Strolling down Ammonia Avenue: A Review
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Word Count: 637
Author: Lisa A. Koosis
Uncharted Territory
Synthesized castanets! Say what? And that song, is that a ballad
or a marching song? Whoah. Hold everything. This is uncharted
territory, here.
Actually, it's just the Alan Parsons Project.
Quirky and melodic, Ammonia Avenue runs neck and neck
with Vulture Culture, another Parsons' album, in the race
for my favorite album of all time. What I like about Ammonia
Avenue and about the Project in general, is that they always
manage to surprise and entertain me. If you want music that
hasn't been done before, then it's waiting for you in Ammonia
Avenue.
There are only so many stories to tell in literature and in
music. Once they've been done once, then all that's left are
endless retellings, variations on a theme. Love, death,
heartbreak. Timeless themes, all, but I've heard them a million
times.
The Alan Parsons Project always manages to put such a spin on
their retelling of themes that I'd swear I never heard this
story told before. Sometimes, I'm not even quite sure what
they're trying to say.
Don't get me wrong. That's the biggest form of compliment I can
pay, because that's the main reason the album stands the test of
time. I can replay this album endlessly, and always take away
something different from it.
I can't count the number of times I've listened to the songs and
come away thinking, Aha! Now I get it. Then the next time I play
the album, I realize just how wrong I was, and it makes me love
the album even more.
Cosmic is my favorite way to describe the Project's music. The
lyrics always seem to have a larger than life meaning --
something just out of reach of your interpretation -- just like
that movement that you can see only out of the corner of your
eye. When you look directly at it, it's gone.
Take the title track, Ammonia Avenue for example.
Inspirational, and sweet, Ammonia Avenue is utterly
compelling, as the music rises and falls.
Is there no sign of light as we stand in the darkness/watching the sun arise? Is there no sign of life as we gaze at the waters into the strangers eyes? And who are we to criticize or scorn the things that they do? For we shall seek and we shall find Ammonia Avenue
What does it mean, exactly? What is Ammonia Avenue? I haven't the foggiest notion, but I know it's about reaching high, and about finding truths, and I always feel inspired after listening -- like I could change the world. What more could I ask for a song?
But don't they do ballads?
The Alan Parson Project does ballads better than anyone. Easy on
the ears, and often heartbreaking in their melody alone, I'm a
sucker for songs such as <i>Since the Last Goodbye</i>. In my
pre-Project days, I would have laughed if someone told me that a
group could do an effective ballad with predominantly
synthesized music, but the Alan Parsons Project does synthesized
so well that you completely forget it's synthesized.
It's easy to lose yourself in the lyrics, in the outstanding
vocals.
Okay, so what else?
Variety is the key to the Alan Parsons Project. Each song stands
solidly on its own. Where some artist's albums have a single
sound, the Alan Parsons Project has a multitude of sounds.
Prime Time might well sound like it should belong on a
totally different album than Don't answer me, and in my
opinion, this is the album's forte.
Perhaps it's the fact that there are several vocalists with a
range of styles from ultraviolet to infrared. Perhaps it's the
fact the Project doesn't do the traditional love-loss-love
songs. Perhaps it's their vague, blast-off-into-outer-space
lyrics that are so open to interpretation.
Even their instrumentals are evocative and compelling, telling
story after story with no words at all.
Perhaps it's just that this is a world-class album. Can an album
be touched and touching at the same time?
Give this one a listen.
Just remember to fasten your seatbelts. You're about to head
into uncharted territory, with synthesized castanets for your
listening pleasure.
About the Author
Lisa is an author on http://www.Writing.Com/ which is a site for Creative Writing.
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