Queen + Paul Rodgers - The Cosmos Rocks

Tracks on the new Queen + Paul Rodgers album are all newly written by May, Taylor and Rodgers during the late 2007/ early 2008 recording sessions. `Say It's Not True', previously released at the end of last year by Queen + Paul Rodgers as a special World Aids Day download for Nelson Mandela's 46664 HIV AIDS charity will be included, plus a `first' for a Queen album - a cover version. Album Description

BOTTOM LINE

PAUL RODGERS IS ONE OF THE FINEST LEAD VOCALISTS IN ROCK MUSIC. BRIAN MAY IS A BONEFIDE GUITAR ICON. hOWEVER, IF YOUR EXPECTING ANYTHING LIKE VINTAGE QUEEN YOU WON'T FIND IT IN THIS PROJECT. November 28, 2008

Bad Company

I was always able to appreciate the enormous and indisputable talent of Queen. However, they were never really my cup of tea. Bad Company w/Paul Rodgers however is one of my all time favorite bands. I never owned a Queen album and never owned a Bad Company album without Paul Rodgers.

Combining Queen's virtuosity with the likes of Paul Rodgers actually makes sense after hearing the result. This CD to me is heavily flavored with Paul's (Bad Company) influence and Paul finally has the band to equal his level of vocal perfection and writing skill.

Rarely do the remains of two magnificent bands come together and hit a grand slam like this. November 28, 2008

Not the disaster it could have been, but this is not a Queen album

What would motivate the two remaining members of Queen (Brian May, Roger Taylor) to record a new album under the "Queen" moniker some 17 years after the passing away of lead singer Freddie Mercury? (Original bassist John Deacon passed on continuing.) They recruited Paul Rodgers (of Free and Bad Company) to be the new lead singer, a curious choice, given the stark differences in vocals and theatricals with the late Freddie Mercury, and after a live tour in 2005, they now come again, with new studio material. Let me state upfront that I was highly skeptical.

"The Cosmos Rocks" (14 tracks, 59 min.) starts off with a terrible "Cosmos Rocking", wanting/trying to prove that the band is a happening, partying band. But things get much better with the hard-charging and romping "Time to Shine" and "Still Burning", which to me sound like Bad Company-era tracks, but they works quite nicely. The album really falters with ballads like "We Believe" and "Some Things That Glitter" (with the horrible opening line "Once I believed in butterflies"). But then "C-lebrity" is a nice surprise, rocking hard.

In all, this is not the disaster it could've been, but that's not saying much. For one, the album would've been hugely helped if the running time was toned down to, say, about 40 min., weeding out the worst 4 or 5 tracks. But my biggest beef is that this is not a Queen album, period. It is an ensemble piece of 3 guys, 2 of whom used to be in Queen, and the other in Bad Company. There are some nice tracks on here, but to release this as a "Queen" is a disservice to the fine legacy of that vintage band (which doesn't sound anything like this album, incidentally). November 27, 2008

Just dont call it Queen

Call me a purist but I love things the way they are. Queen died when Freddy did ( God rest his soul). I think the stuff Queen did in their hey dey, is classic and is what rock bands today should look up to. However to call the band Queen is a crime. Nothing against Paul Rodgers, hes amazing. Hes one of the best vocalists out there. Ive admired him with Free, Bad Company, The Firm, and even The Law. Hes top notch and he has my repect.Roger Taylor has always been one of my favorite drummers and hes as good as ever on here. He also co-writes all of the songs. I just have a problem with Brian calling this outfit Queen. I wish he wouldnt do it.
On the flip side . This album is great. Its what classic rock n roll purists crave for. Brian is at his best, the backing vocals are amazing and of course Pauls vocals are as good as ever. Getting the band in the studio was a brilliant idea. I hope this isnt a one shot album and i hope the boys plan on making more. The songs to down load are .... C- lebrity.Say its not true. Warboys. Surfs up... and Voodoo. If your a Classic rock fan. Buy this album . Its a great one. I cant wait to hear them live.If you spend the dollar more theres also a deluxe version which features the boys from their last concert. November 25, 2008

Save your money

Paul Rogers doesn't cut it! Freddie was the King, the King is dead, may he rest in Peace. There is a reason why it has been so long since Queen released any material with Paul Rogers, he SUCKS. His work in earlier bands was pretty good. He is so out-classed it is actually sad hearing him try to fill the huge void Freddie left behind. November 23, 2008

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