I think a BOC review is an appropriate way to end 2011, considering that they were one of the finest rock bands of the 70's and 80's. They successfully combined traditional blues song structures with hard rock chords, often taking forays into extended improvisational territory, replete with blazing guitar solos and hypnotic breakdowns. Their lyrics were poetic ruminations on extraterrestrial life and celestial objects. Rumor has it that this particular bootleg was created by the band itself to distribute to friends. The tracks on Live In The West were culled from 1975 shows in Washington, Oregon, and California, which culminated in their first live record On Your Feet Or On Your Knees. BOC nerds will rejoice at the five tracks included here that don't appear on the official live record: "Stairway To The Stars", "O.D'd On Life Itself", "Flamin' Telepaths", "Dominance & Submission", and the epic "Astronomy". Every track on here is of sensational sound quality and the performances really burn. This period was arguably the band's creative peak, before the notoriety of "Godzilla" and the commercial successes of "Burning For You" and "Don't Fear The Reaper". If you are one of the few people who haven't experienced BOC as a rite of passage, this would be a proper place to begin the immersion process.
Buy this record if you're lost in a forest of hard rock and need a compass.
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