Album review: QUEEN + ADAM LAMBERT – Live Around The World

QUEEN + ADAM LAMBERT - Live Around the World

EMI [Release date 02.10.20]

Live Around The World presents a compilation of concert highlights captured the world over personally selected by Taylor, May and Lambert from over 200 shows they have performed and it is also the first release under the Queen + Adam Lambert banner.

The album covers concerts from Rock in Rio to the Isle of Wight Festival, Summer Sonic in Japan, and from one of their very last performances before lockdown, the Fire Fight Australia benefit show. At that show the band played their Live Aid set again in its entirety.

Despite being my all-time favourite band I never sadly got to see Queen with Freddie at the mic, however I did witness the excellent Freddie Mercury tribute concert and the Championship version of the band – Queen + Paul Rodgers (two great artists but sadly not magical when mixed together). As for Adam Lambert I hope to see him fronting Queen when live music fully returns (I am ever the optimist!) and until then can enjoy this live album.

He certainly goes full on camp at times and works the crowd with ease – the Japanese fans go wild on ‘Now I Am Here’ – and on ‘Don’t Stop Me Now.’ Adam Lambert doesn’t try to be Freddie vocal wise, however he makes ‘Somebody To Love’ his own and hearing that guitar solo, along with the gospel backing vocals is pretty special it has to be said.

It is not all the obvious hits though as pleasing to see ‘Tear It Up’ on the album, giving a chance for Brian May to show he still likes to riff out. ‘Love Kills’ allows Adam Lambert to show off his vocals – he is no shy, retiring type that’s for sure! Again, not an obvious choice for the live set.

Make sure you get the deluxe version of the album for the Fire Fight Australia benefit show, well worth the extra pennies.

Queen have released classic live albums (‘Live Killers’) and duffers (‘Live Magic’) and this latest official live release is more towards the former thank goodness.

I know some Queen fans won’t go near the current line-up which is their loss as it is great to see the band’s music still being peformed live. Queen are as popular as they have ever been and I am pretty sure Freddie would approve.

Review by Jason Ritchie

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