Queensryche - Empire
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Free Music Notes for Empire
Free Music Review: A true rarity: Genuinely good music getting rightful praise
Hit: 5 Stars
Empire(1990). Queensryche's fourth studio album.Back in the early 80s, one band from Seattle began its conquest to form a uniquely sounding heavy metal band. Queensryche was this band. They almost initially got tacked onto a major record label with the countless glam metal acts, but thankfully EMI Records, which was a smaller record company, picked them up and gave them producer James Guthrie, who worked with Pink Floyd previously. This enabled the band to have a lot of room for artistic growth, and thus developed Queensryche into something greater. Queensryche started as a heavy metal band on their debut EP(1983). Eventually though, the band began moving into more epic songs on The Warning(1984), and creating a matured, futuristic cyber-metal sound on Rage For Order(1986). However, it wasn't until the band hired producer Peter Collins (who worked with Rush) for Operation: Mindcrime(1988) that the band had finally achieved great success. Mindcrime was also the band's most realized effort, being that it was a dark concept album revolving around a complex story. At this point, Queensryche had moved away from the heavy metal sound and became more of a melodic progressive hardrock band.
Now we arrive in 1990, at Queensryche's MTV breakthrough album, Empire. The title of my review says it all. You heard me right: A BAND THAT MAKES TRULY OUTSTANDING MUSIC GETS MAXIMUM EXPOSURE ON MTV. This is one of the only two times in the 90s that this happened, the other time being with the band Tool. After Mindcrimes rather heady story which required complete attention, Empire sort of takes the band into a more mainstream territory, but still employing intelligent themes into the individual songs. This is similar to how it was done on Rage For Order, though the songs here are far more commercial in nature. Peter Collins is back to produce again, and with him Queensryche managed to craft 11 excellent songs. The production is HUGE and crisp, much like the two albums he worked on with Rush previously in the mid-80s. Some have said that this was Queensryche's sell-out album, and while in certain ways it was true, I don't believe it really affected the quality of this album one bit. The band hadn't let MTV syndrome get to their heads...yet. That is yet to come.
Onto the album. It starts with the BEST opener on any Queensryche album, 'Best I Can'. This uplifting anthem really hits home for me, and it's probably one of the best rockers I've heard in a while. Next is the melodic 'The Thin Line', followed by the BIG radio hit 'Jet City Woman'. I love the base line that leads into the song. If one thing is to be noted, Geoff Tate's voice is beginning to show signs of change. It's not a hindrance yet, but here is where it's first spotted. 'Della Brown' has a cool melodic pacing to it, and it's one of my favorite tracks. 'Another Rainy Night' reminds me of Iron Maiden the way the first riff breaks in. The title track is a dark pounding anthem with killer vocals, as is the amazing 'Resistance'. This song bears an Aerosmith-like quality to it, but somehow I enjoy it. Next is the power ballad hit (you heard me right) 'Silent Lucidity'. A decent ballad, though a bit overrated by some. 'Hand On Heart' has one of the greatest melodies to it during the entire song and thus it stands out. Then there's the slow rocker 'One And Only', followed by the accoustic album closer 'Anybody Listening?'. On the new remastered edition are three extra Empire B-sides. 'Last Time In Paris' is a heavy pounding anthemic rocker, followed by the experimental waltzy track 'Scarborough Fair'. Different but awesome. 'Dirty Lil Secret' is simply a bouncy rocker which rounds off the album nicely. Of all the remastered albums, Empire has the best extras as all three songs are easily just as good as the rest of the album itself, so it's very worthwhile to seek out the remastered edition.
How does Queensryche's mainstream breakthrough album fare? Well, it's certainly not as daring as the previous albums, but at the same time, it does feature 5-star quality commercial songwriting. There isn't a single bad song to be found on the disc. In actuality, I believe it's just as good as the previous albums, only in different ways. Rage For Order is still my favorite, but Empire definitely ranks up there. It pleases me that a well written album gets the praise it deserves. Unfortunately it's all downhill from there, for in the years after Empire, Queensryche degraded into an MTV sellout alternative act and they would never recover again. If you're just getting into Queensryche, any of the first four albums will do, though Empire might be a good first pit-stop. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.
Other similar albums:
-'Rage For Order' by Queensryche
-'Transcendence' by Crimson Glory
-'Awakening The Guardian' by Fates Warning
Free Music Review: Possibly THE Greatest Album EVER!
Hit: 5 Stars
Everyone knows that this album was released in 1990, right after their successful and amazing "Operation Mindcrime." It seems weird to me, though, when people say that this was Queensryche selling out, just because the album sold high. If you look at it closely, you realize that this album should not have sold at all because it is criticizing the same generation that made this album so successful commercially. Here we go:
1. Best I Can 10/10- Great opener which shows a Queen influence, even if it's a small one. A heavy, adrenaline-pumping rocker has great performances by Tate and DeGarmo. The highlight of the song is the line "AND I WON'T LET GO!"
2. The Thin Line 6/10- Their most commercial sounding song is pretty good, but does not live up to the previous song.
3. Jet City Woman 9/10- One of the many songs on the album that received significant airplay, this is more of a straightforward rocker with not as much of a progressive song structure.
4. Della Brown 5/10- A much slower, blues influenced song. Is too monotonous and drags on too long to be enjoyable.
5. Another Rainy Night 10/10- As close as Queensryche gets to a ballad on the entire album, still they do not abandon their heavy edge. A very good song that received a ton of airplay, Tate gives a great performance on vocals.
6. Empire 10/10- A true masterpiece which criticizes many of the people who bought this album. Starts out with an airhead leaving a message that goes "sorry.... It just sort of hit me, like a...two ton...heavy thing." Hahaha. At first seems dated because it has statistics from 1986, but many of the percentages used are similar still today. Chris DeGarmo is amazing on guitar and delivers a great solo.
7. Resistance 9/10- A really good song that just does not have the emotional impact that the previous "Empire" had, still has a good guitar solo.
8. Silent Lucidity 6/10- It seems strange that this was such a big hit, incorporates an orchestra, but is really slow. Still, it is a good song, especially since it stays away from the sexism that was synonymous with ballads of the day.
9. Hand on Heart 10/10- Another masterpiece with a chorus that only Scrooge himself could hate. A very touching song that is in NO WAY sappy or phony. Throughout the song there are great performances by the entire band, but especially Tate and DeGarmo.
10. One on One 6/10- Nothing really wrong with it, just doesn't do anything for me.
11. Anybody Listening 10/10- Possibly one of the greatest songs ever written. One problem that I have with it is that in songs like this, it is supposed to build up and up and then about ¾ of the way through, have a guitar solo that builds up and up for the climax. This song has the solo at about half way through and the solo is more like a mountain: it builds up and up, but half way through, works its way back down again. Those are small complaints compared to rest of the song, which is incredible. Great lyrics, vocals, and a still even more outstanding solo by DeGarmo make this Queensryche's best song ever. I just wish that they had shaved a minute off of the end because it serves no purpose whatsoever, it's just the sound of wind blowing.
12. Last Time in Paris 6/10- Many fans searched long and hard to find this before it was released as a bonus track. I never really cared for it because by the end of the song, there is nothing memorable about it.
13. Scarborough Fair 9/10- An excellent remake of the slow laid back Simon and Garfunkle song. Geoff Tate's voice is the main attraction for this song; just when you think that it can't get any higher, it does, and it never sound like he's screaming. He is truly and amazing singer.
14. Dirty Little Secret 4/10- Completely pointless to add on except for diehard fans because it is just a routine song.
Even with the more commercial sound, Queensryche does not abandon the progressive side of their music. It's a shame that they did not keep this sound and idea for their later albums. Even so, this is truly a milestone in both heavy metal and progressive metal.
Free Music Review: Art, Meet Entertainment; Entertainment, Meet Art
Hit: 5 Stars
To this day, a staggering number of people insist that to entertain is to sell out and surrender growth and innovation. Granted, the frequncy of the stars aligning just right is about as often as a snowball forming in that dark place down below, but it HAS happened, it STILL happens, but never more noticably than in the all-around musical masterpiece "Empire," from the "progressive" "metal" band, Queensryche.Those quotations are there because Queensryche deserves more than routine catagorization. Their music is at times heavy, and often intelligent, and that's about all the description you should need. If you realize that the past 10 years of mainstream music has been a case of record companies shooting themselves in the foot, this review shall serve to educate you that this album was one of the last appearances of greatness to strike mainstream popularity - it's a good thing Queensryche got this album in before it all went down hill!
The album; dashes of Pink Floyd/Rush/Bon Jovi/Def Leppard/Wagner!
One of my favorite songs ever is the closing track "Anybody Listening?" Epic emotion, powerful vocals, sustained guitar landscapes `a la David Gilmour, operatic theatrics `a la Les Miserables. The song is an adventure, a journey, with changing keys, moods and sections. Everything that a best-song-ever should be is in this unique composition.
Then there's the song that "broke them", despite a very successful prior album ("Operation: MindCrime"). If you only know Queensryche for one song, it's "Silent Lucidity." Granted, it's a bit simpler than much of their work, but just as with "Anybody Listening?", it is a wonderful journey of the mind, "trying to explain to someone the unexplainable," in the words of vocalist Geoff Tate. It is a highly emotional ballad that fits in just fine with the rest of the band's repertoire.
Most of the album is very strong with no filler, but the other big highlights are the songs "Empire," and "Another Rainy Night." These songs deserve some of the highest praise ever, because they adhere to this intelligent-meets-popularity formula better than almost any other song. They deserve even MORE praise, because they are not ballads. They are hard rocking songs, and the former (the title track) was actually quite the popular 'hit.' Can you believe, thinking of a 'hit' as actual good music? It IS possible. These songs are in the normal verse-chorus format, with amazing solos and guitar harmonies, intelligent lyrics, creative chords, and pure heart and soul. They rock like nobody's business, but also allow many people to relate to the music, who normally would be satisfied with bands that only make 10% the amount of effort. It just doesn't get much better than this.
The hardcore fans want their "...MindCrime", but I am going to cave in here - "Empire" is my [just barely]favorite Queensryche album, and the fact that it was very popular doesn't change the fact that it deserved what it got and more. MindCrime is also great - but for once in music history, selling less records doesn't mean it must be better music! "Empire" is the epitome of "exception to the rule." Commercial music hasn't allowed for this much creativity since.
Free Music Review: A Must Have !!!!
Hit: 5 Stars
What do you get when you mix heavy metal with progressive rock? "Empire" released by Queensryche in 1990. I don't consider myself a heavy metal fan by any means - distorted guitars, shouting, repetitive chords and blarring fortissississimos don't do much for me. This album is different - WAY different. It bridges the genre with an amazing level of musicianship and orchestration - a quality not often seen in top-40 music.
My brother first introduced me to them with the hit "Silent Lucidity." I immediately bought the album and discovered that there's not a weak song on it - quoting one reviewer "Every song is great, and a few are exceptionally great." What amazes me every time I listen to this album is now each member of the group compliments the flow of the song. For example, drummer Scott Rockenfield is extremely creative in changing up patterns between verse and chorus, as well as properly placing accents and fills. The guitarists are just as creative. Nothing is repeated to the point of boredom.
I'm going to touch briefly on what I consider the outstanding songs. The opening song "Best I Can" is an awesome jam with a great message, complimented with a cool 7/8 guitar solo. "Is There Anybody Listening" is another amazing song that starts off as softly and is transformed into a powerful, intense ballad. It's interesting how the intensity of the lyrics is supported by the music - it breaks and revives at the expected time.
Another favorite is "One and Only." The intro begins with the guitars in a rhythm pattern that appears throughout the piece, unifying it as a whole. The ending is cool in which that guitar rhythm doesn't quite match up with the drums and bass.
Most listeners reading this review, I would assume, are familiar with the hit "Silent Lucidity" which peaked at #7 on Billboard's chart. It's an amazing tune which deserves close examination. Listen to lead singer Geoff Tate, who has an amazing, crystal-clear voice, spanning two+ octaves. Listen to the instrumental section in which the "voices" are heard. You can feel the tension as the bass and strings begin in unison, pull apart, then end in unison - the tension one feels in a disturbing dream. Listen to how the drums and strings mimic the phrase "walls come tumblin down."
I could easily take up another page going through each track and what great compositions they are. I've purchased several other albums by the group and none are on the par with "Empire." I truly would encourage any listener to give this album a fair shake, even if you're like me and don't listen to heavy metal regularly. Go through every single track - you'll be impressed!
Free Music Review: Magnum opus
Hit: 5 Stars
In the summer of 1990, when "Last Time in Paris" (a soundtrack song included here as a bonus cut) was released to radio, fans of the group wondered if they could repeat the cult success they had with the concept-record, 'Operation: Mindcrime' (1988). We were pleasantly suprised a few weeks later when the title track to this commercial breakthrough record hit the airwaves.1. Best I Can. Although the lyrics are a bit on the pedestrian side (i.e., about a wheelchair bound individual seeking inspiration), this is a musically powerful opening track.
2. The Thin Line. This is one of the best-sounding tracks the band has ever produced as well as one of their strongest love songs. Why this was not chosen as one of the many singles is beyond me.
3. Jet City Woman. Although this is another love song and one of the two mega-successful singles, it has a narrative quality that was (is) unique for its time.
4. Della Brown. Over a previously uncharacteristic jazz-like jam, Geoff Tate relates a poignant narrative about a homeless woman.
5. Another Rainy Night. Along the same musical/lyrical lines as "Jet City Woman", this was another semi-successful power ballad.
6. Empire. As with all highlights of the rock genre in general, the title track is a musical juggernaut and a lyrical social indictment, and it has remained a mainstay in the live sets for good reason.
7. Resistance. The opening track on the supporting tour, this is another call-to-arms social commentary rocker, as with "Empire".
8. Silent Lucidity. If you never heard this highly-orchestrated piece about the lighter side of dreamland (see "Enter Sandman" by Metallica for the darker side), then you have been living under a rock.
9. Hand On Heart.
10. One and Only. If there is any filler on this record, it is "Hand on Heart" and "One and Only", which are inferor takes cut from the mould of (and thus, superfluous to) "Jet City Woman" and "Another Rainy Night".
11. Anybody Listening? As was correctly noted above, this tune is, thematically speaking, Queensryche's "Limelight", but instrumentally a much lusher picture than the Rush classic and one of the highpoints on the record.
Among the b-sides not already mentioned is a rather (over-)dramatic cover of Simon & Garfunkel's "Scarborough Fair" (actually recorded during the 'Rage for Order' (1986) sessions) and another rather forgettable studio track that has not appeared, "Dirty Lil' Secret".