Brian May

Best Musical Theatre soundtrack burning a hole in my CD player at the moment. You can't go past singing along to these fine tunes!

I bought this CD because I am a supporter of the amazing voices of both our beautiful Australian singer,Delta Goodrem and the equally amazing Leann Rimes and to hear their duet "For Good"...but i have fallen in love with the entire soundtrack.Do yourself a favour and buy it

When we saw Wicked for the first time , it was the day after it opened in NY. It was Halloween night in 2003. We had no idea what to expect. Seeing Idina Menzel As Elphaba, was a jaw dropping experience. We just couldn't wait for the cd to be released on Dec 16. Since then we have seen the show 4 more times, and have gone to every Wicked Day.
After hearing that a new cd was being released for it's fifth anniversary,
we were thrilled. Now that we've listened to it, a gazillion times, We can't wait for the tenth anniversary.
This is an amazing cd, hearing songs in Chinese and German is a thrill, and hearing the dance mix, just wants to make you ,ah, uhm, gee..........
defy gravity!!!!

I downloaded the new songs from iTunes since I already own the album and didn't want to have two copies. Also with the iPod I never really look at CD booklets anymore. I'll be talking about the new songs on Disc 2

1. "For Good" is a beautifully redone here with LeeAnn Rimes and Delta Goodrem. I've never heard of the latter singer but she sings very nice. I could hear this song on Adult Contemporary stations around the country. This version does not stray much from the original Broadway version.
2. "I'm Not That Girl" is sung by Kerry Ellis. This version is more "rocky" with a guitar and drum heard throughout. An extra line at the end of the song "I'm gonna pray that maybe someday I'll be that girl" I'm not sure how I feel about that. I suppose as a stand alone track it works, but in the musical, Elphaba does not believe her and Fiyero could be together at that point.
3. "Making Good" by Stephanie J Block the original Elphaba before she was let go and replaced by Idina, and then later rehired. This song is an early version of "The Wizard and I" (One of My Favs) in fact the last verse is almost exactly like "The Wizard and I." It's simply Stephanie and the piano. It's a great song and nice to hear what it originally came out as.
4. Tracks 4-7 are in other languanges, the music is exactly the same as the original cast CD
8. "Defying Gravity" is a remix is taken from a Maxi CD Single released by Idina Menzel, it's available here at Amazon (1 radio mix and 5 remixes!). The remix is nice, but Idina's vocals were re-recorded and in my opinion don't have as much oomph as the Broadway musical vocal. Also it does NOT feature the adorable Kristin. But if you want to dance this track is very danceable.

Can't wait til they make a movie of this wonderful Musical. I saw it in Chicago August 2006 and liked it so much I got a part-time job at the theater just so I could see it over and over and over again. For me Kristy Cates, Kristoffer Cusick and Stacie Morgan Lewis are THE cast of Wicked.

I just got i just opend itand now i am listening to it it is awsome i thought it would just have the original cast recording and the bonus songs with like one more picture or something it comes with a book full of pictures and the lyrics book from the origninal cd i am very happy with this it is wonderful

A wonderful eclectic compilation. A bold step for Luciano that works! Very easy listening.

the neville brothers don't belong here. they have fake voices that were made by marketing people. pavarotti has a voice trained over the years with tremendous preparation and hours and hours of classical training and lessons. it's like putting gary matthews jr. on a hitting show with ted williams. a big joke. but everyone else is great.

Pop stars with Opera singers, who would of thought. But it worls well. This CD is fun and has some wonderful proformances. Sting and Pav are very good together on Pania Angelicus. Sting is also good with Zucchero on Muoio Per TE. This CD sounds wonderful and is a must have for the fans of Pav, Sting, Kaas, May, Succhero, at all.

This is not what I expected. I only like "La donne mobile." My mom only liked "Caruso" and "Panis Angelicus." This is not like the second on or the one for Bosnia. Those rocked.

This is the first cd in the Pavarotti and Friends series which benefits charities. The wonderful thing about them, is the mix of genres. And this one is no exception. Listen to Sting sing with Pavarotti on the beautiful 'Panis Angelicus', and 'La Donna e Mobile'. Who would have thought of pairing those two together. But it works with breathtaking magic. Just look at the list of artists on this disc and the songs performed. There really is something for every taste. From operatic songs to rock. I love this series, and highly recommend them to all music lovers.

Pavarotti & Friends 2
and
The Pavarotti & Friends Collection: The Complete Concerts, 1992-2000 (Purchased on 03/21/2
I am perfectly satisfied with these articles, and i am rating it as 5 stars. thanks for the very good service from this seller

This album is a big tub of artifice not art. Brian Adams is awful and simply has no voice and probably has nodes on his vocal cords. Pavarotti obviously stands out because he chose the other singers and despite the enormity of his talent (benefit charity or not) offers up shlock. Gustafson has a nice voice, but shouldn't sing Moon River until she learns the words - her voice serves the classical genre better. As for Boceli; I would rather eat worms than listen to another of his tremulous renditions. Sorry, this is pure junk for the ears, regardless of its attempts to raise funds. It does not raise artistic standards!

O.k., I admit it, I bought this CD because I'm a die hard Andrea Bocelli fan, but I discovered I really love the variety of singers and the spontaneity and excitement of the live performance at the Parco Novi Sad in Modena. Particular favorites--Bryan Adam's "Please Forgive Me," Pavarotti and Giorgia's "Santa Lucia Luntana," and the ensemble singing of "Brindisi." The combination of voices and styles, the live
audience, and the knowledge that the event was performed for charity, all add up to a very enjoyable listening experience.

This is a fun CD with many great singers and a good one. Of Course Pavarotti is one of the greatest voices ever; and along with Bocelli, Nancy Gustafson and Giorgia this CD is filled with great singing and Brian Adams is a good singer. Its just fun to hear Adams singing O Sola Mio with Pavarotti; and its Fun to Hear Pavarotti sing Moon River All for Love, etc.,. Highlights are Santa Lucia Luntana with Pav and Gustafson, Who Wants To Live Forever with Giorgia, Notte 'e Piscatore with Pav and Bocelli, and the two encores with everyone singing (All For Love and Brindisi). The Production of the CD is excelent as well.

This is the 2nd in the 'Pavarotti and Friends' series of benefit concerts. Although there are not the large amount of "superstars" on this cd as later 'Friends' albums were to have, this is an excellent live recording, and I could and have listened to it many times. I don't understand the previous reviewers, but to each his own! This album also introduced me to the beautiful voice of Nancy Gustafson, and I definately want to check out her other work now. And who can resist the wonderful pairing of Pavarotti and Bryan Adams on "O Sole Mio". Worth the price in itself. One thing though .. I know this album and concert was done for charity, but nowhere in the booklet or cd cover does it say which charity is benefitting. The booklet includes lots of photos from the night. Recommended.

Beware of this CD. It is NOT the full concert!!! When I misplaced my DVD of this show, I decided to buy the DVD because I thought it would be as good but NO!!!!!! They left off 3 songs. Yep you heard me, 3 songs! And they were the best sounding on the DVD, which is what makes it even worse. I can't believe they would cut "Arabian Nights", "What A Wonderful World", and "Harem". WHY WHY WHY??????????? Whoever edited this should be fired. Buy the DVD, people, NOT the crappy CD.

This CD rocks! This is Sarah Brightman on her Harem World Tour, and this performance was recorded at her stop in Las Vegas. The first two tracks, "Kama Surta" and "Harem Overture" debut from her newest album, entitled HAREM. The two tracks are connected, but in the actual Harem Tour, the full piece "Harem" is sung. If you go to www.youtube.com and type in "Harem Tour" in the Search Bar, you can see live videos. I would prefer that the album has placed "Harem" instead of these other two tracks. The third track, "It's A Beautiful Day", is from Madame Butterfly, written by Puccini. This version is Brightman's twist, which some more pop and some English. It's pretty cool. The fourth track on the album, "Dust in the Wind" is from EDEN, an amazing album. Track 5 is, "Who Wants to Live Forever", and it seems as though Brightman never creates a tour without putting this piece in it. It's a beautiful tribute to Queen's rendition. Track Six is "Anytime, Anywhere", also from EDEN. I'm not really into the Foreign Language - English songs, but this works very well, especially because she ends the song with the classical foreign language. The seventh track is Brightman's rendition of Dvorak's "Song to the Moon", or "La Luna". The track is beautiful! The eighth track is Puccini's "Nessun Dorma", and Sarah masters this beautifully! There is no other soprano I know that can sing this piece one octave up and can hold the ending note for ever!!! Track 9 is "The War is Over", which is followed by "Free", both from HAREM. Track 11 is "A Whiter Shade of Pale", from LA LUNA. It's beautiful to listen to. Sarah's version is very gentle, but has a lot of energy in the chorus. The twelfth track on this album is "Twisted Every Way", followed by an instrumental version of "The Phantom of the Opera" Theme. The next track is "Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again", which is extended at the end, in which you hear some men cry out "WE LOVE YOU SARAH!", and she responds cutely with an, "I love you, too." The audience laughs! Track 14 is "Time to Say Goodbye", the duet that made Andrea Bocelli famous, and skyrocketed as the number one single sold in German history! The last live track on the album is "A Question of Honour", from "Fly", which is awesome! The last track on the album is a bonus track, which I don't really prefer. However, the whole album is simply amazing. I much prefer Sarah when she is live. She has a more magical quality! If you love Sarah Brightman, then you will love this album.

ALSO RECOMMENDED : Since there is so much Sarah Brightman to choose from, I also recommend EDEN, TIME TO SAY GOODBYE, LA LUNA, CLASSICS, and DIVA.

This CD rocks! This is Sarah Brightman on her Harem World Tour, and this performance was recorded at her stop in Las Vegas. The first two tracks, "Kama Surta" and "Harem Overture" debut from her newest album, entitled HAREM. The two tracks are connected, but in the actual Harem Tour, the full piece "Harem" is sung. If you go to www.youtube.com and type in "Harem Tour" in the Search Bar, you can see live videos. I would prefer that the album has placed "Harem" instead of these other two tracks. The third track, "It's A Beautiful Day", is from Madame Butterfly, written by Puccini. This version is Brightman's twist, which some more pop and some English. It's pretty cool. The fourth track on the album, "Dust in the Wind" is from EDEN, an amazing album. Track 5 is, "Who Wants to Live Forever", and it seems as though Brightman never creates a tour without putting this piece in it. It's a beautiful tribute to Queen's rendition. Track Six is "Anytime, Anywhere", also from EDEN. I'm not really into the Foreign Language - English songs, but this works very well, especially because she ends the song with the classical foreign language. The seventh track is Brightman's rendition of Dvorak's "Song to the Moon", or "La Luna". The track is beautiful! The eighth track is Puccini's "Nessun Dorma", and Sarah masters this beautifully! There is no other soprano I know that can sing this piece one octave up and can hold the ending note for ever!!! Track 9 is "The War is Over", which is followed by "Free", both from HAREM. Track 11 is "A Whiter Shade of Pale", from LA LUNA. It's beautiful to listen to. Sarah's version is very gentle, but has a lot of energy in the chorus. The twelfth track on this album is "Twisted Every Way", followed by an instrumental version of "The Phantom of the Opera" Theme. The next track is "Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again", which is extended at the end, in which you hear some men cry out "WE LOVE YOU SARAH!", and she responds cutely with an, "I love you, too." The audience laughs! Track 14 is "Time to Say Goodbye", the duet that made Andrea Bocelli famous, and skyrocketed as the number one single sold in German history! The last live track on the album is "A Question of Honour", from "Fly", which is awesome! The last track on the album is a bonus track, which I don't really prefer. However, the whole album is simply amazing. I much prefer Sarah when she is live. She has a more magical quality! If you love Sarah Brightman, then you will love this album.

ALSO RECOMMENDED : Since there is so much Sarah Brightman to choose from, I also recommend EDEN, TIME TO SAY GOODBYE, LA LUNA, CLASSICS, and DIVA.

What an album, absolutly beautiful!
We, the fans of this great artist finelly have in our hands a live album, and it's amazing:
-The voice is totaly live, she sang about 24 complete songs in the show, but the album only contains 15.
-Snow In The Sahara is a lovely song.

If you have the chase of get this alubum, don't doubt and get it; It wond disapoint you!

an impeccable concert experience that successfully elevates the album to majestic heights. I had long been a fan of Dead Can Dance and the unparalleled work of Lisa Gerrard. When Sarah Brightman ventured into these Middle Eastern sounds on the Harem disc, I thought it was too derivative of the Dead Can Dance sounds (there is even a sample used on one of SB's songs that had previously been used within DCD).

However, experiencing this epic and intensely mystical concert compelled me to realize the individual and unique glory of Sarah Brightman. Also, this concert is so phenomenally entertaining at many levels that I couldn't help but fall absolutely in love with the special magic of Sarah Brightman. Obviously, the expansive Middle Eastern milieu can accommodate more than one angelic vocalist!

I now consider Lisa Gerrard and Sarah Brightman to be geniuses who both warrant goddess status in the pantheon of lyrical greats. To see either one of them perform live is surely one of the most powerful and memorable sensory experiences one could ever have!

Something about this CD is really lacking. It was on the 2nd listen through when my son pointed it out to me. The music lacks the Queen drama and passion that it gets from the vocal performances. Its definitely an acceptable CD for background music, but for the sake of pure enjoyment of Queen, I thought it was very ho-hum.

I know that WOW is kind of a small word but this CD ROCKS! I have loved queen for years. I originally bought this CD for my 10 year old son who took up the violin this year and who loves queen as much as I do but it quickly became mine. I've heard some pretty bad imitations, remakes, and ripoffs. I can honestly say that this CD is none of the above.You get 10 of Queens best. 1) Killer Queen, 2) Bohemian Rhapsody, 3) We Are The Champions, 4) We WIll Rock You, which happens to be my favorite on this disk, 5)Fat Bottomed Girls, 6)Crazy Little Thing Called Love, 7) Somebody To Love, 8) Play The Game, 9) You're My Bext Friend, 10) Another One Bites The Dust. The only downside to this disk is that they left out about a hundred other songs. I sincerely hope that The String Quartet comes out with a volume 2, but why stop there. They could go on forever with just Queen Classics.
Do yourself a favor. If you like Queen and Classical Music BUY THIS CD. You won't be sorry.

Two words: Bohemian Rahpsody.

THey could have released a CD with only this song and I would have bought/borrowed/stolen it to get it. This song is definitely a highlight, but don't stop there, since the rest of the CD will make you want to play it over and over again.

If you've been thinking about buying a String Quartet Tribute, but don't know which to buy, I would buy this one, without a doubt.

Brian May is, of course, one of the greatest rock gutarists - This record took an extensive amount of time to be completed and you can notice that in every song.

There are records to play in background when a visit comes to your house, with that background music you can chat, eat, or whattever. - But there are some records to listen with plenty of attention, and this is one of them.

The poweful sound that Brian creates takes you into a real musical roallercoaster, as he does with Queen music.

This record it's a must have for the Queen and Brian's fans. But also, for general musical lovers, it's a true piece of genuine rock, with that Brian May trademark.

I had originally wrote this review on April 24, 2005 and decided to include it in my current profile.

This album has great songs all the way through, but has me wondering: "How come Brian May's solo career wasn't more successful?" Brian May was, after all, Queen's best musician. Yes, Freddie Mercury had the best voice and was the band's showman, Roger Taylor was a great drummer had a unique talent of hitting the high notes and John Deacon was a great bass player and wrote great songs (Queen was indeed a team). However, Brian May's guitar parts defined Queen's sound and he had a gift for making different sounds off his custom-made Red Special guitar that only he could come up with. "Dark" is a lullaby prelude "We will rock you, rock you, rock you," Brian sweetly sings before his guitar takes over and literally wakes you up. "Back to the Light" is the title track and sounds a little like "Play the Game." "Love Token" is a bluesy rocker, whose happy-go-lucky melody belies a tale of marital infidelity, followed by the spiritual rocker "Resurrection," which features the late Cozy Powell on drums. The best song is perhaps the melancholy "Too Much Love Will Kill You" (which Queen would actually record and include on Made In Heaven), followed by the minour hit "Driven by You" (it was actually used in an automobile advert in the UK). "Nothing But Blue" was written around the time Brian's musical partner Freddie was very ill near the final days of his life, and features John Deacon on bass. "I'm Scared" is a tongue in cheek rocker "I'm scared of finding myself, I'm scared of losing myself..." and the list of Brian's personal horrors goes on. "Last Horizon" is a beautiful sounding instrumental. "Let Your Heart Rule Your Head" is a laid back country-style song, much in the mold of "39" from A Night at the Opera. "Just One Life" is an ode to another person Brian admired. It all ends with the Small Faces' "Rolling Over" before Brian reprises the "We will rock you" intro to close it off. There is speculation that much of this album would have found itself on a Queen album, had Freddie been around at this time. The only clue Brian gives to that is a list of acknowledgements including "the sorely missed Freddie Mercury."

I have been looking for this CD for a long time. I used to have the cassette, but wore it out long ago. I saw Brian May open for Guns N Roses in 1993. He put on an awesome show and this CD was great. I have too have wondered why his solo career never took off. I guess it is all about radio and MTV. The songs on this album for the most part just rock. Great driving music.

Brian May is best known as the guitarist for Queen. After Freddie Mercury's death May decided to try his hand at a solo career. The result was this album. The album did not sell all that well, which is a pity because it is very good and I would think most Queen fans would really enjoy it. Similar to Queen, May's solo album is very eclectic with a wide range of musical styles represented. May's voice is certainly not in the same league as Mercury, but it is pleasant enough and fits the material well. As always his guitar playing is top notch. The majority of the album was written and performed with the late great Cozy Powell (Rainbow, ELP, Black Sabbath) on drums and his influence is all over this disc. May was going through a rough period in his life dealing with a divorce and the death of several people close to him (including Mercury). The lyrics reflect what he was going through at the time. Highlights include The Dark / Back To The Light, a bombastic rocker about loss and redemption. Resurrection is another crunching rock track. Driven By You was the single from the disc. Too Much Love Will Kill you is an incredible song especially in the wake of Mercury's death. Nothing But Blue is May's take on the blues. Let You're Heart Rule Your Head will remind you of 39 from Queen's Night At The Opera album. Just One Life is another melancholy track about loss. The album closes with a rocking cover of Rollin Over. There are a few weak spots on the disc, but overall I have always liked this one a lot. I would think just about anyone into Queen would also enjoy this disc.

Those who really know Brian May's music know that he has never been into pure shredding or full-throttle metal busting. He is an accomplished rock guitarist, sure, but also a true artist, an extraordinaire musician and a bright individual. So said, though he does deliberately play his guitar all along this release, he is always as concise-but-tasteful as about what soloing concerns - excepting the explosive "Resurrection", where May overplays as he rarely does. Certainly, all the songs here are guitar-enriched enough to please guitar freaks (like I am), but they are also listenable and enjoyable, from the thunderous "Back to the light" to the delicious "Love Token", the tender "Nothing But Blue" and the driving "Rolling Over".

Of course, his signature "wall of guitars" of thick harmonies is present all along the album, as well as his hard-rocking riffs and his unique, razor-sharp, singing lead tone. But as usually, his music is more about depth and songwriting than just plain "axe banging", the same than in any good Queen album - in its own right, of course. In fact, if this album was branded like another Queen album, I bet that only very few people would complain. Even the choirs remind Queen- they are so FAT in "Resurrection"! Ok, May never was a true frontman like Mercury was. His vocals are much softer than Mercury's, but he does a superb job on them anyway - including on his version of "Too much love will kill you" here, which is superbly interpreted IMHO. The lyricism, finesse and good taste Queen always had are equally present on this release, track after track. This truly rocks for good!

Thus, if true AOR had a flagship, perhaps it would be this album. "Back to the Light" simply is a soulful piece of art coming from a middle-aged artist, who is revealing many of his intimacies in the best way he is able to: just songs. All the arrangements are interesting, well-tempered, mature and sophisticated, as you would expect from a rock icon of May's calibre. What else do I have to say? A coherent masterwork, sober but with attitude, classy and musically clever, and all that without sacrificing power and ear friendliness at the same time. I say then to the artist: Mr. Brian May, thank you for this wonderful set of pieces. You've given me so many good moments in my life! And to the rest of you: you're missing something if you don't have this yet. No less than a five stars release, really. Go buy it now!

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.

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.

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 !

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.

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.

Not the original artists. Very weak versions of beloved songs by marginal to downright bad vocalists.

Lots of great and clear vocals. I was looking for a musical mix and this has a nice sampling of many major songs but also some more recent stuff. I haven't purchased an import before but I would do it again if the opportunity presented itself. It is somewhat annoying to have three cds when I think it could have fit onto two. Still, more than I have complaints, I have compliments about it.

Brian May is, of course, one of the greatest rock gutarists - This record took an extensive amount of time to be completed and you can notice that in every song.

There are records to play in background when a visit comes to your house, with that background music you can chat, eat, or whattever. - But there are some records to listen with plenty of attention, and this is one of them.

The poweful sound that Brian creates takes you into a real musical roallercoaster, as he does with Queen music.

This record it's a must have for the Queen and Brian's fans. But also, for general musical lovers, it's a true piece of genuine rock, with that Brian May trademark.

I had originally wrote this review on April 24, 2005 and decided to include it in my current profile.

This album has great songs all the way through, but has me wondering: "How come Brian May's solo career wasn't more successful?" Brian May was, after all, Queen's best musician. Yes, Freddie Mercury had the best voice and was the band's showman, Roger Taylor was a great drummer had a unique talent of hitting the high notes and John Deacon was a great bass player and wrote great songs (Queen was indeed a team). However, Brian May's guitar parts defined Queen's sound and he had a gift for making different sounds off his custom-made Red Special guitar that only he could come up with. "Dark" is a lullaby prelude "We will rock you, rock you, rock you," Brian sweetly sings before his guitar takes over and literally wakes you up. "Back to the Light" is the title track and sounds a little like "Play the Game." "Love Token" is a bluesy rocker, whose happy-go-lucky melody belies a tale of marital infidelity, followed by the spiritual rocker "Resurrection," which features the late Cozy Powell on drums. The best song is perhaps the melancholy "Too Much Love Will Kill You" (which Queen would actually record and include on Made In Heaven), followed by the minour hit "Driven by You" (it was actually used in an automobile advert in the UK). "Nothing But Blue" was written around the time Brian's musical partner Freddie was very ill near the final days of his life, and features John Deacon on bass. "I'm Scared" is a tongue in cheek rocker "I'm scared of finding myself, I'm scared of losing myself..." and the list of Brian's personal horrors goes on. "Last Horizon" is a beautiful sounding instrumental. "Let Your Heart Rule Your Head" is a laid back country-style song, much in the mold of "39" from A Night at the Opera. "Just One Life" is an ode to another person Brian admired. It all ends with the Small Faces' "Rolling Over" before Brian reprises the "We will rock you" intro to close it off. There is speculation that much of this album would have found itself on a Queen album, had Freddie been around at this time. The only clue Brian gives to that is a list of acknowledgements including "the sorely missed Freddie Mercury."

I have been looking for this CD for a long time. I used to have the cassette, but wore it out long ago. I saw Brian May open for Guns N Roses in 1993. He put on an awesome show and this CD was great. I have too have wondered why his solo career never took off. I guess it is all about radio and MTV. The songs on this album for the most part just rock. Great driving music.

Brian May is best known as the guitarist for Queen. After Freddie Mercury's death May decided to try his hand at a solo career. The result was this album. The album did not sell all that well, which is a pity because it is very good and I would think most Queen fans would really enjoy it. Similar to Queen, May's solo album is very eclectic with a wide range of musical styles represented. May's voice is certainly not in the same league as Mercury, but it is pleasant enough and fits the material well. As always his guitar playing is top notch. The majority of the album was written and performed with the late great Cozy Powell (Rainbow, ELP, Black Sabbath) on drums and his influence is all over this disc. May was going through a rough period in his life dealing with a divorce and the death of several people close to him (including Mercury). The lyrics reflect what he was going through at the time. Highlights include The Dark / Back To The Light, a bombastic rocker about loss and redemption. Resurrection is another crunching rock track. Driven By You was the single from the disc. Too Much Love Will Kill you is an incredible song especially in the wake of Mercury's death. Nothing But Blue is May's take on the blues. Let You're Heart Rule Your Head will remind you of 39 from Queen's Night At The Opera album. Just One Life is another melancholy track about loss. The album closes with a rocking cover of Rollin Over. There are a few weak spots on the disc, but overall I have always liked this one a lot. I would think just about anyone into Queen would also enjoy this disc.

Those who really know Brian May's music know that he has never been into pure shredding or full-throttle metal busting. He is an accomplished rock guitarist, sure, but also a true artist, an extraordinaire musician and a bright individual. So said, though he does deliberately play his guitar all along this release, he is always as concise-but-tasteful as about what soloing concerns - excepting the explosive "Resurrection", where May overplays as he rarely does. Certainly, all the songs here are guitar-enriched enough to please guitar freaks (like I am), but they are also listenable and enjoyable, from the thunderous "Back to the light" to the delicious "Love Token", the tender "Nothing But Blue" and the driving "Rolling Over".

Of course, his signature "wall of guitars" of thick harmonies is present all along the album, as well as his hard-rocking riffs and his unique, razor-sharp, singing lead tone. But as usually, his music is more about depth and songwriting than just plain "axe banging", the same than in any good Queen album - in its own right, of course. In fact, if this album was branded like another Queen album, I bet that only very few people would complain. Even the choirs remind Queen- they are so FAT in "Resurrection"! Ok, May never was a true frontman like Mercury was. His vocals are much softer than Mercury's, but he does a superb job on them anyway - including on his version of "Too much love will kill you" here, which is superbly interpreted IMHO. The lyricism, finesse and good taste Queen always had are equally present on this release, track after track. This truly rocks for good!

Thus, if true AOR had a flagship, perhaps it would be this album. "Back to the Light" simply is a soulful piece of art coming from a middle-aged artist, who is revealing many of his intimacies in the best way he is able to: just songs. All the arrangements are interesting, well-tempered, mature and sophisticated, as you would expect from a rock icon of May's calibre. What else do I have to say? A coherent masterwork, sober but with attitude, classy and musically clever, and all that without sacrificing power and ear friendliness at the same time. I say then to the artist: Mr. Brian May, thank you for this wonderful set of pieces. You've given me so many good moments in my life! And to the rest of you: you're missing something if you don't have this yet. No less than a five stars release, really. Go buy it now!

I love the score for this film. It's a somber, moody score that really captures the essence of the film. Had this film been released today, the music probably would've consisted of screeching guitars and whatever band of the week that's popular with the kids right now. The music here is more orchestral and fits the images of the post apocalyptic world that Max and his enemies inhabit perfectly. My favorite track by far is "Gyro Saves Max" and the "Montage/ Main Title", which should be mentioned also for starting out with the tanker chase music which any Mad Max fan will instantly recognize.

I would recommend this to anyone who appreciates a good film score or even someone who needs good music to write to. Great music for a great film.

In a movie of such limited dialogue (the star, Mel Gibson, has but a handful of lines) and much visual style, it's the musical score that provides such intensity to this thrilling film.

George Miller's relentless - grab you by the throat - style of filmmaking is perfectly complimented by Brian May's score. By turns haunting, driving, mournful (the finale of 'Marauder's Massacre,' taking place as the Gyro Pilot witnesses the senseless murder of a compound woman, speaks of the loss of humanity thru the mood of that piece) and always absolutely riveting. May used the sound effects musically in his score (witness the bullets echoing off the shield/cowcatcher in front of the gasoline truck in the finale chase, and how May added a triangle to keep up this beat during 'Breakout.') to wonderful effect.

Here's the real test of this score; buy the VHS or DVD, and play it WITHOUT LOOKING AT THE SCREEN. Read a book, or work on your computer and see how many times the music pulls you back to the screen, or increases your sense of anxiety or excitement just by listening to the score.

Sadly, Brian May is no longer with us, but we do have this score of his to remind us of what genius he had.

This is not Brian May of Queen fame - it's adifferent guy with the same name. Unfortunately, unlike actors, musicians can have the same name.

When Brian May conducted this score, he did something right. The music from the chase (what little there is of it) sounds intense as it was in the film. As much as I like the soudtrack as it is, I wish an exstended version would be released.