As a Queen fan, I had open arms for Hot Space and liked it for what it was. Since it was done by one of my favorite bands and I know the rocky history of this project, but I just throw up my arms and had fun with it because I love this band so much. But time had to set in and over time Hot Space had to face a challenge that all albums have to face at some point, can it stand the musical test of time and the music gods took one look and said...sorry.
In a another universe, Hot Space might of have become the dance record it wanted to be, but due to whatever the problems the band was going through at the time, Hot Space ends up being a mix-up contrived project and from a band that knows better. I'm not saying that the group couldn't and shouldn't have made a straight-up dance record, but this was made from a band that wasn't being themselves and where probably being cultural pressured at the time.
When it comes to the dance/funk style...Queen gets it and we heard parts of it before in past work, With Hot Space they understand the style, but they don't know how to construct and deliver in a full dance/funk form. If there's one thing that Queen ain't, that is being James Brown or the Bee Gees. With there last album The Game, the band sure did know how to make a full-fledged pop album, so the odd question that comes to mind is "why not repeat the same type of groove wining style that brought you here in the first place' ? I might be asking for a Game 2 by saying this but The Game kept the band both rocky and funky and in the end they won. It's too bad that songs like "My baby dose me" and "The Invisible man" from The Miracle where not made before Hot Space, since they would have been good blueprints for the real calling card of this album, that of the rock/dance style. In my mind, there's only two songs that really get the funk feel, is Body Language & Cool Cat.
The other flaw that makes the album feel out of wack is the type of rock/pop songs that are put on the album.
Take "Put out the fire " or "Life is real", the way they are constructed sound so awkward for a rock and pop song and it makes them even more awkward being on a album like Hot Space, with the exception of "Las Palabras" and "Under Pressure", the non-dance songs are not well thought-up enough to be any good on there own. Some will point out the self-indulgent factor and two members of the band as reasons for making these rock cuts end up on the album, but keeping in mind the kind of album that wanted to be made in mind and keeping out anything influence from The Game, makes you understand my meaning of "mixed-up contrived record".
With all it's flaws, more then anything Hot Space ended up being a wake-up call for the band and making them the rock band that there where before. Plus I will agree with others when fans say that Hot Space's song sounded better live then on the album. I could see the potential in Queen to make a record that would make you dance, but in this case they went down the wrong road. There not a "jump and jive to the ground" kind of band, there a "shake, rattle and roll" band. But no matter what, Hot Space is a footnote in the band's history and could been seen as a good album if it was done right.
I would put this album last when it comes to my list as a fan, but I can't since there's another Queen album that's just as wack as Hot Space.
If only the "Invisible man" had a hand in this project....
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