The Blue Oyster Cult have long touted themselves as "the thinking man's heavy-metal band," a notion that must have the members of Spinal Tap scratching their shaggy scalps in envy. On their first album of the new millenniu... more »m, BOC prove they're still smart enough to play to their strengths, wearing their 1970s classic-rock heritage like a badge of honor. Indeed, there's nary a contemporary influence in sight, just the familiar riff- and bass-heavy hard rock of their Me Decade prime, infused with an enviable--if not exactly Rhodes scholarly--economy of purpose and a deceptively easy pop sensibility forged by the core members' (Donald "Buck Dharma" Roeser, Eric Bloom, and Allen Lanier) three-decade alliance. Given the idiom and its expectations, the subject matter naturally tends toward 2-D nihilism ("I Just Like to Be Bad") and goth-apocalyptic lite ("The Old Gods Return," "One Step Ahead of the Devil"). The band maintains a level of literacy that would at least do Todd McFarlane proud. The Roeser-produced all-digital recording is crisp and showcases the band's familiar charms with understated clarity. --Jerry McCulley« less
The Blue Oyster Cult have long touted themselves as "the thinking man's heavy-metal band," a notion that must have the members of Spinal Tap scratching their shaggy scalps in envy. On their first album of the new millennium, BOC prove they're still smart enough to play to their strengths, wearing their 1970s classic-rock heritage like a badge of honor. Indeed, there's nary a contemporary influence in sight, just the familiar riff- and bass-heavy hard rock of their Me Decade prime, infused with an enviable--if not exactly Rhodes scholarly--economy of purpose and a deceptively easy pop sensibility forged by the core members' (Donald "Buck Dharma" Roeser, Eric Bloom, and Allen Lanier) three-decade alliance. Given the idiom and its expectations, the subject matter naturally tends toward 2-D nihilism ("I Just Like to Be Bad") and goth-apocalyptic lite ("The Old Gods Return," "One Step Ahead of the Devil"). The band maintains a level of literacy that would at least do Todd McFarlane proud. The Roeser-produced all-digital recording is crisp and showcases the band's familiar charms with understated clarity. --Jerry McCulley
Eric Treasure | Vancouver, WA United States | 06/07/2001
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Finally! Despite the ever-delayed release date, Blue Oyster Cult's first album since 1998 is well worth the wait. From the opening riffs of "Dance On Stilts," this is classic BOC rock and roll. The songs on this album strike the right balance between the vocal stylings - Eric Bloom's surly snarl, and Donald "Buck Dharma" Roeser's more ethereal sound. Buck's guitar pyrotechnics sound as brilliant as ever; the riffs are original and catchy, the solos eerie but explosive. Subject matter-wise, old school BOC fans won't be disappointed either, as the songs delve into the usual array of paranormal themes and the stranger side of the human condition. All of the band members (with the peculiar exception of keyboard/guitarist Allen Lanier) contribute to the songwriting with collaborations from several outside writers, including a second go-round with author John Shirley (see Heaven Forbid album.) Standout tracks include the sublimely ominous Lovecraftian tale "The Old Gods Return," Buck's lead-off single "Pocket", and the heavy-metal rocker "Eye Of The Hurricane." Overall, this is a superb collection of songs, well-written and well-performed, in vintage Blue Oyster Cult style."
The Cult delivers
S. R. | 10/30/2004
(4 out of 5 stars)
"2001 finds BOC still dark, still standoffish, still brooding, and still able to kick major butt. A very polished production makes this effort really smoke with fat, tasty grooves and some nifty picking by the Buck man himself. The Rythm section is bruising and Buck Dharma's songs really shine. This album is more about grooves than older BOC releases and I find it refreshing, this is really a tight group and you just can't expect this rythm section to lay back and chug along, this rythm section needs to charge and charge hard and that's what they do here. Albert B. had a killer jazzy sound and played basically unconvention rock drums and that was a huge plus to the early BOC sound, but these two guys they have here...wow...they're like a bulldozier that can go 100mph! There is Only a couple of tracks don't live up to BOC standards, but the rest are soo good, it is forgiven. High Spots - Showtime, Pocket, Here comes that feeling. Low spots - I just Like to be Bad."
Who says stars of the 1970s can't be relevant in 2001?
John Swartz | Winchester, MA USA | 06/07/2001
(5 out of 5 stars)
"It's been 20 years since Blue Oyster Cult (BOC) had a Top-40 hit (and no, it wasn't "Don't Fear The Reaper" from 1976, but 1981's "Burnin' For You"), but if people give it a listen, that could change -- the album's first single "Pocket", has was just recently listed as the number 5 "Most Added" song to radio playlists per FMQB.com. The song is incredibly catchy, and filled with the sizzling guitar work from BOC's Buck Dharma - a guitarist that who can rip it up with the best of them, but demonstrates that it's not the number of notes you play, but the notes themselves. The chorus will have you singing along over and over ("Are you in the Pocket of the moment?").But potential future hits don't stop there - the opening track "Dance on Stilts" is filled with some cruchy guitars that show that this band is not stuck in the 70s, along with some rich harmonies that lend a real depth to the song. Check out "One Step Ahead of the Devil" for pedal-to-the-metal riffology, or "Eye Of The Hurricane" for the epic rock that made bands like Dio and Iron Maiden big in the 80s. More variety from the smooth tones of "Showtime" and "Here Comes That Feeling", to the jazzy "Good To Feel Hungry" to the head-banging "Old Gods Return" (a sentiment being echoed this week by BOC fans all over the world).If you like BOC, you'll love this album. If you never heard of BOC, you owe it to yourself to check this one out. And if you're one of the hundreds of fans that thought the band's previous effort (1988's *Heaven Forbid*) was great...this one is even better.One editorial note on the original Amazon.com review - Jerry Shirley of Humble Pie does not contribute lyrics to this album (nor any BOC album) -- it's sci-fi/cyberpunk author John Shirley that provides many of the lyrics."
Don't FearThis One
J. Bringle | 06/05/2001
(5 out of 5 stars)
"The first release with the touring line-up of the past several years, which include the Tres Amigos of some 30 odd years, Donald "Buck Dharma" Roeser,Eric Bloom, Allen Lanier and the thundering bottom end provided by longtime hard rock veteran Bobby Rondinelli on drums and Danny Miranda, a monster bassist playing straight from the soul, will have you hitting repeat again and again as your ears melt and your smile broadens and you find yourself rocking around the room with the volume at 11.The line up is tight and well rehearsed, grooving off one another with ease. It's definitely on your feet material. The flow of the tracks is excellent and it seems as though there's a little "tidbit" of every past BOC album if you listen hard. Tough to pick a favorite track, but it's a great blend of the heavier Bloom vocal influence, and the unique Dharma vocals and astounding guitar solos backed by some simply straight forward, yet simultaneously complex kick your butt ROCK. Don't hesitate on this one. It will not disappoint."