Queen [ tickets ] was a weird band. They loved out-of-nowhere tempo changes and crazy key changes, opera and disco, epic ballads and ballsy hard rock. No surprise, then, that "Killer Queen: A Tribute to Queen" provides plenty of ammo for both lovers and haters of the legendary quartet.

Surely, there was no need to include two versions of "Bohemian Rhapsody" here--one from the cast of "We Will Rock You," another from The Flaming Lips [ tickets ]. Overall, though, the cuts chosen do justice to the group's broad range. Some of these covers are loyal to the originals, like Shinedown [ tickets ]'s take on the meaty "Tie Your Mother Down," while others stray far from their seed--the weak-kneed "Under Pressure," from Joss Stone [ tickets ], for one.

"We Are the Champions," by blue-eyed soul singer Gavin DeGraw [ tickets ], reveals elements of the song even Queen's version missed. It's earnest and proud, but mournful, too. Meanwhile, Sum 41 rocks out on "Killer Queen," capturing both the song's flair and flash.

But not all these covers are great. Jon Brion's "Play the Game" and "Bicycle Race," from "Be Your Own Pet," are both about as exciting as a Brian May solo album.

"Killer Queen: A Tribute to Queen" is excessive, passionate, quirky, epic and annoying ... exactly like the band it honors. In that way, it's a perfect tribute album.