Waters is awesome

Roger Waters – Pros and Cons of Hitchhiking - 4.5

This has so much of the Final cut in it, and apparently this was supposed to be part of that album. Pink Floyd got most of the better songs for The Final Count but these are no slouches either. With Eric Clapton and Michael Kamen and Andy Newmark it would be hard to make a bad album. The guitar solo in Every Stranger’s Eye (my favorite song on the CD) clearly an almost dead on copy of the song the Rose (I’d like to know if anyone else heard that). I think that Roger Waters was clearly the genius in the Pink Floyd, but David Gilmour was the hit maker. When was the last solo Roger Waters song you heard played on the radio?

Roger Waters – Amused to Death - 5

Perhaps one of the best thought through albums I’ve ever heard. Ever song is a story that just connects back to the beginning, but not one song sounded like another. Waters clearly has a ton of time on his hands and a ton of resentment toward his father, but it helps make a great cd. Bravery of being out of range is a fantastic song as is the chilling Ballad of Billy Hubbard. The only week song that I don’t feel fits in well with the rest of the cd is Watching TV except the part about perfect breasts and my wife is Asian, otherwise it’s just plain weird.. Going back, another interesting theme to Waters music is that he has never had anything good to say about any American president, I can only imagine what the next album will sound like if Obama is still in office.

Presto Ballet – Invisible Places – 2.5

I’m pretty sure that this was a D’Arcy contribution. This sounds like it could have been a Jeff Tate side project, one way or another there is a great deal of Queensryche, Yes, Genesis and Dream Theatre influence. This is not necessarily a bad thing (for me). I just couldn’t listen to this and get excited. I may be outgrowing the whole progressive rock thing, at least do something original if you’re going to do it, and get a cooler name.

The Kills – Blood Pressure - 4

Great bass tracks and lows, I don’t think they ever leave a D note the entire album. A little dreary and depressing, but I love the singer’s sultry voice. I think that the music could have worked with almost any singer, but I like who they’ve picked. Since Concrete Blond broke up and of course the demise of my darling Amy, there aren’t enough strong female vocalists. This is an album that I’m glad I gave a chance to, it got better with each listen.

Joe Pernice - Greatest Hits

Great re-make of Wichita Lineman! Kind of a silly song about nothing but a cool melody. Joe Pernice is obviously talented but his voice just made me want to take a nap. He doesn’t have a really great voice, just a plain one. He had a Michael Penn thing going on a few songs.

Dave Alvin – Eleven Eleven - 3

Dave Alvin’s a pretty laid back dude. Personally I liked these songs, but I think a few of them may have popped if they were a little faster paced. Something like George Thorogood. Two lucky Bums sounded a little too Sesame Street to me, but the majority of the cd was pretty easy to listen to. If I had it a little longer I think it would have grown on me.

1) Not knowing the personal or professional outcome of a current, living, working rock star, musician, composer, producer, or some other music industry professional (again, currently working and “famous”), who would you be? Not who would you be “Freaky Friday-style” (where you’re still you in someone else’s body) but “Heaven Can Wait-style” (when you become that person, no longer yourself).

DaDave Grohl

2) If you could go back in time as you and be in the right place at the right time with the right chops to be in any band, what band would it be? You joining the band won’t change the timeline…they’ll still become the same band with the same catalogue.

BeBeatles

RuRush