stereotomy's Full Review: Stereotomy by Alan Parsons Project
Stereotomy ~ n. cutting of solids, especially stone. stereotomical, a. stereotomist, n
So you think that the world is getting smaller? ...that there is no wonder and mystery left in life? ...that there is no sense of awe in the universe?
Well, perhaps you haven't been listening to The Alan Parsons Project...
Time and again I've remarked on this in regard to the albums of The Alan Parsons Project, and I'll do so here as well:
The Alans Parsons Project manages to impart a remarkable sense of wonder into every album, a sense that there is more to the world -- to the universe -- than meets the eye.
Stereotomy is a perfect example. Songs such as Limelight, Stereotomy, and Light of the World somehow make the world seem very large, and you, very small. There is a sense of awe buried deep in the lyrics and in the voices of the singers.
Still, this album has a harder edge than most of Alan Parsons' work. This seems to be their "been around the block a few times" effort, as far as tone and depth.
Although Stereotomy is one of the few Alan Parsons albums that is not a "theme" album, it holds together remarkably well. Perhaps that is owed in part to the bookend versions of its title track, which both start and end this album. Perhaps it is owed in part to the instrumentals, which not only stand on their own in merit, but also complement the lyrical songs as well.
Where's the Walrus is easily one of Alan Parsons Project's best instrumentals, and this is one of the few bands that have had consistently good instrumentals. In fact, their instrumentals are so good that they've been able to put together a compilation album of just instrumentals that's well worth a listen.
I'm always compelled, however, by the lyrics to many of The Project's songs. What compels me is their ambiguity. There always seems to be a meaning that lies just beneath the surface, something I can't quite grasp, something I am always compelled to try and understand. Take a listen to the title track of Stereotomy and you'll see exactly what I mean.
Aside from melody and all-around good listening, this is something that would keep me coming back to an album again and again.
Still, if you need one more reason to buy this obscure album, it would have to be Limelight. Probably my favorite track on this album and one of my all-time favorite Parsons ballads, Limelight is a timeless song -- the kind of song you could replay again and again and never tire of. Melodic and sweet, it's a keeper.
This is not an album that all Alan Parsons Project fans will like. Though it has a few softer tracks, this is primarily a harder, edgier album.
It's also my on-line namesake, so why not give it a listen?
Epinions.com periodically updates pricing and product information from third-party sources, so some information may be slightly out-of-date. You should confirm all information before relying on it.
- Add to My Yahoo!: 
- Add to Google Homepage: 
© 1999-2009 Shopping.com, Inc.