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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
25 of 25 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
In 1976 Blue Öyster Cult were on the cusp of something big. They had released three studio albums to great acclaim and one live album that was a monster seller. Then came 'Agents of Fortune', replete with 'Don't Fear The Reaper', and they must have known they had it made. The album was huge, and the single (need you ask?) was a worldwide hit, and it is still probably the only Blue Öyster Cult song that most people could name.
The album revealed a different, quasi-commercial approach, the beginning of their slippery slide into 'Boston-esque' oblivion. Everything sounds more polished, more stylised and less interesting. There are some classic 'rock' tracks here, such as 'ETI', 'This Ain't the Summer of Love' and 'True Confessions', but they are all lacking in the majesty and humour of much of their earlier work. It's almost as if the band and their producer and mentor Sandy Pearlman had set out to make a 'classic' rock album. Albert Bouchard has recently confirmed that this is just what they did, and they certainly got it right.
However, the album does have some high points, notably 'The Revenge of Vera Gemini', a real Cult cracker, featuring the vocals talents of Patti Smith, and 'Debbie Denise', both provided by drummer Albert Bouchard and Ms Smith. The bonus tracks, of which there are four, are equally interesting, revealing that what was left off was of equal commercial stature to what was put on the record. Interestingly, one of the bonus tracks is a version of 'Fire of Unknown Origin', later the title track of their 1981 outing with different music.
It's not a bad album, but the quirkiness and drive that made the first three so good was now irrevocably gone, replaced by an increasingly rampant bland commercialism. If you love 'Don't Fear the Reaper', then buy this now, but if you want to know what lay at the heart of the band, get one of their first three, or the live 'On Your Feet Or On Your Knees'.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
This album invariably divides opinions,those that love it shell out unwarranted,in my humble opinion, 5 star reviews, while those that feel betrayed/let down are overly scathing.The truth is somewhere in the middle...
Clearly a concious decision was taken to polish up the sound.the lyrics are still generally of the bizarre themes,the keyboards pushed slightly higher,the harmonies that much more pronounced,doesnt make it a bad album just different,not what was expected.
For me the track sequencing doesnt help,opening with 2 of the more average tracks before bursting into life with that song,of course 'Dont Fear The Reaper' propelled them upwards,its there most famous song,the royalties alone must have built several condo's.There are other highlights namely 'E.T.I' stunning riff and the delightful '...Vera Gemini',i also have a soft spot for the americana pop rock of 'Tattoo Vampire & Debbie Denise',the rest decent if unremarkable.
Normally i wouldnt reduce a rating for bonus tracks but those included here are so average/uneccesary that they do detract from the album as a whole,thus a 3 star rating
Clearly a concious decision was taken to polish up the sound.the lyrics are still generally of the bizarre themes,the keyboards pushed slightly higher,the harmonies that much more pronounced,doesnt make it a bad album just different,not what was expected.
For me the track sequencing doesnt help,opening with 2 of the more average tracks before bursting into life with that song,of course 'Dont Fear The Reaper' propelled them upwards,its there most famous song,the royalties alone must have built several condo's.There are other highlights namely 'E.T.I' stunning riff and the delightful '...Vera Gemini',i also have a soft spot for the americana pop rock of 'Tattoo Vampire & Debbie Denise',the rest decent if unremarkable.
Normally i wouldnt reduce a rating for bonus tracks but those included here are so average/uneccesary that they do detract from the album as a whole,thus a 3 star rating
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
"Agents of Fortune" isn't a bad album, but it was (and remains) a sad disappointment.
This might sound a contradictory judgement to anyone who does not appreciate that Blue Öyster Cult has three distinct identities. First, there's the heavy metal era, in which the band produced three rock albums of staggering power and originality (this is often known as BÖC's `black and white' period). Then there's the post-1975 studio era, which began with this album and was much softer and a lot more commercial. Overlaying both eras has been the band's live output, in which BÖC has established solid credentials as arguably the best, most energising rock outfit on the live circuit. Tellingly, most of the stand-out tracks of the live experience are sourced from the first three albums.
`Agents of Fortune' marked the transition from masterful heavy-rockers to middle-of-the-road commerciality. Hence the disappointment. After the innovation, originality and raw power of the first three albums - not to mention the mind-bending force of the first live album - this is a bland offering at best. My feeling at the time (and now) was that the band had produced one nailed-on rock classic - "(Don't Fear) The Reaper" - and the marketing men were looking to package it into an album. That's why a lot of the material here sounds like filling.
In fairness, in addition to "Reaper" there are two other very good tracks here - "E.T.I.", and "The Revenge of Vera Gemini". "Summer of Love" isn't too bad, and - like "E.T.I." - is better live than in this studio offering. But you can get these - together with "Reaper" - on compilations. The remainder of this album is pretty forgettable.
If you want to appreciate why BÖC were arguably the best heavy rock band of this (or any) era, start with `Blue Öyster Cult', `Tyranny & Mutation', `Secret Treaties', and `On Your Feet Or On Your Knees'. After those timeless epics, `Agents of Fortune' is pretty poor fare.
This might sound a contradictory judgement to anyone who does not appreciate that Blue Öyster Cult has three distinct identities. First, there's the heavy metal era, in which the band produced three rock albums of staggering power and originality (this is often known as BÖC's `black and white' period). Then there's the post-1975 studio era, which began with this album and was much softer and a lot more commercial. Overlaying both eras has been the band's live output, in which BÖC has established solid credentials as arguably the best, most energising rock outfit on the live circuit. Tellingly, most of the stand-out tracks of the live experience are sourced from the first three albums.
`Agents of Fortune' marked the transition from masterful heavy-rockers to middle-of-the-road commerciality. Hence the disappointment. After the innovation, originality and raw power of the first three albums - not to mention the mind-bending force of the first live album - this is a bland offering at best. My feeling at the time (and now) was that the band had produced one nailed-on rock classic - "(Don't Fear) The Reaper" - and the marketing men were looking to package it into an album. That's why a lot of the material here sounds like filling.
In fairness, in addition to "Reaper" there are two other very good tracks here - "E.T.I.", and "The Revenge of Vera Gemini". "Summer of Love" isn't too bad, and - like "E.T.I." - is better live than in this studio offering. But you can get these - together with "Reaper" - on compilations. The remainder of this album is pretty forgettable.
If you want to appreciate why BÖC were arguably the best heavy rock band of this (or any) era, start with `Blue Öyster Cult', `Tyranny & Mutation', `Secret Treaties', and `On Your Feet Or On Your Knees'. After those timeless epics, `Agents of Fortune' is pretty poor fare.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
...majestic sound from a different era!
I've owned this album and "Spectres" on vinyl for 30 years, and i recently bought the "singles" cd thinking that it would "cover it" as far as boc were concerned. ...Wrong!! Read more
Published 2 months ago by cougar phil
Great Album
I think that this is a great album - don't mistake the arrangements for MOR, this has far more depth and interest than Boston etc. Read more
Published 4 months ago by Jimothy
BOC
I have the vinyl but had not played it in ages and forgot what a great album this is. Well worth purchasing for any BOC fan :-)
Published 5 months ago by D. J. Collison
Classic album
Simply this is the only B.O.C. album you'll ever need. Everything you need to know is on this album. This is not metal - it is rock 'n' roll. Read more
Published 16 months ago by Baldman
Different but still sublime
As a proud owner of their first three enthralling and marvellous albums it was going to be interesting what direction the Cult would take with their next studio effort. Read more
Published 16 months ago by Mr. John L. Dyble
A Curate's Egg
True, there is a fair amount of tosh and drivel on this album - "I love you like sin but I wont be your pigeon" anyone?
However . . . . . .and its a big however . . . . Read more
However . . . . . .and its a big however . . . . Read more
Published on 28 Jan 2008 by Daniel McAllister
Beginning of the slide
This album will always be remembered for "Don't fear the reaper" the track which immortalised Blue Oyster Cult. Read more
Published on 24 Sep 2007 by Simon Harper
Buy it for Don't Fear The Reaper!
When I heard Don't Fear The Reaper, I was amazed at how beautiful that song was so I thought that perhaps the rest of the album should be of similar quality. Read more
Published on 18 May 2007 by Sonny
At their peak
I first heard this album in bizarre circumstances. It was the summer of 1976, GCEs were underway and I was attending a pointless music class run by an ageing, partially deaf... Read more
Published on 10 Feb 2007 by D. J. H. Thorn
True Classic
This is the fourth studio album from Blue Öyster Cult which was remastered and reissued on the Columbia/Legacy label. Read more
Published on 29 Jun 2006 by Dave_42
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