THE NEVERENDING SHOW: LIVE IN THE NETHERLANDS

Right after the release of The Secret, in 2019, Alan Parsons got back to musical activity with new mixes for three albums of Al Stewart, the announcement of a new studio album for 2022, and of course this new live double cd record.

And I'd dare to say that it's a worthy comeback: the APB is in fine form, and a new found variety in the lead vocal spot suits them well. There are also an unusual edge in several electric guitar parts and solos, which definitely adds to the listener's excitement and sheer fun (listen, for instance, The Raven). The start with One Note Symphony is just great to my ears, since it's my favorite tune from The Secret, and it gets a nice and powerful rendition from group & orchestra. Another good number from that album, featuring Alan Parsons himself as lead vocalist, is As Lights Fall.

I could complain about the unnecessarily prolonged break in the middle of Psychobabble, if I was in a cranky mood (which I'm not), but such a minor detail can't spoil a very good concert.

Alan Parsons, the renowned British musician and producer, has once again amazed his fans with his latest release, "The Never Ending Show: Live in the Netherlands". This album is a compilation of some of his best live performances recorded during his tour in the Netherlands.

The album features an impressive collection of 20 tracks, each one showcasing the exceptional talent and musicianship of Parsons and his band. From the very beginning, the album takes the listener on a musical journey filled with energetic rock beats, intricate harmonies, and powerful vocals. Parsons' trademark production skills are evident throughout the album, with each track sounding crisp and polished.

One of the highlights of the album is the live version of "Eye in the Sky", which is performed with great precision and intensity, leaving the audience spellbound. Other notable tracks include "Games People Play", "Time", and "I Wouldn't Want to Be Like You", which showcase Parsons' versatility and ability to seamlessly transition between different genres.

The live recording captures the energy and enthusiasm of the audience, making the listener feel like they are a part of the show. The sound quality is excellent, with each instrument and vocal clearly audible and well balanced.

Overall, "The Never Ending Show: Live in the Netherlands" is an excellent addition to Alan Parsons' impressive discography. It is a testament to his continued relevance and popularity as a musician, and a reminder of his exceptional talent as a producer. While some may argue that the album lacks new material, the live performances more than make up for it, making it a must-listen for both longtime fans and newcomers alike.

In conclusion, I would give "The Never Ending Show: Live in the Netherlands" by Alan Parsons a rating of 4 out of 5 stars. It is a well-produced and brilliantly executed live album that showcases the very best of Parsons' music and performance abilities.

If Alan Parsons had never performed, he would still be highly acclaimed in the music world for his work on both 'Abbey Road' and 'Dark Side of the Moon', yet with Eric Woolfson he created Alan Parsons Project whose early albums are wonderful. After Woolfson left, he changed the name of releases just to Alan Parsons and put out three albums in the Nineties and another in 2004. There was then a long gap, but over the last few years there has been a flurry of activity with a new album, 'The Secret', in 2019 as well as a new one in 2022, 'From The New World', and some touring which has resulted in at least two live albums. The first of them is this one, which was recorded live on May 5th, 2019, and showcases the performance of the Alan Parsons Live Project at the Tivoli in Utrecht, Netherlands.

To me, Alan's works have always been less of a band and far more of a revolving series of session musicians, some of whom have stayed longer than others, but it worked well for Steely Dan and one advantage is that he is always able to pick and choose who he wants to work with. This leads to a very high level of musicianship, and with many of the people in this band playing on the most recent studio release (only P.J. Olsson was there for 2004's 'A Valid Path') this comes across as a very polished performance indeed. Given it was recorded on the last night of the tour they all have their vocal harmonies and tightness sorted out (and given Parsons is a master producer I am sure he could have fixed it in the mix anyway), but in many ways it just feels too clean. There are nine people in the band, and they all sing, with the result being very clever indeed, but there is also a lack of live energy as they are doing their very best to replicate what took place in the studio and somehow missing the angst at the same time. I was thoroughly looking forward to hearing "(The System of) Dr. Tarr and Professor Fether" which comes near the end, as that has always been one of my favourite tracks, but I could have just played the original from 'Tales Of Mystery And Imagination'.

There is no doubt that Parsons is very clever indeed at what he does, and that this album will delight a great many fans, but it is just too clean and there is not enough sweat and live fun for me. That being said, it still must be rated highly as there is no doubt it is has captured an excellent performance, but I am not the desired audience.