Classic Rock Album of the Day- Pink Floyd- Momentary Lapse of Reason (1987) ****
Might surprise some, that in the entire illustrious PF catalog, this one is my favorite. I know I am in the extreme minority, but there are 3 or 4 tunes on this one that are some of their strongest ever. In most of their career, the guys in the band were so focused on the conceptual themeing , that they sometimes lost out good old fashion songwriting. Yeah, from a cerebral perspective there are 4 albums much more entertaining, but if there is one that you just want to relax and enjoy, this one fits the bill.
I think this complete change of direction angered the critics, and when you see the reviews, it was highly panned. Honestly, I think it was mostly butt hurt that Gilmour wrestled full control of the band and subsequent music. But it was not the first nor the last time that idiotic critics allowed peripheral issues to faux taint the work of a group. But as usual with many of us..... F__ the critics. This was an excellent piece from this legendary band.
What I hope wasn't lost on the fact on the lineup, is that Gilmour was able to recruit the likes of Bob Ezrin, Carmen Appice, Tony Levin,among others. Roger Who? Some might say. One might want that this was PF work, basically done by session men. But that is bullshit as far as I am concerned. This album has some of the most listenable, innovative stuff that PF has ever written. Tracks 2-5 in sucession, is about as good as it gets in listening order. Yeah, this and Division Bell might have been considered somewhat of a swan songs for the band. But unlike many bands who struggle and embarass themselves on the way out. PF did it right.
Fun Fact: Every PF album from DSOTM onward charted at last No. 6 and higher. And 4 of those 8 reached No.1.
Track
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1. Signs of Life- Etheral intro. Kind of what you would expect from the band who has made it a habit for 4 decades. 7
2. Learning to Fly- Excellent start with great soulful, and layered in patented Gilmour ax work. Verbal interplay mid point again is patented PF mastery. 2
3. Dogs of War- Very different and powerful itineration from normal PF fare. Dark and foreboding, this heavy number evolves into a blues tour de-force. I do know Gilmour used the soulful chorus on this one more than any other LP, but it worked very nicely. 4
4. One Slip- The one to make the DSOTM and 420 crowd happy. Very bizarre metering and rhythm intertwined with almost traditonal Rock and Roll. This is the kind of songwriting that evades the pikers. 3
5. On the Turning Away- The one worth the price of admission. Absolutely beautiful masterpiece that contains one of my favorite guitar solos of all time Period. Jaw dropping, and deservingly so. 1
6. Yet Another Movie- Some nice instrumentation work mid point. Not bad at all, but the band shot their wad tracks 2-5 6
7. Round and Round- Short spacey instrumental that kin of harkens back to their 60's work. Nothing really much to add here. 11
8. A New Machine (Part 1)- Sounds mostly like an epilog to the Dogs of War stylistically, but short, and adding little 9
9. Terminal Frost- Soft rocking number that almost has that DSOTM Gig in the Sky feel. But not quite. 8
10. A New Machine (Part 2)- See Part 1 10
11. Sorrow- Style wise, sounds like something from the Animals era. But more heavy and subdued. More Gilmour ax wizardry makes this a nice end to the LP. 5
Might surprise some, that in the entire illustrious PF catalog, this one is my favorite. I know I am in the extreme minority, but there are 3 or 4 tunes on this one that are some of their strongest ever. In most of their career, the guys in the band were so focused on the conceptual themeing , that they sometimes lost out good old fashion songwriting. Yeah, from a cerebral perspective there are 4 albums much more entertaining, but if there is one that you just want to relax and enjoy, this one fits the bill.
I think this complete change of direction angered the critics, and when you see the reviews, it was highly panned. Honestly, I think it was mostly butt hurt that Gilmour wrestled full control of the band and subsequent music. But it was not the first nor the last time that idiotic critics allowed peripheral issues to faux taint the work of a group. But as usual with many of us..... F__ the critics. This was an excellent piece from this legendary band.
What I hope wasn't lost on the fact on the lineup, is that Gilmour was able to recruit the likes of Bob Ezrin, Carmen Appice, Tony Levin,among others. Roger Who? Some might say. One might want that this was PF work, basically done by session men. But that is bullshit as far as I am concerned. This album has some of the most listenable, innovative stuff that PF has ever written. Tracks 2-5 in sucession, is about as good as it gets in listening order. Yeah, this and Division Bell might have been considered somewhat of a swan songs for the band. But unlike many bands who struggle and embarass themselves on the way out. PF did it right.
Fun Fact: Every PF album from DSOTM onward charted at last No. 6 and higher. And 4 of those 8 reached No.1.
Track
---------
1. Signs of Life- Etheral intro. Kind of what you would expect from the band who has made it a habit for 4 decades. 7
2. Learning to Fly- Excellent start with great soulful, and layered in patented Gilmour ax work. Verbal interplay mid point again is patented PF mastery. 2
3. Dogs of War- Very different and powerful itineration from normal PF fare. Dark and foreboding, this heavy number evolves into a blues tour de-force. I do know Gilmour used the soulful chorus on this one more than any other LP, but it worked very nicely. 4
4. One Slip- The one to make the DSOTM and 420 crowd happy. Very bizarre metering and rhythm intertwined with almost traditonal Rock and Roll. This is the kind of songwriting that evades the pikers. 3
5. On the Turning Away- The one worth the price of admission. Absolutely beautiful masterpiece that contains one of my favorite guitar solos of all time Period. Jaw dropping, and deservingly so. 1
6. Yet Another Movie- Some nice instrumentation work mid point. Not bad at all, but the band shot their wad tracks 2-5 6
7. Round and Round- Short spacey instrumental that kin of harkens back to their 60's work. Nothing really much to add here. 11
8. A New Machine (Part 1)- Sounds mostly like an epilog to the Dogs of War stylistically, but short, and adding little 9
9. Terminal Frost- Soft rocking number that almost has that DSOTM Gig in the Sky feel. But not quite. 8
10. A New Machine (Part 2)- See Part 1 10
11. Sorrow- Style wise, sounds like something from the Animals era. But more heavy and subdued. More Gilmour ax wizardry makes this a nice end to the LP. 5
