A MOMENTARY LAPSE OF REASON

I have always liked this album. It is surprisingly good, considering it is not the full team we were used to on earlier albums. Many of the songs are catchy, melodic, and full of wonderful Gilmourian guitar work! 'Learning To Fly', 'One Slip', 'On The Turning Away' are all good songs. 'Signs Of Life', which opens the album, is not on the same level, but is a decent way to start the record. 'Dogs Of War' is too heavy for me, but again it is not exactly a bad track. The rest of the songs are decent, if not essential, efforts, 'Terminal Frost' and 'Another Movie' being the best of them. But then comes the tremendous finale - the wonderful 'Sorrow'. This song has all the hallmarks of classic Floyd, with stunning guitar work, and an excellent, laid back, yet powerful melody. Good stuff! I personally rate this album as better than the following 'Division Bell', although many fans will prefer that album. Gilmour has done a good job here, minus Waters. Ironic that the only member of the band who didn't appear on the first album, back in 1967, has here taken on the job of leading the group. I wonder what Syd Barrett thinks of it all? Recommended to Floyd fans who are not too keen on the depressing lyrics of Waters. Funnily enough, the album this resembles most closely, to my ears, is 'Wish You Were Here'. If you like that, you should like this. Not essential, but better than expected.