EVE

Often referred to as the ALAN PARSONS PROJECT's worst album of the 1970s. To me, I think the album is a mixed bag, and doesn't quite live up to the greatness of their previous three albums. Certainly there's songs on here every bit as good as those on "I Robot", but there are some ballads that don't quite work. "Lucifer" is a truly wonderful instrumental, dominated by orchestrations and John Leach's dulcimer and zither (they are actually a cimbalom and kantele, respectively). "Damned if I Do" was the minor hit on the album, a rocking number with orchestration with vocals from Lenny Zakatek. "I'd Rather Be a Man" and "You Lie Down with Dogs" are more rocking numbers, but there are some ballads too, like "You Won't Be There", and "If I Could Change Your Mind". The biggest criticisms of this album, aside from the lyrics, was the presence of female vocals on two cuts (Claire Torrey and Leslie Duncan). I guess I have less a problem with the vocals, and more a problem with the quality of material they were singing on ("Don't Hold Back" and "If I Could Change Your Mind"). The ballads on "Pyramid", "I Robot", and "Tales..." (like "The Eagle Will Rise Again", "Day After Day (The Show Must Go On)", and "To One in Paradise", for example) were well done without being overly mushy or shlocky, but the ones on "Eve" often get a little to close to Muzak. And then the other instrumental, "Secret Garden", dominated by piano, is rather unremarkable in light of "Lucifer". The album has its good material, but has some rather obvious low points too.

My rating: 3 1/2 stars