THE FINAL CUT

Between the years of 1979 and 1983 Pink Floyd released a mega successful concept album, a subsequent tour of said album, the release of a major motion picture of said album, and the loss of a key member of the group in Rick Wright. In 1983, David Gilmour, Roger Waters, and Nick Mason returned to the studio to record what would be the last Pink Floyd album to feature the bassist/lyricist, and it would also be Pink Floyd's worst. The album in question in The Final Cut, and the title of the album says it all, this was the final cut of the classic Pink Floyd lineup. The story behind this album is more of a continuation of the subplot of the lost father subplot of The Wall, but in this instance, the father returns home and becomes alienated by the change that surrounds him. This album is more of a cynical view of politics and snipes every major leader of any major foreign power in the process. This album is often looked at with disgust among fans, and I can see why.

Opening with The Post War Dream, the orchestral scores and the depressing lyrics are there from the beginning. In fact, this may be one of the most depressing albums ever written. There is little guitar and this is more of a vocal album for Waters to show that he can (at least try to) sing. Your Possible Pasts continues the depressing theme, and I do like the main melody in the song, it has a sneering feel to it which I like. One of the Few is a little interlude piece that (yet again) continues the depressing, unwilling to change the world theme. The Hero's Return features some nice orchestration, but I still just can't get into it. The same goes with The Gunner's Dream and Paranoid Eyes, the melodies and themes just blur together and there is no real coherent flow to the album. Get Your Hands off My Filthy Desert/The Fletcher Memorial Home/Southampton Dock are among the tracks I do like. With Waters at his most cynical and descriptive. The main lyrical theme, "Maggie what have you done" is repeated many times during these 9 minutes.

The Final Cut is the precursor to my favorite song on the album, and acts as a nice introduction to it. Not Now John is my favorite song on the album. It's Gilmour's solen contribution vocally, and he really hits the mark. His bitter vocal performance of some of Water's most hate filled lyrics (filled with explicit language) is further added by the female chorus repeating, "F**k all that" over and over again. Gilmour's solo is his best on the album and this song really saves the album fromg getting a 1/5. Two Suns in a Sunset finishes the album, and it gives a nice conclusion to the story of the Final Cut. I like the lyrical finale to the album, it really sums up Roger's sentiments well, "Ashes and diamonds/foe and friend/we were all equal in the end".

Overall, I am left cold by this album, more so than the Wall. I view this album as Roger going overboard with the "my daddy died and I never got to know him" theme, which is something that I find hard to grasp. If you like Roger Waters' solo albums, you'll find something to like about this. Despite me liking Amused to Death so much, I just cannot recommend this to any casual listener, it's really a fans only album. 2/5.