BLUE OYSTER CULT – Club Ninja [digitally remastered]

BLUE ÖYSTER CULT is a legendary (‘cult’ indeed) band that combined adventurous lyrical themes with an aggressive instrumental sound going from hard rock, progressive rock and what they call ‘Extraterrestrial Music’. The band’s mystique extended to their album artwork, resulting in some of the most distinctive and iconic LP covers of the rock era.
Their former label released ‘Blue Öyster Cult – The Columbia Albums Collection’ bringing together the group’s 14 official Columbia Records albums, newly remastered.
From the pack, I am picking “Club Ninja” (1985), the most criticized album in their entire career, which alienated the core fan base of the band and beyond.

The truth is that “Club Ninja” is a very good album, simply BOC just go here for the trend of the mid-’80s: stadium rock with synths and polished production. And that’s why melodic rockers and AOR fans like me love this one so much.
Actually, detractors accusing BOC to sell their souls to mainstream have not listened “Club Ninja” carefully, as here we find as well truly great pieces of progressive (hard) rock in the best Oyster tradition, and quite well elaborated.

Sure, if you take a look at the external songwriters contributing (for the first time in the band’s history) with names like AORsters Bob Halligan Jr. or Larry Gotlieb, you know here will be melodic rock and radio oriented AOR tunes, yet arranged and played with BOC’s own, particular style.

“White Flags” is an energetic commercial rocker, followed by the catchy “Dancin’ In The Ruins”, an extremely melodic track that makes good use of ’80s synths and has a very infectious chorus.
Next “Make Rock Not War” is a stadium-ready hard rocker with strong guitars / keys and an anthemic chorus sonically in the vein of the classic mid-eighties rockin’ AOR style.

But as mentioned, there’s more progressive (in the meaning of elaborated, not the sound) tracks as the excellent “Perfect Water” possibly one of the best things ever to be recorded by Blue Öyster Cult. Buck Dharma’s guitar and vocals mix cohesively from light to heavy in great symbiosis.
“When The War Comes” offers a very progressive tones as well, with some harmonizing vocals that work quite well for it. The guitars are slow and clunk, but really that plays as a strength to this song.
“Madness To The Method” is another very high point, something for long time fans, very classic BOC. Clocking at over 7-minutes, the vocals are strong and there’s some great guitar work all along the way.

“Club Ninja” is a really good album unheard for many people, specially ’80s American Melodic Rock AOR fans. It’s not your typical album regarding these genres, and there’s where precisely resides its charm.
An official first time ever remaster was published in 2009 (CD jewel case), but this one included in ‘The Columbia Albums Collection’ is completely new and far better, with a superior dynamic range. Each album is a replica of the original vinyl LP – front and back, all original artwork, tracks listed as side A and B on the back.
A great opportunity to discover a good album – and why not for many – the more commercial and polished side of this legendary band.
Quite hard to find so grab it while you can.

01 – White Flags
02 – Dancin’ In The Ruins
03 – Make Rock Not War
04 – Perfect Water
05 – Spy In The House Of The Night
06 – Beat ‘Em Up
07 – When The War Comes
08 – Shadow Warrior
09 – Madness To The Method

Eric Bloom – stun guitar, lead vocals on 1, 3, 6, 8
Joe Bouchard – bass, guitar, co-lead vocal on 7
Tommy Zvoncheck – synthesizers, piano, organ
Jimmy Wilcox – percussion, background vocals
Donald “Buck Dharma” Roeser – lead guitar, keyboards, lead vocals on 2, 4, 5, 9, co-lead vocal on 7

Additional musicians:
Thommy Price – drums
Phil Grande – guitars
Kenny Aaronson – bass
David Lucas, Joni Peltz, Dave Immer, Joe Caro – background vocals
Howard Stern – spoken words on “When the War Comes”

BUY IT !
www.amazon.com/Complete-Columbia-Albums-Collection-DVD/dp/B008S80OU2
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