{"id":18710,"date":"2020-01-10T01:00:28","date_gmt":"2020-01-10T06:00:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/southeastofheaven.com\/?p=18710"},"modified":"2022-01-06T19:38:21","modified_gmt":"2022-01-07T00:38:21","slug":"track-by-track-queensryche-empire","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.southeastofheaven.com\/?p=18710","title":{"rendered":"Track-by-Track: Queensryche – Empire"},"content":{"rendered":"

Geoff Tate is heading out this year celebrating the 30th anniversary of the Queensryche album Empire<\/strong><\/em>. Take & Co will not just performing the Empire<\/strong><\/em>album in its entirety, but they will also be performing 1986\u2019s Rage for Order in its entirety as well. I figured I would use this as an excuse to write up a track by track review of both albums. I hope you\u2019ll hear the magic in these albums that I did by giving them 100% of my attention.<\/p>\n

In 1990 when the band released Empire<\/strong><\/em> when the first video\/single for the song \u201cEmpire\u201d was released, I was blown away by the song. It sounded so different from the Operation: Mindcrime<\/strong><\/em> album, and even as a 16-year-old metal fan, I was very much aware of their pretty drastic shift in gears. I knew I loved the song but I wasn\u2019t sure how I was going to feel about the rest of the album. I anxiously awaited its release date and I was there to buy it at Turtles Records and Tapes the day of its release.<\/p>\n

With Empire<\/strong><\/em>, I feel like that wall ripped down, and as a fan, I got to hear what it was that made these guys tick and what it was that made up these amazingly talented individuals. From the outside looking in, Empire<\/strong><\/em> may look like a band that dipped their toes into trying to make a commercially acceptable and very successful album. While this may be true, to think that this is all it was is to underestimate the ingeniousness of Queensryche. I spent some time watching interviews with Geoff Tate and Chris Degarmo from 2002 and it was fascinating to hear them talk about Empire with so much pride.<\/p>\n

In a nutshell, DeGarmo stated that up to this point, Queensryche had immersed themselves in thematic aspects of songwriting. As artists, he and Tate both felt the need to step away from that aspect of writing and bring in a more personally connected aspect of songwriting, and on Empire, they fucking nailed it.<\/p>\n

The criticisms of Empire<\/strong><\/em> run the gamut. I\u2019ve heard everything from, \u201cIt doesn\u2019t stand the test of time\u201d to \u201cI loved it as a kid, but as I got older, I liked it less and less.\u201d There are plenty of albums from this era that I listen to today and I think, \u201cWow, that doesn\u2019t sound as remotely good as I remembered it,\u201d but Empire is not one of those albums.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Best I Can<\/strong><\/p>\n

What a fantastic opening. The haunting keyboards, the eerie kid\u2019s voice (nothing is creepier than a kid singing in the first place), and Tate\u2019s naked vocal intro before the band kicks into this positive, optimistic anthem makes for a stellar album opener.<\/p>\n

\u201cI want to be a busy man<\/em>
\nI want to see a change in the future<\/em>
\nI’m gonna make the best of what I have<\/em>
\nI want to write for a magazine<\/em>
\nI’m gonna be the best they’ve ever seen<\/em>
\nI know I’ll win if I give it all I can<\/em><\/p>\n

I won’t let go<\/em>
\nGotta make the grade, no I won’t let go<\/em>
\nTo be the best man, the best man that I can.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

It\u2019s catchy, it\u2019s fun, but it\u2019s also very smart and musically inventive. The keyboards tend to annoy people, but I love the depth that it adds. It\u2019s such a subtle thing but effective. The lyrics are so strong yet simple at attainable. It\u2019s a powerful message and one that anyone and everyone can relate to. Queensryche still manages to set themselves ahead of the pack lyrically even by simplifying their strategy toward writing lyrics.<\/p>\n

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The Thin Line<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cAnother hungry look in her eyes again<\/em>
\nPacing the floor<\/em>
\nThe hunt begins<\/em>
\nSkin-tight leather provides my pleasure<\/em>
\nWake my fear, surge with the pressure<\/em>
\nWalk away and leave forever, do I dare?\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

Laugh all you want, but this has to be one of the fucking sexiest songs ever written. It\u2019s like the metal version of Sade. It\u2019s almost like this is what the Scorpions would sound like if they were a bit more lyrically smart. This particular song offers the listener a voyeuristic look into the life of who? DeGarmo? Tate? Who knows, but either way, this song offers a bit of transparency and lets the listener in on the private fantasies and life of whoever wrote it. Is it real or is it a product of Queensryche testing the boundaries of their fans? Either way, it\u2019s a stellar fucking song. It\u2019s dark, it\u2019s sexy, it\u2019s perverse, and it\u2019s all the things that Queensryche only hinted at in the past put right out on the line for all to see.<\/p>\n

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Jet City Woman<\/strong><\/p>\n

That opening bass line. There aren\u2019t too many songs that I can think of that start with an opening bass riff that is as memorable as a guitar riff. \u201cAce of Spades,\u201d maybe? Either way, this particular song kicks off with Eddie Jackson\u2019s bass riff that would trigger roars of applause for years to come, and this song is quite spectacular. Lyrically it seems to pick up on the topic of desperation and longing that we saw on Rage for Order only simplified:<\/p>\n

\u201cWhenever I’m alone I’m thinking<\/em>
\nThere’s a part missing from my life<\/em>
\nWonder where I’d be without your love<\/em>
\nHolding me together now I’m<\/em>
\nWatching the time tick, tick away<\/em>
\nFace grows longer every day<\/em>
\nFortunes are lost on the women I’ve seen<\/em>
\nBut without you I can’t breathe, you’re the air to me!<\/em>
\nWaited so long, I can’t wait another day without you?\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

Longing, desperation, and loss (or fear of loss) seem to be a pretty consistent theme in the lyrics of both Geoff Tate and Chris DeGarmo. Maybe it was this common thread of fear and emotion that made these guys such an amazing team. This is a great song, no matter how you break it down and analyze it.<\/p>\n

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Della Brown<\/strong><\/p>\n

At this point in their career, I also have to say that this is probably my favorite Geoff Tate vocal performance. His voice is so emotive and versatile, and it draws me into the story. In a past interview, Geoff Tate told me that this song is based on a homeless person who used to see frequently. After hearing this story, I found myself even more drawn into the beautifully sad song.<\/p>\n

\u201cStreet corner girl<\/em>
\nWatch the crowd go by<\/em>
\nFill your tin can with life<\/em>
\nSummer days tend to slip away<\/em>
\nLike your men, you couldn’t make them stay<\/em>
\nHard to choose, whiskey, or a wife.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

On this song, drummer Scott Rockenfield\u2019s performance stands out to me as some of his finest playing. For being such a busy, hard-hitting player, his ability to reel it in blows me away. The closing part of this song is also one of my favorite musical moments on the album. I sometimes wish it would go on longer than it does. \u201cDella Brown\u201d is one of those songs that I can listen to a hundred times and never get sick of. \u201cDella Brown\u201d is a song that pulls me into the story, both musically and lyrically.<\/p>\n

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Another Rainy Night (Without You)<\/strong><\/p>\n

Much like with \u201cJet City Woman,\u201d this song opens with a very memorable riff showcasing the dual guitar magic of Chris DeGarmo and Michael Wilton. While not my favorite of the singles, this song once again had me wondering if this was autobiographical or just touching upon a subject. Singing songs about love, love tried, and sexuality is all aspects of past Queensryche but never until this album were they so transparent and almost obvious.<\/p>\n

\u201cListen, there’s a foghorn blowing from the coast tonight<\/em>
\nRemember making love in the rain?<\/em>
\nStrange how laughter looks like crying with no sound<\/em>
\nRaindrops taste like tears, without the pain<\/em>
\nI’m not much without you, can’t leave if I wanted to<\/em>
\nMaybe that’s why you stay around.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

Lyrically, once again, Queensryche has this way of taking the most simple of topics and making an interesting and, at times, poetic song. I think that this is a pretty fucking cool thing for a band who for so long shrouded themselves in mystery and now are showing that they are flesh, blood, heart, and soul just like the rest of us; men capable of feeling all of the emotions that we feel only now they are finally taking the opportunity to share them in a way that makes them seem more human than ever.<\/p>\n

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Empire<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m sorry. It\u2019s um, starting to hit me like a, um, two-ton heavy thing.\u201d The voice message left by keyboardist Randy Gane kicks off this song. What the fuck is that all about? One of these days, I\u2019m going to ask Geoff Tate about that one. This song is one of the two songs that sound the most like Operation: Mindcrime era Queensryche both musically and lyrically.<\/p>\n

\u201cJohnny used to work after school<\/em>
\nAt the cinema show<\/em>
\nGotta hustle if he wants an education<\/em>
\nYeah he’s got a long way to go<\/em>
\nNow he’s out on the street all-day<\/em>
\nSelling crack to the people who pay<\/em>
\nGot an AK-47 for his best friend<\/em>
\nBusiness the American way.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

This song was a testament to what was (and still is) going on in our world. The youth of American seemed to be rising to the headlines with struggles of gang\/drug violence. The world was watching as we were tied up in the Gulf War, and corporate greed was huge in the media eye. \u201cEmpire\u201d has a timeless message that, unfortunately, still rings true from generation to generation.<\/p>\n

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Resistance<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cEmpire\u201d and \u201cResistance,\u201d thematically and musically, both sound like second cousins to the material on Operation: Mindcrime. \u201cResistance\u201d is a powerful fucking song and one of the musically strongest songs on the album. By strong, I mean heavy and impacting. The band thought so as well since they chose this one to be the opening song on their Building Empires tour.<\/p>\n

\u201cProtests in New York<\/em>
\nListen to the call of the wild<\/em>
\nBrother, sisters carrying signs<\/em>
\nBreathe deep before it’s too late<\/em>
\nThe sky is falling, burning your eyes<\/em>
\nDown in New Orleans river’s boiling<\/em>
\nNothing living, nothing to eat<\/em>
\nThank the lord, daddy’s working eight to five<\/em>
\nPaying the doctor, baby’s got cancer.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cResistance\u201d is another time capsule that pretty much sums up all that was and still is wrong with the world. This song never gets old, and I stand by the fact that it\u2019s one of the all-time greatest show openers. This song is strong, unforgiving, smart, and in your face. I also feel that this is another way of Queensryche using their musical soapbox to scream their observation of all that was happening and all that would happen. In a nutshell, this is Bono minus the pompousness and lame-ass voice.<\/p>\n

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Silent Lucidity<\/strong><\/p>\n

No matter how overplayed people say, it is, \u201cSilent Lucidity\u201d is a truly timeless song. If I have to hear \u201cThey stole that from Pink Floyd,\u201d one more goddamn time, I\u2019m going to kick someone in the face. Anyways, this is a truly gorgeous song and I love the pure, simple beauty of it. The incredible orchestration in the song by Michael Kamen took this song to soaring heights, and it lyrically touches on the concept of the beauty and safety of dreams and even nightmares while immersed in sleep.<\/p>\n

\u201cLiving twice at once you learn<\/em>
\nYou’re safe from pain in the dream domain<\/em>
\nA soul set free to fly<\/em>
\nA round trip journey in your head<\/em>
\nMaster of illusion, can you realize<\/em>
\nYour dream’s alive, you can be the guide.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cSilent Lucidity\u201d is a song that still makes me teary because it triggers memories of my father who loved this song. Geoff Tate says in an interview, \u201cA song like \u201cSilent Lucidity\u201d is timeless. It has a real human message to it that no matter what age you are, where you\u2019re at in life, or what date or what the date is, it\u2019s a song that will always connect with people.\u201d I don\u2019t think I could say any more than that.<\/p>\n

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Hand on Heart<\/p>\n

I love this song. I also love that no matter what these guys write, there is always that signature guitar sound that is unmistakably Queensryche. \u201cHand on Heart\u201d is probably the simplest of songs lyrically on this album documenting a person’s \u201clove at first sight\u201d experience.<\/p>\n

\u201cAll eyes were staring<\/em>
\nYou floated through the room<\/em>
\nArmed with your razor smile cutting to the bone<\/em>
\nMy voice fell useless<\/em>
\nYou flashed a quick “hello.”<\/em>
\nFeeling the fool,<\/em>
\nCould you tell it showed?\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

It\u2019s a remarkable love song without being a full-on sappy hair band ballad. The bridge leading up to the chorus and the chorus itself is easily a couple of my all-time favorite Queensryche moments. That fact that even if they wanted to cheese it up a bit, yet they could still pull it off while giving me goosebumps and other feels make me love them even more for it.<\/p>\n

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One and Only<\/strong><\/p>\n

This song is the only weak song on this album. \u201cOne and Only\u201d once again has that signature sound and is musically a strong song as usual. Lyrically, \u201cOne and Only\u201d acts as a continuation of the lyrical concept of \u201cHand on Heart\u201d but not as strong.<\/p>\n

\u201cBack in eighty-six<\/em>
\nFebruary and a special number<\/em>
\nI just had to know, is this feeling real?<\/em>
\nI picked up the phone<\/em>
\nI was one step closer to the danger zone<\/em>
\nI knew she’d steal my heart away<\/em>
\nBut I know I couldn’t live without her love<\/em>
\nLive without her love.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

This song almost sounds like a filler track in that if you shaved this one-off, you\u2019d have an extremely solid ten-song album. With that being said, it doesn\u2019t suck. Again, I didn\u2019t hate it, and it\u2019s far better than most band\u2019s best songs but in this collection, \u201cOne and Only\u201d didn\u2019t possess the strength that the other songs on this album do.<\/p>\n

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Anybody Listening?<\/strong><\/p>\n

What can I even begin to say about this song? Not only is it hands down one of Queensryche\u2019s finest moments of their career, but it also serves as one of the single greatest album closers of all time. \u201cAnybody Listening?\u201d is easily one of my all-time favorite songs and my number one favorite Queensryche song. The lyrics are so moving and combined with one of the most beautiful musical arrangements I have ever heard.<\/p>\n

\u201cLong ago there was a dream, had to make a choice or two<\/em>
\nLeaving all I loved behind for what nobody knew<\/em>
\nStepped out on the stage<\/em>
\nA life under lights and judging eyes<\/em>
\nNow the applause has died, and I can dream again<\/em><\/p>\n

Is there anybody listening?<\/em>
\nIs there anyone that sees what’s going on?<\/em>
\nRead between the lines, criticize the words they’re selling<\/em>
\nThink for yourself and feel the walls<\/em>
\nBecome sand beneath your feet.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

Have you ever heard a song that makes you feel like you are weightless and immersed in the visuals of ever word sung from start to finish? Well, this is one of those songs. The lyrics to \u201cAnybody Listening?\u201d touch on the experience of one leaving behind the comforting confines of life to chase a dream. As with most Queensryche songs, the lyrics seem to be autobiographical without sounding self-serving and unrelatable. The excitement, the exhaustion, the love, and living in the eyes of criticism is something all artists have had to endure. In a way, this is Queensryche\u2019s way of proving that they are no different from us. Closing out the album with this song had me feeling as if I was descending from an out of body experience. I know that sounds corny, but \u201cAnybody Listening?\u201d has this effect on me.<\/p>\n

=====================================<\/p>\n

While writing this editorial, I listened to Empire<\/strong><\/em> a total of 8 times from start to finish. I kid you not, and guess what? Not only did I enjoy it every time but with each passing time, I found myself hearing things and connecting to things that I hadn\u2019t before.<\/p>\n

Empire<\/strong><\/em> proved to be a far more important album to me than I even remembered. Going back and re-visiting this album nearly 27 years later is akin to reconnecting with an old friend only to find that your connection now is stronger than it ever was in the beginning. Empire is very much a great friend that has found a new, lasting part in my heart, and it\u2019s an album that I feel will only grow stronger and more connected to me as the years pass.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n