Queensryche - Operation: Mindcrime
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Free Music Notes for Operation: Mindcrime
Free Music Review: My first taste of Queensryche, my first taste of metal.
Hit: 5 Stars
Yup, as my title suggests, this is the first real metal album I ever bought. And I must say, it was AMAZING! I'm so impressed with the musicianship, I'll review each band member before reviewing the actual album:
Geoff Tate - Vocals, keyboards. A killer vocalist. Usually very high-pitched. He sounds like he has Bruce Dickinson influences without ripping his voice off at all. As for is keyboard playing, well, he's no Rick Wakeman or Ray Manzerek, but he doesn't have to be. His keyboard playing suits the songs just fine.
Chris Degarmo - Lead guitars. Wow, what a guitarist! His solos are incredible in each song - check his solo out in The Mission. Nothing needs to be said about him that hasn't already been said.
Mchael Wilton - Rythm guitars. For a rythm guitarist, he's very good. He may not be the soloist, but he's still pretty good.
Eddie Jackson - Bass. A solid bassist. Above average would be my take on him. But he really shines on the title track and Spreading The Disease.
Scott Rockenfield - Drums. A pretty good drummer. Like Eddie, he has his shining moments, especially on Spreading The Disease.
The story of Operation: Mindcrime is (from what I understand) about an unmotivated druggie named Nikki who wakes up in a hospital (I Remember Now), and replays everything that happened to him. He first recalls his hatred against society (Revolution calling). Then, an evil doctor takes control of Nikki by promising him that if he joins him, they will take down religious and political leaders and rule the world (the title track). So, that's exactly what Nikki does (Speak). Nikki also meets a prostitue named Mary, who's designated to become Nikki's helper (Spreading The Disease). However, a priest named "Father William" saves her (also in Spreading The Disease). After Nikki kills these leaders, he feels unfulfilled, which beings him closer to Mary (who is now a nun, thanks to Father William). They become closer than Dr. X. planned, so he, according to the sound effects, drives in a car in the rain up to Nikki, and orders him to "kill her, that's all you have to do." In return, Nikki asks, "Kill Mary?" And Dr. X says, "And get the priest as well." In the song Suite Sister Mary, Nikki enters the church Mary is in, and tells her that "we're being fed like lab rats in experiments." Suite Sister Mary is easily the best song off the album - complete with dialogue between Nikki and Dr. X (who has a british accent), and between Nikki and Mary. To accompany that, we get some killer wailing vocals from Geoff and mind-blowing guitar solos from Chris.It runs well over 10 minutes. In the song The Needle Lies, after Nikki saves Mary from the mind of Dr. X. he tells Dr. X that "I've had enough and I want out!" In return, Dr. X. says, "you'll never get away." Then Nikki runs out into the streets and thinking about how the drugs he's taken that Dr. X made him take (which helped Dr. X brainwash Nikki), and how he can't use the drugs, no matter how much he wants them ("Don't ever trust the needle... when it cries your name!"). In Electric Requim, Nikki finds Mary dead on the church floor. In fear, Nikki runs as far as he can get from the scene of the crime in the song Breaking The Silence, all the while mourning over the death of Mary ("I can't live without you!"). I love the dual guitar solos that fight with each other near the end of the song. In I Don't Believe I Love, he is caught by the police, and is accused of the murder of Mary. Since he can't recall any events in his memory, he starts to wonder if he really did kill her. And he decides that if he did, than he doesn't believe in love, and that he'll "pretend that she was never real.". But according to Nikki, she said she loved him ("She said she loved me. I guess I never knew. But do we ever, ever really know?") Waiting For 22 is an instrumental with some really synth-sounding guitars. There are also some great solos in it. I believe this is the song where Nikki is waiting to be put in jail. In My Empty Room, Nikki recalls Mary's death, and asks himself, "Why?" Apparently, he misses her so much that he draws a "chalk outline upon the wall" of her. Eyes Of A Stranger starts with some creepy synth, until it hits you with a great solo from Chris. This is when Nikki can't keep his mind off Mary, and how the memorys are starting to drive him insane, since he even dreams of her and sees of her everywhere ("Every night the dream returns to haunt me..."). This is just my opinion, but since Nikki can't take the thought that he may have killed her, he sees himself as a stranger, as if he can't take the fact that he did so many horrible things that he must be looking at someone else. Of course, that's just my opinion, but I think I have the just of it. Still, either way, it's one of the best songs here.
All in all, this is an incredible album, and is probably one of the best metal albums ever (I'm not a metal expert, so I don't know, but I think it is). There isn't any song here that failed to grab my attention. Every minute is just musical bliss. Oh and by the way, here are my scores for the songs:
1. I Remember Now - N/A (It's an intro, not really a song).
2. Anarchy-X - 8/10
3. Revolution Calling - 10/10
4. Operation Mindcrime - 10/10
5. Speak - 9/10
6. Spreading The Disease - 10/10
7. The Mission - 10/10
8. Suite Sister Mary - 10/10
9. The Needle Lies - 9/10
10. Electric Requim - 7.5/10
11. Breaking The Silence - 9/10
12. I Don't Believe In Love - 9.5/10
13. Waiting For 22 - 8/10
14. My Empty Room - 9/10
15. Eyes Of A Stranger - 10/10
16. The Mission (Live) - 10/10
17. My Empty Room (Live) - 9/10
This is the album I've been listening to the most right now, and it will certainly remain one of my favorite albums for life. I wouldn't consider myself a Queensryche fan 100%, but one thing's for sure: this album has spreaded the disease to me...
Free Music Review: The Seminal Concept Album
Hit: 5 Stars
We're not talking about just any album here. We're talking about Queensryche's 'tour de force', their 'magnum opus' or any other cliche that denotes sheer perfection. Yes we're talking about Operation: Mindcrime, not only Queensryche's zenith, considered by many as the apogee of concept albums and heavy metal in general. Basically we're talking about progressive metal nirvana.
There is a reason that the preponderance of reviewers give Operation: Mindcrime five stars. When it comes to concept albums, it is the standard to which all concept albums are compared, it has no peers. Heck I do it myself, stacking other very good concept albums against the incomparable Operation: Mindcrime.
What is a concept album? It is simply an album where each song revolves around a single concept or story.
In only their second album, Queensryche scored their breakthrough success with this most ambitious concept album, Operation: Mindcrime, which tells the story of an anarchist whose disillusionment with Reagan-era American society leads him to join a shadowy plot to assassinate corrupt leaders. The band plays fabulously and Geoff Tate does both a great acting and singing job and the music as indicated is quite ambitious, featuring, among others "Suite Sister Mary", a ten-minute track with orchestrations by Michael Kamen.
The band released two hit singles "Eyes of a Stranger" and "I Don't Believe In Love" from this album which is basically hard driving heavy metal except for these singles, which are both power ballads. Interspersed within the music are four suites of dialogue and several other cameos of short monologue or dialogue which help tell the story. These certainly add a nice touch in completing this great recording.
Da Story
Operation Mindcrime begins in a hospital ward where a patient named Nikki after a pain shot from a nurse who calls him a bastard, recalls the recent rash of murders he perpetrated at the request of Dr. X. Nikki, you see, was a psychotic, cynical malcontent who was recruited and brainwashed by the nefarious Dr. X, a power crazed evangelical preacher, leader of 'The Order', to be his personal assassin.
After getting Nikki addicted to drugs, brainwashed and dependent on him for his fixes, Dr. X sends Nikki first out to kill an unnamed corrupt politician, then his girlfriend Mary (an ex hooker) and the priest who got her off the streets because they are risks.
After completing his mission but not remembering it, he finds Mary murdered and realizing what he has done, Nikki goes on a drug binge and ends up in the hospital, the victim of a self induced narcotics overdose. From there the songs vacillate to a series of recriminations and rationalizations with "Breaking the Silence" "I don't Believe in Love" and "The Eyes of a Stranger".
My Favorites
It is truly a hard choice on this album but here is my list of the four best songs:
"Spreading the Disease"
For those faint of heart you may want to stay away from this song as it's just loaded with sex and deviancy. It is the sordid tale of Mary a prostitute, whom Nikki tries to save by getting a priest to take her off the streets. This emotive song is set to heavy double base drums at a medium/fast tempo with plenty of metal accompaniment.
"Suite Sister Mary"
A ten minute and forty second masterpiece, this 'piece de resistance' starts out with Dr. X ordering Nikki to go out and kill Mary and the priest after which, "Mary" starts out with a solo melodic guitar and a Choir which goes on to accompany Tate throughout the song. As on the whole album there are sound effects and dialogue thrown in such as thunder and sirens.
The music itself is again a highly emotional but variable paced number that is a wonderful confluence of rock/metal and opera.
"I don't Believe in Love"
In this song Nikki denies his love for Mary because he cannot face the fact that he murdered her. It is a sad melancholy power ballad. It is very melodic with a varied pace, the verses being slower than the chorus. This was released as a single because it is quite accessible and it was a minor hit even though taken away from the story it loses something.
"The Eyes of a Stranger"
This is my favorite song after "Mary", it is again very melodic varied tempo piece with a great guitar intro. Tate does some powerful singing here on the choruses. the song picks up speed as it goes on up to about a medium pace.
Another single and again a minor hit.
CONCLUSION
I have a confession to make. I don't put much emphasis on lyrics and seldom pay much attention to them, especially when they are hard to understand. Operation: Mindcrime is the exception. The lyrics are easily understood and tell a sad if not exciting, suspenseful story. I'm sure everyone will have their own interpretation of this monumental work, in my case I visualized definite similarities to the movie Manchurian Candidate.
In this day of terrorism and runaway fanatical religion this classic album/story gains even more importance.
There are so many nuances in the epic CD that everytime I listen to it I pick up something new. If you haven't heard Operation: Mindcrime, don't you think it's time.
Free Music Review: A musical experience that excites on so many levels
Hit: 5 Stars
An immense pleasure I am now experiencing while listening to Queensryche's stunning "Operation: Mindcrime", coupled with the surprisingly small number of reviews here have urged me to put digit to keyboard and wax poetic about this incredibly emotive sonic masterpiece. Sadly, this masterwork may have been overshadowed on one side by the predictable poses of the popular "80's hair metal bands", and the technically brilliant yet sometimes emotionally chilly "thrash" of the late 80's; yet Queensryche nevertheless garnered much critical praise and expansion of their core following with a cohesive work that delights on many levels of lyric, melody, and emotional resonance. And today, nearly 15 years after its original release, Mindcrime continues to evoke a passionate listening experience through its well-written compositions of sheer power and emotional catharsis.The core Queensryche "sound" finds its influence in a diverse blend of rock idioms, from the expertly performed art and progressive rock circles to the edgy and incisive sounds of punk rock rebellion. Blend in a pinch of theatrical classic rock in the vein of The Who's "Quadrophenia" and Pink Floyd's "The Wall", and the listener has transcended the run of the mill, stagnant musical forms that occupy a good deal of the record store bins and radio station playlists. Yet Queensryche manages to defy the conveniences of category, presenting an arsenal of sounds and moods that frankly put many of their contemporaries to shame. The vocals of Geoff Tate are inspired and sincere, unlocking the deepest emotional meaning in the passionate lyrics -- If Nero carelessly played his fiddle while Rome burned, Geoff Tate is employing his stunningly melodic vocal gift to inspire the fiery insurgency! And what an insurgency it is, with Mr. Tate relating how the mechanized culture of greed and media manipulation "spread the disease" during Mindcrime's socio-political themed first half, while exposing deepest torment of the soul and it's heart-wrenching sadness on the album's latter half, affording us a look through the eyes of a lost stranger who through tragedy no longer believes in love. Noteworthy songs such as "Speak", "Spreading The Disease" (with a heart-stopping middle break that positively tears asunder the greed and hypocrisy of the dominant 1980's political culture), "The Mission" and "Eyes Of A Stranger" showcase Tate's limitless vocal range and keen ability to locate the melodic heart of a lyric through his vocals.
Suffice it to say that Operation Mindcrime features brilliance not only in the technque of Geoff Tate's voice, but also in the songwriting of the "Tri-Ryche" trio of Tate and guitarists extraordinaire Chris DeGarmo and Michael Wilton. Virtuosos Wilton and DeGarmo unleash pummeling power chords, lilting arpeggios, and soaring solos as if their very lives depended on it, forging a sound that grips the listener and fits like a silken hand inside the velvet glove of Tate's vocals. The fullness and clarity of sound on this 22-bit remaster reveals the excellent rhythm guitar tracks that form the bedrock for technically and melodically gifted solos galore (a common complaint about 80's metal "shredders" is that they lacked in the rhythm department -- definitely not so with the 'Ryche!) The depth of the layers of melody here are cemented by a persistently rumbling bass courtesy of Eddie Jackson (brilliantly exemplified in the album's title track), an ever-audible bass that adds a rhythmic foundation to the symphony of guitars (how many 80's rock albums are marred by a nearly invisible bass? Again, not on Operation: Mindcrime!). Rounding out the rhythm section is drummer Scott Rockenfield's cymbal crashes and fiery snare work, a combined assault that not only provides a rhythmic pulse but also a melodic compliment with a fine employment of the ride and hi-hat cymbals.
Nearly 16 years after it's initial release (and about 15 since I first listened), Operation: Mindcrime continues to fascinate, perhaps more than ever on this sonically enhanced, remastered edition. Countless trends have come and gone, but art in its most sincere form is able to defy the fickle tastes of those who listen merely for the "hot new sound" or the latest fashion trend shrewdly marketed through the vehicle of a "musical" group. An album that inspires on so many levels (I find myself concurrently singing, air drumming and strumming, and dancing about in sheer abandon in my living room as I listen ... not to mention pondering the deeper lyrical meanings!), I offer the highest recommendation possible to Operation: Mindcrime, an album that any lover of music can appreciate for it's thought-provoking sound, charging forward through the centuries to bare it's fierce and fiery musical soul to all who venture to listen.
Free Music Review: "Manipulate the people for the money they pay. Selling skin, selling God; the numbers look the same on their credit card."
Hit: 5 Stars
And now for a political review of a political CD. Operation: Mindcrime is about revolutionaries trying to overthrow the government, - "the rich control the government, the media the law, to make some kind of difference, then everyone must know, eradicate the fascists, revolution, will grow." Metal has always been angry but never this focused, - "I used to think that only Americas way, way was right, but now the holy dollar rules everybody's lives, gotta make a million doesn't matter who dies, revolution calling, revolution calling, revolution calling you." The video itself would prominently feature the image of David Duke.
The entertainment industry is said to be liberal. Jay Leno made a joke about this on his show once, saying, "venture capitalists are in the process of developing their own liberal radio network to counter conservative shows like Rush Limbaugh. They feel the liberal viewpoint is not being heard -- except on TV, in the movies, in music, by comedians, in magazines and newspapers. Other than that, it's not getting out!". Metal music, though, had The Kinks, Ted Nugent, Rush, Ozzy and Gilby Clarke. Here, liberals vs conservatives was closer to 50/50. Perhaps this reflected metals audience. In a world divided between the forces of revolution (the good guys), and the forces of reaction (the bad guys) there was probably no one more reactionary than the typical metal fan.
To say metal music didn't get a lot of critical support would be an understatement. A lot of younger fans might not be old enough to remember this. Anything you like is a sin, of course, but I suspect this had little to do with the criticism! Queensryche themselves serve as an example. The music press covered the Seattle music scene extensively (where they list all the bands from Seattle), and the Seattle sound, after the band Nirvana made it big. They would never mention Queensryche who were not only the first Seattle band to make it big but had two multi-platinum albums in a row, with 'Empire' being release only a year before Nirvanas breakout 'Nevermind'. If only the Ryche were more obscure. At some point (and that may have been the point) classic metal became either acceptable or irrelevant, and, for good or bad, it no longer receives the constant negative references. I keep a few competing theories in my head as to why there was this universal bashing, and (while it may be easy to get people to do what you want without their knowledge) I definitely believe there was a conspiracy, an orchestrated campaign behind it. Probably didn't take much. Just my opinion. The band Accept has a song that might relate to it, "Too many people do not know, Bondage is over the human race, they believe slaves always lose, and this fear keeps them down"
It wasn't just metal's politics that were out of favor, by the 1980's the majority of metal bands would also be writing progressive songs, and also taking up every cause but that of their fans. This would culminate nicely with the song 'Hanger 18' by Megadeth. There was more at play here than just their politics. The 1990's would bring us the inverted world of 'Rage Against the Machine'. Or as I personally refer to them, 'the comedy troupe known as Rage Against the Machine' - I do like their music. Not to be outdone Queensryche bring us Operation: Mindcrime. Almost as if to say, ~'they want us to push something enlightened? We'll give them something enlightening alright.' And that they did, Mindcrime is really amazing.
When Mindcrime begins with, - "I'm tired of all this BS they keep selling me on TV about the communist plan, and all the shady preachers, begging for my cash, swiss bank accounts while giving their secretaries the slam, they're all in Penthouse now, or Playboy magazine, million dollar stories to tell, I guess Warhol wasn't wrong, fame fifteen minutes long, everyone's using everybody, making the sale" . . . when they begin with. . . TV selling us the communist plan and shady preachers. . . I had to wonder if they were being facetious here. While the media told me what defrocked minister Jim Bakker had for breakfast before his trial, I don't remember the communist plan coming up on TV, unless in discussing McCarthy (an anti-communist). The consensus being that McCarthy, who believed in a communist plan, was both wrong and evil. To find out about the communist plan I would have to read, "Masters of Deceit" by J Edgar Hoover and "None Dare Call it Conspiracy"
I had to wonder if this part was a bit facetious. . . Pretty much tho, I take Mindcrime at face value. I've always loved this CD too. So there's no telling the taste of a dyed-in-the-wool neanderthal.
'Empire' would be another great Queensryche CD and I would really like 'Promised Land' too but Mindcrime is king.
Free Music Review: The perfect metal concept album
Hit: 5 Stars
Operation Mindcrime(1988). Queensryche's third studio album.Back in the mid-80s there were generally two types of metal bands to be found here in the U.S.: glam metal and thrash. They were both widely known genres and garnered the most success of any form of metal music. However, underneath the public eye one metal band had begun to climb the musical ladder, a band that would fuse the metal stylings of Judas Priest and Iron Maiden with the progressiveness of Pink Floyd into a unique prog/metal hybrid. This band came to be known as Queensryche.
They first started as a simple generic band with their first self titled EP and first album Warning(1985). It wasn't until their second album Rage For Order(1986) that Queensryche started letting the progressive stylings drive the music. With O:MC, the band takes their music to a concept level and turned out perhaps the best release of their entire career. Geoff Tate delivers his unique high vocal style as well as the two guitarists who show a twin-guitar attack. Peter Collins produced this album, and as a result the production is very slick (Something that always attributed to any album he produced in the past, such as Rush's two albums Power Windows and Hold Your Fire). The drums are loud and often mechanical, and every instrument can be clearly heard. As the editorial review states, it's the story of a disillusioned fortune seeker during the Reagan era who joins a cult to bring down the power mad political fascists. This was my first introduction to Queensryche, and it turned out to be a great one at that. I heard so many great things about O:MC and after listening to it, I must heartily agree with everyone who praises it. It's an album that gets better with each listen. Here's a brief synopsis of each of this masterpiece album's tracks:
1) I Remember Now- A dialogue passage which introduces the story. ***
2) Anarchy-X- An excellent instrumental intro with a great anthemic build up which leads into the next track. ****
3) Revolution Calling- Outstanding midpaced rocker. Has a very catchy chorus and fits well as the first real song. *****
4) Operation: Mindcrime- The title track is a bit slower, but equally as rocking as the last. *****
5) Speak- One of my favorite tracks. This one is a fast paced rock number in the vein of Judas Priest in style. *****
6) The Mission- Another fast track like the last one. Not quite as much of a standout, but Geoff Tate's vocals really shine here. ****
7) Spreading The Disease- The album slows down a bit and begins to take a darker undertone on this track. Very good. ****
8) Suite Sister Mary- AWESOME EPIC TRACK! This massive 10-minute epic starts out lightly, and then develops into a pulse-pounding rocker complete with background choirs and excellent guitar solos. One of Queensryche's defining moments. *****
9) The Needle Lies- A fast rocking masterpiece. One is reminded of Iron Maiden with this song. It has its best moment during the solo. *****
10) Electric Requiem- Another short dialogue passage with some moody instrumentation thrown in. Effectively creepy, and sounds somewhat like the previous album's track 'I Want To Get Close To You'. ****
11) Breaking The Silence- A steady mid-paced rocker with quiet verses and an excellent chorus. This makes for a great break from all the progressive storytelling. Love the twin guitar attack employed near the end. *****
12) I Don't Believe In Love- One of the most melodic tracks on here, and one of my favorite ones. The guitars work their best with this song during the verses, though the chorus section still shines through. *****
13) Waiting For 22- The instrumental outro to the previous track. Great musicianship, but it could have just stayed on the end of the previous song. ****
14) My Empty Room- Another short passage with some vocals and instrumentation, the intro to the next track. ***
15) Eyes Of A Stranger- THE BEST WAY TO CLOSE THE ALBUM! Another melodic rocker similar to track 12. Has one of the best choruses of any metal song ever written. Closing the album is the same phrase uttered in the first track: "I remember now..." *****
There are also two live tracks in the bonus edition as well: The Mission and My Empty Room.
Overall, if you want to find a metal album that will make you think, but at the same time remain accessible enough to most, then O:MC is the perfect metal album for you. Hailed as a masterpiece by most every metalhead, this album deservedly gets its 5 stars. From here, Queensryche would never attain this level of solid musicianship again, but they managed to successfully carve their niche in metal history with O:MC. Recommended to anybody who loves Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, or even Pink Floyd to a degree.
REVOLUTION IS HERE!!!