Blue Oyster Cult Week On Maidenfans (November 4 - November 11 2012)
- Thread starter Mosh
- Start date
Funny you bring that up. I saw the band a few years back and they actually screened that sketch prior to the show.
I was wondering how many younger Madenfans know them most from that sketch.
I'd like to hear what people think of that particular song, and whether the sketch has coloured perceptions of it.
I was wondering how many younger Madenfans know them most from that sketch.
I'd like to hear what people think of that particular song, and whether the sketch has coloured perceptions of it.
I love the song. It's a damn shame that the guitar solo gets cut out when played on the radio. Not sure what you mean by colored perceptions.
I'll be checking out Agents of Fortune sometime this week.
I think Reaper is a classic, a contender for best song ever lists.
Those ambiguous lyrics, the hypnotic riff, jarring solo, the detached sound of the vocals - it adds up to masterpiece.
I was wondering if the sketch made people take it less seriously.
Those ambiguous lyrics, the hypnotic riff, jarring solo, the detached sound of the vocals - it adds up to masterpiece.
I was wondering if the sketch made people take it less seriously.
Blue Oyster Cult may be the first great American metal band and was definitely the best American metal band of the 70s.
That's despite the fact that a lot of their stuff is not metal, even by 1970s standards and they never produced a truly great album.
What they did do very well was make smart, dark, heavy, adventurous tongue-in-cheek music. Their lyrics were inscrutable and full of black humour, as they played around with a lot of occult, war and and sci-fi themes, kinda like our favourite band.
Musically, they hit a wide palette - rock, metal, prog, and even jazz and pop. Guitarist Buck Dharma is genius. The rest of the band are more about their creativity than their technical skill, but they had a lot of versatility.
They had their share of misses, because they took a lot of chances and they definitely lacked that Steve Harris-style focus.
In my view, the only well-produced albums they did were late in their career, with Martin Birch at the helm, with material that may not have been as strong as their earlier stuff. But if you are a Maiden fan, they are are well worth investing your time into discovering.
I'm going to put together an introductory song list that might encourage a few of you to give them a try.
That's despite the fact that a lot of their stuff is not metal, even by 1970s standards and they never produced a truly great album.
What they did do very well was make smart, dark, heavy, adventurous tongue-in-cheek music. Their lyrics were inscrutable and full of black humour, as they played around with a lot of occult, war and and sci-fi themes, kinda like our favourite band.
Musically, they hit a wide palette - rock, metal, prog, and even jazz and pop. Guitarist Buck Dharma is genius. The rest of the band are more about their creativity than their technical skill, but they had a lot of versatility.
They had their share of misses, because they took a lot of chances and they definitely lacked that Steve Harris-style focus.
In my view, the only well-produced albums they did were late in their career, with Martin Birch at the helm, with material that may not have been as strong as their earlier stuff. But if you are a Maiden fan, they are are well worth investing your time into discovering.
I'm going to put together an introductory song list that might encourage a few of you to give them a try.
These two little paragraphs here make me very excited to really check this band out.
DJ James
A coma stole my name.
Harvester of Eyes is a terrifying song with a lot of black humor thrown in.
Vap
Ancient Mariner
Agreed, Secret Treaties was their peak. But now I want to talk about Fire Of Unknown Origin, their last truly great album. Lots of BÖC classics on that one: Fire Of Unknown Origin, Veteran Of The Psychic Wars and Vengeance (The Pact) for example. I think the reason why BÖC didn't really make anything as good or better since is the departure of Albert Bouchard, their drummer and also one of their most important songwriters. Many classics are written by him, the music of Astronomy for example is co-written by him and his brother Jon Bouchard, the band's bassist until 1986. Jon also wrote some good songs and was important to the band's sound, but not as much as Albert.
Al Bouchard was the heavy metal geek, the guy who brought the twisted edge to the band. Joe Bouchard was a gifted all-around musician (last I heard he was working as a university music teacher) who anchored things rhythmically and in terms of arrangements, and allowed them to do such a variety of work. Allen Lanier give them that distinct gothic piano sound. Bloom was the main voice and Buck Dharma a guitar god and they are the faces of the band. But all five members definitely played their parts. All five guys wrote, all five guys sang. The current Bloom/Buck lineup is worth watching and the two latter-day albums have some interesting tracks. But the band was only special with all five.
If I had to pick three studio albums it would be the two above, plus Spectres. Fire is tight, well-produced and shiny without being soft. Treaties is dark and twisted and has some of their most classic tunes. Spectres is their most adventurous.
If I had to pick three studio albums it would be the two above, plus Spectres. Fire is tight, well-produced and shiny without being soft. Treaties is dark and twisted and has some of their most classic tunes. Spectres is their most adventurous.
Here it is, my BOC sampler
This was tough. It’s not really a greatest hits, or a mckindog’s faves, (although I love all these songs). It’s more of an attempt to showcase the variety of music in their repertoire. I excluded the big three I figured most of you would already know (Reaper, Godzilla, Burning For You). If you don’t know them, each is worth checking out. We talk about Reaper above. Burning For You is slick catchy radio rock at its finest. And Godzilla is powerful thudding tongue-in-cheek classic metal track.
I’d highly recommend you listen to these with a lyric sheet.
The Last Days of May (On Your Feet or On Your Knees)
Originally on the debut album, this one is a dark ballad about a dope deal gone wrong and a showcase for some amazingly tasteful Dharma guitar
.
Seven Screaming Diz Busters (On Your Feet or On Your Knees)
An extended live jam of a tune from Tyranny and Mutation, featuring BOC at their heaviest and most twisted. It’s full of some catchy riffs and time changes. Lyrically, it appears to be about some terrified soul fleeing from demons. Apparently, it’s actually just one big sexual metaphor.
E.T.I. (Agents of Fortune)
The more radio-friendly BOC — built with layered vocals on a soaring chorus and a pair of bright, catchy riffs as Eric whispers about alien cover-ups by the Men in Black.
Veteran of the Psychic Wars (Fire of Unknown Origin)
Musically very stark and simplistic — almost like a poem put to music. But what atmosphere —dark, mournful defeated. The synth washes and sombre military beat are a perfect complement to an outstanding lyric from sci-fi writer Michael Moorcock (one of three great collaborations he did with Eric Bloom, the others being the sadly gorgeous Great Sun Jester, and the heavier, semi-psychedelic Black Blade)
Golden Age of Leather (Spectres)
Metal-tinged prog with great lyric about a biker apocalypse.
Nosferatu (Spectres)
Proof that music doesn’t necessarily need to be metal to be heavy. The classic horror film put to music. Elegant prog with a tough mid-section, great gothic piano touches and a truly creepy melody.
ME 262 (On Your Feet or On Your Knees)
Jewish Americans singing about World War II from the Nazi perspective. Fast-paced concert rave-up that degenerates into a completely over-the-top five-part guitar battle when Lanier and Al Bouchard kick aside the drums and keys and pick up axes for the finale.
The Vigil (Mirrors)
A slower-tempo proggy piece with a badass main riff, sandwiched between serene acoustic passages as Buck emotes his SG like crazy while pleading for the aliens to come down and wipe away mankind's mistakes. The section starting at 3:50 is psychedelic guitar bliss
Moon Crazy (Mirrors)
Bright pop melodies nestled into some brilliantly groovy jazz arrangements. Joe Bouchard walks this one all over the landscape with some great bass and Buck unleashes his typical tuneful brilliance.
Monsters (Cultosaurus Erectus)
Gargantuan Maidenesque riffs that swerve suddenly into random, authentic jazz sequences as the band unfolds a kickass sci-fi horror story. I’m not kidding.
Joan Crawford (Fire of Unknown Origin)
Archetypal BOC in so many ways. Gothic piano powering a catchy pop rocker as the band lyrically skewers media culture (circa 1980) in a completely tongue-in-cheek horror film send-up of Hollywood gossip culture.
Astronomy (Imaginos)
For many, including me, this is the band’s opus. Originally presented on Secret Treaties, and for a majority of fans perfected on the Some Enchanted Evening live album, it was rerecorded for the obscure Imaginos concept album in the late ‘80s. This version is my favourite with its many layers and superb atmosphere. Some of my favourite lyrics ever, even if I have no clue what they really mean
Every BOC purist will immediately have a list of a half-dozen songs I should have included. It’s that kind of band. But hopefully something on here will hook a new fan. Regardless, I hope people give this a listen and post what they think.
This was tough. It’s not really a greatest hits, or a mckindog’s faves, (although I love all these songs). It’s more of an attempt to showcase the variety of music in their repertoire. I excluded the big three I figured most of you would already know (Reaper, Godzilla, Burning For You). If you don’t know them, each is worth checking out. We talk about Reaper above. Burning For You is slick catchy radio rock at its finest. And Godzilla is powerful thudding tongue-in-cheek classic metal track.
I’d highly recommend you listen to these with a lyric sheet.
The Last Days of May (On Your Feet or On Your Knees)
Originally on the debut album, this one is a dark ballad about a dope deal gone wrong and a showcase for some amazingly tasteful Dharma guitar
Seven Screaming Diz Busters (On Your Feet or On Your Knees)
An extended live jam of a tune from Tyranny and Mutation, featuring BOC at their heaviest and most twisted. It’s full of some catchy riffs and time changes. Lyrically, it appears to be about some terrified soul fleeing from demons. Apparently, it’s actually just one big sexual metaphor.
E.T.I. (Agents of Fortune)
The more radio-friendly BOC — built with layered vocals on a soaring chorus and a pair of bright, catchy riffs as Eric whispers about alien cover-ups by the Men in Black.
Veteran of the Psychic Wars (Fire of Unknown Origin)
Musically very stark and simplistic — almost like a poem put to music. But what atmosphere —dark, mournful defeated. The synth washes and sombre military beat are a perfect complement to an outstanding lyric from sci-fi writer Michael Moorcock (one of three great collaborations he did with Eric Bloom, the others being the sadly gorgeous Great Sun Jester, and the heavier, semi-psychedelic Black Blade)
Golden Age of Leather (Spectres)
Metal-tinged prog with great lyric about a biker apocalypse.
Nosferatu (Spectres)
Proof that music doesn’t necessarily need to be metal to be heavy. The classic horror film put to music. Elegant prog with a tough mid-section, great gothic piano touches and a truly creepy melody.
ME 262 (On Your Feet or On Your Knees)
Jewish Americans singing about World War II from the Nazi perspective. Fast-paced concert rave-up that degenerates into a completely over-the-top five-part guitar battle when Lanier and Al Bouchard kick aside the drums and keys and pick up axes for the finale.
The Vigil (Mirrors)
A slower-tempo proggy piece with a badass main riff, sandwiched between serene acoustic passages as Buck emotes his SG like crazy while pleading for the aliens to come down and wipe away mankind's mistakes. The section starting at 3:50 is psychedelic guitar bliss
Moon Crazy (Mirrors)
Bright pop melodies nestled into some brilliantly groovy jazz arrangements. Joe Bouchard walks this one all over the landscape with some great bass and Buck unleashes his typical tuneful brilliance.
Monsters (Cultosaurus Erectus)
Gargantuan Maidenesque riffs that swerve suddenly into random, authentic jazz sequences as the band unfolds a kickass sci-fi horror story. I’m not kidding.
Joan Crawford (Fire of Unknown Origin)
Archetypal BOC in so many ways. Gothic piano powering a catchy pop rocker as the band lyrically skewers media culture (circa 1980) in a completely tongue-in-cheek horror film send-up of Hollywood gossip culture.
Astronomy (Imaginos)
For many, including me, this is the band’s opus. Originally presented on Secret Treaties, and for a majority of fans perfected on the Some Enchanted Evening live album, it was rerecorded for the obscure Imaginos concept album in the late ‘80s. This version is my favourite with its many layers and superb atmosphere. Some of my favourite lyrics ever, even if I have no clue what they really mean
Every BOC purist will immediately have a list of a half-dozen songs I should have included. It’s that kind of band. But hopefully something on here will hook a new fan. Regardless, I hope people give this a listen and post what they think.
Forostar
Ancient Mariner
This is the song that made me want to explore their material, but soon I stopped, learning that it looked like an extreme exception. The difference with the other material I heard was immense. Most I heard was so different and lacking the spellbound melodies. I agree with your comment on that live version. That one is even better.
Cheers for all these insightful commentaries. I will play all the links and see what happens.
Edit: When checking them out the first time, I was very focused on the album Astronomy came from. All these songs are from different records. So it's certainly worth to pick it up again.
Five original members just reunited for the first time in 25 years for a one-off show in New York.
http://ultimateclassicrock.com/original-blue-oyster-cult-lineup-reunites-new-york-city/
Occasion is a special 40th anniversary release box set
http://www.musicradar.com/news/guitars/eric-bloom-talks-blue-oyster-cults-studio-albums-566416
http://ultimateclassicrock.com/original-blue-oyster-cult-lineup-reunites-new-york-city/
Occasion is a special 40th anniversary release box set
http://www.musicradar.com/news/guitars/eric-bloom-talks-blue-oyster-cults-studio-albums-566416
Vap
Ancient Mariner
Awesome! Flaming Telepaths wasn't played. 
Also, other Fire Of Unknown Origin songs than Burnin' For You would have been great as well.
Talking about Flaming Telepaths...
Also, other Fire Of Unknown Origin songs than Burnin' For You would have been great as well.Talking about Flaming Telepaths...
If you want a song from Secret Treaties that is in the same league as Astronomy, try Flaming Telepaths if you haven't already.