4/5 If you're a fan, you won't be disappointed
  by Hinkle Goldfarb (R.R. 1 Highway 162, Butte City, California)
Over the years I've come to realize that APP / Alan Parsons is never going to be the big commercial hit they were in their pop heyday, late 70s to early 80s.* That said, for folks like myself who have followed his music, Try Anything Once is a return to older and better APP music. I always had the feeling that Gaudi should have had stamped on it "Warning! Contractual obligation!", and I was worried that Mr. Parsons was going to follow up that iffy album with something equally sketchy. Not to worry. Try Anything Once is bold, fresh, crystal clear, refreshing and as always, impeccably produced. Good variation in soundtracks, good rythms, slight pop appeal without any effort at pop appeal. A must-have for the collection.

* Not that everything they put out during that time was good. "Eve" is a standout album only in the sense that it shows how even APP can lose the big picture in search of it, and let theme overcome both substance and pop appeal.

4/5 Try Anything Once
  by Harry Brewer (S'port, La.)
Parsons eleventh studio album, though no longer tagged as A.P. Project, was his first release in six years. It was the best thing he had done since Ammonia Avenue released in 1984. The biggest difference is that Eric Woolfson's presence is gone but, surprisingly, not missed (he did co-write one song). Another difference is there doesn't appear to be a central theme to the album, at least, it's not clear or obvious. It still doesn't detract from the effort made in Parsons' collection of artists, it's very good.

The album opens with "Three of Me" which starts off like a Parsons instrumental but then changes into a short piano piece, then back into instrumental territory vaguely reminding one of the Beatles & film music curiously mixed; finally the song breaks into the vocal section. David Pack (Ambrosia) provides the lead vocal. "Turn It Up" follows which was written by Ian Bairnson, Parsons long time lead guitarist. It's one of the better songs on the album. Chris Thompson does lead vocal & is a perfect match for the song. "Wine From the Water" was co-written by Parsons & Bairnson. It has a pop feel with a moderate tempo. Lead vocal is courtesy of Eric Stewart (10cc). The lyrics are interesting but I'm not sure what they mean. "Breakaway" is an instrumental written by Parsons. It's a typical effort by Parsons, he can do this in his sleep & it's still ear candy. Richard Cottle provides an incredible sax solo. "Mr. Time" is one of the album's standout tracks that features Jacqui Copland doing the lead vocal, she also co-wrote it with the drummer, Stuart Elliott & Driscoll. Copland's vocals perfectly match the flow of the song which somewhat disguises the chilling finality of the lyrics. The next song is "Jigue", an instrumental penned by Andrew Powell & Parsons. It's main section is very Celtic with Graham Preskett providing the fiddle. "Jigue"s change up section features Bairnson on lead guitar, first on an electric, then an acoustic. The Celtic section is fantastic & will have you wanting to dance. It closes with a sax solo from Cottle. "I'm Talkin' to You" is a collaboration between Pack & Powell & is one of the songs on the album that has a more pop inclination. "Siren Song" is a slow song that suffers somewhat in comparison to the album's other songs. It's my least favorite on the album. Stewart does the lead vocal & it's more like a 10cc song. "Dreamscape" is another instrumental written by Parsons. It also sounds Celtic & features but two musicians: Bairnson on guitars & Cottle on synthesizers. This one isn't so much like ear candy, more like a lovely ballad without lyrics. "Back Against the Wall" is my personal favorite on the album. It's written by Bairnson, once again Chris Thompson does the lead vocal & is perfectly matched for the song. The lyrics are dark & foreboding with a very faint glimmer of hope. The instrumental section picks up the pace until it returns to the main theme of the song. Most of us know the feeling that's spoken about here: "When you feel your back against the wall." "Re-Jigue" revisits the same themes from "Jigue" only this time with a full orchestra,the famous Philharmonic Orchestra. This version feels like it came straight out of movie; Bairnson provides his best lead solo on the album. The album closes with "Oh Life (There Must Be More)". It's written by Pack & Parsons with Pack doing the lead vocal. With this song one might suspect that the theme of this album might have to do with death & the after life.

Alan Parsons has again put together a well crafted album that deserved more airplay & recognition. It did peak at #122 on Billboard's album charts but there weren't any charting singles. This cd has now been discontinued & will only get more expensive with time. I can recommend this album as worth getting, not necessarily at any cost, but at any within reason. Remember, if you don't get this, then you didn't Try Anything Once.

5/5 Alan Parsons Try Anything Once
  by Michael D. Strickland (Ridgefield,Washington)
I have been a long time Alan Parson fan, and have all recordings on vinyl, with many recent purchases in CD format. This was one I could not find at any of my usual shopping locations, so I did a search and came up with a very reasonable price for CD. David Pack's vocals on haunting Life(There Must be More) track is what drew me to this CD in particular. Every track is well done. I have it constantly on in my vehicle. Great price, great product, exceptional delivery time. Very satisfied

4/5 Finding a new direction can be tough...
  by Alan Holyoak (In the shadow of the Tetons)
In 1987 The Alan Parsons Project released "Gaudi", their last album (though I still hope to see Woolfson and Parsons collaborate again). It was a long wait, but in 1993 "Try Anything Once" was released under the name of only Alan Parsons. Being a long-time fan, I bought the CD as soon as it was available, without having heard it or having heard anything about it. I had hoped to find music of my old APP friends, but discovered that Alan Parsons was beginning to explore new directions. That's certainly not bad, but it can be tough.

At first I have to admit that I was somewhat disappointed with "Try Anything Once." I listened to it only a time or two and it went onto the shelf where it collected dust for some time. Periodically, however, I pull all of my APP discs down and listen to them in chronological order. When I came to "Try Anything Once" my old prejudices seemed to melt away. Of course, with Eric Woolfson no longer in the creative mix you are not going to hear another "Eye in the Sky" or "I Robot". More's the pitty, but that's OK.

After listening to this disc again not too long ago it was clear that Alan Parsons was in a transition period, and an interesting one at that.

Here is how I view the tracks (some comments will mean more to other APP fans):

- The Three of Me - this struck me as two songs sutured into one. The first 2:00 of this 5:32 track is a good percussion and symphonic instrumental piece, but then you hit a massive auditory speed bump and you are thrust into a progressive rock theme for the rest of the song. I rate the first 2:00 at 4/5, and the last part at 2/5.

- Turn it Up - This track also starts out with a mellow intro and is then amped up, mellows again, amps up again, etc...sort of a musical roller coaster ride. Variability does have it's place, but for me, there was too much up and down in this one track for my tastes, 3/5.

- Wine From Water - This track had a strong APP-like sound, sort of like songs from "Pyramid?". I liked it, and give it 4/5.

- Breakaway - This is a great example of APP-like progressive rock, with excellent guitar! 5/5

- Mr. Time - At 8:17, this track may be a bit daunting, but if you give it a chance you'll find that this is probably the crowned jewel of this disc. The guitar intro is particularly outstanding. 5/5.

- Jigue - This instrumental turned my son (15 yrs old) onto at least some Alan Parson and APP music. He is a fan of movie soundtracks (Pirates of the Caribbean, Lord of the Rings, etc.), and the arrangement and Irish overtones in this track really drew him in. It's a good, upbeat instrumental! 4/5

- I'm Talking to You - I found this track to be reminiscent of tracks from the APP album "Gaudi". 3/5

- Siren Song - This mellow track reminded me of the general feel of the APP album "Vulture Culture" (which I very much enjoyed), but even with that sound I still rate this track at about 3.5/5

- Dreamscape - This is a solid instrumental. 4/5

- Back Against the Wall - The beginning of this track seems to be a bit plodding, but later on it picks up, takes a strong progressive rock stance, and drives through the end of the song. 3.5/5

- Re-Jigue - This is Jigue writ-large, with a full symphony sound that adds to the theme. 4/5

- Oh Life - This track hints of the sound that will permeate Alan Parson's next album, "On Air." A good track through and through. 4/5

All in all, I rate this mixed bag of Alan Parsons tracks at 4/5 stars. "Mr. Time" is the best track in the collection, it is supported by several more good pieces, and there is only one piece that I don't mind skipping when the disc is in the player.

As I mentioned earlier, I think that this is an oustanding effort during Alan Parson's time of transition from APP to a new direction.

---from a 30+ year APP and Alan Parsons listener and fan.

4/5 Alan Parsons - Without Eric Wolfson
  by Steven Sly (Kalamazoo, MI United States)
After more than a decade together the writing team of Alan Parsons and Eric Wolfson split off in different directions thus signaling the end to the Alan Parsons Project. After several years of inactivity Parsons decided to strike out on his own with this album. Actually all of Parson's "project" collaborators are present with the exception of Wofson, so in some ways this album could be seen as a continuation of the Alan Parsons Project band. The main difference is the absence of Wolfson's songwriting. Without Wolfson this allowed other members of the band to step up into the songwriter's role. Parsons, Ian Barinson, and Andrew Powel all take a crack at the songwriting. Also on hand are former Ambrosia vocalist David Pack and former Manfred Man vocalist Christopher Thomson. Back when I first picked this up I can remember being disappointed in it, but over the years it has grown on me more and more. There are some very good songs to be found here and even the more filler like stuff is decent. I have always loved David Pack's voice and the three songs he sings on the disc are all highlights including the finale "Oh Life". There are several instrumentals on the album and the band and orchestra are in fine form. Unlike most APP albums, this one is not conceptual in nature, but a collection of individual songs. As with everything related to Parsons the engineering and sound of the album is outstanding. The booklet that comes with the CD is also cool with a bunch of unique photography. Overall if you are a fan of the APP project you will probably like this CD. Eric Wolfsen is certainly missed to some extent in the songwriting department, but this is still a strong piece of music from Alan and company.