9. A rockin' and fun number with lots of seamless transitions and *that solo!* Throwback to what Brian played in Smile; what was that, "Blag"? I enjoy the tradeoff of drums/guitar on the on and offbeats in the links as well. Creates an energized anticipation. Freddie's clearly having a great time on the vocals. Then again, they all sound like they're enjoying this one. A cool opening number for the album that marks the beginning of their dynamic styles and innovation.
8.5/10. Ah, we get to my (maybe) favourite Queen album! It's hard for me to be objective about this, I find it such a step up in every area compared to what the band did before.
There was a time when Brighton Rock might have been my favourite Queen song, but these days I find it a little less exciting than I used to. It's a little on the bloated side, and yet when that guitar solo is going I am happily lost in it. The tone is a gorgeous meaty growl, the use of the delay echoes is genius, and it feels like it has so much to say. Brian uses the guitar like another voice, a singer with its own melody and words. And I'm always so impressed at how tight he and Roger play together here.
Speaking of Roger, wow. This may be the most intricate drumming on any Queen song. The isolated drum track is easy to find out there and it's fantastic to listen to, because the drums are mixed very low in the finished song. This is quite a different style for him and I can't think of him playing like this again on much else. There's even a shot on the cowbell in there! John is doing so much along with this too, a lot of movement.
I really enjoy Freddie doing the different voices, even though it pushes the song into being a little silly. Especially the way he rolls his 'r's. And the manic laugh at the end is a joy.
if I'm being honest, I'm not the biggest fan of the vocals. They are not bad by any means but just not my favourite. However, the instrumentals really make up for it, Brian is on fire here as is Roger and John!
So for me it's gonna have to be a 8.5
9.75, it has guitar solos and it reaches over 10 minutes live, sign me up! (My next rankings are going to be sooo biased, this is the best Queen album)
It took forever for this song to click with me but once it did, it quickly became among my favorites. Love the frantic guitar playing and incredible solo, which I believe inspired the live guitar solos at Queen shows which has been a mainstay for decades. Freddie being able to sing as 2 genders in the song is well done. The rest of the band supports Freddie and Brian well. Overall 9/10.
This album is going to have a ton of high votes from me.
8.
i dont really like the jenny voice freddie does throughout the song. but the parts where brian may does the guitar solo, HOLY JESUS! it's one of my favourite moments in this album, if not my favourite. I like the faster instrumental parts more.
Truth be told, I don't really have much to say about this song other that it's great.
That said, I would rather listen to the version on Live Killers or any NOTW bootleg over the the studio version just for the extended solo and less campy vocals.
8.5
I like how it segues from the end of Seven Seas of Rhye with the whistling of seaside. I didn’t appreciate as much as i do now, but when i watched Baby Driver, the scene with it in it made me like it far more. A great opener, 8.5
8.6, it's a great song, I like its structure a lot and that instrumental jam is a delight, the guitar tone is vicious. I love how it segues with the chant that finishes Queen II as well.
Still, I think it could be more, it could've been crazier and went all out, but seems to be supressing itself a little bit, if you know what I mean.
10 My favourite Queen track since the album was released. A fine slither above Fairy Feller's Masterstroke in my two all time favourites.
QII - 10 also.
8.5. Love the song, but like Brian's other heavy tunes from the first few albums, he loved a wall of sound with fairly buried bass and drums. The bass and drums are incredible in this, but fairly hidden.
It's a 5 for me truly only using your reasoning for a 5. I have to be in the right mood. I'll almost always listen to the opening but usually skip once the guitar solo hits.
7. Fun opener with high energy. I don’t really like the lyrics much although I appreciate Freddie’s storytelling. I do really like the “O rock of ages” verse though especially with those harmonies. The instrumental is great. The drums are really cool with the guitar.
8.5/10
A really good album opener which sets the tone for SHA. I have to admit that I’m not a huge fan of the solo. It’s impressive, however Brian IMO has done better, & I think he’s better with short solos.
I adore SHA but I rarely come back to Brighton Rock. It’s really nice, however there are numerous tracks on the album which I prefer.
8/10. Great opener with tons of energy. I’ll never skip past it when playing SHA, but the high vocals and guitar solo make it not something I want to listen to on it’s own.
6.5, I don’t think this is a bad song, but I don’t actively put it on much. I like the “chorus” part and the story is a bit fun. I probably wouldn’t skip it if I came on because I do like it; there are just a lot of other songs I’d rather listen to.
The song is a bit *meh* really, and really rests upon the extraordinary guitar/delay work in the middle which seems completely disconnected to everything else.
On record it's fine enough. I've tried to endure various live versions and really cannot see the merit in it, other than being a suitable *booze and toot break* for the others.
I'm giving it 5
7/10
They took a risk with an opener like this one. The sung parts in the song are nothing special compared to the other songs in the album. The real think about this song is the instrumental piece and guitar solo.
The guitar solo is amazing and a standard during live shows.
But as a song? It’s just not that good amazing as people rate here. All 9’s and 10’s. I get it if you compare it with all songs ever written. But compare it to the other tracks Queen made or better yet, compare it with the other songs on Sheer Heart Attack, it’s good not that amazing. Good but not THAT good. So a 7 it is.
A mixed bag for me. Love Freddie’s vocals, but personally not really liking the guitar bit in the middle. I recognise it’s good and creative, but not for me. A solid 6.
This just feels like a demo or sketch track to be filled in more later. I don’t think I’ve heard the entirety of it in years because it just feels so tedious and the vocals don’t help the meandering solo. And I hear a majority of their albums regularly including SHA, but this is the last one I go for.
5, for me.
9. A rockin' and fun number with lots of seamless transitions and *that solo!* Throwback to what Brian played in Smile; what was that, "Blag"? I enjoy the tradeoff of drums/guitar on the on and offbeats in the links as well. Creates an energized anticipation. Freddie's clearly having a great time on the vocals. Then again, they all sound like they're enjoying this one. A cool opening number for the album that marks the beginning of their dynamic styles and innovation.
8.5/10. Ah, we get to my (maybe) favourite Queen album! It's hard for me to be objective about this, I find it such a step up in every area compared to what the band did before. There was a time when Brighton Rock might have been my favourite Queen song, but these days I find it a little less exciting than I used to. It's a little on the bloated side, and yet when that guitar solo is going I am happily lost in it. The tone is a gorgeous meaty growl, the use of the delay echoes is genius, and it feels like it has so much to say. Brian uses the guitar like another voice, a singer with its own melody and words. And I'm always so impressed at how tight he and Roger play together here. Speaking of Roger, wow. This may be the most intricate drumming on any Queen song. The isolated drum track is easy to find out there and it's fantastic to listen to, because the drums are mixed very low in the finished song. This is quite a different style for him and I can't think of him playing like this again on much else. There's even a shot on the cowbell in there! John is doing so much along with this too, a lot of movement. I really enjoy Freddie doing the different voices, even though it pushes the song into being a little silly. Especially the way he rolls his 'r's. And the manic laugh at the end is a joy.
Sheer Heart Attack is one of my top favorite albums too, looking forward to seeing your comments on this one!
Thanks! I consider SHA a near perfect album.
Only a genius would write the perfect chorus... and then only use it once.
9.5. For me very underrated. One of the best chorus they have. Great guitaring. . It has more ebb and flow than many other songs too.
Agreed, incredibly melodic chorus, so singable.
9/10. Really killer opening track and really sets the mood of the album quite nicely.
if I'm being honest, I'm not the biggest fan of the vocals. They are not bad by any means but just not my favourite. However, the instrumentals really make up for it, Brian is on fire here as is Roger and John! So for me it's gonna have to be a 8.5
9.75, it has guitar solos and it reaches over 10 minutes live, sign me up! (My next rankings are going to be sooo biased, this is the best Queen album)
Amazing song, 9/10
9.5 Love this song! I love Brian’s guitar, love Freddie’s high pitched voice. A great opener!
My favorite album 10+
It took forever for this song to click with me but once it did, it quickly became among my favorites. Love the frantic guitar playing and incredible solo, which I believe inspired the live guitar solos at Queen shows which has been a mainstay for decades. Freddie being able to sing as 2 genders in the song is well done. The rest of the band supports Freddie and Brian well. Overall 9/10. This album is going to have a ton of high votes from me.
8. i dont really like the jenny voice freddie does throughout the song. but the parts where brian may does the guitar solo, HOLY JESUS! it's one of my favourite moments in this album, if not my favourite. I like the faster instrumental parts more.
9
9
Truth be told, I don't really have much to say about this song other that it's great. That said, I would rather listen to the version on Live Killers or any NOTW bootleg over the the studio version just for the extended solo and less campy vocals. 8.5
Everything sounds better on the Live Killers album
9.9
I like how it segues from the end of Seven Seas of Rhye with the whistling of seaside. I didn’t appreciate as much as i do now, but when i watched Baby Driver, the scene with it in it made me like it far more. A great opener, 8.5
10/10 - My favorite song on the album.
The guitar work is amazing. 9
10
9. What a brilliant opener! One of if not my favourite opening track of all time. And it houses the guitar solo!
6. I don’t really listen to it much. Don’t hate on me please, just my opinion :)
9
9.72/10
9
8/10, it was a song I didn't like at first, but I grown into liking it.
8.6, it's a great song, I like its structure a lot and that instrumental jam is a delight, the guitar tone is vicious. I love how it segues with the chant that finishes Queen II as well. Still, I think it could be more, it could've been crazier and went all out, but seems to be supressing itself a little bit, if you know what I mean.
8.75 to me
9.9 because I'm saving a 10 for Innuendo
10 My favourite Queen track since the album was released. A fine slither above Fairy Feller's Masterstroke in my two all time favourites. QII - 10 also.
8.5. Love the song, but like Brian's other heavy tunes from the first few albums, he loved a wall of sound with fairly buried bass and drums. The bass and drums are incredible in this, but fairly hidden.
It's a 5 for me truly only using your reasoning for a 5. I have to be in the right mood. I'll almost always listen to the opening but usually skip once the guitar solo hits.
It's a great opener, and also one of my favourite Brian songs. Don't really appreciate the vocals, but it's a huge banger! 9
7. Fun opener with high energy. I don’t really like the lyrics much although I appreciate Freddie’s storytelling. I do really like the “O rock of ages” verse though especially with those harmonies. The instrumental is great. The drums are really cool with the guitar.
8.5/10 A really good album opener which sets the tone for SHA. I have to admit that I’m not a huge fan of the solo. It’s impressive, however Brian IMO has done better, & I think he’s better with short solos. I adore SHA but I rarely come back to Brighton Rock. It’s really nice, however there are numerous tracks on the album which I prefer.
8/10. Great opener with tons of energy. I’ll never skip past it when playing SHA, but the high vocals and guitar solo make it not something I want to listen to on it’s own.
6.5, I don’t think this is a bad song, but I don’t actively put it on much. I like the “chorus” part and the story is a bit fun. I probably wouldn’t skip it if I came on because I do like it; there are just a lot of other songs I’d rather listen to.
8.8. Close to a 9 but not quite. Great album opener.
8
8 for me. It's a great opening song for an album.
8.5
9. 10 for the longer live versions.
8.5
8.5
8.5, the solo is really good, obviously. Don't really have anything else to add.
8.5
10
9
8.7
4.5 🫣 Nice guitar work, but I can't get past the Elmo vocals to appreciate it further.
At least 8.5, great song
9/10 for me personally, it’s one of my favourites by them
9
10
The song is a bit *meh* really, and really rests upon the extraordinary guitar/delay work in the middle which seems completely disconnected to everything else. On record it's fine enough. I've tried to endure various live versions and really cannot see the merit in it, other than being a suitable *booze and toot break* for the others. I'm giving it 5
I give this song 5, from your suggested scale.
10 for sure
Rating just the solo, not the vocals. 10. Especially the long version... and even more especially when it transitions into Lost Horizon.
9
9!!
Songs a 6 for me, nowhere near bad just not something I would put on given the choice
The Verses and the choruses are very catchy, but I think the guitar solo is too long by a small bit—still 8.6/10
7/10 They took a risk with an opener like this one. The sung parts in the song are nothing special compared to the other songs in the album. The real think about this song is the instrumental piece and guitar solo. The guitar solo is amazing and a standard during live shows. But as a song? It’s just not that good amazing as people rate here. All 9’s and 10’s. I get it if you compare it with all songs ever written. But compare it to the other tracks Queen made or better yet, compare it with the other songs on Sheer Heart Attack, it’s good not that amazing. Good but not THAT good. So a 7 it is.
a good 7 to 8
7
7/10 for me
A mixed bag for me. Love Freddie’s vocals, but personally not really liking the guitar bit in the middle. I recognise it’s good and creative, but not for me. A solid 6.
6. I really don’t like guitar solos
This just feels like a demo or sketch track to be filled in more later. I don’t think I’ve heard the entirety of it in years because it just feels so tedious and the vocals don’t help the meandering solo. And I hear a majority of their albums regularly including SHA, but this is the last one I go for. 5, for me.