Never Boring

Arriving in the wake of the success of the 2018 Queen biopic Bohemian Rhapsody, 2019s immaculately produced box set Never Boring showcases the solo work of lead singer Freddie Mercury. Though he only ever released one proper solo album outside of Queen, 1985s Mr. Bad Guy, Mercury did record enough individual material throughout his storied career to fill the three discs that make up this collection. Included are an 11-track special edition of Mr. Bad Guy, a nine-track edition of 1988s Barcelona -- his orchestral collaboration with opera diva Montserrat Caballe -- and a compilation disc that brings together a handful of errant solo performances, including his 1987 cover single of the Platters The Great Pretender. Also included are a Blu-ray/DVD with music videos and live performances, as well as a gorgeous hardcover book with pictures and quotes from Mercury, and a foreword by actor Rami Malek, who portrayed him in Bohemian Rhapsody. There is much to appreciate here, including Mr. Bad Guy singles like 1979s Giorgio Moroder-produced disco track Love Kills, not to mention the powerful ballad Made in Heaven and the driving synth anthem I Was Born to Love You, both of which were later reworked by Queen along with the remainder of Mercurys previously unused Queen recordings for inclusion on their final studio album, 1995s Made in Heaven. The orchestral Barcelona alone (presented here in its reworked 2012 edition) is one of the most vibrant and moving collaborations between two absolute superstars youll ever hear. The bonus DVD also offers some nice additions, including several of the live La Nit performances that Mercury and Caballe gave in 1988, all of Mercurys music videos, as well as his 1986 interview for Time magazine with Dave Clark. Never Boring is a loving tribute to Mercury, spotlighting his diverse solo work, and presenting it all in illustrious fashion. ~ Matt Collar