Classic Rock Bottom

ALBUM OF THE WEEK # 357 QUEENSRYCHE - OPERATION: MINDCRIME (1988)

Disclaimer: All info that does not reside in my brain is gathered from wikipedia.com (mostly because Jon can't stand it) unless otherwise noted.

This week's Album of the Week is Operation: Mindcrime by Queensryche.  The album was the band's third studio release.  The album hit the streets on May 3rd, 1988.  It certainly didn't burn up the charts, as it only managed a number 50 showing in the U.S.  There were several singles released, but all of them failed to chart in U.S.  It's a concept album, but then again, you likely already know that.  What I'll say is that I think it's a terrific album. The follow-up, Empire, is the album that got me into the band, and these two albums still compose my Top 2 Queensryche albums.

Listen, this may seem weird, but I really don't feel much like writing this post.  As you all know, Chris Cornell died on Wednesday or Thursday, depending on the timeline.  I certainly didn't know him personally, but something about his death seems personal to me.  Therefore, this is all I have this week.  Sorry if Queensryche's awesome album is getting the shaft here, but I just don't know how else to put it.

 

Side One:

1. I Remember Now

2. Anarchy-X

3. Revolution Calling

4. Operation: Mindcrime

5. Speak

6. Spreading The Disease

7. The Mission

Side Two:

8. Suite Sister Mary

9. The Needle Lies

10. Electric Requiem

11. Breaking The Silence

12. I Don't Believe In Love

13. Waiting For 22

14. My Empty Room

15. Eyes of a Stranger

 

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Cool album. I kind of swore off Queensryche after "The Warning" because I didn't like it and this drug me back in a bit and then there was the next album which really drug me back in. Then I lost it again later and then came back. Definitely their strongest album, but "Empire" ain't too shabby either. 

They should make a second part so we get more story. I think I'll let Geoff and the boys know so they can put that on their radar.

Sometimes you're  a funny guy...

This is the greatest album ever recorded. I'm not being wise either. This is my favorite all time album.

Amazing stuff, great story and music. Just a balls out awesome performance. I own this on vinyl, cassette, CD (multiple versions) and have both the cassette and CD editions of the Operation: Livecrime release as well.

I saw them do the album live twice on the Empire tour.

Again, this is the greatest album ever. Period.

This is THE concept album to beat. As much as I like projects that tell a homogeneous story, they can quickly fall short on one level or another for me. The usual traps are: repeated variations on a single melody throughout the album for too many times, the story is plain boring or too complex, the use of numerous vocalists are pulling the project apart, the story goes on infinitely, sometimes for the length of three albums and occasionally all at the expense of a single release. But not this one. Mindcrime is perfect.

At the time this came out, where I lived, none of the Queensryche albums were ever released, but even in a remote place like that, the power of the "word of mouth" rose this release into a cult status. My friends and I, through great effort, were able to collect and share among each other all of their previous releases. So when I heard about the Empire coming out, I started to look around for means to buy it.

My only option was the guy who owned a Rent-a-CD place. Yes, you read it correctly. Nowhere else in the world I encountered such a business model, but where I lived CD's were impossible to find, hence the oddity. Let's not forget the misconception that was circling around at the time either, when everyone believed CD's were indestructible. No scratch or fingerprints could damage them. Of course, even people who didn't own a CD player were set to test those theories. I don't think the guy had a great business idea, but who was I to tell him that. Anyway, in intervals of about 3-4 months apart, I would pay him a commission fee, to bring me about 3 LP's from his CD buying trips to Germany.

When I asked him to buy me the Empire CD, I could only afford one LP, beside it. I still remember my other choice. It was the Damn Yankees S/T vinyl. Once I had them in my possession, I went home and put the DY album on first. It was everything I hoped for. Still love it and I was prepared to be blown away with the Empire. After all, I left the best for last. At the end of my listening session I was like...

WTF was that?

Ran right back to the guy and sold him the CD with a hefty deficit, but I was happy to cut my losses. Then MTV put the songs from the Empire into heavy rotation and with time they warmed up to me. Few years later I bought the CD again from a second hand store and if you ask me today to single out a Queensryche song, it would be one from the Empire. However, if you want me to name a concept album and especially if you narrow down my choices to a Metal genre, that would be Operation: Mindcrime.

I actually got the cassette as a Christmas present and that was the first thing I used after the presents were all unwrapped. It retains its power through each and every listen.

I am really surprised this post didn't get more conversation going.

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