Blue Öyster Cult

There are three ways to purchase Long Day's Night, a live recording of Blue Öyster Cult's 2002 Navy Pier appearance in Chicago. There's the CD, there's the DVD, and there's the combo of the two. First the technical stuff: In the CD/DVD package, the DVD features solid 5:1 Surround Sound and is impeccable. The CD is standard, no hybrid sound at all, but the fidelity and warmth are great -- this is really a "live" record. The DVD and the CD, each with ten cuts, four in common, and the other half are interesting amalgams of tracks from early in the band's career -- we're talking the first three albums. Live versions of the big hits, "Don't Fear the Reaper," "Burnin' for You," "Buck's Boogie," and "Godzilla," are on both. The CD features "OD"d on Life Itself," "Astronomy," "Harvest Moon," "Cities on Flame," and "Perfect Water." The DVD's unique cuts are "Dominance and Submission," "E.T.I," "Dance on Stilts," "Last Days of May," and an amazing read of "The Red and the Black." Musically, the Cult, with longstanding members Eric Bloom, Allen Lanier, and Donald "Buck Dharma" Roeser, can still wield the three-guitar attack when necessary, and when they do, as on "The Red and the Black," "Cities on Flame," and a few others, they can shred the paint off the joint. Elsewhere, they play with the requisite aplomb befitting the veterans they are. The rhythm section of bassist Danny Miranda and drummer Bob Rondinelli, are solid hard rock players who do not fall into the heavy metal clichés that seem to dominate most heavy rock acts today. The Cult still has big riffs, plenty of hooks, and plays the old tunes with passion and fire. If only they'd write some new ones. This set is every bit as worthy as their first live set, On Your Feet or on Yours Knees, and has a much more live feel. For fans, this is necessary. For the newbie, it just might work too -- though some of the studio albums might be worth checking out beforehand -- particularly Tyranny and Mutation and Secret Treaties. ~ Thom Jurek, All Music Guide