Only a Woman Can Break His Spell (Spectres - Blue Oyster Cult)

Member Name: Frankingsteins

Product:	Spectres - Blue Oyster Cult
Date:	31/03/08 (23 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Largely inoffensive pop-rock.

Disadvantages: Unconvincing attempts to retain their rock integrity by singing about rock.

Following the success of their more pop-oriented 'Agents of Fortune,' Blue Öyster Cult understandably furthered this style with the even blander 'Spectres,' much to the chagrin of old-time fans but clearly the right career move at the time, from a purely financial perspective. The songs here are even softer than those on the previous year's release, and to make things more insulting, there are even a couple of anthems to rock - most notably the text-message-prophesying 'R.U. Ready 2 Rock' - that couldn't sound less like an authentic rock song if they tried, complete with soft unison singing, an almost complete lack of guitars, and clichéd piano playing that I'd be tempted to think was ironic if such things didn't clash so violently with this artistically dry era of the band's otherwise notable history.

The only diversity here runs completely by-the-numbers, from the more energetic rock style of opener 'Godzilla,' a style that sadly never returns across the forty minutes, all the way to piano ballads in the form of 'Death Valley Nights' and 'I Love the Night.' Buck Dharma's guitars once again sound stifled and show none of the virtuosity or creativity of his 'Secret Treaties' work, offering occasional enjoyable but uninspired solos and overly repetitive grooves in 'Searchin' For Celine' and elsewhere, and even the more overt pop songs seem indebted to other artists; the upbeat, hand-clapping 'Goin' Through the Motions' could easily be a David Bowie B-side if that performer decided to become rubbish overnight. Oh wait, this is 1977, he already had.

1. Godzilla
2. Golden Age of Leather
3. Death Valley Nights
4. Searchin' For Celine
5. Fireworks
6. R.U. Ready 2 Rock
7. Celestial the Queen
8. Goin' Through the Motions
9. I Love the Night
10. Nosferatu

Summary: Blue Öyster Cult's fifth album (1977).