Blue Öyster Cult

I was wondering if anyone here has actually heard of this band or knows anything about them.

I'm looking to trade some thoughts on a group I honestly consider one of the absolute best in rock history.

I've been trying to track down something substantial from them for years now, but they're incredibly hard to come by. Even finding the standard Don't Fear the Reaper that everyone seems to own has proven impossible for me.

I don't have cable, so I can't download anything from the internet.

If you find anything, please let me know.😁

Man, he used to play them for me all the time—I still get chills thinking about that 'Joan Crawford' track ('Joan Crawford has risen from the grave,' man... goosebumps). They definitely have some solid stuff in their catalog.

Remember when Patti Smith was seeing Allen Lanier? See, I’m the guy you come to for those kinds of deep cuts... 🙄

Susan Martinez71 said:If you track anything down, please let me know.😁

Look, I've got pretty much their entire discography, except for Revolution by Night.😎

Honestly, I can't even decide which one is better.👍

Look, I respect the band, but my interest is almost strictly limited to their seventies era. For me, *Secret Treaties* is the absolute peak—they hadn't really missed the mark yet. Once they hit *Agents of Fortune*, things started getting a bit silly, and *Spectres* was even worse, though I'll admit those tracks were from the late seventies when they were trying something different. Still, nothing touches the masterpieces found on those first three albums. By the eighties, they just felt... sleazier. Sure, they had some high points like *Fire of Unknown Origin* and *Imaginos*, but that decade also gave us total disasters like *Club Ninja* and *Revolution by Night*. Honestly, it was a mess—just pure sludge. I have to admit, after *Imaginos*, I pretty much checked out.
That said, even at their worst, they still outclass pretty much any other American heavy metal band out there.

For years, I was just stuck with *Imaginos* in my head, daydreaming about the day I’d finally track down their earlier stuff and feel that same rush of excitement. Well, now that I actually have them in my collection, I’ve gotta say... I’m feeling a little let down. Don't get me wrong, there are some killer tracks in there—some absolute gems—but the albums as a whole just don't quite click for me. *Imaginos* is a masterpiece from start to finish; when Blue Öyster Cult is hitting their stride like they do on that record, they are absolutely untouchable. They nail this dark, eerie vibe that just hits different... You can really tell they hail from New England. It's like they're the musical embodiment of all those classic American horror writers and the old witch hunts out there... they basically play that atmosphere...

Don't Fear the Reaper, man...

😁

-I’d suggest all the fans check out the movie 'Stoned Age'... haha...

Jeffrey Green16 is killer from start to finish. Having the original lineup back gives it this unique, conceptual feel that really works. My only gripe is "Del Rio's song." It’s a decent track, but it feels totally out of place on this specific record.

shadowmarlin15 mentioned he isn't a fan of their eighties era. I haven't actually spun Revolution by Night yet, but Club Ninja is an absolute masterpiece. One reason I think they're such a phenomenal band is how much they evolved over the years. They didn't just get stuck in that old-school rock sound, even if I have to admit that was probably their peak.

Astronomy, Don't Fear the Reaper, this isn't the Summer of Love, just burning out for you...

I’ve got a few tracks here... downloaded from some random site. They sound pretty good, but honestly, whenever I grab stuff off the internet, I can never be entirely sure if what I'm actually listening to matches the title on the screen. Does anyone know if the song Godzilla is actually one of theirs?

Godzilla? You bet it is. They're absolutely brilliant...

history shows again and again
How Nature points up The folly of men Godzilla
Godzilla!

Jeffrey Green16 said:I'm wondering if anyone here actually knows this band or heard anything about them.

I know Blue Öyster Cult. 😁

After reading this thread, I finally gave their Agents of Fortune a spin, and now I can't stop playing Don't Fear the Reaper.
Man, that melody is just so smooth. Seriously. You can tell it’s a bit of a departure from their usual sound, too. Doesn't matter though—it's on repeat for me.

edit: Just realized this is everyone's absolute favorite track. 😁 👍

blueranger12 said:And apparently, it’s not even their usual sound.

If you're looking for something that actually sounds like them, just go listen to anything from Tyranny & Mutation or Secret Treaties. It isn't quite as soft, but it's a hell of a lot better.👍

I used to be a huge fan of their live albums. Does anyone here actually know anything about those rumors regarding them supporting the KKK?

I haven't heard anything about the KKK.

They used to throw around accusations about them being Nazis, but Eric Bloom is Jewish, so that doesn't really hold water.

If anyone is actually interested, you can find members.aol.com/bocfaqman where there's a massive amount of info on the band.

Look, the stuff about the KKK isn't just baseless chatter—their logo, and honestly, you can find that same symbol on your own avatar, appearing in pretty much every photo of those hooded members. That specific cross sits right on the front of their robes. Of course, there's always some convenient excuse floating around claiming it’s just some ancient relic that predates the KKK's existence.
I have to admit, though, I couldn't care less. My focus is on the music—whether those people are absolute trash or just incredibly dim-witted isn't really my problem.

Look, I couldn't care less if they crash and burn whenever they feel like it. It's just that they don't exactly project that "I love football and drive a white Ford F-150 with a KKK sticker on the bumper" kind of vibe I'm used to.

What’s the deal with The Curse of the Hidden Mirror?

Man, I’m just now seeing this thread, my bad 😲

I mean, BOC is easily the greatest band ever 🙂 !!!!

There isn't really much to debate here, honestly. Just listen to everything they've put out, anything from start to finish and you won't be disappointed. If I had to pick favorites, I'd say Secret Treaties, Cultosaurus Erectus, and the one-of-a-kind Imaginos—which some critics even went so far as calling the best heavy metal album ever made. They weren't exactly wrong... 😁

Their sound is just something else. It's what everyone should listen to if they think nothing intelligent can come out of heavy metal. How did people used to describe them??? Something like... the thinking man's heavy metal band...

ahhhh.... such a shame they aren't touring anymore... 😢 they were the best and they always will be

Personally, I think Astronomy is their best track... I'll buy a beer for anyone who can actually figure out what it's about 😁