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Queensr che was poised to follow in the footsteps of Pink Floyd, Rush, and Iron Maiden. Their early albums were derivative but interesting, and the Seattle quintet quickly synthesized intelligent, technically impressive progressive rock and heavy metal. Vocalist Geoff Tate, guitarists Chris DeGarmo and Michael Wilton, bassist Eddie Jackson, and drummer Scott Rockenfield arguably peaked with 1988's concept album Operation:Mindcrime, a masterpiece in terms of musicianship and story structure. Then 1990's equally excellent Empire exploded thanks to "Silent Lucidity." But some things happened that stopped Queensr che from cementing itself as a superstar band for the ages: (1) Within a year grunge exploded, rendering Queensr che's skills "unhip"; (2) 1994's Promised Land did well commercially but was generally underappreciated; (3) Queensr che virtually ruined its own career with 1997's disappointing and ill-conceived Hear in the Now Frontier, which featured a stripped-down "modern" sound five years after the fact; (4) Queensr che's label, EMI, folded just after its release; (5) Perhaps reeling from creative uncertainty and label problems, DeGarmo quit. Prime highlights are collected on 2000's Greatest Hits, which covers seven EMI albums. "Queen of the Reich" is great heavy metal, even if Tate does imitate the operatic wail of Judas Priest's Rob Halford and Iron Maiden's Bruce Dickinson. Other early gems are "Take Hold of the Flame" and "I Dream in Infrared." Operation:Mindcrime works best as a whole, but "I Don't Believe in Love" and "Eyes of a Stranger" are the peaks. Promised Land is represented by the superb "I Am I" and "Bridge." Two bonus tracks from Japanese releases are included: "Chasing Blue Sky" is astonishingly beautiful and "Someone Else?" features the full band. The Greatest Hits liner notes feature an essay by Paul Sutter who wrote an early Queensr che demo review for Kerrang! All 16 songs are 24-bit digitally remastered. ~ Bret Adams, All Music Guide
more albums by this artist
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- Operation: Mindcrime
- Released 1988
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- Empire
- Released 1990
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- Operation: Mindcrime II
- Released 2006
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- American Soldier
- Released 2009
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listener reviews
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Chasing Blue Sky
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- By KBS1313
- 5/26/2009 23:44:05
- This is one of my favorite songs of all time, not just a favoirte Queensryche song. We first heard them do it live at a DC club 10 years ago, and it stuck in my head so much I had to have the the song. I'm not in the Queensrych fan club, but I do like the music, and this is a good mix of what I like about them. Just wish that "Lady Jane" as on this one.
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