Queensrÿche - Hear In The Now Frontier

Year of Release: 1997
Label: EMI
Catalog Number: E2-56141 7243-8-56141-2-5
Format: CD
Total Time: 54:35:00

Queensrÿche's recent release Hear In The Now Frontier may be more accessible than 1994's Promised Land, more pop than progressive, but it certainly isn't lacking in subtext. It does at times venture into the sonic territory of the so called "alternative." But, then again, there are hints of Pink Floyd, the Beatles - a decidedly 70's sound (I must not be alone in this, because the April 1997 issue of Music New Network has made a similar comparison).

While almost every song has some lyrical hook that will stick in your mind long after the disk ends, (the music itself is as radio ready as Queensrÿche has ever been) perhaps the tracks that stick the most are "Get A Life", "You" and "Miles Away" (which is almost the perfect summertime song).

It's quite obvious that many of the high profile criminal cases of the last few years have influenced some of the lyrical themes here, but that makes for easy targets, as there have been high profile cases long before OJ, McVeigh, et al, and, unfortunately, there will be more after.

The opening track "Sign Of The Times," which kicks off very Soundgarden-like, sets the tone for the rest of the album. Name checking such hot button issues as school violence and security, racism and vandalism, and government corruption, you know immediately that Queensrÿche haven't gone soft and done a fluff album.

However, the whole "lost youth" angle was more clearly, and disturbingly drawn, in "Empire." Many of these songs here owe more to "Another Rainy Night" rather than their more challenging works.

"All I Want" seems on the surface to be a love song, what with its slow guitar intro and dreamy, Beatles-esque quality to it (cf Sgt Pepper's), it is actually very dark and sinister.

"Some People Fly" is to this album what "Best I Can" was to 1990's Empire - determined to succeed or survive against all odds.

There is much to like about this album. If you are into the more popish side of rock (or progressive rock), this is one to pick up.

Tracklisting:
Sign Of The Times (3:33) / Cuckoo's Nest (3:59) / Get A Life (3:39) / The Voice Inside (3:48) / Some People Fly (5:17) / Saved (4:09) / You (3:54) / Hero (5:25) / Miles Away (4:32) / Reach (3:30) / All I Want (4:06) / Hit The Black (3:36) / Anytime/Anywhere (2:54) / Sp00L (4:53)

Musicians:
Geoff Tate - lead vocals and keyboards
Eddie Jackson - basses and backing vocals
Michael Wilton - guitars
Chris DeGarmo - guitars and backing vocals
Scott Rockenfield - drums and percussion

Matt Rollings and Steve Nathan - Mini Moog, Keyboards (#13), Piano (Rollings, #11)
David Ragsdale - Violin (#1)

Discography:
Queensrÿche (1983)
The Warning (1984)
Rage For Order (1986)
Operation: Mindcrime (1988)
Empire (1991)
Promised Land (1994)
Hear In The Now Frontier (1997)
Q2K (1999)
Greatest Hits (2000)
Live Evolution (2001)
Classic Masters (2002)
Revolution Calling (2003)
Tribe (2003)
Art Of Live (2004)
Operation: Mindcrime II (2006)
Essential (2006)
Face To Face (2006)
Mindcrime At The Moore (2007)
Extended Versions (2007)
Sign Of The Times: The Best Of Queensrÿche (2007)
Take Cover (2007)
The Best Of Queensrÿche (2007)
The Collection (2008)
American Soldier (2009)

Live In Tokyo (VID) (1985)
Mindcime (VID) (1989)
Building Empires (VID) (1992)
Live Evolution (DVD) (2001)
Operation LIVEcrime (DVD) (2001)
The Art Of Live (DVD) (2004)
Live (DVD) (2007)

Genre: Progressive-Power Metal

Origin US

Added: August 4th 1997
Reviewer: Stephanie Sollow
Score:
Artist website: www.queensryche.com
Hits: 3243
Language: english