| Queensryche - Take Cover |
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Review By discconnected
How I feel about covers albums has been well-documented.
The alarming trend continues, as Queensryche becomes
the latest band to "pay tribute to their influences"
(or as I prefer to believe, release an album without
writing a goddamn thing).
In the decade since guitarist Chris DeGarmo departed
Queensryche, the band has been lacking in direction
and execution, their albums suffering from inconsistent
songwriting. Even a desperate effort to regain their
past success, a sequel to their '80s metal masterpiece
Operation: Mindcrime (the cleverly titled Operation:
Mindcrime II) has not returned them to their DeGarmo
heights. Even in spite of my feelings about covers
albums, my trepidation at the prospect of "Take
Cover" can certainly be understood.
Overall, this is a varied collection of songs with
many tracks that will surprise Queensryche's fans.
Opening the album is "Welcome to the Machine"
by Pink Floyd, by far the best track on the disc.
Black Sabbath's "Neon Knights" is another
gem. Some of the tracks on the album must have seemed
better on paper than they sound here (the worst being
"For What It's Worth" by Buffalo Springfield),
although I do have to give the band credit for trying
on some different sounds. The vocals and production
on this effort seem rushed. It's a novelty and with
the exception of Floyd's "Welcome to the Machine"
and Sabbath's "Neon Knights" it contains
no material that will beg you to play it again. Recommended
for die-hards, but casual fans will want to preview
the tracks before buying.
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| Queensryche - Mindcrime
at the Moore |
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Review By discconnected
Queensryche is one of those bands (like Rush and Dream
Theater) that must have managed to hold onto a following
of loyal fans who actually (gasp) buy albums. Their
trend has been new album, tour, live album and DVD for
several cycles. I would imagine that the record companies
would not continue in this vein if it were not profitable.
As you can tell from the title of their new album, "Mindcrime
At The Moore," we are in the live album phase of
the cycle.
This collection captures live performances of both acts
of their "Operation: Mindcrime" saga, begun
in 1988 with the essential "Operation: Mindcrime"
release, and continued in 2006 with the cleverly titled
"Operation: Mindcrime II"
Widely regarded as the band's masterpiece, the original
Mindcrime was a concept album about disillusionment
and revolution, with the obligatory tragic love story
folded into the mix.
While not as good as the original (are sequels ever?),
Mindcrime Deux was still better than you'd expect after
18 years and difficult to simply dismiss, but lacking
the standout songs of the first album. MCII will always
be overshadowed by it's predecessor, but there are still
some good songs that give the sequel its own merits.
This live piece was recorded on Queensryche's 2006 tour,
with actors and props helping to tell the story on stage,
making the presentation more theatrical. The band is
still there, rocking the house and doing Seattle proud,
and there is even an appearance from the Seahawks Blue
Thunder drum line-actually they take over the stage
for one of the coolest marching band bits ever. Casual
fans would do well to purchase the two studio albums
in addition (there is a story to follow here), but for
the die hards this live set is a must-have. |
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