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ALAN PARSONS
"The Secret" (Frontiers;
2019)
Reviewed by Snidermann
When I heard that Alan Parsons (this time apparently with no Project) was releasing a new album, I was thrilled. I have been a major Alan Parsons fan since I first listened to Pink Floyd's "Dark Side Of The Moon." It was then I figured out what a music producer actually does. During the 80s, the Alan Parsons Project was all over the airwaves with "Turn Of A Friendly Card" (1980) and "Eye In The Sky" (1982). This music is the the musical landscape of my early 20s and it is still as effective today as it was then.
(One thing about "Turn Of A Friendly Card": When that release came out, it struck me as just the perfect piece of music. I know every word of every song from that album front to back.)
Now let's get back to "The Secret." This is classic Parsons: Great music, not hard rock but amazing progressive rock, with a strong orchestral arrangement and high quality musical presentation -- just what you would expect with an Alan Parsons release.
Several guests make appearances here including Lou Gramm from Foreigner, Jason Mraz and Steve Hackett (guitar for Genesis) and others. You can't call it hard rock but it plays more like a movie soundtrack. But then again, so does most of Parson's music.
One thing you can always count on when listening to an Alan Parsons recording: you are going to get a very well-produced musical presentation and "The Secret" is no exception.
By the way, I know this album has a story behind it and I can guess that it is awesome. However, I am frankly not that deep! I just simply like the music. It transports me to another realm and that is the only thing in this life that makes it all worth while!
For more information, check out http://alanparsons.com/.
Rating Guide:
A classic. This record will kick your ass.
Killer. Not a classic but it will rock your world.
So-so. You've heard better.
Pretty bad. Might make a nice coaster.
Self explanatory. Just the sight of the cover makes you wanna hurl.
Copyright © 2004 by R. Scott Bolton. All rights reserved.
