On Secret Treaties, Blue Oyster Cult added a bit of pop sensibility to the hard-edged rock of Tyranny And Mutation. The results are 6 enduring tracks and 2 throwaways, a significant improvement over earlier efforts.

“Career Of Evil” starts off the album with a memorable verse riff and singalong chorus, although it would sound more impressive just a few ticks faster. The bass-driven “Subhuman” has nothing to hold my interest. “Dominance And Submission” is the first BOC song with a legitimate chance at radio success, with a catchy riff and call-and-response vocals. “ME 262” is an effective rave-up. “Cagey Cretins” is a throwback to the dark boogie of the first album, and fails to make an impression.

“Harvester Of Eyes” is a straight-up rock tune based on a simply 4-note riff filled in with jangly piano, although the ending music-box section can only be described as odd. The piano continues insistently pounding every downbeat through the introduction and bridge of “Flaming Telepaths”, which is chord-based and features an unusual organ solo. The epic “Astronomy” closes out the disc with confusingly apocalyptic lyrics sung over a slowly building piano line, eventually expanding to a middle section built on a guitar / organ riff, and ending with a laid-back guitar solo followed by a full-band workout.

Many people consider Secret Treaties the ultimate Blue Oyster Cult album, and they may be right. It is certainly the most consistently good album they would release in their first 25 years of recording.