Totally agree, I listened to this constantly when it was released and for me is still one of the 10 best metal albums of all time…when Degarmo left the heart was ripped out of the band IMHO and this was probably the high point of the bands success, I reckon the first 4 albums were the best but everyone has a different opinion. Listen to the whole album Doug it’s well worth your time 👍🏻😎🤘
Operation Mindcrime is one story, a rock opera or concept album. I always listen to all of it, never isolated songs. The metal scene was blown away with it since it came out in 1988.
Not all churches call their leaders "father" , nor do they all sing in Latin. Let that sink in. "Call no man your "Father" for you have but one FATHER who is in heaven who is a spirit and not a man." JESUS
Operation: Mindcrime is the greatest concept album of all time. Nothing else even comes close. Every track is great-there's no filler-and the whole is so much more than the sum of the parts. Suite Sister Mary represents the point where the shit really hits the fan for our protagonist, Nikki.
Mindcrime is a masterpiece and one of my favorite progressive metal albums of all time. But to say it's the greatest concept album, hmmm.... do you think it stands up to Dark Side of The Moon?
@@ruinsane100 Absolutely. And I LOVE Dark Side of the Moon. Don't get me wrong. It's my favorite Pink Floyd album. But is it as interesting a story as Mindcrime? Is it as emotional or as deep or as gloriously tragic as Mindcrime?
@@geoffchilders Dark Side deals with way deeper and more meaningful subject matter, IMO. Don't get me wrong, Mindcrime is a masterpiece in every sense of the word. But PF is on a WHOLE 'nother level, and that's coming from a casual PF fan. There's just no comparison IMO. But hey, I'm not arguing bc we are both in agreement that Mindcrime is pure gold. Although I am partial to Rage for Order. It is my favorite Queensryche album. I also agree about Scenes From A Memory being better, although Mindcrime was one of the main influences for that album, so there's that! ;)
Mindcrime is one of the greatest concept albums ever recorded. It’s still relevant all these years later. I highly recommend a listen to the whole album in order. It’s worth it!
The only thing better than some of the songs on this concept album, is actually listening to them all in order, and at once. Tells a riveting tale that inspires a lot of emotions. Great review choice.
Ah the joys of being a teenager with no cares and having the luxury to lay back and listen to music without a care. As an adult in his 30s thats a luxury most cant afford
I have this album in every format: vinyl, cassette, cd, vhs, and dvd. Seen them live soooo many times. They were awesome until they fell apart. What’s frightening about this album is how absolutely relevant it still is. Lyrics like: They fight the fire With empty words While the banks get fat The poor stay poor And the rich get rich And the cops get paid To look away As the 1% rules america
I'm not a metal fan, but Operation Mindcrime is in my top 5 favorite albums of all time. I bought this album (on cassette) in 1988, and never get tired of it. Suite Sister Mary is the perfect centerpiece for Operation Mindcrime.
You really, really need to hear their song Eyes of a Stranger, preferably the official video which expresses the story better than any of the other videos
Surprised to see you analyze this but the whole album should be processed as one. This album was / is a masterpiece. Picking one track from it seems an injustice.
I totally agree. I think it was actually the Empire tour when they played Mindcrime in its entirety.....Long time ago so I can't swear to it, but I remember the concert very well and it was one of the best I've ever seen.
@@Norm6671 - Yes, the Building Empires tour. I saw them at London's Hammersmith Odeon, 15 Nov, 1990. Was stunned they played the whole of O:MC and, more so, that Pamela Moore joined them. It was a very special evening. Bizarrely, I also caught them perform the whole of this album in 2004 at Nottingham Rock City on the Art of Live tour ... expected that rendition even less! (Expected them to play tracks from Tribe though they did not play any.) That night ended on such a high with my fave QR song, 'Screaming in Digital' and I was also given a copy of the setlist from the stage. I've a real soft spot for QR though, sadly, as others will probably have said, it's never been the same since Chris left. I'm glad Doug is going to listen to the album, it's the only way.
@@viewsfromthebar5131 I was lucky enough to see this when they toured in like 2002 or 2003.... they played a lot of their greatest hits as the "Opening Band" and then they went into all of Mindcrime for the second set. was an absolute masterpiece. I loved the theatrics... they had a guy in the audience, from the start that was close to where we were, and he was creepy the whole way through, and then when they started off Mindcrime he jumped on stage to grab the mic away from the local DJ, and that kicked it off. was still one of the best if not THE best concerts I've ever seen.
You may not find the entire album, Operation Mindcrime, on youtube. It is a must to go through the whole thing start to finish. The staged performance this is from was called Operation Livecrime.
Love it - thanks Doug. Operation Mindcrime is a masterpiece and definitely needs to be listened to from start to finish. I spent the last 2 years learning all of the guitar parts and re-recording them, as a personal tribute to such an awesome album; it was a really great journey of personal development and discovery 😁🤘
Saw this tour twice, then saw them do the whole thing again much later when they did parts 1 and 2. This tour where they filmed this (Building Empires) is still the best live show I've seen.
One of my favorite albums. I really appreciate that little lesson on the augmented 6th! This is what sets you apart from other 'react' channels. You're actually listening and offering your expertise to enhance the experience of these songs we all adore. Cheers Doug!
Was there when Queensrÿche played Sister Mary live in front of an audience for the first time. A very impressive show. I still wonder as then that the stage itself looks very much like the same stage we had just 24 hours to alter for an AC/DC World tour. We worked through the day and night getting the whole thing done with minutes to spare. The audience wouldn't notice but for us really pleased we actually achieved it.
Oh that's cool. TO know that bands would customize each other's sets they weren't using anymore....that's wild. Thanks for telling us. Got any other cool stories, I suggest you get in touch with DEAN DELRAY. He'll love you bro!
@@jeffreycollins7297 I 'think' it looks like part of the AC/DC Stage as it was designed in sections for various size venues. I was mainly working behind the bar in a Pub then after finishing my shift helped out on mainly with the extra jobs in lighting. Rogério Penna I wouldn't really class myself either as a roadie and not or sound technician but would did get involved where required. Tell you what those people behind the scenes make it look easy but work really hard and my respects to them. I worked full time for a short period of time.With AC/DC and Iron Maiden it makes you appreciate the large number of lights when cutting the colour gels for the lights for the Par cans. Thing is it is very much intense and then slack periods when everyone else was on World tours. So my work was designed around that and I went back to what I was doing as did all the travelling when young with my father in the RAF, so enjoy the stability of not travelling around. That's why wanted to go so far but not make it a life type job. It was the time Iron Maiden had the Sphynx and also the large Mummy Eddie in Bandages. The guys also worked on TV channel programs and great groups and could 'name drop' a number of artists from that '80's period small and large venues. My two memorable inputs was pleased about were as part of the small crew left when the others were on a World tour. The rest of us worked on the lights for Frankie Goes to Hollywood and we had an appreciation on the radio which was really nice. Fun time was at a large festival "I think" it was Castle Donington and Lady Penelope song "Parker Well done" was a big favourite. So I came up with an idea. Spoke about it to get the go ahead over the head sets. That night at home cut out images of the 5 Thunderbird craft then following night used a Super Trooper arc light to display the Thunderbird images across the stage like the Bat signal when the song came on. Fond memories :)
Oh Yes! I remember when this album came out. My friend and I were at the record store (remember those?) and they had this album playing. I'd never heard anything like it, I asked them what they were playing and bought it immediately. Such an amazing album and it still holds up so well today.
You can use spacebar to pause/unpause - no need to move the mouse over to the pause button...and the arrows on the keyboard to scrub back and forward :)
Speaking as only a casual fan of Queesryche, Mindcrime is one of the greatest rock albums ever! Even if you don’t dig the rest of their catalog, this one album is just crazy good!
This is my favourite album of all time and has been since the 80s. So interesting to hear the harmony of probably the most complex song analysed. Thank you. Eyes of a stranger is probably my favourite song of all time too.
One of the best songs and performances ever done. I saw them preform this on the Empire tour. In the middle of the concert they started "Operation Mindcrime" in its entirety. Fascinating! The "Mission" right before that was outstanding as well
So happy you did this one! I recommended this a couple weeks back because I knew you would dig it. IMO, this is one of Queensryche's best compositions! I love playing this on guitar, it's such a satisfying journey from start to finish.
Oh, man. Wow. This is one of my all-time favorite albums, and hearing what you just did with this song, I'd LOVE to hear you go through the whole thing at once... I love watching/listening to you deconstruct songs. As a fellow musician, it actually helps me hear/learn more in terms of how these pieces are composed. Thank you SO much for doing this one. You have no idea how much this video really moved and inspired me. Keep up the good work!
My favorite Queensryche album and in my top list of best consept albuns of all time so far, never grow tired of this music, great to see the cord break down, should wish i had this knowledge of music, great analysis
Seen them on this tour and has left an image burned into my mind and still will never forget this concert.. one of the best I’ve ever seen.. love Queensrych still today..
Wow, missed this reaction when it went out. Echo the recommendations to listen to the whole album. I was at the Milwaukee, WI performance of this (one of three in WI used to film Operation: Livecrime), and it still is, bar none, the best concert I have ever attended. It really is an amazing, operatic production. The moment where Geoff desperately reaches out and clasps hands with Pamela Moore literally brought tears to my eyes, and the way rest of the show builds from this point to an absolutely amazing crescendo is just phenomenal.
From this song on, it's hard to find a place to stop until you get to the cliffhanger ending on the album. It isn't much easier before this either, but this is where the action really picks up. On the song before this (The Mission), we find out that he has lit a candle for each assassination, and that his room is filled with candles by this point. That explains the one more candle left to light lyric. The problem is corruption, not organized religion on its own. More religion + politics, do what I say not what I do, people are exploiting it all to get rich...
There is no bad songs on Operation Mindcrime. Just bangers from beginning to the end. Hard to pick a favourite but it might be Eyes of a stranger for me.
I would suggest another concept album by a classic metal band: Savatage - The Hourglass (from the album "the wake of Magellan") It's the last track of the album and the end of the beatiful story written by Paul O'Neil (their producer). Probably the best writer in heavy metal, the booklet is beautiful with illustrations and lyrics in rhyme (lyrics in capital letters are important parts of the story not sung)
All the Savatage albuns are amazing... Doug must hear that there i love - The hall of The Mountain King, or The Wake of Magellan which is also a conceptual album and speaks of a Portuguese sailer...
I'm also requesting Savatage for some time... Especially "chance", "edge of thorns", "gutter ballet"... But even "the hourglass" would be great as well. 👍
Went straight from Doug's analysis to the full album. Fabulous, so powerful. Many thanks to all those who recommended it, and to you too Doug for featuring it.
The album came out in late 88 early 89 I believe but they like re-toured with it when they were on the empire tour by doing the whole album and it’s entirety live which was absolutely amazing
I’ve seen Queensryche in concert a few times but when I saw them perform the entire operation mindcrime, it was definitely an all-time concert highlight. I love to hear you react to the entire album.
You commented in here about how you've been hearing those tri tones in a lot of rock/metal lately. Recently you referenced those notes from Mars: The bringer of war. I believe it's become a staple of metal since Black Sabbath opened their first album with those same notes. I could be wrong.
In 1988 There were TWO concept albums released. Iron Maiden's Seventh Son of a Seventh Son and Queensryche's Operation Mindcrime. As a Maiden fan I loved SSoaSS... BUT it felt a little incomplete, it was more of a collection of songs around a theme. Then I listened to Operation Mindcrime... A true concept album and as it was also recognised a Rock Opera, along the lines of Tommy. Absolutely classic album.
This album is one of my favorite albums of all time. I even have the Operation: Livecrime DVD, and routinely have a few of the songs on my workout playlist.
Fantastic video once again, Doug! Loved Operation: Mindcrime all those years ago, thanks for taking us on this exploratory journey of that song, I learned more than I expected! The whole concept album format is a favourite of mine, so I’d love to hear your take on Rush’s Hemispheres, side 1. I’m sure you could explain it musically in ways we never considered! Cheers!
Thank you for doing another Queensryche song. They don't appear to be one of you favorites but the more you listen..... Like everyone else here, you need to listen to the entire album and it'll make so much more sense!
I remember as a teen my brother and I going to see them in concert and you did not know she was even part of the show, and when she came out for her part it was an oh wow moment. Her name is Pamela Moore
Yes. Entire album. Yes. And then listen to it again. I can never listen to the album just one time and I've been listening to it since it came out. Musical trends have come and gone, but this album has consistently been on my playlist.
Seen Operation Mindcrime twice...once during the Building Empire tour in '91 and then during Mindcrime at the Moore in 2006. This is STILL my FAVORITE CONCEPT album of all time.
I have seen Queensryche live 9 times. They are the ONLY band I have ever seen that if you close your eyes you wouldn't be able to tell you weren't listening to the actual album. They play and perform flawlessly. The video you showed is from their operation Livecrime DVD.
[SPOKEN] [Dr. X:] "Kill her. That's all you have to do." [Nikki:] "Kill Mary?" [Dr. X:] "She's a risk, and get the priest as well." 10 P.M., I feel the rain coming down My face feels the wet, my mind the storm Flashing lights as people race to find shelter from the pour Moving silent, through the streets, they're mine, they're mine Midnite, she sings praises in the Hall To saintly faces hallowed be their names she can't recall Sister Mary, virgin Mary, silent with her sin ([Mary:] "What are you doing out in the rain?") She feels me, I can taste her breath when she speaks ([Mary:] "I've been waiting for you. Come in.") Mary, Mary just a whore for the underground They made you pay in guilt for your salvation Thought you had them fooled? Now they've sent me for you You know too much for your own good Don't offer me faith, I've got all I need here My faith is growing, growing tight against the seam What we need is trust, to keep us both alive Help us make it through the night [Mary] I've no more want of any faith Binds my arm and feed my mind The only peace I've ever known I'll close my eyes and you shoot No Mary, listen, you've got to pull your strength from my lips I pray I feed you well Your precious cross is gone, it made me wait so long For what you gave to everyone The priest is cold and dead on his knees he fed From my barrel of death, he turned the Holy water red As he died he said thank you I just watched him bleed [Mary] I feel the flow, the blessed stain Sweating hands like fire, and flames Burn my thighs, spread in sacrificial rite The hallowed altar burns my flesh once more tonight Mary, sweet lady of pain Always alone Blind you search for the truth I see myself in you, parallel lives Winding at light-speed through time No time to rest yet We've got to stop his game Before madness has the final laugh Too much bloodshed We're being used and fed Like rats in experiments No final outcome here Only pain and fear It's followed us both all our lives There's one thing left to see Will it be him or me? There's one more candle left to light [Mary] Don't turn your back on my disgrace The blood of Christ can't heal my wounds...so deep The sins of man are all I taste Can't spit the memory from my mind I can't cry anymore Mary, my lady of pain, always alone Blind you search for the truth I see myself in you, parallel lives Winding at light-speed through time, you're mine
Great choice, best song to use when studying for my finals. The entire album is how I got through most of my exams. I am very happy to see you do this song as it is one of the masterpieces of the era.
I really love what you do here, most of the bands are from my youth, growing up to be a musician myself. But to get the ‘inside’ of music theory with songs is fascinating, I would like to hear some of your own work as well! Thank very much and keep ‘em coming
Doug, you make this complex music theory, which is so far over my head, sound so exciting. Plus, I now have a new and deeper appreciation of a song that I have always loved simply for it's emotional depth. I hope that you will have a chance to discuss the whole album. To me, it is deep, challenging and very rich.
I love that you did this. Operation Mindcrime is a fantastic album. I was born in '70 and still have my original vinyl, and boxed set containing the CD and VHS tape to Operation Livecrime. A live show my brother saw, taped for the ages. What you watched was from the Operation Livecrime video. When you do react, I actually suggest the live version, because it really gives you the visuals of what the band was thinking with the album. Just some thoughts from a guy that's crabby, and has been around a minute.
One of my favorite memories from my high school years is buying this album and listening to it for the first time! It was so mind blowing that I immediately listened to it a second time! One of the best hard rock/metal albums ever!
I saw the tour in 1991 when they performed the entire album from start to finish. Absolutely top 5 concerts of my life. They released the live DVD from that tour.
One thing to remember. Most of us know these songs since the day they came out. That means we know every lyric, tour date, and symbolism :) Your knowledge about the music structure is what truly expands, at least for me, the fun! Especially when you break down the song and play along then tell us why it works!
I saw them back in the day on the Operation Live Crime Tour, It's amazing today that they pulled off all the video backgrounds and stage production on late 80s/early 90's technology, especially with the Sister Mary. She wasn't at every live performance. For many (like the one I went to) she was on video. Again this is technology from 30 years ago and it was a pre recorded performance that had to be timed perfectly with a live band AND in tune. And it was flawless. Let that sink in. Think about what the band had to do to pull that off.
Mindcrime is an absolute masterpiece from front to back. Tate and Degarmo were a brilliant songwriting duo.
''I don't believe in love'' is a stunning piece. The twin guitars sound beautiful with amasing chords with upper extensions.
This
With Promised Land as a maturity "last breath" work.
Degarmo surely left an enormous hole when he left the band. To this day most of the band’s Greatest Hits have his name on them.
Totally agree, I listened to this constantly when it was released and for me is still one of the 10 best metal albums of all time…when Degarmo left the heart was ripped out of the band IMHO and this was probably the high point of the bands success, I reckon the first 4 albums were the best but everyone has a different opinion. Listen to the whole album Doug it’s well worth your time 👍🏻😎🤘
"I think I need to listen to the whole album" yes yes yes yes yes
Yes cuz
Yes! As strong as they are on their own, every song on Mindcrime is best in context of the whole story.
Operation Mindcrime is one story, a rock opera or concept album. I always listen to all of it, never isolated songs. The metal scene was blown away with it since it came out in 1988.
OH HELL YEAH
Once you listen one Operation Mindcrime song, you need to listen to them ALL.
The irony of this song being played in a church is not lost on me 🤣
Well Geoff did conceive of the album concept while he was in church lol
When the video started and I saw the setting I lost it.
Not all churches call their leaders "father" , nor do they all sing in Latin. Let that sink in.
"Call no man your "Father" for you have but one FATHER who is in heaven who is a spirit and not a man."
JESUS
Haha it was the first thing I thought of when the video started
I was just about to say you reviewed THIS song in a church?! LOLOL!!
Operation: Mindcrime is the greatest concept album of all time. Nothing else even comes close. Every track is great-there's no filler-and the whole is so much more than the sum of the parts. Suite Sister Mary represents the point where the shit really hits the fan for our protagonist, Nikki.
Mindcrime is a masterpiece and one of my favorite progressive metal albums of all time. But to say it's the greatest concept album, hmmm.... do you think it stands up to Dark Side of The Moon?
@@ruinsane100 Absolutely. And I LOVE Dark Side of the Moon. Don't get me wrong. It's my favorite Pink Floyd album. But is it as interesting a story as Mindcrime? Is it as emotional or as deep or as gloriously tragic as Mindcrime?
Its ONE of the best, yes. But I have to put Pink Floyd The Wall and Beatles Yellow Submarine way at the top of best concept album list
Metropolis Pt. 2 is slightly better....
@@geoffchilders Dark Side deals with way deeper and more meaningful subject matter, IMO. Don't get me wrong, Mindcrime is a masterpiece in every sense of the word. But PF is on a WHOLE 'nother level, and that's coming from a casual PF fan. There's just no comparison IMO. But hey, I'm not arguing bc we are both in agreement that Mindcrime is pure gold. Although I am partial to Rage for Order. It is my favorite Queensryche album.
I also agree about Scenes From A Memory being better, although Mindcrime was one of the main influences for that album, so there's that! ;)
“I don’t believe in love” one of the best songs on the album
i honestly realy like Eyes of a Stranger but that album is just grate
There is no best song on the album....
"The Mission" is my favorite . I wore out my cassette on that song
Together with Eyes of a Stranger
I remember singing that song repeatedly when i was in college, and my sister finally bursted out, "stop singing that stupid song!!!!"
Mindcrime is one of the greatest concept albums ever recorded. It’s still relevant all these years later. I highly recommend a listen to the whole album in order. It’s worth it!
One of the greatest albums ever recorded FULL STOP.
Possibly more relevant in the past few years than ever before.
Incredible how it’s a cohesive concept album with so many amazing, stand-alone, radio-friendly singles.
The only thing better than some of the songs on this concept album, is actually listening to them all in order, and at once. Tells a riveting tale that inspires a lot of emotions. Great review choice.
Ah the joys of being a teenager with no cares and having the luxury to lay back and listen to music without a care. As an adult in his 30s thats a luxury most cant afford
The joy of seeing them perform it live in its entirety.
It only takes 60 minutes to listen to the entire album. Well worth an hour.
Only way to listen to it. This cd has literally been in my car's cd player since I bought it in 2014
One of the most legendary albums ever created. I still listen to it regularly and definitely listen to the whole album start to finish.
I have this album in every format: vinyl, cassette, cd, vhs, and dvd. Seen them live soooo many times. They were awesome until they fell apart.
What’s frightening about this album is how absolutely relevant it still is. Lyrics like:
They fight the fire
With empty words
While the banks get fat
The poor stay poor
And the rich get rich
And the cops get paid
To look away
As the 1% rules america
Bitcoin fixes this.
@@GrumpyOldGuy777 no, it doesn't.
So very true.. so very true..
Lucky!!! I've got vinyl and vhs outstanding. Maybe someday....
Feel the Bern
Never clicked on anything so fast. Finally some Ryche! Say what you want about Geoff as a person but his persona, voice and showmanship are unmatched.
For me personally, my favorite front man of all time. I have seen QR 11 times with Geoff and in the 80s and 90s he was amazing
Hey Doug, you must check The entire album, is a conceptual álbum.
Yes Doug must listen to the whole album !
He should watch the DVD, Mindcrime at the Moore, to get the full effect.
It's a (mind)crime not to have listened to this album!
It's not just a conceptual album but getting into the lyrics they are still so relevant today.
@@jamesg872 I agree.
Thanks Doug for taking the time to react to this video. It's always great to hear what you have to say.
"Operation: Mindcrime" and "Metropolis 2: Scenes from a Memory". Those are the two album you should listen.
Yes!
comment from future, he listened to metropolis pt 2
I'm not a metal fan, but Operation Mindcrime is in my top 5 favorite albums of all time. I bought this album (on cassette) in 1988, and never get tired of it. Suite Sister Mary is the perfect centerpiece for Operation Mindcrime.
The singer is Pamela Moore who happens to be Terri Nunn's (Berlin) cousin
I didn’t know that! Thank you!
Nice fun fact!
You really, really need to hear their song Eyes of a Stranger, preferably the official video which expresses the story better than any of the other videos
One of the best songs ever written.
This album and “Rage for Order” are absolute masterpieces!!
Empire
Saw the Queensryche tour when they played Mindcrime I and Mindcrime II in their entirety. Pamela Moore, Sister Mary, was amazing.
Amanda Sommerville played Mary on that tour.
No it was Pamela Moore who did the part t of Mary when they toured live …look at mindcrime at the Moore theater
Saw this in Chicago at the House of Blues and was blown away!!! ❤
My favourite album of all time and this is the shining emotional centerpiece. Great listening.
Surprised to see you analyze this but the whole album should be processed as one. This album was / is a masterpiece. Picking one track from it seems an injustice.
Correct.
I totally agree. I think it was actually the Empire tour when they played Mindcrime in its entirety.....Long time ago so I can't swear to it, but I remember the concert very well and it was one of the best I've ever seen.
@@Norm6671 - Yes, the Building Empires tour. I saw them at London's Hammersmith Odeon, 15 Nov, 1990. Was stunned they played the whole of O:MC and, more so, that Pamela Moore joined them. It was a very special evening. Bizarrely, I also caught them perform the whole of this album in 2004 at Nottingham Rock City on the Art of Live tour ... expected that rendition even less! (Expected them to play tracks from Tribe though they did not play any.) That night ended on such a high with my fave QR song, 'Screaming in Digital' and I was also given a copy of the setlist from the stage. I've a real soft spot for QR though, sadly, as others will probably have said, it's never been the same since Chris left. I'm glad Doug is going to listen to the album, it's the only way.
@@viewsfromthebar5131 I was lucky enough to see this when they toured in like 2002 or 2003.... they played a lot of their greatest hits as the "Opening Band" and then they went into all of Mindcrime for the second set. was an absolute masterpiece. I loved the theatrics... they had a guy in the audience, from the start that was close to where we were, and he was creepy the whole way through, and then when they started off Mindcrime he jumped on stage to grab the mic away from the local DJ, and that kicked it off. was still one of the best if not THE best concerts I've ever seen.
When I saw it performed live here in Seattle, they had a local high school drum corp come on and do the opening sequence. It was so awesome.
You may not find the entire album, Operation Mindcrime, on youtube. It is a must to go through the whole thing start to finish. The staged performance this is from was called Operation Livecrime.
Love it - thanks Doug. Operation Mindcrime is a masterpiece and definitely needs to be listened to from start to finish. I spent the last 2 years learning all of the guitar parts and re-recording them, as a personal tribute to such an awesome album; it was a really great journey of personal development and discovery 😁🤘
Saw this tour twice, then saw them do the whole thing again much later when they did parts 1 and 2. This tour where they filmed this (Building Empires) is still the best live show I've seen.
This song blew me away way back then and still does, Geoff is incredible
"Roads to Madness" from their first studio album is excellent.
On the sequel album Dr. X is played by none other than Ronnie James Dio.
Didn’t know that..kinda sad that album sucked
@@chrisbassartist4344 That's being kind.
And the song he sings sounds like tango. :-P (Am I the only one who thinks that?)
Apples and pears!
One of my favorite albums. I really appreciate that little lesson on the augmented 6th! This is what sets you apart from other 'react' channels. You're actually listening and offering your expertise to enhance the experience of these songs we all adore. Cheers Doug!
Was there when Queensrÿche played Sister Mary live in front of an audience for the first time. A very impressive show. I still wonder as then that the stage itself looks very much like the same stage we had just 24 hours to alter for an AC/DC World tour. We worked through the day and night getting the whole thing done with minutes to spare. The audience wouldn't notice but for us really pleased we actually achieved it.
You were a roadie? A sound technician?
Oh that's cool. TO know that bands would customize each other's sets they weren't using anymore....that's wild. Thanks for telling us. Got any other cool stories, I suggest you get in touch with DEAN DELRAY. He'll love you bro!
@@jeffreycollins7297 I 'think' it looks like part of the AC/DC Stage as it was designed in sections for various size venues. I was mainly working behind the bar in a Pub then after finishing my shift helped out on mainly with the extra jobs in lighting. Rogério Penna I wouldn't really class myself either as a roadie and not or sound technician but would did get involved where required. Tell you what those people behind the scenes make it look easy but work really hard and my respects to them. I worked full time for a short period of time.With AC/DC and Iron Maiden it makes you appreciate the large number of lights when cutting the colour gels for the lights for the Par cans. Thing is it is very much intense and then slack periods when everyone else was on World tours. So my work was designed around that and I went back to what I was doing as did all the travelling when young with my father in the RAF, so enjoy the stability of not travelling around. That's why wanted to go so far but not make it a life type job. It was the time Iron Maiden had the Sphynx and also the large Mummy Eddie in Bandages. The guys also worked on TV channel programs and great groups and could 'name drop' a number of artists from that '80's period small and large venues. My two memorable inputs was pleased about were as part of the small crew left when the others were on a World tour. The rest of us worked on the lights for Frankie Goes to Hollywood and we had an appreciation on the radio which was really nice. Fun time was at a large festival "I think" it was Castle Donington and Lady Penelope song "Parker Well done" was a big favourite. So I came up with an idea. Spoke about it to get the go ahead over the head sets. That night at home cut out images of the 5 Thunderbird craft then following night used a Super Trooper arc light to display the Thunderbird images across the stage like the Bat signal when the song came on. Fond memories :)
Oh Yes! I remember when this album came out. My friend and I were at the record store (remember those?) and they had this album playing. I'd never heard anything like it, I asked them what they were playing and bought it immediately. Such an amazing album and it still holds up so well today.
You could have started your comment with "I remember now" :)
@@artmooneyblog haha, I should have. Good catch.
Remember them? I go to them all the time?
How about a two hour podcast where you listen to the entire album with all of us. Guaranteed most of us would watch your video in it's entirety.
You can use spacebar to pause/unpause - no need to move the mouse over to the pause button...and the arrows on the keyboard to scrub back and forward :)
Never given queensryche any airplay. I might now give them a try. Nice work.
Speaking as only a casual fan of Queesryche, Mindcrime is one of the greatest rock albums ever! Even if you don’t dig the rest of their catalog, this one album is just crazy good!
This is my favourite album of all time and has been since the 80s. So interesting to hear the harmony of probably the most complex song analysed. Thank you. Eyes of a stranger is probably my favourite song of all time too.
I was lucky enough to see that show live in 1991.
Criminally underrated band.
The female singer is Pamela Moore. In the Mindcrime 2 album Dr X is voiced by Ronnie James Dio. ua-cam.com/video/nilCk5ADXrw/v-deo.html
Queensryche at their absolute peak. This was an amazing show in person.
One of the best songs and performances ever done. I saw them preform this on the Empire tour. In the middle of the concert they started "Operation Mindcrime" in its entirety. Fascinating! The "Mission" right before that was outstanding as well
So happy you did this one! I recommended this a couple weeks back because I knew you would dig it. IMO, this is one of Queensryche's best compositions! I love playing this on guitar, it's such a satisfying journey from start to finish.
Oh, man. Wow. This is one of my all-time favorite albums, and hearing what you just did with this song, I'd LOVE to hear you go through the whole thing at once... I love watching/listening to you deconstruct songs. As a fellow musician, it actually helps me hear/learn more in terms of how these pieces are composed. Thank you SO much for doing this one. You have no idea how much this video really moved and inspired me. Keep up the good work!
My favorite Queensryche album and in my top list of best consept albuns of all time so far, never grow tired of this music, great to see the cord break down, should wish i had this knowledge of music, great analysis
AWESOME! Man I love those analysis. I've been playing most of the songs you did for years, but now I look at them differently
It's a masterpiece!
Thank you for this reaction. I've been wanting to hear your take on this song. Yes, definitely check out the rest of the album.
I bought that Queensryche album when it came out, had forgotten about it. Must give it another listen.
Damn how do you forget about operation mindcrime? One of my most played albums since the day it was released.
@@minners71 guilty as charged
Forgot about it? Well, you can now enjoy it as a new experience. Utterly brilliant it is
You need to listen to the entire album. It is fantastic, start to finish.
One of my top 10 ten songs of all time. The whole album is incredible. It is my favourite concept album ever. Thanks for a fascinating reaction.
Seen them on this tour and has left an image burned into my mind and still will never forget this concert.. one of the best I’ve ever seen.. love Queensrych still today..
what you might not realize is that the audio from the video is their live performance...they absolutely killed it.
Wow, missed this reaction when it went out. Echo the recommendations to listen to the whole album.
I was at the Milwaukee, WI performance of this (one of three in WI used to film Operation: Livecrime), and it still is, bar none, the best concert I have ever attended. It really is an amazing, operatic production. The moment where Geoff desperately reaches out and clasps hands with Pamela Moore literally brought tears to my eyes, and the way rest of the show builds from this point to an absolutely amazing crescendo is just phenomenal.
Mission, Needle Lies and Operation Mindcrime, a few more best songs from the album, believe me there are no bad songs on the album.
From this song on, it's hard to find a place to stop until you get to the cliffhanger ending on the album. It isn't much easier before this either, but this is where the action really picks up. On the song before this (The Mission), we find out that he has lit a candle for each assassination, and that his room is filled with candles by this point. That explains the one more candle left to light lyric.
The problem is corruption, not organized religion on its own. More religion + politics, do what I say not what I do, people are exploiting it all to get rich...
There is no bad songs on Operation Mindcrime. Just bangers from beginning to the end. Hard to pick a favourite but it might be Eyes of a stranger for me.
The whole mankind now needs a Doug's reaction on "Silent lucidity". 🙏
I think you would enjoy the entire album. Very well done. I was fortunate to see this performed start-to-finish twice.
This sure brings back memories. I love when you do these videos with the piano. I always learn something. Thank you!
I saw them live on this album tour. It was absolutely epic. They are to this day one of the greatest live acts I’ve ever seen.
I would suggest another concept album by a classic metal band:
Savatage - The Hourglass (from the album "the wake of Magellan")
It's the last track of the album and the end of the beatiful story written by Paul O'Neil (their producer).
Probably the best writer in heavy metal, the booklet is beautiful with illustrations and lyrics in rhyme (lyrics in capital letters are important parts of the story not sung)
Hell yeah my favorite band
Dead Winter Dead also. Many people don't know Savatage's "side project" is TSO.
Amazing album
All the Savatage albuns are amazing...
Doug must hear that there i love - The hall of The Mountain King, or The Wake of Magellan which is also a conceptual album and speaks of a Portuguese sailer...
I'm also requesting Savatage for some time... Especially "chance", "edge of thorns", "gutter ballet"... But even "the hourglass" would be great as well. 👍
Went straight from Doug's analysis to the full album. Fabulous, so powerful. Many thanks to all those who recommended it, and to you too Doug for featuring it.
The album came out in late 88 early 89 I believe but they like re-toured with it when they were on the empire tour by doing the whole album and it’s entirety live which was absolutely amazing
Another EPIC SONG!! Thanks Doug, one of my favorites.
I’ve seen Queensryche in concert a few times but when I saw them perform the entire operation mindcrime, it was definitely an all-time concert highlight. I love to hear you react to the entire album.
Lucky enough to see them live in ‘88 and then on the Empire tour where this was performed - best sound clarity hard rock band I ever saw. Superb.
You should react to the whole album. IMO, the best album of all time. Everywhere. yeah I said it ;-)
That video would be over an hour long, and I would watch every second of it.
You....... are correct, sir!
You commented in here about how you've been hearing those tri tones in a lot of rock/metal lately. Recently you referenced those notes from Mars: The bringer of war. I believe it's become a staple of metal since Black Sabbath opened their first album with those same notes. I could be wrong.
For the most part you're not wrong.
Saw this show twice Doug, in it's entirety. A rock opera!
This album had a huge impact on me when it was released, then the tour was just mind blowing. Pamela Moore is the female singer.
In 1988 There were TWO concept albums released.
Iron Maiden's Seventh Son of a Seventh Son and Queensryche's Operation Mindcrime.
As a Maiden fan I loved SSoaSS... BUT it felt a little incomplete, it was more of a collection of songs around a theme.
Then I listened to Operation Mindcrime... A true concept album and as it was also recognised a Rock Opera, along the lines of Tommy.
Absolutely classic album.
This album is one of my favorite albums of all time. I even have the Operation: Livecrime DVD, and routinely have a few of the songs on my workout playlist.
Fantastic video once again, Doug! Loved Operation: Mindcrime all those years ago, thanks for taking us on this exploratory journey of that song, I learned more than I expected! The whole concept album format is a favourite of mine, so I’d love to hear your take on Rush’s Hemispheres, side 1. I’m sure you could explain it musically in ways we never considered! Cheers!
This song is just awesome. I'm glad you did this one.
Thank you for doing another Queensryche song. They don't appear to be one of you favorites but the more you listen..... Like everyone else here, you need to listen to the entire album and it'll make so much more sense!
In was hoping you would do more of these at the piano. I love your analyses.
I remember as a teen my brother and I going to see them in concert and you did not know she was even part of the show, and when she came out for her part it was an oh wow moment. Her name is Pamela Moore
One of the best records ever
Yes. Entire album. Yes. And then listen to it again. I can never listen to the album just one time and I've been listening to it since it came out. Musical trends have come and gone, but this album has consistently been on my playlist.
Most underrated band of all time
I was lucky enough to be at two of the three shows that this was filmed at. It was an amazing live show. It sure brings back the memories!
My favorite song on the album
FYI the singer's name is Pamela Moore
Probably one of the best albums ever made. Thanks for giving it a review. Start to finish is best. Enjoy
Reviewing Queensryche's Suite Sister Mary in a church. The Rock Gods have blessed you. Go forth and influence young religious minds.
Seen Operation Mindcrime twice...once during the Building Empire tour in '91 and then during Mindcrime at the Moore in 2006. This is STILL my FAVORITE CONCEPT album of all time.
The Operation:Mindcrime stage production was fantastic!
Yes. The whole album. Pretty please. 100%. Would recommend. 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻
I have seen Queensryche live 9 times. They are the ONLY band I have ever seen that if you close your eyes you wouldn't be able to tell you weren't listening to the actual album. They play and perform flawlessly. The video you showed is from their operation Livecrime DVD.
[SPOKEN]
[Dr. X:] "Kill her. That's all you have to do."
[Nikki:] "Kill Mary?"
[Dr. X:] "She's a risk, and get the priest as well."
10 P.M., I feel the rain coming down
My face feels the wet, my mind the storm
Flashing lights as people race to find shelter from the pour
Moving silent, through the streets, they're mine, they're mine
Midnite, she sings praises in the Hall
To saintly faces hallowed be their names she can't recall
Sister Mary, virgin Mary, silent with her sin
([Mary:] "What are you doing out in the rain?")
She feels me, I can taste her breath when she speaks
([Mary:] "I've been waiting for you. Come in.")
Mary, Mary just a whore for the underground
They made you pay in guilt for your salvation
Thought you had them fooled? Now they've sent me for you
You know too much for your own good
Don't offer me faith, I've got all I need here
My faith is growing, growing tight against the seam
What we need is trust, to keep us both alive
Help us make it through the night
[Mary]
I've no more want of any faith
Binds my arm and feed my mind
The only peace I've ever known
I'll close my eyes and you shoot
No Mary, listen, you've got to pull your strength from my lips
I pray I feed you well
Your precious cross is gone, it made me wait so long
For what you gave to everyone
The priest is cold and dead on his knees he fed
From my barrel of death, he turned the Holy water red
As he died he said thank you
I just watched him bleed
[Mary]
I feel the flow, the blessed stain
Sweating hands like fire, and flames
Burn my thighs, spread in sacrificial rite
The hallowed altar burns my flesh once more tonight
Mary, sweet lady of pain
Always alone
Blind you search for the truth
I see myself in you, parallel lives
Winding at light-speed through time
No time to rest yet
We've got to stop his game
Before madness has the final laugh
Too much bloodshed
We're being used and fed
Like rats in experiments
No final outcome here
Only pain and fear
It's followed us both all our lives
There's one thing left to see
Will it be him or me?
There's one more candle left to light
[Mary]
Don't turn your back on my disgrace
The blood of Christ can't heal my wounds...so deep
The sins of man are all I taste
Can't spit the memory from my mind
I can't cry anymore
Mary, my lady of pain, always alone
Blind you search for the truth
I see myself in you, parallel lives
Winding at light-speed through time, you're mine
You missed the sound of the window going up :)
Great choice, best song to use when studying for my finals. The entire album is how I got through most of my exams.
I am very happy to see you do this song as it is one of the masterpieces of the era.
It starts with "Dies Irae Dies Illa" and must be part of a requiem.
I really love what you do here, most of the bands are from my youth, growing up to be a musician myself. But to get the ‘inside’ of music theory with songs is fascinating, I would like to hear some of your own work as well! Thank very much and keep ‘em coming
Queensryche called and wanted their pianist back. Thanks for the lesson!
Doug, you make this complex music theory, which is so far over my head, sound so exciting. Plus, I now have a new and deeper appreciation of a song that I have always loved simply for it's emotional depth. I hope that you will have a chance to discuss the whole album. To me, it is deep, challenging and very rich.
I love that you did this. Operation Mindcrime is a fantastic album. I was born in '70 and still have my original vinyl, and boxed set containing the CD and VHS tape to Operation Livecrime. A live show my brother saw, taped for the ages. What you watched was from the Operation Livecrime video. When you do react, I actually suggest the live version, because it really gives you the visuals of what the band was thinking with the album. Just some thoughts from a guy that's crabby, and has been around a minute.
One of my favorite memories from my high school years is buying this album and listening to it for the first time! It was so mind blowing that I immediately listened to it a second time! One of the best hard rock/metal albums ever!
I saw the tour in 1991 when they performed the entire album from start to finish. Absolutely top 5 concerts of my life. They released the live DVD from that tour.
One thing to remember. Most of us know these songs since the day they came out. That means we know every lyric, tour date, and symbolism :) Your knowledge about the music structure is what truly expands, at least for me, the fun! Especially when you break down the song and play along then tell us why it works!
I saw them back in the day on the Operation Live Crime Tour, It's amazing today that they pulled off all the video backgrounds and stage production on late 80s/early 90's technology, especially with the Sister Mary. She wasn't at every live performance. For many (like the one I went to) she was on video. Again this is technology from 30 years ago and it was a pre recorded performance that had to be timed perfectly with a live band AND in tune. And it was flawless. Let that sink in. Think about what the band had to do to pull that off.
The female singer is Pamela Moore who sang the part of Sister Mary on the original album and on the Mindcrime tour, where they played the whole album.
When that guitar part kicks in I get chills
riiing ring
MINDCRIME
Pamela Moore IS and FOREVER will be Sister Mary!
One of the best albums ever written......listen to the whole thing. It'll be worth it!
Gives it a haunting sound which matches the message of the lyrics.