| Artist: |
Queensryche |
| Title: |
"Greatest Hits" |
| Label: |
Virgin Records
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| Reviewed by: |
Vinnie Apicella |
| Rating: |
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Upon listening to all fourteen tracks contained herein,
it suddenly dawned on me that I was essentially listening to two
different bands. In fact, I still can't believe this is the same
Queensryche that first broke big in metal circles with songs like "Queen
Of The Ryche," "The Lady Wore Black" and "Take Hold Of The Flame."
"Queensryche," which has continually held dear those progressive qualities
that
can be rewarding enough to allow growth as musicians and their fan base,
yet risky enough to alienate themselves from their own history,
has always remained one of the top talents in rock circles.
Their new "Greatest Hits" package is by no means a signal that the
well's run dry or that impending retirement is lurking around the
corner. Their new "Q2K" release is evidence of that. In fact, I'm not
quite sure why this album is even being brought out at the moment. There's
obviously not some down period happening that calls for a temporary
bridge toward the next project. But still, this career spanning
collection is all any fan could ask for, although maybe another few
out takes or extra B-sides would've added a little more flavor to it.
In fact, there are two concluding bonus tracks called "Chasing Blue Sky,"
another of their ballad-types, and a new full band version of "Someone
Else?" from "Promised Land," which really adds a boost to what was
otherwise a fairly hollow seven minutes worth of listening
transparency.
From start to finish, the music can be divided into two
halves, with the first catering to the earliest work, beginning with
their magnificent self-titled EP, up through the "Operation Mindcrime," then
heading into new territory with the highly successful "Empire," and ending
with some of
the lesser known, maybe unjustifiably dismissive "Hear In The Now
Frontier" material. For me, I'd have taken everything off of "Rage For
Order" and "Operation: Mindcrime" and been done with it, but what can
you do?
A great thing about these collections, aside from offering a
selective look toward a band's rich history for those not in possession
of their catalog, is that the songs usually always get digitally done
up. How great it is to hear those rough early tracks like "Queen Of
The Ryche" and "The Lady Wore Black" with clear production? There's
about two selections from each album here, and most of what fans would
expect, but I was surprised that "I Dream In Infrared" made the cut over
"Gonna Get Close To You" from the "Rage." album, though pleased.
"Queensryche's" talent as musicians still to this day holds an astounding
influence on numerous bands having emerged on the scene, though this
clearly is directed to the earlier days when the band was more apt to
exploit their instrumental ingenuity. They may never again equal the
success first achieved on the remarkable "Operation: Mindcrime" release
from '88, one of the finest conceptual releases ever. Although their
popularity has waned a little in recent years, all they've accomplished
cannot be denied. This "Greatest Hits" package at long last gives them
their just due. It provides you with a listenable history of a band
that began way ahead of their time, and who may never be fully
appreciated until twenty years after their absence!
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