[.ca] Hot Space

So This Should Be Bad? Oh Pur-lease!:
OK, I'm probably one of the biggest Queen-fans out here. And I actually prefer their '70s material over '80s, if I had to take a side on that matter. Nevertheless, I love Queen, throughout. I saved this album, Queen's maybe most-hated one, almost the last in my Queen-shoppinglist. I don't regret buying this at all! From the beginning I thought that the album is very good, and the feeling stayed with me. I LIKE HOT SPACE! :o) Only time it dipped a bit was when Body Language was on. That is a song I don't like that much, although it has bits I enjoy, for example the finger-snapping -part. That aside the reason I can't give this one a full fiver is the lyrics. On Staying Power, Put Out The Fire and Life Is Real (Song For Lennon) are image-builders I didn't care for, although as a whole I like all these songs. And I'd like to add my point-out, too: besides the obvious stand-out Under Pressure, you'll find here one of the most beautiful of Queen-songs ever -Las Palabras De Amor (The Words Of Love)! My favourites on Hot Space: Back Chat, Action This Day, Las Palabras De Amor (The Words Of Love), Cool Cat and Under Pressure. So who is this album recommended to? To all of Queen-fans wanting to complete their collection - be brave and open-minded! To all of the Queen-fans preferring their '80s output - I predict you'll LOVE this! To everyone who has a soft spot towards '80s synth-pop/rock! Should you fall into any or all of these categories - don't let this baby slide on by!

Queen's Best!:
Hot Space is the Queen album of choice for attractive women. According to a new Gallop survey, 82 percent of foxy ladies favor Hot Space over runner-up The Game. But it doesn't take a professional pollster to know that Hot Space drives women crazy! 1. Hit play, and "Staying Power" sends a powerful subliminal message -- *you* have marathon-man stamina! 2. "Dancer" says, in so many breathy words, "Let's get physical, let's get animal!" 3. "Backchat" will have you putting on your boogie shoes, and taking *off* your ascot!! 4. And if you don't shake your groove thing by "Body Language," check your pulse and shotgun a Red Bull!! Pre-programmed, the disc jumps to "Put out the Fire" (fierce), Cool Cat (meooow!), and that foreign song (for a TLC cool down, baby yeah!). In short, this is not your older brother's Queen, to be cranked out of the squealing high rider as feathered clips blow from the rear view, and Sceeter's hanging out the sun roof raising a styrofoam can holder like the Statue of Liberty and doing air guitar to his "anthem." Hot Space *is* a very special album, appreciated by men of distinction, with remote control light dimmers and wine from a real supermarket. The Rolling Stones' Some Girls (1978) reflects, twists, and "bites" punk and disco. Queen reflects their times with Hot Space... but nothing of the times sounds like this. Queen hovers above the scene and creates something new. (New wave and disco - almost by definition - lack Mercury's warmth). If you like Hot Space, check out ABC's "Lexicon of Love." Rock on... I mean PARTY on!!

Not a popular album for Queen, but...:
A lot of people consider this Queen's worst album, but in my opinion, it is far from it. They took a completely different approach with this one, more of a funk sound -- I have to wonder if the success of "Another One Bites The Dust" prompted them to try and release an album of similarly styled tunes. I like this a lot more than "Jazz", "The Game", and "The Works", for example. They didn't continue in this direction, but it's a nice addition to the Queen library.

Keep walking:
Every good artist has an album that should have been taken out and shot. With Queen, it's this one. Olly Buxton

An enjoyable listen:
I just bought this album yesterday and have played it about 4 times so far. Based on that info I'm obviously no expert on "Hot Space", but my first impressions are that I just don't understand why it has been criticised so harshly. "Hot Space" should be appreciated for what it is and when it came out, and not compared to previous albums from completely different musical eras. That would be like comparing apples and oranges! The baggers say it's a disco album released when disco was already over. I say: it's not even disco in the first place. No sign of the disco genre - hi-hats, pianos or bongos - will be found here. It's from the start of the 80's which was the New Wave, New Romantic period and saw the advent of such technology as synthesisers and drum machines. Taken in that context, this album is very up-to-the-moment. The baggers say it doesn't sound like Queen. I say: if they kept releasing the same classic Queen songs over and over they would have become stale, irrelevant and formulaic. I think for a band to be truly great and earn our respect they have to be prepared to ignore the expectations and the critics, and that is exactly what they have done here. They have been brave, and to my mind they have pulled it off well. Songs such as "Staying Power", "Dancer", "Back Chat", "Body Language" and "Cool Cat" are sexy as hell: pure Freddie Mercury. "Calling All Girls" is a great example of the musical style of the time, and a cool song too - and sounds more like a call for world peace than some shag-fest. "Action This Day" has some interesting ideas. If you're looking for classic Queen go for "Put Out The Fire", which is heavy on the drums, guitar and the harmonies. Actually it sounds almost identical to "Tear It Up" from "The Works". And of course there's the worldwide hit "Under Pressure" to finish the album off with an almighty bang. On the minus side I found "Life Is Real" and "Las Palabrias de Amor", while featuring some signature Queen sounds, were boring and lame. Yawn! Overall not a mindblowing masterpiece but it contains many interesting songs that will keep me listening again and again.

• Staying Power
• Dancer
• Back Chat
• Body Language
• Action This Day
• Put Out the Fire
• Life Is Real (Song for Lennon)
• Calling All Girls
• Palabras de Amor (The Words of Love)
• Cool Cat
• Under Pressure - David Bowie, Queen
• Body Language \oRemix\c\o*\c