For me, this was the pinnacle of 80s metal. The entire recording is an absolute classic. The best part... I believe this album is more relevant NOW, than when it was released.
"Fighting fire, with empty words While the banks get fat And the poor stay poor And the rich get rich And the cops get paid To look away As the one percent rules America" -Spreading the Disease Yeppers.
I will always love this album too! Definitely a storytelling masterpiece that describes our country today and then as well, but worse today. The whole album is awesome, from the music of the guitars, bassist, drums and the singer Jeoff with his amazing vocals!
@@briansf7012 That sentiment would go for something like Pink Floyd's The Wall, or Tommy by The Who as well. The whole is greater than the sum of its parts. 😉👍Outstanding Red Leader!
The backing vocals of him and Eddie Jackson are phenomenal. Everybody always talks about Geoff's range, but seem to forget that Chris is right up there with him throughout that whole album. Really wish both of them were still in the band.
@@andrewaavik agreed, but Michael Wilton also helped make this album and band amazing. He also has songwriting credits and lead solos. Chris DeGarmo definitely deserves the praise that he gets, but so does Michael Wilton.
It’s funny to hear about a band, a group of five talented men, be cast as a solo act. The truth is all five of these guys made QR, and any of them leaving the band would have left a hole hard to refill. It just so happened DeGarmo left first.
@@trickers24 Almost every frame, in the background... messages... "Hoffman lenses"... There's a man by that name who exposes a certain religion and their "army" ...and their meddling in world affairs... same people as Mindcrime exposes... Go through it scene by scene... all the background stuff... names on the parking spaces in the big buddy fight scene... what's "playing now" at the movie theater in the background... like I said, every scene has hidden stuff... little nuggets.
This is HANDS DOWN the BEST review and reaction to this masterpiece of an album I have ever heard. Not only the reaction to the story but all the small tidbits of music theory spread throughout. A great insight into an outsider experiencing this story from start to finish. This was the Queensyche's "Revolver" - every song a masterpiece. No song you ever skip over. I actually consider Operation: Mindcrime to be THE BEST concept album ever released.
Of all of my playlists...this album is the only one set in it's entirety. There are very few albums that I must hear in their entirety or a full side , single songs just don't cut it. This is one of those albums. The concept was timeless, the writing was flawless, and the production and performance was mind blowing. Mindcrime is timeless and still resonates. I wonder how many of us viewers were singing along, knowing every word, every pause, every lead break. More than just me I know.
Eddie Jackson's bass sound is legendary, right up there with Geddy Lee. All of the members were so good, so tight and precise. More people need to hear this.
Not only the music, but the lyrics and story telling are outstanding as well. This is a fantastic album. To me nothing will ever surpass Master of Puppets as the greatest album ever made, but this is certainly top 5 of all time.
This cannot be stated enough: One of the most important recordings in the history of rock. I'm so glad this was reviewed in its entirety instead of just a track or two. I can't say the same for Mindcrime II. That record was necessary for closure reasons and it had some bright spots but it cannot hold a candle to Mindcrime I. Sooo Doug, to answer your question at the end of your review of "what happens next" Listen to Mindcrime II. It doesn't have the inspiration Mindcrime I has, but it closes the story.
@@catmanduu66 started off about 10 feet from the stage when they hit Green Bay on that tour. Then Suicidal Tendencies hit the stage as openers and I found myself in the middle of the pit. Had to back out, but worked my way back up for the 'Ryche. Just a mind blowing show.
@@allenwilson1664 Fully agree. Streets, Scenes and Operation Mindcrime in that order are the best conceptual albums ever done by metal bands. A real pity Doug disliked "hall of the mountain king" when he did the video. He is missing an absolute masterpiece.
1989, in my dorm, planning to see Metallica that weekend. My buddy gave me this CD, suggesting I would like it, and telling me they were the opening act. I sat down, pressed play, and didn't move for an hour, enthralled. I have never, and will never grow tired of this one!
@@ericwhite2830 "there's got to be something else, for me!!! and I lay awake and stare, into the eyes of a stranger!!" In Mindcrime 2 .. we learn just how insane Nikki became! (even though it wasn't the best album)
I saw them four times in their prime and they were unrivaled live. Of all the famous bands I've seen over the last 40 years nobody could compete with their live performances. Geoff's voice was perfection and the band was one-take tight. To this day my favorite band of all time.
Senior year in highschool, had to get a good grade in language and literature class in order not to fail my senior year. Mind you, i was never a good student, a bit of rebellious metalhead if you will. The final test was an essay, the theme, Kafka's Stranger. At that point, i hadn't read it, and thought i was fucked. Eyes of a stranger lyrics pop into my head. I deconstructed the song into an essay. Few days later, essay results came back. Passed with flying colours. The teacher even talked about my essay in front of the class and in front of the school teachers board. Thanks Queensryche!
Holy cow!! You're actually reviewing Queensryche's masterpiece album in its entirety!! Doug, your awesome score just shot up ten thousand points! 🤘🏻😃🤘🏻
I take the ending "I remember now" to basically return you to the present. The whole album is his remembering and he cycles back to the present. It's brilliant
I was wondering if he was going to get to that point and that the story plays out in a blink eye and ends exactly as it started. This album is one of the most important works up there with The Wall and Tommy
I know alot of people consider The Wall the greatest concept album, but for me it was this album, it came out at the end of my junior year in high school. I have alot of memories of this album listening with my friends. Queensryche was not yet mainstream and fans of this band knew how monumental this release was and its messages thruout.
This is in the #2 position on my all-time favorite concept albums #1 "Animals" #2 "Operation Mindcrime" #3 "Thick As A Brick" #4 "Dark Side Of The Moon" #5 "Days Of Future Passed" #6 "Wish You Were Here" #7 "Tommy" #8 "Seventh Son Of A Seventh Son" #9 "I Robot" #10 "ChristO"
I have a short list of greatest albums of all time that includes "The Wall" and "Operation Mindcrime". I would say the style of The Wall has aged better, but the message of Operation Mindcrime is timeless and speaks to me now more than it did 30+ years ago as a teenager. I have no argument with anyone who says Mindcrime is the best or anyone who says The Wall is the best.
For me, this is the best album ever made. When it was released back in `88 I listened to on repeat at home, on my walkman, and to this day I still hold this as my favorite album of all time. This is a masterpiece and not many come close.
My favourite too since the 80s. saw the empire tour 2 nights in succession where they did this both times. For me Eyes of a Stranger is the best song of all time too and it's interesting to see someone hitting this like this. Please listen to this more! It just gets better with more listens
It's amazing how the sound bites from the hospital are played on so many different tv shows and movies. But each time I hear one of them, I think of this album. One of the best of all time.
Operation Mindcrime is an absolute masterpiece and one of the greatest albums of all time. It’s totally flawless. I love this version of Queensryche. The song writing was on point. They were called the thinking man’s metal band for a reason. Great reaction too.
That snare is known as the Queensryche snare. After Operation Mindcrime came out, pretty much every single band tried to recreate it. It pretty much set a standard in the metal music industry in the 90's.
I think Rage for Order qualifies for an extended play episode. Even if Mindcrime didn't exist, Rage cements their place at the very top of progressive metal history. Also way ahead of its time. So many amazing peaks that still give me goosebumps. Like the end of the solo in London to the last verse Aaaw there's some things in life I could never face....The worst is being alone. Sometimes I wish I could have taken your place my Love. You know I don't want to live forever. The end of Neue Regel... Epic record.
Pretty much everything they ever did is fantastic. Empire is really good as well. But to me Operation Mindcrime will always be their pinnacle. This album blew my mind, and almost blew my Cerwin Vega AT12s. An absolute masterpiece!!!
It took 14 year old me a long while to understand what was going on in this record completely. As others have said this one is absolutely top level 80s prog metal. 35 years later I'm still listening to it, appreciating it and watching your video has given it another dimension AGAIN. Nailed it. Thanks Doug.
This is one of my all-time favorite albums of all time!! I bought the cassette the day it came out ... and knew all the lyrics within 2 days.. .it was just on repeat.... what makes this a classic, is that the story and the lyrics are timeless, considering it was released in 1988, some of the sentiments of the lyrics hold true today.
@@michaelgrimmett5612 ya.. .but i still think this was their Masterpiece .. nothing afterward could compare.. When they tried to do Operation Mindcrime 2 .. it fell flat.. they couldn't rekindle that .... i dunno, that inspiration .. it's like when they wrote that album (Operation Mindcrime 1), creativity flowed through them, and they made their opus...
No one ever comes right out and says it, but at the end of the day, for me, Operation: Mindcrime is love story. The surrounding factors of politics, corruption, revolution, crime, psychology, addiction, etc make for some interesting backdrop and context for the circumstances that bring Nikki and Mary together as fleeting soul mates -- and then tears them apart -- but the main thrust of emotion from Suite Sister Mary ("Help us make it through the night" / "I see myself in you, parallel lives") through the close seven tracks later in Eyes of a Stranger ("...memories of what we had and what we knew ... I see something that reminds me of you") is your tragic tale of heartbreak and the pain of lost love. This love story ends up dominating the album -- and that's not a complaint. Thanks to the album's fantastic writing, the delivery simultaneously manages to stay within the concept album's drama while also being generally applicable at a personal level. It's gripping and affecting, in true operatic/theatrical fashion. As good as it gets.
The true tragedy of Nikki’s story can only be realized with the lyric booklet. Not only does the album end as it started, the lyrics reveal that the entire album story replays every minute as a loop in Nikki’s deranged mind. What an album. Great work, Doug!
The Wall begins, & ends, & begins again… the very same way. It begins with ‘ere we came in?’ & ends with ‘Isn’t this whe…’ ( Isn’t this where we came in?) With the same music lightly playing in the background. It’s one of those things where, if you don’t know it’s there, you won’t know it’s there. These are by far my two favorite concept albums of all time. They each tell epic stories, that you can follow from song to song and decipher the accounts of what’s happening. While The Wall actually has a few songs that can stand on their own as singles, they are more impactful within the context of the story. Mindcrime basically had Eyes of a Stranger & I Don’t Believe in Love, that could stand alone, but again, much more important & meaningful as integral elements of the story. Masterful work really. Tate at his absolute best (save for the Tokyo performance of Take ahold of The Flame), just everything. I could go on & on, but that’s what we have you for!
@@Willie_McBride The Wall has more songs that are able to work as singles, but that's not good or bad. It just is. I agree that Eyes of a Stranger and I Don't Believe in Love are really the only two on Mindcrime that can work alone, at least for me. But I enjoy them more as a whole.
Back in the 80's on swedish radio we had one hour of metal music a week, a show dedicated to metal. When this album dropped the presenter said that Queensrÿche Operation Mindcrime has dropped, put it on and just let it play continuously without interruption. I sat glued to the set for the entire album, and I was hooked.
I thoroughly enjoyed listening and watching you reaction to this album. I am 50 years old and Operation Mindcrime has been my all-time favorite record since it was release in '88. I've listened to it countless times. I'm not a composer, but I have been a musician through my life (drummer) and in my opinion it's a masterpiece of storytelling, song writing, and musicianship. It's the one record that, if I were to be stranded on an island and could choose only 1 record to take with me, this would it is. I suppose that probably doesn't say good things about me, lol, but it is what it is. Great reaction. Thanks for doing this.
Doug, for your own enjoyment and thrill you should watch the concert film Operation Livecrime. During the tour for their next album Empire they performed this album in it's entirety. If not the whole thing at least Suite Sister Mary. Watching Geoff and Pamala interact and sing to each other is...there are no words.
@@LostLar Mindcrime at the Moore is amazing. When Seattle Seahawks' Blue Thunder drum troupe come on for the intro it still sends shivers right down my body.
Geoffs voice was incredible lve back then. When watching him in front row you could hear his voice without the PA and it was tge most powerful i ever heard. The band was also awesome, the thought put into this album was amazing. It used to drive me nuts when people would group them as a hair band like bon jovi or poison, etc
Can’t remember what I had for lunch yesterday but I still remember every single word on this entire record from first to last. I will never forget it. 🔥🔥🔥
5:06 I Remember Now 7:01 Anarchy-X 8:54 Revolution Calling 14:07 Operation: Mindcrime 19:12 Speak 23:31 Spreading the Disease 29:38 The Mission 36:30 Suite Sister Mary 47:38 The Needle Lies 51:38 Electric Requiem 54:51 Breaking the Silence 1:00:01 I Don't Believe in Love 1:04:49 Waiting for 22 1:06:31 My Empty Room 1:09:33 Eyes of a Stranger
Queensryche was one of those bands who went out on tours opening for just about everyone in the late 80's, and they always killed. Saw them with Ozzy, Metallica, Def Leppard, and a few that I'm blanking on now. But when they came around headlining on the Empire tour they finally played Mindcrime in its entirety. They finally had the money & clout to do it right with movie footage playing out the story in the background - it was a truly remarkable production, especially for the times. Tate was just unreal in his day... I mean record-quality vocals that peeled paint from the walls!
I saw them with Metallica, unfortunately I was not a fan at the time and wasn't at all interested in paying attention to their set. "I Don't Believe In Love" was getting played to death at the time and I didn't care for it at all, so it wasn't until many years later that I finally gave this amazing album a listen.
Most bands refused to tour with Queensryche even before this album were made, because they would steal the show vs many headliners. Kiss at their worst period ever had Queensryche as support band in 1985. lol
I first saw them headline on Rage tour. It was at the Santa Monica Civic, and they played most of first two albums. Tate was also on keyboards, and they were phenomenal. Roads to Madness, and No Sanctuary were even better than on The Warning. I was blown away!
so much fun watching someone listening to Mindcrime for the first time, your facial expressions are great. I travelled an hour by public transport to the HMV shop in Middlesborough to be first in line the day it was released, an hour before they opened, stood in the pouring rain to buy the vinyl, CD and tape, when I got home I put my headphones on and was literally blown away by the genius of this album, 35 years later it has the same effect on me, I know I've listened to it at least 5000 times over the years and worn out 2 CD's. And I still have my tour shirt signed by the band, best album ever !
The monks of Morin Heights is a reference to the location of Le Studio, just north on Montreal where the album was recorded. Rush also recorded several of their albums there.
This is the quintessential concept album, not to mention one of the best albums ever recorded. This is for me one of my top three albums, simply incredible!!
This is for me one of the best albums out there. It is so far ahead of its time and as you said, still relevant today 30+ years later.... Chris DeGarmo said in an interview back in the day on a question if they wanted to owerthrow the government... "Hey man, we're just writing about cars and women and stuff." I just love that answer 😄 Fantastic reaction! Glad you enjoyed it! Be safe Björn
So much of a masterwork....This album still amazes me with it's complexity in both story and musicianship....still hearing new things even after all these years and it never gets old.
When the band was on tour for OM they didn't play a single track from the album during the show until they did the encore where they played it as a whole from begining to end.
I loved watching this video. I've listened to Mindcrime countless times. Its one of those albums for me that doesn't get old. I always seem to find something new buried in the mix. Seeing the newness through someone else's eyes just brings back the feeling of excitement for this record. Great job man!
Chris DeGarmo is the greatest lead player that ever existed. He played the perfect solo every time. Never a “look at me” guy, just perfect! Plus he is an amazing singer too! Too bad he and Geoff let that connection go. 😢
Chris DaGarmo is superb, but maybe not *the* greatest of all time. After all, to claim so would be to set him above Hendrix, Iommi, Paige, Rhoades and every other guitarist who is also superb.
@@nigeldepledge3790 he is the greatest at playing the right thing at the right time. Not the most proficient player, but the best at putting the perfect solo over everything.
Always love DeGarmo's work and Queensryche was never he same after he left to fly planes. I love the new QR era with Todd as vocalist, but stil, not the same as when Chris was in the band
I saw a mini-doc about this album, but in particular, the sound of the drums! Apparently, the sound of the snare was a new way to add reverb, or something, & when the album dropped, EVERYONE wanted that sound for their drums! The video I saw mentioned a few bands that copied that snare, but I don't remember which ones. I bought this album the week it came out, & I had this album in the tape deck in my car for over a year... It's been a long, long time since hearing the whole album, mostly because of a difficult time in my life. Even now, I hear the songs, "The Mission, " & " Eyes of a Stranger," It always brings tears to my eyes. Thank you for getting me to listen this amazing album once again! Rock on, brother... 🤘😎
For many people of my generation, all you have to say is Operation:Mindcrime, and the conversations will just flow. Music, culture, inequality, addiction, corruption, human relations, madness, stagnation, hope and the death of hope. In certain circles, this album was life altering. Very glad you got a chance to hear it.
One of the best metal albums of all time!!!! I was very surprised that Doug did not mention how deep Geoff's voice got when he said "she feeds my skin" in Spreading the Disease. Also, when Doug mentioned the strong snare during the end of Suite Sister Mary, that was actually the gunshot that killed Mary.
I always took the door latch sound at the end, as the music is winding down just before the rain, as his leaving with her alive safe and sound. From there he goes directly after Dr.x to being shocked later that she didn't "make it through the night" as they had plead for in SSM. The four times I saw them play this live was each the most incredible things I'd seen before or since. They were perfect. Physically tired toward the end of that tour, you could see it, but still perfect.
There's no escaping Eddies baseline threw this entire album it's is so amazing! This album is still relevant to this day and probably 100 years from now! Geoff's always on point singing, Chris and Michael harmonizing guitars through out.
I am a massive fan of Dream Theater and consider their music and lyrics to be at the top of the music scene but lyrically, I think QR probably wrote the most insightful lyrics I have ever heard, set to an incredible musically layered background. Tate is on another plane in terms of his vocal ability. QR never got the acclamation they deserved. Unbelievably great band, even in its currently split form.
I have over three thousand albums, and Operation Mindcrime is easily on my top ten favorites. It is a MASTERPIECE! Eyes Of A Stranger is the first song I ever listened to from Queensryche back in 1988 at ten years old, and was an instant fan ever since. This album deserves all the praise that it gets.
I’ve followed Queensrÿche since 1983, Operation Mindcrime was a masterpiece and the time and key changes are seamless. When they performed it live, it was a perfect as the album and amazing to witness in person. Thank you for recognizing this album.
I saw operation livecrime in millwakee the first time i heard this and the next day got the cassette (yea I'm that old) and listened and read and say the concet all over again. Was great to see this blow your mind
"I would sign up to have Geoff sing the phone book to me... if he can find one..." HAHAHA (I would too). And I'll repeat this because I'm sure many have, listening to LIVECRIME actually elevates this album, and Geoff's voice is just INSANE live. It's hard to imagine a studio to live take that's as pure and perfect as that one.
Single greatest album ever recorded. It not only deserves mention along with the greats... it surpasses them. Thanks for the good trip down memory lane... now I'm going to go listen again, uninterrupted.
This has been such a treat. One of the albums I grew up with in my teens. Your comments at 1:02:00ish and 1:15:00ish are spot on. Back then, I would just rock out to the energy, the musicianship, the vocal prowess, and then move on. I always knew it was a concept album with deeper meaning but never LISTENED to it. Till now! 30+ years later! Thanks to my new obsession with RUclips reactors. And WOW how deep it goes!!! This could be a feature film, a novel, a broadway show, or any number of story telling media. And to think I almost forgot it even existed. Then about half a year ago I stumbled on Elizabeth of The Charismatic Voice and Suite Sister Mary was the second video of hers I watched. I've been down the reactor rabbit hole ever since. You have become one of my favorite reactor channels and this deep dive with you is now one of my favorite reactor videos!!!! This has been so much fun!! Thank you for the trip!!!
THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!!!! The ONLY way to react to any song on this album is to listen and react to the album it in it's entirety. The music, lyrics, composition ALL if it has to be taken as a whole. My appreciation of this band is endless but this album is unquestionably their best. It's so much fun the listen to from beginning to end with headphones on and feet up. Rock on Y'all!
Saw them at Hammersmith Odeon on the Empire tour and they did this in its entirety, probably the greatest 60 mins of live music I have ever seen and I have seen loads of great bands over the years. The hairs are standing up on the back of my neck as I type this.
I saw them on that tour in Birmingham, I think it was at Edwards number 8. I had listened to the album on repeat ever since it cam out 2 years earlier and seeing it live all the way through just lifted the music even higher in my estimation.
@@johnpotter9743 I didn't think I'd ever been to see a band at Aston Villa Leisure Centre, but looking at their tour dates it must've been as it definitely wasn't the NEC. I also saw them play the full album at The Astoria I think in 2003. Was due to see them play Mindcrime 1 and 2 a few years back in the South West somewhere but the gigs got cancelled unfortunately.
the hospital noises at the beginning (Dr. Blair, Dr. Hamilton) are stock sound effect (like the Wilhelm Scream, the red-tailed hawk, castle thunder, laugh and applause tracks and the Tarzan Yelll) that is used by a lot of radio and television shows (in particular the soap opera 'General Hospital'), movies and cartoons ... every time I hear it I think of this great album.
the intro also contains a television news cast which shines some light on the plot - or at least the "fake news" version of the plot - and you can hear the newscaster say "sports and weather next" meaning the story is not "top of the news hour" or "headline" news and it's being buried in plain sight at the end of the "news" segment before the sports and weather reports.
This album is a masterpiece and has influenced so many bands. So many things were unique in this album. And it still holds up, both music and the message.
Been waiting for this. Operation Mindcrime is probably one of the most important metal albums of all time. Near perfect in almost every way. Chris DeGarmo!
Doug, thank you for taking the time to dissect the meaning of this album. As you can tell by the numerous comments - It is truly a work of GENIUS. The lyrics and music come together in a collaboration that happens about once in a lifetime. This album never gets old.
OMG...I haven't even gotten to the music and I'm excited. When this first came out I was fortunate enough to be working 3rd shift at a convenience store in a small town. I put the tape in and was able to listen start to finish! It truly effected me as a musician. Here I am 35 years later and the influence of this album can STILL be heard on my current projects. Thanks Doug, for doing this......
It's the perfect album! Every time I hear it, it reminds of me being 16 yrs old with my new driver's license and cranking this tape at full volume in my car. It was awesome to be a teenager when these classic metal albums came out.
I have looked forward to this for a while! One of my personal favorite albums, and probably my favorite concept album. Still a referential message nowadays.
I just had to return and watch this for the 100th time. Tomorrow night im going to watch Geoff Tate live, celebrating the 35 years anniversary of this album. Love your channel.
For me still to this day, my all time favorite concept album. Whats crazy is this album is so much more relevant to today than it was in the late 80's. One of the best albums ever created.
As poetic as the writing and setup of the whole album is, I think the part that hits me the hardest is the sorrow felt in the wailing of the Guitar in "Waiting for 22" I assume 22 is 2200, likely his 10pm curfew when they sedate and relieve him of consciousness. Quite possibly the saddest notes I've ever heard at 1:05:17 as a man's mind slips into near catatonic dissociation, his raison d'etre forever lost. Big fan Dr. Helvering, greatly enjoyed your journey through it all. Empathtic listening and musical assessment in equal measure.
Only had cash for two cassettes. Got "Seventh Son" and "Odyssey" by Yngwie. This one had to wait a few months until I had graduated and working. I've always regretted that wait.
Bro, I love you! I love to listen to your educated reactions to these songs that have formed my life. This album is as relevant now then it was when it came out. It was prophetic and it also fuckin rocked!
One of the best metal records ever, great review. Listen closely to the mix, very well done with 1980s technology. This record scared me on a certain level when it came out, not in a horror sort of way, but rather because I felt that it reflected some dark societal truths.
The music elevates the story to a much higher lever, but geoff's performance really makes this album a masterpiece and one of the best things in the world
1st side done....took me right back to that convenience store where I 1st heard this. I'm pushing 60 now and I didn't realize JUST how much this album effected me, but here I am with tears in my eyes remembering my youth.....wow.
I’m glad you got to experience this album. I have loved it since ‘88. I saw them perform in ‘88 and in the early 2000’s. I haven’t listened to it in full in several years. Thank you for bringing this back to me. Queensryche has been such an under appreciated band. It was amazing that I could remember every word. Again thanks for the experience.
After all these years still struggling to hold in the tears. Thank you for reminding me of this masterpiece, that was the soundtrack of a part of my youth.
My favorite band ever. Amazing, top notch at all levels. Geoffs voice is second to none! Everyone plays their instrument phenomenally. Their harmony is top shelf. Their lyrics are like no other. Every album is so profound. Love this band!
Good reaction and analysis Doug. The Mission is the real gem here, inside a record with a lot others! For me the record starts from this song emotionally. Personal favourites except Mission is the last 3 songs ( breaking, i dont believe , eyes of ) and chilling highlight the emotional collapse of Nikki/Geoff on My empty room. The chills on this is one similar only with the Lost reflection from Crimson Glory. Thats one good suggestion for a nexr reaction! Lost reflection or a whole Crimson Glory record! Strongly suggest you Trancedence! im pretty sure you will enjoy it!
For me, this was the pinnacle of 80s metal. The entire recording is an absolute classic. The best part... I believe this album is more relevant NOW, than when it was released.
I agree. I'm a pro guitarist -- stunning album.
"Fighting fire, with empty words
While the banks get fat
And the poor stay poor
And the rich get rich
And the cops get paid
To look away
As the one percent rules America"
-Spreading the Disease
Yeppers.
Also at the time Metal broke into the mainstream.
I liked it back then, today I find it to be weak and uninteresting.
One of the best albums of all time no doubt. I wore this cassette out more than once back in the day.
Mindcrime is a flat-out masterpiece. A perfect album in every way. It's my favorite album of all time.
I will always love this album too! Definitely a storytelling masterpiece that describes our country today and then as well, but worse today. The whole album is awesome, from the music of the guitars, bassist, drums and the singer Jeoff with his amazing vocals!
Ditto, I listen to songs from this album nearly everyday
The mere fact that you are reacting to the entire album is worth recognition. Great job man.
It's the only way to react to this album. I couldn't agree with you more.
@@briansf7012 That sentiment would go for something like Pink Floyd's The Wall, or Tommy by The Who as well. The whole is greater than the sum of its parts. 😉👍Outstanding Red Leader!
#facts
Fuck yes! It's an amazing album!
Shout out to Chris DeGarmo on lyrics, rhythm guitar, half of the leads, vocal harmonies, and overall arrangement. He’s what made this band so amazing.
The backing vocals of him and Eddie Jackson are phenomenal. Everybody always talks about Geoff's range, but seem to forget that Chris is right up there with him throughout that whole album. Really wish both of them were still in the band.
@@andrewaavik agreed, but Michael Wilton also helped make this album and band amazing. He also has songwriting credits and lead solos. Chris DeGarmo definitely deserves the praise that he gets, but so does Michael Wilton.
Tate is Queens period !
He was the heart of this band, it was never the same after he left.
It’s funny to hear about a band, a group of five talented men, be cast as a solo act. The truth is all five of these guys made QR, and any of them leaving the band would have left a hole hard to refill. It just so happened DeGarmo left first.
This album REALLY needs to be made into a movie.
John carpenter would do a great job. Just like he did with They Live
A stage based musical would be pretty cool to.
There were quite a few scripts written but the band rejected them all because the scripts didn't capture their vision of the story.
@@jeffhouston9217
Hollywierd didn't want to expose the conspiracy they are a part of? Shocker...
@@trickers24
Almost every frame, in the background... messages... "Hoffman lenses"...
There's a man by that name who exposes a certain religion and their "army" ...and their meddling in world affairs... same people as Mindcrime exposes...
Go through it scene by scene... all the background stuff... names on the parking spaces in the big buddy fight scene... what's "playing now" at the movie theater in the background... like I said, every scene has hidden stuff... little nuggets.
This is HANDS DOWN the BEST review and reaction to this masterpiece of an album I have ever heard. Not only the reaction to the story but all the small tidbits of music theory spread throughout. A great insight into an outsider experiencing this story from start to finish. This was the Queensyche's "Revolver" - every song a masterpiece. No song you ever skip over. I actually consider Operation: Mindcrime to be THE BEST concept album ever released.
You really believe this guy had never heard Queensryche? Look at his age. How can he be a music professional without knowing about this?
Of all of my playlists...this album is the only one set in it's entirety. There are very few albums that I must hear in their entirety or a full side , single songs just don't cut it. This is one of those albums. The concept was timeless, the writing was flawless, and the production and performance was mind blowing. Mindcrime is timeless and still resonates. I wonder how many of us viewers were singing along, knowing every word, every pause, every lead break. More than just me I know.
100% perfection. Never leaves my playlist 30 + years later
The bass drives this whole album. How can you not groove to that beat?
Yeah, the pulsing bass line at the beginning of Revolution Calling is amazing!! Its sounds even cooler paired with the snare.
Eddie Jackson's bass sound is legendary, right up there with Geddy Lee. All of the members were so good, so tight and precise. More people need to hear this.
To me this album is still one of the best metal albums of all time, a musical masterpiece.
Agreed
This is one or the best sounding albums of any genre. True masterpiece and light years ahead of thier peers.
@@edmiley729 100% agree
Not only the music, but the lyrics and story telling are outstanding as well. This is a fantastic album. To me nothing will ever surpass Master of Puppets as the greatest album ever made, but this is certainly top 5 of all time.
This cannot be stated enough: One of the most important recordings in the history of rock. I'm so glad this was reviewed in its entirety instead of just a track or two. I can't say the same for Mindcrime II. That record was necessary for closure reasons and it had some bright spots but it cannot hold a candle to Mindcrime I. Sooo Doug, to answer your question at the end of your review of "what happens next" Listen to Mindcrime II. It doesn't have the inspiration Mindcrime I has, but it closes the story.
Watching them perform Mindcrime in its entirety on the Empire tour was amazing!
That and Maiden's World Slavery Tour still tied for my #1 show
Was at the Milwaukee "backup" show for the recording of the Livercrime. Had I known they were recording I'd have hit the Madison show too.
One of my favorite concerts ever. I saw it in a fairly small arena so I was very close even not being on the floor and my mind was blown.
@@catmanduu66 started off about 10 feet from the stage when they hit Green Bay on that tour. Then Suicidal Tendencies hit the stage as openers and I found myself in the middle of the pit. Had to back out, but worked my way back up for the 'Ryche. Just a mind blowing show.
@@jamie4993 I saw them in Madison and can see my friends and I a few times in Livecrime
Best 1:24 I've spent on RUclips breaking down one of the best albums ever made! Great job!
The bass on this album is a big part of it. I don't believe in love. Man it's amazing
This album speaks the truth now as much as it did in the 80s, will never change. This is the best concept album ever made.🤘😎🤘
I totally agree but I wouldn't put Scenes From a Memory too too far behind.
@@harolddeschenes4640 Scenes from a Memory is hand in hand with Mindcrime, and The Wall...for me.
I agree but I think Savatage's album "streets" a rock opera, is equally Impressive
@@allenwilson1664 Fully agree. Streets, Scenes and Operation Mindcrime in that order are the best conceptual albums ever done by metal bands. A real pity Doug disliked "hall of the mountain king" when he did the video. He is missing an absolute masterpiece.
Rush 2112 is my favorite, but I was born in 1965. The Wall was another masterpiece.
1989, in my dorm, planning to see Metallica that weekend. My buddy gave me this CD, suggesting I would like it, and telling me they were the opening act. I sat down, pressed play, and didn't move for an hour, enthralled. I have never, and will never grow tired of this one!
"Father William isn't a good guy either...." Nobody in this story is a good guy. They're all so lost. It's part of what makes the story so tragic.
"No happy ending like they always promised"
@@ericwhite2830 "there's got to be something else, for me!!! and I lay awake and stare, into the eyes of a stranger!!"
In Mindcrime 2 .. we learn just how insane Nikki became! (even though it wasn't the best album)
@@ericwhite2830 Also a prevailing concept on their album 2 away from O:M--Promised Land.
@@primemover1416 Another stellar album! Way too overlooked
I saw them four times in their prime and they were unrivaled live. Of all the famous bands I've seen over the last 40 years nobody could compete with their live performances. Geoff's voice was perfection and the band was one-take tight. To this day my favorite band of all time.
I think it’s awesome that this album is being discovered by people who actually know what they’re talking about. It’s awesome.🙂👍
I love watching this album blow peoples minds, it truly is a masterpiece.
Agreed
Absolutely!
Senior year in highschool, had to get a good grade in language and literature class in order not to fail my senior year. Mind you, i was never a good student, a bit of rebellious metalhead if you will.
The final test was an essay, the theme, Kafka's Stranger. At that point, i hadn't read it, and thought i was fucked.
Eyes of a stranger lyrics pop into my head. I deconstructed the song into an essay. Few days later, essay results came back. Passed with flying colours. The teacher even talked about my essay in front of the class and in front of the school teachers board.
Thanks Queensryche!
Holy cow!! You're actually reviewing Queensryche's masterpiece album in its entirety!! Doug, your awesome score just shot up ten thousand points! 🤘🏻😃🤘🏻
I take the ending "I remember now" to basically return you to the present. The whole album is his remembering and he cycles back to the present. It's brilliant
I was wondering if he was going to get to that point and that the story plays out in a blink eye and ends exactly as it started. This album is one of the most important works up there with The Wall and Tommy
All set set up by the final track of Rage for Order, I Will Remember.
If memory serves, album starts at 6.00 and ends at 6.01. Everything we hear is what he remembers in that sole minute.
I know alot of people consider The Wall the greatest concept album, but for me it was this album, it came out at the end of my junior year in high school. I have alot of memories of this album listening with my friends. Queensryche was not yet mainstream and fans of this band knew how monumental this release was and its messages thruout.
@Randy A I agree. The Wall isn't even in the same league as Tommy, Quadrophenia or The Lamb Lies down On Broadway....good call!
This is in the #2 position on my all-time favorite concept albums
#1 "Animals"
#2 "Operation Mindcrime"
#3 "Thick As A Brick"
#4 "Dark Side Of The Moon"
#5 "Days Of Future Passed"
#6 "Wish You Were Here"
#7 "Tommy"
#8 "Seventh Son Of A Seventh Son"
#9 "I Robot"
#10 "ChristO"
My overall favorite concept albums, not in order, are Mindcrime, The Wall, Scenes from a Memory, and Snow.
Truth!
I have a short list of greatest albums of all time that includes "The Wall" and "Operation Mindcrime". I would say the style of The Wall has aged better, but the message of Operation Mindcrime is timeless and speaks to me now more than it did 30+ years ago as a teenager. I have no argument with anyone who says Mindcrime is the best or anyone who says The Wall is the best.
Scot Rockenfield is on fire here. A drummers album as well as a vocalist dream album
One of my absolute favorites and this is an iconic performance beginning to end. Wishing Scott the best of success. I hope he finds some solace.
You got that right!
I am not a drummer at all, but Scot doesn't get enough credit here. Geoff and Chris are the forefront, but man the drumming is unreal.
agreed Paul !! Scott and Eddie are the back bone that drives this entire album !!
For me, this is the best album ever made. When it was released back in `88 I listened to on repeat at home, on my walkman, and to this day I still hold this as my favorite album of all time. This is a masterpiece and not many come close.
I totally agree.
Yup…best metal album of all time
My favourite too since the 80s. saw the empire tour 2 nights in succession where they did this both times. For me Eyes of a Stranger is the best song of all time too and it's interesting to see someone hitting this like this. Please listen to this more! It just gets better with more listens
Yes And Heaven and Hell, Diary of a Madman and The Dark Side of the Moon. Operation Mindcrime stands above them all for me. ABSOLUTE Masterpiece!
I've always called it top 3 but I think I've finally made the leap to #1. It's perfect.
It's amazing how the sound bites from the hospital are played on so many different tv shows and movies. But each time I hear one of them, I think of this album.
One of the best of all time.
Dr. Jane Hamilton, Dr. Jane Hamilton..😊
Operation Mindcrime is an absolute masterpiece and one of the greatest albums of all time. It’s totally flawless. I love this version of Queensryche. The song writing was on point. They were called the thinking man’s metal band for a reason. Great reaction too.
Fuck yeah brother!
That snare is known as the Queensryche snare. After Operation Mindcrime came out, pretty much every single band tried to recreate it. It pretty much set a standard in the metal music industry in the 90's.
I'm 54 And Loved Them Since Day One 😊
I think Rage for Order qualifies for an extended play episode. Even if Mindcrime didn't exist, Rage cements their place at the very top of progressive metal history. Also way ahead of its time. So many amazing peaks that still give me goosebumps. Like the end of the solo in London to the last verse
Aaaw there's some things in life I could never face....The worst is being alone. Sometimes I wish I could have taken your place my Love. You know I don't want to live forever. The end of Neue Regel...
Epic record.
Rage for Order is Phenomenal ! If it's even possible they take it up a level on tracks like Walk in the Shadows & I Only See in Infrared
Pretty much everything they ever did is fantastic. Empire is really good as well. But to me Operation Mindcrime will always be their pinnacle. This album blew my mind, and almost blew my Cerwin Vega AT12s. An absolute masterpiece!!!
It took 14 year old me a long while to understand what was going on in this record completely. As others have said this one is absolutely top level 80s prog metal. 35 years later I'm still listening to it, appreciating it and watching your video has given it another dimension AGAIN.
Nailed it. Thanks Doug.
This is one of my all-time favorite albums of all time!! I bought the cassette the day it came out ... and knew all the lyrics within 2 days.. .it was just on repeat.... what makes this a classic, is that the story and the lyrics are timeless, considering it was released in 1988, some of the sentiments of the lyrics hold true today.
I think I literally listened to nothing else for two months. Every word is burned into my brain.
@@catmanduu66 SAME
Same. My recollection is I told whoever would listen to check it out, but it did not take off for a long while.
@@michaelgrimmett5612 ya.. .but i still think this was their Masterpiece .. nothing afterward could compare.. When they tried to do Operation Mindcrime 2 .. it fell flat.. they couldn't rekindle that .... i dunno, that inspiration .. it's like when they wrote that album (Operation Mindcrime 1), creativity flowed through them, and they made their opus...
@@AlRozon For sure their Masterpiece. Mindcrime 2 didn't really have much of the band on it at all. Studio musicians, etc.
No one ever comes right out and says it, but at the end of the day, for me, Operation: Mindcrime is love story. The surrounding factors of politics, corruption, revolution, crime, psychology, addiction, etc make for some interesting backdrop and context for the circumstances that bring Nikki and Mary together as fleeting soul mates -- and then tears them apart -- but the main thrust of emotion from Suite Sister Mary ("Help us make it through the night" / "I see myself in you, parallel lives") through the close seven tracks later in Eyes of a Stranger ("...memories of what we had and what we knew ... I see something that reminds me of you") is your tragic tale of heartbreak and the pain of lost love. This love story ends up dominating the album -- and that's not a complaint. Thanks to the album's fantastic writing, the delivery simultaneously manages to stay within the concept album's drama while also being generally applicable at a personal level. It's gripping and affecting, in true operatic/theatrical fashion. As good as it gets.
Love this. YES.
God bless you in Jesus' holy name
🤍🙏🕊️
The true tragedy of Nikki’s story can only be realized with the lyric booklet. Not only does the album end as it started, the lyrics reveal that the entire album story replays every minute as a loop in Nikki’s deranged mind. What an album. Great work, Doug!
Yes!!! Not many people get that.💯👍 Definitely one of my 20 fav albums of all time and all genres, for me.
The Wall begins, & ends, & begins again… the very same way.
It begins with ‘ere we came in?’
& ends with ‘Isn’t this whe…’
( Isn’t this where we came in?)
With the same music lightly playing in the background. It’s one of those things where, if you don’t know it’s there, you won’t know it’s there.
These are by far my two favorite concept albums of all time. They each tell epic stories, that you can follow from song to song and decipher the accounts of what’s happening. While The Wall actually has a few songs that can stand on their own as singles, they are more impactful within
the context of the story. Mindcrime basically had Eyes of a Stranger & I Don’t Believe in Love, that could stand alone, but again, much more important & meaningful as integral elements of the story. Masterful work really. Tate at his absolute best (save for the Tokyo performance of Take ahold of The Flame), just everything. I could go on & on, but that’s what we have you for!
Man…..I didn’t know that and I’ve been listening to it cover to cover since it’s release. I love RUclips comments. Thanks very much.
@@Willie_McBride The Wall has more songs that are able to work as singles, but that's not good or bad. It just is. I agree that Eyes of a Stranger and I Don't Believe in Love are really the only two on Mindcrime that can work alone, at least for me. But I enjoy them more as a whole.
@@Willie_McBride operation mindcrime is another song that could stand on its own
Back in the 80's on swedish radio we had one hour of metal music a week, a show dedicated to metal. When this album dropped the presenter said that Queensrÿche Operation Mindcrime has dropped, put it on and just let it play continuously without interruption. I sat glued to the set for the entire album, and I was hooked.
The greatest album ever recorded in my opinion.
I thoroughly enjoyed listening and watching you reaction to this album. I am 50 years old and Operation Mindcrime has been my all-time favorite record since it was release in '88. I've listened to it countless times. I'm not a composer, but I have been a musician through my life (drummer) and in my opinion it's a masterpiece of storytelling, song writing, and musicianship. It's the one record that, if I were to be stranded on an island and could choose only 1 record to take with me, this would it is. I suppose that probably doesn't say good things about me, lol, but it is what it is. Great reaction. Thanks for doing this.
Doug, for your own enjoyment and thrill you should watch the concert film Operation Livecrime. During the tour for their next album Empire they performed this album in it's entirety. If not the whole thing at least Suite Sister Mary. Watching Geoff and Pamala interact and sing to each other is...there are no words.
Yes yes yes! One of the best rock operas ever! And Geoff not only sings it so well….but acts it out on stage.
Live from the Moore. Live Crime, is great also
@@LostLar Mindcrime at the Moore is amazing. When Seattle Seahawks' Blue Thunder drum troupe come on for the intro it still sends shivers right down my body.
@@chrislewis7 yes it does. Sorry for miss naming it. My dyslexia hits at the oddest times.
I have the DVD
He already reacted to Suite Sister Mary from Livecrime on his channel.
"I would sign up for Geoff to sing the phone book to me" -- and that has been how we all have felt for over 30 years ;)
Geoffs voice was incredible lve back then. When watching him in front row you could hear his voice without the PA and it was tge most powerful i ever heard. The band was also awesome, the thought put into this album was amazing. It used to drive me nuts when people would group them as a hair band like bon jovi or poison, etc
The song lyrics are just as valid today, maybe even more so, than when they were written over 30 years ago. One of my favorite albums of all time.
I Agree 😊
💯
Can’t remember what I had for lunch yesterday but I still remember every single word on this entire record from first to last. I will never forget it. 🔥🔥🔥
5:06 I Remember Now
7:01 Anarchy-X
8:54 Revolution Calling
14:07 Operation: Mindcrime
19:12 Speak
23:31 Spreading the Disease
29:38 The Mission
36:30 Suite Sister Mary
47:38 The Needle Lies
51:38 Electric Requiem
54:51 Breaking the Silence
1:00:01 I Don't Believe in Love
1:04:49 Waiting for 22
1:06:31 My Empty Room
1:09:33 Eyes of a Stranger
Queensryche was one of those bands who went out on tours opening for just about everyone in the late 80's, and they always killed. Saw them with Ozzy, Metallica, Def Leppard, and a few that I'm blanking on now. But when they came around headlining on the Empire tour they finally played Mindcrime in its entirety. They finally had the money & clout to do it right with movie footage playing out the story in the background - it was a truly remarkable production, especially for the times. Tate was just unreal in his day... I mean record-quality vocals that peeled paint from the walls!
I saw them with Metallica, unfortunately I was not a fan at the time and wasn't at all interested in paying attention to their set. "I Don't Believe In Love" was getting played to death at the time and I didn't care for it at all, so it wasn't until many years later that I finally gave this amazing album a listen.
Most bands refused to tour with Queensryche even before this album were made, because they would steal the show vs many headliners.
Kiss at their worst period ever had Queensryche as support band in 1985. lol
I saw them open for Axe, Saxon and Quiet Riot in 1983. Totally stole the show and it compelled me to go out the next day to buy their EP. Great band.
I first saw them headline on Rage tour. It was at the Santa Monica Civic, and they played most of first two albums. Tate was also on keyboards, and they were phenomenal. Roads to Madness, and No Sanctuary were even better than on The Warning. I was blown away!
so much fun watching someone listening to Mindcrime for the first time, your facial expressions are great. I travelled an hour by public transport to the HMV shop in Middlesborough to be first in line the day it was released, an hour before they opened, stood in the pouring rain to buy the vinyl, CD and tape, when I got home I put my headphones on and was literally blown away by the genius of this album, 35 years later it has the same effect on me, I know I've listened to it at least 5000 times over the years and worn out 2 CD's. And I still have my tour shirt signed by the band, best album ever !
In 88 they opened for Metallica, and their production made Metallica look like a bar band!!!
And it wasn't even close
Didn't Metallica order them male strippers?
Yes, some more Queensryche!. "Roads To Madness" would be great to see on your channel.
More Michael Kamen content in that one too.
"The Warning" in general is so underappreciated.
Roads to Madness is a fantastic song to listen to. It has a twist ending that you never see coming.
No Sanctuary
YES.
The monks of Morin Heights is a reference to the location of Le Studio, just north on Montreal where the album was recorded. Rush also recorded several of their albums there.
This is the quintessential concept album, not to mention one of the best albums ever recorded. This is for me one of my top three albums, simply incredible!!
The best reaction / analysis of this album i've seen here on the 'tube, tnx doug.
I just love how they changed the approach to every refrain in 'Revolution Calling'. Listen to it again, it's brilliant.
It's scary how relevant this album is with today's political environment. Way ahead of it's time.
Or has it always been this way
Yes sir
This is for me one of the best albums out there. It is so far ahead
of its time and as you said, still relevant today 30+ years later....
Chris DeGarmo said in an interview back in the day on a question if they wanted to
owerthrow the government...
"Hey man, we're just writing about cars and women and stuff."
I just love that answer 😄
Fantastic reaction! Glad you enjoyed it!
Be safe
Björn
I'm not the biggest Queensryche fan in the world -- but this album, along with Empire and Rage for Order, are masterpieces.
One of *THE* greatest concept albums of all time! So glad you did the entire work....amazing!
So much of a masterwork....This album still amazes me with it's complexity in both story and musicianship....still hearing new things even after all these years and it never gets old.
My personal pick for best album ever.
When the band was on tour for OM they didn't play a single track from the album during the show until they did the encore where they played it as a whole from begining to end.
Absolute masterpiece. One of the best albums of not only the 80s, but all time.
I loved watching this video. I've listened to Mindcrime countless times. Its one of those albums for me that doesn't get old. I always seem to find something new buried in the mix. Seeing the newness through someone else's eyes just brings back the feeling of excitement for this record. Great job man!
Chris DeGarmo is the greatest lead player that ever existed. He played the perfect solo every time. Never a “look at me” guy, just perfect! Plus he is an amazing singer too! Too bad he and Geoff let that connection go. 😢
Chris DaGarmo is superb, but maybe not *the* greatest of all time. After all, to claim so would be to set him above Hendrix, Iommi, Paige, Rhoades and every other guitarist who is also superb.
@@nigeldepledge3790 he is the greatest at playing the right thing at the right time. Not the most proficient player, but the best at putting the perfect solo over everything.
Always love DeGarmo's work and Queensryche was never he same after he left to fly planes. I love the new QR era with Todd as vocalist, but stil, not the same as when Chris was in the band
@@bartender678 The new songs are so forgettable......
DeGarmo’s harmonies above Geoff’s soaring vocals were always stellar…
I saw a mini-doc about this album, but in particular, the sound of the drums!
Apparently, the sound of the snare was a new way to add reverb, or something, & when the album dropped, EVERYONE wanted that sound for their drums! The video I saw mentioned a few bands that copied that snare, but I don't remember which ones.
I bought this album the week it came out, & I had this album in the tape deck in my car for over a year... It's been a long, long time since hearing the whole album, mostly because of a difficult time in my life. Even now, I hear the songs, "The Mission, " & " Eyes of a Stranger," It always brings tears to my eyes.
Thank you for getting me to listen this amazing album once again! Rock on, brother... 🤘😎
For many people of my generation, all you have to say is Operation:Mindcrime, and the conversations will just flow. Music, culture, inequality, addiction, corruption, human relations, madness, stagnation, hope and the death of hope. In certain circles, this album was life altering. Very glad you got a chance to hear it.
Savatage has several, “Streets A Rock Opera”, “Dead Winter Dead”, “Wake of Magellan” and “Poets and Madmen”
One of the best metal albums of all time!!!! I was very surprised that Doug did not mention how deep Geoff's voice got when he said "she feeds my skin" in Spreading the Disease. Also, when Doug mentioned the strong snare during the end of Suite Sister Mary, that was actually the gunshot that killed Mary.
Mary died with "your rosary wrapped around your throat" which I took to mean strangulation.
Maybe.
I always took the door latch sound at the end, as the music is winding down just before the rain, as his leaving with her alive safe and sound. From there he goes directly after Dr.x to being shocked later that she didn't "make it through the night" as they had plead for in SSM.
The four times I saw them play this live was each the most incredible things I'd seen before or since. They were perfect. Physically tired toward the end of that tour, you could see it, but still perfect.
There's no escaping Eddies baseline threw this entire album it's is so amazing! This album is still relevant to this day and probably 100 years from now! Geoff's always on point singing, Chris and Michael harmonizing guitars through out.
Eyes of A Stranger has one of the best chord progressions of any metal songs ever made
I am a massive fan of Dream Theater and consider their music and lyrics to be at the top of the music scene but lyrically, I think QR probably wrote the most insightful lyrics I have ever heard, set to an incredible musically layered background. Tate is on another plane in terms of his vocal ability. QR never got the acclamation they deserved. Unbelievably great band, even in its currently split form.
I have over three thousand albums, and Operation Mindcrime is easily on my top ten favorites. It is a MASTERPIECE! Eyes Of A Stranger is the first song I ever listened to from Queensryche back in 1988 at ten years old, and was an instant fan ever since. This album deserves all the praise that it gets.
I’ve followed Queensrÿche since 1983, Operation Mindcrime was a masterpiece and the time and key changes are seamless. When they performed it live, it was a perfect as the album and amazing to witness in person. Thank you for recognizing this album.
I saw operation livecrime in millwakee the first time i heard this and the next day got the cassette (yea I'm that old) and listened and read and say the concet all over again. Was great to see this blow your mind
"I would sign up to have Geoff sing the phone book to me... if he can find one..." HAHAHA (I would too). And I'll repeat this because I'm sure many have, listening to LIVECRIME actually elevates this album, and Geoff's voice is just INSANE live. It's hard to imagine a studio to live take that's as pure and perfect as that one.
A masterpiece musically, lyrically, conceptually. The story is grim but the genius behind its creation and execution makes me smile.
Single greatest album ever recorded. It not only deserves mention along with the greats... it surpasses them. Thanks for the good trip down memory lane... now I'm going to go listen again, uninterrupted.
This has been such a treat. One of the albums I grew up with in my teens. Your comments at 1:02:00ish and 1:15:00ish are spot on. Back then, I would just rock out to the energy, the musicianship, the vocal prowess, and then move on. I always knew it was a concept album with deeper meaning but never LISTENED to it. Till now! 30+ years later! Thanks to my new obsession with RUclips reactors. And WOW how deep it goes!!! This could be a feature film, a novel, a broadway show, or any number of story telling media. And to think I almost forgot it even existed. Then about half a year ago I stumbled on Elizabeth of The Charismatic Voice and Suite Sister Mary was the second video of hers I watched. I've been down the reactor rabbit hole ever since. You have become one of my favorite reactor channels and this deep dive with you is now one of my favorite reactor videos!!!! This has been so much fun!! Thank you for the trip!!!
THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!!!! The ONLY way to react to any song on this album is to listen and react to the album it in it's entirety. The music, lyrics, composition ALL if it has to be taken as a whole. My appreciation of this band is endless but this album is unquestionably their best. It's so much fun the listen to from beginning to end with headphones on and feet up. Rock on Y'all!
Thank God you did the whole album at once. When people react to just individual songs it doesn't work as well.
i rarely up-vote videos but watching someone react and enjoy this album for the first time deserves it.
Saw them at Hammersmith Odeon on the Empire tour and they did this in its entirety, probably the greatest 60 mins of live music I have ever seen and I have seen loads of great bands over the years. The hairs are standing up on the back of my neck as I type this.
I saw them on that tour in Birmingham, I think it was at Edwards number 8. I had listened to the album on repeat ever since it cam out 2 years earlier and seeing it live all the way through just lifted the music even higher in my estimation.
@@chrislewis7 Sure it wasn't Aston Villa Leisure Centre? They were playing decent sized places by then
@@johnpotter9743 I didn't think I'd ever been to see a band at Aston Villa Leisure Centre, but looking at their tour dates it must've been as it definitely wasn't the NEC. I also saw them play the full album at The Astoria I think in 2003. Was due to see them play Mindcrime 1 and 2 a few years back in the South West somewhere but the gigs got cancelled unfortunately.
Manchester Apollo for me - sang myself myself hoarse through the entire album!
the hospital noises at the beginning (Dr. Blair, Dr. Hamilton) are stock sound effect (like the Wilhelm Scream, the red-tailed hawk, castle thunder, laugh and applause tracks and the Tarzan Yelll) that is used by a lot of radio and television shows (in particular the soap opera 'General Hospital'), movies and cartoons ... every time I hear it I think of this great album.
the intro also contains a television news cast which shines some light on the plot - or at least the "fake news" version of the plot - and you can hear the newscaster say "sports and weather next" meaning the story is not "top of the news hour" or "headline" news and it's being buried in plain sight at the end of the "news" segment before the sports and weather reports.
This album is a masterpiece and has influenced so many bands. So many things were unique in this album. And it still holds up, both music and the message.
Been waiting for this. Operation Mindcrime is probably one of the most important metal albums of all time. Near perfect in almost every way. Chris DeGarmo!
Doug, thank you for taking the time to dissect the meaning of this album. As you can tell by the numerous comments - It is truly a work of GENIUS. The lyrics and music come together in a collaboration that happens about once in a lifetime. This album never gets old.
OMG...I haven't even gotten to the music and I'm excited. When this first came out I was fortunate enough to be working 3rd shift at a convenience store in a small town. I put the tape in and was able to listen start to finish! It truly effected me as a musician. Here I am 35 years later and the influence of this album can STILL be heard on my current projects. Thanks Doug, for doing this......
The bass on the entire album is so sick! 🤘🤘🤘
The bass/drum interaction is a lesson in crafting the perfect rhythm section. So overlooked.
How about a big shout out for Scott Rockinfields DRUMS!
It's the perfect album! Every time I hear it, it reminds of me being 16 yrs old with my new driver's license and cranking this tape at full volume in my car. It was awesome to be a teenager when these classic metal albums came out.
I have looked forward to this for a while! One of my personal favorite albums, and probably my favorite concept album. Still a referential message nowadays.
I just had to return and watch this for the 100th time.
Tomorrow night im going to watch Geoff Tate live, celebrating the 35 years anniversary of this album.
Love your channel.
For me still to this day, my all time favorite concept album. Whats crazy is this album is so much more relevant to today than it was in the late 80's. One of the best albums ever created.
As poetic as the writing and setup of the whole album is, I think the part that hits me the hardest is the sorrow felt in the wailing of the Guitar in "Waiting for 22"
I assume 22 is 2200, likely his 10pm curfew when they sedate and relieve him of consciousness. Quite possibly the saddest notes I've ever heard at 1:05:17 as a man's mind slips into near catatonic dissociation, his raison d'etre forever lost.
Big fan Dr. Helvering, greatly enjoyed your journey through it all. Empathtic listening and musical assessment in equal measure.
This album and Maiden's Seventh Son both released several weeks apart in 1988.
Another example of a ridiculously good singer and virtuoso, prog leaning musicians.
Only had cash for two cassettes. Got "Seventh Son" and "Odyssey" by Yngwie. This one had to wait a few months until I had graduated and working. I've always regretted that wait.
Concept album masterpiece, each of them.
Bro, I love you! I love to listen to your educated reactions to these songs that have formed my life. This album is as relevant now then it was when it came out. It was prophetic and it also fuckin rocked!
One of the best metal records ever, great review. Listen closely to the mix, very well done with 1980s technology. This record scared me on a certain level when it came out, not in a horror sort of way, but rather because I felt that it reflected some dark societal truths.
The music elevates the story to a much higher lever, but geoff's performance really makes this album a masterpiece and one of the best things in the world
A flawless album.
The vocal harmonies on "Breaking the Silence" are some of the greatest rock vocals I have ever heard
1st side done....took me right back to that convenience store where I 1st heard this. I'm pushing 60 now and I didn't realize JUST how much this album effected me, but here I am with tears in my eyes remembering my youth.....wow.
@Goreblast Word!
You are not Alone!!!!!!!!
👍👍👍
Word
I’m glad you got to experience this album. I have loved it since ‘88. I saw them perform in ‘88 and in the early 2000’s. I haven’t listened to it in full in several years. Thank you for bringing this back to me. Queensryche has been such an under appreciated band. It was amazing that I could remember every word. Again thanks for the experience.
After all these years still struggling to hold in the tears. Thank you for reminding me of this masterpiece, that was the soundtrack of a part of my youth.
My favorite band ever. Amazing, top notch at all levels. Geoffs voice is second to none! Everyone plays their instrument phenomenally. Their harmony is top shelf. Their lyrics are like no other. Every album is so profound. Love this band!
Good reaction and analysis Doug. The Mission is the real gem here, inside a record with a lot others! For me the record starts from this song emotionally. Personal favourites except Mission is the last 3 songs ( breaking, i dont believe , eyes of ) and chilling highlight the emotional collapse of Nikki/Geoff on My empty room. The chills on this is one similar only with the Lost reflection from Crimson Glory. Thats one good suggestion for a nexr reaction! Lost reflection or a whole Crimson Glory record! Strongly suggest you Trancedence! im pretty sure you will enjoy it!
Hell yeah! Transcendence full album listen seconded!