THE WALL

This album represents the peak of Roger Waters career with Pink Floyd as the follow-up album "The Final Cut" was perceived by most observers as Waters' solo project. When "The Wall" came out I was happy as many people who previously did not know the band's name were becoming aware of it due to the popularity of "Another Brick In The Wall" Part 2. Quite entertaining for me as previously none of my friends knew the band very well until The Wall was released.

The opening track "In The Flesh" sets the whole atmosphere of the album with great combination of guitar, bass, soaring keyboard and powerful drumming enters the music in a high emotion. It flows into a silent part where transparent voice enters the scene and the music returns back on high state and ends up beautifully. It flows seamlessly to baby cry voice followed with bluesy music under "The Thin Ice". What follows is a great keyboard program and bass lines that accompanies vocal to open the great song "Another Brick In The Wall" Part 1 and 2. This presentation of five opening tracks has indicated how powerful this album is. There is no such thing as bad or mediocre track on Disc One so I give disc one a full five stars rating.

Disc Two starts off with a ballad style with bluesy style and ambient nuance "Hey You" with excellent acoustic guitar work. The bridge "Is There Anybody Out There" is a very good one - with very nice acoustic guitar work augmented with cello - that brings to my best favorite track of this album "Nobody Home". Yeah, Nobody Home gives me a sense of excellent melody, powerful lyrics as wells as top notch vocal quality. Musically it comprises mainly vocal and piano, violin / orchestral arrangements plus other sound effects (typical Pink Floyd music). I always repeat this track over and over. It's so powerful! I love how Waters vocal characterizes the song. "But I've got nowhere to fly to .. fly to .. fly to . Uh .. Babe who'll pick up the phone? There's nobody home ." . what a great and memorable lyrical parts! "Vera" is another great follow-up of "Nobody Home". "Bring The boys Back Home" contains colossal orchestration which elevates the overall album nuance.

Who does not know the heartbreaking "Comfortably Numb" which has become a title which reflects musical ecstasy? It's a wonderfully crafted song with great natural flow from start to end. Without any intention to demean other tracks, my ultimate favorites of this album are three tracks that form a very good story under: "Waiting for The Worms", "Stop", "The Trial". One thing that I really like about these three tracks that must be enjoyed in its entirety is the opera style of the song.

No one should argue with this wonderfully crafted concept album. The composition is tight, the musicianship is great, the songwriting and performance are top notch. So, you should not miss this phenomenal album. Keep on proggin' ..!

Peace on earth and mercy mild - GW