Blue Oyster Cult

On a purely technical level, Mirrors is probably Blue Öyster Cult's best record. Produced
by Tom Werman, the sound is generally immaculate, lush and tasty, not to mention diverse.
Scattered throughout are strings, a synthesizer, acoustic guitars, a harmonica and soulful
female voices crooning harmonies. Big deal. It'd be ridiculous to call the Cult's eighth album
a major disappointment. Except for the classic "(Don't Fear) the Reaper," these g... More >

The Cult's identity has been deteriorating for years, but this is a quantum leap into anonymity--songs for slick (what happened to dense?) hard rock band by five different musicians and their numerous collaborators. Only "In Thee," a farewell to Patti Smith by Allen Lanier that deserves to become a standard on the order of "Alison," is more than marginally interesting. (Grade: C)