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Synopsis
Amazon.comThe more things change, the more Alan Parsons albums stay the same. It's entirely fitting that this sonically flawless opus should be called The Time Machine. Born in the excesses and conceptual frenzy of mid-'70s prog rock, Parsons's familiar methodology once again shrewdly employs an almost-star cast of musical vets to do the heavy lifting (among them vocalists Colin Blunstone, Beverly Craven, Spandau Ballet's Tony Hadley, and chief musical architect/guitarist Ian Bairnson). Meanwhile, legendary producer and engineer Parsons twiddles the knobs and slides the levers, just like the Great Oz. Fans will find that Parsons, perhaps the only producer since Phil Spector with big enough cajones to become his own virtual raison d'être, has successfully stayed his familiar course. And if the result is something akin to Pink Floyd lite meets Kenny G in the New Age aisle at your local Natural Wonders outlet, thus has it ever been. While it lyrically renders H.G. Wells's original novel all touchy-feely and virtually unrecognizable, musically it's a reaffirmation that Parsons--not Toto, Journey, or a score of lesser pretenders to the mantle--is the real godfather of corporate rock. Dust off those headphones. Jerry McCulley
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CD Reviews
Missed the Point cynicists outlive optimists | 12/27/2005 (3 out of 5 stars) "One thing I must say about this CD is that it contains some great ideas for songs. Unfortunately, the lyrics only give a glimpse into the potential that the songs have but don't reach.
The Time Machine (pt. 1) is easily the best piece on the album. It doesn't make me think of time travel, but it is still a good bit of music. Temporalia is okay, but I would only listen to it in the context of the album.
Out of the Blue is the first song with a good concept that it just misses. I could see Out of the Blue as being a four star song, but musically and lyrically, it gets only three. However, Out of the Blue looks a lot better because it precedes Call Up, now just the second Alan Parsons (project and post-project) song I have ever given only one star (the other is Don't Hold Back, on Eve). This song is the best example of a good concept. The idea of old people coming back to help us out of the mess we're in is an excellent idea. However, the song turns into a "my heroes" list for Ian Bairnson.
Ignorance is Bliss is another good idea that is just missed. However, the ending is quite good, and this song misses the concept musically more than lyrically (lyrically is slightly more important in my book). Rubber Universe is another good instrumental, though not as good as Time Machine pt. 1. Call of the Wild is a decent concept hit right on the mark, making it just as good if not better than the previous songs (non-instrumentals).
No Future in the Past is a good concept that is explored well in the song. Press Rewind has the best concept (especially in the context of the CD) of the CD, and is used well in the song, although the "bang your drum," nonsense really detracts from the idea. The Very Last Time, I won't criticize any more than just to say that it isn't my type of song.
Far Ago and Long Away is a good instrumental, thought not as good as Rubber Universe and Time Machine 1. The title is especially good if you think about it right after listening to Close's speech in Temporalia. Far Ago and Long Away morphs into Time Machine 2, a good end to a decent album.
One reviewer called this CD classic Parsons. Parsons' work is classic Parsons when Parsons writes the music and words in conjunction with Woolfson. And every classic Parsons CD (barring Gaudi, which I don't have) is well above this album." Alan Parsons - Not One Of His Best Steven Sly | Kalamazoo, MI United States | 12/13/2007 (3 out of 5 stars) "Parsons and company take on the concept of time travel on this one. Overall I find this to be one of the weakest albums in my Parsons collection. I find a lot of it on the bland side and although there is nothing that is outright horrible there is a not that is memorable either. Probably my favorite song on the album is also the longest one called "Ignorance Is Bliss" which has some very nice instrumental work and vocals. Other than that it is all fairly pedestrian. This is not a bad album and Parsons fans will probably get some enjoyment out of it, but to me it ranks about on the same level as "Eve" in the Parsons catalogue."
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