BOC: Re: Heaven Forbid, I'm back!

[Laj Waldner]

Joseph Brooks wrote:
>
> Ok, thanks all.. Its good to be back. I've been hanging on the moe. list and
> its full of all sorts of nonsense.. (love the band though, heard 'em? They
> recently covered DFTR at one of their shows..)
>
> Anyway, I tried real hard to like HF, I really did. I wanted so much to like
> it. However, I just can't seem to get the hang of it. "See You in Black"
> sounds to me just like Buck and the gang trying to be something they're not
> (a metal band in their 20's).

Eric once said "Rock and Roll really keeps you young, it really does".
And since they pioneered metal with songs like "The Red and the Black",
I think they have more rite than any band in there 20's, well just as
much rite any ways. That intro in "See You In Black" really rules, and I
thought it a good song to start the album.


> "Harvest Moon", I like it.. but whats with
> that speed metal jam in there? Seems out of place (though it *does* rock..).

Not one of Bucks best solo's, and I agree with you that the song really
didn't need it.

>
> Of the rest.. what can I say? It pains me but I cringe every time I hear
> "Hammer Back" or "Power Underneath Dispair". They seem so contrived
> lyrically (Sandy, where *are* you!). Still Burnin'? I don't think so, Buck.
> And since when does BOC write lyrics that sound like they're right off a
> Kiss album?  (blech!) Like I find with bands like Metallica, it seems they
> are searching for nefarious subjects to write about only because they think
> they have to keep up the sinister image that they had. The results sound
> forced and uninspired. I focus on the lyrics I guess because they are what
> drew me to BOC in the first place.

The lyrics were mostly Shirley's, I think that's why there dark and
sinister. I have never read any of Shirley's material so correct me if
im wrong here, but from what I have heard his writing is very dark and
sinister, and that's just showing through on his lyrics. And since there
not forcing themselves to be sinister to fit a certain style, and just
using a "sinister" person for lyrics, I don't think anything was forced.
I still don't like this album lyrically as much as I like most of the
other albums though, compared to there ability in other albums to paint
such vivid pictures, and have such cool and intelligent play on words,
that Heaven Forbid seems to lack in the most part. I agree with you in
saying that lyrically it is no Secret Treaties, or Tyranny or S/T or
Agents or Specter's or Cultosaurus or Fire of Unknown Origin. . . :-).




Laj



> Musically, I suppose I can say I have no major complaints aside from what I
> said above and some repetition..


Not as much repetition as some hard core punk albums though :-).


> John, you're absolutely right. I'm looking for "Secret Treaties II" and it
> just ain't gonna happen. But damn it, thats what I want. Not neccesarily a
> step back to that musical and lyrical style but just something with the sort
> of impact that ST had.
>
> awww, damn, I wanna be 14 and in awe again!
>
> (Disclaimer: sorry if I sound negative.. Its just that I've been waiting for
> months to discuss this with fellow Culters...)
>
> JB
> "Whatever you do, take care of your shoes.." -- Phish
> "So Ladies, Fish and Gentlemen, here's my angled dream.." -- Blue Oyster
> Cult
>