Hey there! Remember us? We’re the pair of knuckleheads that started a cool new podcast series and haven’t produced a new episode since March. You can dry your eyes now, because we’re back.
For this episode of Plattters That Matter, we’re leaving the ’90s behind and digging deep into the catalog of one of rock’s greatest bands ever — Queen. Specifically, the Queen II album from 1974. It wasn’t a smashing success from a commercial standpoint, but it’s been held in rather high regard by devoted Queen fans and music lovers alike for decades. Axl Rose and Billy Corgan are just two of the musicians who have gone on record as loving this LP, so we’re in pretty good company. Well, we’re in company at any rate.
This album captures Queen at their loudest and most experimental. Many of the songwriting and production techniques employed on the record would be used again — sometimes to greater effect — on subsequent releases, but it was here that Queen started to show what they were capable of.
Side one of the record (the White Side) is dominated by Brian May, while the legendary Freddie Mercury takes over on side two (the Black side). Together the two halves form a dazzling whole, and one wonders how things would’ve turned out had Queen not opted for a poppier and more concise — but no less artistic — approach starting with their third record.
But we’re not here to gab about that. We’re here to gab about Queen II, as well as the Who, Iron Maiden, synthesizers on rock records, and the garbage fire that is now QueensrÁ¿che. So join co-hosts Chris Holmes and Dw. Dunphy as they demonstrate why Queen II is a platter that matters.
Platters That Matter, Episode 4: Queen — Queen II (1:02:19, 57.0 MB)
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