Alan Parsons applied the same sense of vision gained during his impressive production and engineering career to his self-named solo group. Though the accessible melodies and lush arrangements of
the Alan Parsons Project made it a perfect match for pop radio, the band was also progressive, conceptual, and highly sophisticated. His early work, inspired by science fiction and progressive rock, favored synth-heavy instrumentals. At the turn of the '80s,
Parsons was leaning toward a more pop-friendly sound (as evidenced by the hits "Time" and "Eye in the Sky," both of which are included here), yet this material sacrifices none of his high-minded aesthetic. As an overview of
Parsons' career, and as a primer for anyone interested in the art rock of the period, this is indispensable. [Originally released as a double-disc set,
The Definitive Collection was also made available in a single-disc distillation.] ~ Anthony Tognazzini