Empire (Reissue)

Queensryche

Capitol, 2010

http://www.queensrycheofficial.com

REVIEW BY: Paul Hanson

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED: 11/21/2010

Twenty years ago…

 

… were you the same person you are now? Some of you may have been nine years old. Sure, some characteristics of your personality probably existed, but if you are exactly the same person you were then, I’d be surprised. Kids, spouses, careers, interests, and, of course, musical taste are all subject to change.

 

… this release lived in my cassette player. I liked playing it in the tape deck in the car I was driving at the time because I could flip sides at the end of side one automatically. I remember that this release seemed like a radical change from the progressive music and ambitious concept release Operation: Mindcrime.

 

… the musicianship of this band, specifically bassist Eddie Jackson and drummer Scott Rockenfield provided a seriously in-sync rhythm section and that is what still draws me to this release. Sure, guitarists Chris DeGarmo and Michael Wilton and vocalist Geoff Tate provided the face of the band, but behind every serious band, way in the back on a riser, is the drummer and usually not far away from the drummer stands the bassist. This rhythm section proved its tenacity during my favorite tracks on this release: “Della Brown” and “Best I Can.” They also flaunt their tightness during “One And Only.” my_heart_sings_the_harmony_web_ad_alt_250

 

… this release ended with “Anybody Listening?” and the world was grand. The addition of three bonus tracks after the original ending track comes with this re-release. The first, “Last Time In Paris,” is somewhat interesting with a tight integration between Rockenfield and Jackson. “Scarborough Fair” follows and I skip it routinely after I listened to it once. It doesn’t really belong on this release as it doesn’t do anything but prove DeGarmo and Wilton can play acoustic guitars. This was already proven during the keepsake ballad “Silent Lucidity” earlier on the release. Third bonus track “Dirty Lil Secret” follows. I am sick of songs about secrets as their theme – surely there must be something else to write about! Be that as it may, the music in this track is compelling. I’m glad these bonus tracks did not make the original release instead of any of the other songs on the original version.

 

Twenty years later…

 

Empire comes with the addition of a second CD consisting of live tracks from 1990. These tracks showcase the band as a live act with a lot of tenacity and talent. Seventy percent of these songs are from “Empire” so it’s good to hear the live rendition. What is curious is that no track from Operation: Mindcrime shows up, not even the radio-friendly “Eyes Of A Stranger” or “I Don’t Believe In Love.” At least “Best I Can” and a 9:32 version of “Roads To Madness” are included.


… Queensryche has given longtime fans what they have probably not needed – a reason to revisit a treasured album like Empire. I have always liked this release and, with the addition of the bonus tracks and live CD, the band has not tarnished the legacy of this material. 

Rating: A

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