On Air (1996)
Alan Parsons has two record that are not easily accessible on music streaming applications. I am unsure if these albums weren’t released initially in America or what the issue is, but you will either have to, at the time of writing this, find a hard copy or find a full album video on YouTube. Parsons’ second album ‘On Air’ is scattered amongst different ‘single’ releases on both Apple Music and Spotify and anything not on those can be found on Youtube.
After doing some research, I was able to listen to all of ‘On Air’ and it is a solid effort from the legendary producer and musician. The record does not necessarily break new ground or offer any new surprises, but it is still a well-crafted and enjoyable listen.
The album's overall sound is rooted in art rock, with influences, I found, seemingly most inspired by 1990s Pink Floyd. ‘On Air’ has this dreamy, slower and atmospheric tone to it. The production is slick and polished, as expected from Parsons, but it doesn't overpower the music. The instrumentation is tight and cohesive and there really can’t be anything bad said about it.
The album's theme is not at all as apparent as we have become accustomed to with Alan Parsons. Some online breakdowns suggest the album is a celebration of radio while others suggest that it speaks to the fascination of flight and the yearning people have to “become one with the sky”.
There are definite standouts and highlights to this record, but they are far from the albums standard. Thankfully, again, there is nothing wrong with this album and I can’t point my finger to any part of this and say this is the worst song, or this song is bad, or you can skip over all of these.
‘On Air’ is very tight, cohesive and uniformly agreeable to listen to. While it may not be as groundbreaking or revolutionary as some of Parsons' earlier works, it is still a very enjoyable listen. The songs are well-crafted and expertly performed, with Parsons and his band showcasing their exceptional musical chops.
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Highlight Songs:
Too Close to the Sun
Cloudbreak
So Far Away
Blown By The Wind
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Own it, Stream it, Forget about it?
I probably will end up owning this album as if I find myself in the mood for this style of music, it’ll be enjoyable to listen to all the way through. You are not entirely missing out if you stream a few songs here and there, but it is definitely worth not skipping.
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Overall Rating:
3.5 Stars
