Alan Parsons - From the new World

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Is this album 'From the new World' ?

Alan Parsons is set to release his new studio album ‘From the new World’, so we thought we would have a listen to it. The eleven time Grammy nominee is a Classic Rock / Prog Rock icon is his own right with a career spanning fifty years. He is most famous for his band The Alan Pasrsons Project, which he started after working in the studios at Abbey Road as an engineer. Two of the biggest albums he worked on in his time there was for The Beatles, he worked on 'Abbey Road' and 'Let it Be'. You would think that this would be enough, but no it wasn't Alan Parsons made his name known as a recording artist in his own right. And became one of the most respected Rock musicians of the last sixty years.

The Alan Parsons Project had over twelve studio albums, depends if you count the live albums ext. And as just Alan Parsons he has released music too, his last last studio album being called ‘The Secret’ which was released back in 2019. Yes! just as we were going into lockdowns and the pandemic, so he has had a little time to record his brand new studio album ‘From the new World’. This album is a showcase of the Classic Rock he is most known for with progressive melodies and Symphonic sounds, he has not changed that much more the years. He does what he is best at, which is beautiful melodies and unusal sounds.

The song 'Uroboros' is a masterpiece, in my opinion. This track shows Alan Parsons at his best, and I think Alan is at his best with the people he chooses to collaborate with. On the new album he has guest appearances which include guitar virtuoso Joe Bonamassa, and vocalists Tommy Shaw (STYX), David Pack (Ex-Ambrosia), and American Idol alumni James Durbin.

Check Out! the Video for 'Uroboros' Feat. Tommy Shaw (STYX) Below...

Listening to the album I can tell Parsons is showcasing his passion for all things music and stuck to his main fan base. The album is filled with a variety of sounds throughout time. You will appreciate the talent and production that has been put into this. My favourite song on the album is track nine 'Halos', which you can listen to at the bottom of this page. My favourite moment in the song is when halfway through it takes of into an instrumental that is just epic.

The album opens with ‘Fare thee Well’ a light Rock ballad which begins a slow dramatic instrumental. It really caught my attention from the off, it's a great way to start an album off. I feel it’s a well written song and sets a nice tone encaptivating the audience for the rest of the album,  There are so many different sounds from song to song you can’t pinpoint any particular artist as a main influence. You could almost say Alan Parsons is an influence on others in his own right, but sadly the album in my opinion doesn't really draw me in at some points. And I don't really find myself remembering some of the tracks after the first couple of listens, it isn't an instant grabber... but an album I think you might have on in the background. All the songs have their merit in different ways from 'I won't be led Astray', 'Obstacles' to 'The Secret' which has some very nice moments to it.

Yes! the musicianship is great, but is Alan Parsons doing anything new on this album?. I think he has gone to what he is comfortable with doing, like on the last song on the album on ‘Be my Baby’. This song is a nice touch, but it is nothing that new. I think this is an album for fans of Alan Parsons, and The Alan Parsons Project... I don't think he will gain that many new fans from it. But does that really matter, he has his audience now. He has built up a selection of loyal fans over the last sixty years, and I think he is doing his music for them. And I think that is a beautiful thing, if it's not broke... no need to fix it. So if you are a fan of Alan Parsons you are going to enjoy this album.

Review by Matt Gardiner

Check Out! the lyric Video for 'Halos' Below...