'The same old sun'
It is full of accessible ballads, mainly sung by Eric Woolfson, which is definitely part of the appeal. I will go out on a limb and call this my fave APP album. When you throw in Colin Blunstone and Chris Rainbow with their ethereal voices, you have a fantastic album. I will mention one track, 'the same old sun'. I cannot shis is not praised see why it is not praised more. It is one of the best songs they have EVER done, period, and is the most melodic and beautiful with great vocals, instrumentation and lyrics. This is an excellent album, no matter what anyone says. .
Let's talk about It for a minute...
Its regarded as the last of TAPP trillogy of well sold albums, having the greatest number of vocal contributions provided by his partner Eric Woolfson, just because of that fact, the album is valuable and really enjoyable for me. Luis Mejia (son) - After the release of the comprehensible and more soft but consistent Ammonia Avenue, Vulture Culture followed up with a more commercially adaptable, soft but heartful pop basis. Still, Vulture Culture keeps some memorable, 80's style compositions with very comprehensible and easy to listen moods, if you lived in the 80's you'll find yourself nostalgic with Days Are Numbers (The Traveller) or Lets Talk About Me, but still is one of their least efforts, it may sound scary for TAPP early fans, and its lack of remarkable compositions and possessing no trace of intelligent prog, it may result a dissapointment for early fans, specially if you hated Ammonia Avenue.
Vulture Culture remains with an uncompromising, commercial popcraft basis, but the problem is that its an unmemorable or least popcraft, it isn't thoughtful or remarkable pop like Chicago's Chicago II or Elton John's Goodbye Yellow Brick Road, and although its tough to compare in pop matters The Alan Parsons Project with these dedicated artists, Alan Parsons should have thought it twice before releasing this kind of material, but anyway I find it very enjoyable and delicate, but not a memorable one. In this structure, there are still heartful ballads and emotional compositions, and there is also to find an adult contempo effort, plus the instrumental Hawkeye and a slight trace of originality in Let's Talk About Me. Vulture Culture keeps emotional, sentimental, mellow, enjoyable and beautiful moods. There is also the society critisizing theme, yet a typical theme from the band, regarding just the famous vulture culture. A highlight in the album is that among with Ammonia Avenue, is their only one wich isn't a concept album, plus the unconventional but interesting way they like to put a bunch of people talking at the very backing vocals.
This album is maybe the shortest one they've ever released, unnecessary to claim that they seemed to go lazy, plus the fact that it only contains one instrumental piece. Almost every song is a touchy and delicate ballad, no surprises in this aspect, but still they're some which are slightly nostalgic and memorable, and certainly the best, like the memorable, emotional and powerful Let's Talk About Me, the only song which keeps a more thoughtful and remarkable composition, its my best recommendation in this album, while the sentimental, mellow and heartful ballad Days Are Numbers (The Traveller) stays as a top selection, among with the upbeat urban style of the tilte track, Vulture Culture. The other songs are also enjoyable and very mellodic, you'll enjoy Separate Lives, The Same Old Sun and Sooner Or Later, the last one Parsons admitted that he thought it would be as great as Eye In The Sky, the three songs are fine ballads all sang by Woolfson. Also the paranoic but still delicate Somebody Out There, and the desert like, interlude instrumental Hawkeye are great. Track pick: Let's Talk About Me, Days Are Numbers, Vulture Culture.
Among the artists' performance its obvious their interest for synthesized sounds and drum machines, leaving not a great originality. Eric Woolfson's big vocal contributions are also the main reason of Vulture Culture success, as Woolfson's voice is higly commercial. Its the only TAPP album not to feature Andrew Powell majestic orchestration, a little bit dissapointing in this aspect.
In conclussion Vulture Culture remains at the top of The Alan Parsons Project commercial, pop and sofisticated inclinnations, until their rock breakthrough with Stereotomy. Vulture Culture is their third best sold album, and a very enjoyable one, but I may say this because there's nothing I love more than listening to heartful pop, but within I've heard every TAPP album, this is one that may dissapoint and cause discomfort, draw your conclussions!.
Days are Numbers is a ballad par none
The harmonies (like when they hit 'Some-day' in this song, are just drop dead gorgeous. I must say that "Days Are Numbers" is an incredible ballad. The lead is soft and perfect, the lyrics hauntingly true to my own life, and this is one of the most played slow songs of my iTunes these days. Call it perfect pop, but it's just a smooth beautiful song in my opinion. Tell me true, if a great friend asked you to slow dance to this song, in a darkened hall with lights above, wouldn't you just go on and on ?
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Not my favorite Project album, but it's not my least favorite either
This is a much softer Project album than many that came before, but that doesn't mean it's bad by a long shot. I just listened to this the other day after not hearing it for maybe eight years or so, and I appreciate it now more than ever. There are five or six Project albums that are worse than this. This is just a beautiful album and I use to return to VULTURE CULTURE more than some of the other Project albums. The album closer "The Same Old Sun" is probably tied with "Silence and I" and "Old and Wise" as my favorite Parson's song. Don't listen to the reviewer who said that this is the worst Parson's album because it isn't, and even if it was the worst one it's still a great album. Don't hesitate in buying this gem.
Despite what people say, a strong album
It followed Ammonia Avenue, which gives Vulture Culture extra points for being way better than its predecessor. No matter what any review will say, this is yet another strong Parsons' album. The album opens with Let's Talk About Me, perhaps the best song on the album. It focuses on people's obsessions with themselves to the exclusion of others.
Following the opener is the worst song on the album, Seperate Lives, which is probably also the song that fits the overriding concept of the album the least. Still, it isn't bad, just not great. Days are Numbers is next, and while it is a very good ballad, it doesn't cut it compared to many earlier Parsons' ballads (or later [limelight], for that matter).
Sooner or Later is the next weakest song on the album, but it is still an enjoyable song. Vulture Culture fits the concept the best, but the type of music is not particularly my favorite. Still, it is yet another strong track on this album. Hawkeye, the only instrumental, is not, as some reviewers may claim, Parsons' best instrumental (Lucifer and I Robot take #s 1 and 2), as it is too repetive, but it still adds to the album as a whole.
Following Hawkeye is the only song that competes with Let's Talk About Me. Somebody Out There is a marvelous song about identity theft (listen to the chorus) that is excellent musically and lyrically. Finally, the album ends with The Same Old Sun, another ballad that falls about where I put Days are Numbers, good, but not up to usual standards.
All in all, this album is very strong, with each track being worth listening to. The collective value of the album is, as with all true concept albums, greater than the sum of the parts. This CD is well worth owning.
You can see a complete list of all Alan Parsons Project discography, or go back to the Alan Parsons Project tabs
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