BACK AGAINST THE WALL (A TRIBUTE TO PINK FLOYD)

You cannot downplay the importance and sheer brilliance of PINK FLOYD's masterpiece "The Wall". The tribute albums have come and gone, some were good and some forgettable. "Back Against The Wall" is a phenomenal tribute that I think the creators of the original recording will find most pleasing.

As they say in England-Bloody Hell! This is magnificent. I am gob smacked! When you assemble some of the most recognizable names in classic and progressive rock, well, actually some of the more important artists in the history of recorded music, how could it possibly not be a great recording and make an impact? Just look at the credits, its overwhelming. Ian Anderson, Tony Levin, Steve Howe, Tommy Shaw, Ronnie Montrose, Rick Wakeman, the list goes on and on. Every contributor to this project has earned a multitude of respect over the years.

This is the closest thing to the real deal as you can get. The vocals are similar to how Roger Waters and David Gilmour sounded in their prime, and the musicianship is most notable. Every song kicks some major ass, period. It is difficult to put it any other way actually. In a sense, "The Wall" paralleled the "Dark Side Of The Moon" in success (years on the charts) and originality. I know Waters was given most of the credit for this album, but let us not forget that PINK FLOYD was a band and they are the ones that went to the studio every day to record this, even if it was one person's brainchild, it took a group of people to make an album such as this. Now in one of the most stunning grouping of musicians worldwide we have a reenactment of one of the most important albums of our time.

I think it would be quite unfair to all involved to site any particular tracks as being the best; they were all outstanding, beyond my greatest expectations. After a few songs, it makes you feel like you are listening to the original recording all over again. I would think that is whole idea behind this, it is a tribute to PINK FLOYD. Each musician has their time to show their appreciation in each song to a band that helped shape their own music. It is obvious that a lot of heart and soul went into this and the sound is clear, full, and powerful-everything that PINK FLOYD was when they produced an album.

Now if this is not enough, they are planning to take this thing on the road. I cannot imagine how fantastic this will be if some of the very same musicians pack up their gear and present these songs in a live setting. It will not be like PINK FLOYD live, but just the same, I am sure it will be immensely enjoyable, just like this recording has been. Surely all rock and progressive rock fans will be delighted with this set. A tribute album cannot get any better than this-it is a perfect 10.

© Keith "MuzikMan" Hannaleck-http://www.muzikreviews.com

August 26, 2005

I do not want to rain in anybody's parade and I really will try to make this critique as impartial as possible but the real question is why? As a full developed artist wants to produce a Tribute Album. You may say...well to show the sheer grandiosity of a excellent album, or well to show up that maybe, and just maybe you can do it better!! Of course, if there is another reason I would like to know!!

You see I am a hard-core fan of Pink Floyd, and I am also a fan of most of the artists involved in this project! However, as a progressive rock fan in general baffles me why? The Wall again, and baffles me more why? Artists of the magnitude of Wetton, Emerson, Wakeman, Howe.and list goes on an on, wanted to participate. Well, maybe that is why I am not a progressive rock artist but just a crazy prog-head collector!!!

Regarding the album itself, it does have some moments but that is all!! To me, does not have the punch of the Original; but then again just few artists have done tributes or covers that really are better than the originals. Now to me this is not the main issue!! I noticed that some tracks sound just like they were trying (so hard..) to emulate PF! Some others sound absolutely out of place and pace musically!

Lets give some examples:

CD #1 the clearest example is "Young Lust", were you trying to make a Metal track? Gimme a break!

Since I remember I have considered the tracks "Another Brick..part 1"; "The Happiest days.." and "Another brick..part 2" a suite divided in 3 (total time: around 9'), in this collection the glue between them is complete lost in the mix, I just do not like that.

CD #2 where I think they really lost me is in "Comfortable Numb"; the brilliance of this track was completely lost on the remake! And the list goes on and on...

By the way the planes on "Goodbye Blue Sky" at least IMO sound like a much modern planes, not probably similar to the ones used on The Second World War??? Were you trying to modernize the album?

Last but not least is the fact that production mess up really bad, on the list of tracks. In my copy 3 of the tracks on CD #1 are written in the wrong position.

Thanks God, however Ian Anderson and his flute was available!! But in reality I think that my perspective of this original Pink Floyd Gem is a little bias base on the Movie!! I can emphasize enough, that this is just my opinion, and nothing else. So you have been warned. That goes to show you that somethings are best left alone!!

"Mother do you think they like the album? NOT.

A tribute to the famous concept album.

Note: this is not a boring and lazy pink Floyd tribute at all. Billy (ex-yes member) has brought some of the best musicians in rock to create this album. Back Against the Wall is very similar to the original version, and many of the sound effects are intact. I do not know if this may be good or bad for the one reading this review.

Notable differences:

_The Drumming (especially in the opening track) is superb and much more powerful than before. Thank you Alan White! _Another Brick in the Wall has different guitar solos. _Nobody Home's singing is accompained by Rick Wakeman's classical grand piano playing _Vera has a good guitar solo from Howe _Comfortly Numb is extremely different from the original, including a new instrumental section, and a harmony of voices leading the ending. (squire's voice is very easy to identify) _Waiting for the Worms has a trademark Emerson hammond solo at the end. _The Trial: a terrible cover.

If you have never heard The Wall, get that album first. While this is a great cover of that album, it is not superior.

If you are a fan of The Wall, do not miss this album! It is an excellent tribute. Roger Waters must be really happy when he heard this.

Back on board after a hiatus of a couple of months, I'd like to start my reviews for 2006 with this album. I'd been hunting high and low for it before I finally managed to get hold of it - and it was well worth the wait, I have to say.

The original "The Wall" and I go back a long time. In fact, the Earls' Court 1980 performance of the whole album was one of the first gigs I ever attended, and a memory I'll treasure forever, so utterly great it was. When this tribute album came out, I wanted immediately to get it, on the strength of some glowing reviews and of the star team of musicians involved. Since I got the album I've listened to it at least once a week, sometimes even more, and every time I find something new to enjoy.

That said, "Back Against the Wall" is not perfect. As others have pointed out, the production could have been better: the order of some tracks on CD 1 is wrong, and some things have been unnecessarily polished up. However, such is the strength of the performances that such minor quibbles can be forgiven.

If I were to pick out individual tracks, I'd mention "In the Flesh", featuring Keith Emerson's inimitable Hammond organ and stunning vocals from Adrian Belew; "Another Brick in the Wall pt. 1", with a gorgeous, atmospheric guitar solo courtesy of Deep Purple's Steve Morse (a more than deserving replacement for my beloved Ritchie Blackmore); "Mother" and "Hey You", with John Wetton's strong, emotional vocals - deeper than in the past, but even more poignant. Being a Glenn Hughes fan, I also like his take on "Young Lust", one of the rockier tracks on the album; but I can understand it not being to everyone's taste.

On the negative side, I was somewhat disappointed by "Comfortably Numb": though the vocals, shared by Billy Sherwood (who's a more than adequate vocalist) and Chris Squire, are rather good,I still feel the track would've deserved a better guitarist to try and emulate Gilmour's peerless touch. I'm not very keen either on the tracks sung by Tommy Shaw, whose voice does nothing for me. On the other hand, I find Fee Waybill's hysterical vocals a very good choice for "Another Brick in the Wall".

"Back Against the Wall" may not be the 5-star masterpiece the original was, but it's definitely worth adding to your collection. Hats off to Billy Sherwood for having had the nerve to pull it off.