Posted: Tue Jul 06, 2021 5:46 am
Is This the Life We Really Want?
When We Were Young : I hate this opening. I hate the lyrics. I hate what little music there is. Its ugly. I have no idea why Roger started with this. I find no redeeming value in it.
Null Rating : 0 out of 10.
Deja Vu : should have opened with this. First, his current band is outstanding.
Roger Waters – vocals, acoustic guitar, bass guitar
Nigel Godrich – keyboards, guitar, sound collages, arrangements
Gus Seyffert – guitar, keyboards, bass guitar
Jonathan Wilson – guitar, keyboards
Roger Joseph Manning, Jr. – keyboards
Lee Pardini – keyboards
Joey Waronker – drums
Jessica Wolfe – vocals
Holly Laessig – vocals
David Campbell – string arrangements
Throughout this song and others on the album there are echoes of past Floyd and Roger songs. Enough to elicit a warm sense of familiarity, but not too much to bludgeon you with. As I grow older, Roger's lyrics resonate even more with me. His chuckle after "I believe I could have done a better job" let's us in on the joke. The instrumentation is warm, organic. Contrast this with Kaos.
I love that Roger still uses the voice strain to emphasize emotion and his own human limits. It allows us to be him, the singer, the observer. Roger still, sadly has to rail against war. This song works by itself and as a continuation of a life long theme of his work.
Null Rating : 10 out of 10.
The Last Refugee : sounds like a song from Amused to Death. The music swells at the right time, and allows the drums to lead the song. I really like Roger's meter on this song. It doesn't sound standard, almost like jazz at times. The lyrics are poetic and moving. The song's minor key evoking a familiar sadness. The backing female vocals give nice depth.
Null Rating : 10 out of 10.
Picture That - I also hear shades of Welcome to the Machine but even more I hear Sheep. another list song is always welcome. I usually don't like cursing in the lyrics, but it seems appropriate here. I like aggressive Roger.
Null Rating : 7 out of 10.
Broken Bones -
Could've been born in Shreveport
Or he could've born in Tehran
It don't much matter wherever you're born
Little babies mean us no harm
They have to be taught to despise us
To bulldoze our homes to the ground
To believe their fight is for liberty
To believe their god will keep them safe and sound
Almost an inversion of Wish You Were Here , as you stated with the clearing of the throat and the acoustic intro. I like the contrast of the strings and too brief electric guitar. Roger does the almost lullaby perfectly when he sings.
Null Rating : 7 out of 10.
Is This the Life We Really Want - a true reflection on how miserable modern life can be. Almost spoken word. The bizarre rant about ants I really enjoyed. A true lust song. This would be at home on Amused.
Null Rating : 7 out of 10
Bird In A Gale - it took a few listens to appreciate. Its obviously a reworking of Careful With That Axe, Eugene. But after a few go around I really got into the lyrics...
Are you blowing like a bird in a gale?
Does the pain of your loss seep into your feathers like rain?
Do the bars of your cage feel low or cold to the touch?
Were my caresses too gentle?
Did I love you too much?
The dog is scratching at the door
The boy is drowning in the sea
Can I crash out on your floor?
The loon is howling at the sea
Can I crash out on your floor?
Is there room in the story for me?
They are outside what I expect from Roger. Very avant garde.
Null Rating : 8 out of 10.
The Most Beautiful Girl - the most abstract lyrics from Roger that I can recall. The Steel Rails first appearance is Syd Barrett's If It's In You. Then Roger used them in Wish You Were Here. Its hard to gage the entire meaning of the song. I enjoy the feel of the song. I love the ending with the female vocals.
Null Rating : 7 out of 10
Smell the Roses - sounds as if Have A Cigar if it were on Animals.I love the aggressive sound. A lot of muscle went into the track. Great lyrics, great imagery in those lyrics. I deducted 1 point for the middle section, Roger loves that sort of thing much more than I do.
Null Rating : 9 out of 10
Wait for Her - the lyrics come from a poem by Mahmoud Darwish.
Stunningly beautiful. The sparse musical arrangement allows the poem to take center stage. It has become one of my favorite Roger songs.
Null Rating : 10 out of 10
Oceans Apart - a beautiful song. I'm glad Roger kept it short and simple.
She was always here in my heart
Always the love of my life
We were strangers, oceans apart
But when I laid eyes on her a part of me died
Null Rating : 10 out of 10
Part of Me Died - using the music of Wait for Me. Roger finds another hopeful ending to one of his albums. The 3 songs if the ending minisuite are perfect.
Null Rating : 10 out of 10
Album Rating : 7.9 out of 10.
Without the first song : 8.6 out of 10.
When We Were Young : I hate this opening. I hate the lyrics. I hate what little music there is. Its ugly. I have no idea why Roger started with this. I find no redeeming value in it.
Null Rating : 0 out of 10.
Deja Vu : should have opened with this. First, his current band is outstanding.
Roger Waters – vocals, acoustic guitar, bass guitar
Nigel Godrich – keyboards, guitar, sound collages, arrangements
Gus Seyffert – guitar, keyboards, bass guitar
Jonathan Wilson – guitar, keyboards
Roger Joseph Manning, Jr. – keyboards
Lee Pardini – keyboards
Joey Waronker – drums
Jessica Wolfe – vocals
Holly Laessig – vocals
David Campbell – string arrangements
Throughout this song and others on the album there are echoes of past Floyd and Roger songs. Enough to elicit a warm sense of familiarity, but not too much to bludgeon you with. As I grow older, Roger's lyrics resonate even more with me. His chuckle after "I believe I could have done a better job" let's us in on the joke. The instrumentation is warm, organic. Contrast this with Kaos.
I love that Roger still uses the voice strain to emphasize emotion and his own human limits. It allows us to be him, the singer, the observer. Roger still, sadly has to rail against war. This song works by itself and as a continuation of a life long theme of his work.
Null Rating : 10 out of 10.
The Last Refugee : sounds like a song from Amused to Death. The music swells at the right time, and allows the drums to lead the song. I really like Roger's meter on this song. It doesn't sound standard, almost like jazz at times. The lyrics are poetic and moving. The song's minor key evoking a familiar sadness. The backing female vocals give nice depth.
Null Rating : 10 out of 10.
Picture That - I also hear shades of Welcome to the Machine but even more I hear Sheep. another list song is always welcome. I usually don't like cursing in the lyrics, but it seems appropriate here. I like aggressive Roger.
Null Rating : 7 out of 10.
Broken Bones -
Could've been born in Shreveport
Or he could've born in Tehran
It don't much matter wherever you're born
Little babies mean us no harm
They have to be taught to despise us
To bulldoze our homes to the ground
To believe their fight is for liberty
To believe their god will keep them safe and sound
Almost an inversion of Wish You Were Here , as you stated with the clearing of the throat and the acoustic intro. I like the contrast of the strings and too brief electric guitar. Roger does the almost lullaby perfectly when he sings.
Null Rating : 7 out of 10.
Is This the Life We Really Want - a true reflection on how miserable modern life can be. Almost spoken word. The bizarre rant about ants I really enjoyed. A true lust song. This would be at home on Amused.
Null Rating : 7 out of 10
Bird In A Gale - it took a few listens to appreciate. Its obviously a reworking of Careful With That Axe, Eugene. But after a few go around I really got into the lyrics...
Are you blowing like a bird in a gale?
Does the pain of your loss seep into your feathers like rain?
Do the bars of your cage feel low or cold to the touch?
Were my caresses too gentle?
Did I love you too much?
The dog is scratching at the door
The boy is drowning in the sea
Can I crash out on your floor?
The loon is howling at the sea
Can I crash out on your floor?
Is there room in the story for me?
They are outside what I expect from Roger. Very avant garde.
Null Rating : 8 out of 10.
The Most Beautiful Girl - the most abstract lyrics from Roger that I can recall. The Steel Rails first appearance is Syd Barrett's If It's In You. Then Roger used them in Wish You Were Here. Its hard to gage the entire meaning of the song. I enjoy the feel of the song. I love the ending with the female vocals.
Null Rating : 7 out of 10
Smell the Roses - sounds as if Have A Cigar if it were on Animals.I love the aggressive sound. A lot of muscle went into the track. Great lyrics, great imagery in those lyrics. I deducted 1 point for the middle section, Roger loves that sort of thing much more than I do.
Null Rating : 9 out of 10
Wait for Her - the lyrics come from a poem by Mahmoud Darwish.
Stunningly beautiful. The sparse musical arrangement allows the poem to take center stage. It has become one of my favorite Roger songs.
Null Rating : 10 out of 10
Oceans Apart - a beautiful song. I'm glad Roger kept it short and simple.
She was always here in my heart
Always the love of my life
We were strangers, oceans apart
But when I laid eyes on her a part of me died
Null Rating : 10 out of 10
Part of Me Died - using the music of Wait for Me. Roger finds another hopeful ending to one of his albums. The 3 songs if the ending minisuite are perfect.
Null Rating : 10 out of 10
Album Rating : 7.9 out of 10.
Without the first song : 8.6 out of 10.