Agents Of Fortune [Remastered] - Blue Oyster Cult

Advantages: 1970's American rock at its finest
Disadvantages: The "bonus" tracks are not much of a bonus

...According to Homer Simpson, 1974 was the year that rock reached perfection. Personally I think they were out by a year, but the writers of that show must have been thinking of releases like this, the third album from New York City's famous hard rock band Blue Oyster Cult. Pigeon-holed as gonzo headbanging rockers to start with, BOC soon showed they were the thinking mans rock band. At a time when the majority of bands were singing about coke, sex and their libidos, BOC carried on from where bands such as The Doors and Love left off, taking the West Coast vibe and marrying it to their own harder-edged Eastern seaboard rock sound. This is no mere cock-rock, the subject matter here include such as lesbianism ("Astronomy") incest ("Dominance And Submission") and even World War 2 ("ME262"). Leave behind any pre... Read review

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Advantages: Great rock music
Disadvantages: The cover might frighten the kids!

...BOC, Blue Oyster Cult, are a US rock group, most famous over here for their still classic "Don't Fear The Reaper" , released this album in summer 1980. Many of you will never even have heard of it, let alone listened to it, so hopefully this will persuade you to give it a try. It's packed full of great riffing heavy rock, but underpinned with wry, subtle lyrics throughout. BOC still had their classic line-up for this album, being Eric Bloom (vocals/guitar), Donald Roeser AKA Buck Dharma (guitars/bass/keyboards/vocals), Allen Lanier (guitar/keyboards), Joe Bouchard (bass) and brother Albert (drums). They toured the States with the revitalised Dio-fronted Black Sabbath later that year. Now there's a gig you'd want to have been around to see. Unfortunately for me I was a 13 year old pre pubescent boy... Read review

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Advantages: An exceptional cross section of the artists material, phenomenal performances,digital remastering brings out the very best sound available this side of a hybrid SACD
Disadvantages: Only available on US Import-expensive for a single CD, poor info and interior artwork etc,bonus tracks weak.

...the band really shine! On this performance though, I'll never know why UFO weren't as big as Led Zeppelin. If only that line up had stuck together... FOOTNOTE-UFO were the support act to Blue Oyster Cult at the time it was recorded hence the review's title. It is certainly the genuine article despite the concerns about the cover but should you purchase it you'll see what i mean...... Read review

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