08-21-1980 – The Game – Washington Post

The new decade finds Queen floundering for an identity. With the number of the faithful diminishing, Queen has used this album to throw some different styles against the wall to see what sticks. Not much does. The title cut, “Save Me,” and “Sail Away Sweet Sister,” are within the usual Queen framework – operatic vocals (although these are minimal), extensive overdubs, and orchestration. “Coming Soon” and “Need Your Love Tonight” are Queen’s new wave entries, and both are frightfully boring. The group seems to think that new wave means adding organ riffs and toning down the solos. “Another One Bites the Dust,” a pseudo-disco tune, would have been more engaging had they

cut the middle section of solo drumming. “Dragon Attack,” “Rock It (Prime Jive),” and “Need Your Loving Tonight” are heavy metal/rock’n’roll efforts, none of which have any distinct passages to separate them from hundreds of other bands. “Crazy Little Thing Called Love,” a ’50s revival, is the album’s one fun number. Finally, “Don’t Try Suicide,” a combination of everything, is a complete show of stupidity. It has lead singer Freddie Mercury saying, “Don’t put your neck on the line/Don’t drown on me, babe/Blow your brains out/Don’t do that, yeah.” After five years of unchallenging, dismal albums, this was supposed to be Queen’s comeback. But no such luck.