What do you make of Pink Floyd's new album?

[gcoudert]

I don't know whether I like it or not. The tracks being mostly discarded jams from the 1994 Division Bell sessions, they sound very much like Pink Floyd's output from that era, which is great but, after listening to the album 10+ times over the past week, I still find none of their trademark virtuosity, creativity or 'catchiness' in those instumental tracks. They are quite pleasant to listen to passsively but, listening to them actively, they sound somewhat bland to my ears and some wouldn't be out of place on those New Age CDs you used to find on the shelves in UK book stores. What do you think?

[monolith]

Admittedly I've only listened to it once, but yeah - 'New Age' was my first thought.
I think Animals was the last decent album they did.

[gcoudert]

Admittedly I've only listened to it once, but yeah - 'New Age' was my first thought.
I think Animals was the last decent album they did.

Actually, I don't like that one either.

[tomorrowstops]

oh man, Animals might be my favorite. The grooves!

I've listened to a couple tracks from the new one. Its alright I guess, but nothing made me go out buy the album

[gcoudert]

nothing made me go out buy the album

That's where Spotify comes in! My favourite albums are DSOTM, WYWH, The Wall and Obscured by Clouds.

[Esus]

IMHO, I think DSOTM was their last effort that had any real merit--and it's been played to death. Then they became an arena band. I saw them in the fall of 1970, and it was Ummagumma and Meddle all the way. Those are, I think, touchstone Floyd albums--what made the band unique.
Recycling old material and charging for it is inexcusable.

[gcoudert]

Meddle all the way.

'Meddle' doesn't do it for me, except for 'Echoes 'and 'One Of These Days'. I have an original LP but never bought it on CD. DSOTM was a revelation to me. I was introduced to it around the time it came out (I was 6) by an older cousin who lived nearby and also introduced me to the Beatles; up to that point, growing up in France in the early 70s, I had mostly been exposed to what my parents listened to, i.e. radio-friendly, catchy but cheesy mid-tempo French love songs that appealed to middle-aged housewives and teenagers alike, a genre we call 'variété'. So you can imagine the breath of fresh air I got when I heard the opening sound effects of 'Money' (which, incidentally, was released as a single in France)!

[Esus]

Meddle all the way.

'Meddle' doesn't do it for me, except for 'Echoes 'and 'One Of These Days'.

You know that's about 2/3 of the album, right?

DSOTM was a revelation to me.

Me too, until I heard Money for the 75,000th time on radio.

It's all good, whatever floats your boat. Just one man's opinion.
Although I'd be very interested in hearing any of their 60's sets at the old UFO Club...

[tomorrowstops]

DSOTM has always been magical, but when I finally heard it on a record player....man - totally took it to a new level for me. The gap between side A & B (the time it takes you to flip) is a perfect break.

Meddle is pretty incredible and tied with Animals for my favorite. Except for the damned dog song.

I'm done with them from The Wall, on. Can't get into that record, and certainly not anything after that!

[gcoudert]

I'll give Animals another go. I don't give up that easily when it comes to music! The one I really CAN'T get into (not for want of trying though) is The Final Cut. What were they thinking?! Funnily enough, I'm not keen on Gilmour and Waters' solo efforts which, from my perspective, demonstrates that PF was bigger than the sum of its parts. I haven't heard Richard Wright's solo stuff yet.

[mharris80]

The Final Cut. I'm not keen on Gilmour and Waters' solo efforts

There you go. At that point, it was pretty much the Roger Waters Experience.

[tomorrowstops]

I haven't heard Richard Wright's solo stuff yet.

Isn't that what we're hearing on this new record?

[Syn303]

Floyd isn't Floyd without Waters

[gcoudert]

Floyd isn't Floyd without Waters

Although I like The Division Bell and a few songs on MLoR, I have to agree with your statement.

[monolith]

I also agree, but also personally find that Pink Floyd isn't very enjoyable when it's too much Roger Waters ie. The Wall and The Final Cut.