Why Queen is like pie.

I bought a pair of greatest hits Queen CD's a few months ago. (Specifically this and this, which appeared to be the wisest way to go after reviewing the comments on Amazon.) I wasn't previously a Queen fan but wanted to capture a few tracks that I liked and see what else they had to offer. I'm pleased though not inclined (yet) to seek out their individual albums.

As I am somewhat of the obsessive-compulsive type, after sucking the albums into iTunes I ordered the songs by release date rather than the haphazard way they were stretched across the two discs. Thus the playlist experience gives me a solid two-hour journey from "Keep Yourself Alive" to "The Show Must Go On".

Consuming the entire playlist in one go (which I may do while working in my office) brings to mind eating a slice of a really good double-crusted pie. For the sake of simplicity, let's pick my favorite: marionberry. This simile is clearly caused by my own musical tastes, so I will try to explain without engaging in rock criticism.

Queen's earliest songs are like the top crust of the pie- the first thing you likely encounter if you cut a piece off the tip and fork it into your mouth. It's wonderful and delicous, but not truly great. In the grand scheme of rock 'n roll I am not a big classic rock fan, but I do enjoy inventive guitar riffs and clever lyrics (ex., "Keep Yourself Alive", "Killer Queen").

Having consumed the thin, upper layer of Queen's earliest releases, then you hit the filling: "Bohemian Rhapsody", "We Will Rock You", "Bicycle Race", etc. Queen at their height of talent and popularity, and I shouldn't have to explain why it's awesome. A few of their lesser hits are like off notes in the filling, like the marionberries didn't get enough sugar, but it's still crazy delicious.

Finally you get to the back crust of the pie. It's a little too thick and dry. This is about 1986 for Queen, when their taste for dreamy synthesizers began, which conflicts with my musical palate. It feels a little too much like a synth-driven 80's pop band with big hair, white jackets, and a keytar. Not that it's awful, it's still good pie, but I don't enjoy it as much as Queen's earlier work. I listen to it because I feel obligated to clean up my dessert plate. Occasionally, though, there is a dribble of filling that I can swirl the crusty bits in that makes it better (ex., "I Want It All").

Pie is yummy. So is Queen.