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This, right here, is one of my all-time favorite albums. Released in 1993, it's got everything I like in music - rock guitars, saxophones, unique lyrics, easy melodies, fine-tuned synthesizers, David Pack's amazing voice (from Ambrosia) on certain songs, the Hipgnosis art, and even a bit of new age mixed in. For those who don't know, Parsons was the main sound engineer on Pink Floyd's The Dark Side of the Moon, and is also a well-known music producer - he helped out with a few albums by Pink Floyd, Al Stewart, Pilot, Ambrosia, and several others. He later decided to create his own band, named The Alan Parsons Project, which was active from 1976 until the early '90s. Try Anything Once was Parsons' debut solo album, and the first without his longtime Project partner Eric Woolfson, who had decided to part ways a few years earlier, though the two would collaborate again several times after. A breakdown of a few of my favorite tracks:
  • Turn It Up: Everything about this song is great. It starts off calm, builds up a bit, and essentially takes a break after the second chorus. It then gives off some soothing new age-like woodwind sounds, builds up again, then an electric guitar solo. The song makes one more loud hurrah before it suddenly ends. The whole thing is simply a pleasure to listen to.
  • Wine from the Water: Probably the most consistent-sounding song on the album. It maintains an easy sound throughout, and the mix of keyboards and guitar is great.
  • Mr. Time: Sung by a female guest artist (Jacqui Copeland), it is a very powerful track. Again, a mix of slow and exciting parts that are blended well together in an 8-minute span.
  • I'm Talkin' to You: The track is energetic throughout. David Pack is one of my favorite pop rock vocalists, and he did a great job making this song pop out even more.
  • Siren Song: This song reminds me of a track off the Project's 1976 debut album, Tales of Mystery and Imagination, which is a collection of songs based off Edgar Allan Poe's works. This track has some similarities to that album's final track, To One in Paradise, in that both songs are pretty slow throughout. Siren Song is sung by 10cc's Eric Stewart.
  • Dreamscape: The most relaxing song on the album. Entirely instrumental, it's very new-age like with a calming electric guitar solo throughout. It's only 3 minutes long, but it's amazing.
 
The Climax Chicago Blues Band. A misleading band name that was later shortened, as they're actually from the UK. Because of this, they've always been known as simply "Climax Blues Band" in the US. Nonetheless, I like a ton of their songs...


A good change of style on the typical 12-bar blues. It's got more perk in its step than typical '60s blues songs.


This song is actually called "Shopping Bag People"; for some reason Apple Music mistitled it as a different song. Seriously, though, it's a blues song about a walking trip to the grocery store. A good laid-back track.


Another blues song about getting stuck in an airport. There's another song off this same album, "Using the Power", that's got a catchy tempo.


"Mistress Moonshine" and the song below are super close in terms of my ultimate favorite tracks from this band. Love the groove that goes on here.


Relatable, yet played in a style that I love oh so much. I also like the other tracks "Children of the Nightime" (low key with an electric piano) and "Fat City" (Playin' guitar 'til you're 80 years old; something that some artists from this era still do to this day!)
 

Something that's not anime, but I heard this after my workout at a grocery store and thought it was pretty good. I'm normally not a fan of newer music at all (aside from J-Rock, J-Pop, etc), but this just slaps to be honest.
 

Something that's not anime, but I heard this after my workout at a grocery store and thought it was pretty good. I'm normally not a fan of newer music at all (aside from J-Rock, J-Pop, etc), but this just slaps to be honest.
I wish I heard this at my grocery store. I usually hear “Afternoon Delight” or some overly dramatic power ballad lol.

Anyways, I first heard this today and it blew me. I enjoy Handel’s vocal works, so I was surprised I never heard this one before.

 

This song doesn’t lie when it claims that its guitar riff is “glorious”. Seriously. After an anticipating buildup, it starts getting awesome at around 50 seconds in. You’ll want to listen to it over and over after hearing it.
 
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