There are two Blue Oyster Cult’s: before, and after Reaper. Basically, up to and including Agents of Fortune, and everything after that. They have been going in various forms since ’67, when the were called Soft White Underbelly. This is the bands third album released in ’74, and if you have heard the live album On Your Feet Or On Your Knees, 6 of the 8 tracks here are performed and they come over a lot heavier. The were sort of punk in attitude (before punk was a thing), and they were a cross between MC5 and the New York Dolls – which I sort of get.
Dominance And Submission still sounds great today, with that riff, beat, and lyrics – it’s one of my all time favourite BOC tracks. The raw rock and roll of ME 262 – complete with doo wops – and the brilliance of Harvester Of Eyes with that jagged riff, make this one of my most loved BOC records. Plus, you get the killer Astronomy as the close out track.
I got to see them a couple of years back supporting Foghat, and they weren’t that great. They looked as though they wanted to be anywhere but there. At least we still have these great albums to listen to.
9/10 from The Grooveman.
