mail: daniel_fjall@hotmail.com
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the pros and cons of hitch-hiking amused to death in the flesh
The Pros And Cons of Hitch-Hiking Released: 1984 Rating: 9/10 Track listing: 1. 4:30 AM (Apparently They Were Travelling Abroad)/ 2. 4:33 AM (Running Shoes)/ 3. 4:37 AM (Arabs With Knives And West German Skies)/ 4. 4:39 AM (For The First Time Today, Part 2)/ 5. 4:41 AM (Sexual Revolution)/ 6. 4:47 AM (The Remains Of Our Love)/ 7. 4:50 AM (Go Fishing)/ 8. 4:56 AM (For The First Time Today, Part 1)/ 9. 4:58 AM (Dunroamin, Duncarin, Dunlivin)/ 10. 5:01 AM (The Pros And Cons Of Hitch Hiking Part 10)/ 11. 5:06 AM (Every Strangers Eyes)/ 12. 5:11 AM (The Moment Of Clarity) In 1984 Roger Waters, the unquestionable leader of Pink Floyd for the past 8 years or so, released his first solo album and left his old group in totally control of the evil David Gilmour. Well, at least it it was the first solo album technically and offically. Pink Floyd’s 1983 album was not a group effort but in name only, and the same argument can be made about the big selling The Wall. Anyway, if I understand the concept of this album correct, it’s about Waters’ love life, family life and how it’s torn apart. But is it really torn apart? You see, all songs are dreamed by the main character in this story. One of the things most people don’t like on Pros And Cons are the bit about “Arabs with knives”. Well, if you don’t get turned off right there, continue to listen and it will all be explain later on. I’ll do my best to try to tell you how I see it. ”I opened my eyes and to my surprise There were Arabs with knives at the front of the bed Right at the front of the bed Oh my God, how did they get in here I thought we were safe home in England” What we know this far is that there are Arabs in the bedroom, right? The song Go Fishing has includes these lyrics:
“One weekend a friend from the East Obviously the “Arabs with knives” were a metaphor for this friend from the East that stole Rogers wife. He thought he and his woman would be safe in England, safe from divorces and love affairs. The knife is representing the threat against their marriage. There, now you have an explanation for the “knife”-part that doesn’t makes sense for most people. Back to the actual music. Pros And Cons sounds a lot like The Wall and The Final Cut. On those two albums David Gilmour was just about only noticed for his guitar playing. This album sure isn’t lacking good guitar performances, no sir! Roger Waters invited Eric Clapton and he takes Gilmour’s place with ease. I must say, that no matter how good Eric is on this album, another guest-star steals the show. David Sandborn pulls of very impressive sax parts throughout the album. Well, steals the show is to exaggerate a little. The main focus is still on Roger Waters. Besides some great songs, he also sings fantastically well on the album. Pay attention to the remarks about Yoko Ono in the title track (“Did you understand the music, Yoko, or was it all in vain”, “Jump, says Yoko Ono, I'm too scared and too good looking, I cried. Go on, she says: Why don't you give it a try?”). There. I just gave you a good reason to go and buy the album!
Amused To Death Now, this is one hell of an album! The critical view of our society is right up in your face and it’s quite depressing. Roger gets away with it thanks to his sarcasm and humour that flutter out of his lyrics. This is Roger Waters thoughts about how capitalism and the public’s ignorance slowly leads to the end of our civilisation. He tells us how war, riots and suffering are used by television and other media to entertain a large and growing audience. How people spend their lives in front of their televisions and not really thinking about what they are being told. How the big cooperations runs our lives and how they oppress ordinary people in their search for fast and easy earning money. Amused To Death relies more on the mood than any other album Roger Waters has released. There are dark, haunting keyboards and almost terrifying sound effects. The amazingly careful and precise guitar work of Jeff Beck adds even more paranoia to the sound picture. Waters uses his voice almost the extreme. He whispers, he screams. His vocals are sometimes gentle for in the next moment be loud. No matter which, it’s always emotional and sincere. Roger Waters continues to make great, moving, inspiring and engaging music. Something “that other band”, as Roger reefers to his old band mates, never managed to do after The Final Cut.
In The Flesh A live monster! Just look at that set list. I mean, you’re bound to be disappointed, right? These songs are copied note by note from the original studio versions. Why shouldn’t they be? Most of the songs were pure perfection in their original form and probably wouldn’t gain anything from being rearranged. One thing is different though. Roger isn’t as young as he used to be and you can really tell how his voice has changed. I know it was evident on Amused To Death, but it didn’t matter than because the new voice sang new songs. To hear him sing the old ones feels a bit strange. The album starts off good, though and Another Brick In The Wall might even be better than the original. Come to think of it, all songs from The Wall are highlights here. Especially Comfortably Numb puts the original version to shame. Thank Doyle Bramhall II for that who has replaced Gilmour on guitars and vocals. The remarks I made about Waters voice shouldn’t be taken too seriously. It’s not ruining your listening experience or anything. You should also remember that he does a few songs from Amused To Death as well, and the when comparing the vocals from the studio version to the live record, you’ll notice that his voice hasn’t gotten any worse since 1992. Not that it sounded bad then, just different. Anyway, if you don’t know much of Pink Floyd or Waters solo career, this might be a good place to start since it’s practically one big best of-compilation.
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