Musique illimitée
Écoutez cet album en haute-qualité dès maintenant dans nos applications
Démarrer ma période d'essai et lancer l'écoute de cet albumProfitez de cet album sur les apps Qobuz grâce à votre abonnement
SouscrireProfitez de cet album sur les apps Qobuz grâce à votre abonnement
Téléchargement digital
Téléchargez cet album dans la qualité de votre choix
Langue disponible : anglais
Queensrÿche always seem to work best in high concept. Who can argue that Operation: Mindcrime was one of the greatest metal concept albums of all time -- and arguably one of the finest that rock & roll in general ever produced. When they revisited it with OMII, in order to finish the story, they went back to use '80s production techniques to give the album a sense of continuity with its predecessor -- and it worked like a charm. Rather than conspiracy and control, this time out Queensrÿche -- vocalist Geoff Tate, guitarist Michael Wilton, bassist Ed Jackson, and drummer Scott Rockenfield -- turn their attention to another high concept setting: American soldiers in harm's way. But rather than simply politicizing their subject from an outsider's point of view, they place the stories firmly in the camp of the subjects. This set is a hard-rocking, loosely woven story about war from the point of view of those in the United States Armed Forces. The 12 songs on American Soldier reflect on every perception of war from the inside -- Tate read dozens if not hundreds of accounts of servicemen, from WWII through Vietnam and both Gulf Wars. Songs are interspersed with recorded voices of servicemen relating their stories in either brief samples or slightly longer interludes. Musically, the album is more melodic than any Queensrÿche set in recent memory. Tate channels his inner David Bowie to full effect -- but not affect. Tunes such as "At 30,000 Feet" walk a thin line between rock ballad and power-chord anthem. "Sliver," the set's opener, charges out of the gate but with one major difference: producers Jason Slater and Kelly Gray allow for a muddier sound here, even with the various atmospheric overdubs. "The Killer," in the middle of the disc, is written from the point of view of a returning Vietnam vet who is encountering cries of "baby killer" in the streets of his neighborhood. The chanted refrains, multi-layered guitars, and popping snares add anthemic weight in the chorus, but the rest of the track sprawls with haunted vocals by Tate.
American Soldier is sometimes difficult to come to grips with musically. It's not a lack of focus per se, but more a purposely ambitious ambivalence on the part of the bandmembers trying to pack as much as they can in the mix, even when it's too much. Most cuts are equal parts hooks and heaviness, but quizzically, never at the same time. Each track functions as its own rock & roll puzzle that sprawls as much as its hones in. The one track that flat-out doesn't work is the album's only ballad, "Home Again." It begins with a reminiscence by a soldier trying to relate his experience, and gives way to Tate in Bowie storytelling mode with a duet vocal by Tate's daughter Emma. The tempo is pure drama, and with its reverb-heavy atmospherics, lilting acoustic guitars, and narrative structure that offers a series of exchanged letters, it falters under its weight. Ultimately, though, that's a small complaint for such an ambitious project. For the most part, these guys have a solid sense of their strengths as a band, and it must be said that Queensrÿche keep the preaching to a minimum while still managing to relate hard truth in a populist way. This is a very fine album that takes on a very hot and noteworthy -- as well as timeless -- topic that no one else has had the guts to take on in such a grand scale thus far.
© Thom Jurek /TiVo
Vous êtes actuellement en train d’écouter des extraits.
Écoutez plus de 100 millions de titres avec votre abonnement illimité.
Écoutez cette playlist et plus de 100 millions de titres avec votre abonnement illimité.
À partir de 12,49€/mois
Michael Wilton, Guitar - Scott Rockenfield, Drums - Geoff Tate, Vocals, Writer - Queensryche, Writer, MainArtist - Ed Jackson, Bass
© 2009 Rhino Entertainment Company, a Warner Music Group Company. ℗ 2009 Rhino Entertainment Company, a Warner Music Group Company
Michael Wilton, Guitar - Scott Rockenfield, Drums - Geoff Tate, Vocals, Writer - Queensryche, Writer, MainArtist - Ed Jackson, Bass
© 2009 Rhino Entertainment Company, a Warner Music Group Company. ℗ 2009 Rhino Entertainment Company, a Warner Music Group Company
Michael Wilton, Guitar - Scott Rockenfield, Drums - Geoff Tate, Vocals, Writer - Queensryche, Writer, MainArtist - Ed Jackson, Bass
© 2009 Rhino Entertainment Company, a Warner Music Group Company. ℗ 2009 Rhino Entertainment Company, a Warner Music Group Company
Michael Wilton, Guitar - Scott Rockenfield, Drums - Geoff Tate, Vocals, Writer - Queensryche, Writer, MainArtist - Ed Jackson, Bass
© 2009 Rhino Entertainment Company, a Warner Music Group Company. ℗ 2009 Rhino Entertainment Company, a Warner Music Group Company
Michael Wilton, Guitar - Scott Rockenfield, Drums - Geoff Tate, Vocals, Writer - Queensryche, Writer, MainArtist - Ed Jackson, Bass
© 2009 Rhino Entertainment Company, a Warner Music Group Company. ℗ 2009 Rhino Entertainment Company, a Warner Music Group Company
Michael Wilton, Guitar - Scott Rockenfield, Drums - Geoff Tate, Vocals, Writer - Queensryche, Writer, MainArtist - Ed Jackson, Bass
© 2009 Rhino Entertainment Company, a Warner Music Group Company. ℗ 2009 Rhino Entertainment Company, a Warner Music Group Company
Michael Wilton, Guitar - Scott Rockenfield, Drums - Geoff Tate, Vocals, Writer - Queensryche, Writer, MainArtist - Ed Jackson, Bass
© 2009 Rhino Entertainment Company, a Warner Music Group Company. ℗ 2009 Rhino Entertainment Company, a Warner Music Group Company
Michael Wilton, Guitar - Scott Rockenfield, Drums - Geoff Tate, Composer, Vocals, Writer - Queensryche, Composer, Writer, MainArtist - Ed Jackson, Bass
© 2009 Rhino Entertainment Company, a Warner Music Group Company. ℗ 2009 Rhino Entertainment Company, a Warner Music Group Company
Michael Wilton, Guitar - Scott Rockenfield, Drums - Geoff Tate, Vocals, Writer - Queensryche, Writer, MainArtist - Ed Jackson, Bass
© 2009 Rhino Entertainment Company, a Warner Music Group Company. ℗ 2009 Rhino Entertainment Company, a Warner Music Group Company
Michael Wilton, Guitar - Scott Rockenfield, Drums - Geoff Tate, Vocals, Writer - Queensryche, Writer, MainArtist - Ed Jackson, Bass
© 2009 Rhino Entertainment Company, a Warner Music Group Company. ℗ 2009 Rhino Entertainment Company, a Warner Music Group Company
Michael Wilton, Guitar - Scott Rockenfield, Drums - Geoff Tate, Vocals, Writer - Queensryche, Writer, MainArtist - Ed Jackson, Bass
© 2009 Rhino Entertainment Company, a Warner Music Group Company. ℗ 2009 Rhino Entertainment Company, a Warner Music Group Company
Michael Wilton, Guitar - Scott Rockenfield, Drums - Geoff Tate, Vocals, Writer - Queensryche, Writer, MainArtist - Ed Jackson, Bass
© 2009 Rhino Entertainment Company, a Warner Music Group Company. ℗ 2009 Rhino Entertainment Company, a Warner Music Group Company
Chronique
Queensrÿche always seem to work best in high concept. Who can argue that Operation: Mindcrime was one of the greatest metal concept albums of all time -- and arguably one of the finest that rock & roll in general ever produced. When they revisited it with OMII, in order to finish the story, they went back to use '80s production techniques to give the album a sense of continuity with its predecessor -- and it worked like a charm. Rather than conspiracy and control, this time out Queensrÿche -- vocalist Geoff Tate, guitarist Michael Wilton, bassist Ed Jackson, and drummer Scott Rockenfield -- turn their attention to another high concept setting: American soldiers in harm's way. But rather than simply politicizing their subject from an outsider's point of view, they place the stories firmly in the camp of the subjects. This set is a hard-rocking, loosely woven story about war from the point of view of those in the United States Armed Forces. The 12 songs on American Soldier reflect on every perception of war from the inside -- Tate read dozens if not hundreds of accounts of servicemen, from WWII through Vietnam and both Gulf Wars. Songs are interspersed with recorded voices of servicemen relating their stories in either brief samples or slightly longer interludes. Musically, the album is more melodic than any Queensrÿche set in recent memory. Tate channels his inner David Bowie to full effect -- but not affect. Tunes such as "At 30,000 Feet" walk a thin line between rock ballad and power-chord anthem. "Sliver," the set's opener, charges out of the gate but with one major difference: producers Jason Slater and Kelly Gray allow for a muddier sound here, even with the various atmospheric overdubs. "The Killer," in the middle of the disc, is written from the point of view of a returning Vietnam vet who is encountering cries of "baby killer" in the streets of his neighborhood. The chanted refrains, multi-layered guitars, and popping snares add anthemic weight in the chorus, but the rest of the track sprawls with haunted vocals by Tate.
American Soldier is sometimes difficult to come to grips with musically. It's not a lack of focus per se, but more a purposely ambitious ambivalence on the part of the bandmembers trying to pack as much as they can in the mix, even when it's too much. Most cuts are equal parts hooks and heaviness, but quizzically, never at the same time. Each track functions as its own rock & roll puzzle that sprawls as much as its hones in. The one track that flat-out doesn't work is the album's only ballad, "Home Again." It begins with a reminiscence by a soldier trying to relate his experience, and gives way to Tate in Bowie storytelling mode with a duet vocal by Tate's daughter Emma. The tempo is pure drama, and with its reverb-heavy atmospherics, lilting acoustic guitars, and narrative structure that offers a series of exchanged letters, it falters under its weight. Ultimately, though, that's a small complaint for such an ambitious project. For the most part, these guys have a solid sense of their strengths as a band, and it must be said that Queensrÿche keep the preaching to a minimum while still managing to relate hard truth in a populist way. This is a very fine album that takes on a very hot and noteworthy -- as well as timeless -- topic that no one else has had the guts to take on in such a grand scale thus far.
© Thom Jurek /TiVo
À propos
- 1 disque(s) - 12 piste(s)
- Durée totale : 01:00:31
- Artistes principaux : Queensrÿche
- Compositeur : Various Composers
- Label : Rhino
- Genre : Metal Hard Rock
© 2009 Rhino Entertainment Company, a Warner Music Group Company. ℗ 2009 Rhino Entertainment Company, a Warner Music Group Company. Marketed by Rhino Entertainment Company
Améliorer les informations de l'albumPourquoi acheter sur Qobuz ?
-
Streamez ou téléchargez votre musique
Achetez un album ou une piste à l’unité. Ou écoutez tout notre catalogue en illimité avec nos abonnements de streaming en haute qualité.
-
Zéro DRM
Les fichiers téléchargés vous appartiennent, sans aucune limite d’utilisation. Vous pouvez les télécharger autant de fois que vous souhaitez.
-
Choisissez le format qui vous convient
Vous disposez d’un large choix de formats pour télécharger vos achats (FLAC, ALAC, WAV, AIFF...) en fonction de vos besoins.
-
Écoutez vos achats dans nos applications
Téléchargez les applications Qobuz pour smartphones, tablettes et ordinateurs, et écoutez vos achats partout avec vous.