BOC: PROGRESSIVE WORLD: Blue Öyster Cult - Curse Of The Hidden Mirror

[keith kirk]

blue oyster cult was better in the days of dont fear the reaper and black
blade from <E.T.I.>.


>From: Karen Kusic <kkusic at EXECPC.COM>
>Reply-To: BOC/Hawkwind Discussion List <BOC-L at LISTSERV.SPC.EDU>
>To: BOC-L at LISTSERV.SPC.EDU
>Subject: BOC: PROGRESSIVE WORLD: Blue Öyster Cult -              Curse Of
>The Hidden Mirror
>Date: Fri, 15 Jun 2001 07:50:16 -0500
>
>http://www.progressiveworld.net/boc.html
>
>Reviewed by: RIPZ, June 2001
>
>  Blue Öyster Cult makes no excuses for doing the Classic Rock thing.
>  While Curse Of The Hidden Mirror doesn't contain really "classic" BOC
>  songs like "Don't Fear The Reaper" or "Astronomy," it is a certain
>  degree better than their comeback CD, the patchy Heaven Forbid. The
>  new one is a bit more lightweight than Heaven Forbid and those
>  looking for 70s style hard rock might be disappointed. What does make
>  Curse Of The Hidden Mirror a novelty is how good the band
>  (represented by the creative core of the original band) can do their
>70s
>  sound so well, singing included. Usually the singer's pipes are the
>first
>  thing to go.
>
>  I used to be a fan of BOC. I've seen them open for T Rex way back
>  when Bolan was as plump as Lesley (Mountain) West. What was
>  interesting about the early BOC - their sensuous exploration of the
>  esoteric - was missing in the 80s and also in their last CD. It's nice
>to
>  have them back, but where are the mystical meandering of great
>  albums like Secret Treaties and Spectres? Where's that absolute
>  brilliance of tracks like "Don't Fear The Reaper" and "I Love The
>  Night"?
>
>  About the only song that comes close to being a classic is track 8,
>"Out
>  Of The Darkness". Most of the rest of the material is typical AOR,
>  neither great, nor bad. The last half of the album has a smoother, less
>  riff oriented feel. Though the keys are underplayed most of the time,
>  track ten "Eye Of The Hurricane" has some effective synth work and
>  great Hammond.
>
>  As far as rocking, BOC doesn't have the jams to do the metal thing
>  now. There's just so much great stuff out there from fresher younger
>  bands. But Lanier, Bloom and company have the experience of life
>  (and death); one expects some really mature things from them.
>
>  Why is Classic Rock important in the Prog arena? Because in a way,
>  Prog evolved from that Classic Rock sound. BOC, Tull, Ash, Heep,
>  Cooper, Deep Purple all straddled both venues; some leaning and
>  evolving away from prog, others more into it. In a sense, the two were
>  like twins separated at birth. One went onto bigger, more complex and
>  better things, eventually to become an underground obsession (Prog),
>  and the other (Classic Rock), died a slow and painful death, only to
>  survive in the minds of those who remember the glory days.
>
>  I applaud BOC for waving the Classic Rock banner. But I know they still
>  can do it better than this.
>
>  More about Curse Of The Hidden Mirror:
>
>  Track Listing: Dance on Stilts / Showtime / The Old Gods Return /
>  Pocket / One Step Ahead Of The Devil / I Just Like To Be Bad / Here
>  Comes That Feeling / Out Of The Darkness / Stone Of Love / Eye of the
>  Hurricane / Good to Feel Hungry
>
>  Musicians:
>  Eric Bloom - vocals, guitars and keyboards
>  Buck Dharma - vocals, guitars and keyboards
>  Allen Lanier - guitars and keyboards
>  Danny Miranda - bass, vocals and keyboards
>  Bobby Rondinelli - Drums
>
>  Contact:
>
>  Website: www.blueÖystercult.com
>  Note: will open new browser window
>
>  Email: webmaster at blueÖystercult.com

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