The esoteric themes of Blue Öyster Cult |
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Toaster Mantis
Forum Senior Member Joined: April 12 2008 Location: Denmark Status: Offline Points: 5898 |
Topic: The esoteric themes of Blue Öyster Cult Posted: April 17 2014 at 12:32 |
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One of my favourite things about Blue Öyster Cult is how the group's central "band concept" revolves around his insanely ambitious surrealist cosmic horror mythology that Sandy Pearlman cooked up with some help from Patti Smith and others, drawing upon a wide cultural frame of reference from mediaeval hermetic alchemy over the behind-the-scenes causes of both World Wars to the pulp literature in the H. P. Lovecraft tradition. Figuring out exactly what some of their songs mean, as a result, is a constantly ongoing process that requires learning new information and piecing together some grand terrifying cosmic puzzle.
Well, thanks to a mystically-minded Canadian I befriended on Facebook through a process I'm not yet completely cogisant of, I've come into this blog titled VISUP about the overlap between esoteric politics/religion and popular culture... and it turns out they have done quite a bit of legwork in exegesis regarding BÖC's "black-and-white" trilogy. (their first three studio LPs) Looks like the rabbit hole goes even deeper than I thought, down through Wicca, the JFK assassination, the Manson Family and the notoriously bizarre Gnostic religious movement known as the Process Church of the Final Judgement. Not terribly surprising to find out that there's a high likelihood Robert Anton Wilson might have been a BÖC fan! |
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"The past is not some static being, it is not a previous present, nor a present that has passed away; the past has its own dynamic being which is constantly renewed and renewing." - Claire Colebrook
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HolyMoly
Special Collaborator Retired Admin Joined: April 01 2009 Location: Atlanta Status: Offline Points: 26138 |
Posted: April 17 2014 at 12:38 | |
Wish I had time to read that right now - I'll bookmark for later. I've always wondered what this supposed concept of theirs was all about. I enjoy the albums, but never dug beneath the surface on any of the lyrics. I rarely pay attention to lyrics anyway. But I'm a big fan of those first three albums, so this may even enhance my enjoyments of them more.
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It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle if it is lightly greased. -Kehlog Albran |
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verslibre
Forum Senior Member Joined: July 01 2004 Location: CA Status: Offline Points: 17519 |
Posted: April 17 2014 at 14:05 | |
I love BÖC. They definitely have an edge in the lyrics dept. over a great many other bands. Pearlman's concept is an expansive one and I read up a lot on it years ago, but it's probably time for a refresher course!
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Guldbamsen
Special Collaborator Retired Admin Joined: January 22 2009 Location: Magic Theatre Status: Offline Points: 23104 |
Posted: April 17 2014 at 14:12 | |
I only have their 'Secret Treaties' album, which I got on a whim, but I really dig it. Especially Harvester of Eyes and Astronomy. Haven't paid too much attention to the lyrics though, maybe outside of the ones on offer on Astronomy, but I guess that's down to the rather emotive and down key tempo of the piano accompanying them. Really makes them stand on their own.
Btw I moved this thread to the prog related forum.
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The Guide says there is an art to flying or rather a knack. The knack lies in learning how to throw yourself at the ground and miss.
- Douglas Adams |
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M27Barney
Forum Senior Member Joined: November 09 2006 Location: Swinton M27 Status: Offline Points: 3136 |
Posted: April 17 2014 at 15:28 | |
Is that the album with the Messerschmitt 262 on the cover? I think I have that on vinyl! Not listened to any BOC for twenty years!!!
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dr wu23
Forum Senior Member Joined: August 22 2010 Location: Indiana Status: Offline Points: 20631 |
Posted: April 19 2014 at 12:59 | |
Been a BOC fan since the first album came out and always loved their occult references and 'tongue in cheek' lyrics.
I've read about the Pearlman connection before years ago and while there certainly are some conceptual things going on I don't think one should over analyze a band that was making good rock music and having some fun with it.
btw....I'll have to ck my RAWilson books to see if he ever mentioned BOC.
Edited by dr wu23 - April 19 2014 at 13:14 |
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One does nothing yet nothing is left undone.
Haquin |
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verslibre
Forum Senior Member Joined: July 01 2004 Location: CA Status: Offline Points: 17519 |
Posted: April 19 2014 at 13:58 | |
An overlooked/underrated BÖC album is 1978's Mirrors. (Okay, not really, not if you're a fan!) It boasts "The Great Sun Jester" and "The Vigil" (lyrics by M. Moorcock), Allen Lanier's "In Thee," and a truly wonderful album closer called "Lonely Teardrops."
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dr wu23
Forum Senior Member Joined: August 22 2010 Location: Indiana Status: Offline Points: 20631 |
Posted: April 19 2014 at 15:58 | |
BOC doing their occult thing............
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One does nothing yet nothing is left undone.
Haquin |
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dr wu23
Forum Senior Member Joined: August 22 2010 Location: Indiana Status: Offline Points: 20631 |
Posted: April 19 2014 at 16:37 | |
One of my favorite tracks by the boys.....full of ufo, occult references , religious name, and even a book reference.
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's dread All praise He's found the awful truth, Balthazar He's found the saucer news I'm in fairy rings and tower beds "Don't report this," three men said Books by the blameless and by the dead King in yellow, 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 Where prophecy fails, the fallen notion "Don't report this, agents of fortune" All praise He's found the awful truth, Balthazar He's found the saucer news |
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One does nothing yet nothing is left undone.
Haquin |
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ExittheLemming
Forum Senior Member Joined: October 19 2007 Location: Penal Colony Status: Offline Points: 11420 |
Posted: April 22 2014 at 06:09 | |
I'm puzzled by a band like BOC (whose music I heartily loathe) I can never square what I hear as crassly populist stadium macho grunt swagger/pomp with the sort of lyrical depth and substance alluded to in threads such as this. It's my loss but I do know that a cloak ain't an undergarment...
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dr wu23
Forum Senior Member Joined: August 22 2010 Location: Indiana Status: Offline Points: 20631 |
Posted: April 22 2014 at 16:13 | |
Heartily loathe...? Puzzled..?
I kind of feel that way 'bout most of the 'prog (and or hair) metal' bands ("crassly populist stadium macho grunt swagger/pomp) people here often say they like .....Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, Metallica, AC/DC, even some Sabbath.
But imho BOC is a whole different thing and has always left me smiling after listening to their music....but then ,as is often mentioned here, everyone's taste is different.
Edited by dr wu23 - April 22 2014 at 16:15 |
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One does nothing yet nothing is left undone.
Haquin |
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Kentucky_Hawkwindage
Forum Senior Member Joined: February 15 2014 Location: Hardinsburg,Ky Status: Offline Points: 733 |
Posted: April 22 2014 at 16:25 | |
I have that LP in my collection,one of my favorite LPs of BOC 4-sure. |
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"Nobody's Gonna Change My World That's Something To Unreal" Lyrics that i live my life by-from Black Sabbath's Technical Ecstasy's track You Won't Change Me
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ExittheLemming
Forum Senior Member Joined: October 19 2007 Location: Penal Colony Status: Offline Points: 11420 |
Posted: April 23 2014 at 02:29 | |
Fair comment. I perhaps owe it myself to give BOC another listen. |
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dr wu23
Forum Senior Member Joined: August 22 2010 Location: Indiana Status: Offline Points: 20631 |
Posted: April 23 2014 at 10:54 | |
Give this one a try...the very first track I ever heard from them.....stoned on my brothers front porch at college....speakers blasting....blew my head off back then....it still kicks ass imho.
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One does nothing yet nothing is left undone.
Haquin |
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TODDLER
Forum Senior Member VIP Member Joined: August 28 2009 Location: Vineland, N.J. Status: Offline Points: 3126 |
Posted: April 23 2014 at 11:56 | |
Through musician friends and family ....it was claimed that Eric Bloom protested on all accounts and stated that the band had no real personal interest in the occult and from the very start. He has spoken freely with confidence that the record company assigned the band to research the occult and further supplying books on the subject for the sole purpose of marketing their music. I have been informed that he rolls his eyes when asked the question....which has been an on going repeated question by fans for decades.
Edited by TODDLER - April 23 2014 at 18:11 |
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verslibre
Forum Senior Member Joined: July 01 2004 Location: CA Status: Offline Points: 17519 |
Posted: April 23 2014 at 14:01 | |
I never tire of this song. |
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brainstormer
Forum Senior Member Joined: January 20 2008 Location: Seattle, WA Status: Offline Points: 887 |
Posted: April 23 2014 at 20:02 | |
BOC was always one of those bands that I just stayed away from. Queen was another, lol
Rush another one. Maybe I can try to link them together somehow.
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dr wu23
Forum Senior Member Joined: August 22 2010 Location: Indiana Status: Offline Points: 20631 |
Posted: April 23 2014 at 21:56 | |
I can easily believe that and imo it was mostly an image thing which as Toaster pointed out was created by Sandy Pearlman their manager and guiding light.; perhaps their Peter Sinfield if you will.
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One does nothing yet nothing is left undone.
Haquin |
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rogerthat
Prog Reviewer Joined: September 03 2006 Location: . Status: Offline Points: 9869 |
Posted: April 24 2014 at 00:24 | |
Iain, while many BOC songs do stick to the cookie cutter metal approach, they can also produce some inspired, poignant moments. Especially their guitarist Donald Roeser. To be very honest, their alleged lyrical complexity doesn't really interest me because it doesn't touch my soul. But what does is some of Roeser's aching licks.
Roeser was one of the great rock guitarists; he could keep things simple and still produce very memorable and haunting solos. And he kept doing this even as rock moved to the Van Halen approach of shredding all over for the guitar solo. |
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ExittheLemming
Forum Senior Member Joined: October 19 2007 Location: Penal Colony Status: Offline Points: 11420 |
Posted: April 24 2014 at 07:45 | |
Thanks for posting these tracks. Yes, he's a very fine and refreshingly economic rock guitar player who understands when to be silent or keep things simple when appropriate (the less is more wisdom) However, as much as I want to enjoy this band, it all still sounds like generic rawk to my stubborn eardrums. (It's my loss alas...) |
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