Originally published by L.S. Media. June 29th 2011.

The start of the 1980’s saw Queen return to recording and publishing music after what seemed an eternity for them without an album to showcase for their fans. A lot had happened in the intervening period, a change of Government, Punk icon Sid Vicious had died and disco for a short while reigned supreme in the charts and in cinemas.

The Game, like its predecessor seemed to be moving away from the early Queen anthems of Prog, Rock, mock operatic feel as the songs became tighter, polished in its shortened length and a world away from songs such as 39, You’re my Best Friend and Bohemian Rhapsody. Every group must evolve, change and become greater, if possible, than the sum of their parts. In The Game however the band seem to go their separate ways with John Deacon once more supplying the driving force with the electrifying and pulsating Another One Bites the Dust which was a sharp reminder of the bands heyday.

The Game opens up with the sweet and tantalising prospect of Play the Game. This opening track heralded the bands acceptance of electronics, a sharp reverse of the band’s famous and often quoted “No Synth” rule. Play the Game and Crazy Little Thing Called Love lived up to the Freddie signature tune that he had become so adept at writing but in a departure from the norm, his song Don’t Try Suicide is a song that could well have been left off the album, not for its subject matter but for the unnatural feel and lack of true cohesion with the rest of the album.

Bryan May as ever pulled out all the stops and produced to the band three differing types of music but each with their own distinct flavour and musical know how. Dragon Attack is a wonderful throw back to times past and is effective as a piece of music and is hard, punchy and tight, whereas Sail Away Sweet Sister languishes in its poetic and plays delightfully to the listeners ears whilst lulling them into a false sense of musical security before the brash and anthem like Save Me.

The Game was the latest in a long line of albums that topped the British charts but notably and crucially it reached the top of the American charts. To some it would also be the last great Queen album for four years.

The Game shows the band off well but always at the back of the mind is how they seem to have unglued as a unit whilst remaining, for the time being, at the top of their game.

Ian D. Hall