OPERATION: MINDCRIME

To me, there are three components by which to judge an album: composition, production, and performance, and all three are excellent on Operation: Mindcrime.

In terms of production, Operation: Mindcrime had a great sound when it was first released on CD in 1988. In particular, the album is mixed well, especially given that on most songs, there's more going on than one part each from a singer and four instrumentalists. In addition to an orchestra and choir on "Suite Sister Mary," there are additional guitar and synthesizer parts sweetening many of the tracks. And then there is the expansive use of backing and harmony vocals. Finally, the rhythm section (bassist Eddie Jackson and drummer Scott Rockenfield) sounds fantastic throughout. I'm not sure whether the band wanted to work with producer Peter Collins because of his symphonic inclinations, or whether Operation: Mindcrime sounds symphonic because of him. Either way, even given the ambitious album concept, the production and arrangements are themselves ambitious, and Collins proved up to the task.

The performances are also very, very good. This includes, in particular, the lead guitar work, shared by Michael Wilton and Chris DeGarmo, and the vocal performances by Geoff Tate.

But, of course, great playing and great production will only get an album so far. The strength of Operation: Mindcrime is in its composition. The album is neither a libretto-focused musical, nor simply a thematic collection of songs. It's a bona-fide concept album with a storyline and distinct characters, although it takes a few listens to figure this out. At the same time, most of the songs stand by themselves; two even made the Billboard rock-airplay top 40. Interestingly, these two ("Eyes of a Stranger" and "I Don't Believe In Love") are the last two proper songs on the album, and in my opinion, are two of the weaker songs here. The best is the dark, baroque "Suite Sister Mary," the nearly 11-minute centerpiece of the album - - but even without this track, Operation: Mindcrimewould be an excellent work.

There must be some who think that Operation: Mindcrime is self-important pomp - - and I suppose that's true. With its sound effects, instrumental interludes, and guest vocalists, combined with Tate's sometimes stiff, and often operatic vocal delivery, Operation: Mindcrime borders on bombast in places. But it's the kind of near-bombast I enjoy, especially as part of a self-contained work.

I unreservedly recommend Operation: Mindcrime to any fan of progressive rock music, even to listeners like me who don't ordinarily care for progressive metal. Five stars.

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