THE DIVISION BELL

a definite high note for pink floyd to finally call it quits on, this album has enough quality songs to outweigh the few filler tracks. "cluster one" is, like many first songs on a PF album, a slow instrumental piece which showcases the band's ability to compliment each other. gilmour's morose soloing and wright's slow keyboard combine for a good "just stoned" song, and it turns into "what do you want from me", a slower rock song without any effects, but delightfully catchy nonetheless. "golden boy" or whatever number three is called i wouldn't care for musically were it not for the freaky carnival theme in the middle that scared the bejeezus out of me the first time i heard it. Lyrically, this song seems to be an ode to waters, and gilmour could be attacking attacking him if listened to with this mindframe. "A great day for freedom" is a great song on this album, proving gilmour one of the greatest conventional male singers in rock history, with the possible exception of freddy mercury. Rick Wright's tune, "wearing the inside out", is a long overdue piece from the band's all-important if underated keyboardist, as he had not helped write a song with his bandmates since "shine on you crazy diamond", and it features that willowy recognizble voice last heard on "time", well as superb backup singing in the chorus. the next few tracks (7, 8, 9,) are nothing spectactular, but listenable to anyway. "lost for words" number ten, is my favourite on this album, a song comparable to "wish you were here" structuraly, with acoustic soloing and biting, satirical lyrics about the human condition and relationships. my favourite line: "i open the door to my enemies and i ask could we wipe the slate clean. but they tell me to please go fuck myself, as the ivy grows over the door." finally, "high hopes" is extremely ear pleasing and the right song to end this album on. it's about childhood and lost chances and regret. Some consider this album on the same level as the awful "momentary lapse of reason", Floyd's only unequivocal blunder, but in my opinion the comparison is absurd, and this album is the definition of post-waters pink floyd.