Queensr?che - Operation: Mindcrime II
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Free Music Notes for Operation: Mindcrime II
Free Music Review: part two
Hit: 5 Stars
got to give them an A for effort on this one. while not quite as good as the first one(could it be because we know it all by heart),it's better than anything they've done since EMPIRE.maybe time will be as good to part 2 as it has been to the original.Free Music Review: Queensryche - Best Album Since Promised Land
Hit: 4 Stars
In 1988 Queensryche released the album "Operation Mindcrime" which many fans of progressive metal consider one of the genre's all time classic releases. The album was both a critical and commercial success that gained the band a large following that would continue for the next decade. Over the ensuing years however Queensryche albums have sold less and less and the band has gone from headlining arenas back to playing small theaters and large clubs. For many fans the albums released in the late 90's and early 00's have not measured up to the band's earlier material. The original "Mindcrime" album was a concept piece that told a story of the main character, Jimmy, a junkie who is recruited by the mysterious Dr. X to carry out dirty deeds for a seedy underground organization. The album played like a movie script and worked on just about every level. In 2006 the band decided to revisit the story and created this sequel "Operation Mindcrime II". The album basically picks up 20 years later with the main character getting out of jail seeking revenge on the man who killed his love interest in the first album. The musical style harkens back to the 80's in many ways, but remains modern and focused. The return of plenty of twin lead guitar shredding was a welcome sound to many of Queensryche's fans frustrated by the more riff oriented tone of the band's more recent works. Special guests Ronnie James Dio (as Dr. X) and a return appearance by Pamela Moore (Sister Mary) ad a special flair to the album. So, is it as good as the original or even a good album at all? The answer is a bit of a mixed bag. No, I don't think this album is as good as the first Mindcrime disc, but I think this is the best album the band has done since "Promised Land" back in the early 90's. As mentioned earlier it is really nice to hear some twin lead guitar shredding back in the mix, and Scott Rockenfield on drums and Eddie Jackson on bass sound as solid as ever. Geoff Tate's proves that he is still one of the best in the business and his duet with Ronnie James Dio on "The Chase" is a legendary pairing of two of the genres all time greats. For the most part the story is solid, and the lyrics are good. There is really a lot to like on this disc, but the overall presentation is not quite up to the level of the original in my opinion. Still, taken as a stand alone album I think this one is a very nice addition to the Queensryche catalogue and serves as a reminder of just what this band is capable of when they put their minds to it.Free Music Review: Oh well!
Hit: 3 Stars
Mindcrime I was my first exposure to Queensryche and it just blew me away. The operatic, theme based, progressive rock nature of the album, and the way the musical pieces flowed seamlessly from one to the other without repeating, along the brilliant musicianship announced Queensryche to the world in an explosion of high critical acclaim. The seeds of greatness were revealed to all who experienced that breakthrough album. Then "Empire" was released and here was a band of unlimited potential. Then Promised Land, then Frontier, then Q2k, then ..., and "where did you go Queensryche? I hardly knew yee!"
Mindcrime II is an attempt by the band to recall the golden era of "OM I", and it falls short in its delivery. The consistency and flow of "OM I", is sadly missing on Mindcrime II. If this CD was issued under another name than Queenryche, it would be a decent album, but the expectation, (my expectation?), was to hear a groundbreaking release worthy of being stamped with the Mindcrime legacy. I pre-ordered, and received the CD, and I have been listening to it, constantly at first, then off and on as time passes, and I can't get a handle on this CD. It doesn't bust down the door to open, nor fall into a middle groove, and dejectedly, does not ascend the heights of rock-dom for a grand conclusion! It's just what it is, and nothing more. There's nothing there to inspire or hold your attention for the whole CD. The end sequence just falls off the table.
I know we all called for a sequel to "OM I", but you don't always get what you wish for. For some reason Queensryche is a band that demands the loyalty of a following, myself included, and we always look forward to the next release, knowing that there is another brilliant CD there in the wings, waiting to bust out. I'm still waiting, hoping and still buying everything Queenryche does, and that's the tragedy of reaching the mountaintop, as there is only one other way to go from there. Maybe I shouldn't be comparing it to "OM I", but I can't help it since it bears the "Mindcrime" stamp. And that's all I have to say...
Free Music Review: Return to Form
Hit: 4 Stars
The sheer volume of 1, 2, and 3 star reviews on this album is just appalling. O:M2 is a fantastic record, which only JUST falls short of the greatness of it's predecessor.
As a major fan of the original O:M album, you can't imagine my excitement when O:M2 was announced *18 years* after the original. I'm a casual Queensryche fan, much preferring their 80s material to everything that came later. They really kind of lost their way starting with Empire IMO. Because of this I was a little worried what O:M2 would sound like. I can safely say those fears were unfounded.
The album builds up quickly much in the same manner as the original, beginning with an instrumental piece before hitting you hard and fast with the radio-friendly "I'm American." This song in particular embodies exactly what I love about O:M2-- Queensryche was somehow able to capture the elements that made their 80s music so good, and yet make the tunes sound fresh, current, not cliched. The track is so good in fact, the following two songs seem a little lackluster in comparison. Make no mistake however, both are better than anything the band has put it in the 18 year interim, but when compared with the rest of the material here it's apparent they are the "weak link." The album really starts moving with "The Hands," a song that makes you double-check to see if you're not listening to the original O:M. From here, the album grips you and just builds up and up and up.... And when you think it can build no more, it proves you wrong. "Speed of Light" ebbs, while "All the Signs Say Go" flows, both building to the fantastic "Re-Arrange You," possibly the best track of the album. Things don't stop there however, as each progressive song just seems to be better than the last. All the while, the wailing guitars and drums are augmented by a supporting Michael Kamen-esque orchestration.
It's really tough to pick standout tracks on O:M2, as almost every single song is THAT GOOD. One thing I feel O:M2 does better than it's predecessor is create a unique atmosphere for each track, yet still have them flow perfectly together. I felt on the first record, some of the songs sounded a little too similar ("I Don't Believe in Love" and "Breaking the Silence" for example) to each other.
O:M2 packs just as many wailing guitars as part 1, but I feel the production here is better and the band has aged like wine in their playing style. Same goes for Geoff Tate's wonderfully versatile voice. He touches on many more vocal styles here than on part 1.
O:M2's weakpoint is unarguably the storyline. Luckily this has no effect on the performance of the band, the quality of the music, or the atmosphere of the record. You can listen to O:M2 casually and pay no attention to the storyline at all, still, I feel the story is part of the fun and that is the sole reason O:M2 isn't a five-star album.
O:M2 is a four-and-a-half-star album in my opinion, but Amazon doesn't allow for that kind of rating so we'll settle with four. O:M1, by comparison would be a five-star record. O:M2 triumphantly succeeds at sounding new, fresh, innovative while at the same time managing to embody almost all the aspects that made the original so great. Pamela Moore reprises her vocal role as Mary on certain tracks, and there is even a guest appearance by the venerable Ronnie James Dio on one track.
I wholeheartedly recommend O:M2 to fans of the original, and to Queensryche fans in general, especially those who appreciate the music they put out in the 1980s.
Free Music Review: Okay, I need a better guitar tone here...
Hit: 3 Stars
What is going on with the guitar mix? There is no bandwidth, no seperation, not even detectable stereo 80% of the album. Not fun to listen to without some thickness, ya know?
A metal album first and foremost HAS to have a killer guitar tone. Especially from a heavy hitter big name band. Okay, some parts sound pretty good. Then, there are sections without a guitar at all that sound really unfinished, like they weren't done with the tracks and ran out of money/time? I dunno. What up, guys?
Get DeGarmo over there right away. Somebody help them with that! I can get a better sound in my buddy's studio, by far. And we don't even know what we're doing!
Still a big 'Ryche fan, just grinning and bearing it for the most part.
Personally, I enjoy my new re-masters of the first 4 albums much more.