Roger's Last Laugh
WARNING: If you've heard classics such as "Dark Side Of The Moon", "Meddle", "Animals", "Wish You Were Here", and of course, "The Wall", then DO NOT believe that this is the same band. True, there is some good songs on this record: "On The Turning Away" is a beautiful song; "Sorrow" excellent musicianship; and "Terminal Frost" wonderfully composed. However, this record is by no ways up to the standards of the Pink Floyd name made proffitable by songwriting genius Roger Waters. This record is incredibly lavish. It's a typical high-budget Reagan-era disaster. The radio garbage overrated hit "Learning To Fly" is hardly comparable to Waters' "The Tide Is Turning". Cheez-o filler like "Dogs Of War", "New Machine" play key roles in the unpleasant 80's yucc-o sound this record can't seem to shake. It lacks the continuity of a true PF album, as well as the musical and lyrical conceptualism. No, it's not a horrible 1980's rock album, but it's not a Pink Floyd album. The argument that the band evolved is null and void. Evolution is a natural process that occurs through time. In '68 Barrett's influence transfused its way into his pupil and successor, David Gilmour. Over the next 15 or so years, Gilmour and Waters evolved together to help create "The Pink Floyd Sound" (the bands original name). In my mind, that sound died when "The Wall" came down. Just as "The Final Cut" is not a true PF representation, "A Momentary Lapse Of Reason" is not either. As one other clver reviewer stated, these guys really are "The Surrogate Band".
Tasty sandwich with a huge slice of Gilmour....
After departure of Roger Waters Pink floyd was close to the end...but they didn't finish as an old rock pantheon group - they made two great albums that shown that Pink Floyd is surely not Roger Waters band...First of all - David gilmour (vocals,guitars) is replacing Roger waters (vocals,bass) as a frontman.Before he was standing in a shadow of Roger's bombastic character and his introwertic lyrics. Now as he takes the wheel after him the music sounds more fresh, less depresing but sadly more polished....This is the only fault of tis album.the songs are great
After the calm opening "the signs of life" bands explodes in fantastic big hit "Learning to fly". Nice catchy melody,unforgettable guitar works and characteristic choirs.Tasty!!!! straight to the end the album is solid. "Dogs of war" with interesting jazzy saxophone part, another hit "one slip", charming ballad "on the turning away" and famous "Sorrow" are not leaving any doubt that Pink floyd was one of the most interesting and amazing rock bands ever...
It was my first Cd of Pink floyd i ever bought, it is maybe not quintesential album but surely very well done and great to listen!!!
Still Floyd, still good
Many people say of this album, "Good, but not Pink Floyd." To them I say that Pink Floyd, if anything was a band that was constantly on the move and changed its sound from album to album. This album isn't any less Pink Floyd than Saucerful of Secrets, or Obscured by Clouds; both of which differ from this recording as well as each other quite a bit.
To those of you not concerned with whether this album is like other Pink Floyd albums, consider the music itself. This album was made in the 80's and it shows. Gilmour and company (minus Waters for the first time) experiment as many bands did with synthesisers and synth drums. The effect is distracting and umpleasant if you hate, hate, hate 80's music.
I, Myself, felt this at first, but the music itself is strong enough that soon, I listened beyond the 80's plastic sound and heard the songs themselves. The music here is as good as any that came before it, although maybe not as complex lyrically. Gone also is the dark broodiness that Waters brought to the table, but David Gilmour has a much more clear and pleasant singing voice than Waters. If you liked Gilmour's previous vocal performances (such as Comfortably Numb and Wish You Were Here) you will like this music.
For those of you who have listened to and like this album, I highly suggest The Divison Bell and both of Gilmour's solo albums if you can find them.
A Definitely Awesome Album
The Final Cut was terrible so it was really great that they did this album. There are so many great songs. Yeah Roger Waters was not there, but it's a true Floyd album. Learning To Fly and On The Turning Away are two songs with original PF sound. However, my favorite song on there is Sorrow. The guitar is so heavy! I recommend this album to anyone who loves Pink Floyd.
On the turning away
"A momentary lapse of reason" is considered one of Pink Floyd's poorest albums. Sure, Roger Walters was not on it, but it did generate two massive eighties singles: "Learning to Fly" and "On the Turning Away". The latter being one of the finest ballads ever recorded. Buy it for this song alone (and also to complete your Pink Floyd collection).
Though many predicted that Roger Waters's acrimonious split with the band after 1983's aptly named Final Cut would ultimately spell the end of Pink Floyd, the remaining band members confounded pundits by extending their status as classic rock's most ponderous dinosaurs into the 1990s and beyond. And if the title was a gentle jab at Waters after a years-long legal struggle over the Floyd moniker, the music was all too familiar; some would say even formulaic. And lest anyone doubted that the absence of Waters's dour soul would lighten things up a bit, guitarist and post facto leader Dave Gilmour gamely took on the Mantle of Conscience for topics ranging from the cold war ("The Dogs of War") to yuppie self-indulgence ("On the Turning Away"). And if this album sometimes evokes an uncomfortable feeling of a band on autopilot, it's one that can still turn out the likes of the anthemic "Learning to Fly" on cruise control. --Jerry McCulley
