SECRET TREATIES

I think that Secret Treaties is the most important and representative album of the so called "black and white period" in the Blue Oyster Cult's discography. Not to say they are one of the most favourite bands of mine 'cause their genuine and polite hard rock sound well balanced with delicate arrengements, intriguing lyrics and concepts and even with sparkling variations. It's not prog, obviously, but it smells of it, often.

That's quite normally accepted by many of their followers, especially for their third record Secret Treaties, where the choice toward keyboards are more clear and evident. Allen Lanier found one of the first moog synthesizers and was fascinated at the point he useed it to build the memorable excursion on the highlight "Flaming Telepaths".

This is an album that features also the contribution of singer-songwriter Patti Smith who had fallen in love with a certain member...and helped in writing the opening piece "Career of Evil".

In this album you can find one of the most aggressive and fiery pieces from the hot electric guitar of Donald "Buck Dharma" Roeser: the fascinating "Dominance and Submission" while the main contribution of Erik Bloom is the most introvert "Subhuman".

On all the immortal "Astronomy" from the pen of drummer Albert Bouchard and his brother, the bassist Joseph. An anguishing piece of art with wonderful lyrics by Sandy Pearlman and melancholic piano introduction.

This is a must have, clearly. No doubt about that.