Pink Floyd

A Momentary Lapse Of Reason

Admit it. You miss Roger.

Review Score:

(8/10)
Pink Floyd's triumphant comeback A Momentary Lapse of Reason was released in September of 1987. The album was the first without original member Roger Waters whom acrimoniously split from his bandmates in 1985. For years, many thought that 1983's aptly named The Final Cut was the farewell album of Pink Floyd's but guitarist/vocalist David Gilmour, drummer Nick Mason(although he plays on half of the discs because his playing was underestimated by Waters and wasn't until the Momentary Lapse tour where he played better again) and returning keyboardist Rick Wright(as a salaried musician nonetheless) along with co-producer Bob Ezrin and session bassist Tony Levin spent eight months recording the album at Dave's home studio the Astoria in London and at various studios in London and L.A.(where they relocated after Roger's lawyers threatened legal action) with many people doubting the Floyd being relevant without Waters. However, when I(as an 11 year old boy) first heard the first single Learning to Fly, I was in reassured that Floyd was back in a big way. When my father brought home the album for me shortly after its release, I was amazed on how superb this album was. It was in fact David Gilmour whom sang most of the classics from 1969 to 1975 before Waters went on his ego trip for the nest three discs(no disrespect to the last three albums, I like all of Floyd's work and am a die-hard fan). The songwriting burden nestled now on David's shoulders(he wrote all of the music and gave credit to those who came up with small ideas but he isn't confident in writing lyrics hence other people help with the lyrics). The instrumental opening Signs of Life dated back to a riff that first emerged in the Animals era. The aforementioned Learning to Fly was a great song. The ominous The Dogs of War is next and featured one of Dave's best guitar solos and Carmine Appice was on drums on this track. One Slip was a great song and was co-written by Gilmour with Roxy Music guitarist Phil Manzanera. The poverty and injustice anthem On the Turning Away is one of Floyd's best songs. Yet Another Movie and Round and Around reminds me of Wish You Were Here era Floyd and is killer. The A New Machine(pt.1)/Terminal Frost/A New Machine(pt.2) medley though they are separate tracks are spellbinding. The best track on the album was the closing Sorrow which goes back to the old epics of the past clocking in at close to 9 minutes. The album was well received when release as it hit #3 on the album charts in the US and #1 on the CD charts here in the US. Also, the album sold over 4 million in the US alone and proved that the Floyd could survive without Waters. Also, the band embarked on a tour that would go on for three years and be documented on the album/video Delicate Sound of Thunder. Highly recommended!

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