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American Soldier

Queensryche - American Soldier Audio CD

A fair review of the Queensryche "American Soldier" Audio CD. Please note that the below review is the views of the authors, and authors only. You can get a complete list of all Queensryche reviews here, or go back to the Queensryche tabs.

Band: Queensryche
Title: American Soldier
Rating:

Release Date: 2009-03-31
Media: Audio CD

Tracks: 1: Sliver 2: Unafraid 3: Hundred Mile Stare 4: At 30,000 ft 5: A Dead Man's Words 6: The Killer 7: Middle Of Hell 8: If I Were King 9: Man Down! 10: Remember Me 11: Home Again 12: The Voice

Outstanding. Excellent.
I also appreciate the album's concept - lyrics based upon interviews with American servicemen/women, without extra opinions thrown in. This album is outstanding - emotional, melodic, rocking, great playing, awesome singing, and the best lyrics QR has had in a long time. It's just stories of the experience of American Soldiers. Songs like "If I Were King", "Man Down", and especially "Home Again" are emotional and musical tour de forces.

I would compare this album to Empire and Promised Land in excellence. I would also compare it to Operation Mindcrime in concept, only the concept is even better. There are hardly better stories to tell than those of real soldiers.

As for Chris Degarmo being gone - yes indeed he was great, and the main creator of the music of QR. But now with Jason Slater, Geoff Tate finally has found an equal songwriting partner, and someone who handles musical composing deftly. The rifs are great, the rhythm is great, the melodies are great, the arrangements are great.

I have to note, that I see this with many bands that last a long time. Many long time fans criticize all the newer stuff, mostly because it isn't like the older stuff (and the the stuff that made them fans in the first place). To these kind of fans I say "get over it". Bands can never recreate the past, nor can they ever emulate the glory of their prime years. It seems like with most super popular bands, they create their most beloved music when they're in the mid 20's to early 30's, and that's when most fans come aboard. But then the band gets older, and derives inspiration from different sources, and moves on. But the original fans have a hard time coping with the changes. Or they'll dismiss newer stuff. But that's sad, really, because in some cases, older bands can put great stuff.

I also have to give great credit to Michael Wilton, Eddie Jackson, and Scott Rockenfield. They have kind of returned to the classic QR style of playing, shedding the more grunge-ish style (something that started with Hear in the Now Frontier), but with more maturity. These guys have simply gotten better with age. In particular, Michael Wilton has really grown into the lead guitarist role, whereas in the past he was mostly rhythm guitar - Robin to DeGarmo's Batman. But now Wilton has proven himself beyond a shadow of a doubt to be an excellent lead guitarist in his own right.

Finally, Geoff Tate is, well . . . Geoff Tate - still one of the greatest singers in Rock. He still has the 4 octave range. He still sings with the greatest of sincere emotion. And this album is as good as you'll ever hear Geoff Tate. I think that the subject matter puts that extra tinge of sincere emotion into his singing. After all, Geoff Tate grew up a military brat. He even interviewed his own Dad (along with all the other soldier interviews). And "Home Again" sung with his own daughter, can't be beat for emotional impact.

American Soldier is nothing less than 5 stars.

Not Mind Crime, but worth checking out.
This record pays tribute to the american soldier, by telling some of their stories, through music and audio images, the music itself, still metal, but at a slower pace and tempo. Even though the war is still going on, in Iraq and Afghanistan, you don't hear much about it, since Bush has left office.

NIce sentiment but where is the music?
Though not a huge fan of most of their work since oh, the last 4 CD's or so, I must say this is just a mess to me. I only mention the fact that I have been buying everything this band has put out since day one so that I come across as somewhat knowledgeable.
The sentiment is nice but I can't ever get a sense of melody in these songs. Sometimes it sounds like Geoff is hearing the songs for the first time while he is recording the vocal tracks. The lyrics are simplistic and everything seems to get lost in everything else. I couldn't find one song that I thought made the purchase of this CD worth it.
This makes OMC II look like a work of genius. Sorry boys, I tired, I really did.

Hey, I just saw them live a few nights ago and they were very good! That's something?? .

Soldier Stories
The whole "message in a song" business is getting me down. As much as I enjoy Queensryche, I have to admit that the Bono-thing is a getting a bit dated (mixing political views with music). The music isn't fun; but maybe it just wasn't meant to be. The emotions this album surfaces are those of senseless combat in Iraq, soldiers coming home in boxes, crippled, or with PTS. I imagine the objective is for others to understand us or truly care how we feel. I can relate. But as much as wanting my story to be told, I want the echos of that time and place to somehow end. Supressing them is probably why it haunts me still. I can't turn it off for long. I can't say any of these particular songs are the kind I would tap my foot to in the car or want to share with my loved ones. I just want to blow something up or go back to the desert and shoot the lot of them for how they've made me feel and what they've done to us all. It's sad. It hurts. It pisses me off. If I were a musician, I'd probably try to do what Queensryche has done here, but maybe it's time for that band to sing about something other than government dissent. How about more of love or kids or Ventura Highway in the sunshine? How about a song about a muscle car or something that makes me feel alive again? I don't know, if you want to feel anger towards the government and question politicians over how your taxes are spent, listen to Queensryche. If you want to enjoy the rest of your existance, try Van Halen or anything that'll make you lust for a good woman and not want to gas yourself just to make it end. As for me, depression is self-destructive. I need to control it in my life before it destroys me. I doubt I'll pop in this CD again until I can deal with rock that tries to make you want to move to Canada just to escape the crap. Make people happy. Don't drown me in melancholy and paranoia about the government taking my soul! I just want to feel happy and alive again. Maybe this is too much about me and not enough about the tracks, but that's what it brings out. Think about that. Maybe I should have died in the sand so I wouldn't have to feel so freakin' bad now. I'm going home now to my family, a good BBQ, and a pool with my little girl. I need to live before I drop and become just another piece of dirt. Life is too short to feel so damn bad.

Enjoyable
The music can be intense on some of the topics, but a sound behind many families that have loved ones in Iraq. If you don't like cute, pop-style music, something more adult like.

You can see a complete list of all Queensryche discography, or go back to the Queensryche tabs. There is also a good guide on how to read guitar tabs here.