MIM Notes No. 199	 December 1, 1999

MUSIC REVIEWS

"Q2K" 

Queensryche 

Atlantic, 1999

reviewed by MC5

Here we are again reviewing another Time-Warner corporation product. 
Peeling off the tape on the CD, one can see the shiny "W," the mark of 
the beast. We review this corporate schlepp, in order that our Maoist-
minded readers will grow sickened and take up the reviews of smaller but 
political local bands that make independent institutions of the 
oppressed possible. 

The reviewer is not sure why, but the Time-Warner HQ web site 
(http://www.music.warnerbros.com/)is not boasting its relationship to 
"Queensryche," while it is quite proud to announce its ownership of Red 
Hot Chili Peppers, Vitamin C, Stone Temple Pilots, Halloween, Filter, 
Paula Cole Band, Tori Amos, The Doobie Brothers, Eric Clapton, Adam 
Sandler, Missy Elliott, Kid Rock, Kenny Wayne Shepherd Band, Goo Goo 
Dolls, Staind, Everything But the Girl, Iron Giant, Nu Flavor, A Century 
of Women in Music, Gloria Steinem and Susan Faludi. Aside from Atlantic, 
Time-Warner also owns the Elektra, Warner Bros, Rhino and Reprise 
labels, at the very least. 

It works out well when one owns half the actors, actresses and musicians 
of Hollywood and the news magazines and news networks to publicize their 
existence. Stars who do not make the news in Time Magazine or CNN can be 
featured in puff pieces in Life or Entertainment Weekly and still be in 
the same corporate family. Rock stars who make a mark can also appear in 
Time-Warner's TV show on rock history.

When DJs play enough Time-Warner music, they can get a vote in the Jenny 
Jones Show for best DJ. The Jenny Jones Show is also owned by Time-
Warner along with Seinfeld and ER. Much to our dismay, Time-Warner even 
owns MIM's pick for mainstream movie-of-the-year "The Matrix."(See 
review in MN??)

Entertainment Weekly (EW) gave the Stone Temple Pilots a "C" for its "No 
4" album of 1999. We agree with their review that it was "unexciting and 
obvious." However, EW reviewed, mentioned and featured Stone Temple 
Pilots repeatedly over the years.

In the case of Queensryche, there were also several references, but 
"Q2K" has not been reviewed yet.

There is no doubt the "Q2K" is a demonstration of musical talent. Q2K's 
music is very entertaining, but like the Stone Temple Pilots, 
Queensryche is not able to put anything much into their lyrics. Their 
lyrics are perhaps more psychologically involved and mature than the 
ones in Stone Temple Pilots' "No 4," but they still lack originality.

Most of this album is still the same old boring romance culture schlock. 
This reviewer thought at one time that Queensryche was a Marxist band or 
pseudo-Marxist band of some kind or another. Right now it seems to be 
just another rock band that knows how to play its instruments, but 
doesn't have anything to say.