AMUSED TO DEATH

I am not a great Pink fan, I must admit!; I am more like a Pink songs fan. The reason is personal and who cares! Even though, I know their discography completely. And opposite to most "Pinkies" I think the "Final Cut" is the only Floyd record that has no "gaps" and its humour is superb. Maybe it is me. But usually they start off amazingly well, but then suddenly, they get stuck somewhere and then (sometimes) blast off again to great climaxes! (this is my humble opinion). To me these "gaps" are usually boring. They happen in the "Moon", they happen in "Wish", less in "Animals", a lot more in the "Wall". (Personal opinion not blasphemy; Floyd fans.) Most guys will tell you "The Cut" is not a Pink Floyd record, The Wall was neither ( the confessed " I hate you!" stories and the mysterious erasing of tapes by Waters himself of course). So, as many composers of music bands do, they have to become either group members or dictators.( e.g.the early Beatles, the later Beatles). It has to do with principles and concessions, there is no turning back!

So long to explain why I wouldn´t give this "Jewel" 5 stars. Yes! Because it has those PF (or should we say RW's?) "gaps". Around the final part of side "A"; (songs 6,7,8 are boring, songs 9- 10 are good, but not 11, my least favorite of them all, to be specific). To me these are "minutes of nothingness". I just want to skip them off to the next part.

GREAT thing is, side "B" the "next part" is the most stripped down beautiful Roger Waters´s music you can imagine. This of course has to with his exceptional composition skills and his own conceptual aestetiques. Also because he has been quiet productive with his solo projects. This is the 3th after-Floyd release.

And as adding insult to injury (to Gilmour, of course, not you listener!), Jeff Beck is the guest guitarist in this album. And what an excellent choice!! He adds up the suitable energy and personal touch needed for this kind of "poetic" project! (In the first after-Floyd solo project, he invited no other than Eric Clapton!). 4 PA stars,**** with some regrets!