THE WALL

This album was something of an obsession for me when I was 18. I was at a new college, far from the town I grew up in and lived in for the previous 17 years, feeling very alone and isolated and depressed. What better album for such circumstances? It amazes me to this day that I didn't go through with actually killing myself.

I know, quite an introduction to a review for a piece of music, eh? But what can I say? Waters would probably be pleased to know that his baby had that effect on someone. Honestly, at the time I mentioned above, I was listing to this album over and over again, all day long. Not a healthy thing to do. So, admittedly, I liked it quite a bit initially. But my reasons for liking it had more to do with my mental state at a very difficult time in my life, and it is safe to say that this album did more to hurt me than to help me. But that is not the fault of the album.

Still, my view of it more recently is that it is quite childish in its whining and complaining tone. And the fact that that tone is being directed at the listener by a late - 30's super rich rock star only makes me dislike it more. It is one big ego trip, by someone who I simply can not relate to on any level (at least now, anyway). I mean, am I really supposed to feel sorry for this rich guy who is so overwrought about being a rich rock star? Hardly.

Still, there ARE great songs one here. Comfortably Numb was the first Floyd song I fell in love with and it is still a great song, even after the millionth time. Run Like Hell, Hey You, and a couple others are quite good, mostly thanks to Gilmour's contributions. But overall, my least favorite Floyd album (yes, even the More soundtrack seems better to me in retrospect). I'm afraid that after all this time, the best I can muster is 2 stars.