About Face

1- Until We Sleep Written: solo Running Time: 5:16 Rating: *** Comments:  This album begins with a fairly mediocre song.  Everything about this song, from lyrics, to melody, to rhythm, is mediocre.  There is nothing about this song that is too good or too bad.  It's just a song, and while it's not especially powerful, it's good to listen to. Lyrics: dance to the movement of the stars sing till the walls around us ring pray that it never fades away until we sleep feast, go ahead now, take your fill drink till your room begins to sway play, and your cares will blow away until we sleep into a deep and dreamless sleep our spirits fall and what we sew we cannot reap nor keep at all work, though the work will break your back rest, hope to feel your spirits rise but the years have cut you down to size now go to sleep into a deep and dreamless sleep our spirits fall and what we sew we cannot reap nor keep at all

2- Murder Written: solo Running Time: 4:59 Rating: ***** Comments:  This song has one of the best melodies that Gilmour has ever written.  The song starts off nice and easy with the simple yet very enjoyable melody, and eventually turns into a powerful ballad with strong music backing up the still great melody.  When the lyrics end, it goes into an excellent guitar solo, and then changes into an entirely different beat to end the song.  This is one of the album's best tracks, and it gets better every time you listen to it.  The lyrics are also quite interesting, if you bother to listen to them. Lyrics: some of them standing, some were waiting in line as if there was something that they thought they might find taking some strength from the feelings that always were shared and in the background, the eyes that just stared what was it brought you out here in the dark? was it your only way of making your mark? did you get rid of all the voices in your head? do you now miss them and the things that they said? on your own admission you raised up the knife and you brought it down ending another man's life when it was done you just threw down the blade while the red blood spread wider like the anger you made i don't want this anger burning in me it's something from which it's so hard to be free but none of the tears that we cry in sorrow or rage can make any difference, or turn back the page

3- Love On The Air Written: with Pete Townshend Running Time: 4:19 Rating: **** Comments:  This is a simple song, with an easy but good melody.  In addition to Gilmour's fine music, it offers Pete Townshend's talent for lyrics.  The lyrics are still nowhere near the brilliance of Roger Waters, or even the latter Pink Floyd, but they are above the normal ultra-simple level that Gilmour usually has on his solo works.  Aside from that, all in all it's a pretty good song. Lyrics: love on the air i keep transmitting but reception is hazy i don't get an answer, keep sending it faster always knew it was crazy to put my love on the air no one will hurt me again no one will cause me to lie no one control me by pain no one will cause me to cry i was looking for love in wandering eyes like a ship trying to fix on a beacon i learned how to sigh on the ribbon and wires it's a habit that's so hard to weaken no one will ever manipulate make me promise to do or die no one can make me hesitate what can i lose if they try? i was looking for love like the very first time didn't realise love never left me contradicted, conspired i connived and designed nothing on earth could arrest me reception is hazy when you put your love on the air always knew it was crazy to put my love on the air but i only communicate when i put my love on the air you don't have to consummate love on the air no one will hurt me again no one will cause me to lie no one control me by pain no one will cause me to cry i was looking for love in wandering eyes like a ship trying to fix on a beacon i learned how to sigh on the ribbon and wires it's a habit that's so hard to weaken i put my love on the air, love

4- Blue Light Written: solo Running Time: 4:35 Rating: *** Comments:  This songs sounds a lot like "Run Like Hell" as the beginning, but quickly deteriorates into an entirely different and bad song.  Steadily fast and simple, this is just another boring sound that sounds like it's modeled after another style of rock. Lyrics: she's a blue light, yes it cannot be denied she will give you back your pride she squeezes, she freezes, she does what she pleases but she says she thinks of others all the time you must rise to her defense when she's in danger turn around and you're looking at a stranger she steals your savings from under your bed and leads you into places even angels fear to tread she's a blue light she's not amused when you're trying to upstage her so you choose to do nothing to enrage her 'cause under her mantle you feel safe from the cold and you're safe from the danger of ever growing old she's a blue light

5- Out Of The Blue Written: solo Running Time: 3:35 Rating: *** Comments:  The lyrics are nice, but the music doesn't back them up powerfully enough.  It has the same softness that masterpieces like "On The Turning Away" have, but it lacks the intensely emotional musical back-up. Lyrics: out of the blue on the wings of a dove a messenger comes, with the beating of drums it's not a message of love our children are born and we keep them warm they must have the right to live in the light to be safe from the storm and out of the blue, with wings on his heels a messenger comes, bearing regrets for the time that he steals but steal it he will, my children's and mine against our desires, against all our needs our blood spilled like wine over and over we call...no one hears and further and further and further we fall though we pray that we soon will awake it is clear, that it's no dream at all our lives are at stake i cannot believe, nor even pretend that the thunder i hear will just dissappear and the nightmare will end so hold back the fire, 'cause this much is true when all's said and done, the ending will come from out of the blue

6- All Lovers Are Deranged Written: with Pete Townshend Running Time: 3:14 Rating: *** Comments:  Yet another mediocre song that lacks the artistic vision and concept that the works of Pink Floyd are so abundant with.  The lyrics are good, but the music just has no emotion behind it.  It is rock for the sake of being rock. Lyrics: it takes a fool to phone a fool when both have said it all we make the rule, bemoan the rule that neither one should call but love that was is love that is demands to always be unchanged but then all lovers are deranged we walk away with memories and clutch them to our hearts we're disembodied entities we move in fits and starts for burning wine, intoxicates and takes all caution in its flames but all lovers are deranged you know that you don't really fall in love unless you're seventeen the break of day will make your spirits fly but you can't know what it means unless you're seventeen it takes a fight to start a fight and differences remain we have the right to think we're right we're addicts feigning shame for love recalled is love reborn we're determined to relive the pain but then all lovers are deranged for love recalled is love reborn we're determined to relive the pain but then all lovers are deranged

7- You Know I'm Right Written: solo Running Time: 5:06 Rating: **** Comments:  This is a good song in a sea of mediocre ones.  The music sounds like the "Raise My Rent" instrumental on Gilmour's first solo album, but this song has lyrics, amusing lyrics, and they have a great melody.  This is not a masterpiece, but it is one of the best songs on the album. Lyrics: you can scream and shout with all your might dig in your heels and hold on tight either you are wrong or i am right you speak the lines you've overheard the ring of truth in every word you know you're right and that's absurd we really seem to have a problem here but is it you or me? whatever i have going through my mind you always have to disagree it's just a matter of opinions it's not a simple fact why don't you try to see the other side? don't turn your back now we survey the silent battleground recriminations all around and still no compromise is found now we really seem to have a problem and it won't just dissappear and all the friends we thought we could rely on just want to whisper in my ear it's just a matter of opinions you know you keep both in sight why should you bother with the other side when you know yours is right?

8- Cruise Written: solo Running Time: 4:40 RANKING: #9  ****** Comments:  This may be the best song on the album.  There is something about it that I can't quite put my finger on.  It has a nice melody, but nothing extremely strong.  It must be the end, which is in my opinion, the highlight of the album.  After all the lyrics, it goes into an awesome instrumental in which the soft voices of the background singers somehow overpower the music with emotion.  There is a feeling there, and it is conveyed very strongly.  This is a truly excellent song, and makes all of the mediocrity of the rest of the album worth it.  The lyrics are also among Gilmour's best.  Where else are you going to find a sarcastic tribute to a Cruise missile?  It gives the album a touch of deliciously clever political satire. Lyrics: cruise, you are making me sing now you have taken me under your wing cruise, we both know you're the best how can they say you're like all the rest? cruise, we're both travelling so far burning out fast like a shooting star cruise, i feel sure that your song will be sung and will ring in the ears of everyone saving our children, saving our land protecting us from things we can't understand power and glory, justice and right i'm sure that you'll help us to see the light and the love that you radiate will keep us warm and help us to weather the storm cruise, you have taken me in and just when i've got you under my skin you start ignoring the fears i have felt 'cause you know you can always make my poor heart melt please don't take what i'm saying amiss or misunderstand at a time such as this because if such close friends should ever fall out what would there be left worth fighting about? power and glory, justice and right i'm sure that you'll help them to see the light will you save our children? will you save our land? and protect us from all the things that we can't understand? power and glory and justice for all who will we turn to when your hard rain falls?

9- Let's Get Metaphysical Written: solo Running Time: 4:09 Rating: **** Comments:  The only instrumental on this album, it's a powerful one.  It's short, but Gilmour's guitar can say so much when he plays it right, and the emotion radiates from his strings on this track.  It's just a beautiful number.  It's starts out sounding sad and down, and then begins to grow and grow into a happier emotion, until finally it reaches a state of blissful, powerfully happy music.  It then falls back down to the same melody at the beginning, but with a seemingly different spin.  Now instead of sounding sad, it almost sounds content.  Perhaps the meaning lies in the title. (no lyrics)

10- Near The End Written: solo Running Time: 5:37 Rating: **** Comments:  This song is kind of strange, in that it seems to try and induce concept into an album that lacks it.  At first, it seems like a dissappointment.  The melody is dull, and the lyrics are slow, and it doesn't seem that the album is ending on a high note.  But as it goes on, you realise there is more to the song, and it eventually does pick up into a level of higher emotion, and closes the album out with the howling of Gilmour's guitar. Lyrics: and when you feel you're near the end will you just turn it over and start again? is there a stirring in your heart as the time comes when will have to part? and when you feel you're near the end and there's a stranger where once was a friend and you are left without a word only the whispers that you've overheard standing in silence, holding my breath disconnected and dry and though i'm certain that there's nothing left to hold on to, to give or to try some things never change, no don't ever change and i'm feeling the cold thinking that we're getting older and wiser when we're just getting old and when you feel you're near the end and what once burned so bright is growing dim and when you see what's been achieved is there a feeling that you've been deceived?

Released: 1984 by Columbia Records Running Time: 45:30 Ranking: #6 out of 7 solo albums Album Highlight: Cruise Album Weak Point: Blue Light Average Song Rating: **** Comments:  As far as quality goes, this album is about the same as Gilmour's first solo attempt, but flows just a little more smoothly with some tedious moments.  This album too lacks concept, and is merely a collection of songs ranging from bad to great.  There are a few moments of brilliance, such as the transition to the third verse of "Murder" and the background vocals at the end of "Cruise" but for the most part it's just another mediocre album from an otherwise brilliant artist.