From The New World

Love Alan Parsons Project

A must have if you're an Alan Parson fan. Great video transfer and sounds great on my 10,000 watt home theater system! Definitely rattles the rafters!

I was stoked when Alan Parsons released "The Secret" in 2019 after not hearing anything from him for over a decade. Although, not his best work, I did enjoy it and it was great to have him back after such a long gap. I was hoping he would release another album in three years, just like he used to back in the '90s, so I'm happy to have this album. Many people thought "The Secret" was Parsons' swan song, but I'm glad he came back. "From the New World" brings back that classic Parsons sound, while also giving us something new as well. Like "The Secret," this album is ballad heavy and most of the songs are slower than we're used to hearing from Parsons, but in retrospect, there's actually a good balance of ballads and rock tracks. It just doesn't seem that way at first, but I think if they switched the order of some of the tracks, it would be less obvious. The first couple songs are rock tracks, then it slows down and we get several ballads in a row, then a few more light rock songs. I think a little rearranging of tracks would make it seem like there's more variety, but hey, that's what shuffle and programming is for. Anyway, I do think some of the songs here are better than some from "The Secret" while others are not. Here is my track by track "breakdown" (ha ha, geddit?). 1. Fare Thee Well - This is obviously a tribute to Parsons late collaborator, Eric Woolfson. The opening is even a nod to "Sirius," but then the song slows down. Todd Cooper sings vocals here and he name checks several songs i.e. "In a Dream Within A Dream, We saw beyond the sky, And drew a constellation in the shape of Gemini." The song starts off ballad like here, but then picks up tempo towards the end with strings and guitar, which I really like: "Time and tide will carry me, from The Last Goodbye. I can hear Don't Answer Me with the Sky in your Eye." Genius. I could go on about this song, but much has already been said about it. A great opener. 2. The Secret - Why this, of all songs was left off "The Secret" album I will never know. It's the title track for crying out loud. Personally, I would have replaced "The Sorcerer's Apprentice" or "Miracle" with this track, but at least Parsons included it at all. It's a very catchy tune sung by Mark Mikel and has that classic Parsons sound to it, especially Jeff Kollman's guitar solo at the end. Just like he did with "Soiree Fantastique," Kollman channels the classic Ian Bairnson sound here that I can't get enough of. I absolutely love the opening lyric, "Just a little bit of the intricate, hands moving on the sly, watch my very quick and magical trick, it's much faster than the eye." Genius. By the way, am I the only one who thinks Mikel sounds like David Paton? Parsons also contributes vocals to this and it's one of my favorites off the album. 3. Uroboros - I somehow figured Parsons would get a member of Styx to sing on one of his albums and he does here with Tommy Shaw on vocals. The song has a nice Parsonic sound to it, while feeling fresh at the same time. I can't compare it to anything Parsons has done previously, but it does have his unmistakable touch to it. For those who don't know, the Uroboros (technically misspelled here without an O, perhaps on purpose?) is the symbol on the front of the "Vulture Culture" album, showing a serpent eating its tale, consuming itself, or put another way, consumed with itself, as that album was about greed. I take this song to mean that life is a circle, "Round and round again, where the end begins, back where the beginning arrives, season cycle spins, and the winter wind, turns to summer's sigh." I like the melody of this song and the way Shaw sings it is superb, like when he starts off with, "I walk the line to find, to see ahead and I look behind and it's all right. Sometimes I climb Escher stairs, never leading anywhere, but it's alright." Genius. By the way, the minute I heard this, I instantly thought back to "Snake Eyes" from "The Turn of a Friendly Card" album, where Chris Rainbow sings "Just one minute more, give me just one minute more, it's gonna be all right! It's gonna be all, all rigght!" "Uroboros" doesn't exactly name - check that song, but I'm sure this was on purpose. A fun song and probably my favorite off the album, though depending on my mood, it switches places with "The Secret" some days. 4. Don't Fade Now - A slower song featuring both Parsons and P.J. Olsson on vocals. Nothing really stands out to me about this song and it's not particularly Parson - esque, despite Parsons' presence on lead vocals. It's not a bad song, but it's nowhere near "As Lights Fall" from "The Secret." 5. Give 'Em My Love - Okay, umm. This song doesn't sound like Parsons at all. Not one bit. Is it a good song? Sure, it just doesn't particularly sound Parson - esque. James Durbin sings vocals here and there's a guitar solo by Joe Bonamassa but the song doesn't stand out and feels like it belongs on an album by another artist. 6. Obstacles - Another slow song (not a ballad), sung by Mark Mikel, who, again, sounds like David Paton in places here, particularly, when he emphasizes the word "OBSTACLES" in the lyrics. There are also some backing vocals here by Scott Hunt and Mikel that are reminiscent of backing vocals on previous Project songs, such as "To One in Paradise." 7. I Won't Be Led Astray - David Pack (Ambrosia), who has sung on some of Parsons previous albums, sings lead vocals on this ballad with Parsons contributing backing vocals. I don't have words to describe this song other than it's just beautiful. A video was made for this one and it's very well done. One of my favorites off the album. 8. You Are The Light - Parsons along with Dan Tracey, sing lead vocals here, with Tracey also assisting Todd Cooper on backing vocals. This is a more up - tempo light rock song, similar to "The Secret" or even "As Lights Fall," though the latter is the better song in my opinion, but it's still good and sounds like a Parsons song, not exactly classic, but still distinctly Parsons. 9. Halos - Much has been said about this song already. It obviously has the Pink Floyd influence at the beginning with the guitars where Kollman and Tracey cleverly re - create the guitar sound from "The Wall." P.J. Olsson sings lead here and about halfway through, there is an instrumental piece that springs to mind the type of interludes Parsons used to do on songs such as "Silence and I." This really reminded me of that and it's part of what makes this song stand out. It's very up tempo, while also managing to sound soft at the same time. 10. Goin' Home - Parsons sings lead vocal on this lyric version of Dvorak's Largo from his Symphony No.9 of which this album's title, "From the New World," is taken. It should be recognizable to anyone who has heard it. I knew it sounded familiar but couldn't pinpoint where I'd heard it. The re- imaging of the song with lyrics by Parsons and Tom Brooks is a fitting end to this album and to Parsons' career, if he's planning on retiring soon, but then we get... 11. Be My Baby - Whaaaaat?! No, just no. Sung by Tabitha Fair, this remake of the Ronnettes hit doesn't fit the album. At all. What was Parsons thinking? Well, the liner notes say Parsons always wanted to record a version of this song to acknowledge the work of Phil Spector. Okay, great Alan, but it doesn't fit the album. Not one bit. It's the only song on the album I skip. This album is notable for being the only Parsons album without an instrumental, which is why I rated it four stars. Not an opener, not a mid - album treat, and not a closer. None. Nada. Why not? My only guess is the well has run dry for Parsons, he ran out of ideas and because half of his electronica album, "A Valid Path" was instrumentals. This is my biggest beef with this album. I would have thought Parsons would be able to come up with a new creative instrumental piece, but alas, we have none. All I can say is, don't expect any "projecty" stuff here. That time has come and gone. "From The New World" isn't a bad album, and not exactly a standout, but it has some good songs and if you skip the last track, the album ends on a good note. Parsons' legacy is intact, and it would be fitting for him to have his final album (if that is what this is) come out on the 40th anniversary of "Eye in the Sky," his biggest hit. I agree with those who say it's time for him to retire and enjoy life, but only time will tell. Regardless, this is a good album. I will say that this album will have to grow on you a bit at first. Some songs are catchy, others aren't, but I hope any fan of Parsons would find at least something here to enjoy.

This has got to be THE BEST ALBUM that Alan Parsons has ever put out. I have almost all of them and this one is incredible. The songwriting, musicianship, vocals, orchestration and production are superior. HE IS THE MASTER!! I have played it every day since buying it 3 months ago.

Good Alan Parsons album.

All right, I had written Alan Parsons off after APP dissolved in the late 80's. To me, APP was unstoppable 1976-1987. Critics began panning following 1982's "Eye in the Sky", but I liked APP's later works just as much as their earlier works, and when I listen to that period now all of the albums are pretty solid. Beginning in 1993 Alan Parsons decided to continue as a 'solo' artist, if that can actually be said. I haven't enjoyed his 'solo' works over the past 30 years. I felt they were lacking Woolfson's touch and additions. They were, essentially, a duo, like Hall & Oates, Eurythmics, or The Everly Brothers. Without Woolfson, Parsons was just spinning his wheels with guests. Until now. The first thing that struck me about "From the New World" is just how well Parsons recreates the APP sound of the mid-to-late 70's. Right down to the engineering. This album sounds like it came right after "Tales of Mystery and Imagination" (1976). At first I wasn't sure about this direction. At times it sounded very Pink Floyd, "Dark Side of Moon" (which Parsons engineered). I noticed the echoes of APP past as well. Upon further listening it occurred to me that Parsons was intentionally re-creating the APP of yore and that the opening track was a tribute to Woolfson. The more I listened to the album, the more I liked it and began thinking of it as a lost APP album. While I appreciate the musical direction and effort here, I also find fault that Parsons chose not to progress musically, but instead re-create. He's playing on my nostalgia here to great effect. I mean, I haven't heard an album like this since 1987's "Gaudi". I thought this kind of thing was lost to the sands of time. So, I'm divided here. I like it and I kind of wished Parsons had attempted to be more progressive and innovative vs. re-hashing the past. I can firmly and confidently say that this is my favorite of Parsons solo works. Perhaps it is because he revisits familiar territory vs. creates the sludge he has been churning out for the past 30 years. You, the fans, decide. If you've been away, or if you've given up, you ought to come back to the fold now and check this one out. I give it 3.5 stars (I was tempted to go 4, but those days are long gone for me with Parsons). I'm not sure why Parsons chose to tack onto the end of the album a cover version of The Ronettes' 1963 hit "Be My Baby". Perhaps Parsons was influenced by Phil Spector? I'm not sure, and it felt out of place. I do believe the album is complete with "Going Home". That's the perfect end. Here's how "From the New World" compares to Parsons other works: The Alan Parsons Project: 1976 Tales of Mystery and Imagination: Edgar Allen Poe: Four Stars 1977 I Robot: Four Stars 1978 Pyramid: Four Stars 1979 Eve: Four Stars 1980 The Turn of a Friendly Card: Four Stars 1982 Eye in the Sky: Four Stars 1984 Ammonia Avenue: Four Stars 1984 Vulture Culture: Four Stars 1985 Stereotomy: Three Stars 1987 Gaudi: Three Stars Alan Parsons: 1993 Try Anything Once: Two and a Half Stars 1996 On Air: Two Stars 1999 The Time Machine: Two Stars 2004 A Valid Path: Two Stars 2019 The Secret: Two Stars 2022 From the New World: Three and a Half Stars (maybe four)

As a long time Alan Parsons fan this album did not disappoint. This is not a Alan Parsons Project album just the man himself surrounded by a fantastic group of musicians and vocalists. I enjoy that this man is still with us making and performing great music.

Decades have passed since I Robot, Turn of the Friendly Card & Eye in the Sky marked the apex of the Alan Parsons Project's best work. Comparing everything after that demands ratings of four stars at best that said, From the New World, after just a spot listening (just got it today) is superior to the 2019 title The Secret. Other reviewers have indicated New World will grow upon the listener. I agree. There is a lot of guest artist talent on this "Project" making it a very worthwhile addition to Alan Parsons musical canon. There are a growing number of music titans who, in my modest view, would be wise to just stop releasing new songs. The new output just isn't worthwhile (Neil Young, Paul McCartney, Van Morrison) should rest on their laurels. I sincerely hope this "From the New World" is the final effort by Alan Parsons. His legacy is secure. There is little need for further additions to a very extensive catalogue of outstanding music by The Alan Parsons Project.

No Bluray Audio

El más reciente CD y DVD de Alan Parsons tiene todo su estilo, su primer Track hace recordar los títulos de muchos de sus grandes éxitos. Después, comparte otros tracks con otros grandes de distintos grupos y con baladas rock que suenan con ritmos actuales sin dejar su escencia. Su track From the New world retoma la música de Dvorak trae el recuerdo de esa gran música y de acuerdo con su propuesta, todo ha cambiado por la pandemia y es un nuevo mundo actualmente. me gusta mucho este nuevo disco, lo recomiendo.

人生ゲームから回を重ねる毎に次第にスケール感やストーリー性がなくなっているのが残念。この人の曲の個性というか醍醐味はやはりオーケストラとの共演や壮大なサウンド作りにある。そしてその世界観に感性が惹き込まれる所にあったが、そんじょそこらのアーティストみたいに曲の詰め合わせに過ぎなくなってきている。 それとどうしてbe my babyをカバーしてるのかな？アランパーソンズとどうしても結びつかない。しかし、アレンジは間違いなくドント アンサー ミーを意識した作り。そして1曲目はシリウスを意識している。この辺の作りは聴き応えがある。 もう、エリックウルフソンと一緒の頃のアルバムは期待出来ないのかな…凄く残念。

Fantástico trabajo del Maestro, con canciones nuevas, un cuidado trabajo de producción y, en general, lo que nos tiene normalmente preparado siempre Alan: calidad, calidez,

Alan Parsons, after all these years, still has it in him to put out a good album. I love this one. All the songs are fantastic and in the typical Alan Parsons style. There are a couple ballads on this one which are great. There's a cover version of the Ronettes Be My Baby in this one which I didn't think would be good. To be honest, it's done really well. I would highly recommend this one for any Alan Parsons fan. Fantastic album!