American Soldier (album)

American Soldier
Studio album by Queensrÿche
Released March 31, 2009
Recorded 2008 - 2009
Genre Heavy metal, progressive metal
Length 60:31
Label Atco Records/Rhino Entertainment
Producer Jason Slater & Kelly Gray
Queensrÿche chronology
Operation: Mindcrime II
(2006)		 American Soldier
(2009)		 Dedicated to Chaos
(2011)
Professional ratings
Review scores
Source Rating
Allmusic [1]
Sputnik Music [2]

American Soldier is the tenth studio album by American progressive metal band Queensrÿche; it is a concept album released on March 31, 2009. The album debuted at #25 on the Billboard 200.[3] As its title suggests, American Soldier revolves around the lives and experiences of those who serve or have served in the United States armed forces.

Contents

Overview

American Soldier is the band's 10th full-length studio album with original material and the songs lyrical content tells the story of war from a firsthand perspective. Jason Slater, the producer and joint songwriter of Queensrÿche's 2006 album Operation: Mindcrime II, produced American Soldier, and Kelly Gray (Queensrÿche guitarist and producer from 1998–2001) engineered. Singer Geoff Tate, guitarist Michael Wilton, bassist Ed Jackson, and drummer Scott Rockenfield recorded American Soldier in 2008 over the course of nine months.

The album includes a particularly personal duet between Geoff Tate and his 10-year old daughter Emily. The song, entitled "Home Again," focuses on a father returning home to his family after having been gone an extended period. This theme reflects both the life of Tate as a touring musician and the life of one who serves in the military.[4]

Tate spent a few years interviewing veterans from all conflicts America has been involved in from World War II to the Iraq War, including his own father[5] and collecting their stories in order to help him write the album.

Speaking about the inspiration for the album, Tate said:

“ Queensrÿche has always had incredible support from members of the Armed Services. It seems like after every show, I’d end up speaking with a fan that was or had been involved with the military. The more and more I began to hear their accounts and feelings, the more I really felt a conviction to tell their story. Over the last two years, I’ve conducted dozens of one-on-one interviews with veterans of many different American wars. I listened to their amazing and moving recounts and did my best to examine war through their eyes. ”
“ The very first thing... that was a conversation with my dad. My dad has been in the military; he has all this experience from all the places he served... Korea, Vietnam... We talked about his life in the army. You know, Susan, my wife, once told me “Why don’t you write a song about your father?” So, when we were started talking about life in the army... then I started to think about the soldiers 'cause we don’t know much about them. The way they feel about lots of things...[6] ”

Touring

An extensive US spring tour began on April at Snoqualmie Casino in the band’s hometown of Seattle. The shows are presented in three suites, with the band performing sets from American Soldier, Rage for Order, and Empire.

During the American Soldier tour in the fall of 2009, they featured a 3-song set with Lita Ford performing "Crave", "Patriotic SOB" and "Close My Eyes Forever".[7]

Track listing

  1. "Sliver" (Jason Slater/Geoff Tate) (3:09)
  2. "Unafraid" (Jason Slater/Geoff Tate) (4:47)
  3. "Hundred Mile Stare" (Kelly Gray/Geoff Tate) (4:31)
  4. "At 30,000 Ft" (Jason Slater/Geoff Tate) (5:11)
  5. "A Dead Man's Words" (Jason Slater/Geoff Tate) (6:35)
  6. "The Killer" (Jason Slater/Geoff Tate) (5:26)
  7. "Middle of Hell" (Kelly Gray/Damon Johnson/Scott Rockenfield/Geoff Tate) (5:28)
  8. "If I Were King" (Jason Slater/Geoff Tate) (5:17)
  9. "Man Down!" (Kelly Gray/Geoff Tate) (4:57)
  10. "Remember Me" (Jason Slater/Geoff Tate) (5:00)
  11. "Home Again" (Kelly Gray/Damon Johnson/Scott Rockenfield/Geoff Tate) (4:41)
  12. "The Voice" (Jason Slater/Geoff Tate) (5:29)

Line-up

Additional performers

Production

References

  1. ^ Jurek, Tom. American Soldier review allmusic.com. Retrieved on 2009-10-09.
  2. ^ Spencer, Trey. American Soldier review 2009-03-30. Retrieved on 2009-10-09.
  3. ^ Top Music Charts - American Soldier
  4. ^ Queensryche Salutes Troops w/ American Soldier Queensryche.com (March 8, 2009). Retrieved on 6-21-09.
  5. ^ "Middle of Hell". Songfacts.com. http://www.songfacts.com/detail.php?id=15105. Retrieved 2009-04-01. 
  6. ^ http://www.rockpages.gr/detailspage.aspx?id=2287&type=1&lang=EN
  7. ^ Lita Ford Gets Rave Reviews For Queensryche Dates blogs.myspace.com. 2009-11-02. Retrieved on 2009-12-08.
Queensrÿche
Studio albums
Live albums
Compilations
Extended plays
Singles
"Queen of the Reich" • "The Lady Wore Black" • "Take Hold of the Flame" • "Warning" • "Walk in the Shadows" • "Gonna Get Close to You" • "Breaking the Silence" • "Eyes of a Stranger" • "Revolution Calling" • "I Don't Believe in Love" • "Last Time in Paris" • "Empire" • "Silent Lucidity" • "Jet City Woman" • "Best I Can" • "Another Rainy Night (Without You)" • "Anybody Listening?" • "Real World" • "I Am I" • "Bridge" • "Breakdown" • "The Right Side of My Mind" • "Open" • "I'm American" • "The Hands" • "Welcome to the Machine" • "If I Were King" • "Man Down!" • "Wot We Do" • "Get Started"
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