Vulture Culture [Import, Original recording remastered]

Alan Parsons Project | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (March 3, 2009)
• Original Release Date: 2007
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Import, Original recording remastered
• Label: Sony Legacy
• ASIN: B000JLQSWE
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (40 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #21,698 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Japanese-only SHM-CD (Super High Material CD) paper sleeve pressing of this album. SHM-CDs can be played on any audio player and delivers unbelievably high-quality sound. You won't believe it's the same CD! Includes the same bonus tracks that appear on the EU/US expanded editions. Sony/BMG 2009. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

22 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Not 5 stars for the "APP rock" fan, but 5 stars for many others..., February 21, 2008

By 

Alan Holyoak (The Shadow of the Tetons) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Vulture Culture (Audio CD)

"Vulture Culture" was The Alan Parsons Project's (APP) 8th album. It came out originally early in 1985, and on the heels of "Eye in the Sky" and "Ammonia Avenue", a couple of pop-heavier APP discs. In brief, this is one of APP's most mellow albums. The main theme seems to be about the "me-first", and "what's in it for me" attitudes that are so common these days.

If you are an APP fan who prefers APP's progressive rock offerings, e.g., "Tales of Mystery and Imagination", "I Robot", and "Stereotomy", then this disc will probably not be one of your favorites. If, on the other hand, you favor APP's mellower side, e.g., "Eye in the Sky", "Turn of a Friendly Card", and "Ammonia Avenue" then you will almost certainly enjoy this disc.

While I do enjoy APP's progressive rock offerings, I've always favored their mellower side even more, and "Vulture Culture" is therefore one of my favorite APP albums.

The closest APP gets to rock on this disc is the opening track, "Let's Talk About Me", and it doesn't rock that hard.

This is a pop-driven effort, as evidenced by the following tracks: "Separate Lives" (OK to Good), "Sooner or Later" (Good), "Vulture Culture" (Good), and "Somebody Out There" (Good).

What makes this a top-notch album for me, however, are the mellow tracks "Days are Numbers" (absolutely tops) and "Same Old Sun" (great), and the excellent instrumental "Hawkeye."

In short, there's not a stinker in the whole list! And, consequently, I think that you will enjoy listening to the entire album.

To sum up, this ablum is a great mellow APP offering, a stance they moved away from in their 9th album "Stereotomy", which was much harder-driving.

5 stars from this 30+ year APP listener...

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I believe there's a theme there, July 7, 1999

By 

Alan R. Holyoak - See all my reviews

This review is from: Vulture Culture (Audio CD)

The Vulture Culture project, though lacking an obvious theme like the first 4 or 5 APP albums, does have a focus. It's all about getting ahead and getting along in the crazy get-ahead world. If you listen to the tracks and what they say, you'll find that it goes from "me first" to living, to the search people go on to find who and what they are (in "Days are Numbers" one of the all time best APP songs) to what we do to get ahead in "Vulture Culture" to the realization that we are all in this together in "Sombody Out There" and "The Same Old Sun" (another of my favorites on this album).

The songs are great, this is a return to the kinds of sounds you can hear in "Turn of a Friendly Card."

The song "The Traveller" is also a great song to use when you are shopping for a new car or home stereo to see what kind of response and range you can get from a music system.

I highly recommend this album to anyone interested in insightful and thoughtful music in the style of APP.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Parsons attempts pop - does he succeed?, January 14, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Vulture Culture (Audio CD)

You'll have to decide. After reading an interview done shortly after this album was released, I was able to see the rift starting between Alan and Eric. I beleive it started with this album. For the first time Richard Cottle (sax, and keys) is made a permanent member of the band, and there is FAR less emphasis on orchestration, and no central theme. The was the last attempt by the Project to shoot for hit songs.

Does it make it a bad album? Certainly not! There are some tracks that really shine, mainly: Days are Numbers / The Traveller (probably one of the all-time best APP songs), Let's Talk About Me, and Sooner or Later.

Up until Eye in the Sky, an Alan Parsons album was meant to be listened to from beginning to end. You didn't just pick out a particular song, you listened for the THEME. Vulture is an example of how you become decreasingly tolerant of the lesser tracks. Overall, not a completely disapointing album, but not one of the best. Thankfully, he got better with age.. :>