Actually, I think Geoff's new songs is every bit as good... which is to say, they're both average at best.
To me, Geoff Tate is Queensryche. For me, it was always about his voice. Even if DeGarmo was still around, I wouldn't view a non-Tate Queensryche as the true Queensryche. However, to remove the two primary songwriters, who were also the two lead players, and leave behind three guys who were mostly only complimentary to what Queensryche was and call that the true Queensryche is something I couldn't disagree more with. I get that Tate comes off as douche and most fans can't stand the guy anymore... but he is Queensryche. Regardless, I think we both agree this argument is pointless, as none of these guys, collectively or individually, has recorded an ounce of music in twenty years fit for human consumption.
well ok
there are imo a couple of problems with saying that geoff tate "is" queensryche because of his voice:
1) rockenfield, wilton and jackson are all founding members of queensryche, tate is not. this is kind of like if bruce dickinson would have quit and started his own iron maiden back in 1993 -- totally absurd. sure maiden didn't do so well without bruce but that doesn't change the fact he's not a founding member and isn't the band by himself -- he was just a really good singer and writer.
2) he's lost like 95% of his voice and can barely even fake it anymore, so who really cares if "his voice" is the signature of queensryche when he can't even approximate it anymore?
also, to me it is irrelevant whether tate's new songs are good or not because they were all written and played by outside writers. they could be the best god damn songs in the world but they will never ever be queensryche, because they are not written by members of queensryche. i think they are shit; sometimes catchy shit, but it is still faceless radio-rock, really poorly performed and recorded (that guitar sound makes me cringe and why are all the guitars so sloppily played? oh wait, they've got kelly "oven mitts" grey, never mind)
i mean, honestly, are you telling me that something written by jason slater and
a random argentinian guy (with lyrics by tate) and recorded by random members of QUIET RIOT and FORBIDDEN is more queensryche than an album where rockenfield, jackson and wilton sat down as a band and collectively wrote and recorded? because that's some pretty wack logic if you ask me
the deciding factor though is that it's obvious that tate doesn't care. tate wants to be queensryche for one reason only and that is money. he very obviously has no regard for art, class, honesty or anything anymore. have you HEARD the bonus track re-recordings from "F U" (real classy again there, geoff)? drum machine, no-effort POD guitar tone, some of the most laughable vocals ever --
with the original vocal tracks spliced in to save face where he couldn't even fake it. i'd be so fucking ashamed if i had anything to do with this hollow wreck of a man
i will take a bunch of guys trying to write something honest and relevant any day over a rush-job mess of studio musicians led by a washed up wife-beating alcoholic whose only claim to fame is having been able to hit a fuckload of notes in the 80's.
