Vulture Culture (1984)
Vulture Culture is the 8th album by The Alan Parsons Project, featureing some of the band's most iconic songs. Vulture Culture is also the 6th Alan Parsons Project record to get a NSA title! The band continues the trend of concept albums, although as the years go on they get less and less in your face about the theme. The record’s overall theme this go around is a commentary on the darker aspects of modern society, exploring issues such as greed, corruption, and the pursuit of power.
Musically, Vulture Culture features the signature lite-progressive rock sound that the Alan Parsons Project has cultivated and is known for, with intricate arrangements, lush orchestration, and soaring melodies, while also adding some mid 1980s synthesizers and styles.
The record opens with the classic hit Let's Talk About Me, a dynamic and energetic track that displays the band's ability to craft memorable hooks and catchy choruses. Days Are Numbers (The Traveller) is another standout track, with its soaring vocals and sweeping strings building to a climactic finale. Following this is the mesmerizing Sooner or Later, which is undeniably one of the bands greatest works.
However, there are also some less successful tracks on the record. The Same Old Sun and Vulture Culture are top tier songs on any other Alan Parsons Project record, but in comparison to some of the standout tracks already passed on this record, feel somewhat lacking. Nevertheless, they aren’t songs to skip and the album as a whole still maintains a high level of quality, thanks to the strength of its best tracks.
Lyrically, Vulture Culture is a critique of modern society, with songs that address themes such as materialism, greed, and the corrupting influence of power. Uh oh … more wokeness! The record’s overarching message is a warning about the dangers of these negative aspects of society and a call for greater empathy and understanding.
Overall, Vulture Culture is a strong addition to the Alan Parsons Project's discography, featuring some of the band's strongest songs and showcasing their signature style. While not every track on the album hits the same high standard, the album's overall message and concept make it a thought-provoking and musically rewarding No-Skip listening experience.
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Highlight Songs:
Sooner or Later
Days Are Numbers (The Traveller)
Somebody Out There
Let’s Talk About Me
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Own it, Stream it, Forget about it?
Absolutely worth owning. It is an entirely different feel from an Alan Parsons Project record, but it’s got a lot of their signature stamps on it. It’s a fantastic album with a great cover and it should proudly be owned and displayed in any music collection.
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Overall Rating:
4.5 Stars
