Blue Öyster Cult: On Your Feet Or On Your Knees (1975)

 

I’ve never been able to wrap my head around BÖC but I try, and will always try. They totally kick ass, and they are also super weird, so they have both of that going for them, but I just have such a hard time making sense of their songs & song structure. The songs slam and they chug, but they are also full of odd detours and extraneous bits, and they never really follow any sort of traditional verse-chorus-verse formula. There’s tons of energy, especially on this double live release, and the band is super tight (as are their chops - Buck Dharma is incredible) but it’s also a lot. I can imagine just witnessing this in person being exhausting. I don’t dislike this band but I have still yet to crack the code. One of these days….

Guided By Voices: Same Place The Fly Got Smashed (1990)

 This 4th GbV album, from 1990, was kind of the birth of the weird, lo-fi era of the band that brought forth such patchwork beauties as Vampire On Titus and Bee Thousand. A concept album about an alcoholic murderer, this is often a tough spin but in between the fuzz and crackle there are, as has always been the case, some absolutely stunning songs. 

Particular highlights include the classic “Drinker’s Peace”, the tender “When She Turns 50”, and the epics “Blatant Doom Trip” & “Local Mixup / Murder Charge” (“Pendulum” is a pretty special one too). This album is one of the most revered, yet most obscure. Kudos to Scat for doing such a great job reissuing the early GbV catalogue.

Magnum: Chase The Dragon (1982)

 Magnum’s third album, 1982’s Chase The Dragon, finds the band further solidifying their own sound, utilizing some pomp flourishes here and there, but mostly relying on Tony Clarkin’s impeccable songwriting, and Bob Catley, whose voice rivals that of Robin Zander in power and skill. His recent announcement that, with the passing of Tony Clarkin, he simply cannot carry on with Magnum was incredibly sad, and just as understandable. Fortunately we have the albums, and this album is magnificent.

Magnum: II (1979)

 After somehow missing out on this band all my life, my familiarization with Magnum continues with their 1979 sophomore release. While their debut, Kingdom Of Madness, was one hell of a start, this album takes the vigor of that set and further solidifies their own sound. I hear shades of Queen, a bit of Cheap Trick, a dose of Thin Lizzy, maybe some Styx. Very proggy in places, but also never afraid of a riff or a hook. It’s clear why this band never took over the world….they are just a bit too singular in their style and sound (much like the fantastic Saga, who they remind me a lot of)….but it’s also clear why Magnum managed to enjoy a half-century-long career, and a solid fanbase. There is no one else quite like them.

Sadly, my acquaintance with Magnum is coming just weeks after the passing of guitarist/songwriter Tony Clarkin (which was actually a complete coincidence) so it looks like I will be diving into a complete body of work as I don’t imagine the band will continue, at least in any creative capacity. Regardless, I look very forward to charting Magnum’s evolution.