Mercator Projected [Import]

mercator projected [import]

Track Listings
1. Norhtern Hemisphere
2. Isadora
3. Waterways
4. Centaur Woman
5. Bathers
6. Communion
7. Moth
8. In The Stable Of The Sphinx

Editorial Reviews
Product Description
1998 Repertoire reissue of the debut album by this prog act featuring Geoff Britton, Andy Sneddon & Ron Gaines. First released on Deram in 1969, it contains all eight original tracks, including 'Northern Hemisphere' and 'Isadora'.

Mercator Projected,East of Eden,Repertoire,Country-Rock,Fusion,Pop,Prog-Rock/Art Rock,Rock,Rock/Pop

Mercator Projected [Import]
La Revancha del Tango
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • Tango fantasico
  • One Sexy CD
  • Tango Music at Its Best
  • Tango-Trance? Trance-Tango?
  • My Favorite Gotan Project CD!
 La Revancha del Tango
Gotan Project
Manufacturer: Xl Recordings
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

GeneralGeneral | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music
ElectronicaElectronica | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music
HouseHouse | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Dance Pop | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Jazz | Styles | Music
Similar Items:
  1. Bajofondo Tango Club
  2. Narco Tango
  3. Emigrante
  4. Versions
  5. Shall We Dance?

ASIN: B00008NRL8
Release Date: 2003-04-08

Tracks:

  1. Queremos Paz
  2. Epoca
  3. Chunga's Revenge
  4. Triptico
  5. Santa Maria (Del Buen Ayre)
  6. Una Musica Brutal
  7. El Capitalismo Foraneo
  8. Last Tango In Paris
  9. La Del Ruso
  10. Vuelvo Al Sur

Tracks:

  1. Triptico (Peter Kruder Mix)
  2. Santa Maria (Tom Middleton's Cosmos Mix)
  3. El Capitalismo Foraneo (Antipop Consortium Mix)
  4. Santa Maria (Pepe Braddock Mix)

Amazon.com

Released in Europe in 2001, La Revancha Del Tango's sexy combination of chillout programming and authentic tango music became a lounge favorite and led to massive sales. Lightning struck twice when it was released two years later in the States--the domestic debut attracted the attention of electronic music hipsters, tango freaks, and world music geeks. And rightfully so. The Gotan trio of Philippe Cohen Solal, Christoph H. Müller, and Eduardo Makaroff write the album's strongest material themselves, but their imaginative incorporation of Frank Zappa's "Chunga's Revenge," Gato Barbieri's theme from the movie Last Tango In Paris and, not surprisingly, Astor Piazzolla's "Vuelvo Al Sur" into the Gotan world shows just how broad and inclusive their tastes really are. Naysayers may complain that this album can be heard in every hip restaurant and clothing boutique from Paris to Los Angeles, but sometimes the cream does rise to the top and gain mass acceptance, as it has here. Also includes a bonus disc of four remixes. --Tad Hendrickson

Album Description

The debut by this Paris based trio is a relaxed blend of tango dance rhythms and Argentinean instrumentation. The group was brought together by their passion to combine sound with image and to marry electronic and acoustic music. They built on their house, dub, and hip-hop influenced productions by adding two of Argentina's finest tango musicians, the musical result being supremely distinctive, incorporating bandonion (a form of accordion), violin, and vocals. This release includes 2000's most memorable jazz-house hit, "Triptico", which has already sold over 400,000 copies worldwide. The US version features the original ten tracks from the European release, along with a special bonus disc of the "Santa Maria" video plus four audio tracks.

Album Description

The debut by this Paris based trio is a relaxed blend of tango dance rhythms & Argentinean instrumentation. The group was brought together by their passion to combine sound with image & to marry electronic & acoustic music. They built on their house, dub, & hip-hop influenced productions by adding two of Argentina's finest tango musicians, the musical result being supremely distinctive, incorporating bandonion (a form of accordion), violin, & vocals. This release includes 2000's most memorable jazz-house hit, 'Triptico'. The U.S. special edition includes a second disc with five bonus tracks, 'Triptico' (Peter Kruder Mix), 'Santa Maria' (Tom Middleton's Cosmos Mix), 'El Capitalismo Foraneo' (Antipop Consortium Mix), & 'Santa Maria' (Pepe Braddock Mix & Video). Digipak. XL. 2003.

Customer Reviews:

4 out of 5 stars Tango fantasico.......2007-06-27

I saw the movie "Shall we dance" and one of the songs from the film is on this cd. I liked the music and thought I would enjoy all of the songs if they had the same instrumental feel as the song. I really enjoy it and would recommend it for anyone who likes a mixture of latin, instrumental and tribal beats.

4 out of 5 stars One Sexy CD.......2007-03-27

I'm loving the CD. They have a great sound....sensuous and chill. I first heard their music on a compilation CD. They play some of their tracks on Nip/Tuck too.

4 out of 5 stars Tango Music at Its Best.......2007-03-09

This is definitely worth the purchase. A combination of Parisian electronica and Argentinian dance music. Perfect blend of two styles.

5 out of 5 stars Tango-Trance? Trance-Tango?.......2007-02-18

A very nice French lady called Anne-Marie gave me this disc a few weeks ago and I've been listening to it ever since. I watch the American remake of the Japanese film, "Shall We Dance", last week and I noticed that the music of Gotan Project was used very effectively when Richard Geer dances with J-Lo.

I listened to "La Revancha del Tango" this Sunday afternoon. It was around 40 degrees outside - damned hot! - and I just sat and listened to this disc with my air conditioner on full blast. I rather think that I will play this CD the next time I have some friends over for a few drinks.

The music of Gotan Project is rather hypnotic and relentless on this CD. I like that. I guess that one could call this "Tango-Trance", or something like that?! The percussion/drums, bass line, piano and piano accordion dominates the sound here.

I've been playing "Lunatico" at work all week and I like it, too. Gotan Project is performing in Adelaide, South Australia soon and I am seriously considering making the effort to see them.

Very spunky, suave and sexy dance music.

5 out of 5 stars My Favorite Gotan Project CD!.......2007-02-14

La Revanch del Tango is beautiful, easy to dance to, and fun! Lifts your spirts up with it's light hearted beats, but still remains mysterious and romantic with it's darker flair. It's just good!
V2... The J Moss Project
Average customer rating: 4 out of 5 stars
  • If J Moss sang the ABC song , I would Listen and Buy
  • Love it!
  • An honest look at this CD
  • That's what I'm talking about!
  • Album of Progression
 V2... The J Moss Project
J. Moss
Manufacturer: Gospocentric
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

GeneralGeneral | Christian & Gospel | Styles | Music
GospelGospel | Christian & Gospel | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | R&B | Styles | Music
Similar Items:
  1. Live: One Last Time
  2. We Praise You
  3. Pajam Presents Sing to the Lord
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ASIN: B000H7JD5O
Release Date: 2007-04-03

Tracks:

  1. Jump, Jump (featuring 21:03)
  2. Dance featuring (Kirk Franklin)
  3. Know Him (featuring Karen Clark-Sheard)
  4. I'm Not Perfect
  5. Abundantly
  6. We Love You (featuring Marvin Winans & Byron Cage)
  7. Praise On The Inside
  8. Holding On
  9. Afraid
  10. Let It Go (featuring a special guest artist)
  11. Nobody
  12. Operator
  13. Steve Harvey Show Interlude
  14. Bonus track: Florida/73 Degrees/Everybody Ain't Gotta Word (featuring

Album Description

J Moss has returned with the follow-up to his smash debut - "V2..." Produced by PAJAM, J's new studio release is a musical tour-de-force showcasing the signature sound of this powerhouse production team, Moss' silky smooth, expressive vocals and Gospel like you're never heard it before.

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars If J Moss sang the ABC song , I would Listen and Buy.......2007-06-30

I have read most of the reviews for the V2 album and the J Moss Project, and while everyone is entitled to their opinion, I must critique, just a little. J Moss has such an annointed and unique voice that he has no choice but to exploit it. If he uses autotunes, I dont even know what those are, then let it be. Do you really think that someone with this kind of talent should just keep his musical ideas and creations to himself and should not express them? No way. Let it be told and shared with everyone. If J Moss sang abc's and 123's, it would sound good and I would listen. I had the pleasure of attending two of his live performances and I was so surprised that he could sound better than he does on his album. All I could say was Lord have mercy. The man is phenominal. On 06/14/2007 @ the Florence Civic Center, I received a great blessing from God, I dedicated my life back to Christ. I am still on a spiritual high from that nite. Everyone was in full worship mode, young and old. See some people praise fast, slow, some not at all. J Moss does not have to make music to make sure it sounds a certain way or it will be not considered spiritual. If anyone is praising or uplifting the Kingdom of God, how could that be considered Worldly? With all the different technologies available that was not available years ago/Of course, there are different styles and methods that gospel music is created and sound. But with the commonality of worshiping Jesus Christ, we will do fine. THe lyrics like to "Abundantly" are so moving and heartfelt. My favorites are Praise on the Inside and Everybody Aint Got a Word. I am highly anticipating J Moss live performance DVD and his preaching ministry. They both will happen. I am glad for J Moss and thankful for someone so blessed and annointed. J Moss please dont stop making music.

5 out of 5 stars Love it!.......2007-06-27

The is album is all that I expected and more. Number 6 is my favorite song and I listen to it almost everyday. Whenever I want to get my praise on in the car I pop in this CD. I would recommend it to anyone who likes contemporary gospel music.

4 out of 5 stars An honest look at this CD.......2007-06-23

This album is very different from the first one. The first one had more "worship" songs and was less contemporary than this. And while worship music has it's place, this album has more songs talking about living a Christian life outside of the church walls. So I see it as a progression on J's part. And while I like the CD, I did not like it on first listen. Like a previous reviewer said, he used autotune a little too much. This dude can sing. I've met him and heard him live and he can vocally run marathons, so I see no need for the abused pitch correction. He even had KiKi sounding like a "See and Say" robot. But I guess he is adopting that as part of his style. My favorite tracks are "Know Him" "I'm not perfect" and one of the bonus tracks called "Everybody Ain't Got A Word". (He is speaking the truth in this song)



I know that some folks may consider this album too "Worldly" but I believe that all music belongs to God. Satan is the creator of nothing but the perverter of everything. So the music that people consider worldly, is nothing but Satan's perversion of something that God created. It's not the musical style of worldly music that is perverted, but rather the message it delivers and the image it portrays. As long as J. Moss is edifying Christ and not contradicting the Word, I see no problem with him having a more R&B style. I also understand that it is not for everyone. But I commend J. Moss and other Contemporary Gospel artists who are taking back what Satan stole. I don't like putting God in a box by proclaiming His name only through a certain style of music. That being said, I believe this album has something for everyone and I see J. Moss's evolution as a worshipper. I just wish he'd turn down the knob on that autotune plug-in.

5 out of 5 stars That's what I'm talking about!.......2007-06-11

Love it! Love it! Love it! I have nearly worn a hole in this cd. Especially the bonus track. J Moss has done it again!! This cd, like his first release, is a must have

5 out of 5 stars Album of Progression.......2007-05-18

I've read all 21 reviews here and many of them tend to focus on J. Moss using vocal enhancements or the album not being as good as the last one, etc. Firstly, I want to say that I thought the same too at first until I began to research and evaluate my progress as Christian. Many times with a sophomore album we want the artist to stay who they were and how they were and if they did then we would complain about the fact that they never grew in their musical presentation and how they always sound the same (ergo John P. Kee), so it is refreshing to see someone right in the middle of his spiritual/musical progression knowing that years from now this album will speak volumes to people though it seem abstract and aloof now. What I like about J. Moss is that he seems to not try and put music out there that is not where he is in his life currently. I read one review that said "it sounds like he tried too hard" and I think part of that comments stems from wanting J to stay where he was with V1. And seriously you don't want him to do that. When J's lyrics start to change and his using these ambiguous pronouns as substitutes for Jesus, then let's start writing bad reviews and emails, but J. Moss is hot and I think that sometimes we don't understand the ministry so we think that the only thing left to do is bash it. There are some things that I thought that he could have done better like have his cameo appearances be real cameos and do more hard-cut singing that we are accustomed to (Marvin Winans, I mean c'mon, he's like THE GREATEST), but overall he maintains his hotness and I can't wait for the next one!!!
Lunatico
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • Faltou uma vírgula pra ser perfeito...
  • More promiscuous than your average tango
  • Better than Revancha
  • Es bueno, pero me gusta mas el primero
  • Different and sophisticated
 Lunatico
Gotan Project
Manufacturer: Xl Recordings
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

GeneralGeneral | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music
ElectronicaElectronica | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music
HouseHouse | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music
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TangoTango | Latin Music | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Jazz | Styles | Music
Similar Items:
  1. Balancê
  2. Versions
  3. Bajofondo Tango Club
  4. Narco Tango
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ASIN: B000EHQ7KG
Release Date: 2006-04-11

Tracks:

  1. Amor Porteno (featuring Calexico)
  2. Notas (featuringJuan Carlos Cacares)
  3. Diferente
  4. Celos
  5. Lunatico
  6. Mi Confesion (featuring Koxmoz)
  7. Tango Cancion
  8. La Viguela
  9. Criminal
  10. Arrabal
  11. Domingo (featuring Jimi Santos)
  12. Paris, Texas

Amazon.com

The Gotan Project literally took the world by storm in 2003 with its million-selling La Revancha Del Tango. Skillfully mixing the heated passion of tango with the cool insistent beats of dance music, the group kept the best of both genres as it offered up an unheralded fusion. This time around, the production team delves further into the tradition, cutting down on the dub production filigree and overarching electronic programming--now sexy grooves often come on the back of organic beats and an unprocessed sound captured during live studio sessions in Buenos Aires. This new focus is furthered with conventional bandoneon soloing as well as acoustic piano and string section backing. Nonetheless, kids craving to cut a rug will dig "Diferente" and "Notas," while the robust "Amor Porteno" (featuring Calexico) is the group's most muscular tune to date. More skilled than the debut, Lunatico is no sophomore slump, though hardcore house music fans may want to wait for remixes. --Tad Hendrickson

Album Description

Not wanting to replicate what their debut, "La Revancha Del Tango", had achieved musically, the group has a decidedly stronger emphasis on the organic roots of tango on "Lunatico" and utilized a host of local musicians from Buenos Aires; a complete string section, two emcees, a trombonist, and Argentine piano legend and long time Gotan collaborator Gustavo Beytelmann. The result is their most accomplished work yet. "The beats are sparse and liquid, and the transition from Buenos Aires bordello to European dance floor is seamless" - Rolling Stone. "A jiggy melange of tango with a dab of dub" - Entertainment Weekly. "...an intriguing blend of traditional, passionate tango with cool, contemporary electronica" - LA Times.

Customer Reviews:

4 out of 5 stars Faltou uma vírgula pra ser perfeito..........2007-07-13

Não achei tão bom quanto "Revancha Del Tango" mas ainda assim é um ótimo CD.

5 out of 5 stars More promiscuous than your average tango.......2007-05-24

Gotan's first collection "La Revancha del Tango" was an irresistibly gut-grabbing, loin-twitching, bass-loping, dub-tango hybrid winner from the first listen, invariably prompting responses of "What it THIS? I LOVE it".

"Lunático" is a much less in-your-face proposition. I could barely wait to get it out of its packaging, but then I struggled to get into the music itself. Mostly less meaty than "La Revancha" and more varied - tricksier, even. It took some chance random plays on the iPod to insinuate a couple of the songs into my ears again. Then I wanted more. Badly. And now I rate it just as more-ish as "La Revancha".

It juxtaposes the sweet, warm-deadpan voice of Cristina Vilallonga on some tracks (Amor Porteno, Diferente, Celos, Arrabal) with the roguish, rough-edged panache of Carlos Caceres describing the birth of the tango (Notas)and Jimi Santos (Domingo) and the tango-rap of Koxmoz (Mi Confesion). There's even a robot-like treated voice intoning the words to La Viguela, giving it a strangely religious quality.

Like "La Revancha", "Lunático" is steeped in a sense of place and culture but it's not Strictly Tango Argentino. The Gotans have tapped into a tango and a Buenos Aires of the imagination, adventurous and promiscuous and modern yet managing to be faithful to its deep roots.

A mysterious, sly, inventive and captivating work of outstanding creativity.

5 out of 5 stars Better than Revancha.......2007-04-20

For a long time Revancha was my favorite CD and I just couldn't believe that a follow up album could be as good. Well, Gotan Project did it!

3 out of 5 stars Es bueno, pero me gusta mas el primero.......2007-04-11

Lo escuche muchas veces, y tal vez sea tanta fusión con otros ritmos y generos lo que no me gusta tanto, es un disco bien hecho, con buen concepto, pero prefiero el primero que es mas tanguero y electrónico.

4 out of 5 stars Different and sophisticated.......2007-04-10

I liked very much this CD. It's a kind of electronic tango, very sophisticated and mysterious in some way. A new fashion for old style but eternal music.
Rival Factions
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • ...and the rest will continue to follow....
  • Not your typical P86 CD
  • Weird and I like it...
  • New Taste, Same Great Project 86.
  • Solid
 Rival Factions
Project 86
Manufacturer: Tooth & Nail Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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  1. Messengers
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ASIN: B000QFAFE0
Release Date: 2007-06-19

Tracks:

  1. Evil (A Chorus Of Resistance)
  2. Put Your Lips To the TV
  3. The Forces Of Radio Have Dropped a Viper Into the Rhythm Section
  4. Molotov
  5. Slaves To Liberty
  6. Pull Me Closer, Violent Dancer
  7. Illuminate
  8. The Sanctuary Hum
  9. Caveman Jam
  10. Normandy

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars ...and the rest will continue to follow...........2007-07-03

Project 86. Long time listener, long time review writer. To put it bluntly this band has a butt that just won't quit. The band has taken me through a surge of rabid emotions through their long career. They have surprised me, bored me, and come back to win me over time and time again. I enjoyed "..and the rest will follow" but something was missing. It seemed to pale in comparison to the emotionally charged "Songs to burn your bridges by." Rival Factions took me completely by surprise with its electronically charged synth beats. Andrew's blatantly melodic vocal rhythms. Its almost as if this was the record "truthless heroes" aspired to be. A more accessible sound that didn't sacrifice so many of the bands excellent sounds.

The band is comforable with their new found ability to go almost anywhere at this point. You can always count on Andrews deeply meaningful lyrics which range from political, sarcastic, humerous, and allegorical. With every listen this record is villianously infectious. It's guilt free 80s inspired dark synth metal for the masses as only Project 86 can bring it. The perfect record for new fans. Even for a band on their 6th release.

5 out of 5 stars Not your typical P86 CD.......2007-06-29

First spin around, and I was like "WHAT, WHO, WHERE, WHEN, WHAT (again)"
Second spin around, and I was like "WHAT, HMMMMMMMM"
Thrid spin around, and I was like "YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

All, that I can say is that I love this album. I would put it #2 or #3 in the list. I still love Drawing Black Lines first, and this one is fighting with Music To Burn your Bridges By for second.

All, I know is that I cannot wait to see them in concert again. The energy on the CD is the same as the stage and that is awesome.

5 out of 5 stars Weird and I like it..........2007-06-27

I was surprised like everyone else (no one saw this coming believe me) when I heard some of the new tracks and the samples. After listening to the cd one time through I discovered how creative, catchy and intense the songs were. It was still Project 86, but totally evolved. Things that you hardly hear in other Project albums such as lots of synth, guitar solo's, alternate vocals (lots of singing but also high pitch screeching which I have never heard Andrew Schwab do, awesome).

Here is my appreciation of the songs individually:

Evil 10/10: The first time I heard this songs I thought I was listening to Queens of the Stone Age, and apart from the synth solo it it is reminiscent of their sound. The groovy rythm and atmosphere of this song are wat make it really good. If you listen to it too much, believe me it will not leave your head. What works really well is that in the chorus you hear two vocals: one singing the melody while the other voice shouts the lyrics.

Put your lips to the TV 8/10: After the deceptive and cheesy piano intro (did I forget to add that there is a lot of humor on this album and it's not only in the lyrics ;-)) the song kicks off with an old-school guitar riff, followed by a more typical Project 86 verse after which the incredibly catchy chorus grabs you by the throat with beautifully desperate sounding vocals from Schwab. To top it off we hear a solo from Randy that sounds pretty basic but works very well in the song as a bridge.

The Forces of Radio have thrown a viper into the rythem section 10/10: This song is awesome lyrically and musically. The things that stand out on this track are the drums, they build up really well to the different parts of the song and Andrews vocals are the best on the album, including aggressive gnarling and snarling in the verse and gut wrenching vocals in the verse.

Molotov 7/10: This song is good although it is not my favorite on the album. The coolest thing about the song is the 'Truthless Heroes-esque' lyrics that criticize modern culture for being all about the party and less about what counts in life. The keyboards play a big role in this song and are always haunting in the background and sometimes on the foreground. The song has a cool ending with Schwab adding extra vocal layers over the melody giving it a very full sound.

Slaves to Liberty 9/10: The lyrics are incredibly positive and kind of remind me crazily enough of 'Lean on Me' but the rock version haha. Again we have a very retro-rock intro riff. I especially like th driving bass on this one. The best way to listen to it is driving on the highway at full speed, you will not be able to stop. Lots of energy and groovy rythm are the signature of this song.

Pull me closer, Violent Dancer 8/10: Think "My Will Be a Dead Man" but then with synthesizers. The vocals are creepy in this song and the synth effect in the chorus sounds like they ripped it off of a classic horror movie. I love the way the synths and guitar blend into a melancholic and dreamy cocktail. The synths are the highlight of this song all around.

Illuminate 6/10: This song is not bad in fact it's really catchy, but it does not possess the intenseness of the other songs. I wouldn't call it a filler but it is the one song that I'm still not incredibly excited over although it does grow on you.

The Sanctuary Hum 9/10: The verse of this song sounds like something that fits well into the Truthless Heroes era, which I really liked. The opening riff actually reminds me of Projects first cd a little. The vocals first sound like what Schwabs voice evolved to on ...And the rest will follow. The verse has Randy and Schwab dueting to a very mellow and dark background. This song is about abuse, church and truth an explosive mixture but then again Project 86 is never afraid of venting thir opinions. Expecially the lyrics in the chorus are very provacative: "God save us, from your chosen ones" It srips in sarcasm and yearning for justice. Beautiful.

Caveman Jam 10/10: When I first heard the name of this song I thought it was a joke, but when i saw it on the actual tracklisting I freaked. Now a little while later it is my favorite song. The fuzzy guitars, the sarcastic lyrics, the high pitched synth building up just before the chorus and erupting into a sonically eery sound, the rythmically hammering vocals in the verse. I'm not a dancer but I can easily see a room go crazy on this vibe and at the same time I could see a rockers rocking out to it, it's that versatile.

Normandy 8/10: This song is again very different from the other songs. The lyrics are some of the best on the album. It is very melodic and not really in your face. It is a cool closer and very fitting for the album.


Verdict:
If you are a closeminded hardcore fan then don;t buy this, but if you like music and are open to innovation you will like this because it is a product of craftmansship. It is a little on the short side but the catchiness and groove of the songs compensate that. The album on the whole has some outstanding songs on it and despite some songs not being perfect the album is because they fit so well together.
This is retro-rock meets hardcore meets synths meets 80s.

4 out of 5 stars New Taste, Same Great Project 86........2007-06-26

Six albums into their career, and Project 86 show no signs of slowing down. Consistently touring, and putting out new albums every one and a half to two years, you have to admire their work ethic. And yet, with each album, they still come through with sincerity and a sense of importance intact. "Rival Factions" is possibly the band's most experimental and unique album to date, which some might view as them changing their ways to find a home on radio. But to throw around such lofty accusations is a waste of time. You won't find any semblance of emo or noisy metalcore with Project 86's newest. Just a new take on the groove heavy, ultra melodic sound we've come to love from our favorite hardcore Christians.

If "Truthless Heroes" or "Songs To Burn Your Bridges By" weren't enough indication, Project 86 are truly the most politically charged Christian band on the scene today, and aren't afraid to stand out from the pack. The great thing about this album and each one before, is that even if you don't follow their faith (I don't) you can still appreciate their message and understand the fire that drives them. From the suggestive packaging to the blistering "Slaves To Liberty," Project 86 have yet to ease up on the themes established early on in their career. If anything, it's at least more exciting than 2005's "...And The Rest Will Follow," which felt like a Project 86 re-run.

Longtime fans may feel turned off at first by the slight change of style for this album. Fact of the matter, the songs are much catchier than before and capitalize on the grooves that used to give way to some of the band's heaviest moments. "Pull Me Closer, Violent Dancer" is a stunning example of how they make a new style work gloriously in their favor. For the moments that the band shifts gears into 80's gothic-dance inspired territory, they still don't let up their signature sound, cryptic lyrics and infectious hooks. Take a listen to the synths on "Illuminate," and yet tell me this isn't just as good as what they've been doing their whole career. It puts a new spin on a tried and true sound. The only thing that truly hurts this album is that it is but a mere thirty five minutes long. It makes for one breezy listen, which is good because it's going to take a few for you to appreciate it, but one can't help but feel that the album ends just as it's getting good. But then again, you know they'll be back in another year and a half with another album, so all is well.

3 out of 5 stars Solid.......2007-06-23

All and all a solid effort. This is much more lyrical than their last two. In the songs that actually had a screamo part, the voice could have been replaced with regular singing and would have been marketable by the Newboys. This is in definite contrast to "...And the Rest Will Follow" where the screamo style was needed to complete the feel. The lyric content is in line with the rest of their albums. Right now, after three listens, I put it at my fourth favorite.
Great packaging and freebee with the pre-order. On a production note, there are a few times on the album where there volume steps down for no apparent reason.
It feels sort of like they might have tried to go more commercial (although I consider that a grave accusation). But it could be the group working with different ideas. Personally, I am hoping their next effort feels more like Follow or Bridges.
Buy it, you won't regret it.
I Robot
Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
  • Album With Sci-Fi Title Actually Has Cautionary Message
  • Great Remaster
  • Picture a memory of days in your life
  • Junto con el de Tales, el mejor... Excelente tributo a la obra de Asimov
  • Progressive Rock Robot
 I Robot
Alan Parsons Project
Manufacturer: Sony Legacy
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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GeneralGeneral | Rock | Styles | Music
Progressive RockProgressive Rock | Progressive | Rock | Styles | Music
Album-Oriented Rock (AOR)Album-Oriented Rock (AOR) | Classic Rock | Styles | Music
Similar Items:
  1. Eye in the Sky
  2. Vulture Culture
  3. Tales of Mystery and Imagination
  4. Pyramid
  5. The Turn of a Friendly Card

ASIN: B000JLQSW4
Release Date: 2007-03-20

Tracks:

  1. I Robot
  2. I Wouldn't Want To Be Like You
  3. Some Other Time
  4. Breakdown
  5. Don't Let It Show
  6. The Voice
  7. Nucleus 05
  8. Day After Day (The Show Must Go On)
  9. Total Eclipse
  10. Genesis Ch. 1. V. 32
  11. I Robot (Boules Experiment)
  12. Breakdown (Early Demo of Backing Riff)
  13. I Wouldn't Want To Be Like You (Backing Track Rough Mix)
  14. Day After Day (The Show Must Go On) (Early Stage Rough Mix)
  15. The Naked Robot (Early Stage Instrumental Mixes)

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Album With Sci-Fi Title Actually Has Cautionary Message.......2007-07-12

I ROBOT, the Alan Parsons Project's breakthrough album, has a title that was inspired by Isaac Asimov, and was originally supposed to be a concept album based on his writings. However, unbeknownst to Parsons and Eric Woolfson, Asimov had given exclusive permission to someone else to use his stories, and so the band were forced to keep the title (without the comma), and use a different concept, namely the tendency of people to act in a robotic fashion and to believe everything that advertisers and the business community says. This interpretation has inspired me to hang up pictures of pretty actresses as a deterrent to believing the commercial world that certain products are good for me when, in fact, they're not. This is a CD which every serious progressive rock fan should own.

5 out of 5 stars Great Remaster.......2007-06-20

The sound on this new remaster blows away the original Arista cd release, but still can't touch the MFSL version (which is no longer available, and used copies go for $100+). Probably the second best APP album (after Tales Of Mystery and Imagination) this should appeal to fans of Pink Floyd and science fiction.

5 out of 5 stars Picture a memory of days in your life.......2007-04-08

A musical meditation of the "Rise Of Machine and The Decline Of Man," the second Alan Parsons Project album hit all the notes that "Tales Of Mystery and Imagination" missed. For starters, this was a straight forward rock album, without the debut's classical pretensions. It was also where Parsons perfected his atmospheric instrumentals, opening the album with the (precursor to electronica) title track and then ending with the moody "Genesis Ch 1 V 32." You do get the jarring soundtrack climax of "Total Eclipse," which I always guessed was where man got terminated from the scene.

For an album that dealt with the fall of the human race, "I Robot" is a surprisingly human affair. The slow beat disco of "I Wouldn't Want To Be Like You" and the dance floor paranoia of "The Voice" are anything but mechanical. The ballads of loss, "Don't Let It Show" and "Day After Day (The Show Must Go On)" could be about any typical heartbreak. Even Pat Benatar could spot the drama inherent to "Don't Let It Show," including it on her debut.

It wasn't just the drama and the sci-fi that made "I Robot" so interesting. It was the musicianship. Not as pretentious as ELP and bringing the acrobatics of Yes down to bite size nuggets, Parsons had no difficulty in constructing pop that was progressive, meticulously produced and built up like the studio architect that he is. The Alan Parsons Project recording an album in the period of the seventies this pristine when disco's big boom was steamrollering everything in its path was a pretty bold statement then. Because of Parsons' attention to detail overriding any urge to make music of the moment, "I Robot" still holds up almost 30 years later.

5 out of 5 stars Junto con el de Tales, el mejor... Excelente tributo a la obra de Asimov.......2007-04-06

He sido lector fanatico de los cuentos de asimov, desde la saga de los robots, pasando por el imperio y terminando con la saga de las fundaciones, Isaac asimov desarrolló un mundo de ciencia ficción, que hace que las guerras de las galaxias parezca un cliché de un cuento de hadas espaciales. Este cd, inspirado no solo en el libro de yo robot, si no en los demas cuentos de asimov (por ejemplo Dont let it show relata el sentir del robot R. Daneel en fundacion y tierra). este disco, junto con el de Tales, son los que mas me gustan, debido a que son discos conceptuales basados en historias que me parecen espectaculares, y ademas, reflejan lo que sus autores escribieron. por eso cuando digo que este disco le hace justicia a los cuentos de asimov, me refiero al disparate filmatografico de holywood titulado con el mismo nombre.

Sin suda alguna, para mi, este es uno de los discos que mas me gusta de APP, (todas sus canciones). Estoy esprando que me llegue la nueva edicion que tiene nuevas canciones ineditas para seguir disfrutandode buena musica.

4 out of 5 stars Progressive Rock Robot.......2007-03-28

Re-mastered release from 1977 with extra songs. The album is loosely based on the Isaac Asimov science fiction book "I, Robot". This album to an extent looks at questions and whether we may or may not be pre-programmed and act in a robotic fashion; also dangers of uncontrolled development of artificial intelligence. The I Robot album was released the same week as the movie Star Wars was released - a very fortuitous time. This remastered version celebrates the 30th anniversary of the original release. The most interesting of the extra songs is The Naked Robot - 10 minute medley of early stage mixes of instrumental pieces on the album. I thought the title song of the album, I Robot, should have been used in the movie I Robot, but Alan Parsons was never contacted about it. To me the song I Robot has a feel of mystery and intrigue. It is my favorite Alan Parsons Project song, and another song on the album, I Wouldn't Want To Be Like You, is my second favorite.
We Praise You
Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
  • We Praise You
  • The best family project I've ever heard!!!
  • THE MCCLURKIN PROJECT
  • Ok off the chain.
  • GET IT, ITS HOTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT
 We Praise You
The McClurkin Project
Manufacturer: Gospocentric
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

GeneralGeneral | Christian & Gospel | Styles | Music
GospelGospel | Christian & Gospel | Styles | Music
Christian Contemporary MusicChristian Contemporary Music | Christian & Gospel | Styles | Music
Live RecordingsLive Recordings | Christian & Gospel | Styles | Music
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  1. I Never Lost My Praise
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ASIN: B000FVBLHK
Release Date: 2007-03-13

Tracks:

  1. Every Beat Of My Heart
  2. Holy Unto Your Name
  3. Healing Grace
  4. Cry For Help
  5. Oh, Lord Have Mercy
  6. Alright
  7. Is There Any Way
  8. If You're Looking For Love
  9. Said I Would
  10. We Need Love
  11. Hallelujah Chorus

Amazon.com

The McClurkins take the adage "it runs in the family" to an extreme, don't they? With four sisters and one brother all over gospel music, one can only imagine where they would go after an outstanding debut of The McClurkin Project in 2000. Seven years and a mountain of work between them, sisters Andrea, Olivia, Cheri, Tanya, and close friend Carol Carter are back with brother Donnie in the wonderfully rewarding We Praise You. The McClurkins waste no time in laying down the hot groove with the Andrea-penned title track, a more traditional Gospel call-and-answer track livened up by a super backing band in front of a live crowd in Queens, New York. Sister Olivia capably takes up the reins with the R&B-infused, be-boppin' "You Are An Awesome God." The ultimate highlight has to be the Donnie-led "As Long As There's You," a warm and moving worship number. Donnie offers plenty of vocal pyrotechnics here while the McClurkin Sisters keep the harmonies and melodies flowing beautifully underneath. It's a show-stopper for sure. Other great moments include "His Mercy," a testimonial buoyed by the sisters' well-mixed vocal parts and the closing "Song of Gratitude," which has the sisters sounding like an angelic choir. Brother Donnie and Stanley Brown should be commended for tasteful production that keeps voices front and center in a silky smooth blend. All in all, We Praise You is a sweet-sounding bounty of Gospel praise that makes us all hope we don't have to wait seven more years for the McClurkins' next collective effort. --Michael Lyttle

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars We Praise You.......2007-05-13

This is another stellar performance. I enjoy every song on this CD.

5 out of 5 stars The best family project I've ever heard!!!.......2007-05-07

This project is a one of a kind family project. You can feel the anointing permeate through the cd. This cd is a definite must-have!

5 out of 5 stars THE MCCLURKIN PROJECT.......2007-04-12

ALWAYS LOVE THE MCCLURKINS, BUT THIS CD IS AWESOME, THERE VOCALS AND HARMONIES ARE SO TIGHT, AND THEY ARE ANOINTED. ANDREA MCCLURKIN IS MY FAV. SINGER, I LOVE HOW HERE VOICE IS PURE. SHE NEEDS A CD LOL

5 out of 5 stars Ok off the chain. .......2007-04-09

Ok this cd is tight, but my favorite song is (4) As long as there's you. I have been parting off that song for days now that song just take me there. I am telling you pick this up.

5 out of 5 stars GET IT, ITS HOTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT.......2007-03-19

The greatest hearts deliver a wonderful gospel cd that will help anyone. BUY BUY BUY BUY BUY ... cus you wont be disapointed
The Idan Raichel Project
Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
  • Stop reading these reviews and buy this CD!
  • The modern Rumi - simply the best in world music
  • Very Good
  • Eclectic
  • sue's review
 The Idan Raichel Project
Idan Raichel
Manufacturer: Cumbancha
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

GeneralGeneral | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | International | Styles | Music
IsraelIsrael | Middle East | International | Styles | Music
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  5. No Place To Be (CD/DVD)

ASIN: B000IHY9BG
Release Date: 2006-11-07

Tracks:

  1. Bo'ee (Come With Me)
  2. Mi'Ma'amakim (Out Of The Depths)
  3. Ayal-Ayale (The Handsome Hero)
  4. Hinach Yafah (Thou Art Beautiful)
  5. Im Tachpetza (If Thou Wisheth)
  6. Suvi El Beyti (Come Back To My Home
  7. Im Telech (If You Go)
  8. Be'Yom Shabbat (On Sabbath)
  9. Brong Faya (Burn Fire)
  10. Ulai Ha'Pa'am (Maybe This Time)
  11. Azini (Comfort Me)
  12. Siyaishaya Ingoma (Sing Out For Love)

Amazon.com

In Israel, where Jews from all over the globe arrive seeking refuge and new lives, a young keyboardist/composer/producer/arranger named Idan Raichel sought out seventy multinational musicians and began recording with them in his basement studio. As he set about mixing Ethiopian and other African Jewish traditions with home-grown Hebraic, Yemenite, and Arab styles, Old Testament Psalms, and even Caribbean vocals and rhythms, he initially had little hope of ever seeing the sessions released commercially. But he ended up with not one but two precedent-setting, huge-selling albums, from which the present CD was deftly cherry-picked. Opening with a majestic, multi-voiced Ethiopian chant, the 12 selections here make ample use of ethnic-based traditions and instruments. But although the songs share an edifying spiritual depth, they are nonetheless modern pop in the best sense, accessible and chock-full of catchy melodies. For example, on "Be'Yom Shabbat" (On Sabbath), the vocals--one wavering and prayerfully soulful and the other more straight-ahead--are couched in a cutting-edge reggae context, complete with sampled voices and electronic flourishes. Despite his commitment to eclectic sources and unusual juxtapositions, Raichel obviously has a happy way with a hook and no scruples whatsoever about having fun with it. --Christina Roden

Album Description

The Idan Raichel Project is the brainchild of Israeli keyboardist, composer, producer, and arranger Idan Raichel, who invited over 70 different musicians from a wide variety of backgrounds to participate in the recordings. In particular, Raichel has long been fascinated by the music of Israel's growing population of Ethiopian Jews, and many songs feature members of Israel's Ethiopian community. The recordings also include Arab musicians, traditional Yemenite vocalists, a toaster and percussionist from Suriname and a South African singer, among others.

The Project released its first album in Israel in 2002 and quickly became one of the biggest success stories in the history of Israeli popular music. The haunting Ethiopian chorus of the first single, "Bo'ee" (Come With Me), sounded completely unlike anything most Israeli's had heard before. The groundswell of interest propelled the album to heights rarely seen in the local music scene and firmly established Idan Raichel as a new type of Israeli pop star. Now a musical icon in the Israeli community worldwide, The Idan Raichel Project has performed to sell-out crowds in prestigious venues in Paris, Brussels, New York, Los Angeles, Singapore and beyond.

The international release of The Idan Raichel Project's recordings on the new record label Cumbancha promises to introduce a wide new audience to the electrifying work of this unique musical collective. The Project offers a new vision for how Israelis, their neighbors in this volatile region, and people all over the world, can cherish their individual cultural traditions, celebrate their differences and through respectful collaboration create new and inspiring expressions. "Our ability to live in peace with one other depends on our learning to appreciate and respect each other's differences," notes Idan. "The way forward is not by trying to change your neighbor, but by accepting him and recognizing that we are all looking for the same things in life: bread, water, spirit, respect and love."

Deluxe international version is enhanced with three music videos and other special features.

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Stop reading these reviews and buy this CD!.......2007-06-05

I'm not going to go into great detail, since others have already eloquently described these musicians. I just want to say that the music of the Idan Reichel (Raichel) Project is soul-moving. I have never heard music like this and from the moment I heard the first album (Haproyekt Shel Idan Rechel), I was completely hooked. I saw the band in concert a few years ago and it was easily the best concert I've ever been to. So buy this CD!

5 out of 5 stars The modern Rumi - simply the best in world music.......2007-03-19

This is the first time i've been moved to write a review on Amazon.
Let me start by saying that I would buy anything that has Idan's name on it - simply because it has his name on it.
I don't remember when I was so moved by music as I am each time I listen to his music. If you can get the translation to the songs, by all means, go ahead. The lyrics are amazing. I was lucky enough to see them in concert in Los Angeles. It sounds silly but there was so much talent and love projected from the stage - really a different experience.

4 out of 5 stars Very Good.......2007-02-06

I bought this c.d. after hearing it on NPR. I really enjoy the music, which is soulful and exotic. A very good c.d. to have some nice dreams to. A few music videos accompany the c.d. and there are lyrics inside for those of us who can't speak the languages. I would recommend this to anyone who likes world music or is looking to try out world music. Track 4 is definitely a highlight. Idan is supremely talented at mixing these different artists together and making a seamless, beautiful blend.

5 out of 5 stars Eclectic.......2007-01-20

Idan Raichel is amazing. He is diverse, international and at the same time, brings cultures together. He uses Israeli, African and Old Testament text and makes them sound as if they had always belonged together. I recommend him to everyone of any age.

5 out of 5 stars sue's review.......2007-01-11

gave it as a christmas gift and was told that it was GREAT
The Turn of a Friendly Card
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • Excellent ALBUM!!!
  • A very solid album from the Alan Parsons Project
  • Well Crafted
  • It Doesn't Get Any Better Than This!
  • Money...Get Away
 The Turn of a Friendly Card
Alan Parsons Project
Manufacturer: Arista
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

GeneralGeneral | Pop | Styles | Music
Pop RockPop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Rock | Styles | Music
Progressive RockProgressive Rock | Progressive | Rock | Styles | Music
Album-Oriented Rock (AOR)Album-Oriented Rock (AOR) | Classic Rock | Styles | Music
Similar Items:
  1. Pyramid
  2. Tales of Mystery and Imagination
  3. Eve
  4. Ammonia Avenue
  5. I Robot

ASIN: B000002VCU
Release Date: 1990-10-25

Tracks:

  1. May Be A Price To Pay
  2. Games People Play
  3. Time
  4. I Don't Wanna Go Home
  5. The Gold Bug
  6. I. The Turn Of A Friendly Card (Part One)
  7. II. Snake Eyes
  8. III. The Ace Of Swords
  9. IV. Nothing Left To Lose
  10. V. The Turn Of A Friendly Card (Part Two)

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Excellent ALBUM!!!.......2007-02-23

This was one of my favorite albums of the 80's.....I played the vinyl album so much that I wore it out.....when CD's arrived, The Turn of A Friendly Card was one of my first purchases on CD.......

If you like the Alan Parson's Project, this album is a winner!!!

4 out of 5 stars A very solid album from the Alan Parsons Project.......2006-11-02

This 1980 album makes for a very pleasant listening experience and nicely balances dreamy synth heavy pop with the more symphonic approach demonstrated on albums like Tales of Mystery and Imagination (1976). Come to think of it, I don't feel that there are any weak moments - the album is well-paced and the pieces all work together. The tracks on The Turn of a Friendly Card range from the excellent, Pink Floydish sounding and moody song Time (with excellent vocals by Eric Woolfson) to the lengthy, multi-movement, The Turn of a Friendly Card suite. There is also an instrumental on this album (The Gold Bug) that is actually quite good. In general, all of the pieces are very well written and played and the different vocalists work well with the tracks they were selected for. There is also greater use of an orchestra on this album (especially on the title track) although perhaps not as heavy as the orchestra was used on Tales of Mystery and Imagination. All in all, this is a great album of symphonic pop that is recommended along with Tales of Mystery and Imagination; I, Robot (1977); and Pyramid (1978).

4 out of 5 stars Well Crafted.......2006-09-03

The Turn of a Friendly Card proved to be a very successful album, going Platinum and spending over a year on the Charts. This is the 5th release for the band and it obviously shows that the group has matured, offering well crafted pop and rock songs.
Very well recommended album.
Other albums I recommend for the band:
Eye in the Sky
Vulture Culture

5 out of 5 stars It Doesn't Get Any Better Than This!.......2006-08-05

The duo of Eric Woolfson and Alan Parsons, better known as The Alan Parsons Project, produced ten studio albums from 1976 through 1987. The pair always had a theme with each album, crafting each song to comform to the subject matter. "The Turn of a Friendly Card," produced in 1980, contains their most easily accessible theme - the addiction to gambling. The album spawned two hits: "Games People Play," a fast rocker and the ballad, "Time."

My dad exposed me to this album in the early 1980's and it is by far my favorite (I own all of their albums but two). It is replete with amazing orchestration, masterfully arranged by Andrew Powell, a long-time friend of Alan Parsons. The melodies are the the most addicting, the title track being my favorite tune. Lyrically, the album is extremely poetic, with similies and analogies strung throughout. Of course, no Alan Parsons album would be complete without an instrumental. This one contains two, my favorite being "The Gold Bug." It's a piece, like Pachebel's canon, that builds on a bassline (better known as a passacaglia) for each verse, culminating in an awesome sax solo. The other instrumental, entitled "Ace of Swords," is really an orchestral piece, utilizing mixed meter and a cool harpsichord part.

As a public-school music teacher, I have often used this album as a listening example for my band and choir classes. Roughly 70% of the kids like the album (even though it is 20+ years old) because it speaks to any age level, both musically and thematically. I believe any "Projectologist" will agree - this album is the best place to start! Enjoy!

4 out of 5 stars Money...Get Away.......2006-07-15


Having listened to the majority of albums by THE ALAN PARSON'S PROJECT its impossible to not be aware of the sentimentality and melodrama at the heart of the music. Considering Parson's emerged from engineering duties for amongst others PINK FLOYD one may have expected a little edge to the compositions. But even on potentially atmospheric and dark concept pieces like TALES OF MYSTERY AND IMAGINATION the overall impression is just to bright. I think TURN OF A FRIENDLY CARD is just about the best synthesis of Parson's production excesses and ERIC WOOLFSON'S syrupy lyrical style. Where things fall down is when the bombast and drama of the music make way for such lyrical ideas. Fortunately on the superb track NOTHING LEFT TO LOSE, Parson's wisely accompanies the wonderful lyrics with a simple acoustic guitar. This track remains for me the finest accomplishment of the Project. Also excellent are the title track (itself a big hit single in the USA) and yet another Edgar Allan Poe effort THE GOLD BUG, which has an atmospheric spaghetti western quality to it. The first four tracks are as one would expect, relatively dull and over-produced, even the epic TIME just doesn't quite satisfy. The Project are on firmer and safer ground with hypnotic instrumentals and minimalist production values. Unfortunately this combination is rare. As for concept, the album is interesting, with outstanding cover artwork. And also listen out for the intro to SNAKE EYES, which is surely a tongue in cheek reference to MONEY.
Eye in the Sky
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • The Alan Parsons Project's most famous album gets a royal treatment for its 25th anniversary
  • Entering the pop era
  • Eye in the Sky is brilliance... but the remaster... not so much
  • Cinematic Genius
  • Uno de los mejores
 Eye in the Sky
Alan Parsons Project
Manufacturer: Sony Legacy
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

GeneralGeneral | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Pop | Styles | Music
Soft RockSoft Rock | Pop | Styles | Music
Pop RockPop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Rock | Styles | Music
Progressive RockProgressive Rock | Progressive | Rock | Styles | Music
Album-Oriented Rock (AOR)Album-Oriented Rock (AOR) | Classic Rock | Styles | Music
Similar Items:
  1. I Robot
  2. Vulture Culture
  3. The Turn of a Friendly Card
  4. Tales of Mystery and Imagination
  5. Pyramid

ASIN: B000IOM1Y6
Release Date: 2007-03-20

Tracks:

  1. Sirius
  2. Eye In The Sky
  3. Children Of The Moon A
  4. Gemini
  5. Silence And I
  6. You're Gonna Get Your Fingers Burned
  7. Psychobabble
  8. Mammagamma (Instrumental)
  9. Step By Step
  10. Old And Wise
  11. Sirius (Demo)
  12. Old & Wise (Eric Woolfson guide vocal)
  13. Any Other Day (Studio Demo)
  14. Silence & I (Early version; Eric Woolfson guide vocal)
  15. The Naked Eye
  16. Eye Pieces (Classical Naked Eye)

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars The Alan Parsons Project's most famous album gets a royal treatment for its 25th anniversary.......2007-07-04

The Alan Parsons Project released its sixth album in as many years entitled Eye in the Sky in June of 1982.
The album was the first since late 1980's Turn of a Friendly Card. Whilst that album had its moments (Games People Play and Time), the album had not been as successful. In 1981, Alan Parsons (well known engineer and producer who had worked with The Beatles as a tape operator and engineered Pink Floyd's Atom Heart Mother and classic Dark Side of the Moon and produced albums for Pilot, The Hollies and Al Stewart) and collaborator Eric Woolfson began work on Eye in the Sky with musicians that were bass player David Paton and guitarist Ian Bainson formerly of the band Pilot (famed for its 1975 hit "Magic") and drummer Stuart Elliott (famed for his work on Al Stewart's Year of the Cat and Time Passages albums and on Paul McCartney's 1984 hit "No More Lonely Nights"). When the album was released, it was right in the middle of New Wave and schlock pop ala Air Supply time. Would this album be a classic or seen as a relic of the past, read on and find out as I did recently.
We open the album with the instrumental "Sirius". What a great opener. i first heard this piece when former WWE wrestler Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat used this music as his entrance theme during his 1986/1987 tenure with WWE (formerly World Wrestling Federation). Since then, "Sirius" has been used by sports teams such as The Chicago Bulls for its entrance music and sampled by Diddy (a/k/a Puff Daddy a/k/a P Diddy a/ka Sean Combs) on his The Saga Continues album. We then segue into the album's title cut and Parsons Project's biggest hit. The track, sung by Eric Woolfson, got its name from Woolfson hearing that phrase whilst in the US to describe air traffic, surveilance cameras and every other device. Next is "Children of the Moon" which is sung by ex-Pilot frontman and APP bass player David Paton and it's a great song about the death of culture (which still holds up today). We segue into the short but sweet "Gemini" sung by Chris Rainbow. The first half closes with the epic "Silence and I", which was sung by Woolfson. The piece harkens back to some of the classic prog sounds of I Robot. What a great piece.
Next is the rocker "You're Gonna Get Your Fingers Burned" which was sung by Lenny Zatatek (whose voice was dominant on songs like "I Wouldn't Want to Be Like You" and "Games People Play"). What a great rocker. Next is the album's other sing "Psychobabble" sung by Elmer Gentry. This piece is another winner. Next is the album's second and last intrumental called "Mammagamma". Whilst it sounds like something that could have been used on the soundtrack to Scarface, the piece had more b*lls and passion than anything that Giorgio moroder could have come up with. Next is another Zatatek sung piece called "Step by Step" whcih is another great piece. We close the album with possibly my favorite APP track ever, the ballad "Old and Wise". The track's orchestrations is so powerful that it can actually bring tears to your eyes hearing it. The track is sung by former Zombies frontman Colin Blunstone and this is his best lead vocal EVER done (surpassing anything he recorded pre-1982). The track ends with the most powerful alto saxophone solo ever recorded by famed saxophonist Mel Collins (who has worked with people from King Crimson to Eric Clapton to Roger Waters to Bad Company and The Rolling Stones) and his ending solo playing with the orchestra and band even had brought tears to my eyes as it is the most moving piece I had ever heard (and I hardly ever cry but something about this makes me shed tears of joy).
The album became the APP's biggest selling album here in the US and reached the US Top 10.
Now, the album was rereleased and superbly remastered by Parsons himself with Dave Collins and features SIX bonus tracks including demos for "Sirius" and "any Other Day". Plus the Eric Woolfson guide vocals for "Old and Wise" and "Silence and I". Then the rough mix medleys dubbed "Naked Eye" and "Classical Eye". These tracks are excellent different looks of each of the album's tracks.
Recommended!

4 out of 5 stars Entering the pop era.......2007-06-20

After several progressively influenced concept albums, the APP returned strongly with "Eye In The Sky". It was a welcome return to form after the synth-heavy, boring "Eve", even though Eye is more pop than anything else they had recorded at this point. Eye really points to the future sound APP would go for on subsequent releases. The material is very good, and the final song "Old And Wise" should send chills down the spine of anyone with a pulse.

The remastered version adds quite a lot of brilliance and air to the recording when compared to the original Arista release.

3 out of 5 stars Eye in the Sky is brilliance... but the remaster... not so much.......2007-06-02

It's Eye in the Sky after all... it was a great album. Had a lot of ups, a couple downs as the album gets a little to poppish with "Step by Step". Overall, this is the most successful Alan Parsons Project album and also one of the best albums as well for that band.

But this review is about the remaster. The improved sound quality... what improved sound quality? The music on the original CD sounds almost identical to the new release (granted... this isn't a "remix"). So if you are looking to really step it up a notch with this CD, unless you are going from tape to CD, you aren't getting a noticeable sound improvement here. Granted, I don't own a $2000 sound system, so maybe for them, it is improved, but for most people, I don't think they'll appreciate any new quality to the sound.

That said, the extra tracks are indeed interesting. The best being the two last tracks. The first of those two is a conglomeration of studio recordings in the process of developing the songs. The second is a conglomeration of the orchestral music developed for the songs. These two tracks are really cool to listen to. It seems apparent that the Alan Parsons Project didn't have B sides, because there are no extra songs really as part of the additional tracks. You'll just be hearing first / second draft recordings of some of the songs. The experience is really neat.

The other additional feature is added material in the CD booklet. Pics and stuff from the mind of Alan Parsons and Eric Wolfson. Perhaps the only thing that would have been nicer was contributions from the other members or guest members of the band, but all in all, the additional material given in the booklet definitely is nice.

To round it out, overall, you aren't getting too much from this. You'll read the booklet once or twice, you won't be able to listen to the raw tracks that often like you could the album itself and as I noted, at least from my experience from Eye in the Sky (and I Robot), these remasters aren't particularly ground shattering in their remastery (you can go pretend that's a word ;)).

Luckily, the price isn't expensive. Whoever was in charge of the releases had mercy and realized they weren't giving us much we hadn't already had. To me the most important thing is the sound! So buying up all these new remasters probably won't be my plan. However, if you really want to hear the additional tracks, especially the "naked" tracks and appreciate the material put into the CD booklets, you won't be wasting your money.

4 out of 5 stars Cinematic Genius.......2007-05-12

The Alan Parsons Project hit their greatest commercial pinnacle with "Eye In The Sky," the only album other than "I Robot" to reach the top ten. It was also the moment that the revolving members of APP centralized the two main strengths of their albums: concept and songcraft. "Eye In The Sky" is so creamily melodic that it's almost easy to miss the underlying concept of intrusive surveillance. Probably more than any other APP CD, this is where the Adult Contemporary sound that eventually dominated Parson's following efforts took hold.

That is not to say the songs are lacking. As usual, they are tunefully hooky and usually memory grabbers, like the title track. The opening instrumental "Sirius" became the introductory theme for thousands of athletic events, and "Psychobabble" is the obligatory prog-rock song aimed directly at 80's AOR Radio. (Actually, the other song in the vein, "You're Gonna Get Your Fingers Burned," is the weakest song on the CD.) As on previous CD's, the highlights include ballads. On "Eye In The Sky," it's "Old and Wise" with ex-Zombie Colin Blunstone on the lead vocal. One of the discs' more interesting extras is Eric Woolfson's vocal demo on that particular number.

The bonus tracks are indicative of just how much work Parsons and Woolfsons put into their music. While "Eye In The Sky" plays almost like a soundtrack to a movie never produced, the demos show the tinkering that goes on before the final, lush and cinematic sound is crystallized. (Frankly, I like the album enough to have not needed to hear works in progress.) But now that "Eye In The Sky" and "I Robot" have been given their sonically upgraded due, it's a joy to hear the kind of mastery Parsons and company put into this soft-rock marvel.

I am now hoping for the eventual remastered versions of "Pyramid," "Eve" and "Turn Of A Friendly Card."

5 out of 5 stars Uno de los mejores.......2007-04-06

Gracias a este cd, fue que comencé a escuchar a alan parsons project, hace como 10 años estaba escuchando en la radio eye in the sky un sabado en la mañana mientras iba a trabajar en la construccion de una planta de exraccion de petroleo, me gusto mucho y me sorprendió cuando dijero que era alan parsons, ya que pensaba que alan parsons eran puras baladitas de amor tipo air supply. Resulta que me compre el disco, y da la casualidad de que tenia otra gran cancion que me gustaba de siempre, pero no sabia que era de alan parsons, la cual es old and wise, me siento tan satisfecho con la compra de este disco, que tengo casi toda la coleccion, me falta solo freudiana, time machine y gaudi que no se consiguen. Acabo de comprar la reedicion de este disco, que trae nuevas canciones ineditas. Alan Parsons es uno de los pocos artistas que he escuchado, los cuales me gustan todas las canciones de todos los discos, eso, es bastante complicado de lograr.
Tales of Mystery and Imagination
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • ... just when I was wondering for the meaning of perfection...
  • Casting a dark shadow
  • Para mi, junto con I Robot, son los mejores
  • Poe Fan
  • They should have left it alone
 Tales of Mystery and Imagination
Alan Parsons Project
Manufacturer: Island / Mercury
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

GeneralGeneral | Rock | Styles | Music
Progressive RockProgressive Rock | Progressive | Rock | Styles | Music
Pop RockPop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music
Album-Oriented Rock (AOR)Album-Oriented Rock (AOR) | Classic Rock | Styles | Music
Similar Items:
  1. Pyramid
  2. The Turn of a Friendly Card
  3. Eve
  4. I Robot
  5. Ammonia Avenue

ASIN: B000001FN3
Release Date: 1990-10-25

Tracks:

  1. A Dream Within A Dream (Instrumental)
  2. The Raven
  3. The Tell-Tale Heart
  4. The Cast Of Amontillado
  5. (The System of) Doctor Tarr And Professor Fether
  6. I Prelude
  7. II Arrival
  8. III Intermezzo
  9. IV Pavane
  10. V Fall
  11. To One In Paradise

Amazon.com essential recording

As unlikely as the idea seems today to use the suspense-filled stories of Edgar Allan Poe as the basis for an album of rock tunes, listeners in the 1970s--who were barraged with such high-flown concepts during the heyday of prog-rock--turned the record into a major hit. The Project actually scored a Top 40 hit with "(The System of) Doctor Tarr and Professor Feather." Thanks to FM radio overplay, however, "The Raven" is probably the album's best-known track today. The 1987 CD version of "ToMaI" differs somewhat from the original vinyl. Parsons dropped in synthesizer parts to modernize the album, and added an opening recitation by Orson Welles. But the integrity of the original is maintained well enough, and the album remains a classic excuse to dim the lights, pour a glass of sherry (amontillado, natch), and break out the headphones. --Daniel Durchholz

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars ... just when I was wondering for the meaning of perfection..........2007-06-29

Luis Mejia (son)- Although the incredible duo of Parsons and Woolfson has always released all their albums alike, this is truly an incredible debut for Alan Parsons in the world of bands. He shows the great experience of being a music engineer. No one expected but less, this album is musically complex, serious and about (casually) my favorite writter, Edgar Allan Poe. Even when it was the last album I heard of them, mainly because it wasn't that famous, I knew in that instant that it was their best. The songs that explode the album's potential are A Dream Within A Dream and The Raven, being both a sound innovation, with electronical arrangements and voice distortion, a mild orchestra and best of all the incredible voice of Alan Parsons. Another song that is expectacular is The Cask Of Amontillado, even though the music is mostly played by an orchestra ,the lyrics about the poem and the incredible voice applied is amazing. The Fall Of The House Of Usher is a song that shouts in every aspects how Parsons know what he's doing, almost a classical composition.

How to forget The Tell-Tale Heart, even when it doesn't express the tension and horror of the poem and it's situation, is another song that fits perfectly. To One In Heaven and (The System Of) Doctor Tarr and Professor Fether are very popular songs among all their works, appreciated later in time 'cause the album wasn't very popular at the time of the release, but this 2 songs show Parson's inclination to pop and to more comprehensible and soft sounds later expressed in his other works.

The album also starts a long time collaboration and friendship with the singers John Miles and Chris Rainbow. Being a dark, cultural piece it differences a lot from the other of the Project's albums such as Eye In The Sky, but it shoes every little aspect that The Alan Parsons Project showed through their later career.

3 out of 5 stars Casting a dark shadow.......2007-05-16

The first of The Alan Parsons Project albums set the footprint for his career to follow: choose a concept and then base progressive, highly structured and immaculately produced music around it. In the case of "Tales Of Mystery," it was Edgar Allan Poe. My original copy of this was on vinyl, a reissue of the 20th Century Records release with a second version of the cover, depicting a bust of Parsons somewhat wrapped in mummy-bandages. (The long shadow on the CD cover minus the mummy photos was the original cover.) Featuring several of APP's soon to be regular cast, collaborator Eric Woolfson and members of the groups Ambrosia (Parsons produced the debut "Ambrosia") and Pilot, it was the kind of album that got labeled "head music" in the seventies. Perfect for listening to with headphones or while hanging out with friends in a room full of black light posters while probably not 100% sober.

Some 30 years later and more often sober while listening to CD's, this album holds up well for its first half. The trademarks of APP appear in songs like "The Raven" and the instrumental "Dream Within A Dream." There was even a minor hit single as "The System Of Doctor Tarr and Professor Feather" slipped into the lower reaches of the top 40. The album's final Beatlesque ballad, "To One In Paradise," sounds worthy of Abby Road and is indicative of hits to come - think of "Time."

On the other hand, the 15 minute "The Fall Of The House Of Usher" is a soundtrack in search of a video accompaniment. While a younger and more - ummm... - 'stimulated' imagination might have filled in the picture, it now just sounds like background buzz. While I don't mind the stentorian narration Parsons added from Orson Welles for the 1987 CD release, the additional synthesizers and solo guitars are an irritant. They could have left well-enough alone, but since CD technology was the shiny new thing at the time, I don't blame Parsons for wanting to tweak the new version. After all, I still have my 12 inch vinyl.

As far as its place in the APP discography, I probably prefer "I Robot," "Pyramid" and "Eye in the Sky" ahead of "Tales Of Mystery." But for shear audacity (mixing classics of literature with rock music was considered pretty risky in 1976), the Alan Parsons Project debut still can stimulate.

5 out of 5 stars Para mi, junto con I Robot, son los mejores.......2007-04-06

Este disco tiene la particularidad, de que su concepto es basado en los cuentos de edgar allan poe. La introduccion narrada por orson welles es genial, (yo solo la sustituiria por Vincent price, ya que el actuo muchos de los cuentos de poe), luego vienen 3 de las canciones que mas me gustan de toda la discografias de APP, esta son The raven , tell tale heart y cast of amontillado, que dicho sea de paso, son, junto con el asesinato de la rue morge y el pozo y el pendulo, los cuentos de poe que mas me gustan.

Este fue el segundo disco que compre de APP, y sin duda alguna, junto con el de I robot, son mis preferidos.

5 out of 5 stars Poe Fan.......2007-03-31

If you're a Poe fan and you grew up in the 70's....well, need I say more? Is and always has been an GREAT album and cool tribute to the Master of Horror.

4 out of 5 stars They should have left it alone.......2007-01-09

I love this album. I'm one of the relative few who bought it when it first came out in 1976. But they really shouldn't have messed with it when they decided to release a remastered version. Yes, I love the Orson Welles narration that they added, but the new guitar parts really annoy me. For anyone who listened endlessly to the original LP, the new guitar parts sound very 80's and stand out in a bad way. I wish people would learn to leave well enough alone. Other than the cheesy guitar parts (and the final, totally boring, song), it's a classic album. It's too bad APP went commercial on their next LP, but it happens to the best of them.

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