Time Machine

Alan Parsons Project | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (September 28, 1999)
• Original Release Date: September 28, 1999
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Miramar
• ASIN: B00001NFFB
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (49 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #105,260 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Time Machine, Pt. 1

2. Temporalia

3. Out of the Blue

4. Call Up

5. Ignorance Is Bliss

6. Rubber Universe

7. The Call of the Wild

8. No Future in the Past

9. Press Rewind

10. The Very Last Time

11. Far Ago and Long Away

12. The Time Machine, Pt. 2

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

The more things change, the more Alan Parsons albums stay the same. It's entirely fitting that this sonically flawless opus should be called The Time Machine. Born in the excesses and conceptual frenzy of mid-'70s prog rock, Parsons's familiar methodology once again shrewdly employs an almost-star cast of musical vets to do the heavy lifting (among them vocalists Colin Blunstone, Beverly Craven, Spandau Ballet's Tony Hadley, and chief musical architect/guitarist Ian Bairnson). Meanwhile, legendary producer and engineer Parsons twiddles the knobs and slides the levers, just like the Great Oz. Fans will find that Parsons, perhaps the only producer since Phil Spector with big enough cajones to become his own virtual raison d'être, has successfully stayed his familiar course. And if the result is something akin to Pink Floyd lite meets Kenny G in the New Age aisle at your local Natural Wonders outlet, thus has it ever been. While it lyrically renders H.G. Wells's original novel all touchy-feely and virtually unrecognizable, musically it's a reaffirmation that Parsons--not Toto, Journey, or a score of lesser pretenders to the mantle--is the real godfather of corporate rock. Dust off those headphones. Jerry McCulley

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

22 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Some classic Parsons here, February 12, 2000

By 

dsrussell "greyhater" (Corona, CA. United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Time Machine (Audio CD)

Being an Alan Parsons' fan since the late 70's (I got into them by a suggestion from a friend who knew I was a big Pink Floyd fan), I was especially pleased at the release of "The Time Machine". Except for their first three or four albums, most of Alan Parsons' work takes a few plays to fully appreciate, and this one is no exception.

There is some classic Alan Parsons here, especially "Time Machine" parts 1 & 2, and "Out of the Blue". A few cuts take many listenings before they grew on me, but all-in-all this is a very solid set, except for "Call Up", which I feel is annoying at best. I found "Ignorance is Bliss" to be especially wonderful after a few plays.

Their entire body of work is amazingly impressive, so much so, that it is difficult picking out a favorite, or least favorite. Every album, even those I first thought of as weak, I just wouldn't want to be without.

In a time where my favorite groups have disbanded, retired, or are rarely visible (Pink Floyd, Supertramp, ELO, Moody Blues, etc.), it's a joy to see Alan Parsons still creating and touring. Between 1 and 10, "The Time Machine" gets a solid 8.

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Ignore the Complainers! Alan Parsons is STILL a genius!, June 11, 2000

By 

Jeffery K. Matheus (Indianapolis, IN United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Time Machine (Audio CD)

I have been listening to Alan Parsons since his first album in 1977, so I am no newcomer to the man and his music. However, unlike many of the dissillusioned people who have posted reviews on here (I wonder how many times they played this album before reviewing it?) I believe that Mr. Parsons has some of his best music in the 90's. His previous works this decade, "Try Anything Once" and "On Air", are every bit as strong as as the Project classics of the 70's & 80's, perhaps better in some ways. Now "The Time Machine" continues the AP tradition, albums of pure creativity, with lots of musical variety along the way to keep things interesting. Unlike some, I don't miss Eric Woolfson's presence much at all here. Eric was (and is) a great talent, of course, but with other great talents in his place the band has produced some of their finest work ober these last three albums. Guitarist Ian Bairnson is a real standout on this disc!

12 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars "Time Machine" A Step Forward, January 21, 2000

By 

[e-mail] (Missouri, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Time Machine (Audio CD)

"Time Machine" is a big improvement over 1998's lackluster "On Air." Although there are no songs that equal their best, especially their last great song "Oh Life" from 1993's "Try Anything Once," there are still some nice additions to the Parsons catalog. The title is appropriate as this collection both recalls past efforts and moves forward with some interesting additions. Recalling the past are the interesting instrumentals (more of which are included here than in recent CDs) and the best song on the disc "Ignorance Is Bliss," which brings back the feel of their hit song "Time." Moving in a new direction, two songs that feature female lead vocals. Maire Brennan (from Clannad) lends a Celtic lilt to the disc's centerpiece, "The Call of the Wild." Beverly Craven emotes wonderfully in "The Very Last Time," probably the most sentimental song that Parsons has recorded. As usual, the CD sounds fantastic. That is something that you can always count on when you purchase an Alan Parsons disc. However, even with the good elements, the disc is still not up to the levels of earlier heyday albums like "Eye In The Sky" and "Amonia Avenue." (And I really miss Eric Woolfson!) The bulk of this album was written and performed by Ian Bairnson, whose material can range from excellent to mediocre. Perhaps the key to a more consistant disc would be to keep his best songs and recruit another songwriter or two for the balance. The disc is a must for fans, but I would recommend earlier albums for those discovering Alan Parsons.