Promised Land
Queensryche's follow-up to the double-platinumEmpireis something of an acquired taste, but it's well worth the effort. There's considerable variety here; the heavy progressive-rock of "I Am I" and the ballad "Bridge" were hit singles, but there's also the funk-inflected "Disconnected", the edgy, spooky "Lady Jane", and the piano-and-vocals "Someone Else?". The title track is probably the strongest and least accessible song on the album; instead of rocking out, it's a slow, heavy song in the vein of "Anybody Listening?" fromEmpire. Listen to it at least five times before forming an opinion; each time, you'll hear something you didn't before.--Genevieve Williams