It’s also a big album: a long, sprawling epic that stretches out for it’s slightly-padded running time, but one so full of ideas and intricacies that it’s an easy album to get sucked into.
Certainly, Is This the Life We Really Want? lacks the straightforward narrative or melodic thrust of The Wall, but it isn't as somnolent as The Final Cut, and if the songs don't call attention to themselves, they nevertheless form a long suite that works as a sustained mood piece.
The songs are less varied, however, tending to chug along morosely, based around similar clusters of chords to David Bowie’s Five Years, which suits the apocalyptic foreboding but can make you long for a brightly coiffed alien androgyne to come along and break the monotone gloom. ... Still, for all its solemnity, Waters is clearly in his element, even if his Indian summer might coincide with our nuclear winter.
Occasionally the music wells up into something noisier and more rhythmically intense; “Bird in a Gale,” with Waters’ image of a loon howling at the sea, openly echoes the trippy deep-space psychedelia of “The Dark Side of the Moon.”
While the solo work of Gilmour and Waters improves with each release and suggests that each is getting more comfortable working on his own and figuring out how to work without the other, their solo albums are also a painful and tantalizing reminder of just how good the music they made together once was.
Too often, though, a combination of slight songcraft and waters' awkward tendency to sound simultaneously angry and platitudinous starts to wear thin. [Jul 2017, p.89]
This Album Is a Masterpiece. Roger is Still Angry and When He's Angry He Can Write Good Songs and Good Lyrics.in My Opinion The World NeededThis Album Is a Masterpiece. Roger is Still Angry and When He's Angry He Can Write Good Songs and Good Lyrics.in My Opinion The World Needed To This Album Because There Are Numerous Problems In The Whole of World.…Expand
There is a lineage at play here, and it goes like this: The Wall, The Final Cut, The Pros and Cons of Hitchhiking, Amused to Death, Is ThisThere is a lineage at play here, and it goes like this: The Wall, The Final Cut, The Pros and Cons of Hitchhiking, Amused to Death, Is This the Life We Really Want? ... There is no lineage which contains "The Division Bell.".
The music is spectacular and Roger Waters might be 73 years old, but he can hold himself in a song-write-off. There's a lot of typical Roger Waters here. Some of the songs, such as Picture That, implore the listener to picture the mundane, and the horror with which war can insert itself into the mundane -- suddenly making those otherwise dull moments, moments of peace. If there's a standout song, "Imagine That" is it.
That isn't to slight the other songs on the album at all. The Last Refugee is a fantastic song -- especially if you take it in alongside the official video. In the live show, the character from "The Last Refugee" opens the concert, the video highlights the middle of the show, and finally at the end, she closes the show. This isn't a spoiler.
One common refrain from people who dislike this album is the claim of "leftism." Those people miss the point. Is the measure of a song actually determined by where it falls on the political spectrum?
This is Pink Floyd. I only wish it had come 25 years ago -- with Plenty of time for Roger Waters to follow it up.…Expand
Probably the best Waters solo album, it was clearly made to showcase his lyrics. I don't think any song here is a miss and it gives us thingsProbably the best Waters solo album, it was clearly made to showcase his lyrics. I don't think any song here is a miss and it gives us things that you instantly wanna hear again, "The Last Refugee", "Picture That", "Smell The Roses", etc.
It's incredible hearing how well Waters voice has aged, it's clearly not the same, but he gives a wonderful performance with a different style than his previous albums.
Finally it's an album that you clearly need to hear more than once and actually pay attention to the lyrics, or you probably either won't rank it as high on your list.…Expand
For those still with us (and for those not, we wish you were here) and still listening, this is a fully ripened expression of the visions andFor those still with us (and for those not, we wish you were here) and still listening, this is a fully ripened expression of the visions and ideas Roger has been working on for the past 50+ years. Though I loved Clapton and Beck, the lead guitar is toned down to give more expression to what's really important.…Expand
Is This The Life We Really Want? It is the central question of Roger Waters' new album. A question he answers in his anger about the currentIs This The Life We Really Want? It is the central question of Roger Waters' new album. A question he answers in his anger about the current political games, the world wars and the many refugees victims. The album is full of musical references to classics from the time of Pink Floyd, but due to the influence of producer Nigel Godrich there are some necessary little musical innovations. The depth of the whole is strengthened especially in the use of electronic gadgets and orchestral sounds. Although the emotional tone covers most of the album, there is still a spark of hope on the horizon by the end. The musical package effortlessly connects to the engaging vocal lines and the many images being projected on the retina. Even though Roger Waters knows that this isn't the life he embraces, in love he finds a safe place to await his approaching end. 8.6/10
Full review in Dutch: https://www.platendraaier.nl/albumrecensies/roger-waters-is-this-the-life-we-really-want/…Expand
Roger Waters steps into the world again and delivers passionate messages while bringing with him a hint of magic from his once incrediblyRoger Waters steps into the world again and delivers passionate messages while bringing with him a hint of magic from his once incredibly captivating sound, and even though complacency came off a bit too much in the melodic layer, his compelling harmonic language and influential voice can make up for a few musical shortcomings in the long run. My Score: 130/180 (Solid) = 7.2/10…Expand
This review contains spoilers, click expand to view.
This is the finest album since The Wall and indeed with 3 or 4 Dave Gilmour guitar solos included, it would be right up there with Pink Floyd's finest. Passable Rick Wright keyboard impersonations are good, the lyrics are RW at his best and at the age of 73, at least humour is in there that probably wasn't some 35/40 years ago. The four lines from Picture That (Picture a courthouse etc.) are, for me, the 4 greatest lines ever written in rock music. I will never agree with RW's politics but this album is phenomenal.
Unfortunately I don't think that until RW leaves us, the genius of his lyricism will ever be fully appreciated. In the current UK political world (2017) a phrase from 1972/73 has never been more relevant: "share it fairly, but don't take a slice of my pie...."…Expand
Published: May 25, 2017Get details about this summer's most-anticipated album releases (and re-releases), and listen to tracks from each one.