Customer Reviews

Gaudi

5 star:		(16)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

As most of Alan Parsons' albums are, this is a concept album constructed around a central theme. As ALL Alan Parsons albums are, it is also far more than that: it is the tale of a man named Antonio Gaudi. Don't bother; you've probably never heard of him. Antonio Gaudi was an architect who was AT LEAST a century ahead of his time. He did not simply create buildings; his buildings were ART. Go look up La Sagrada Familia, his most famous work, and the inspiration for the first track on the album. You'll see what I mean.

The first track, called "La Sagrada Familia" (which translated from Spanish means "The Sacred (or Holy) Family" is a lush, intricately constructed anthem which is also stirringly beautiful, just like the cathedral which inspired it. It should be Antonio Gaudis' epitaph.

The nearly heart-breaking song "Inside Looking Out" speaks poignantly of the hideous irony and tragedy that befell the genius Gaudi. For all his unmatched talent and vision, he is remembered, when he is remembered at all, not for his fantastic art but as the first man to be hit and killed by a bus. The song makes you know what true bitter irony is.

The second song, "Too Late", tells us of the hardships Antonio Gaudi suffered in trying to find patrons for his works. It also tells of the anger and bitterness Gaudi must have felt when, again and again, his patrons stabbed him in the back. This is an edgy, hard song that captures the mood of betrayal perfectly. It also is, I think, the perfect break-up song.

In "Closer To Heaven", you can get a feel for what it must be like to be a genius driven by visions that cannot be truly realised because the technology, the tools, and the methods don't exist yet. This song is slow and beautiful, and the frustration of a dream limited by the world is a subtle but rich undertone.

There is so much more to this album than I have room to say here. There is not, to my mind, one "candy" song on the entire album. If you have! ever wondered why the brilliant are nearly always desperately unhappy, or what drives them to try to change the world anyway, this album will explain it to you. Listen to the music, and hear the heart of a man, and the spirit of an age.

1987's "Gaudi" was the last collaboration between Alan Parsons and his musical partner Eric Woolfson under the "Alan Parsons Project" name. An album inspired by the life and works of architect Antonio Gaudi, "Gaudi" is a very rich, elegant, powerful album for the Project to go out with. "La Sagrada Familia" is a beautiful orchestral rock epic, with a great lead vocal by John Miles. Longtime Project vocalist Lenny Zakatek takes the mike on "Too Late," an awesome pop-rocker that could've been (and should've been) a huge hit for the group, though it wasn't released as a single. Eric Woolfson sings on "Closer To Heaven," a very beautiful, heavenly Project number. The lone single release from the album, "Standing On Higher Ground," is a very cool, catchy tune, sung by Geoff Barradale of the mid-80's group Vitamin Z (remember them?). John Miles returns for another lead vocal on "Money Talks," which is a great, down & dirty rocker. Woolfson then returns once more for the lovely "Inside Looking Out," and the album concludes on a very high note with a short instrumental reprise of "La Sagrada Familia," featuring excellent spanish guitar by Project veteran Ian Bairnson. As always on a Project album, the performances, production and sound quality are sharp & superior, and the outstanding orchestral touches by Andrew Powell is the icing on an already delicious musical cake.Alan Parsons did, in fact, work with Eric Woolfson one last time on Woolfson's 1990 concept album, "Freudiana," before the duo finally went their separate ways ("Freudiana" is only available on import, but it's an absolutely brilliant, MUST-buy CD for diehard Project fans). Parsons has since gone solo (though he's retained the services of several Project members for his latest albums), while Woolfson has since gone into the world of musical theater, writing & producing several musicals that have been performed throughout Europe. But these two men have created together some of the most fantastic music I've ever heard (and are STILL making fantastic music on their own these days), and "Gaudi" is a gorgeous, dazzling, memorable album to close out the Alan Parsons Project with. Thank you Alan, Eric, and the rest of the Project gang---long live the Project!

I let this Alan Parons Project album sit on a shelf for the longest time. I don't know why. After I focused my attention on it and the man Gaudi himself I was most impressed with the music.
The architech Antoni Gaudi was a genius of the highest order and his still-ongoing work in Barcelona is evidence of that. This album led me to to know and appreciate this man's work.
I like the songs, each of which reflect an aspect of Gaudi's work on the Sagrada Familia Cathedral. I wondered why Money Talks was on this collection until I read that Gaudi, in his later days, spent much time trying to raise funds for his masterpiece.
This is a most-excellent Parsons album. Do yourself a favor. Get this CD and then spend some time learning about Gaudi himself.

I have never really cared for musical categories myself; I know what I like and that's what counts ! I don't care if this is "conceptual prog rock" or "anthemic/dramatic rock"---It's just awesome music (and it rocks) ! Not even Meatloaf music writer Jim Steinman has anything over these guys from the APP...

Alan Parsons and crew take the listener on quite a journey with this production. I have to say that it is one of the better "updated" projects (though many will argue that his first 3 albums from the 70's were the pinnacle or real classics---and they are, but for that era). Though Gaudi was released in the late 80's and may have that 80's rock sound, it still holds up so damn well in 2003. All vocals are strong and powerful and only convey that much more of a musical force for the theme of the album. It's also an ingenious touch to add the soothing sound of a wailing saxophone in some tracks without turning the whole event into mush muzak; it works very well indeed! In whole, got the impression I was in Barcelona, Spain on an actual tour of Gaudi's Cathedral !

With this smoother, deeper and even religious-flavoured album the Alan Parsons Project culmined a superb string of 10 records that made history in Symphonic Rock. The concept about it is the life of Catalan architect Antonio Gaudi that was a very misunderstood artist and is curiously been studied by the Vatican for beatification. Alan Parsons said on a review that they studied Gaudi's life and they wanted to make a record with the type of music they guessed he would like.

'La Sagrada Familia', with its long introduction that adds a speech from Alan Parsons, many sounds like horses, helicopters and city sounds and a beautiful opening electric piano, lasts almost 9 minutes and is one of the biggest highlights from all the Project. The superb leading vocals of John Miles, the epic feel of either lyrics and orcherstrations and the great guitar work of Bairnson and Cottle on electric guitar and saxophone turn this song into a spectacular epic not so commercial or famous because of its length, but with as much quality as the best works from Pink Floyd or Dire Straits...

'Too Late' is for me the best Project song together with 'One More River' sang by the eccentric vocalist Lenny Zakatek. The song speaks about the anger of disappointment of a person speaking to other about their unbalanced relation. The prominent electric guitars and the superb distorted solo from Ian Bairnson make this song a perfect rocker full of power and quality.

'Closer to Heaven' is a beautiful ballad with a very original, pulsy rythm and a very sensitive singing by Eric Woolfson. Again the saxophone and guitar work together creating a wonderful and sublime instrumental part. Also, the beautiful accordions in the chorus add sentiment to the song.

The very synthesised and 80s sounding 'Standing on Higher Ground' adds a lot of freshness and rythm to the album. It is a song that goes in crescendo and includes a short but outstanding overdubbed guitars solo. The end is really intense and guitars and voices scream in a very enthusiastic and delirious mood.

The rocker 'Money Talks' is more disposable and predictable and speaks about the traps of money all we now in a too shallow way.

'Inside Looking Out' is a very sublime, almost heavenly ballad, showing I suppose some of the dreams and wanderings of Antonio Gaudi, with some beautiful words in the chorus:

'Now is the hour and the moment
Don't let the chance go by
Your ship is sailing with the high tide
And all your dreams are on the inside
On the inside looking out'

The last piece, 'Paseo de Gracia' is more than only the instrumental version of 'La Sagrada Familia'. The city sounds, synthesisers and church bells at the beginning create an atmosphere of either dream and reality, and the great flamenco guitar performance from Ian Bairnson add a last Spanish flavour to the album, the anecdote being they didn't know the historic and political difference of Catalonia and the rest of Spain at that moment, and the adding of castanets and flamenco guitar annoyed the Catalans a lot 'cos they felt it as a misunderstanding of their own musical and cultural traditions...

Apart from the anecdote, this is a great close for this record, that appears to any listener as a masterpiece and one of the best conceived and more serious Alan Parsons Project albums.

I've been a fan of the Alan Parsons Project for years and years, but had been unfamiliar with this album until very recently, when I added it to my APP CD collection. As it turns out, the only song I had heard before, "Standing On Higher Ground," turned out to be my least favorite of the album.

"Gaudi" starts out on an intense, anthemlike (I think someone else used that word for this song; it's just so appropriate!) note with "La Sagrada Familia". I've always liked APP's use of several different lead vocalists, depending on the mood of the song, and John Miles' emotional range, from wistful and smooth to rough and yearning, fits this song perfectly. One can almost sense the frustrated genius behind the unfinished masterpiece of Gaudi's cathedral.

My second personal favorite is "Closer to Heaven." Once again, the images of soaring spires comes to mind as Eric Woolfson's pensive vocals wonder "is this the real world or a fool's paradise?"

"Too Late" is a more traditional offering from APP. Even after I educated myself somewhat about Antonio Gaudi, I'm still not sure what APP was trying to say with this song, but it's enjoyable. Lenny Zakatek is a less frequent lead vocalist, but a good one.

The instrumental "Paseo de Gracia" is as beautiful as any of APP's other instrumental works (check out their "Instrumental Works" CD!) and picks up elements of "La Sagrada Familia" and other songs on the album.

The only song I don't really care for is "Money Talks," even though it makes use of the talented John Miles. I think it's just the style of music that doesn't appeal to me. Don't let that dissuade you, though; APP has created, through structure and design, an elegant tribute to Antonio Gaudi and his works.

I first heard "Closer To Heaven" in an episode of the all-time great "Miami Vice" television series and was captured by not only how it was used in the show but by the greatness of the crafted song itself, beautifully delivered in smooth,soft fashion with Eric Woolfson singing. This great song turned me on to "Gaudi", an album inspired by the life and works of Catalan Architect, Antonio Gaudi. Though not one of Alan Parsons most consistent works in respects to his concept "formula", the 7-track album does contain some of his best work. The 8:44 "Ode" to Antonio Gaudi, "La Sagrada Familia", is spiritually powerful. "Too Late" and "Standing On Higher Ground" is typical Parsons formula craft with catchy, pop melodies with meaningful messages in the lyrics. Besides the great "Closer To Heaven", the emotional, heartfelt ballad "Inside Looking Out" is a Parsons classic as well. Only the irritating "Money Talks" is a throw away. Overall, "Gaudi" on CD is worth the purchase.

Inspired by the life and work of Catalan architect Antonio Gaudi, who conceived the Sagrada Familia Cathedral in Barcelona, 'Gaudi' is an amazing album. In fact tracks like the 8:44 "La Sagrada Familia," "Closer to Heaven," and "Inside Looking Out" (the latter two sung by one of the greatest vocalists ever, Eric Woolfson) are almost too perfect. I find myself thinking, "this music is way above my music listening sophistication...now where's my copy of Turn of a Friendly Card..." Then there is the addicting beat of "Too Late," the more mainstream "Standing on Higher Ground," and the fun rocker "Money Talks." There are only 7 tracks on this album, but they are all quality. Even the instrumental at the end ties up the album very well. Aside from Freudiana, Gaudi is Eric Woolfson's last album with Parsons and the "Project" has never been the same since. One can only imagine what could have been had this brilliant duo continued. No APP collection should be without this rather overlooked masterpiece.

The Alan Parsons Project's "Gaudi" has had a firm place in my personal top 10 albums of all-time since I first heard it in 1987. This is a truly unique concept album, based on an unlikely subject for a rock-n-roll band,...the life and art of an underappreciated Spanish architect! I know that it sounds strange on paper, but this album really WORKS in a big, emotional way! The way that Parsons has worked bits and pieces of Spanish influence into some of the tracks is quite nice, I especially the unique percussion sound that I lovingly call "electric castinets". Since this is an Alan Parsons album, you can count on a lot of stylistic variety, and "Gaudi" never dissapoints on that front. The album kicks off with the rousing and dynamic "La Sagrda Familia", one of Parsons longest (at almost 9 minutes) and most emotional musical statements ever. From there we here moments of pure rock like "Too Late" and "Money Talks", beautifully melodic ballads like "Closer to Haeven", a Spanish-flavored instrumental titled "Paseo De Gracia", and an 80's synth-rock classic known as "Standing on Higher Ground". The fine cast of vocalists (Lenny Zakatek, John Miles, Eric Woolfson, Geoff Barradale) add a lot of punch to their perspective tracks, and Parsons usual throng of musicians put in some of their finest work here, especially Ian Bairnson (guitar) and Stuart Elliot (drums). As usual with Parsons, the production is top-notch, with every instrument clear and audible in the mix at all times. "Gaudi" is a unique listening experience that should NOT be missed.

This was the last (of the 10) album(s) of The Alan Parsons Project, with both Alan Parsons and Eric Woolfson. Later on, some of the songs became part of Woolfson's Gaudi musical, which ran successfully at Aachen, Alsdorf and Cologne, Germany and which was televised twice in German TV (ZDF). The finale (or epilog) of the musical, featuring La Sagrada Familia, is one of most impressive finales I have ever seen, only comparable with the Vienna version of Les Miserables. Last year I had the privilege to listen to La Sagrada Familia during a special Night of the Proms Open Air Concert at Saarbruecken, with John Miles as lead singer, Alan Parsons and his group, and a huge choir. I am looking forward to my first visit to Barcelona next July to see some of Gaudi's wonderful architecture.