I hear parts of this album in my head all the time, and I had to relisten to it again today just to get it out. When the Mirror Cracks is Q5's second album, and to me, it's absolutely some of the best darkly cinematic rock, for lack of any other way to describe it. I can't listen to it without seeing a film in my head. Absolutely low budget, absolutely made in the 80s, but with the best writing, acting, and directing. Most of the movie definitely takes place at night. I'm also picturing something slightly different, just a little weird, like Criminal Law, or Blue Steel maybe; even Internal Affairs (one of the greatest ever dirty cop movies). There are also parts that could totally be an alternate soundtrack to Bloodsport, and I cannot think of anything more awesome than that. Floyd Rose himself was in the band at this point, and the solo for the first song is played by him. Of course you can hear whammy all over the album, but the guitar tone is bizzare and just...oh, I guess bizzare is the only word for it. But the singing is so earnest, and the songs are so earnest, and I just love it head to toe, and it makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside. Of course there's one song that's utter garbage, but otherwise, a mature, dark masterpiece, in my book.
