Brian May - Another World

1998 solo album for EMI by Queen's guitarist on a limited edition picture disc. 12 tracks, including the singles 'The Business' and 'On My Way Up'. The album is a tribute to May's late friend/ legendary drummer Cozy Powell. Album Description

Pure R&R

I think - like almost all Queen fans- Brian is a very underrated guitarist. Yes, there are geniuses like Vai and Satriani, let alone Petrucci and Malmsteen, but Brian is definitely one of the best. His guitar can get every feeling you can think of and he can make his own the other people's techniques; just listen to Cyborg... that tapping just takes you into space!
I first heard of this album late in 1998 after a review on the web and could only get it by downloading it. I spent almost 9 years trying to find this CD until I could finally find it in a recordstore last year(damn, how difficult this stuff is to find! but it just makes it more appreciable).
The album begins with "Space", a lullaby which acts like an intro for the album and then "Business" begins slowly but hard, a good song used for a T.V. show in Britain, I heard. Good lyrics and guitar work and hey, it's Cozy on the drums! Next track is "China Belle", which begins with a chinese-like guitar melody in the best May stile. A funny song for banging your head and jumping around your stereo set. "Why don't We Try Again", a very emotional ballad comes next, ideal if you are sad and want to blow your brains out. The next song, "On My Way Up" is for me the weak point of the album; a happy song not unheardable at all that some can find enjoyable. After this two rather soft songs comes "Cyborg", a song with a style I can not define, but still rocker, very rocker. Taylor Hawkins from Foo Fighters does a great job on the drums in this song. Check out the tapping. Jeff Becks appears in the next track, "The Guv'nor", a song May intentionally wrote to be played by Becks. Not too great though, given the size of the two guitarists, but still good. "Wilderness" is a strange ballad with a great guitar solo. You can hear sadness and emotion in it. Very good song. Here comes the cover section in which Brain pays tribute to very old classics. The first is "Slow Down" a Rock N' Roller by Larry Williams that I first heard in The Beatles version. Excellent version that, as few, can be said to be better than the original one; Brian's guitar is superb and hard in this one. Next is "One Rainy Wish" a Hendrix's song with a supernatural vibe at the beginning, as only a song by Hendrix could be, but after that, the hardness comes in a great work by Brian and Cozy, giving it a different point of view. "All the Way from Memphis" is kind of a "thank you" to Mott The Hoople, the first band Queen toured with in a decent tour in Europe and The USA. A funny and enjoyable song. The last track gives the name to the album. A sweet love ballad with a great vocal performance by Brian - sustained during the whole album - and an acoustical guitar solo, not of Brian's best, a very emotional ending to a great album, followed by a piano solo after one minute you think the song finished that I must confess, as I'm writing this, is the first time I hear it.
All in all, very recommendable for rock fans and of course, Queen fans. June 28, 2008

More wonderfulness, please.

This is must-have stuff for any Queen fan. Brian rocks his heart out, holds nothing back. His cover of Hendrix's "One Rainy Wish" is just phenomenal. March 11, 2007

Brian May's Most Dynamic CD To Date !

Queen's guitar virtuoso, Brian May, fuses blues, rock, heavy metal and beautiful songs on this incredible CD. Songs such as "Wilderness" "Space" "Business" and the yearning ballad " Another World" combine to make the record an eclectic masterpiece. Brian May's guitar hero Jeff Beck makes a guest apperance on "The Guv'nor". Cozy Powell's drums are stellar throughout the entire CD. May's guitar work is impeccable and his vocals are VERY good ! A bonus track version of "Another World" has a great instrumental "F.B.I." Brian May is a riff master, a scientist, an astronomer, an author and an ardent animal rights activist. He is a humane mind of a higher order ! THank God ! October 21, 2006

Yer gonna love "The |Guvnor"

May and Beck have a mutual admiration society. I read that they call each other "The Guvnor." (brit slang for "Boss")

I thought China Belle would have made a great single. Why hasn't Brian gotten the promotion he deserves?

Loved the cover art.

I only got this yesterday and it's been on a 24 hr. loop so far chez moi.



July 17, 2006

Good job Brian!

An excellent compilation of songs with interesting vocals and a range of guitars.
Apart from his "Red Special" Brian plays Ibanez in "Nothin' but blue". The 'commercial song' "Driven by you" will wake you up while "Too much love" is pure masterpiece, sounds even more dramatic than Freddie's version!

"Last horison" on the other hand, is a nice, calm guitar solo....Brilliant! For more unique licks and a beautiful ending I recommend "Furia" by Dr May. June 28, 2006

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