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Rating: The "Cult of the Blue Oyster." It certainly doesn't sound like a name that would attract potential listeners. Unless they are insatiable consumers of shellfish. Or fanatics passionate about the most improbable esoteric sects. Blue Öyster Cult definitely sounds better. At least for a young person who doesn't quite grasp English yet but is particularly intrigued by that enigmatic logo glimpsed on an album cover. And it matters little if some suggest it symbolizes the god Cronos, or an obscure representation of death. The youngster doesn't know these legends yet, he's simply fascinated by them, and from there will begin a true "cult" for this extraordinary band. Five multi-instrumentalists who grew up in the decadent circles of New York and started writing some of the most interesting pages in the history of rock since the late sixties. Assisted by the brilliant producer and lyricist Sandy Pearlman, for more than a decade, they accompany us to their visionary world, populated by aliens, men in black, and vampires. Profound and evocative lyrics that embrace the most mysterious side of life. As original as their music. A dark and eclectic rock, continuously evolving over the years, moving from the early hard'n'roll to the arena-rock of the early eighties.
"Extraterrestrial Live" was released in 1982 and is the band's third live album. A monumental record, once again proving the immense energy the five can transmit in their performances. What sets it apart from the previous ones, beyond the latest musical shift undertaken with the past two excellent studio works, is that finally, the vocal parts are entirely left to the voice of Eric Bloom. One of the group's characteristics has always been the desire of members to alternate roles and instruments. But I have always personally believed that the aforementioned voice was a real strength. With its dark and deep tone, its sometimes dramatic expression, and its theatrical style. Perfectly in tune with the lyrics and music. Just listen to the central part of the furious opener "Dominance and Submission", where Eric involves a frantic audience in his delirious monologues. Or the exciting introduction of the classic "Godzilla", where he seizes the opportunity to address the theme of nuclear power. The album is a powerhouse of energy, from the rock-solid riff of "Cities On Flame" to the successful cover of "Roadhouse Blues", where they also share the stage with ex-Doors Robbie Krieger. However, there is no shortage of more poignant moments, like the anthem "Don’t Fear the Reaper." The solo by the talented Buck Dharma is art at its finest. A storm of electricity, sending chills with every listen. "Joan Crawford", on the other hand, introduced by a classical piano, develops into a composition with a driving rhythm and imbued with melancholic melodies. In this case, in full antithesis with the lyrics describing the protagonist's return from beyond the grave. But the most engaging moment ultimately turns out to be without a doubt the lesser-known "Veteran of the Psychic Wars". A track dominated by a martial and pulsating drumming, over which a keyboard carpet creates eerie atmospheres. The guitar solo is still stunning, played on an accumulation of notes, while the song gains a captivating rhythm. This album has one flaw: the absence of the band's absolute masterpiece, the splendid "Astronomy." "It's the nexus of the crisis / and the origin of storms." From this moment on, the band's creative vein will undergo a noticeable decline. But the influence of Blue Öyster Cult will be enormous in the hard rock and heavy metal to follow. Indispensable.
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
01 Dominance and Submission (05:56)
Oh Yeah!
I spent ten years, half my life
Just getting ready, then it was time
Warpage in my figures, radios appear
Midnight was the barrier, back in 1963
Each night the covers were unfolded
Each night it's Susie�s turn to ride
While Charles, the one they call her brother
Covers on his eyes
Murmurs in the background
It will be time
Oh Yeah!
Susan and her brother, Charles the grinning boy
Put me in the back seat, and they took me for a ride
Yeah, the radio was on, can't you dig the locomotion
Kingdoms of the radio, 45 RPM
Too much revolution, then
Each night the covers were unfolded
Each night it's Susie's turn to ride
While Charles, the one they call her brother
Covers on his eyes
Murmurs in the background
It will be time
It's past midnight said Charles the grinning boy
And looking at me greedily, said it's 1964
In Times Square now people do the polka
Dominance! Submission. Radios appear.
This New Year's Eve was the final barrier
Dominance! Submission. Radios appear.
We took you up and we put you in the back seat
Dominance! Submission. Radios appear.
From year to year we looked out for the venture
Dominance! Submission. Radios appear.
Dominance! Submission
Dominance! Sub-mission
Dominance! Sub-mission
Dominance! Submission
Dominance! Sub-mission
Dominance! Sub-mission Sub-mission
Dominance! Sub- submission sub- sub-
Dominance! Submission submission
Dominance! Submission submission submission
Dominance! Sub- submission submission
Dominance! Submission submission submission
Dominance! Sub- submission sub- sub- submission
Dominance! Submission submission!
Dominance! Submission!
05 Joan Crawford (05:17)
Junkies down in Brooklyn are going crazy
They're laughing just like hungry dogs in the street
Policemen are hiding behind the skirts of little girls
Their eyes have turned the color of frozen meat
No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no
Joan Crawford has risen from the grave
Joan Crawford has risen from the grave
Catholic school girls have thrown away their mascara
They chain themselves to the axles of big Mac trucks
The sky is filled with herds of shivering angels
The fat lady laughs, "Gentlemen, start your trucks"
Oh no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no
Joan Crawford has risen from the grave
Joan Crawford has risen from the grave
Christina
Mother's home
Christina
Come to mother
Christina
No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no
Joan Crawford has risen from the grave
Joan Crawford has risen from the grave
Joan Crawford has risen from the grave
Joan Crawford has risen
06 Burnin' for You (04:50)
Home in the valley
Home in the city
Home isn't pretty
Ain't no home for me
Home in the darkness
Home on the highway
Home isn't my way
Home I'll never be
Burn out the day
Burn out the night
I can't see no reason to put up a fight
I'm living for givin' the devil his due
And I'm burnin', I'm burnin', I'm burnin' for you
I'm burnin', I'm burnin', I'm burnin' for you
Time is the essence
Time is the season
Time ain't no reason
Got no time to slow
Time everlasting
Time to play B-sides
Time ain't on my side
Time I'll never know
Burn out the day
Burn out the night
I'm not the one to tell you what's wrong and what's right
I've seen suns that were freezing and lives that were through
But I'm burnin', I'm burnin', I'm burnin' for you
I'm burnin', I'm burnin', I'm burnin' for you
Burn out the day
Burn out the night
I can't see no reason to put up a fight
I'm living for givin' the devil his due
And I'm burnin', I'm burnin', I'm burnin' for you
I'm burnin', I'm burnin', I'm burnin' for you
I'm burnin', I'm burnin', I'm burnin' for you
And I'm burnin', I'm burnin', I'm burnin' for you
08 Black Blade (06:17)
I have this feeling that my luck is none too good
This sword here at my side don't act the way it should
Keeps calling me its master, but I feel like its slave
Hauling me faster and faster to an early, early grave
And it howls! It howls like hell!
I'm told it's my duty to fight against the law
That wizardry's my trade and I was born to wade through gore
I just want to be a lover, not a red-eyed screaming ghoul
I wish it'd picked another to be its killing tool
Black Blade, Black Blade
Forged a billion years ago
Black Blade, Black Blade
Killing so its power can grow
It's death from the beginning to the end of time
And I'm the cosmic champion and I hold a mystic sign
And the whole world's dying and the burden's mine
And the black sword keeps on killing 'til the end of time
Black Blade, Black Blade
Bringing chaos to the world we know
Black Blade, Black Blade
And it's using me to kill my friends
Black Blade, Black Blade
Getting stronger so the world will end
Black Blade, Black Blade
Forcing my mind to bend and bend
I am the Black Blade
Forged a million billion years ago
My cosmic soul it goes on for eternity
Carving out destiny
Bringing in the Lords of Chaos
Bringing up the Beasts of Hades
Sucking out the souls of heroes
Laying waste to knights and ladies
My master is my slave
Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha!
You poor fucking humans
09 Hot Rails to Hell (05:03)
Riding the underground
Swimming in sweat
A rumble above and below
Hey cop don't you know
The heat's on all right
The hot summer day didn't quit for the night
1277 express to heaven
Speeding along like dynamite
1277 express to heaven
Rumbles the steel like a dogfight
You caught me in a spell
Trying to leave but you know darn well
The heat from below can burn your eyes out
Blackened out eyes
Scratched on the wall
Stoned out looks from the crowd
The king will not know
On the wall it was said
The flash of his cards was sprayed with red
1277 express to heaven
Speeding along like dynamite
1277 express to heaven
Rumbles the steel like a dog fight
You caught me in a spell
Trying to leave but you know darn well
The heat from below can burn your eyes out
1277 express to...
1277 express to...
1277 express to heaven
Speeding along like dynamite
1277 express to heaven
Rumbles the steel like a dogfight
You caught me in a spell
Trying to leave but you know darn well
The heat from below can burn, Yeah burn!
Your eyes out
Your eyes out
Your eyes out!
out! out! out! out!
out! out! out! out!
10 Godzilla (07:46)
With a purposeful grimace and a terrible sound
He pulls the spitting high tension wires down
Helpless people on a subway train
Scream for God as he looks in on them
He picks up a bus and he throws it back down
As he wades through the buildings toward the center of town
Oh no, they say he's got to go
Go go Godzilla, yeah
Oh no, there goes Tokyo
Go go Godzilla, yeah
Oh no, they say he's got to go
Go go Godzilla, yeah
Oh no, there goes Tokyo
Go go Godzilla, yeah
Rinji news o moshiagemasu!
Rinji news o moshiagemasu!
Godzilla ga Ginza hoomen e mukatte imasu!
Daishkyu hinan shite kudasai!
Daishkyu hinan shite kudasai!
Oh no, they say he's got to go
Go go Godzilla, yeah
Oh no, there goes Tokyo
Go go Godzilla, yeah
History shows again and again
How nature points out the folly of men
Godzilla!
11 Veteran of the Psychic Wars (08:11)
You see me now a veteran of a thousand psychic wars
I've been living on the edge so long
Where the winds of limbo roar
And I'm young enough to look at
And far too old to see
All the scars are on the inside
I'm not sure if there's anything left of me
Don't let these shakes go on
It's time we had a break from it
It's time we had some leave
We've been living in the flames
We've been eating up our brains
Oh, please don't let these shakes go on
You ask me why I'm weary, why I can't speak to you
You blame me for my silence
Say it's time I changed and grew
But the war's still going on dear
And there's no end that I know
And I can't say if we're ever...
I can't say if we're ever gonna to be free
Don't let these shakes go on
It's time we had a break from it
It's time we had some leave
We've been living in the flames
We've been eating out our brains
Oh, please don't let these shakes go on
You see me now a veteran of a thousand psychic wars
My energy's spent at last
And my armor is destroyed
I have used up all my weapons and I'm helpless and bereaved
Wounds are all I'm made of
Did I hear you say that this is victory?
Don't let these shakes go on
It's time we had a break from it
Send me to the rear
Where the tides of madness swell
And been sliding into hell
Oh, please don't let these shakes go on
Don't let these shakes go on
Don't let these shakes go on
12 E.T.I. (Extra Terrestrial Intelligence) (05:20)
I hear the music daylight disc
Three men in black said, "Don’t report this...
Ascension." and that’s all they said
Sickness now the hour of dread
All praise
He’s found the awful truth
Balthazar
He’s found the saucer news
Wait! there’s more…
I’m in fairy rings and tower beds
“Don’t report this" three men said
Books by blameless and by the dead
King in yellow, the Queen in red
All praise
He’s found the awful truth
Balthazar
He’s found the saucer news
Dead leaves always give up motion
I no longer feel emotion
When prophecy fails the falling notion
Don’t report this
Agents of Fortune
All praise
He’s found the awful truth
Balthazar
He’s found the saucer news
13 (Don't Fear) The Reaper (06:43)
All our times have come
Here but now they're gone
Seasons don't fear the reaper
Nor do the wind, the sun or the rain (We can be like they are)
Come on baby (Don't fear the reaper)
Baby take my hand (Don't fear the reaper)
We'll be able to fly (Don't fear the reaper)
Baby I'm your man
La, la, la, la, la
La, la, la, la, la
Valentine is done
Here but now they're gone
Romeo and Juliet
Are together in eternity (Romeo and Juliet)
40,000 men and women every day (Like Romeo and Juliet)
40,000 men and women every day (Redefine happiness)
Another 40,000 coming every day (We can be like they are)
Come on baby (Don't fear the reaper)
Baby take my hand (Don't fear the reaper)
We'll be able to fly (Don't fear the reaper)
Baby I'm your man
La, la, la, la, la
La, la, la, la, la
Love of two is one
Here but now they're gone
He came last night out of sadness
And it was clear that she couldn't go on
Then the door was open and the wind appeared
The candles blew and then disappeared
The curtains flew and then he appeared (Saying don't be afraid)
Come on baby (And she had no fear)
And she ran to him (Then they started to fly)
They looked backward and said goodbye (She had become like they are)
She had taken his hand (She had become like they are)
Come on baby (Don't fear the reaper)
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