Alan Parsons Project Palimpsest

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Remember the A.P.P. who put out loads of albums to tide over Pink FLoyd fans? I've got this album 'I Robot', see, and I know it's good because the production is really amazing and so is the cover, but apparently it's supposed to be a 'concept story' and I can't figure out how any of the song lyrics are supposed to relate to a concept! Other albums of theirs like 'Eve' and 'Pyramid' are easier to understand but this one just stumps me! Is it similar to 'Ok Computer' - it's got almost exactly the same title! Can anyone who has heard this album help?

― tarden, Wednesday, 13 June 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Just before leaving New York I was listening to an Alan Parsons Project cassette I found somewhere, and side one was pretty good, catchy, could almost be the great lost Phoenix album. Side two got progressively worse, though. That doesn't really answer your question, does it? 'I Robot' is of course a book by Isaac Asimov. I like how Honda have named their new robot Asimo after him. Perhaps if you (re)read the book, the record will all fall into place.

― Momus, Wednesday, 13 June 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Ah yes Alan Parsons Project. Even uncooler than E.L.O. and so Í must confess i somewhere have a neat 4 lp boxset with I Robot, Eve, Pyramid and some other thingy. Used to listen to that shit all the time when i was 15 playing C64 games. Mmm, haven't heard I Robot in maybe 13 years and I'm not exactly planning a re-visit. Although that's one of the great things about ILM that all these threads invite an archeology of your record-collection. Hence, the recent re- discovery of 'Cupid & Psyche '85'. Anyway as Momus rightly stated 'I Robot' is a story by Asimov, so the album is probably about the robotization of civilization, fear of the machine, dehumanization 70s style (I'm terrible with lyrics). Then again, maybe it's a celebration an ol'Alan must be given his rightful place along side Moroder and Kraftwerk. ;)

― Omar, Wednesday, 13 June 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Best story in I Robot (not read since 12, so may not get this right). Man buys wife Butler-type-Robot with slicked down plastic hair. Wife has sex with robot.

― mark s, Wednesday, 13 June 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Alan Parsons Project is precisely the reason I don't find either Daft Punk or Air's new albums particularly interesting. Parsons was there in the mid-70s doing this sci fi overproduced audio sedative. I have to admit that I certainly enjoyed the occasional APP instrumental, and their albums certainly sounded like a deep statement to me when I was 13. Ultimately, production can only take you so far. I haven't listened to them seriously in nearly 15 years.

― Sean Carruthers, Wednesday, 13 June 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Oh so that's the reason I love Discovery and 10.000 Hz Legend so much. ;) Oh boy, tomorrow it's going to be A.P.P. day, a forsee a straight run through that box-set of mine.

― Omar, Wednesday, 13 June 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Wow, I totally don't remember that story, Mark. But then I was probably like 10 so maybe it made no sense to me at all.

― Josh, Wednesday, 13 June 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Maybe I'll go back to some of those APP albums instead. Speaking of ELO, Omar...have you rushed out to buy their new album? I find the idea interesting, in a very trainwreck-kind-of-way. The audio clips at www.elomusic.com seemed dreadfully boring, though.

― Sean Carruthers, Wednesday, 13 June 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Sean, *the* new E.L.O. album? Please say it ain't true :) No I get all my E.L.O. records at the 2nd hand l.p. shop. Now, I would kill for one of those E.L.O. bowling shirts the members of the band wear on inside sleeve picture of 'New World Record'. Shjeet.

― Omar, Wednesday, 13 June 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Oh yes, there's a new one from ELO alright. The first since "Free as a Bird" and "Real Love". Or was that someone else?

― Dr. C, Wednesday, 13 June 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

No...no, may as well be the same, really.

It's truly boggling why Lynne would think it was a good idea to reform ELO now, after years and years and years of indifference. Like I said, trainwreck. Ouch.

― Sean Carruthers, Wednesday, 13 June 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

...i don't believe mr lynne is even *involved* in the new ELO. what i heard was that the only orig member was the drummer. sound appetising?

― duane z., Thursday, 14 June 2001 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Wrong, Duane. Jeff L is the only one involved, not Bev Bevan.

― Dr. C, Thursday, 14 June 2001 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Yeah, that whole Lynne/Bevan thing was confusing, and when people started talking about a new ELO, I thought they were referring to Electric Light Orchestra, Part II. In the end, my interest level only went up very slightly when I found out it was actually Lynne again.

― Sean Carruthers, Thursday, 14 June 2001 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

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