Rattle That Lock
by David Gilmour
  • Record Label: Columbia
  • Release Date: Sep 18, 2015
Metascore
75

Generally favorable reviews - based on 14 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 11 out of 14
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 14
  3. Negative: 0 out of 14
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  1. Q Magazine
    Oct 1, 2015
    80
    Reassuringly, Gilmour's cool and composed vocal delivery and liquid guitar solos dominate throughout. [Nov 2015, p.113]
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  2. The Observer (UK)
    Sep 21, 2015
    80
    There are simple and undeniably lovely moments here--the hymn-like opening to Today is especially beautiful--but these are heavily outnumbered by displays of muso virtuosity.
  3. Boston Globe
    Sep 18, 2015
    80
    Gilmour’s fourth solo record summons a heady dose of the grandeur he brought to Floyd.
  5. The Guardian
    Sep 17, 2015
    80
    As the primary architect of Floyd’s sweeping soundscapes, Gilmour has transposed them on to 10 shorter but equally elegiac, very beautiful songs, half of them written with his wife, the novelist Polly Samson.
  6. Record Collector
    Sep 11, 2015
    80
    Rattle That Lock is a small, intimate album that maintains Gilmour’s impeccably tasteful quality threshold throughout.
  7. Mojo
    Sep 11, 2015
    80
    Rattle That Lock escapes the weight of legacy and operates in the here and now in a serene triumphant manner. [Oct 2015, p.88]
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  8. Rolling Stone
    Sep 22, 2015
    70
    Gilmour is, inevitably, most eloquent here as a guitarist.
  9. PopMatters
    Sep 18, 2015
    70
    At 51 minutes it’s hard to argue that Rattle That Lock somehow doesn’t deliver or is too short, yet that’s how it feels at times.
  10. AllMusic
    Sep 18, 2015
    70
    It is a snapshot of where Gilmour is as a musician in 2015, and not by any means a grand portrait or statement to sum up his career.
  11. Drowned In Sound
    Sep 16, 2015
    70
    Rattle that Lock offers something of great merit to those lucky enough to see some of the live shows, however you can’t help but feel that despite crafting an album of such merit, David Gilmour may simply not want to carry on making music that owes so much to his late companion and friend.
  12. Classic Rock Magazine
    Sep 11, 2015
    70
    A gentle watercolour portrait of the artist as a young man.
  13. Uncut
    Sep 11, 2015
    60
    Rattle That Lock turns out to be a modest achievement for the most part. [Oct 2015, p.82]
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  14. New York Daily News (Jim Faber)
    Sep 11, 2015
    60
    The pace remains measured, the production pristine and the tone a tad too tame.
  15. Consequence
    Sep 21, 2015
    58
    Heartfelt, if not always inspired musings are scattered throughout the record.

Awards & Rankings

99
#99 Most Shared Album of 2015

User Reviews

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User Score
7.6

Generally favorable reviews- based on 38 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 28 out of 38
  2. Mixed: 6 out of 38
  3. Negative: 4 out of 38
  1. andreydelorenzo
    Sep 18, 2015
    10
    This album is the best Gilmour's solo. That record here, remains some beautiful stuff and spirit of the gold years of Pink Floyd. The firstThis album is the best Gilmour's solo. That record here, remains some beautiful stuff and spirit of the gold years of Pink Floyd. The first three songs are so good and both are like some Roger Waters's things of his solo career, especially "Faces of Stone". Whatever, now the thing what we have to do, is wait for his world tour.… Full Review »
  2. SweetSoundOC
    Sep 19, 2015
    9
    A brilliant solo album from one of my all time favorite musical artists "(Sir) David Gilmour". "Rattle That Lock" delivers a mix of theA brilliant solo album from one of my all time favorite musical artists "(Sir) David Gilmour". "Rattle That Lock" delivers a mix of the Progressive Rock that Gilmour is best known for and blends in styles of Jazz Rock, Art Rock, & many more orchestral pieces then on other works. From the very beginning to the end all I could do was sit back and feel at peace as each song touched me in their own special way. The lyrics were so meaningful and expertly written, making it a difficult, but rewarding job to find the true meaning of them. The only thing that makes this record just left of a masterpiece is the mixed feeling I have towards the song "Today". In my eyes, if this were to be his final album, I wouldn't be the least bit upset about it because it was truly a gift to us all. Thank you for all the years of music you have given us David Gilmour~!

    Favorite song: A Boat Lies Waiting    … Full Review »
  3. SirNilesIV
    Sep 21, 2015
    6
    I disagree with the reviewer who gave this album a ten calling it "the best." If you haven't heard his first, and by far better, solo album,I disagree with the reviewer who gave this album a ten calling it "the best." If you haven't heard his first, and by far better, solo album, please do. It is actually a great record made in the mid seventies, I believe after, Wish You Were Here. There are a number of tracks on that album which are far superior both production wise and arrangement wise. This album is a little hacky, much like the Division Bell era Pink Floyd. Now if thats your thing, THATS COOL, but alas, for me it's not. I won't go into too many reasons why this album is lacking, but here are some (possibly TL;DR I know):

    -- His guitar work is trite and overly compressed. He still uses a strat mostly, but it's so processed that it sounds like an 80's digital version of a guitar. For comparison, go listen to Doyle Bramhall play David's parts for Roger Water's solo tours, it's like night and day.
    -- The backup singers are egregious church lady shells.
    -- The track order is all over the place with no pacing at all.
    -- The album art looks like a picture taken on Instagram with some script font over it and a random selection of words used as it's title-- why are there birds flying from a cage? What cage are you in David Gilmour?
    -- The lyrical vapidity is ever present from the first track on. Now I know, some of you will quibble if you are a Division Bell era fan (which I am not), so I get it.

    Long comment short, David Gilmour should go back to collaborating with interesting singers like he did with Waters. One of the best back to back albums from an aging rock star are those Robert Plant albums he did with Allison Krauss. They're killer and show what a real second or third act can look like.    … Full Review »
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