THE DIVISION BELL

I give Gilmore a pass for the flop that was "Momentary Lapse Of Reason". After all, the album title explains what the album actually was. I mean, it's not like anyone made stellar prog albums in the 80's.

Before "The Endless River" though, this album, "The Division Bell" was supposed to be the final encore for the once proud Floyd, with Gilmore and Mason NOT reunited with Roger Waters BUT reunited with faithful keyboardist Richard Wright.

The idea behind this record, oddly enough, has to do with a re-occurring theme of communication, something that was a bit of a problem between Gilmore and Waters (hmm). Either way, I always felt like Gilmore needed to return this band back to glory, that "signature sound" that was lost so long ago, and perhaps ol Ricky Wright could do it.

"Cluster One" starts off beautifully, with Wright's playing doing all the heavy lifting and Gilmore adding guitar spots where needed, and "What Do You Want From Me" just screams "Have A Cigar". So far, so good. It doesn't sound incredible contrite or strained, but rather relaxed, the way a true Pink Floyd disc should sound. At least there's an attempt to get back to basics.

Sadly, there is still a tug of control in Gilmore's wake to seem more like a solo album, none more so than "Poles Apart". I honestly couldn't care for it at all. That song is a sound of the 90's, in my opinion, where individual stardom was more important than taking a bunch of other guys with you to the top. Thankfully, though, Gilmore redeems himself with a tasty guitar solo spot on "Marooned".

And then from there it just disappears. Nothing after "Marooned" sounded like Pink Floyd, but rather a Gilmore solo album. I had high hopes, man.

Was it surprising? Not really. The 90's might have signaled the rebirth of progressive rock, but "prog" was still as dead in the 90's as it was in the 80's. The result of this album? A few tasty morsels, proof that Gilmore could still bring back the classic Floyd, but ultimately, overcome with pressure just to make it all about himself.

Luckily though, there'd be one last chance for redemption.