Customer Reviews

Eponymous

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

That Albert Bouchard is one spooky dude. First he writes & co-writes most of the early, deeply weird BLUE OYSTER CULT material. Then, at a point when B.O.C. fans were starved for new material, hits us with this. What a blast! From the melodic ("Language Of Love") to the funky ("Soul Jive") to jazzy ("Mad Dude") and back to horror-movie stuff ("666--Devil Got Your Mother"-- does the son of Satan REALLY look like John Denver??) and even, in a fit of pure Albert madness, RETRO ("Love Potion #9"-- in acapella!!). It doesn't get any cooler than this, folks! And let me not forget wife Deborah Frost. This lady has one SCARY voice!!! Take a listen to "Time Will Take Care Of You" (as she tells us "I am so BAAAAAAAAD!!!") and tell me what level of Hell she's standing in when she sings this.

THE BRAIN SURGEONS are up to their 5th CD so far-- and while my favorite song turned up on their 4th, they've yet to do a whole album I like more than this one. (But then Bouchard's stuff has a strange way of growing on me over the years...)

It was my hope that Albert would form a band after his often stormy days with Blue Oyster Cult. He and his brother Joe were the songwriting nucleus of B.O.C. and it was a shame they and the Oyster Boys parted ways. Albert and goodwife Deborah win big musically with EPONYMOUS. I suppose that I PLAY THE DRUMS and L.P.#9 could have been deleted from this shiny mother pearl, if I had been in control. But Albert and whatever band he's in, does best on his own songs. It's good to see him and Deborah enlist a little help from their friends, such as Patti Smith and Richard Meltzer. MAD DUDE is my personal favorite in this album.

An excellent album from a founding member of Blue Oyster Cult, Albert Bouchard. Most of the instruments are played by Albert and his wife Deborah Frost. Deborah has a great rock and roll voice, melodic and powerful. Like Bouchard's work for Blue Oyster Cult, the lyrics on this album are funny, twisted and curveball. The Brain Surgeons should be a huge band, but this album is very hard to find. There is no justice in pop music. Purchase this album, enjoy the music, and help restore the scales of justice.

For me this the best Brain Surgeon CD, and they have had many good records. Ex-Blue Oyster Cult drummer and vocalist Albert Bouchard and his wife (a music critic) Deborah Frost are the brain childs here. "Eponymous" came out in 1994. Every song is different, and that what makes it very special. From the melodic rock of "Language Of Love" and "Kiss Tomorrow Goodbye" which has a 70's feel to it. Their 2 cover tunes "Love Potion #9" some fine harmonies by Deb and Albert, and Scott Kempner's Del-Lords classic "I Play The Drums". Then you got the horns of "Mad Dude" and the trumpet of Flip Barnes on "Soul Jive". The hard rocking "(666) Devil Got Your Mother" love the acoustic guitar beginning, very fun great song, kind of B.O.Cultish song, "666 he looks just like John Denver."
And the rockin' piece with a cool cornet played by Steve Levy on "Time Will Take Care Of You. This album rolls by fast, a sign that it is good!

This Blue Oyster Cult spin-off sounds suspiciously like Talking Heads meets Patty Smith. Hmmm? Funny at times (like Byrne), with clipped female vocals (a'la Smith), I wouldn't say it's bad, I wouldn't say it's good; I just wouldn't say. Pass.

Sorry, folks. This album totally sucks. Gone is the mystique that characterized such great albums as "Imaginos," and the earlier lyrical/musical genius of Blue Oyster Cult. The remake of "Love Potion #9" just about made me puke. The only remarkable thing about this album is how completely awful it is, and I'm sorry I shelled out the money for it. It *IS* very aerodynamic, though, and as such, makes one helluva frisbee.