OPERATION: MINDCRIME

The highly-acclaimed "prog" masterpiece from one of the 1980s' iconic hairbands.

1. "I Remember Now (1:17) a hospital-based radio play that sets the scene for this concept album.

2. "Anarchy-X" (1:27) one forgets the advantages of having two guitarists--and a good drummer. (4.25/5)

3. "Revolution Calling" (4:42) too bad the drummer's been housed in such a poor sound from the 80s-influenced engineer. Coming from listening to Voivod all morning I'm quickly reminded that Queensrÿche is no punk rock holdover much less a Tech/Extreme Metal wannabe; these guys are full on 80s hairband with half of their focus on looks/appearances and theatricity. Musically this is not a very special song, just solid. It must be in the lyrics that the this song and album have their value. (8.5/10) 4. "Operation: Mindcrime" (4:43) solid song with a surprising amount of space and sloth-like speed. Again, it must be the words and vocal performance skill of Geoff Tate that earns this song and album such a solid fan (and critical) base. It's a well-performed, well-produced song with a memorable chorus hook. (8.75/10)

5. "Speak" (3:42) Geoff Tate gives quite a remarkable vocal performance on this one. A nice controlled song with some well-constructed shifts between motifs and a couple of inventive entertainment hooks--including the male choir's repeated bass chant. Again, too bad about that 80s drum sound. (8.875/10)

6. "Spreading The Disease" (4:07) The 80s drum sound is especially annoying in a straightforward rock 4/4 beat. Very interesting ending with an effected drum fadeout. (8.25/10)

7. "The Mission" (5:46) multiple guitar arpeggi over which Geoff sings in a very theatric pleading voice. At 1:23 the whole band shifts into drive with some pretty standard hairband rock riffing and singing. Aside from the interesting syncopation in the chorus and some nice harmonized guitar twinning around the three-minute mark, this could literally be any hairband from the 1980s. Still, this is very well done; I can see why this song could become a fan favorite. Definitely a top three song for me. (8.875/10)

8. "Suite Sister Mary" (10:41) the plot thickens--a murder plot; a coven of religious zealots chanting their angry truth, the crime committed. Again Geoff starts off with a very theatric vocal . The presence of the choir must geek a few people. But then a guitar throws down a riff of power chords to signal a shift into a more MEAT LOAF-like passage (which then turns RUSH at 3:48). The drummer's disco foot pedal drives the song forward until the shift into the choral-infused section. Back and forth the band switches from motif to motif, extending this (unnecessarily?). Entertaining but forgettable. (17.25/20)

9. "The Needle Lies" (3:08) It's, it's, it's the Ballroom Blitz! (How any band wants to replicate this monotonous shuffle-- especially with the 80s engineering choices--I can't figure out. It must be a drummer thing.) It's all I can hear! (8.25/10)

10. "Electric Requiem" (1:22) interesting (until the awful sound of the snare hit accosts). Develops nicely but then suddenly ends. Why? What was the purpose? (4.5/5)

11. "Breaking The Silence" (4:34) A very nice 80s song with a kind of ROBIN TROWER remnant guitar riff in the forefront; even the stereotypic hairband power chords can't totally destroy this one. A top three for me. (8.875/10)

12. "I Don't Believe In Love" (4:23) another very nice 80s sounding song--with great rolling bass play and FIXX--like sound to the guitar strums. My final top three. (One last question: Is the Mindcrime story over? Has the concept album story finished? This song doesn't seem to fit the story line.) (8.875/10)

13. "Waiting For 22" (1:05) nice guitar étude. (4.5/5)

14. "My Empty Room" (1:28) ticking clock, guitar arpeggi, and Geoff's plaintive vocal sound awesome, but then all hell breaks loose at the very end. (4.75/5)

15. "Eyes Of A Stranger" (6:39) opens with a collage of PINK FLOYD scenes (from both The Wall and Dark Side of the Moon) but then turns into a solid heavy rock song--one that is, again, unfortunately, quite typical of the "metal" scene of the 1970s and 80s. Great performance from Geoff Tate. The dude has really grown. Too bad that one of the main musical hooks of the song seems to come straight out of AC/DC's "Hell's Bells." (8.875/10)

Total Time: 59:16

Unfortunately, my criticism of this album is biased by my tendency to lump all hairband music from the 1980s into one category, but, in my defense: it does all sound very much the same to me.

B/four stars; a nice addition to any prog lover's music collection--especially if you're into the 1980s classic hard rock/"metal" scene.