Geoff’s announcement of the release of the third installment of “Operation: Mindcrime” caught me off guard. A few years ago, he had told me in an interview that, given the state of the music industry, he probably wouldn’t release another full-length album. “Maybe a single if it’s worth it,” he had added. But times change, and here we are.
I listened to the third part of this legendary concept album with no expectations. I’m mature enough not to expect a second “Somewhere In Time” from Iron Maiden, let alone a “Mindcrime” of the same caliber from Tate. I’d be satisfied with a simply good album, given the circumstances.
Before I talk about the music, I’ll talk about the concept. The story of the first one was perfect. It had a beginning, a middle, and an end. I’d be perfectly happy if I never heard another single line about it. I would never say no to a good sequel, prequel, spin-off… call it what you will. But just like in movies, the sequel rarely lives up to the original.
The first single, “Power,” fooled me—in a good way. It could have been part of the original concept—I’m not saying this is sacrilege, it just felt like it was left over. Here, as throughout the entire album, the singer’s effort to capture the feel and sound of the concept is evident.
Unfortunately, the rest of the tracks aren’t of the same quality. At 45 minutes, the third part of “Mindcrime” has some good moments but nothing more. The album quickly becomes tiresome due to a lack of inspiration. Nostalgia helps to a certain extent, but the entire work cannot be built on it alone.
Is this album the best Geoff has given us in decades? Yes, by a wide margin. Of course, that might not say much if we judge the quality of his previous efforts…
