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Music, Reviews

“Operation: LIVE Crime” by Queensryche

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Artist: Queensryche
Title: “Operation: LIVE Crime
Label: EMI Records
Release Date: 9/25/2001
Genre: Progressive Metal
Rating: 9/10

Released as a companion to the video bearing the same name Queensryche gives the listener the CD version of “Operation: LIVE Crime”. Simply put, this is an amazing recording of the full “Operation: Mindcrime” album by the band in their prime from a concert performed in 1991. Originally released when CD was a new medium it came as a boxed-set format with a VHS of the concert and a full color illustrated booklet. It was also released as a cassette tape (anyone remember those?). The VHS is what is featured on the DVD and while I would have liked to see the two released in the same package again, this serves the need for those fans that might only want audio and those that only want video. Music fans everywhere seem to know this recordings original album and that’s what makes this a must have for the Queensryche section of your music collection. The Mindcrime album broke ground for Progressive Metal and showcased the massive talents of Queensryche not only as musicians but as storytellers capable of delivering Heavy Metal’s version of “The Wall”. The two albums are similar in their epic and detailed story and listening to the live version from beginning to end is clearly the way that this album was meant to be enjoyed. In 1991 Queensryche was very on-top of their game and still running the original full lineup of Tate, DeGarmo, Jackson, Rockenfield and Wilton. Not a note seems to be missed and the production just makes you reach for that volume knob to edge it ever higher. I found myself doing this especially when my favorite numbers came on in the performance and in particular “I Don’t Believe In Love” and “the Needle Lies”. Pamela Moore from the original album makes an appearance during “Suite Sister Mary” and if you don’t own the DVD yet, you must grab it for this song is more powerful visually than I thought possible in the audio. Overall the piece is excellent and the CD also includes two bonus unreleased tracks with “The Lady Wore Black” and “Roads To Madness”.
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Reviews, Videos

“Operation: Live Crime” (DVD) by Queensryche

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Artist: Queensryche
Title: “Operation: LIVE Crime”
Label: EMI Music
Release Date: 11/20/2001
Genre: Progressive Metal
Rating: 9/10

Queensryche truly delivered a masterpiece with their third album and signature release “Operation: Mindcrime”. Originally presented to the fans in 1988 this album raised the bar of Progressive Metal to levels that have yet to be matched or surpassed. The songs have withstood the years and with this DVD recorded in 1991 Queensryche takes the entire album to the concert stage. “Operation: LIVE Crime” is an excellent video and presents to the viewer the “Mindcrime” album the way it is supposed to be experienced; in it’s entirety from beginning to end. The album is quite possibly the Metal genres own “Dark Side Of The Moon” or “The Wall” and the video combine some animations shown on screens above the band along with their energetic performance and drama to a great result. The production is very clear on this and the photography on target but since this is from 1991 there are some limitations in the overall video presentation. It is a straight visual of the show and while you have some great close ups there is no option to switch angles or players or things that come out in today’s DVD’s. The full original Queensryche lineup is present with Geoff Tate, Michael Wilton, Chris DeGarmo, Scott Rockenfield and Eddie Jackson who were still incredibly hungry with this release and perform it as such. The band is complimented by the lovely Pamela Moore on “Suite Sister Mary” as she was also on the album. I enjoyed seeing one of my favorite albums live so much that it’s difficult to pick out my favorites. However I always seem to lean to “Eyes Of A Stranger” and “I Don’t Believe In Love” the most.
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