Customer Reviews

Happiness

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

If you're browsing for a Roger Taylor CD, choose one of the other 3 - this is the worst of the bunch. Mind you, it still has moments of breathtaking quality, so my score of 3 stars is reflective of Roger's general standard being missed.

So what do we have here?

Originating from 1994, this has always felt like an unfinished album to me - too many of the songs seem like demos; ideas not quite fully formed. Take the title track for example - a couple of verses, a couple of choruses, and then it dies away as if noone could come up with an outro. The same applies to Loneliness, Everybody Hurts Sometime, and You Had To Be There - all nice enough songs, but with more potential than delivery. It's not as if Roger Taylor has to rush to finish records in order to make the lucrative Christmas release dates...

He's always been at his best when he writes with a little passion, especially in his solo work, and there are some great examples here. Dear Mr Murdoch, an extremely well written diatribe against a certain Australian media mogul, and Old Friends, a track for the (then) recently deceased Freddie Mercury both come across well. The exception to this is the first track, also bizarrely chosen as a single, Nazis 1994. Consisting almost entirely of drums and vocals, this is the most political song in Roger's history, and one of the worst too. In case you're wondering, it's anti-Nazi, which is probably the nicest thing I can say about it.

The high point, though, is the magnificent Foreign Sand which is easily worth a whole star on it's own. OK, it's a little overblown - but he was in Queen for 20 years...

It's actually a collaboration with a Japanese star by the name of Yoshiki, who contributes drums & piano to the track. 7 minutes of world peace, brotherhood, and mutual respect, all in the loveliest of epic ballad melodies (if Jim Steinman could write tasteful lyrics and was more restrained, this is what you'd get).

So should you buy this? Make sure you're heard another Roger Taylor album first, because if this is your first one, you might not buy another and that would be a shame.

I was so pleased when I heard this CD. It shows a gentle side to Roger, sweet warm songs. The song "Old Friends in Better Times" a tribute to Freddie Mercury, is hauntingly beautiful. An Excellent CD. This CD shows Roger's versatility. A nice break from his hard rock CD's (which are gereat also).5 stars for this one. Way to go Roger!

This CD was my first solo CD by Roger Taylor. And what a pleasant surprise it was. The distinct voice of Roger really comes alive. It is also one of the better produced CD's I've heard. It's really a CD that visits my cd-player on a regular basis. Musicaly divers and musical craftmanship are words that come to mind. I will not compare this CD to others (esp. by Queen). It's unique. Try this CD and judge for yourself.

This is Taylor's third solo album, and overall is highly polished. What is lacking is consistant good song writing. He starts off wisely with the best four cuts, but then slips into a meandering, almost meditative, dreamy musical slow waltz until Track 11: "Dear Mr. Muroch". The production ends with the sentimental "Old Friends". While it is true that this is his first album since the demise of Queen, I feel it is more relevant to point out that it is his first solo LP since the demise of The Cross. His three albums with this adjunct group (while still in Queen), were, in my opinion, by far and away his best work outside of Queen- tapping his true talent for upbeat rock. Taylor in his solo albums consistantly abandons this strength. My only explanation is that he feels some need to be thoughtful and wise. With The Cross, the other musicians were given a say in matters, being far more than studio rentals. This situation, like with Queen, seems to be the fuel and external feedback that Taylor lacks in his solo efforts. My advice for Mr. Taylor is to get a rock band together and foot the bill if necessary to keep it alive until it catches on.

While this album does have a couple of shining moments, it's very weak overall. The lyrics are often cliche and the music doesn't have the muscle or edge that the two preceding solo efforts had.

When you listened to the first two solo albums you felt that you were listening to something inspired. This album has no real focus and the music doesn't keep my interest.

This order came much quicker than promised and in very good condition. Since I could not get it new (I think it is out of circulation since it is a cd from 1992), it was great to find it used and in very good condition.

I'm "happy" to get Happiness?

Roger Taylor's solo material is always interesting and different, and this CD is no exception.

Happiness? was released a few years after the death of Freddie Mercury and it is very obvious. Most, if not all, of the songs are very introspective and slower tempo than other RT solo albums. That is not, however, a completely bad thing.

A trademark of RT's solo work is typically flashes of brilliance tempered with some awkward moments (with the flashes of brilliance, in my opinion, winning out in the end). While this album doesn't have any "stand out" tracks (i.e. Man on Fire/Strange Frontier from the Strange Frontier album and Pressure On/Nation of Haircuts from Electric Fire), it also doesn't have low points (i.e. Racing in the Streets/Abandonfire from Strange Frontier and The Whisperers/Working Class Hero from Electric Fire) that tend to plague RT's solo work.

That said, it isn't surprising that RT's three biggest hits are on this album (Nazis 1994, Foreign Sand, and Happiness). These are three solid tracks. RT's voice sounds great on all three tracks (especially on Foreign Sand) and in three completely different styles. Revelations is probably the most uptempo song of the album and is reminiscent of RT's great work on Strange Frontier. Key, Touch the Sky, Loneliness..., and Dear Mr. Murdoch are all equally strong and to his credit RT really restrains himself from using a lot of the studio effects of which he is so fond (though he nearly ruins Touch the Sky with the laughing effects). Old Friends is a great tribute to Freddie Mercury and a very sweet way to end the album.

I wouldn't recommend that someone buy this album as a first time listener of RT's stuff (for that, I'd say go with Electric Fire as his songwriting has improved with age), but once you appreciate Electric Fire, this is a great album to check out.

Roger Taylor is a great performer and songwiter, his unique voice and kind of singing make the best in this songs, I think isn't his best work, I do like most "Fun in Space", or "Electric Fire", but the Roger Taylor signature is definitly in here. The 12th track, "Old Friends" is simply beautiful, and directly dedicated for Freddie. if you like this genius go for it and buy it

I have had this CD since it was first released in the UK. I have listened to it thousands of times. It is a very melodic and softer side to RMT's musical compositions. It is an extremely good CD and again showcases how much range RMT has as a song writer and performer. I absolutely love this CD.