The Secret (2019)
The Secret is an absolute mixed bag of a record—one that showcases both the strengths and weaknesses of the legendary Alan Parsons. While it features some of his best songwriting in years, it also includes some of the weakest material in his entire catalog. The first half of the album is unfocused and clunky, lacking the cohesiveness and polish of his best work. It honestly makes the meteoric rise of the second half all the more unexpected.
The album opens with The Sorcerer’s Apprentice, which—yes—is that Sorcerer’s Apprentice. Parsons adds his signature rock flair to the famous Fantasia piece, and while the arrangement is ambitious, it ends up feeling like an underwhelming start for his first proper studio album in nearly two decades. If the whole record had been a reimagining of Fantasia-esque material, that could have been something special. But here, it just feels awkward and misplaced.
Next comes Miracle, with lead vocals by Jason Mraz—a confusing creative choice that results in a perfectly forgettable pop song. It doesn’t feel like Parsons, and honestly doesn’t feel like Mraz either. It just… exists. The rest of the first half continues to meander, and while As Lights Fall does offer a glimmer of hope with its emotional atmosphere, things immediately nosedive again.
And then there’s One Note Symphony… sigh. It’s a song sung entirely in one note—yes, really. According to Parsons, it references the resonant frequency of the universe (7.83 Hz, known as the Schumann Frequency). That’s actually a very cool concept—but the execution doesn’t quite land. It’s intriguing in theory but flat in delivery, no pun intended.
Sometimes follows and tries to build on a similar emotional framework but ultimately fizzles out, showing some sparks of potential but never catching fire. At this point, you’re kind of left wondering if this whole thing is going to be a bust.
But then something magical happens.
From track six onward, The Secret suddenly becomes a different album. Requiem hits with this gorgeous, cinematic, jazz-laced vibe that honestly sounds like it could be plucked from a James Bond score. It’s haunting, dramatic, and—dare I say—one of the best songs Parsons has ever released. Following that, Soirée Fantastique scratches a musical itch you didn’t even know you had. Its melodies and chord progressions tap into something deeply satisfying. It’s quirky and grand, but in all the right ways.
The final run of the album—Fly to Me, Years of Glory, The Limelight Fades Away, and I Can’t Get There From Here—is nothing short of stunning. Parsons leans into his strengths with emotionally resonant songwriting, strong performances, and excellent production. These tracks explore themes of time, nostalgia, and longing, and they finally give this record the heart it was missing in the first half.
Overall, The Secret is a difficult album to rate. Tracks 6–11 are arguably 4.5-star material. But the awkward, often disappointing front half of the album really brings things down. It brings me no pleasure to sink the rating, but it’s walking a tough 3–3.5 star line. Die-hard Alan Parsons fans will still find a lot to love, and if you’re already familiar with his work, it’s worth sticking with this one. Just power through the rough start—you’ll be rewarded in the end.
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Highlight Songs:
Requiem
Soirée Fantastique
As Lights Fall
I Can’t Get There From Here
Years of Glory
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Own it, Stream it, Forget about it?
As a Alan Parsons completist you should probably own this album, BUT I am going to suggest streaming it. Don’t waste your time with a couple songs on this album .. that’s 15-20+ minutes that you could save for other things. Listen to it all once, save the songs you like and then just stream the crap out of them, because the good ones are REALLY good.
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Overall Rating:
3.5 Stars
