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| Blue Öyster Cult - Curse Of The Hidden Mirror |
 Released: 2001 Label: CMC International Cat. No.: - Total Time: 50:54 | |
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. [See also Keith's review - ed.] 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: Contact: Website: www.blueoystercult.com Email: webmaster@blueoystercult.com Discography
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