Customer Reviews: Read 37 more reviews...
 DAMNED IF YOU DO October 22, 2002
Michael Butts (Martinsburg, WV USA)
23 out of 24 found this review helpful
Wow...couldn't believe some of the backlash in other reviewers' comments. I have all of Mr. Parsons' works and to me, this is one of his best. I think the melodic content and lyrics are top notch, and if one looks deep into this collection, you'll see an almost mournful reflection on the state of women.
"Lucifer" is a fine instrumental opening, typical of Parsons ability to make repetition interesting; "You Lie Down with Dogs" is a marvelously satiric look at what happens when you "lower" yourself to perhaps indulge in a little friskiness outside the norm; "I'd Rather Be a Man" is no more than an ode to the redneck, and works quite well, I think;"Windind Me Up" is bouncy, infectious and harmless; "Damned If I Do" is one of my favorite Parsons songs---the soaring string arrangement amidst the quasi-rock feel work well in conveying the feeling that you are damned if you do, damned if you don't..."Don't Hold Back" is one of those lovely Parsons ballads that uses the female voice to remind men that we wouldn't be well off without the fairer species; and "If I could Change Your Mind" is another winner, a lush and lovely vocalization that surreally wraps up the collection. Chauvinistic---I hardly think so; musically brilliant? As always (with the exception of "Vulture Culture" and "Time Machine")./
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
Primo Alan Parsons Project April 27, 2004
Michael Bond (Shawnee, OK United States)
11 out of 11 found this review helpful
This album is one of many many many that express the feelings of the composer/artist. The point of view of this album is of a man who is angry with a woman. This also is not a first. Picasso, for example, portreyed his women increasingly distorted the more he tired of them. Don't let that turn you off from this album. Most of the songs are good, some are excellent. The track by Leslie Duncan is one of my favorites and has prompted me to find out more about her. Classic Alan Parsons.
 Long time APP fan July 22, 1999
8 out of 8 found this review helpful
Am I the only one who noticed that the intro to the Lucifer track made use of morse code letters to spell out e-v-e? ( . ...- . ) Little things like that are part of what I really enjoy about APP albums. They're all a must have.
Hmmm. This is hard... January 14, 1999
7 out of 7 found this review helpful
If you are new to Alan Parson, I recommend trying Turn of a Friendly Card first. Otherwise take a deep breath. Look, a lot of people rag on this album, and I'm not sure why. No, it's not 5 star material. However, "If I could Change Your Mind" is one of APP BEST SONGS EVER. If for no other reason than that one song, the rest should be given a fair listen to. No, it's not the best APP album - not by a long shot. But part of the Project's charm was in being experimental, challenging themselves, and trying different styles and concepts out. After all, how successful can two men be at describing women!!??! :) It is in some ways degrading, amusing, sad, and whimsical. It is not consistant. It is what the nature of the Project was at the time. I remember three out of three girlfriends I had been with absolutely HATED this album! Probably the "I'd Rather be a Man" song evoked the greatest outrage in them. That line about "..your hide is slack" about teared it. Truthfully, I laughed at that line the first time I heard it. No man would ever tell his wife / girlfriend these sorts of things unless he wanted to END a relationship. Women are bombarded with images as to how they should look. This song tries to tear that fluff away, "Try it on the company, but you don't fool me". Surely not! Lovers aren't fooled, they KNOW better. Should it make women angry? You bet it should! They should be angry at letting themselves be so objectified. Taking that one song seriously is probably one of the worst assumptions someone can make about this CD. If you can listen to these songs objectively, you'll get a lot more out of this album than you might have thought.
sorry guys- APP best March 24, 2004
john (now on)
9 out of 10 found this review helpful
I cant explain it, but it seems for me the later the 70s the better. September, 1979......right there close to 80, when it seemed the levee broke and flooded the airwaves with less inspired music...(Queen;the game Yes;drama).
Ive always had this bizarre fascination with 1979 recordings. Its so on the edge of almost not sounding 70s. But I can tell. I can tell the difference between a 79` recording and an 80` one without even thinking about it.
This album REEKS of 1979 and its just too precious to me. The sound quality is absolutely prestine. It really sounds perfect. Stuart Elliot is a very tight drummer, full of very tight drum fills, a lot like 1979 Supertramp stuff. How does he get his snare to sound so FAT yet so tight at the same time? That snare drum sound is insane. Of course alan poured his heart into recording and writing this album!!! I dont even know why there is an issue on this subject? I dont know why everyone hasnt already given this 5 stars?
This album is funky and that Prophet5 Synthesizer is just crazy...
|
