BOC: Re: Heaven Forbid, I'm back!

[Laj Waldner]

Joseph Brooks wrote:
>
> >Eric once said "Rock and Roll really keeps you young, it really does".
> >And since they pioneered metal with songs like "The Red and the Black",
> >I think they have more rite than any band in there 20's, well just as
> >much rite any ways. That intro in "See You In Black" really rules, and I
> >thought it a good song to start the album.
>
> It just seems so... ordinary. BOC, to me always seemed to mean metal but
> with a twist. This song sounds like a typical 80's hair-band throw away with
> EB gurgling vocals.. it doesn't suck but I still believe the boys are
> capable of so much better.
>
> >The lyrics were mostly Shirley's, I think that's why there dark and
> >sinister. I have never read any of Shirley's material so correct me if
> >im wrong here, but from what I have heard his writing is very dark and
> >sinister, and that's just showing through on his lyrics. And since there
> >not forcing themselves to be sinister to fit a certain style, and just
> >using a "sinister" person for lyrics, I don't think anything was forced.
> >I still don't like this album lyrically as much as I like most of the
> >other albums though, compared to there ability in other albums to paint
>
> I had forgotten the fact that JS was doing the lyrics (in large part). Still
> sounds to me as if he (JS) was trying for a certain image and failing. I've
> never read his fiction either and, well, I don't believe
> I ever will if this album is indicative of his writing style. Besides, just
> being adept at writing fiction does not mean you know how to write rock
> lyrics.
>
> >such vivid pictures, and have such cool and intelligent play on words,
> >that Heaven Forbid seems to lack in the most part. I agree with you in
> >saying that lyrically it is no Secret Treaties, or Tyranny or S/T or
> >Agents or Specter's or Cultosaurus or Fire of Unknown Origin. . . :-).
>
> I've missed that writing style since CE or FoUO I guess...
>
> >> Musically, I suppose I can say I have no major complaints aside from what
> I
> >> said above and some repetition..
> >
> >
> >Not as much repetition as some hard core punk albums though :-).
>
> Well, of course... I generally would not compare them to those types of
> bands anyway. I mainly look at the band itself when it was in its prime for
> comparison. Also, remember, I'm a geezer.. I pre-date punk and never liked
> it in the first place.
>
> I don't want to have to face the fact that what I love about this band faded
> along with the Bouchards and Pearlman. I ain't giving up yet.
>
> JB
> "Whatever you do, take care of your shoes.." -- Phish
> "So Ladies, Fish and Gentlemen, here's my angled dream.." -- Blue Oyster
> Cult

I think the album was more consistent musically than some BOC albums in
the past, I never really fount it repetitive though. I do really like
the album musically (IM sure being repetitive ;-)). They are suffering a
bit lyrically, they don't have Pearlman,Meltzer, or the Bouchard's, and
they replaced them with Shirley and some people don't like his style, I
think he's all right, not nearly as good as the previously mentioned
three obviously. I can forgive an album lyrically, if the music is good
enough. Shirley really isn't bad when compared to a lot of other rock
bands lyrics, I know we expect more from the cult lyrically, but I don't
know if they will ever find anybody as good as Pearlman, Meltzer,
Bouchard's, Moorcock, or Smith. I think the chemistry between the
original members (writing any ways), and the people that worked with
them helping them to develop there style and sound, were a once in a
lifetime miracle, maybe never to be repeated. They have made one album
with Shirley now, maybe it's time to move on. Buck and Eric are strong,
I would like to see a little creative contribution from Allen eventually
too, I think he's one of BOC's greatest songwriters, he seems to have a
really unique chord progression style. As far as lyrics, wonder what
Moorcock or Patti Smith are doing, and I wonder how Ralph Bakshi would
do, there's somebody that always reminded me of the Cult a bit :-), I
think it would be interesting to see what would happen if Buck, Eric,
and Allen got together with Bakshi and tried to write a few lyrics.


Laj.