SFAM vs. Operation: Mindcrime

[DeanTheater]

I picked Mindcrime ( was 16 at its release and I might have listened to nothing else that entire year,  you could say I was obsessed), although SFAM is my favorite DT album of all time.

[LieLowTheWantedMan]

I hate Queensryche.

[jsem]

I hate Queensryche.

........................

Why is that?

[eric42434224]

I hate Queensryche.

........................

Why is that?

He probably hates Boobs and Bacon too.  And Kevin Moore.  And hes a communist.

[jsem]

I hate Queensryche.

........................

Why is that?

He probably hates Boobs and Bacon too.  And Kevin Moore.  And hes a communist.

Lol. Do you also hate WDADU? This is an honest question. Cuz Operation:Mindrcime is ALL OVER WDADU

[Infinite Cactus]

Mindcrime

[LieLowTheWantedMan]

I hate Queensryche.

........................

Why is that?

He probably hates Boobs and Bacon too.  And Kevin Moore.  And hes a communist.

Lol. Do you also hate WDADU? This is an honest question. Cuz Operation:Mindrcime is ALL OVER WDADU

WDaDU is okay. And I've just never been able to really like Queensryche at all.

[KevShmev]

I hate Queensryche.

Congratulations.

[KevShmev]

I should mention though that each of those albums would get edged out by The Wall.

The Wall would be my number 1 concept album (unless someone wants to consider a thematic album like Dark Side of the Moon a concept album), but Scenes would not be far behind.  Genesis' The Lamb... would be way up there, as well.

Funny, though, because as good as both DT and QR's concept albums are, neither are my favorite by either band.

And doing a concept album poll/survivor could be disastrous, as it would quickly devolve into a "What is a concept album?? debate.

Not as long as you include Octavarium, SDOIT and 2112.

Oh, I'm not falling for that one!

[ZirconBlue]

Mindcrime does a much better job telling the story/executing its concept. So as a concept album, I'd definitely rate it higher than SFAM. I do like some of the music in SFAM better, though, and as an album in general, I probably like it better.

This.

My humble opinion is this.

Musically they are both fantastic albums, I prefer SFAM for mostly the reasons listed here in this thread, I think that stems from the concept that is portrayed is actually believable if you believe in reincarnation.  The story of a man who discovers through hypnosis that in a past life he was a murdered young girl seems more "natural" dare I say than the story line of OMC, a brainwashed punk doing political assasinations, falling in love with a nun then getting ordered to assisinate her and the rest...

The story that requires a belief in the supernatural is somehow more believable?  

[ronnibran]

I voted for O:M.  I like Dream Theater way more than Queensryche, but for some reason SFAM just doesn't do it for me.  That album and When Day and Dream Unite are the only two DT albums I almost never listen to.  If I look at just those two albums, not considering how much I like the bands, O:M wins by a bit.

In the same genre, I prefer Shadow Gallery's Tyranny and Room V quite a bit more than these two albums.  I like Neal Morse's concept albums even more than those (Testimony, One, Snow (Spock's Beard)).

[ricky]

the results would probably be more conclusive if this wasn't a DT forum.

[hefdaddy42]

SFAM hands down.

[tumbok]

wow this is very very tough.

i will go for SFAM for the crazy musical complexity.

O:M has a very very good story tough... hey wait a minute man, we are talking about O:M part I, aren't we?

cos part II sucks..

[Phantasmatron]

cos part II sucks..

Current results of the poll:
Scenes From a Memory  82.7%
Operation:  Mindcrime  37.5%
Mindcrime II  -20.2%

[TL]

SFAM easily.

[Volk9]

One thing I've learned: When comparing a DT album to another bands on DTF, DT will always win.

[Jirpo]

I'll go Mindcrime. Overall, I prefer DT to Queensryche, but O:M is my fave Ryche album and SFAM would hover around the 5-6 mark in my albums for DT.

[Global Laziness]

cos part II sucks..

Current results of the poll:
Scenes From a Memory  82.7%
Operation:  Mindcrime  37.5%
Mindcrime II  -20.2%

Huh?

[Gadough]

Scenes From a Memory is a much better album musically.

Operation: Mindcrime has a better lyrical concept.

So, as for the poll...I suppose I'll vote for Mindcrime, even though I'd rather listen to Scenes. (I still love Mindcrime though, just not as much.)

[jjrock88]

Mindcrime

[Lowdz]

I can't choose between two of the best albums I've ever heard. For many years OM was indeed my favourite album. SFAM became an instant hit with me. Still can't seperate them. They would both be 10/10 or 100% albums for me.
I prefer the story in SFAM and think it holds it's narrative, where OM kinda peters out a bit in the last few songs (lyrically. The "songs" don't).
OM has Suite Sister Mary- SFAM has Finally Free; two awesome tracks that I use to show people that Metal has musical validity and is not "just a racket" for people who haven't grown up yet and have no friends.

[jsem]

The best song on OM is Eyes of a Stranger. 3rd to last song. It doesn't get weaker.

[Jirpo]

The best song on OM is Eyes of a Stranger. 3rd to last song. It doesn't get weaker.

I agree!

[ZKX-2099]

Scenes.


WOMP WOMP

[jsem]

One thing I've learned: When comparing a DT album to another bands on DTF, DT will always win.

Hm.. What about WDADU vs O:M?

Heh.

[Dublagent66]

The Wall > O:M > SFAM

[ShadowWalker]

The best song on OM is Eyes of a Stranger. 3rd to last song. It doesn't get weaker.

Last I checked, Eyes of a Stranger is the last song on O:M. The bonus tracks on the remaster don't count...

[carl320]

I voted Mindcrime.  SFAM is a pretty good album, but as a concept album, Mindcrime does the better job.

[Sir GuitarCozmo]

Went with OM.  SFAM is good and all, it just doesn't grab me the way OM does.  OM grabs me and will not let go until it's all over.  SFAM grabs me, loses its grip, chases after me, struggles with me, grabs me again, and tires of the effort.

[DarkLord_Lalinc]

SFAM. No deep explanation, just like it more. 

[Chino]

Operation: Mindcrime is hella over rated.

[Sir GuitarCozmo]

No u

[eric42434224]

Operation: Mindcrime is hella over rated.

Not sure what is more wrong about this statement.  That O:M is over rated, or the use of the word "hella".

[TL]

Personally, I find SFAM to be much stronger musically. I like O:M, and Queensryche in general, but I find Queensryche to be much less musically diverse.