Blue Oyster Cult's career could be considered by some to have hit the doldrums after the (perhaps counter-productive) phenomenal success of hit single “Don't Fear The Reaper.”
Curse of the Hidden Mirror Review by Gary Hill Blue Oyster Cult has always been an unusual band. They have many cuts in their history that are classic hard rocking pieces. I'm talking the kind of songs that really rise heads above the vast majority of music out there More...
Extraterrestrial Live Review by Gary Hill Released in 1982, this album is a very solid chronicle of a BOC live during the height of their career. Combining prog elements with accessible hooks and potent metal, this album definitely qualifies as prog metal.
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Back in 1981, Blue Oyster Cult was riding the wave of rock's "second coming". Having just completed a successful tour with Black Sabbath, the boys went back into the studio to record their next batch of songs and to try to keep themselves in the public eye.
Heaven Forbid Review by Gary Hill Although the cover art leaves a bit to be desired, Heaven Forbid can certainly be looked on as a rebirth for BOC. This album seems to take the best of old BOC and bring up to date, while still staying true to those original concepts.
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The Revolution By Night Review by Gary Hill Released in October of 1983, Revolution by Night was the 12th album by Blue Oyster Cult. The music on the album is definitely in the hard rock/heavy metal sort of genre, while showing many indications of more progressive leanings, both in writing and arranging. More...
Workshop of the Telescopes Review by Gary Hill This two disc compilation covers the majority of the band`s career, and hits upon many of their styles. From time to time, the music leans to metal, prog-metal, pop and hard rock.
Time stands still for no one, not even Blue Öyster Cult. This band and I go back a very long way, and I have seen them play live more than any other band.
Blue Öyster Cult - Live in Anaheim, CA, March, 2007 Review by Michael Bader Gone are Eric Blooms’ tight fitting leathers, curly hair and neatly groomed beard/goatee. Gone are Buck Darhmas’ white suit, black mustache and long black hair.
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Blue Öyster Cult - Live In Beloit, WI, 2002 Review by Gary Hill If you hear Godzilla, but he is nowhere to be seen, what does that mean? The last time I checked it meant that Blue Oyster Cult was in town.
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The Lizards - 4.2.11 DVD Review by Gary Hill When I got this DVD and first looked at the title, I just thought I was looking at a date. Then I realized, that 2011 hasn’t happened yet and these guys (despite the fact that they call themselves dinosaurs) weren’t born in 1911.
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The Lizards - Against All Odds Review by Gary Hill I have to say it, I love The Lizards! These guys just keep getting better with each successive album. They also seem to stretch the envelope of what is Lizards music as they continue on.
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This new set from the ever-changing group of musicians recording under the name "The Prog Collective" does feel a little darker than some of the rest of their music.
Brain Surgeons - Malpractice Review by Gary Hill Brain Surgeons is former BOC member Albert Bouchard`s band. The group utilizes elements of Blue Oyster Cult in new and unusual ways.
Various Artists - Mullets Rock Too Review by Gary Hill It's a safe bet you've heard every song on this disc – although you might not have heard the Ace Frehley track as performed by him. That doesn't mean this set isn't enjoyable.
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Erik Norlander - Music Machine Review by Gary Hill n Music Machine Erik Norlander has created the newest rock opera. His story tells the tale of the first manufactured rock idol, hence the name "Music Machine".
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Brain Surgeons - Piece of Work Review by Gary Hill This album really seems to show that this band is not content to be working in one particular style. Indeed, the styles on this double disc release range from jazzy barbershop singing to hard rock to ballads to progish material
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Joe Bouchard is best known as one of the members of the classic lineup of Blue Oyster Cult. You wouldn't really need to know that if you heard this album.
Simon Apple - River to the Sea Review by Gary Hill So many people these days give lip service to this charity or that, but you really have to admire the people who put their money (literally) where their mouth is. Such is the case with Simon Apple as they are donating a portion of the sale of each CD to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.
The X Brothers - Solid Citizens Review by Gary Hill Featuring Blue Oyster Cult`s Joe Bouchard, it is no wonder that much of this album has BOC tendencies. This is a very solid rock disc that occasionally rises to the point of greatness.
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As more and more of these projects come out, I wish I had organized the first ones differently. Each successive album from this act gets a higher number.
The Lizards - The Lizards Rule Review by Gary Hill The second CD from the Lizards is entitled "The Lizards Rule". That title is quite appropriate because for fans of 1970's styled blues oriented hard rock, the Lizards do rule.
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