A Momentary Lapse of Reason reconsidered

[Cail]

I can remember clearly the weeks leading up to Monday, September 7th, 1987. I had just started my sophomore year of college, and I was anxiously awaiting new Floyd after the depressing and disappointing The Final Cut.

The campus record store opened at 10am, I blew off my classes to be there the second they opened. I had enough money to splurge and get the CD ($8.99 versus $5.99 for the LP). I sprinted the mile back to my dorm room, gathered up Rich (my roommate) and Cara (the girl I should have married), killed the lights, laid on the floor, and let the music wash over us.

I can honestly say that I've never been more satisfied with the first listen of an album before or since. But that was 1987 Cail. 2011 Cail is a far more critical and discerning listener. It's odd, but I don't think I've listened to the whole record all the way through in well over a decade. Thanks to XM, "Learning to Fly", "On the Turning Away", and (oddly) "One Slip" are frequently heard, but the album is a piece. I set out to experience it again.

Signs of Life

Let's face it, most instrumentals by rock bands suck. Floyd is one of those few bands that really nails them every time. With a guitar part similar to Yes's "Roundabout", at first it don't succeed (as it were). But the bluesy feel, along with the sound of the water makes for the perfect intro to the next song. As I listened to it again for the first time in years, I'm reminded that it's the perfect beginning to the album.

Learning to Fly

One word describes this song, and it's nearly never used with Pink Floyd songs......."Pastoral". Again, I'm struck by the bluesy feel to Dave's guitar. But more importantly, there's the imagery to the lyrics. Dave's painting a picture here, not describing one. There's a feeling, culminated when Dave sings, "suspended animation, a state of bliss", that yes indeed, this is joy, this is release, this is bliss.

The Dogs of War

Oh shit, what?

Let me just say that if there's one thing I hate in music, it's when people sing about "something" in particular. It's a rare artist on a rare song that can sing about something in particular and not have the thing sound heavy-handed. Floyd did this well on Animals and The Wall, less so on The Final Cut. It ruined Rush for me for a decade.

Oddly, this is the only song on the album that would have benefited from Roger Waters. His raspy voice would have really made this song. It is literally the only one of the new Pink Floyd songs that I say this about.

As it stands, only a typically great guitar solo saves this song.

One Slip

When this album was released, one of the common criticisms was that it was a Gilmour solo album in all but name. It's a fair criticism, since that's exactly what it was, but it's nowhere more evident than this song. That's not a bad thing in my book. It recalls "Blue Light" a little from About Face (also a good thing). It's infectious. It was awesome seeing it live. It's still a great song.

On the Turning Away

I didn't realize this song was about homeless people until a few years ago, I thought it was about unrequited love. Truly amazing guitar work, but I don't like this nearly as much as I used to. This is a song that I can say was much better in the studio than all the various live versions.

Yet Another Movie/Round and Around

In which Dave steals from himself. This is, in feel and structure, very similar to "Is Your Love Strong Enough" by Brian Ferry (which Dave collaborated on). Again, this is not a bad thing, as YAM once again has that dreamy feeling. Gilmour's writing once again is evocative, not expository. The words suggest ideas and feelings, they don't tell the listener a story. "He has laughed and he has cried, he has fought and he has died. He's just the same as all the rest, he's not the worst, and he's not the best".

With pride, I can say that I shredded three pairs of speakers with the ultra-low tone after that line.

This is, without a shadow of a doubt, one of the best songs the band ever recorded.

A New Machine, PT. 1
Terminal Frost
A New Machine, Pt. 2

I group these together, simply because they work together, and they played them together when I saw them on the tour.

In 24 years, I still have no clue what the lyrics are about. Doesn't really matter, as they bookend yet another amazing instrumental. I remember lying on the floor, and later gaping in amazement in a stadium as "Terminal Frost" washed over us. Blue lasers flashed waves across the ceiling of the stadium (and later, on the clouds over the football arena).

Sorrow

Prior to the release of "High Hopes" on The Division Bell, I'd tell you (quite forcefully) that this was the best song Pink Floyd had ever recorded. From the grinding guitar intro, to the freestyle outro solo, there's nothing that can be improved on this. Once again, the river is front and center in the lyrics, but it just provides a framework for Dave's painting. The song is whatever the listener wants or needs it to be, and then Dave just shreds through the outro.


I was a poor college student when AMLoR came out. I made it to two shows on the tour, and bought an overpriced T-shirt. I make no apologies for being an unrepentant David Gilmour fan, which is probably why this album resonates so much with me.

The Waters era was over, and as far as I was (and am) concerned, that was a good thing. Radio K.A.O.S. came out a few months later, and there's nothing there that comes close to painting the mental pictures that this album does. Roger explains things in his lyrics, Dave evokes images.

Unlike so many artists and albums from my youth, AMLoR stands up incredibly well, with the possible exceptions of "Dogs of War" and "On the Turning Away".

[Krazy Kat]

I can't reply to you about A Momentary Lapse of Reason because I've never heard it. I stopped listening to Pink Floyd after The Final Cut. (except for the first Dave Gilmour LP).

Now, after all these years, I sometimes play the songs of The Final Cut from YouTube. I can't decide if it's the best Floyd have ever done, or not!

The Final Cut brims over with sheer joy!
I just wasn't ready for it. Not then, looking back at thier previous album, The Wall.

I hope one day you'll reconcider the quality contained in The Final Cut
Joy is in the ears that hear!

[Vraith]

I didn't know D.G. worked "is your love strong enough." It's the only Ferry song I've ever liked.

I thought the album decent but the tour cranked it up a notch...the sax guy, I think it was Scott Page...lunatic, man, blew me away.

KK, have to disagree...Final Cut is the worst of Floyd.

[Savor Dam]

Clearly, tastes differ...

Hope to have Menolly put in her two cents here, as I know she saw the AMLoR concert at the Orange Bowl in November of 1987...

[Cail]

I saw the tour twice, once in '87, once in '88. I believe it was the best they've ever been, certainly it was better (though less polished) than the '94 tour. And Lord, it was far better than the mess that was the Radio K.A.O.S. tour.

[dANdeLION]

I think the only song I didn't love on the last two Pink Floyd albums was Coming Back To Life. I thought the straight ahead beat (that starts around 2:30 into the song) was beneath the standards I had come to expect from the band; also, I think it ruins the mood set in the first 2:30 of the song.


If I were forced to choose, I'd take Gilmour over Waters, but only because of Waters' personality; I really think the world of them both as musicians and song writers.

[sgt.null]

cail : i don't listen to the MLoR much - the production doesn't quite sound right. i bit too brittle and it reminds me of the 80's. the songs i like from the album were done better on live albums imho.

i saw them at foxborough in '88 and they were great.

i never thought about it til you mentioned it, but 'Dogs of War' would be perfect for Waters... he would give it the bite it needs. "On the Turning Away" was a surprise in concert, as the audience sang along with it as if it were "WYWH."

while i love 'Terminal Frost' i think that "New Machine" is among the worst songs floyd has ever done. right down the with 'Seamus.'

vraith - think of the Final Cut as a Waters solo and it works much better. the only changes i would make. excise 'Not Now John' and the sound effects part way through 'Two Suns' (the kids)

dAN : julie actually got me to listen to 'Coming Back to Life' more and i love it. i like the straight ahead quality and his guitar solos are great.

[dlbpharmd]

Let's see....Monday, Sept. 7th, 1987 at 10am, I was a freshman in college, probably on my way to World Civilization or English Comp I. I had little idea who Pink Floyd was, except that they once did a song called (I thought) "We don't need no education" that was a schoolyard anthem when I was in elementary school. I thought music was Scorpions, Ozzy, Journey, Foreigner, etc. I thought the Eagles were the greatest rock band ever.

Well, times have changed for me too. I'm with Sarge; I rarely listen to AMLOR, and I greatly prefer the live versions of "Learning to Fly" and "Sorrow." To me, PULSE >>> DSOT in almost every way.

Pink Floyd were at their best when Waters and Gilmour were cooperating. DSOTM, WYWH and Animals were their best albums. I'm not crazy about The Wall, and have never purchased TFC (I did get "Not Now John" on iTunes about a year or so ago.)

I could kick myself for never seeing them live. I played around with the idea of seeing the latest Waters tour but decided against it. I'll probably regret that someday too.

David Gilmour is my all-time favorite guitarist. I will never pass on an opportunity to see him live, if I'm so fortunate.

Great thread, Cail - thanks for starting it!

[sgt.null]

dlb - have seen waters twice now. once for the Wall and once for Dark Side. both were incredible.

Obscurred By Clouds usually finds its way to the top of my favorites list.

[Menolly]

I rarely listen to this album anymore, but the stop on the tour at the Orange Bowl in Miami is the reason why I met hyperception. But, I have told that story elsewhere, so will leave it at that.

[Vraith]

Pink Floyd were at their best when Waters and Gilmour were cooperating.

Yes, I think so too...in fact there are tons of bands with competing visions/egos that are so much better together than when they split.

David Gilmour is my all-time favorite guitarist. I will never pass on an opportunity to see him live, if I'm so fortunate.

Great thread, Cail - thanks for starting it!

100% behind both of these, too.

Not long ago I saw a thing on floyd on, I think, the biography channel...not as riveting as I'd thought it might be, but had some interesting stuff in it.

[Cagliostro]

vraith - think of the Final Cut as a Waters solo and it works much better. the only changes i would make. excise 'Not Now John' and the sound effects part way through 'Two Suns' (the kids)

I'm with KK on the Final Cut, but I think I'm a bit more in with Null on this one. I'd keep 'Not Now John', but it does feel very out of place on this album, and I'd drop the backup singers. But I do think the punch of this song is a bit needed, despite breaking the tone of album. And the kids voices is a step into the heavy handedness that seeps into this album. But I love the album all the same. Carla bought me the CD the Christmas before this one, and as much as I love "When The Tigers Broke Free," it was put in the wrong place, as I used to have the album.

[sgt.null]

'when the tigers broke free' does not belong on the final cut. it should be kept either on a wall soundtrack (i would love to have the movie version of 'mother') or a comp album.

[Menolly]

(i would love to have the movie version of 'mother'

Do you mean this video, sarge?

[Cagliostro]

I completely agree, Sarge. I wish they would release the movie versions of the Wall on CD. I guess there is always torrents and fan made versions, but still...damn. I do have a memory of seeing after the movie came out at least a version with "When The Tigers Broke Free," but I don't think any was anything different than the regular album with an additional song, but maybe I'm wrong. I do really prefer the movie version of several songs, particularly "Outside The Wall." And being a Geldof fan, well...those moments he does sing, I'd prefer to keep.

[danlo]

My sister gave me Ummaguma and Atom Heart Mother when I went off to highschool and Meddle was one of our anthems. I'm very fluid about my PF obsession, one example is AHM itself...a very difficult album to listen to, but, in a weird way, it teaches you a lot about the band. I even like The Final Cut, despite all it's flaws. I really have no issue with the production of aMLoR and tend to disagree null. Kat you've really missed something by not listening to that album. I love it's tandem with The Division Bell. One Slip and Dogs are two of my fav PF songs ever.

I was checking out Set the Controls for the Heart of the Sun, Obscured by Clouds, Careful With That Ax Eugene and One of These Days I'm Going to Cut You into Little Pieces yesterday: Mason is stunning and PF can be a killer instrumental band when it wants to be. (air drum? WTF?)

[sgt.null]

menolly : exactly. thank you. one of roger's best vocal performances. love how the piano and string come into play with what is happening in the movie.

cags : i am surprised that the floyd have not done this. they have never been adverse to live albums, comp albums, repacking greatest hits, etc. seems a natural.

danlo : i have to disagree. listen to the Division Bell or DSotM. then listen to AMLoR - it just sticks out to me. btw do you have Pink Floyd in Pompeii? stunning work on that.

[danlo]

Geez, sarge starts talking normally and then he starts to argue! Well I did use the word "tend". DSotM is an unfair comparison here, first of all, as the Alan Parson production is impeccable and, obviously, a hallmark in recording engineering. I haven't listened to a CD on headphones in ages and have become less discriminating in my old, old age.

I wish I had Live in Pompeii, 3 of those for songs I noted were from said DVD and the clips were whatever quality one could get from uploads on youtube.

Here's a Blast from the past, I'd have to agree that DSotM is just a little better in quality...

[Akasri]

I've been a Floyd fan since the early 70s - just so you know where I'm coming from

I actually liked AMLoR, especially Dogs of War. I pretty much hated Final Cut, except for Not Now John. AMLoR, to me, felt like a return to the DSotM era, with more melodies and just some great music.

The Wall was great - saw Waters perform it last Fall in Kansas City. Amazing show!

About the only album of theirs that I never could get into (besides Final Cut) was Atom Heart Mother... that whole album just doesn't do anything for me, and it's not for lack of listening to it.

I've only seen Floyd once (on the Division Bell tour) and Waters once (last fall). Loved them both. If they ever decided to bury the hatchet and do one final tour as Pink Floyd, I would be first in line for tickets and would pretty much pay any price to be somewhere near the front.

[sgt.null]

Danlo : thansk fo rthe link. i had never heard Joker's Wild. I will get julie to listen as she loves David. do yourself a huge favor and order the Pompeii dvd off of amazon or wherever. it also has clips of the band making DSotM.

i don't mean to be argumentative, i just love Floyd and have strong opinions about them. I am not asking for DSotM quality but Division Bell quality would do.

Aksari - without AHM we don't get DSotM. and Fat Old Sun & If are worth the price of admission for AHM alone.

I can't imagine the remaining members of Floyd touring ever again - maybe a one off here and there.