Pyramid (1978)

The Alan Parsons Project continues to dive into concept albums on their third studio release. ‘Pyramid’ tells the story of a Pharaoh in Ancient Egypt traveling through the stages of death in the afterlife and his desire to construct a Pyramid. The story sounds like it would be a massive success and be equally as good musically as the groups first two records. However, the songs on ‘Pyramid’ aren’t quite as strong as its predecessors.

Musically, ‘Pyramid’ is a solid display of progressive rock that showcases the band's talents for intricate arrangements, lush orchestration, and catchy melodies. The record features a range of musical styles, from the uptempo rock of "Pyramania" to the balladry of "Can't Take It With You." The album's standout tracks are undoubtedly "The Eagle Will Rise Again," a beautiful ballad speaking to the Pharaoh’s ultimate fate and journey to the afterlife, and “One More River”, a catchy song with a driving rhythm speaking to the Pharaoh’s journey to the underworld and later his eventual triumph.

The ancient Egyptian themes on this record are created masterfully. The album transports the listener to another time and place, and the album's concept is woven throughout the music and lyrics, creating a cohesive and immersive experience. It is worth noting that musical tastes are subjective, and some may prefer the more straightforward rock sound of ‘Pyramid’ to the more experimental approach of earlier albums. While ‘Pyramid’ may not be considered the band's greatest achievement by some, it is still a fairly good album and an important part of The Alan Parsons Project's discography.

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Highlight Songs:

  • One More River

  • The Eagle Will Rise Again

  • Can’t Take It With You

  • In The Lap of the Gods

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Own it, Stream it, Forget about it?

I would suggest owning this one. Again, like the first two records this one works best playing from start to finish. It tells a story and is worth listening to more than once. It has also got a cool album cover that would look great hung up on any wall in any living space. I understand if this one doesn’t quite resonate with you enough, though, and in that case you should stream it, but don’t skip it.

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Overall Rating

3.5 Stars

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I Robot (1977)

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Eve (1979)