Not to be confused with 1981's {|Greatest Hits|}, 1992's {|Classic Queen|}, or 1992's reissue of 1981's {|Greatest Hits|}, 2004's {|Greatest Hits|} is a superb 20-track sampler of {|Queen|}'s best, eclipsing all of the aforementioned packages. Except... Read more

Not to be confused with 1981's {|Greatest Hits|}, 1992's {|Classic Queen|}, or 1992's reissue of 1981's {|Greatest Hits|}, 2004's {|Greatest Hits|} is a superb 20-track sampler of {|Queen|}'s best, eclipsing all of the aforementioned packages. Excepting their late-career singles, this set spans the British group's tenure, from 1974's Seven Seas of Rhye to a 1984 live performance of Under Pressure. In between are a host of the ambitious, distinctive, and often brilliant songs on which {|Queen|} built their name. The multi-part Bohemian Rhapsody, with its lilting melodies, layered operatic vocals, studio trickery, and heavy metal breakdowns, epitomizes the group's recombinant aesthetic and cheeky flair. The spare, disco-funk of Another One Bites the Dust and the breezy, music hall-like Killer Queen should be familiar to anyone within earshot of a radio in the '70s and '80s. The givens -- the camp-rockabilly Crazy Little Thing Called Love and perennial stadium anthems We Will Rock You and We Are the Champions -- are here, but surprises like the exuberant Don't Stop Me Now give a well-rounded perspective on the band. With {|Brian May|}'s unique guitar sound and {|Freddie Mercury|}'s brash, personality-filled vocal performances, {|Queen|} was one of the most original and popular acts in rock history, and {|Greatest Hits|} brings the group's peak moments together on one remarkable disc. ~ Anthony Tognazzini Less