Customer Reviews

Extraterrestrial Live

5 star:		(18)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I suppose I am a bit biased being that Blue Oyster Cult is one of my all time favorite bands but Extraterrestrial Live really captures the true "flavor" of BOC live. I have seen them live several times and this CD is almost like being at one of their shows. The songs on here do not stray from the originals too far. This is a tremendous compliment to any band if they can duplicate their studio sound to live. To me this shows how incredibly talented that BOC really is. So many live recordings have too much improvisation- this is okay to a point. When the songs are not even recognizable then it's a problem.

The production on ETL is absolutely seamless!! I have to differ with some of the previous reviews stating that the recording on ETL is poor. I find it to be very clean.

It's hard to point out any highlights on ETL because, to me at least, the entire CD is outstanding in all aspects- sound quality, production, musicianship and song selection. Even the cover art of ETL is awesome!!

My personal favorites on ETL are "Veteran of the Psychic Wars", (check out Buck's incredible solo),"Roadhouse Blues", (Rob Krieger joins BOC live for this one) "Joan Crawford" (love the intro and the creepy sound effects)"Hot Rails to Hell" (incredible guitar and drums) and "Godzilla" (cool intro by Eric Bloom and a great drum solo by Rick Downey)

If you get a chance to see BOC live it's a great experience!! If not buy Extraterrestrial Live!! Better yet- buy the CD and see them live- you will be converted for life!!

A fairly good sampling of the first half of their career. To include all BOC gems to that date would require a project at least twice as lengthy. It's particulary eventful to hear such a stirring rendition of the under-rated "Joan Crawford". The obligatory inclusion of "(Don't Fear) The Reaper" still rocks. A good find for collectors of Live rock/metal recordings.

To capitalize on the well deserved success of "Fire Of Unknown Origin" they released one of my all time favorite "live" albums.From the opening blast the BOC performs with a renewed intensity and sustains it throughout the album.I always play it very loud.They don't make any improvised changes to the songs but you're favorites are all here.

Blue Oyster Cult, at a crossroads in their veteran career, released "ETI Live" in the late 1980s. At a time when long hair metal acts were taking over the popular music scene (at least the young white male demographic) BOC released their last live album to date of their unique, original hard rock and roll. What we get from the effort is a true cross-section of the music the band made through their evolving career. From the early days of the progressive metal to the streamlined dark power pop the band made during their previous three albums. Its of interesting note that Albert Bouchard who was canned during the tour and replaced by drum tech Rick Downey are both featured here. So the listener is treated with the jazz-rock stylings of Bouchard and the heavy-groove of Downey's style. Of course the always overlooked Buck Dharma is acting the eye of the hurricane with his killer original style. Although it is of note that I prefer Buck's performance on the "Some Enchanted Evening" album because of the cleaner recording of his guitar as opposed to the super-distorted over-driven sound on "ETI Live". BOC fans will gripe at the song selection (being used to the regular repitoir of the band) but all in all its a worthy addition for a band who never shied away from a stage. BOC is a KILLER live act, make no doubt. The newer live cd-dvd is, of course, better for hard-core BOC fans and is a better live effort, you will get a flavor for the band with "ETI Live".

EXTRATERRESTRIAL LIVE presents a collection of 13 songs recorded live by Blue Öyster Cult between 2/11/1980 and 12/31/1981 during shows in Long Island and Poughkeepsie, N.Y., Hollywood, Philadelphia and Reseda, California. The drummer and song composer Albert Bouchard appears only on " Black Blade " and " Dominance and Submission " recorded in 1980. He will be replaced in 1981 by Rick Downey.

The CD offers a good balance of old and new songs and only The Doors's " Roadhouse Blues " as previously unrecorded track. In 1981, the band is already in the second part of its career and this live album is THE CD to be remembered from this period. Even " Dr. Music " and " Burnin' for You ", not very convincing on the studio albums " , are excellent on EXTRATERRESTRIAL LIVE.

A CD for your library.

This album was recorded on the "Fire Of Unknown Origin" tour that saw the first cracks beginning to appear in the lineup. Original drummer Albert Buchard left (or was fired from) the group during this time and only appears on two tracks of this release. The rest of the drumming duties are filled by former drum tech Brian Downey who would continue as the bands drummer for the next few years. The original vinyl version of this album was a 2 record set, but appears on one CD. The album covers a lot of ground and serves as a nice overview of the band's career up to this point. The hits are here ("Burnin For You", "Godzilla", "ETI", "Don't Fear The Reaper") and all done well. "Reaper" especially comes of better than on the previous live version on "Some Enchanted Evening". Lot's of great album cuts are include here too featuring "Joan Crawford", "Dominance And Submission", "Black Blade", "Hot Rails To Hell", and the almost proggy "Veteran Of The Psychic Wars" complete with a killer guitar solo from Buck. The album also includes a cool cover of "Roadhouse Blues" with special guest Robby Krieger from The Doors. Overall it is another great live BOC album.

As a true BOC fan through almost 15 years I have to give the album 5 stars. It contains some of the most magic moments ever captured on vinyl. On this album BOC stands second to none. The album, though it is put together by several different live apperances, builds up from the moment you put the cd in the player. You can litterally feel the atmosphere. Dark, tense and evil. It's BOC at it's peak. If "Dharma" had any strings left on his guitar after his stunning and awsome performance during "Veteran of the psychic wars"...it would be a mere wonder. If you ever was to own only one live album....it had to be ETL.

This live album is a good mix of songs from BOC's career. I don't like it quite as much as On Your Feet Or on Your Knees, but it's a close second. It's worth picking up just for the live version of "Veteran of the Psychic Wars". The guitar solo on that song gives the listener an out of body experience. The cover of "Roadhouse Blues" is really great too.

I remember getting this vinyl album back in the 1980's & I was delighted at how raw & energetic it is. BOC shines on this. This version of "Don't fear the Reaper" is the best they have recorded. However, make no mistake about it, the defining moment is "Veteran of the Psychic Wars". This version of "Veterans" is one one of the best live recordings of all times, the album is well worth the price just for this one song.

This was for my husband. He followed BOC throughout the South when he was in college - many years ago ;-) He has all their records, but needed to finish replacing them with CD's. Great price .... and he listens to it every day in the car!