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Music, Reviews

“Sign Of The Times – The Best Of Queensryche” (Deluxe Edition) by Queensryche

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Artist: Queensryche
Title: “Sign Of The Times – The Best Of Queensryche” (Deluxe Edition)
Label: Capitol Records
Release Date: 8/28/2007
Genre: Progressive Metal
Rating: 4/5

“Sign Of The Times: The Very Best Of Queensryche” is a compilation CD that is quite similar to the original Greatest Hits piece that the band released in 2000 with a couple of exceptions. The original version covered all of the albums except for “Q2K” and offered sixteen of the bands most influential tracks. The new version comes with a snappy new title and changes this around a little bit in terms of a couple of the songs that are included as it now features music from all of the bands studio albums and some numbers from soundtracks that they appeared on. From the seventeen total songs on the first CD of the collector’s edition the listener is able to follow the bands progression into history as they released intelligent Metal that touched upon the Progressive end at times. Always a band that pushed the envelope and experimented with style and sound while other bands chose to remain content with delivering the same style again and again. As a result of this modus operandi the earliest fans of Queensryche found a band that was growing along with them and delivering musical colors that changed as often as the seasons. Some loved this and some didn’t because as is typical with fans of any group there are sides taken with each release and some defend it to the death. I remember originally hating “Rage For Order” myself and now find it a work of genius and later with the “Q2K” album which I refused to support on its release because of no Chris DeGarmo became an enjoyable listen when I heard the re-issue several years later. As expected CD1 for “Sign Of The Times” includes the standards from the self-titled EP, “Warning” and “Operation Mindcrime”, etc – but its really only a taste of the goods in my opinion. Legacy fans would enjoy this as something to put on for a great career overview while a new fan should make this required listening as Queensryche’s accomplishments for the heavy music genre have been pretty extraordinary.

The Collector’s Edition includes a second CD that makes the release all the more worthy of investigation based on what the listener will find on it. The disc begins with three demos by the band Myth – a group that Geoff Tate fronted before joining Queensryche. The titles of the songs might ring incredibly familiar but you would be surprised that the tunes themselves lean more towards the early years of European Power Metal. Tate describes them in the liner notes as “inclusions to show the metamorphosis of a song idea” and “discerning listeners will notice certain similarities to the Queensryche songs that came later”. They are really a treat to listen to and fans should know that guitarist Kelly Gray was also a part of this band. The other inclusions of note are the demos from “The Warning” as you can enjoy these great songs in their earliest stages to see how they started against that which was finally released as the bands official debut full length. Many of the other items presented here were available on the remastered versions of the bands back catalog, so if you have them already it might seem a bit repetitive. If not, it’s a good sampling of the additional tracks that were featured on these re-issues. The second CD closes with a new track entitled “Justified” and in review of it the song sounds like it could have been included on the latest studio release “Operation: Mindcrime II” even though it was supposed to appear on “Hear In The Now Frontier”. Fans would enjoy that former guitarist Chris DeGarmo had written this one. The CD comes in a beautiful deluxe packaging and includes a detailed history by Paul Gargano along with some interesting artwork and “reflections” by singer Tate. In late 2007 the band is planning on the release of an album of cover tunes which will feature their own take on some classic songs.

CD2: Take Hold Of The Flame (Myth demo), Walk In The Shadow (Myth demo), Before The Storm (Myth demo), Waiting For The Kill (demo), No Sanctuary (demo), Prophecy (demo), I Dream In Infrared (acoustic), Dirty Lil Secret, Last Time In Paris, Scarborough Fair, Dell Brown (MTV Unplugged), Someone Else?, Silent Lucidity (live), Chasing Blue Sky, Justified (new track).

Track Listing:
1. Queen Of The Reich
2. Warning
3. Walk In The Shadows
4. Take Hold Of The Flame
5. The Lady Wore Black
6. I Don’t Believe In Love
7. Eyes Of A Stranger
8. Silent Lucidity
9. Bridge
10. Jet City Woman
11. Another Rainy Night (Without You)
12. Sign Of The Times
13. I Am I
14. Real World
15. Some People Fly
16. Until There Was You
17. All The Promises

Official Website: www.queensryche.com

Reviews, Videos

“Mindcrime At The Moore” (DVD) by Queensryche

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Artist: Queensryche
Title: “Mindcrime At The Moore”
Label: Rhino Entertainment
Release Date: 7/3/2007
Genre: Progressive Metal
Rating: 4.5/5

When Queensryche chose to follow their masterpiece “Operation: Mindcrime” with a sequel, the aspect of this was the source of much debate between their long time fans and the Hard Rock/Metal community as a whole. The album while good suffered comparisons to the original which was never its intent but was to be expected even though this piece was set 20 years into the future lives of the characters we met on the original. Not long after its release the band went on tour and presented both albums from beginning to end in two incredible acts, and as you might have expected these shows were nothing short of blockbusters. It was the kind of concert that after you saw it you would muse to yourself about how excellent it would be on DVD. Fortunately for us the guys in Queensryche had the very same thoughts on their mind when they were doing this tour and as result we get the explosive DVD “Mindcrime At The Moore”. The film presents the entire concert as it was delivered on the stage and it was so massive an undertaking that each “Mindcrime” gets its own DVD. Many of you already own the first DVD that Queensryche delivered for the original “Mindcrime” tour, but outside of a couple of dramatic poses and one guest appearance on it was strictly a concert film. The difference here is that the dual presentation of the complete “Mindcrime” saga is as much a Broadway theatre experience as it is a Rock concert. Tate proves his salt as an actor as the band begins and he motions and gestures through every note like some seasoned Hollywood veteran. His vocals might no longer reach some of the shrieking high notes of the past but he still remains one of the best lead vocalists in the business today. I was impressed at how good he was able to handle this since two full albums that are loaded with lyrics is quite a task for any performer to do. The band is impeccably tight as always and sometimes are in costume that reflects the subject matter that they are performing. When the show begins we even find a marching band joining them onstage and it brings the energy of this dramatic album to life all the more.
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Music, Reviews

“Mindcrime At The Moore” by Queensryche

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Artist: Queensryche
Title: “Mindcrime At The Moore”
Label: Rhino Entertainment
Release Date: 7/3/2007
Genre: Progressive Metal
Rating: 4/5

Before we begin, I need to ask the readers if there is really any need to waste valuable time debating about Queensryche’s absolute dominance over the Progressive Metal world and their ability to create music that would withstand the tests of time. I didn’t think so because when they first appeared on the scene they proved to many hardcore Metal heads that they far from your run of the mill act and instead something spectacular. Without question their signature release became the legendary “Operation: Mindcrime” and while this album is closing in on twenty years since it was released it still has held up and remains one of the most pivotal works in Heavy Metal music history. In 2006 they would offer up a sequel that brings us up to speed on the characters introduced on the first chapter and while this received mixed praise it was clearly an album that showed the world that Queensryche was as vital as ever and able to craft a tale that would always envelop the listener. “Mindcrime II” would make sure to answer some, but not all of the questions the fans were left with after “Mindcrime I”. The tour in 2006 found the band performing both albums from start to finish and the release “Mindcrime At The Moore” brings this right to you should you have not attended for any particular reason.
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Events, Reviews

Queensryche @ Nokia Theatre Times Square (9/21/2006)

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Logo - Queensryche

Artist: Queensryche
Venue: Nokia Theatre (New York, NY)
Opener: n/a
Date: 9/21/2006
Label: Rhino Entertainment

“I remember now, I remember how it started” – For me the experience of Queensryche started in July of 1984 as the band KISS, while on tour for their album “Animalize” had brought a new band from Seattle as their opening act. The newly signed group was as new to their recording contract as they were to the stage but believe me it did not show like this at all. The group delivered an impressive set from their new (and first) album entitled “The Warning” and while a KISS crowd is often unreceptive to the opening act, lead singer Geoff Tate was clearly a man who could handle them and hold their attention. He also sounded incredibly close to the recording and as a result, legions of KISS fans became followers of Queensryche as well. They would follow this release with their sophomore effort “Rage For Order”, and while it was an album that would give some fans pause they did not suffer a Sophomore curse and give you sub-par music. Many fans actually cite this album as a personal favorite and songs from it often bring resounding response from the audience. For their third album, there would be no resting on ones laurels and instead this would be the one to do it. The third record would be one of the best albums to hit the Progressive Metal genre ever and come to be regarded as one of the most important pieces of music of all time. The album was “Operation: Mindcrime”. It was a recording that would set Metal fans and the genre on its ear, as it was a tale full of intrigue, political viewpoints and mind control. To its credit, the album remains as strong in the minds of fans today as it did when it was originally released.
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Music, Reviews

“Operation: Mindcrime 2” by Queensryche

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Artist: Queensryche
Title: “Operation Mindcrime II”
Label: Rhino Records
Release Date: 4/4/2006
Genre: Progressive Rock
Rating: 8.5/10

Do you remember how it started? Do you remember that he was only doing what they told him? Well a full 18 years have passed and Nikki has returned to give us the second chapter to his tale which began in the classic “Operation: Mindcrime”. A lot of their original fans might lambaste Queensryche for choosing to revisit the themes of their most popular release but since so many years have gone by there is an entirely new audience available to their music. I admit at first I was one of the detractors who screamed “How could they do this”, fearing that the original release and its premise would suffer as a result but after a couple of listens I am happy to report that I was wrong. “Operation: Mindcrime II” picks up almost two decades later as Nikki now out of prison goes seeking revenge on the man who both put him there and was the cause of all his problems in the first place. The mysterious Doctor X. appears on the album in the form of the legendary Ronnie James Dio but his talents are sorely under utilized. He appears in only one song and could have been effective at least in dialogue in other areas of the album. Pamela Moore returns as Sister Mary (whether in his mind or in spirit I have not determined yet) and she shines on a number of tracks. After so many listens to Ms. Moore as this character I am interested in hearing her solo work. Tate is once again on top of his game proving that his pipes are still able to deliver even after over 20 years in the business. I also found the band to be above par and playing the best that I have heard them do in a number of years. Guitarist Mike Stone seems to have really stepped up for this release and is no longer relegated to the shadows left by Chris DeGarmo who left the band a number of years ago. As one might expect, members Rockenfield, Wilton and Jackson do not disappoint at all.
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