I Robot

[Ibby]

No, not the shitty movie with Will Smith, and no, not the great book that the movie is in no way based on...

I'm talkin' bout the Alan Parsons Project album.

This album is probably the most chill 41 minutes and 4 seconds like, ever. Nothing mellows me out like laying down, closing my eyes, and just listening to I Robot. From the technoprog of the title track to the synth-y rock of Breakdown to the FX of Total Eclipse, this album is a perfectly crafted prog masterpiece.

Anyone agree, or has nobody even heard it? Most people I talk to about it have never even heard of Alan Parsons, except in Austin Powers, but most people I talk to aren't of the, uh, age range usually associated with prog like this. In other words, they don't listen to music from before they were born.

EDIT: Oh yeah, and of course, the production is perfect... As you would expect from the man who produced Dark Side of the Moon.

[glatt]

Well, I've heard of Alan Parsons Project, but can't name anything by them/him. I remember flipping past the albums when in record stores. Picking them up and looking at them. I had a lot of free time as a teenager.

[dar512]

I'm more partial to Pyramid and Ammonia Avenue, but Robot is good too.

BTW, Parsons did the soundtrack for LadyHawke a pleasant fantasy flick. Worth a view.

[Flint]

Serious question: are there any vocals on this album? I find that vocal parts really get in the way of me digging Alan Parsons Project as much as I'd like to.

(btw: my vote for "most chill ever" is Miles Davis - In a Silent Way)

Originally Posted by Ibram

In other words, they don't listen to music from before they were born.

I was born in 1975 and I find almost the opposite to be true, in a way. Not literally though, because I love all kinds of stuff, from every era. And new, exciting things are happening all the time. But, somehow, I like what alot of bands did before I was born, after after that they sort of fizzled out, to me.

Alot of the catchy beats being re-hashed in electronica are from this pre-Flint era, but I love to go back and play them the way they were done first, by beating on actual physical objects. Now, people are even sampling themselves, writing on machines, and then going back to the instruments and playing the stuff they built out of loops of themselves! Dudes even use Boomerang samplers to play live to loops of themselves. It's a fun time to be a drummer. People understand all these different rhythmic languages because of the saturation of percussion-heavy styles, and I can whip it all out and they know what to do with it. I can blast out these super-fusion ghost-note jamborees, and people recognize how to stick to it, they don't even realize I am copping Billy Cobham, or whatever.

[MaggieL]

Liked enough to be in my playlist:

mp3/Alan_Parsons_Project/Eye_in_the_Sky
0033. Eye in the Sky (Alan Parsons Project: Eye in the Sky,1981)
Eye_in_the_Sky.mp3 4.21 MB - MPEG 1 Layer 3, 128 kbps, 44.1 kHz, Stereo 04:35
mp3/Alan_Parsons_Project/On_Air
0034. Apollo (Alan Parsons: On Air,1996)
Apollo.mp3 5.57 MB - MPEG 1 Layer 3, 128 kbps, 44.1 kHz, Stereo 06:05
0035. Fall Free (Alan Parsons: On Air,1996)
Fall_Free.mp3 4.00 MB - MPEG 1 Layer 3, 128 kbps, 44.1 kHz, Stereo 04:22
mp3/Alan_Parsons_Project/alan_parsons___try_anything_on
0036. The Three of Me (Alan Parsons: Try Anything Once,)
alan_parsons___01___the_thr.mp3 5.38 MB - MPEG 1 Layer 3, 128 kbps, 44.1 kHz, Stereo 05:52
0037. Turn It Up (Alan Parsons: Try Anything Once,)
alan_parsons___02___turn_it.mp3 5.70 MB - MPEG 1 Layer 3, 128 kbps, 44.1 kHz, Stereo 06:13
0038. Wine from the Water (Alan Parsons: Try Anything Once,)
alan_parsons___03___wine_fr.mp3 5.24 MB - MPEG 1 Layer 3, 128 kbps, 44.1 kHz, Stereo 05:43
0039. Breakaway (Alan Parsons: Try Anything Once,)
alan_parsons___04___breakaw.mp3 3.77 MB - MPEG 1 Layer 3, 128 kbps, 44.1 kHz, Stereo 04:07
0040. Mr. Time (Alan Parsons: Try Anything Once,)
alan_parsons___05___mr_time.mp3 7.59 MB - MPEG 1 Layer 3, 128 kbps, 44.1 kHz, Stereo 08:17
0041. Jigue (Alan Parsons: Try Anything Once,)
alan_parsons___06___jigue.mp3 3.12 MB - MPEG 1 Layer 3, 128 kbps, 44.1 kHz, Stereo 03:24
0042. I'm Talkin' to You (Alan Parsons: Try Anything Once,)
alan_parsons___07___i_m_tal.mp3 4.25 MB - MPEG 1 Layer 3, 128 kbps, 44.1 kHz, Stereo 04:38
0043. Siren Song (Alan Parsons: Try Anything Once,)
alan_parsons___08___siren_s.mp3 4.60 MB - MPEG 1 Layer 3, 128 kbps, 44.1 kHz, Stereo 05:01
0044. Dreamscape (Alan Parsons: Try Anything Once,)
alan_parsons___09___dreamsc.mp3 2.77 MB - MPEG 1 Layer 3, 128 kbps, 44.1 kHz, Stereo 03:01
0045. Back Against the Wall (Alan Parsons: Try Anything Once,)
alan_parsons___10___back_ag.mp3 4.25 MB - MPEG 1 Layer 3, 128 kbps, 44.1 kHz, Stereo 04:38
0046. Re-Jigue (Alan Parsons: Try Anything Once,)
alan_parsons___11___re_jigu.mp3 2.25 MB - MPEG 1 Layer 3, 128 kbps, 44.1 kHz, Stereo 02:27
0047. Oh Life (There Must Be More) (Alan Parsons: Try Anything Once,)
alan_parsons___12___oh_life.mp3 6.01 MB - MPEG 1 Layer 3, 128 kbps, 44.1 kHz, Stereo 06:34
mp3/Alan_Parsons_Project/ammonia_avenue
0048. Don't Answer Me (Alan Parsons Project: Ammonia Avenue,0)
dont_answer_me.mp3 3.85 MB - MPEG 1 Layer 3, 128 kbps, 44.1 kHz, Stereo 04:12
0049. Pipeline (Instrumental) (Alan Parsons Project: Ammonia Avenue,0)
pipeline_instrumental.mp3 3.62 MB - MPEG 1 Layer 3, 128 kbps, 44.1 kHz, Stereo 03:57
0050. Prime Time (Alan Parsons Project: Ammonia Avenue,0)
prime_time.mp3 4.64 MB - MPEG 1 Layer 3, 128 kbps, 44.1 kHz, Stereo 05:04
mp3/Alan_Parsons_Project/stereotomy
0051. Beaujolais (Alan Parsons: Stereotomy,0)
beaujolais.mp3 4.08 MB - MPEG 1 Layer 3, 128 kbps, 44.1 kHz, Stereo 04:27
0052. Chinese Whispers (Alan Parsons: Stereotomy,0)
chinese_whispers.mp3 0.93 MB - MPEG 1 Layer 3, 128 kbps, 44.1 kHz, Stereo 01:01
0053. In the real world (Alan Parsons: Stereotomy,0)
in_the_real_world.mp3 3.97 MB - MPEG 1 Layer 3, 128 kbps, 44.1 kHz, Stereo 04:20
0054. Light of the world (Alan Parsons: Stereotomy,0)
light_of_the_world.mp3 5.80 MB - MPEG 1 Layer 3, 128 kbps, 44.1 kHz, Stereo 06:19
0055. Stereotomy (Alan Parsons: Stereotomy,0)
stereotomy.mp3 6.69 MB - MPEG 1 Layer 3, 128 kbps, 44.1 kHz, Stereo 07:18
0056. Urbania (instrumental) (Alan Parsons: Stereotomy,0)
urbania_instrumental.mp3 4.57 MB - MPEG 1 Layer 3, 128 kbps, 44.1 kHz, Stereo 04:59
0057. Where's the walrus? (instrumen (Alan Parsons: Stereotomy,0)
wheres_the_walrus_instrumental.mp3 6.89 MB - MPEG 1 Layer 3, 128 kbps, 44.1 kHz, Stereo 07:31
mp3/Alan_Parsons_Project/the_alan_parsons_project___gau
0058. La Sagrada Familia (The Alan Parsons Project: Gaudi,)
the_alan_parsons_project___.mp3 8.04 MB - MPEG 1 Layer 3, 128 kbps, 44.1 kHz, Stereo 08:46
0059. Too Late (The Alan Parsons Project: Gaudi,)
the_alan_parsons_project___2.mp3 4.14 MB - MPEG 1 Layer 3, 128 kbps, 44.1 kHz, Stereo 04:31
0060. Closer To Heaven (The Alan Parsons Project: Gaudi,)
the_alan_parsons_project___3.mp3 5.39 MB - MPEG 1 Layer 3, 128 kbps, 44.1 kHz, Stereo 05:53
0061. Standing On Higher Ground (The Alan Parsons Project: Gaudi,)
the_alan_parsons_project___4.mp3 4.63 MB - MPEG 1 Layer 3, 128 kbps, 44.1 kHz, Stereo 05:03
0062. Money Talks (The Alan Parsons Project: Gaudi,)
the_alan_parsons_project___5.mp3 4.07 MB - MPEG 1 Layer 3, 128 kbps, 44.1 kHz, Stereo 04:26
0063. Inside Looking Out (The Alan Parsons Project: Gaudi,)
the_alan_parsons_project___6.mp3 5.84 MB - MPEG 1 Layer 3, 128 kbps, 44.1 kHz, Stereo 06:22
0064. Paseo De Gracia (The Alan Parsons Project: Gaudi,)
the_alan_parsons_project___7.mp3 3.47 MB - MPEG 1 Layer 3, 128 kbps, 44.1 kHz, Stereo 03:47
mp3/Alan_Parsons_Project/vulture_culture
0065. Days Are Numbers (The Travelle (Alan Parsons Project: Vulture Culture,0)
days_are_numbers_the_traveller.mp3 4.14 MB - MPEG 1 Layer 3, 128 kbps, 44.1 kHz, Stereo 04:31
0066. Hawkeye (Alan Parsons Project: Vulture Culture,0)
hawkeye.mp3 3.50 MB - MPEG 1 Layer 3, 128 kbps, 44.1 kHz, Stereo 03:49
0067. Let's Talk About Me (Alan Parsons Project: Vulture Culture,0)
lets_talk_about_me.mp3 4.12 MB - MPEG 1 Layer 3, 128 kbps, 44.1 kHz, Stereo 04:29
0068. Sooner Or Later (Alan Parsons Project: Vulture Culture,0)
sooner_or_later.mp3 4.06 MB - MPEG 1 Layer 3, 128 kbps, 44.1 kHz, Stereo 04:25
0069. Vulture Culture (Alan Parsons Project: Vulture Culture,0)
vulture_culture.mp3 4.93 MB - MPEG 1 Layer 3, 128 kbps, 44.1 kHz, Stereo

[MaggieL]

Originally Posted by Flint

Serious question: are there any vocals on this album? I find that vocal parts really get in the way of me digging Alan Parsons Project as much as I'd like to.

Most AP tracks have vocals. Some do not...Pipeline, Hawkeye, Apollo, Urbania and Where's The Walrus come to mind.

[BigV]

zomg.

6 freakin posts about the alan parsons project and NO mention of Tales of Mystery and Imagination? and you were looking for lyrics?

this scratched two itches of my youth, having had a burning obsession (still smoldering) for all things Poe and the lovely music from TAPP.

[dar512]

IIRC AA is all vocals. Pyramid has a few instrumentals; "In the Lap of the Gods" is mesmerizing. But it also is mostly vocals. I don't have a problem with the vocals. On AP albums I tend to listen to them as just another instrument.

The lyrics to Pyramania are worth a listen, though. If you have any recollection of the period when some folks thought that pyramids had "special" properties, then Pyramania is worth a couple of snorts and at least one good guffaw.

[MaggieL]

Originally Posted by dar512

IIRC AA is all vocals.

Pipeline is from AA.

And yes, I do remeber Pyramania...a very good friend of mine was heavy into both that and Kirilian photography at the time.

And drugs. :-)

I almost gave him a coronary from laughing one extremely bemushroomed evening; he was staring out the window of a darkened bedroom in a converted stable in Buckingham PA at a Harvest Moon, then became entranced by the shadow pattern cast by the window screen across the rough wooden panelled wall...

him: "Oh, wow!" (yes we did talk like that then)
me: "What?"
him: "The moon, man...it's coming in through the screen...wow."
me: "Oh...well...step back."

It took him a minute to get it, and about twenty minutes to get over it. :-)

He had "Tales of Mystery...." and also "Turn of a Friendly Card" (on vinyl, natch)...and played them on a Rabco turnntable (belt drive, linear tracking) though a pair of Phase Linear 700s into Epi 1000 towers. Really kick-ass system for its day.

Its day being approximately the year Flint was born. ;-)

[Ibby]

Flint, I was referring to other people my age... practically ignoring 45 or 50 years of rock, listening only to grunge and other angst-sludge from the 90's and beyond.

TOMAI is a great album, I have it both on vinyl (well, my mother does, though it's in storage, along with the rest of her collection, back in the states right now) and on CD/MP3. I love (The System Of) Dr. Tarr and Prof. Fether, The Cask Of Amontillado, and The Tell-Tale Heart. Though my all-time favorite TAPP song has got to be Breakdown... Or maaaaybe Don't Let It Show.