I have to be honest right from the beginning here. Operation: Mindcrime is one of the best concept albums written. Ever. Period. The music is powerful, the lyrics both interesting and politically poignant (both 18 years ago as well as today), the story well told. But for me, the clincher that lifts Mindcrime from the level of good to astoundingly great is just how strong the songs are. One of the largest perils of creating a concept album is loss of any single great song. For example, Fates Warning's absolutely brilliant A Pleasant Shade of Gray really needs to be listened to in its entirety to be appreciated. Dream Theater's Scenes From a Memory is the same. Both are amazing albums, but lack really great singles that can stand on their own.
Not so with the original Mindcrime. Songs such as "Speak", "Eyes of a Stranger", "I Don't Believe in Love", and "Breaking the Silence" are just great songs that you can listen to any time. No need to go from start to finish. That ability to tell a coherent, cohesive story while still having a whole collection of amazing singles is very uncommon. Add to that the fact that Mindcrime still sounds fresh, energetic and important, and you have one fantastic album.
So it shouldn't come as a surprise that when Mindcrime II was announced I was skeptical. With recent Queensrÿche records being disappointing, I didn't have very high hopes when I gave Mindcrime II its first listen. And after the first listen, to be honest, I didn't quite know what to think. Let's get the easy parts of this review out of the way first.
Yes, this is the heaviest Queensrÿche has sounded in well over a decade. It is also the most energetic their music has sounded since the original Mindcrime. However, this reviewer truly thinks that calling Queensrÿche a "Metal" band is a mistake. They are still a respectable progressive rock band, but they haven't really sounded "metal" to me in many years.
Okay, those points out of the way, just how does Operation: Mindcrime II stand up to the original? Well, it isn't as good, no doubt about it. But that doesn't make it a bad album. It really did take me numerous listens to really get a feel for Mindcrime II. This is one of the aspects in which it is inferior to the original. With the possible exception of one or two tracks, there just aren't really great singles on this album. And there certainly is nothing that comes close to the powerful "Eyes of a Stranger".
Article comments
1 - Guppusmaximus
Excellent Review. Though I dislike the release, and for me it's a sham even if they try to pass it off as a prog-rock album,I am pleased to see that someone understands when an album isn't Metal. No matter what the case, they have never released any work since OM1 that has captured their Metal essance. It's a shame and I can't quite understand it. Yes, OM1 is a brilliant concept album but you would think they would try to take advantage of that energy and progress just like DT and maybe not so much as Fates Warning(Anything after Perfect Symmetry is boring).
It's not that difficult especially when you look at bands like Iron Maiden,DIO,Opeth,DT,etc.. Who have constantly released work that have been tried & true. NO, I'm not looking for OM1 again...But the production and musicianship would've been appreciated whereas this one lacks both. Scott Rockenfield doesn't deliver on this album and Geoff Tate doesn't have the passion anymore in his voice. Michael Wilton and Eddie Jackson sound like they have no direction and no inspiration. No real licks from anyone in the group...So, it is a rock album at best.
But...Still an Excellent Review and the best one I've read here on BC
2 - mGee
Thanks for the honest review. I'd like to reinforce the fact that this album won't be accepted easily on first listen, due to it's predecessor's sheer legendary status. Fans of OMI shouldn't be turned off to multiple listens if the first doesn't grab you. You have to understand that you are going to have to wash away any and all preconceived notions or expectations based on the bias you will surely have.
I disagree that there aren't singles on this album. Of course, the singles on this one won't grab you immediately like those on OMI. My favorites from the album and those that I think are singles are as follows:
3 I'm American (didn't grab me on first listen, but quickly became a favorite)
6 The Hands (A definite crossover)
15 A Junkie's Blues (The best candidate to be accepted in today's rock climate)
16 Fear City Slide (along with The Hands, one of my absolute favs from the album)
This album does something that it's predecessor didn't. It explores the rock landscape much thoroughly. You'll hear elements of Pink Floyd (All the Promises), thrash (I'm American), 80s rock (Fear City Slide), and even a couple death metal growls (at least as close as you'll ever get on a Ryche album - Murderer?) and everything in between. It's definitely a salute to rock music and does better than any previous concept album, exploring the Rock terrain.
Give it at least 5 honest listens before judging. I predict that this album will only grow in status among fans' favorite Queensryche albums.
3 - Progged
Guppus: thanks for your input and the comment.
mGee: I appreciate the input. After a dozen or so listens (I wanted to make sure I was familiar with it before I reviewed it) there were finally a couple of songs that I could see as decent singles. However, I still don't think there is anything that is really that strong alone. This is one of those concept albums that is much better taken as a whole than any of its separate parts.
It does cover a fair amount of the rock landscape, and this proves to be both a boon and a bane. The variety makes the album more interesting. But at times I feel it is just all over the map and lacks focus. This makes it a bit harder to follow and even makes it harder to keep the listener's interest.
In the end, I stand by what I said. Overall, I think it is a good rock album. But not great. And it will certainly be one of my favorite Ryche albums from the past decade, but will have to get in line behind OM I, Rage, Warning and probably even Promised Land.
4 - Guppusmaximus
I have to disagree with McGee... The profound difference that OM1 had was that you didn't have to take 5 full listens of the album before it dawned on you that it was something special.I mean they had to come out with a video explaining the storyline because it was so pioneering for it's time.Truely...You shouldn't have to listen to any great album 5x before you appreciate it.
I don't think any real hardcore ryche fans will be looking for an OM1 clone, but, speaking as a pretty true fan I can say without hesitation that if you are going to tackle a feat such as a sequel to one of the best concept albums in "Metal" history not "Rock" then a band should either bring all the original members back (in this case,DeGarmo) or get studio musicians and egineers of a high caliber to do this kind of work. This album was probably better than their previous releases but that isn't saying much...
"It's definitely a salute to rock music and does better than any previous concept album, exploring the Rock terrain...."
I would definately disagree as I can think of quite a few rock concept albums that were much better than this release,one in mind would be:
Spock's Beard-"Snow"
But, that's the ultimate travesty here... Queensryche was never "Rock" in their Heyday. They were Metal...and that's what I miss!
5 - Mosh (Mexico)
This album has been taking some serious battering in different websites. I was also a little skeptical -though excited- when I found it in the record store. Though I must still hear it calmly a couple more times, I would like to say that I really liked it. OK, OM-I has the "advantages" that everyone has had more than ten years to listen to it and that , of course, it's considered a classic. Hard to beat that. OM-II, in my opinion, is the good release that I was waiting for since the first part: I kind of regretted buying the Queensrÿche releases after part I. Part II fulfills my hope of finding a delightful sound in most of the album.
I consider that the storyline, contrary to what's been said here, flows in a clearer fashion. OMI left some big blanks in the plot (some story-explanation bridges were missing among songs), and that does not happen with OMII.
My main complaints are two: the album cover and the lyrics.
The cover from OM-I was a little bit odd for the time. But it served the thematics of the disc. And the new OM-II cover is like throwing that same one in the blender along with the BloodSugarSexMagik by the Peppers. The result is plain ugly. I think the album could've benefited more from graphic design.
The lyrics are -just- OK. But I surely miss some stylisher text lines from part I. Queensrÿche have sometimes thrown in some very corny lyrics, where hopefulness for the wake of an inner-goodness in the heart of the man just goes too far. Luckily, this component is hardly found in this album. (Could it be that it was DeGarmo's "fault"? No idea).
In the overall, I consider OMII as an unexpected but greatly welcomed release, without trying to force in an in-vogue sound that is not theirs, like some other artists do. The guys finally get to make the good-sounding 'Rÿche album that I was longing for. I just regret that the guys are touring right now as an opening band for Whitesnake and not giving a full-force tour by themselves.
Thanks for the review, Progged.