Alan Parsons: Eye To Eye – Live In Madrid

Teaming up with Italian label Frontiers, who with their dedication to all things AOR and melodic would appear to be a perfect fit for the gently progressive, yet always light and melodic strains of Alan Parsons. However choosing to start that relationship with a live album recorded some six years ago, that was previously available through the band's web site may not be the most obvious of choices. As a selling point this CD, or for those of you wishing a visual experience, DVD, features brand new Storm Thorgerson (Pink Floyd, Muse etc. etc.) cover art and very smart it is too, along with a booklet housing some exclusive content, although I haven't seen this to comment on it.

Musically the set concentrates on the better known tracks from the Alan Parsons Project with all seven of that band's top 40 Billboard hits receiving an airing. There is a nod to more current times with the inclusion of "More Lost Without You" which is from the, at the time, current release A Valid Path. That said, the fans who turned up for this show in Madrid, would certainly have been hoping to hear the "hits" and to be fair that is really what they got. The likes of "Damned If I Do", "I Wouldn't Want To Be Like You" and "Time" can't avoid showing their age and era, however all still possess an irresistible, infectious groove and some wonderful vocals. It is the closing encore trio of "Sirius/Eye In The Sky" (recently introduced to a whole new generation in the movie Cloudy With A Chance Of Meatballs), "(The System Of) Dr. Tarr And Professor Fether", which was the band's first hit and "Games People Play" that really remind why for eight years The Alan Parsons Project were regular visitors to the charts and to be fair none of them have lost their appeal.

Never particularly fashionable, Live In Madrid will do nothing to convince anyone that hasn't already been bewitched by the progressive brand of AOR that Alan Parsons purveys, that this is a band for them, however it is impossible to deny that the sound is excellent and that there are some beautifully constructed and performed moments here and with the likes of "Psychobabble" some slightly more challenging tracks as well.

Maybe for fans only, but a good listen none the less.

Track Listing
1. I Robot
2. Can't Take It With You
3. Don't Answer Me
4. Breakdown /The Raven
5. Time
6. Psychobabble
7. I Wouldn't Want To Be Like You
8. Damned If I Do
9. More Lost Without You
10. Don't Let It Show
11. Prime Time
12. Sirius / Eye In The Sky
13. (The System Of) Dr. Tarr And Professor Fether
14. Games People Play

Added: March 28th 2010
Reviewer: Steven Reid
Score:
Related Link: Band's Web Site
Hits: 2193
Language: english

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