Queensryche - Operation Livecrime
Performance 
Production 
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Queensryche - Operation Livecrime
Performance |
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Queensryche released their Operation: Mindcrime album back in 1988, and it is now considered, especially amongst progressive rock connoisseurs, to be one of the finest prog/hard rock concept albums of all time, along side Pink Floyd's The Wall, Jethro Tull's Thick As A Brick, and Dream Theater's Metropolis: Scenes From A Memory, to name a few. I whole-heartedly agree with this assessment, although I personally prefer their follow-up album, Empire, overall. While on tour in support of the Empire album in 1991, Queensryche decided to do a number of performances of the Operation: Mindcrime album in its entirety, and this DVD is the result of a few of those historic shows. Operation: Livecrime was recorded during shows in Wiscaahhnsin between 10-12 May 1991. The results are mixed. The performances, stage show, and theatrics are all breathtaking, and truly bring the albums storyline alive, but the overall production of the DVD is somewhat disappointing and doesn't give a true representation of what the live experience was like. The show was filmed in a way to make it look like a movie instead of a live rock concert. The picture maintained an almost hazy, dreamlike quality, which at times looked as if there was a thin coat of Vaseline spread over the camera lenses. This was made even more annoying by the almost slow motion quality of the video, which created slight synchronization problems between the audio and video at times. You were never given any clear close-ups of Degarmo and Wilton fingering a guitar solo, or Rockenfield performing a cool drum fill. The camera angle changes were too frequent and there were not enough shots of the full band performing. I just could never really lose myself in the show, as if I were in the audience, like you can with a well produced concert video. This is frustrating because you do see enough to realize that this must have been an absolutely phenomenal concert to witness live, and this DVD just doesn't do it the proper justice. The production of the actual concert was simply mind-blowing. Two massive video screens took up the rear of the stage and provided nearly continuous visual images that helped to drive the compelling Mindcrime storyline. Queensryche pulled out all of the stops with their dazzling light and laser show (I wonder if they borrowed Triumph's 80's tour gear), and along with the video images made this one of the best visual stage productions I have ever seen. However, a stage show doesn't a great concert make. Make sense? It does to me. You still need some great tunes performed well, and Queensryche delivers the goods. Like I already said, the Operation: Mindcrime album is performed, in order, from start to finish. These guys show that they are no mere studio wizards, but can also play their asses off live. Most of the songs sound almost exactly like the studio versions, which is good in this case, with maybe some slight improvisation with the guitar solos and vocal delivery. Pamela Moore makes a guest appearance to sing her part as Sister Mary. People seem to think that she just lip-synched to the recorded portion during the performance, but I couldn't tell for sure. If she did sing it live, she certainly sang it perfectly. The DVD was mixed with both Dolby 5.1 surround, and 2.0 stereo tracks. The 5.1 surround track sounded about average. You got a nice enveloping concert ambience, but there was a little too much reverb and echo thrown in for my liking. The drums and Geoff Tate's vocals got the most favorable mix, and the subwoofer got a good workout from the bass drums and bass guitar. I would have liked to have heard the guitars more up front in the mix and have a little more punch, like with their Live Evolution DVD. As a matter of fact, if this DVD had the production quality of their Live Evolution DVD, it could have went down as one of the best EVER. The bonus features contain two "easter eggs" of live performances of "Roads To Madness" and "The Lady Wore Black", from this same tour. Unfortunately these are only the audio, with the lyrics presented on the screen during playback. To access these songs, go to the disc’s Bonus Features - Discography menu. To access the "Roads To Madness", select The Warning album cover until it is highlighted, then press the 'Up' arrow key on your remote control to highlight the cover, then press the 'Enter' key. To access the "The Lady Wore Black", select the Queensryche album cover until it is highlighted, then press the 'Up' arrow key on your remote control to highlight the cover, then press the 'Enter' key. The Bonus Features also include a short interview with Geoff Tate where he amusingly talks about how he first got the idea for the Mindcrime story when, while out buying a pack of smokes, he was almost compelled by divine intervention to go into a Catholic church across the street from the store. While in the church, the sounds and images overwhelmed him with thoughts and ideas for what would eventually turn up on the Mindcrime album. When he first introduced the Mindcrime idea to the rest of the band, they all thought he was crazy. This was worth the price of the DVD in itself. Reviewed by Paul M. Roy - September 2004 |
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Technical Details |
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Audio Transfer |
Video Transfer |
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Set List |
Performers Pamela Moore - Guest Vocals |
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Running Time: 64 Minutes |
DVD Release Date - November 2001 |