Queensr?che - Operation: Mindcrime II
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Music CD Cover
Artist: Queensr?cheEdition: Music CD
CD Release Date: 2006-04-04
Music Label: Rhino / Wea
Soundtracks:
- Freiheit Ouverture
- Convict
- I'm American
- One Foot in Hell
- Hostage
- Hands
- Speed of Light
- Signs Say Go
- Re-Arrange You
- Chase
- Murderer?
- Circles
- If I Could Change It All
- An Intentional Confrontation
- Junkie's Blues
- Fear City Slide
- All The Promises
Free Music Notes for Operation: Mindcrime II
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.
Operation: Mindcrime II Poster
Seattle quintet Queensryche has always stood apart from other heavy metal bands through their artful progressive bent and intense observations on the world around them. With their third album, 1988's Grammy-nominated and critically acclaimed Operation: Mindcrime-a concept opus born out of Reagan-era disilllusionment-Queensryche transcended the metal label and sealed their reputation for cerebral musci and heady lyrical vision. Set 20 years later, and awash in "rock, revenge, and redemption," this brilliant new sequel was inspired by current political and social climates.Queensr?che's sequel to the classic 1998 concept piece Operation: Mindcrime is not as good as the original. Mindcrime II lacks the sense of sweeping cinematic awe found on the original and although the quintet has managed to create an album that's equal to or above any studio outing it's done in recent years, there's nothing here that will bolster the band back to its former glory. A distinct lack of standout songs is perhaps the greatest problem. "Revolution Calling," "I Don't Believe In Love," and "Speak" became Queensr?che classics not because they were part of the grand concept found on O:M, but because they could be drawn out and held up as fine examples of writing that probed the corrupt spirit of the age. O:M bled heavy truths from its deepest grooves.
Those familiar with the concept from the first album should note that this second installment focuses on protagonist Nikki and his desire to exact revenge on the corrupt Doctor X, making for a more insular narrative. That's a problem because one of the great thrills of the original Mindcrime was the scope of its scorn; here, the band never reaches beyond the confines of the world it created for this updated fantasy. The urgency that emanated from the earlier affair hasn't become muted, it has simply faded.
Yet, this new record's better than you might first believe and proves difficult to fully dismiss. In the 18 years since the original installment the band has become leaner, often more exacting, possessing a confidence that was less pronounced on earlier recordings. Scott Rockenfield's drumming has grown more interesting with time and the years have done little to lessen vocalist Geoff Tate's multi-octave expertise. The dual guitar attack of Michael Wilton and Mike Stone lacks the depth that the classic Wilton/Chris DeGarmo pairing had, but it proves enamoring on tracks such as "The Chase" (featuring a surprisingly pallid-sounding Ronnie James Dio), the swaggering "Junkie's Blues," and the near return-to-form "Fear City Slide."
No matter its strengths, O:M II ultimately reinforces the idea that while Queensr?che's greatest moments may still lie ahead, the prospects of that being true become increasingly scant with each passing record. A decent enough stab at rekindling old glory that fails with admirable flair. --Jedd Beaudoin
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