THE PROS AND CONS OF HITCH HIKING

Roger Waters, for a considerable long time, was the main thinking force behind Pink Floyd and during that time the band sound slowly changed from the trippy, psychedelic, experimental and rather detached space rock they developed in the late 60s and early 70's to a more bluesy, focued and emotionally deep music, which, to this day, does not have a better definition than Pink Floyd music.

After leaving Pink Floyd, Roger took those blues influeces (and the lots of unsolved emotional issues) even further, which can be sees pretty clearly throughout his first (actually second, but does Sounds from the Body even count as a music album?) solo album, called The Pros and Cons of Hitch Hiking, that was actually composed at the same time as The Wall. Due to that, The Pros and Cons of Hitch Hiking have some melodies that are quite similar to The Wall and to the Final Cut song The Fletcher Memorial Home. It is also importanto to note that in The Pros and Cons of Hitch Hiking the guitars are definitely the main instrument, possibly because Eric Clapton is the lead guitarrist (that may be also why there are so many blues influences here, but oh well . . . )

This alsbum is also a concept album about a man that as dreams and nightmares about several different subjects, most of which concern marital issues / sex / women in three places: (West) Germany, England, and USA.

It is also important to note that, despite the naysayers dismiss this album in almost as many ways there is, The Pros and Cons of Hitch Hiking (and most of Roger Waters solo albums) are quite influential among recent progressive rock and progressive metal acts. Two very well-known progressive metal bands, Pain of Salvation and Riverside, are quite influeced by it, specially concerning the emotionally deep / troubled lyrics.

One last thing: many (also) throw rocks at Roger's solo career because of his singing. OK, I got to admit that Roger Waters is not the best singer there is, but his vocals fit perfectly in the music he presents us, specially when you consider the lyrics.

Grade and Final Thoughts

Roger Waters's solo albums, along with the whole Pink Floyd discography, are albums that I was raised listening. I literally listened them since I was just some months old, although The Pros and Cons of Hitch Hiking I only listened recently becase my father lost the album in his collection until recently, so it is really hard for me not to like this kind of music. Besides, this album does contain very good music in it, so the grade is 4 stars.

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