Los Angeles / give me Norfolk, Virginia / dial one oh four ten oh nine / tell the folks back home th...
Los Angeles / give me Norfolk, Virginia / dial one oh four ten oh nine / tell the folks back home this is the promised land calling / and the poor boy is on / the line
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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-yet-to-become-a-man so I couldn't. Damn!!!! 25 years ago. This is making me feel old now LOL.
The first thing that struck me about this was the cover - a giant fossilised dinosaur. Included in the inserts are various photos of supposed prehistoric finds, which after looking into them, you realise the band are pulling your leg. For instance one of the
photos shows a skull of Cultusauros Erectus, courtesy of the Underbelly Institute. Anyone who knows a bit about the band will be aware that they were called Soft White Underbelly at one time. You see? Gentle humour. The dinosaurs on here don't really exist, ha ha! Maybe this was the band's sly dig at those who would have had them as musical dinosaurs.
Black Blade opens the proceedings, this was co-written with Michael Moorcock, the sci-fi bloke. Whilst not being quite as immediate as you'd like album openers to be, it's a muso's dream, all unexpected chord changes, time-stop gap inserts and a complete change of direction to slow it down halfway through. Lean right next to the speakers and hear "Black!!!! Blade!!" coming out on either side - a really clever production job.
The fab Monsters comes next, starting off all heavy riffing, lyrics about spaceships and battles with monsters, then throws in a jazz interlude with cheering and clinking glasses at the bridge. Jamie Cullum kiss my arse!! This is how to do it. Everyone joins in for the big sing-along-a-BOC finish.
Beautifully simple Divine Wind........up and down the scales in classic 4/4 rock fashion, with lyrics about the rock and roll lifestyle, cars, women, film stars etc, and a pop at someone (Ronnie Reagan?) "if he really thinks we're the devil...then lets send him to hell". Remember this was around the time when the religious right in America were banging on about rock and roll as the Devil's Music. Well, he does have all the best tunes.
Deadline, probably the weakest track on here, comes next, a bit of a slushy love song with synths but a nice driving bassline. God I love Joe Bouchard's bass work. I am going to be as good as this one day. A really strange song The Marshall Plan, comes along next. Tells the story of Johnny who loses his girl to the band when they go to a gig, and he resolves to become a rock star. This is like a rock opera in minature, with snatches of Smoke On The Water and a spoken bit by Don Kirschner, an old US TV music star. Not my favourite track on here, but listenable at any rate.
Your joint should be rocking when Hungry Boys comes out. This is a fantastic driving rocker with lyrics sung falsetto, like Japanese style. It reminds me of that old mod hit "Turning Japanese" by The Vapors. The boys celebrated in this song are all junkies using needles but they keep them clean, whose operation has been shut down, and that's why they're hungry boys. A good solo on this one too, from that unheralded axe god Buck Dharma.
Fallen Angel is track seven, guess what it's about? Yes, BOC become the 473rd band to write a song about a fallen angel! Actually this is a lovely soft-rock number, and should appeal to all those of you who like your rock music laid down nice and smooth. Ooer missus. No, really its a nice song, simple as that. One of those drive-time kind of rock songs.
BOC lay down of their all-time classics with the brilliant Lips In The Hills, all heavy metal and vocals way back in the mix. Hard riffing and a great chorus which stops when Eric shouts out "Lips! In The Hills!!! Lips in the hills!!!!" The rythym section do what all good rythym sections do, and just drive this juggernaut of a rock song along.
Unknown Tongue closes this album out, telling the story of an encounter with a mysterious lady who hands out favours to one of the band (Albert? He wrote it) putting his hands on her breasts, asking her "is this the way to love?" The sting in the tale comes in the morning when she puts on her clothes to go to school!!
So to sum up, this is a classy hard rocking record with clever songs, intelligent lyrics and top musicianship running right through it. Should appeal to all rock fans, or anyone who likes guitar driven music. An ideal starting point for anyone wanting to get into this band, I throughly recommend this album. Easily avaliable on all the usual on-line outlets for under a tenner. Watcha waiting for people?
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What's that I can smell? Is it...could it be...yes it is, Essence of Spinal Tap! If they didn't cover Divine Wind on their classic, yet difficult, second album Break Like The Wind then they should have done. That said, I'm a sucker for good quality, long haired, terminally untrendy rock music that doesn't take itself too seriously and this sounds ideal. Like most of the World I only know Don't Fear The Reaper so I ought to seek out some more of their work.
Alican 27.03.2005 21:14
I've never heard of them or their music, but I'm always willing to give these things a listen and you've certainly tempted me! Alice xxx
suspectdevice 23.03.2005 18:56
Nice review, I've definatly heard of the band before, but i don't think I've heard any of their stuff, might look into getting a CD. Jeremy
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