The album takes a look around the shoulder to the original Blue Öyster Cult sound, but the band is starting to experiment with synthesizers which isn't that uncommon in that era, and sometimes it does pay off.
Martin Birch is a good producer. I honestly like his audio vision. I have the original CD instead of the remaster, so I can't give a comparison whether something has changed, but this version I like. There's warmth which I like. Sometimes remasters may bring out sounds which haven't been there originally, but louder doesen't equate better.
Donald Roeser is one of the finest guitar players in rock history. I just think he's got the right amount of power, technical skills and ideas which have emotional value. I have no idea how much he changes his playing alive, but his studio work is just very pleasant for the ear.
The songwriting is pretty good overall, and the band has always had a style of their own which you can separate from Black Sabbath, Aerosmith, Uriah Heep, Led Zeppelin and Deep Purple with no problem. One of the pioneers and I've always enjoyed their somewhat mystery aura, and to this date I haven't got a clue what most songs are about.
The song Deadline on Cultösaurus Erectus bothers me, and I don't know why! It's got this spooky 'someone's died' feeling to it and Donald's playing is from another level of existence. I get slightly depressed every time I listen to it, but at the same time it's my favorite song on the album. Sounds like a ghost song to me.
Very good album, but I have liked the band since I first heard them.
Cultosaurus is definitely a return to the harder side of the band after the run of more commercial albums begining with Agents of Fortune, through Spectres and then with the transitional Mirrors.
The opener Black Blade continues the song writing partnership of Eric Bloom and Michael Moor****, chronicling Moor****s anti-hero Elric and his relationship with his sentient soul-stealing sword. Martin Birch certainly left his stamp on the early 80s metal sound with this record and the follow up Fire of Unknown Origin along with the first two Dio Sabbath records and most of Iron Maiden's best albums. Very nice, crisp and metally.
Monsters is a nod to the whole goofball sci fi tendencies of the band and perhaps a continuation of the Godzilla song from Spectres. Dharma also released an instrumental track on a guitar magazine cd called "Gamera is Missing."
Divine Wind is timely considering it was written as a response to Iran holding Americans hostage back in the Carter era. Dharma wanted to sing it but Birch rightfully suggested that Bloom's snarl worked better. Here is a cool fan video:
I too have no idea what Deadline is about.
The Marshall Plan has a promo video which is kind of cheesy in retrospect. The song is a generic Johnny B. Goode - Shooting Star - Jukebox Hero kind of tune. The inclusion of the riff from Smoke on the Water must have been a tribute to Birch.
Hungry Boys is cool. Fallen Angel rocks hard and Lips in the Hills has a nice groove. Unknown Tongue is disturbing.
And I don't think there is a remaster of this album out there. At least not one like the expanded versions that have slowly been trickling out over the last decade. They are only up to Spectres with the studio albums and after not remastering On Your Feet Or On Your Knees,Some Enchanted Evening got expanded and added a DVD.
And Buck Dharma is great live. I have many BOC boots and he is always amazing. He tends to play his solos close to the record but when the band stretches out Then Came The Last Days of May he also takes the initiative to experiment. His solo album Flat Out is a must have if you don't have it.
Cultosaurus is definitely a return to the harder side of the band after the run of more commercial albums begining with Agents of Fortune, through Spectres and then with the transitional Mirrors.
The opener Black Blade continues the song writing partnership of Eric Bloom and Michael Moor****, chronicling Moor****s anti-hero Elric and his relationship with his sentient soul-stealing sword. Martin Birch certainly left his stamp on the early 80s metal sound with this record and the follow up Fire of Unknown Origin along with the first two Dio Sabbath records and most of Iron Maiden's best albums. Very nice, crisp and metally.
Monsters is a nod to the whole goofball sci fi tendencies of the band and perhaps a continuation of the Godzilla song from Spectres. Dharma also released an instrumental track on a guitar magazine cd called "Gamera is Missing."
Divine Wind is timely considering it was written as a response to Iran holding Americans hostage back in the Carter era. Dharma wanted to sing it but Birch rightfully suggested that Bloom's snarl worked better. Here is a cool fan video:
I too have no idea what Deadline is about.
The Marshall Plan has a promo video which is kind of cheesy in retrospect. The song is a generic Johnny B. Goode - Shooting Star - Jukebox Hero kind of tune. The inclusion of the riff from Smoke on the Water must have been a tribute to Birch.
Hungry Boys is cool. Fallen Angel rocks hard and Lips in the Hills has a nice groove. Unknown Tongue is disturbing.
And I don't think there is a remaster of this album out there. At least not one like the expanded versions that have slowly been trickling out over the last decade. They are only up to Spectres with the studio albums and after not remastering On Your Feet Or On Your Knees,Some Enchanted Evening got expanded and added a DVD.
And Buck Dharma is great live. I have many BOC boots and he is always amazing. He tends to play his solos close to the record but when the band stretches out Then Came The Last Days of May he also takes the initiative to experiment. His solo album Flat Out is a must have if you don't have it.
Cool videos, even if that one was a fan made video. I got into the band again. I started listening to them two months ago. Bought the remaster CDs and I really enjoyed going back into this band which I haven't really listened in a long time. Their latest two or three releases I haven't really even heard properly. The only album I can't listen to is Club Ninja. Imaginos I like very much, but it's an unusual record. Very theatre-like. I don't know whether it's a theme album or what, but I was very surprised when I first heard it.
The first four albums are all great. I've overdosed with Agents of Fortune, and I enjoy Spectres more. Mirrors is an oddity for me. Cultösaurus Erectus and Fire of Unknown Origin work for me like Elric of Melnibone in the pale moonlight even with the increased use of synths (Deadline and Veteran of Psychic Wars being fantastic).
I think Martin Birch's audio vision really suits Blue Öyster Cult as well as Iron Maiden. Lucky for Steve Harris and co. Martin Birch was playing with the board for them. Buck's playing and his soft singing style is really effective. In Deadline his soft and almost distant style is too chilling and effective. Very talented rock musician. As is the whole band. Did Joe Bouchard ever sing?
Let me just add that my first initial reaction or thoughts on Deadline lyrics were that it was about two or three friends and one of them disappears or kills himself, or maybe the other two (or one person) killed the guy? But for me, when I listen to it, the dead dude's friend is really angry because his co-worker or friend didn't show up for a meeting. I don't know... but the whole song spooks me out.
The album takes a look around the shoulder to the original Blue Öyster Cult sound, but the band is starting to experiment with synthesizers which isn't that uncommon in that era, and sometimes it does pay off.
Martin Birch is a good producer. I honestly like his audio vision. I have the original CD instead of the remaster, so I can't give a comparison whether something has changed, but this version I like. There's warmth which I like. Sometimes remasters may bring out sounds which haven't been there originally, but louder doesen't equate better.
Donald Roeser is one of the finest guitar players in rock history. I just think he's got the right amount of power, technical skills and ideas which have emotional value. I have no idea how much he changes his playing alive, but his studio work is just very pleasant for the ear.
The songwriting is pretty good overall, and the band has always had a style of their own which you can separate from Black Sabbath, Aerosmith, Uriah Heep, Led Zeppelin and Deep Purple with no problem. One of the pioneers and I've always enjoyed their somewhat mystery aura, and to this date I haven't got a clue what most songs are about.
The song Deadline on Cultösaurus Erectus bothers me, and I don't know why! It's got this spooky 'someone's died' feeling to it and Donald's playing is from another level of existence. I get slightly depressed every time I listen to it, but at the same time it's my favorite song on the album. Sounds like a ghost song to me.
Very good album, but I have liked the band since I first heard them.
-- Edited by Nope at 15:30, 2008-05-05
Nope!! You need to get the first album also. BOC's music is utterly hypnotic in some of their songs. The words can describe imagery better than any band besides Rainbow. Here's an example from the song "Black Blade"..... this sword here by myside don't act the way it should.... absolutely brilliant! You imagine a warrior and his sword is maybe magical in the past.
Cultosaurus is definitely a return to the harder side of the band after the run of more commercial albums begining with Agents of Fortune, through Spectres and then with the transitional Mirrors.
The opener Black Blade continues the song writing partnership of Eric Bloom and Michael Moor****, chronicling Moor****s anti-hero Elric and his relationship with his sentient soul-stealing sword. Martin Birch certainly left his stamp on the early 80s metal sound with this record and the follow up Fire of Unknown Origin along with the first two Dio Sabbath records and most of Iron Maiden's best albums. Very nice, crisp and metally.
Monsters is a nod to the whole goofball sci fi tendencies of the band and perhaps a continuation of the Godzilla song from Spectres. Dharma also released an instrumental track on a guitar magazine cd called "Gamera is Missing."
Divine Wind is timely considering it was written as a response to Iran holding Americans hostage back in the Carter era. Dharma wanted to sing it but Birch rightfully suggested that Bloom's snarl worked better. Here is a cool fan video:
I too have no idea what Deadline is about.
The Marshall Plan has a promo video which is kind of cheesy in retrospect. The song is a generic Johnny B. Goode - Shooting Star - Jukebox Hero kind of tune. The inclusion of the riff from Smoke on the Water must have been a tribute to Birch.
Hungry Boys is cool. Fallen Angel rocks hard and Lips in the Hills has a nice groove. Unknown Tongue is disturbing.
And I don't think there is a remaster of this album out there. At least not one like the expanded versions that have slowly been trickling out over the last decade. They are only up to Spectres with the studio albums and after not remastering On Your Feet Or On Your Knees,Some Enchanted Evening got expanded and added a DVD.
And Buck Dharma is great live. I have many BOC boots and he is always amazing. He tends to play his solos close to the record but when the band stretches out Then Came The Last Days of May he also takes the initiative to experiment. His solo album Flat Out is a must have if you don't have it.
Cool videos, even if that one was a fan made video. I got into the band again. I started listening to them two months ago. Bought the remaster CDs and I really enjoyed going back into this band which I haven't really listened in a long time. Their latest two or three releases I haven't really even heard properly. The only album I can't listen to is Club Ninja. Imaginos I like very much, but it's an unusual record. Very theatre-like. I don't know whether it's a theme album or what, but I was very surprised when I first heard it.
The first four albums are all great. I've overdosed with Agents of Fortune, and I enjoy Spectres more. Mirrors is an oddity for me. Cultösaurus Erectus and Fire of Unknown Origin work for me like Elric of Melnibone in the pale moonlight even with the increased use of synths (Deadline and Veteran of Psychic Wars being fantastic).
I think Martin Birch's audio vision really suits Blue Öyster Cult as well as Iron Maiden. Lucky for Steve Harris and co. Martin Birch was playing with the board for them. Buck's playing and his soft singing style is really effective. In Deadline his soft and almost distant style is too chilling and effective. Very talented rock musician. As is the whole band. Did Joe Bouchard ever sing?
Let me just add that my first initial reaction or thoughts on Deadline lyrics were that it was about two or three friends and one of them disappears or kills himself, or maybe the other two (or one person) killed the guy? But for me, when I listen to it, the dead dude's friend is really angry because his co-worker or friend didn't show up for a meeting. I don't know... but the whole song spooks me out.
-- Edited by Nope at 15:56, 2008-05-06
On the first album the song about the innocent guys trying to do a drug deal with the bikers always freaks me out. It must have been a true story. Extra extra, read all about it is a neat thing on Spectres. Aw I could talk all day about the Oyster.
Nope!! You need to get the first album also. BOC's music is utterly hypnotic in some of their songs. The words can describe imagery better than any band besides Rainbow. Here's an example from the song "Black Blade"..... this sword here by myside don't act the way it should.... absolutely brilliant! You imagine a warrior and his sword is maybe magical in the past.
I love the mystery aura that the band can create with their music and lyrics. They're one of the most mysterious rock bands I have ever liked. There's not that many video clips or interview clips of the band I've seen, unlike from the bands of that era. What I'd really love to see would be some old seventies concert footage, but I don't know if there's anything official. Anyway, the band's lyrics have always fascinated me and the music can't be really compared to any other hard rock band. Very unique sound. I got my Rush and Whitesnake adoring friend into them recently and he made me order their whole seventies catalogue for him within few hours of drinking kegs. I started searching for their vinyls recently. But I have to save some good money for a quality vinyl player.
Dusthead wrote: On the first album the song about the innocent guys trying to do a drug deal with the bikers always freaks me out. It must have been a true story. Extra extra, read all about it is a neat thing on Spectres. Aw I could talk all day about the Oyster.
One of my favorite songs from the band, but yeah, I found that song also very eerie, because it might really be a true story. Deadline and Then Came the Last Days of May both have this sinister feeling, and it's simply because they're very soft and the lyrics deal with something very brooding. About a month ago I played Deadline frequently and it started giving me the creeps. Both songs are beautifully crafted, and Donald Roeser is probably fully aware what kind of contrast he got with sinister storylines and soft blues driven music. I don't know if I'd be able to listen to either songs alone nearby a dark forest.
Nope wrote: Cool videos, even if that one was a fan made video. I got into the band again. I started listening to them two months ago. Bought the remaster CDs and I really enjoyed going back into this band which I haven't really listened in a long time. Their latest two or three releases I haven't really even heard properly. The only album I can't listen to is Club Ninja. Imaginos I like very much, but it's an unusual record. Very theatre-like. I don't know whether it's a theme album or what, but I was very surprised when I first heard it.
The first four albums are all great. I've overdosed with Agents of Fortune, and I enjoy Spectres more. Mirrors is an oddity for me. Cultösaurus Erectus and Fire of Unknown Origin work for me like Elric of Melnibone in the pale moonlight even with the increased use of synths (Deadline and Veteran of Psychic Wars being fantastic).
I think Martin Birch's audio vision really suits Blue Öyster Cult as well as Iron Maiden. Lucky for Steve Harris and co. Martin Birch was playing with the board for them. Buck's playing and his soft singing style is really effective. In Deadline his soft and almost distant style is too chilling and effective. Very talented rock musician. As is the whole band. Did Joe Bouchard ever sing?
Let me just add that my first initial reaction or thoughts on Deadline lyrics were that it was about two or three friends and one of them disappears or kills himself, or maybe the other two (or one person) killed the guy? But for me, when I listen to it, the dead dude's friend is really angry because his co-worker or friend didn't show up for a meeting. I don't know... but the whole song spooks me out.
Club Ninja saw the band running on fumes. With Albert Bouchard being kicked out of the band before the previous album and with Allen Lanier being gone for Club Ninja the band started turning to outside songwriters. It is a mixed bag and has only one classic song, "Perfect Water" with a couple other catchy tunes and a bunch of sub par material.
Imaginos rules and is such a bizarre album in that it was originally Al Bouchard's solo record that was sort of morphed into a BOC record. It is a concept album that Al and Sandy Pearlman were working on throughout BOC's career with various songs throughout the BOC catalog that fit into the story. The record company wouldn't release it without Buck and Eric so they were added here and there, mostly with vocal tracks.
Joe Bouchard usually sings on at least one song per record, same as with his brother Al. On Cultosaurus Joe sings Hungry Boys and Fallen Angel. Allen Lanier only sang on AOF's True Confessions and on one demo on it's remaster. Some of Joe's best vocal songs for me are Hot Rails To Hell, Celestial Queen, Vengeance (The Pact) and Light Years of Love.
I read the Deadline lyrics and it seems like Buck might be a Mob enforcer that has to whack people that don't honor their side of a deal. He is warning the woman he loves that she could be next.
Club Ninja saw the band running on fumes. With Albert Bouchard being kicked out of the band before the previous album and with Allen Lanier being gone for Club Ninja the band started turning to outside songwriters. It is a mixed bag and has only one classic song, "Perfect Water" with a couple other catchy tunes and a bunch of sub par material.
Imaginos rules and is such a bizarre album in that it was originally Al Bouchard's solo record that was sort of morphed into a BOC record. It is a concept album that Al and Sandy Pearlman were working on throughout BOC's career with various songs throughout the BOC catalog that fit into the story. The record company wouldn't release it without Buck and Eric so they were added here and there, mostly with vocal tracks.
Joe Bouchard usually sings on at least one song per record, same as with his brother Al. On Cultosaurus Joe sings Hungry Boys and Fallen Angel. Allen Lanier only sang on AOF's True Confessions and on one demo on it's remaster. Some of Joe's best vocal songs for me are Hot Rails To Hell, Celestial Queen, Vengeance (The Pact) and Light Years of Love.
I read the Deadline lyrics and it seems like Buck might be a Mob enforcer that has to whack people that don't honor their side of a deal. He is warning the woman he loves that she could be next.
So it's both Joe and Albert singing too. That I didn't know. I always thought it was just Albert.
Club Ninja, to me, is just a piece of crap. I can't listen to it at all. The band lost its original identity and sounded between Europe and ASIA.
Imaginos really is a great album. In the Presence of Another World is one of their finest hours. Very strong H.P. Lovecraft moment. Eerie atmosphere. Listening to that with headphones would give me the chills. The album does sound like it's created as a solo album with many studio musicians. It doesen't have the original line-up feeling. I read from somewhere that even Joe Satriani had played some parts.
Nope wrote: Cool videos, even if that one was a fan made video. I got into the band again. I started listening to them two months ago. Bought the remaster CDs and I really enjoyed going back into this band which I haven't really listened in a long time. Their latest two or three releases I haven't really even heard properly. The only album I can't listen to is Club Ninja. Imaginos I like very much, but it's an unusual record. Very theatre-like. I don't know whether it's a theme album or what, but I was very surprised when I first heard it.
The first four albums are all great. I've overdosed with Agents of Fortune, and I enjoy Spectres more. Mirrors is an oddity for me. Cultösaurus Erectus and Fire of Unknown Origin work for me like Elric of Melnibone in the pale moonlight even with the increased use of synths (Deadline and Veteran of Psychic Wars being fantastic).
I think Martin Birch's audio vision really suits Blue Öyster Cult as well as Iron Maiden. Lucky for Steve Harris and co. Martin Birch was playing with the board for them. Buck's playing and his soft singing style is really effective. In Deadline his soft and almost distant style is too chilling and effective. Very talented rock musician. As is the whole band. Did Joe Bouchard ever sing?
Let me just add that my first initial reaction or thoughts on Deadline lyrics were that it was about two or three friends and one of them disappears or kills himself, or maybe the other two (or one person) killed the guy? But for me, when I listen to it, the dead dude's friend is really angry because his co-worker or friend didn't show up for a meeting. I don't know... but the whole song spooks me out.
Club Ninja saw the band running on fumes. With Albert Bouchard being kicked out of the band before the previous album and with Allen Lanier being gone for Club Ninja the band started turning to outside songwriters. It is a mixed bag and has only one classic song, "Perfect Water" with a couple other catchy tunes and a bunch of sub par material.
Imaginos rules and is such a bizarre album in that it was originally Al Bouchard's solo record that was sort of morphed into a BOC record. It is a concept album that Al and Sandy Pearlman were working on throughout BOC's career with various songs throughout the BOC catalog that fit into the story. The record company wouldn't release it without Buck and Eric so they were added here and there, mostly with vocal tracks.
Joe Bouchard usually sings on at least one song per record, same as with his brother Al. On Cultosaurus Joe sings Hungry Boys and Fallen Angel. Allen Lanier only sang on AOF's True Confessions and on one demo on it's remaster. Some of Joe's best vocal songs for me are Hot Rails To Hell, Celestial Queen, Vengeance (The Pact) and Light Years of Love.
I read the Deadline lyrics and it seems like Buck might be a Mob enforcer that has to whack people that don't honor their side of a deal. He is warning the woman he loves that she could be next.
Very quality songs. You don't need to know what the band "meant" by the songs. Use your own imagination to interpret the visual theme. They tell a story but not all of it. Like Deep Purple song CIT. It's moody also. Astronomy is a strange concept.
