Alan Parsons - Eve (16 tracks) +Album Reviews

As Misunderstood As Women Themselves

Parrish A. Highley | Somewhere I've Never Travelled | 12/07/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"While Eric Woolfson remembers being under the tremendous pressure of recording deadlines even as Alan Parsons remembers a recording process bedeviled by all manner of malfunctions in a foreign studio, Andrew Powell delivered the finest orchestral arrangements to ever grace a Project. In strictly musical terms, Andrew Powell made what would possibly have been a good but under-distinguished album absolutely exceptional! Songs like Winding Me Up and Damned If I Do would never be the same without Andrew Powell's orchestral touch. As such, I would strongly recommend tracking down some of Powell's other work, especially Andrew Powell and The Philharmonia Orchestra Play the Best of the Alan Parsons Project and Ladyhawke: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack.

In strictly conceptual terms, the time constraints imposed by Arista forced Woolfson to abandon his original hope of composing an album dedicated to significant women throughout history such as Joan of Arc. What remained was a far more conventional look at the fairer gender and their influence over men. The photography by Hipgnosis actually sums up the conceptual short-comings of EVE quite succinctly. Holding the male viewer in the longing of their lovely gazes, two of the three women are so subtlely marred that said flaws do not detract from their tremendous beauty. Unfortunately, the third woman is presented with an undeserved ugliness that completely overwhelms her beauty. Although never intended as universal statements, the songs You Lie Down With Dogs and I'd Rather Be A Man suffer in much the same way the third photographed woman does for much the same reason.

But, for me at least, the paradigm upon which EVE rests is the stunningly beautiful instrumental Secret Garden through which the listener glimpses the lost garden that Lesley Duncan seems to almost beckon us back to in the closing epic If I Could Change Your Mind. The poignant sorrow of Duncan's soulful vocals harken the listener back to the time when man and woman lived in perfect harmony with one another. One can only wonder how EVE would have been received all these years had it been called EDEN instead. With an instrumental overture called Lucifer, are ponderings of that sort really such a stretch?

While the bonus material once again grants a welcomed look behind the scenes of the creative process, the one song from long-fabled "The Sicilian Defence" called "Elsie's Theme" will likely cause almost anyone hearing it to wonder why it was never recorded before now. Elsie's Theme from The Sicilian Defence (The Album That Never Was) is a very adept solo piano piece by Woolfson that would be right at home on an acoustic new age program or, even, at a quietly dramatic point in a film. I would not mind hearing an entire album of Woolfson's solo piano works if they are anything like this."

Much needed remaster delivers, with great bonus tracks.

R. Mayer | Florida, USA | 10/03/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Out of all APP's albums, this one probably needed remastering the most. Now it sounds awesome and makes the original completely disposable. There's also 7 bonus tracks of demos and unreleased tracks. There's even a track from the never released album, "The Sicilian Defence". If you are a big APP fan this is a must. 3 and 1/2 for the album and a solid 5 for the remastering and bonus cuts."

The enigma and genius that is Eve......

Friendlycard | Norfolk, UK | 10/28/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Ah, the controversial one..... The Project reissue series has reached 'Eve', a controversial album ever since its release in 1979.

Let's not duck the controversy, misplaced though much of it is. The cover - more muted now in CD format than in twelve-inch vinyl - shows three veiled women who, on closer inspection, are disfigured on the shadow sides of their faces. The track titles - 'You Lie Down With Dogs', 'I'd Rather Be A Man', 'Damned If I Do', and so on - seem to underscore the controversial slant. 'Lucifer' - and references to the apple tree - hint that the Eve of the title is Adam's partner (though it now emerges that this may not have been the intention after all).

The album was never 'anti' women as such, but does give an ascerbic take on the power that women can sometimes exercise over men. It's an album about women's strengths, not weaknesses, but the lyrics are undeniably uncomfortable in places.

However, if we assess the album on its musical merits - as surely we should - it's a tour de force. Every track is superb. 'Lucifer' is a stunning, dark and haunting instrumental. Regular vocalist Lenny Zakatek puts real grit and bite into 'You Lie Down With Dogs'. 'I'd Rather Be A Man', sung by bassist David Paton, is another gem. Dave Townsend injects exquisite pathos into 'You Won't Be There', and Chris Rainbow's great vocals perfectly complement the ELO-style orchestral flare of 'Winding Me Up'. Zakatek returns for the ascerbic 'Damned If I Do', which benefits from marvellous orchestration (and was later memorably performed in classical format by Project orchestrator Andrew Powell).

Thankfully, a much softer take on women emerges in the last three tracks on the original album which, unusually for the Project, feature two female lead vocalists. 'Don't Hold Back' is beautifully performed by Clare Torry (of 'Dark Side Of The Moon' fame), 'Secret Garden' is a beautiful piece, and we conclude with another great vocal performance from Lesley Duncan on 'If I Could Change Your Mind'.

As well as being controversial, 'Eve' is sometimes disliked even by those who otherwise like the Project. As far as I'm concerned, it's a superbly crafted and innovative album which fuses great melodies, crisp lyrics, great vocal and instrumental performances and some exquisite orchestrations.

The nicely-remastered reissue contains some great bonus material, and these additional tracks are amply demonstrative of the perfectionism that went into the original production. Forget the controversy, admire and enjoy the music. A great album from a class rock act."

The Project is Unheard

Tyler Swagger | Land o cheese, wisconsin usa | 06/01/2009

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Many things in this world confuse me. The one I'd like to focus on here is that most stores don't carry this album. I can go to Best Buy and pick up every Nelly or Eiminem CD ever made, buy obscure underground albums like My Bloody Valentine (the 80's scottish group) and the complete Sonic Youth back catalouge, or even find the occasional Anthrax disk. But I couldn't find most of the APP albums anywhere!

Remastered Judas Priest? no problem. Remastered ELO? Tricky, but still available. Remastered Alan Parsons Project?

"Who?"

Now on to the review.

The Project's EVE was one of the strangest albums in their already strange series. EVE features female lead vocals on 2 songs and a series of impressive project signature songs and instrumentals that are completely different in structure from ones on their previous albums. Upon first listening it appears to feature a continuing theme of powerful women tearing down men and their retalliation. But that's only one way of hearing it, as it presents the theme and leaves the listener to interpret it their own way.

This album has all the Woolfson musical trademarks that make his music so catchy, and the orchestration seemlessly blends in and takes the lead just at the right times. Lyrics are deep (as always) but not insanely so (ala Pink Floyd).

Listening to the Project and the few other 70's and 80's groups that made great big music like this makes one wonder why there was so little of it and why everyone else made simple three beat pop hits that drone on and on through every so-called "classic Rock" station in america.

Bonus features on the remaster are few but some are very interesting. The first track is Elsie's Theme, from the Silican Defense.

For those who aren't fanatics, The Silican Defense was a concept album which was recorded at the same time as EVE. The record company rejected it and it was shelved. This is the first time that anyone outside the Project has heard any of The Silican Defense and that was a treat in itself.

The rest of the bonus tracks are alternates to the original recordings in one form or another, and although interesting, are not as special as the "Naked" bonuses on other Project remasters.

All in all, if you've never really been a fan of APP but enjoyed one or two of ther songs in the past, or if you're simply looking for something different than the junk you hear on the radio every day, then give The Alan Parsons Project back catalouge a try. You may not like all their music but APP is so diverse that it's a sure bet that you'll find at least a dozen tracks you'll love.

Also, for those who don't know, The Alan Parsons Project is a group name. It featured a rotating line up of great musicians and vocalists. The bulk of the music was written (and occasionally sung by) Eric Woolfson who was also the manager. Alan Parsons was the engineer, occasional co-writer, and played keyboards from time to time. Alan also did some back-up vocals, but rarely ever sang or played. Being that Alan put the albums together and engineered the recording it's best to say that they are an Alan Parsons Project!

"

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