and persistent drums creating a dreamy, psychedelic and dissonant atmosphere we'll never again hear from Queen.

In the biggest stylistic turn yet, Freddie's composition " Bring Back That Leroy Brown " has many instrumental features we'll (almost) never get again. Double bass. Banjo. Tack piano. And Freddie singing with such impressiveness, sounding jazzy and inspired by choral groups of the '50s or '60s. Visions of vaudeville come to mind listening to this surprisingly fun shift. And live ? It's such a welc...

Almost 50 episodes and more than 30 Queen Deep Dives later, I've discovered how much I love podcasting. I'm so invested in this, I created an Instagram channel entirely devoted to this podcast, Tater Thoughts (link on my Anchor profile, or search for the handle @taterthoughtspod). Thanks for tuning in and here's to more Queen dives and music madness, and so much more...

Finally, bassist John Deacon reveals his first contribution with " Misfire "! This lovely and joyful little number is a great representation of John's love for pop and soul, and it fits perfectly among the diversity of Sheer Heart Attack. John provided not only bass, but most of this tune's catchy guitars.

Despite its brevity, " Dear Friends " is one of my favorites from Queen's Brian May. When he gets reflective and tender, his lovely lyrical artistry comes out. And in this classically-influenced piano number, Freddie delivers Brian's words beautifully, with both of the boys providing soft and sensitive backing vocals. 

The first song credited to all the guys. The first song Queen ever played live. One of the first speed metal songs, ever. " Stone Cold Crazy " made its mark, even though it was never a single. It's fast, furious, frantic and of course, fantastic. There's an interesting illusion with the tempo; and live, this number was pure fire .

Who are you? I'm not talking about your name, or where you're from. I'm talking about your online persona. What do people perceive when they see what you share, and what you say? How are you using the power of social media and the internet? Are you aware of the tone you create, and the message you're sending? I think about all of this, and more, a lot. And I'm diving deep into human psyche and exp...

This Freddie composition is one of Queen's rare operatically-tinged numbers, and guess what? There's something really, really cool about it. " In the Lap of the Gods " is one of my favorites, and I love Roger's sky-high falsetto vocals that are remarkably and beautifully controlled. Live , its subdued and dramatic energy could hold its own against Queen's rockier numbers. 

"Think I'll stay around!" From Freddie's soft vulnerability of the previous track to this (literally) rocking number, courtesy of Brian, that Queen played live more than any other song , " Now I'm Here " has a special quality that makes it lovable and memorable, even to the anti-Queen listener. There's a reason they played it live so much: It was the ultimate connection between performer and fan,...

This rare super-soft ballad showcases Freddie's versatility as an artist and exemplifies Queen's ability to play anything effortlessly with ease, grace and style. " Lily of the Valley " is uniquely tender and soft, tugging at the heartstrings and impressing at every turn. All the guys put their talents to incredible use in this striking number; one of my favorites from Freddie...and I'm not alone.

Drama is the word of the day, and it's appropriate for this Freddie composition, " Flick of the Wrist ". One of my favorites on Sheer Heart Attack, all the hard rock energy and dynamic shifts in style and tone from previous albums are packed into this succinct and impactful number. It always went over well live , and I wish the guitar solo just went on forever.

It's creepy . I say that a lot in this random-tangent-thought episode, where I rave about the games I grew up with, and the ones I loved the most; including the immensely successful Doom and one of my favorite foes ever . Dive into nostalgia with me for all the incredible game soundtracks , impressive graphics , and massive online roleplaying you can handle.

Drummer Roger Taylor's contribution to Queen's third album, " Tenement Funster " is a little more complex but maintains the rock 'n' roll edge Roger's established in earlier compositions. Queen never performed it live, but Roger occasionally sang it during solo tours in the '90s. It stands out against the many dynamic styles of Sheer Heart Attack. Appropriately raucous and full of attitude, it inc...

We're in big hit territory now and it freaks me out. How do you pick apart something so many people love and know so well? By being way too enthusiastic, that's how. Triangle. Chimes. Jangle piano. There are so many clever surprises in " Killer Queen ", and the lyrics are some of Freddie's best. This was a massive stylistic turn for the band, and it worked in their favor; especially when they appe...

We kick off Queen's game-changing album, Sheer Heart Attack, with the playful, poised, but still edgy " Brighton Rock ". The boys' more polished sound is immediately obvious, and this song features a special (lengthy) solo that's celebrated by many. It made for a great live performance , too.

I'm back and excited to talk about Queen's fantastic and pivotal third album, " Sheer Heart Attack ". Dive in with me as we go through the recording process, why this album was created so quickly, Brian's unique recording perspective and what the album's success meant for the boys.

When you're in a place or a frame of mind where your heart is wide open, that's a happy place. Maybe it's not just a place, but a way of life. You can certainly bloom where you're planted, but if there's a place where blooming comes without trying, perhaps that's where you should be, or what you should be.

The boys' sparkling closer on Queen II, and their first hit single, " Seven Seas of Rhye " is a short and sweet but impactful and effective rock number. It concludes one of my favorite song triads ever and makes me run faster. Freddie's brilliant lyrics here are some of my very favorites. The guys performed this on BBC's Top of The Pops in February '74 , giving this track a boost and the band well...

Recent permeating feelings of alienation have me playing this on repeat. " Tom's Diner ", originally by Suzanne Vega, has an interesting and long history. According to one fan on YouTube, it's "the song everyone knows but can never remember the lyrics or title." It started as an a cappella charmer and (much) later became a worldwide hit. An expression in isolation that's incredibly relatable; espe...

Here's a little gem in a style you'll never hear again from the boys. " Funny How Love Is " makes a vocal statement more reminiscent of The Beach Boys, and there's a big reason for that. Freddie's piano playing is lovely and the wall of sound production is entirely uplifting. An early rehearsal take exists!

...and we're doing it. This was an intimidating song to dive into. " The March of The Black Queen " isn't just one of Queen's longest songs, it's one of their most complex, with key changes and chords and scales that rival almost every other masterpiece; including the great "Bohemian Rhapsody". And I freely admit, I think I love it even more. Running with this in my ear? Power.

Atmospheric piano surrounds Freddie's sadness on this surprisingly poignant and moving number. Even in its brevity, " Nevermore " stuns and overwhelms. The honest and embellished BBC '74 performance was a gem I wasn't expecting to find.

Freddie at his fantastical finest, " The Fairy Feller's Master-Stroke " takes everything Queen is possible of doing and crams it into two and a half minutes of sparkling mythological brilliance. A crowning achievement of stereo sounds, it includes instruments not often heard from Queen (including harpsichord). Find out more about the inspiration behind this song, Roger's thoughts about Freddie's d...

Almost two months ago, I had to take a break from running after I tweaked my back. As I've started to get my running game back, I suddenly realized something I was subconsciously doing during my runs that was really, really bad. In a strange way, I'm thankful I've had to take a break from running, so I could have this opportunity to retrain and relearn techniques and form. When was the last time y...