As
Queen's second live album,
Live Magic might appear to be a bit unnecessary, but a closer look reveals that it's a better record than the previous
Live Killers. Culled from a variety of dates from the 1986
Kind of Magic tour but concentrating on the final show at Knebworth,
Live Magic captures
Queen, and
Freddie Mercury in particular, at the height of their powers. While the set list might rely a bit too heavily on mediocre mid-'80s material for some tastes, the band is tight and professional, and
Mercury has an undeniable hold over the crowd. It's to
Queen's credit that the energy rarely dips over the course of the record.
Live Magic may be designed for hardcore fans, but for those listeners, it will provide a number of highlights, proving that the band's remarkable performance at Live Aid was no fluke. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine