QueensrA¿che - Queensryche - Greatest Hits

It doesn't take very many fingers to enumerate the number of American heavy-metal bands who traversed the treacherously shifting musical tastes of the 1980s and '90s intact and prosperous. And though their multiplatinum days peaked well before contemporaries like Metallica, Queensryche soldiered on, their sound evolving and maturing in remarkably similar fashion; one might argue they lead the way in that regard. Greatest-hits collections are suspect affairs, but this one presents a taut history lesson, documenting the evolution of one of America's most consistently underrated metal outfits from the Judas Priest-clone days of their self-released debut to the heights of Operation: Mindcrime and Empire, and into their equally rewarding '90s output. Along the way, the band managed to pick up an often artsy social conscience as well as an impressive musical range (the quiet dynamics of "Silent Lucidity" being light-years away from singer Geoff Tate's original Halford-esque howl) and a catchy pop sensibility ("Jet City Woman," "Sign of the Times"). Fans will also welcome two bonus tracks, the bluesy "Chasing Blue Sky" and an alternate, full-band version of "Someone Else?" --Jerry McCulley Amazon.com

Circa 2000 best of collection

Queensryche putting out a greatest hits is an interesting proposition much as it is for almost every band because unless your the Stones, The Beatles, U2 or some solo artist like Madonna just how many hit singles does any band really have. That's why I always prefer the term `best of'.

But that quibble aside the mighty Ryche did have a few bona fide mainstream hits and their footprint on the hard rock and metal universe was more considerable - sort of the player who is great in the second division but never quite gets to play in the premier leagues.

All the biggies are here from the transcendent Silent Lucidity - Geoff Tate has said in interviews he still doesn't know how it was a hit. - to the harmony vocal heavy Jet City Woman through to the heavy rockin' lamentation on social ills that is Empire. But this compilation is more than just a few choice cuts from the Empire album and an otherwise ill thought out rogues gallery. Instead it cherry picks from the gamut of Queensryche releases and, joy of joys, is actually set out in chronological order kicking off with Queen of the Reich and The Lady Wore Black from their debut EP before flowing into numbers from The Warning and Rage for Order as well as a couple of tunes from Operation Mindcrime.

Alas for some reason the numbers from Operation Mindcrime that have been chosen here are fairly mellow in several ways and personally I'd have preferred to see some of the nastier, really metallic cuts here to better show the variation this band was capable of. A couple of songs from Promised Land are also here in the form of I Am I , Bridge and Sign of the Times is chipped in by Hear In The Now Frontier. Tacked onto the end of the release are two bonus style tracks, one is Chasing Blue Sky (also featured as a bonus track on the remastered Hear in the Now Frontier album) and a full band version of Someone Else (also on the remastered version of Promised Land) and it could be argued that these songs add little to the overall package.

Released at the same time as the entire Queensryche catalogue up to that point was reissued in 24 bit digitally remastered form with bonus tracks (all these songs are the remastered versions) this selection of `Ryche moments is for the most part pretty spot on and indicative of the bands clearly produced and technically played take on heavy music genre, wriggling on the cusp of metal and hard rock for much of their existence. And like all the reissued/remastered albums this has liner notes from Paul Sutter, once of Kerrang magazine. If you can pick it up reasonably priced this is a quality buy for the casual fan who wants the hits they remember from the bands most successful period along with some stuff from pretty much all their pre 2000 albums. Recommended release from a recommended band. November 17, 2007

Queensryche

This greatest hits cd covers many many great songs, and I listen to it often. September 10, 2007

Nice introduction to Seattle's Queensryche

THE BAND: Geoff Tate (vocals), Chris DeGarmo (guitar), Michael Wilton (guitar), Eddie Jackson (bass), Scott Rockenfield (drums & percussion).

THE DISC: (2000) 16 tracks clocking in at approximately 77 minutes. Included with the disc is a 10-page booklet containing song titles/credits/times, a 3-page intro to the band, 1 band photo, previous album(s) cover art, and what songs came from which albums. All tracks 24-bit digitally remastered. This compilation follows the band from 1983-97. Label - EMI / Virgin Records.

ALBUM REPRESENTATION: Queensryche EP (2 songs), The Warning (2), Rage For Order (2), Operation Mindcrime (2), Empire (3), Promised Land (2), Hear In The Now Frontier (1), bonus tracks taken from Japanese releases only (2).

COMMENTS: This "Greatest Hits" serves as a very warm intro to Seattle's (technically Bellevue, WA) Queensryche. Full of soaring vocals, ripping guitars, intricate drumming. Not to mention some wonderful gothic costumes, make-up and hair back in the early-to-mid 80's (some rock band's felt they needed a gimmick years ago - and early photos of Tate & Co were pure hair & glam metal cheese). Back when Queensryche was starting out, I was sitting on the fence about their music. Then came "Operation Mindcrime" (1988) and I was forever a fan. "Empire" (1990) came next - a great follow-up though leaning to the commercial side of arena rock. "Promised Land" (1994) rounded at the triple threat, though I truly felt this album was a bit sub par (compared to its 2 predecessors) and more importantly it took way too long to come out (4 years). Grunge had moved into the rock scene and rock/metal was taking a back seat for a while... and so the band goes. THE GOOD: Most of the staples are here in glorious 24-bit digitally remastered sound - "Queen Of The Reich", "The Lady Wore Black", "Take Hold The Flame", "I Dream In Infrared", "Eyes Of A Stranger", "I Don't Believe In Love", "Jet City Woman", "Silent Lucidity", "I Am I", "Bridge", "Sign Of The Times", etc. The songs are in chronological order so you can hear the band change/mature over the years. The liner notes could have been more extensive (only 1 band photo - and it's a bad one at that), but the necessary information is there regarding the songs and catalog. THE NOT SO GOOD: This is an EMI release, so nothing from labels Atlantic, Sanctuary or Rhino are here (all from 1999 - present). No representation from the albums: "Q2K", "Tribe", "Operation Mindcrime II", or any of their live albums. Granted, several of these albums came out after this "Greatest Hits" was released in '00. Here's hoping the "Gold" or "Essential" series will step up to the plate and make an all-inclusive 2-disc edition of the band's work. Only 2 songs from "Operation Mindcrime" is criminal. Also worth noting are the significant song omissions - "Spreading The Disease" and "Revolution Calling", as well as other gems - "Suite Sister Mary", "Best I Can", "Another Rainy Night", "I Will Remember", "Chemical Youth", "Out Of Mind", "Damaged", and "Nightrider". Get rid of the average (2) bonus tracks, and include 2 or 3 of the abandoned songs, and you'd have a 5-star disc. Looking for a studio album or two - readers must start with "Operation Mindcrime", followed by "Empire". Overall - this "Greatest Hits" package is excellent for the novice who wants to discover the band. For the long time fan, it's nice to have so many classic Queensryche songs all in one place (4+ stars). May 22, 2007

Just buy all of their CDs - you can thank me later

I had to laugh. How could Queensryche make a Greatest Hits CD? A real Queensryche fan would know better. A better idea would be to offer a boxed set of all of their original releases. I guess if you don't have any of their CDs, having the Greatest Hits would be better than nothing, but you would not be getting the true Queensryche experience. You need to get the following CDs: "The Warning", "Rage for Order", "Operation: Mindcrime", "Empire", "Promised Land", "Hear in the Now Frontier", "Q2K", "Tribe", and "Operation: Mindcrime II". You owe it to yourself to hear why Queensryche is the best metal/progressive rock band EVER. Period. September 24, 2006

Queensryche

Great service thank you. Queensryche -Greatest hits music was ok .If you heard one you heard them all But over all it was good August 13, 2006

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