Hear in the Now Frontier

Hear in the Now Frontier

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
With the popularity of complex, progressive rock on the wane, Queensryche stripped down their sound considerably, going for simpler arrangements and focusing less on orchestration and more on just playing rock and roll. The result is that while Hear in the Now Frontier is a strong effort, it's not as distinctive as their earlier albums. It does, however, have the Queensryche sound-sweeping guitar work, Geoff Tate's powerful voice, and an introspective awareness that manages to avoid pretension. The single "Sign of the Times" is a bit of social commentary similar to "Empire" or "Disconnected" from their earlier albums, but the album includes several hopeful songs as well, including "Some People Fly" and "The Voice Inside". The lack of complexity at first makes it seem as though Hear in the Now Frontier lacks substance, but this isn't the case; it's just not as dense as it used to be. --Genevieve Williams

Tracks:

Sign Of The Times
Cuckoo's Nest
Get A Life
The Voice Inside
Some People Fly
Saved
You
Hero
Miles Away
Reach
All I Want
Hit The Black
Anytime/Anywhere
Spool

Amazon.com

With the popularity of complex, progressive rock on the wane, Queensryche stripped down their sound considerably, going for simpler arrangements and focusing less on orchestration and more on just playing rock and roll. The result is that while Hear in the Now Frontier is a strong effort, it's not as distinctive as their earlier albums. It does, however, have the Queensryche sound-sweeping guitar work, Geoff Tate's powerful voice, and an introspective awareness that manages to avoid pretension. The single "Sign of the Times" is a bit of social commentary similar to "Empire" or "Disconnected" from their earlier albums, but the album includes several hopeful songs as well, including "Some People Fly" and "The Voice Inside". The lack of complexity at first makes it seem as though Hear in the Now Frontier lacks substance, but this isn't the case; it's just not as dense as it used to be. --Genevieve Williams

Customer Reviews:

The Most Underated Album In All of Metal.......2006-09-19

Alrighty When I Got This And Listen To It I Was Expecting Promised Land x2 (And Promised Land is By Far One Of The Worst Metal CD's I've Herd)But I Was Amazard From The Frist TRack I Was Totally Sucked Into A Type of Queensryche I Had Never Herd Before,A Slower Melodic Kind This Entire Album Flows Together In Amazing Fashion.
Queensryche Has Like 3 Fan Groups
1. Metal Fans - To Them Ryke Died At Promised Land
2. Ryke Fans - To Them They Died Here
3. Others - Die hards Who Will Like Anything Or People Who Know What They Like..
I Think I Fall Into The Third
Anybody Expecting Another Warning Or Mindcrime This Inst For You, But If You LIked Empire And Wanna See The Next Link In The Chain Check This Out You Will Be Amazed: Check Out Tips: ALL

Listen Again With Fresh Ears.......2006-09-15

This is a good album. In fact, I listen to it more than "Empire" or "Mindcrime." I've never thought it was a horrible album, but after "Promised Land" it just didn't resonate with me.

Some time ago I popped it into my CD-Rom while doing some work on the computer and I fell in love with it. It's now in a fairly regular rotation.

Give this another listen, you just might discover you've missed something.

This album grew on me .......2006-08-23

Surprisingly enough, because I thought it was weak when I first picked it up. True, it is no Empire, and certainly no Mindcrime ( which is my favorite album of all time ), but if I judge every album by those standards, I'd hate everything. It's fairly diverse, and as a musician, I have learned to appreciate this album ... especially tracks 4, 5, and 8 when I am feeling mellow. Those of you who are huge Ryche fans like me, give it another try ... you just may find you have changed your tune

Horrible .......2006-07-30

This has got to be the worst cd ever put out in the world of metal. I am an avid fan of Queensryche up through Empire. I would give this album zero stars if I could. What happened to this band?

Right into the progressive pop zone!.......2006-07-27

Queensryche has always experimenting with the music fasion of the time of each album. The albums of the eighties all contained excellent versions of the metal scene and Queensryche developed a name as one, if not the best, progressive bands ever. While Empire (1990) had a more happier touch to it Promised Land presented a unimitatable dark landscape where I consider that the band reached their musical highpoint.

The thing I love about Queensryche, and why it is one of my favorite bands, is that they always try to develop themselves musically for every new album. They are getting tired of doing the same musical style all over again even though they are happy with the result. This is something different from Iron Maiden that in my ears is doing the same thing all over and over again which kind of get quite boring to listen to after a while. With Queensryche I always expect something different and new and almost always I get it. The problem with Hear In The Now Frontier, although the music is different from anything they've done before, is that it doesn't appeal to the musical style that I want to hear from a band like Queensryche and it doesn't reach the same kind of musical territory that includes the band's early influences from the progressive music and more symphonic and sometimes aggressive metal and rock style. The earlier Queensryche albums are all characterized by the pompous style with big choruses that is held up by Geoff Tate's voice and the harmonic guitar work played by Wilton and De Garmo. The difference with this album is that it presents a more laid back sound more similar to the style of bands like Blur and Oasis that were very modern during this time and the big choruses are replaced by more laid back pop beats. I can also hear some influnces of sixties pop like the Beatles.

I can't deny that the music is quite good and maybe was something new for its time and will hold up still today (I actually put this CD on a few times a year when I'm in the right mood). But in my ears the sound of progressive pop rather than symphonic metal that characterizes Queensryche's early records isn't just as good. But while this doesn't go for everyone this might be the perfect record if you're a fan of both Oasis and Blur and Queensryche at the same time. I just tell me what it sounds like in my ears while I'm a fan of all sorts of metal, progressive rock and symphonic rock and I don't hold british pop bands as close to my heart as Queensryche's progressive metal.

Average customer rating:

Queen Garden?
I call this their "Beatles" album
May not be the version of Silent Lucidity you were expecting
....and then the rot set in.....
Entertaining But Not Likely To Win Queensryche New Fans

Hear in the Now Frontier
Queensrÿche
Manufacturer: Capitol
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Similar Items:

Promised Land
Rage for Order
The Warning
Queensrÿche
Empire

ASIN: B00009L1UQ
Release Date: 2003-06-10

Tracks:

Sign Of The Times
Cuckoo's Nest
Get A Life
The Voice Inside
Some People Fly
Saved
You
Hero
Miles Away
Reach
All I Want
Hit The Black
Anytime/Anywhere
SpOOl
Chasing Blue Sky
Silent Lucidity (MTV Unplugged)
The Killing Words (MTV Unplugged)
I Will Remember (MTV Unplugged)

Customer Reviews:

Queen Garden?.......2007-06-19

Pretentiousness. Its the dreaded word of most "prog" musicians and fans. On one hand, is it pretentious to make music that is totally drawn out, complicated, wordy, serious, and melodramatic? Or is it equally pretentious to be "anti-pretentious", that is, making music that tries to get away from those musical attributes as much as possibly but in a conscious way where they are trying hard to refine as much as possible?

I think that pretentious can go both ways, and observing the past in regards to the eighties vs nineties metal scene, it seems that a band can be just as pretentious in their "stripping down of their sound" or "avoidance of metal cliches". Queensryche may be a prime example of this. In an attempt to sound timely, they took away alot of their more epic elements and made an album more in touch with their "roots", not of the eighties metal sound but of the more classic rock sound of the seventies.
Notice I hesitate to call it grunge, because that would be a disservice. In a way its more complicated than many of grunge bands other than say Soundgarden or Pearl Jam, but it definitely shares many things in common with them. It has very little metal on it until the second half of the album, and even when it does it still isn't much more metal than say, Deep Purple's peak material.

The thing that saves it is some stellar songwriting from Chris Degarmo (who has often been the most missed guitarist this side of the Adrianless era of Iron Maiden), and some of his more Floydian soundscapes (especially on the second half), raise the album to a level beyond mere copy.

What really bothers me is that, a band can say that they "don't want to have wanky guitar solos", and that "solos and falsetto singing are so eighties" but then say that "we are raising ourselves to a higher art than eighties metal drivel", or anything that Ryche may have said at the time, or even Metallica said during the Load era (very comparable to each other in many ways I might add). I think its still pretentious to claim these things. I'd rather have a band like Iron Maiden try to stick with a formula than a band try to claim this things.

If they are influenced by different things, so be it, but don't claim to hate your earlier period or make statements that the "old style" is dead or dated.
It makes a band seem even more pretentious than a bag full of Dream Theaters!

I call this their "Beatles" album.......2007-01-17

Empire took their blues exploration to a new level and came up with an underrated album; then, in "Promised Land", they kind of got back to "Rage for Order." In "Here in the Now Frontier." They took a new path from their anti-technology stance and embraced rationality and exploration and spiritual and ethical. Here is where the album landed in hot water with the public . . . .

Music wise it also seemed at times hard to like; but, really, it just takes a little emotional/intellectual growth on the part of the listener to come to terms with it; i still little weary about 'cookoos nest' musically, but outside of maybe the fourth and fifth song being a little weak here and there, the rest of the album is amazing queensryche as usual! Getting back to the beatles thing; i find the sound is at least in the right direction for the feeling they were trying to bring, and yet, they still came up with songs that were as great as on "Rage for Order." In fact, I'd say "Here in the Now Frontier" and "Q2K" equal "Rage for Order" in both the cutthroat progressive metal and songs like "I dream in Infrared." 'Promised Land' stands unique amongst all the works of Queensryche.

As usual, it takes 'learning' to come to grips with brain-food music like Queensryche music.

May not be the version of Silent Lucidity you were expecting.......2006-12-30

The version of Silent Lucidity on this CD may not be what you expect. There are *two* (or more) live performances of this song for MTV events that were released commercially.

The first version I heard was from the extremely difficult-to-find EP "Sound of Building Empires". This version of the song appears to be mostly identical to that on "Empire", but is (obviously) performed live. The solo in the middle is the same, and an orchestra is present. I believe this performance is from the 1991 Video Music Awards.

In the version of Silent Lucidity on the re-issued "Hear in the Now Frontier", the song is performed entirely with acoustic instruments. The solo in the middle is naturally changed dramatically, and no orchestra is present. This performance is from MTV Unplugged. The quality of the recording itself is greatly superior to the one found on "Sound of Building Empires".

I really don't want to give this CD a star-rating, but I don't have an option. This "review" is really meant to be more of a commentary about 1 song on the disc.

....and then the rot set in............2006-08-29

Nearly ten years on, 'Hear In The Now Frontier' is still as piss-weak and irrelevant as it was when it was released. This album was the first clear and present sign of the band's creative demise, which for me back in 1997 was an absolute shock considering how impressed I was with all of their previous albums. Up until this point, Queensryche were in my top 5 bands of all time, however with this subsiquent release and the wishy washy Q2K that followed, they sadly lost my undivided attention.

As far as good songs, the album is very shakey indeed. Limp and dull are the only words that I can describe them, very forgetable. Lyrically the album is hit and miss although 'Sign Of The Times' has a great message of the current decline of safetly and security in US schools due to firearms. There are some good moments such as 'Some People Fly' and 'You' but the vast majority of 'Hear In The Now Frontier' left me totally uninspired. It is really hard to picture that this was the same band who wrote and recorded the masterpiece 'Operation Mindcrime'.

Strangely, it was Geoff Tate's vocal delivery on this album that left me so unimpressed considering that it was his voice that attracted me to the band in the first place. His vocal phrasing and choice of melodies just seem forced, as though he is trying to re-invent his style to fit into the current musical climate of the late 90's. The band also seem to be be compromising their sound to conform more with the musical trends of the day but just fall so far short.

Although I never whould have thought this prior to the release of this album, it is Chris DeGarmo's lead vocal effort on 'All I Want' that is the only reason why I pull this album out of the collection. By far the strongest song on the disc; catchy, melodic and emotive, 'All I Want' is out of place like a bit of an oasis in a desert. From the general consensus amoungst Queensryche fans, putting this track the record with "another person singing" lead instead of Mr Tate was highly criticizable. So severe was the negitive backlash, it was part of the reason why Chris DeGarmo quite the band. For me, 'All I Want' it is the only reason for me to even rate this album although I will say that it does not sound like a Queensryche song and for that I can understand some fans having issues with it.

Harsh as this review may be, this album was when Queensyche failed to continue to be the superband they once were.

Entertaining But Not Likely To Win Queensryche New Fans.......2006-07-30

Queensryche embarked on "Now Frontier," their most straightforward rock album in 1997, with relatively concise, consistent songs. "You" ranks as one of the best songs in their entire catalog, and Steely Dan-esque "Hit the Black" (sung by guitarist Chris DeGarmo) is a neat change of pace. This is not a monumental album, but I found it very nice to see Queensryche going back to basics and still sounding good. This is not likely to expand their fan base, and the lack of ambition that was evident on previous albums may alienate longtime fans, but a good effort nonetheless and arguably their most listenable post "Empire" effort.

Hear in the Now Frontier Tour (special limited edition)

Average customer rating:

Hear in the Now Frontier Tour (special limited edition)
queensryche
Manufacturer: EMI
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD
ASIN: B000NQ59J8

Product Description

12 tracks: 1. sign of the times 2. you 3. i don't believe in love 4. someone else 5. jet city woman 6. take hold of the flame 7. bridge 8. silent lucidity 9. eyes of a stranger 10. empire 11. revolution calling 12. scarborough fair

Average customer rating:

Hear in the Now Frontier
Queensrÿche
Manufacturer: Emi
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music

Hard Rock | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music

Album-Oriented Rock (AOR) | Classic Rock | Styles | Music

Progressive Metal | Progressive | Rock | Styles | Music
ASIN: B0000076JO
Release Date: 1997-04-10

Tracks:

Sign Of The Times
Cuckoo's Nest
Get A Life
Voice Inside, The
Some People Fly
Saved
You
Hero
Miles Away
Reach
All I Want
Hit The Black
Anytime Anywhere
Spool
Chasing Blue Sky

Album Details

Japanese Release of Thier New Album featuring the Bonus Track Chasing Blue Sky.

Average customer rating:

Hear in the Now Frontier
Queensryche
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music
ASIN: B0002XNDXG

Album Description

Japanese edition of their 1997 album with 'Chasing Blue Sky'added as a bonus track. 15 tracks total, also featuring thesingle 'Sign Of The Times'. EMI release.

Average customer rating:

Hear In The Now Frontier
Queensryche
Manufacturer: EMI
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Rock | Styles | Music

Progressive Metal | Progressive | Rock | Styles | Music

General | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music

Hard Rock | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music
ASIN: B000LX2BH6

Music Track: