Funny you should mention the screaming emotional guitar tone. Rog tends to like working with incredible guitarists. David Gilmour, Eric Clapton, Syd Barrett or in this case for this album, Jeff Beck.
Roger waters solo career is so underrated imo. This album is possibly his best. However, IS THIS THE LIFE WE WANT is a close second and also is a concept album. You should check out his Pro's and Cons of Hitchhiking and RADIO K. A. O. S.
Of course I love "is this the life.." but I have to say, I do miss the guitar. It seems like some strong guitar work could really pump up a number of the tracks, but of course that's just how music has gone in general these days.
@Gary Citro ITTLWRW is Rogers masterpiece for me. I love that album fully through and through immediately. I love Amused To Death but it did take a while for me to appreciate
I saw Roger Waters perform at a benefit concert in April, 1992. When this album came out, I was hoping there would be a tour to support it, thinking he might be on a roll since 5 years had passed since Radio KAOS. It wasn't until 1999 that I saw him play again and by then there were only a few songs from ATD on the setlist. For me, they were the highlight of the show and of all the recordings made by fans during that tour. This album has only one other possible rival, that would be "The Final Cut". In many ways Roger surpasses that effort, most likely because all the ideas were his alone, without debate and arguing. The album is lush, provokes the full range of emotions, wonderfully produced and edited and is, in my opinion, Rogers greatest work. A masterpiece.
if the benefit you're talking about was the walden woods concert, i was there too. i was also sad that the "in the flesh" tour only had a couple of songs from amused to death. i was hoping for a full album show as most of us were i'm sure.
@@guitarplayer30001 It was the Walden Woods Benefit Concert in Los Angeles. They did not play that song you mentioned. Don Henley was there, he was the second voice for Comfortably Numb !
This species has amused it's self to death Been listening to the original for years So I now mainly listen to the remastered version as it's slightly different and newer to me
It moved me to tears when I first heard ATD upon its CD release in 92. I played it for the first time on head phones and it totally blew me away. Fast forward to 2021 and it still has the same effect. By far Rogers best post Floyd work.
Great review for an amazing album. I've always loved the lyrics to 'It's a Miracle' - I laugh out loud every time I listen to the last verse: We cower in our shelters with our hands over our ears Lloyd-Webber's awful stuff runs for years and years and years An earthquake hits the theatre, but the operetta lingers Then the piano lid comes down and breaks his f-ing fingers It's a miracle.
@@Amadeusthegreat100 Ha! Similarly he bashes Yoko on pros and cons, and I thought it a little unfair. I never really thought of her as someone who was hitchhiking on John Lennon's career, but I get it.
You guys must make the perfect couple, from what I get from the outside :-) . Thanks for reviewing one of my favorites. This is one I'd like you to do a follow-up review after you hear the album 10 times. Indeed it is dense and an acquired taste. I too wasn't crazy at first about Roger's Dylan-esque vocals on the album, but they grow on you big time. A few notes, in some cases I take exception but never meant as disrespect: I LOVE the P.P. Arnold singing lead in to "Perfect Sense" with "the joint chiefs of staff" and all. Was fabulous live. As to Perfect Sense -- Not only is it "someone narrating a war" (as entertainment, the general theme) but I don't expect you to know it's freakin' Marv Albert, one of the most famous American sportscasters of all time, who Roger hired and brought in to read the script, much like baseball broadcaster Phil Rizzuto did for Meatloaf in "Paradise by the Dashboard Light." You talk about screaming guitar -- that's JEFF BECK, another guest! The part where you said "all the tracks sound kind of the same" he was using a Chinese instruments ensemble (where do you hear that in rock and roll?) with Don Henley singing harmony! If I haven't made clear how much this album means to me, using special equipment, I did a mash-up of "It's a Miracle" and Gabriel's "In Your Eyes" for our wedding song in '93, BEFORE mash-ups were really a thing!! The final Amused to Death track is flat out brilliant with its sideways reference to the ending of Pink Floyd as related to the end of our species: "We watched the tragedy unfold..." Check that again. It just doesn't get better than this. More substance in two songs on this album than all of Dave Gilmour's post-Waters faux "Pink Floyd" $709.00 box set you just reviewed. Great to this day, I quote it often as relates to geopolitics. IMO, 10 out of 10 -- and I think you will agree after 10 listens because you seem to have that capacity and sensibility. Another great job, but with utmost respect, maybe you were not in the right head space to take this on, and you may also agree it needs more time, like a fine wine. (And btw, there ain't one drop of pretense on this disc, with Jon Anderson's lyrics I would say so, but this album is as real as it gets, IMO.)
When this album came out in the early 90s it was panned by the critics so I was put off getting it but then my mate lent me it and I loved it definitely one of my favourite albums.
Hi Niamh. Yeah, this is a very good album, probably my favorite Waters solo LP. For me, the best part is Jeff Beck's guitar throughout. He's one of my favorite guitarists and his work on this is outstanding. Three Wishes is my favorite track and overall, the production/sound effects really create an amazing atmosphere. One of the most intense anti war statements in classic rock. A pretty good review, considering that it's an overwhelming experience at times. It took me several listens to wrap my head around it. Good job, cheers!
According to legend: Roger began this in 1988; took a break for the Wall in Berlin in 1990, then returned to it. The record company made him re do some parts hence the hoarseness of his voice at times. It is a challenging album-but, then again, Roger is a very challenging man-but its rewards come with repeated listening. The nuclear war as "sports event" was influenced by the first gulf war which was covered in AGONIZING detail by CNN in 1990-91. It apparently made CNN and established the link with pro sports and war as just another fodder for TV ratings. Good review, listen again a few more times, it may grow on you some more.
I think this is one of the most important albums ever made. It is chilling, and lush, and makes tears burn in my eyes. Jeff Beck is profound in his contribution. Roger's brief to his session musicians was: the story comes first. Thanks for the review. For me this is a 10.
If I may: Got this the day it was released (was a manager at an independent music/video store....long LONG time ago...). Always thought Roger was good...yet this release...to me, I'd say it was the GREATEST album of the 1990's...but (and this is gonna sound strange) because of the tracks on this album, I always think of it as a Three-Sided Record: Tracks 1-5 on Side One...Tracks 6-10 on Side Two....and the last 4, comprise Side Three. The entire Work seems that way to me: divided in 3 parts....So much greatness on it, but what gets me...what REALLY makes me fall down and cry like an infant...is halfway through "Watching TV", when is screamed, far away but STILL echoing, haunting: "...And I GRIEVE....for my SISTER........." Thank You, Roger Waters...for an EPIC WORK...... And thanks to Niamh, the Prog Nerd....you are ageless.....
.......''did we do anything after this? ...... ... '' i don't think we did'' ... NOW that's a lyric ahead of it's time ,,,,,, bet Bowie wished he'd thought that one up.
I did a cartoon about Roger joining his old bandmates on Live 8 back in the 2000's. One of my cartoon characters asked "How does it feel to back in the great Pink Floyd, Roger?" Roger's reaction: "He (Roger) just looked at me like I was mad (crazy)!" Happy Easter, Niamh!
I remember buying this on cassette on a trip to Newcastle on or very soon after release. Then sitting in the car listening to it on my Walkman; an end to my sight-seeing for that day. I think this ranks in my top 10 albums all-time.
A great review. Much of the record is about aliens studying humanity (which has died out) and comes to the conclusion that it has Amused itself to death.
lyrics lyrics lyrics just listen to the ... put some good quality headphones on now listen ... and follow along .... Brilliant album love it!! very underrated like most Waters stuff
Fantastic album! In January 1993 I got a cassette with ATD on it, brought it home, inserted into my record player and was ready to sit and relax. But as soon as the music began I felt I couldn't even move! I was standing before the speakers the whole 70+ minutes, astonished. That was the best thing I ever heard. These days I feel the album has aged much more graciously than Pink Floyd's The Wall (that one sounds quite "cartoonishly"). Years later, in the summer of 2018, when Roger Waters came to St. Petersburg, I managed to get his autograph on my original 1992 2LP edition of Amused To Death 🤗.
Have to give this a re-listening. I bought this record for my mum's birthday like 20 years ago and haven't been listening to it since then! Thanks for the great review :)
Stop apologizing. Right now. Ok. My thoughts. This is my favorite of all the PF solo albums. The idea was sparked off by a book called Amusing Ourselves To Death that was published in 1985. I love the book. About how television is probably the bane of the average Inteligence of our society. Roger's album is about 'news as entertainment'. Because the visual affects our reward centres of the brain directly much quicker than the printed word, television is naturally an entertainment medium. So as a result, anything you learn visually, however sombre, for example 'Gulf War One' or the chap talking about Bill Hubbard, the main thing on the producer's mind is 'how good does this look?' Got to take care of those ratings. 'We got some good pictures coming in'... etc, etc. So what ever is being presented on the news or documentary has to have production values applied to it so it grabs the viewer and keeps the ratings up. Who has the best 'Capitol Riot footage?' That's who will get the viewers. The exciting intro music and the good looking guy or girl behind the desk are set to tell us how many people died in the Beruit blast. And we're captivated. We are actually being entertained. But at the same time some issues come to light that we may have ignored before but are now keen to possibly help correct because 'she died on tv'. Kind of a contradiction there. Tough topics That's what the album is about. News as entertainment. My opinion: nearly a Great album. Nearly. I still love it but,,,,,it's missing David Gilmour imposing his will on it. With a couple of his melodies and vocal turns and hand in production, this record and concept could have rivaled The Wall in my mind. It could've been the next 'Great' PF album. But it's not so I enjoy what we got because it nearly got there.
I wish you didn't spoil it all with that last paragraph! But absolutely, Neil Postman was dead on with his book. For much of the pandemic some of the news channels had the ruining death toll rising numbers in the upper right hand corner of the screen just about 24/7. I wasn't quite sure we needed to go that far. I will say that Roger's latest solo album is almost completely lacking guitar and I think it would have helped greatly on a few tracks.
On "Perfect Sense (part 1)", Waters wanted to add the voice of HAL9000 from "2001: A Space Odyssey" but the Kubrick estated denied him the right to do so. He eventually did it on the 2011 remaster.
I respect your opinion 100% though i must say i consider a 7/10 a really low rating for this masterpiece. This album, to be fully appreciated must be listened to over a passage of time. I first heard this album back in the 90's and thought it was so relevant to the times. All these years later the album is just as relevant today as it was upon release. This 'New Age' concept album is in my opinion Roger Waters' masterpiece, it ages like a fine wine, sounds beautiful throughout, and Roger's use of silence on this album is a masterstroke, building beautiful audio bouncing around us, through us, within us. I love Amused To Death, my favourite album of all time. Great review though, and it's nice to see the younger generation show some love to a genuinely under-appreciated classic concept album.
Late to when this was made, but Amused to Death is one of my favorite albums of all time. Honestly this is a massive hot take, but I think it's better than most albums in Pink Floyd
I've always loved this album and I view it as up there with The Wall. For me, this is far more of a Pink Floyd album than A Momentary Lapse of Reason is.
You gained a subscriber from this, I showed your review to a friend of mine whose fave album is Amused To Death. That's his opinion, The Pros & Cons Of Hitchhiking is as good as another Pink Floyd album, would be my Roger Waters album.......I also like David Gilmour's solo albums.
Glad you got round to this i can't champion Rogers' solo work enough and i know it wouldn't quite be your cuppa tea but don't buy (cuz it aint you ) but listen to his other two better solo works... ''The Pros & Cons Of Hitch Hiking'' (Clapton on Guitar ) bit of a nightmare but definitely 'concept' in make up, then try Radio Kaos , that's a very unique piece of work. ''Ohh ! nearly forgot listen to Music From the Body an album by Waters and a chap called Bob Ezrin a friend of the Floyd very VERY unique album and also funny too, Roger has a fantastic sense of humour despite ........ well ..., you know.
great point of view this is for me the best album from Roger Waters, now try to listen Dark side of the moon and them Amused to death and tell what you think about it.
The Ballad Of Bill Hubbard... The tragedy of war and the men caught up in it. The next time you hear the glorification of war remember the loss of innocence, they leave home as boys and come home old men.
A brilliant album especially in 5.1. Not prog? There was and still is nothing like it, so therefore, as prog as it gets. Much better than any Gilmour album including the last two so called Floyd albums, in a different league. As is his newest one 👏👍 No it is not Floyd, it is not supposed to be, pure Water's. People either love him or hate, personally, I love him, lyrical genius. If people can't sit and listen to the album because it's 'too long', then go and listen to Take That, probably more for them. If this isn't worth 10 out of 10, then nothing is.
Back in the day I was always more inclined towards David Gilmour ratherthan Roger Waters and so when they parted company I didnt really take much notice of anything Roger did - which was exacerbated by what I thought of the Final Cut at the time it came out - I have since changed my mind about that one though. So in 1992 I dont know why - come to think of it it could have been because its got Jeff Beck on it - but I decided to buy Amused to Death and to be honest to me it blew A Momentary Lapse of Reason clear out of the water in its concept, lyrical content and music. Since then I have come to better appreciate all of Roger's output - I still love Gilmour's playing however Roger just edges it for me. And I also still well up when listening to some parts of this album. I also always chuckle at the line about the piano lid crashing down on Andrew Lloyd Webber's fingers (which refers to Roger's view that the musical refrain in Phantom of the Opera is a direct steal from Echoes). The female vocals on Perfect Sense are by PP Arnold - who prog fans will remember is the vocalist that the Nice (albeit not named at the time), featuring one mr Keith Emerson, backed on a tour she did in the UK back in the late 60's and apparently conferred the name The Nice on them - if memory serves she introduced or called them the Nazz which they misheard as The Nice.
I actually preferred Radio K.A.O.S. when it came out over this one, but that's because my tastes had changed by the time of ATD. Now, the bloated '80s overproduction of K.A.O.S. sinks it for me. I'll take ATD over it or Hitchhiking every day.
What God Wants is the main track I know from this album and I like it better than any other Waters solo stuff I've heard. I think that's Jeff Beck on guitar on that. Gilmour had said once that "The Final Cut" was mostly a Roger Waters solo album and I agree. Without Gilmour's touch Water's solo output just doesn't have the Pink Floyd feel at all.
Yes it is Jeff Beck. He plays guitar on 5 other tracks as well. Jeff is David Gilmour’s favorite guitarist in fact. Jeff is the only reason I bought the cd and the deluxe 5.1 edition.
Of course I would have to say that the last two "Pink Floyd" albums are really more like Gilmour solo albums. A little more listener friendly than Waters' solo stuff but without the Waters bite it's not really Pink Floyd.
Surprised you didn't give this a higher rating. 7 rating but your words said 10 or maybee 9 if you knock of 1 for Waters vocals. Defiantly production value way ahead of its time, Waters vocals aside, as you said Rita Coolage was fantastic, while Jeff Beck made the guitar sing. ( best electric guitarist at at any point for the past 65 years and still killing it). The musical and lyrical architecture of certain lines, and most songs are as good as it gets.
oh yeh.... one side of the music to the film score of When the Wind Blows is all Waters , very powerful tracks , scary , and very sad too. the other side aint to bad either , Bowie etc...,
This is album is not ahead of its time. Its just relevant. Its Roger Waters. Great musicians on this album as you would expect. No point in trying to catergorise his music. Just pure brilliance. Yeah its deffo got wow factor.
This album played a large role in formulating my dislike of Waters, albeit for a completely ridiculous reason that has noting to do with him, either as an artist, or as a marmite human being: I saw a video clip of 'What God Wants, Part One' on The Chart Show and somehow got it into my head that it was by Lloyd Cole, rather than the ex-Pink Floyd bass player. Such was my dislike of the song that, as a result, I didn't purchase an album by Lloyd Cole for years, which was a grievous mistake. I think that I remember this so vividly because of how out of step 'What God Wants...' was with everything around it. I've just scanned the wiki summary of albums that were released in 1992 and, my god, that was a great year for music - so much happening across the genres. It wasn't such a good time to be a member of the old guard, although 'Amused to Death' seemed to do reasonably well. It made next to no impact culturally, but it went Silver probably as a result of being purchased by Pink Floyd fans who had been starved of new material.
"How can you have any pudding if you don't eat your meat!" It is essential you include what you're reviewing in the main body of your video. OPTICS 'is' everything in your presentation (as you are aware)! The added thumbnail...........)-:
with the terrifying events unfolding between russia and ukraine at the moment i can't help but think about the title song of this album. life imitating art. let's hope the outcome is different.
It's his best work but it's a difficult listen. Really weighty subject matter and a brief glimpse of dark humour. I 'really' need to be in the mood to listen to it.
Jeff Beck is worth a listen....Beck too me stands alone, ...my fav of ALL the UK guitarists...the Man is in his 70's gets better and better , Luv all his stuff...not a big fan of Waters...But Absolutely Agree with Him...Israeli government is a malignant cancer , not the beautiful poeple , the government who unfortunately are becoming more devious ...no politics sorry I know,...but waters is very political...Blame the Lad that dates Niamh....Niamh has good reviews , good disecting,.. too me this is a toughy....i wouldl never listen too, save the Beck parts i heard years back...she made the rest interesting ...Peace
His best, although the pros and cons of hitchiking and radio kaos are close, all concept albums of course, the final cut better than all though- basically a RW solo effort. All his solo stuff 10 times better than the simultaneous weak gilmour floyd efforts, never mind sales, those latter PF albums only sold on the name- which they shudn't have had in first place
I do love The Final Cut too ! I can admit it's an acquired taste, as the overall style isn't trying to sound 'pretty' (unlike the post-Waters albums...)
Funny you should mention the screaming emotional guitar tone. Rog tends to like working with incredible guitarists. David Gilmour, Eric Clapton, Syd Barrett or in this case for this album, Jeff Beck.
Indeed! Thank you for the album rec
I never recovered from this album! Nothing should be as good as this!!! A total masterpiece which still hits home every time!!!
Roger waters solo career is so underrated imo.
This album is possibly his best. However, IS THIS THE LIFE WE WANT is a close second and also is a concept album. You should check out his Pro's and Cons of Hitchhiking and RADIO K. A. O. S.
Of course I love "is this the life.." but I have to say, I do miss the guitar. It seems like some strong guitar work could really pump up a number of the tracks, but of course that's just how music has gone in general these days.
The Tide Is Turning My Friends!!!
@Gary Citro ITTLWRW is Rogers masterpiece for me. I love that album fully through and through immediately. I love Amused To Death but it did take a while for me to appreciate
I saw Roger Waters perform at a benefit concert in April, 1992. When this album came out, I was hoping there would be a tour to support it, thinking he might be on a roll since 5 years had passed since Radio KAOS. It wasn't until 1999 that I saw him play again and by then there were only a few songs from ATD on the setlist. For me, they were the highlight of the show and of all the recordings made by fans during that tour.
This album has only one other possible rival, that would be "The Final Cut". In many ways Roger surpasses that effort, most likely because all the ideas were his alone, without debate and arguing. The album is lush, provokes the full range of emotions, wonderfully produced and edited and is, in my opinion, Rogers greatest work. A masterpiece.
if the benefit you're talking about was the walden woods concert, i was there too. i was also sad that the "in the flesh" tour only had a couple of songs from amused to death. i was hoping for a full album show as most of us were i'm sure.
was this the one don henley was at? apparently they did do watching tv live, maybe only once
@@guitarplayer30001 It was the Walden Woods Benefit Concert in Los Angeles. They did not play that song you mentioned. Don Henley was there, he was the second voice for Comfortably Numb !
This species has amused it's self to death
Been listening to the original for years
So I now mainly listen to the remastered version as it's slightly different and newer to me
no one can do sound effects as good as roger
The best of the Waters solo stuff in my opinion.
YES! And as good, in its own way, as anything in the Floyd catalog!
Up there with my favourite Floyd albums and also got the Blu-ray version which is amazing.
It moved me to tears when I first heard ATD upon its CD release in 92. I played it for the first time on head phones and it totally blew me away. Fast forward to 2021 and it still has the same effect. By far Rogers best post Floyd work.
Great review for an amazing album. I've always loved the lyrics to 'It's a Miracle' - I laugh out loud every time I listen to the last verse:
We cower in our shelters with our hands over our ears
Lloyd-Webber's awful stuff runs for years and years and years
An earthquake hits the theatre, but the operetta lingers
Then the piano lid comes down and breaks his f-ing fingers
It's a miracle.
Except that I love Lloyd Weber.😊 But I also love this album. Oh dear I'm so confused.
@@Amadeusthegreat100 Ha! Similarly he bashes Yoko on pros and cons, and I thought it a little unfair. I never really thought of her as someone who was hitchhiking on John Lennon's career, but I get it.
You guys must make the perfect couple, from what I get from the outside :-) . Thanks for reviewing one of my favorites.
This is one I'd like you to do a follow-up review after you hear the album 10 times. Indeed it is dense and an acquired taste. I too wasn't crazy at first about Roger's Dylan-esque vocals on the album, but they grow on you big time.
A few notes, in some cases I take exception but never meant as disrespect:
I LOVE the P.P. Arnold singing lead in to "Perfect Sense" with "the joint chiefs of staff" and all. Was fabulous live. As to Perfect Sense -- Not only is it "someone narrating a war" (as entertainment, the general theme) but I don't expect you to know it's freakin' Marv Albert, one of the most famous American sportscasters of all time, who Roger hired and brought in to read the script, much like baseball broadcaster Phil Rizzuto did for Meatloaf in "Paradise by the Dashboard Light."
You talk about screaming guitar -- that's JEFF BECK, another guest!
The part where you said "all the tracks sound kind of the same" he was using a Chinese instruments ensemble (where do you hear that in rock and roll?) with Don Henley singing harmony!
If I haven't made clear how much this album means to me, using special equipment, I did a mash-up of "It's a Miracle" and Gabriel's "In Your Eyes" for our wedding song in '93, BEFORE mash-ups were really a thing!!
The final Amused to Death track is flat out brilliant with its sideways reference to the ending of Pink Floyd as related to the end of our species: "We watched the tragedy unfold..." Check that again.
It just doesn't get better than this. More substance in two songs on this album than all of Dave Gilmour's post-Waters faux "Pink Floyd" $709.00 box set you just reviewed. Great to this day, I quote it often as relates to geopolitics.
IMO, 10 out of 10 -- and I think you will agree after 10 listens because you seem to have that capacity and sensibility. Another great job, but with utmost respect, maybe you were not in the right head space to take this on, and you may also agree it needs more time, like a fine wine.
(And btw, there ain't one drop of pretense on this disc, with Jon Anderson's lyrics I would say so, but this album is as real as it gets, IMO.)
When this album came out in the early 90s it was panned by the critics so I was put off getting it but then my mate lent me it and I loved it definitely one of my favourite albums.
Hi Niamh. Yeah, this is a very good album, probably my favorite Waters solo LP. For me, the best part is Jeff Beck's guitar throughout. He's one of my favorite guitarists and his work on this is outstanding. Three Wishes is my favorite track and overall, the production/sound effects really create an amazing atmosphere. One of the most intense anti war statements in classic rock. A pretty good review, considering that it's an overwhelming experience at times. It took me several listens to wrap my head around it. Good job, cheers!
According to legend: Roger began this in 1988; took a break for the Wall in Berlin in 1990, then returned to it. The record company made him re do some parts hence the hoarseness of his voice at times.
It is a challenging album-but, then again, Roger is a very challenging man-but its rewards come with repeated listening. The nuclear war as "sports event" was influenced by the first gulf war which was covered in AGONIZING detail by CNN in 1990-91. It apparently made CNN and established the link with pro sports and war as just another fodder for TV ratings.
Good review, listen again a few more times, it may grow on you some more.
this album is the prime example why Gilmour tired of Roger's self-indulgence.
It's like the unofficial sequel to The Final Cut, the last Floyd album with Roger.
I think this is one of the most important albums ever made. It is chilling, and lush, and makes tears burn in my eyes. Jeff Beck is profound in his contribution. Roger's brief to his session musicians was: the story comes first. Thanks for the review. For me this is a 10.
If I may:
Got this the day it was released (was a manager at an independent music/video store....long LONG time ago...). Always thought Roger was good...yet this release...to me, I'd say it was the GREATEST album of the 1990's...but (and this is gonna sound strange) because of the tracks on this album, I always think of it as a Three-Sided Record: Tracks 1-5 on Side One...Tracks 6-10 on Side Two....and the last 4, comprise Side Three. The entire Work seems that way to me: divided in 3 parts....So much greatness on it, but what gets me...what REALLY makes me fall down and cry like an infant...is halfway through "Watching TV", when is screamed, far away but STILL echoing, haunting: "...And I GRIEVE....for my SISTER........."
Thank You, Roger Waters...for an EPIC WORK......
And thanks to Niamh, the Prog Nerd....you are ageless.....
.......''did we do anything after this? ......
... '' i don't think we did'' ... NOW that's a lyric ahead of it's time ,,,,,, bet Bowie wished he'd thought that one up.
What God wants is a guitar lesson from Jeff Beck.
Who do you think gave Jeff the gift?
my favorite LP
I did a cartoon about Roger joining his old bandmates on Live 8 back in the 2000's. One of my cartoon characters asked "How does it feel to back in the great Pink Floyd, Roger?" Roger's reaction: "He (Roger) just looked at me like I was mad (crazy)!"
Happy Easter, Niamh!
Fantastic album. And so lyrically strong, too.
Thanks for the review. You’ve inspired me to drag out my copy of this album for a listen.
I remember buying this on cassette on a trip to Newcastle on or very soon after release. Then sitting in the car listening to it on my Walkman; an end to my sight-seeing for that day.
I think this ranks in my top 10 albums all-time.
A great review. Much of the record is about aliens studying humanity (which has died out) and comes to the conclusion that it has Amused itself to death.
lyrics lyrics lyrics just listen to the ... put some good quality headphones on now listen ... and follow along .... Brilliant album love it!! very underrated like most Waters stuff
Excellent and very well articulated review. Thank you.
Underrated Masterpiece❤❤❤
Fantastic album! In January 1993 I got a cassette with ATD on it, brought it home, inserted into my record player and was ready to sit and relax. But as soon as the music began I felt I couldn't even move! I was standing before the speakers the whole 70+ minutes, astonished. That was the best thing I ever heard. These days I feel the album has aged much more graciously than Pink Floyd's The Wall (that one sounds quite "cartoonishly"). Years later, in the summer of 2018, when Roger Waters came to St. Petersburg, I managed to get his autograph on my original 1992 2LP edition of Amused To Death 🤗.
prob one of the best albums ever recorded
Have to give this a re-listening. I bought this record for my mum's birthday like 20 years ago and haven't been listening to it since then! Thanks for the great review :)
Brilliant album. And great to listen to at night in bed with headphones.
I enjoyed this album though my favorite of his solo work will always be Radio K.A.O.S....
if you do ever get this on vinyl you can try'n figure out the backwards message , have you done that with Young Lust off the Wall yet.. ?
great review great album saw all his live tours always top shelf production.
Stop apologizing. Right now.
Ok. My thoughts.
This is my favorite of all the PF solo albums.
The idea was sparked off by a book called Amusing Ourselves To Death that was published in 1985. I love the book. About how television is probably the bane of the average Inteligence of our society.
Roger's album is about 'news as entertainment'. Because the visual affects our reward centres of the brain directly much quicker than the printed word, television is naturally an entertainment medium. So as a result, anything you learn visually, however sombre, for example 'Gulf War One' or the chap talking about Bill Hubbard, the main thing on the producer's mind is 'how good does this look?'
Got to take care of those ratings. 'We got some good pictures coming in'... etc, etc. So what ever is being presented on the news or documentary has to have production values applied to it so it grabs the viewer and keeps the ratings up.
Who has the best 'Capitol Riot footage?' That's who will get the viewers. The exciting intro music and the good looking guy or girl behind the desk are set to tell us how many people died in the Beruit blast. And we're captivated. We are actually being entertained.
But at the same time some issues come to light that we may have ignored before but are now keen to possibly help correct because 'she died on tv'. Kind of a contradiction there. Tough topics
That's what the album is about. News as entertainment.
My opinion: nearly a Great album. Nearly. I still love it but,,,,,it's missing David Gilmour imposing his will on it. With a couple of his melodies and vocal turns and hand in production, this record and concept could have rivaled The Wall in my mind. It could've been the next 'Great' PF album. But it's not so I enjoy what we got because it nearly got there.
I wish you didn't spoil it all with that last paragraph! But absolutely, Neil Postman was dead on with his book.
For much of the pandemic some of the news channels had the ruining death toll rising numbers in the upper right hand corner of the screen just about 24/7. I wasn't quite sure we needed to go that far.
I will say that Roger's latest solo album is almost completely lacking guitar and I think it would have helped greatly on a few tracks.
Good Heavens what a Scary Album
On "Perfect Sense (part 1)", Waters wanted to add the voice of HAL9000 from "2001: A Space Odyssey" but the Kubrick estated denied him the right to do so. He eventually did it on the 2011 remaster.
Will give this album a listen today, I have never listened to any solo albums from Floyd members. Your review has made me want to give it a go.
good morning and happy easter niamh
I respect your opinion 100% though i must say i consider a 7/10 a really low rating for this masterpiece.
This album, to be fully appreciated must be listened to over a passage of time.
I first heard this album back in the 90's and thought it was so relevant to the times. All these years later the album is just as relevant today as it was upon release. This 'New Age' concept album is in my opinion Roger Waters' masterpiece, it ages like a fine wine, sounds beautiful throughout, and Roger's use of silence on this album is a masterstroke, building beautiful audio bouncing around us, through us, within us.
I love Amused To Death, my favourite album of all time.
Great review though, and it's nice to see the younger generation show some love to a genuinely under-appreciated classic concept album.
Late to when this was made, but Amused to Death is one of my favorite albums of all time. Honestly this is a massive hot take, but I think it's better than most albums in Pink Floyd
I've always loved this album and I view it as up there with The Wall. For me, this is far more of a Pink Floyd album than A Momentary Lapse of Reason is.
You gained a subscriber from this, I showed your review to a friend of mine whose fave album is Amused To Death. That's his opinion, The Pros & Cons Of Hitchhiking is as good as another Pink Floyd album, would be my Roger Waters album.......I also like David Gilmour's solo albums.
Glad you got round to this i can't champion Rogers' solo work enough and i know it wouldn't quite be your cuppa tea but don't buy (cuz it aint you ) but listen to his other two better solo works... ''The Pros & Cons Of Hitch Hiking'' (Clapton on Guitar ) bit of a nightmare but definitely 'concept' in make up, then try Radio Kaos , that's a very unique piece of work. ''Ohh ! nearly forgot listen to Music From the Body an album by Waters and a chap called Bob Ezrin a friend of the Floyd very VERY unique album and also funny too, Roger has a fantastic sense of humour despite ........ well ..., you know.
great point of view this is for me the best album from Roger Waters, now try to listen Dark side of the moon and them Amused to death and tell what you think about it.
Nice upload
The Ballad Of Bill Hubbard...
The tragedy of war and the men caught up in it. The next time you hear the glorification of war remember the loss of innocence, they leave home as boys and come home old men.
A brilliant album especially in 5.1. Not prog? There was and still is nothing like it, so therefore, as prog as it gets. Much better than any Gilmour album including the last two so called Floyd albums, in a different league. As is his newest one 👏👍
No it is not Floyd, it is not supposed to be, pure Water's. People either love him or hate, personally, I love him, lyrical genius.
If people can't sit and listen to the album because it's 'too long', then go and listen to Take That, probably more for them.
If this isn't worth 10 out of 10, then nothing is.
Back in the day I was always more inclined towards David Gilmour ratherthan Roger Waters and so when they parted company I didnt really take much notice of anything Roger did - which was exacerbated by what I thought of the Final Cut at the time it came out - I have since changed my mind about that one though. So in 1992 I dont know why - come to think of it it could have been because its got Jeff Beck on it - but I decided to buy Amused to Death and to be honest to me it blew A Momentary Lapse of Reason clear out of the water in its concept, lyrical content and music. Since then I have come to better appreciate all of Roger's output - I still love Gilmour's playing however Roger just edges it for me. And I also still well up when listening to some parts of this album. I also always chuckle at the line about the piano lid crashing down on Andrew Lloyd Webber's fingers (which refers to Roger's view that the musical refrain in Phantom of the Opera is a direct steal from Echoes).
The female vocals on Perfect Sense are by PP Arnold - who prog fans will remember is the vocalist that the Nice (albeit not named at the time), featuring one mr Keith Emerson, backed on a tour she did in the UK back in the late 60's and apparently conferred the name The Nice on them - if memory serves she introduced or called them the Nazz which they misheard as The Nice.
I actually preferred Radio K.A.O.S. when it came out over this one, but that's because my tastes had changed by the time of ATD.
Now, the bloated '80s overproduction of K.A.O.S. sinks it for me. I'll take ATD over it or Hitchhiking every day.
What God Wants is the main track I know from this album and I like it better than any other Waters solo stuff I've heard. I think that's Jeff Beck on guitar on that. Gilmour had said once that "The Final Cut" was mostly a Roger Waters solo album and I agree. Without Gilmour's touch Water's solo output just doesn't have the Pink Floyd feel at all.
Yes it is Jeff Beck. He plays guitar on 5 other tracks as well. Jeff is David Gilmour’s favorite guitarist in fact. Jeff is the only reason I bought the cd and the deluxe 5.1 edition.
Of course I would have to say that the last two "Pink Floyd" albums are really more like Gilmour solo albums. A little more listener friendly than Waters' solo stuff but without the Waters bite it's not really Pink Floyd.
Waters and Gilmour together are greater than the sum of their parts. Waters work lacks Gilmour's lyricism and Gilmour's work lacks Waters bite IMHO.
Is that a Rush blanket behind you? Awesome :)
Yes!
good review
Surprised you didn't give this a higher rating. 7 rating but your words said 10 or maybee 9 if you knock of 1 for Waters vocals. Defiantly production value way ahead of its time, Waters vocals aside, as you said Rita Coolage was fantastic, while Jeff Beck made the guitar sing. ( best electric guitarist at at any point for the past 65 years and still killing it). The musical and lyrical architecture of certain lines, and most songs are as good as it gets.
Go watch this new arrangement with a new verse from Roger!: @
hi have you heard music from the body it s insane
oh yeh.... one side of the music to the film score of When the Wind Blows is all Waters , very powerful tracks , scary , and very sad too. the other side aint to bad either , Bowie etc...,
This is album is not ahead of its time.
Its just relevant.
Its Roger Waters.
Great musicians on this album as you would expect.
No point in trying to catergorise his music.
Just pure brilliance.
Yeah its deffo got wow factor.
This album played a large role in formulating my dislike of Waters, albeit for a completely ridiculous reason that has noting to do with him, either as an artist, or as a marmite human being: I saw a video clip of 'What God Wants, Part One' on The Chart Show and somehow got it into my head that it was by Lloyd Cole, rather than the ex-Pink Floyd bass player. Such was my dislike of the song that, as a result, I didn't purchase an album by Lloyd Cole for years, which was a grievous mistake.
I think that I remember this so vividly because of how out of step 'What God Wants...' was with everything around it. I've just scanned the wiki summary of albums that were released in 1992 and, my god, that was a great year for music - so much happening across the genres. It wasn't such a good time to be a member of the old guard, although 'Amused to Death' seemed to do reasonably well. It made next to no impact culturally, but it went Silver probably as a result of being purchased by Pink Floyd fans who had been starved of new material.
no one records albums like roger very uniqe esp this album
Please check out "Is this the life we really want". my fav of all time
"How can you have any pudding if you don't eat your meat!"
It is essential you include what you're reviewing in the main body of your video.
OPTICS 'is' everything in your presentation (as you are aware)! The added thumbnail...........)-:
hey niamh you or your daddio like stone the crows slade or april wine
with the terrifying events unfolding between russia and ukraine at the moment i can't help but think about the title song of this album. life imitating art. let's hope the outcome is different.
Punk is not dead
It's his best work but it's a difficult listen. Really weighty subject matter and a brief glimpse of dark humour. I 'really' need to be in the mood to listen to it.
will you do me a favor and check out crack the sky please?
7 ppl thumb this down clearly aint got a brain
i just don't understand people who bother to give a thumbs down , if i don't like a posting i simply don't bother
Jeff Beck is worth a listen....Beck too me stands alone, ...my fav of ALL the UK guitarists...the Man is in his 70's gets better and better , Luv all his stuff...not a big fan of Waters...But Absolutely Agree with Him...Israeli government is a malignant cancer , not the beautiful poeple , the government who unfortunately are becoming more devious ...no politics sorry I know,...but waters is very political...Blame the Lad that dates Niamh....Niamh has good reviews , good disecting,.. too me this is a toughy....i wouldl never listen too, save the Beck parts i heard years back...she made the rest interesting ...Peace
His best, although the pros and cons of hitchiking and radio kaos are close, all concept albums of course, the final cut better than all though- basically a RW solo effort. All his solo stuff 10 times better than the simultaneous weak gilmour floyd efforts, never mind sales, those latter PF albums only sold on the name- which they shudn't have had in first place
AMEN to all about Gilmour, but this album is far superior to his others IMHO, and is as good as Final Cut.
I do love The Final Cut too ! I can admit it's an acquired taste, as the overall style isn't trying to sound 'pretty' (unlike the post-Waters albums...)
Division Bell is great though
Roger Waters is my father
take your "meds" Will...........
So shouldn't you be yachting in Tahiti then?
You haven't got a clue then dissing roger waters he's got a class voice
It’s a matter of opinion, don’t get too worked up
Still waters run deep
get some helmet of gnats
do you have anything from sonus umbra niamh?
Man one dislike already!?
@King Chromosome true that
Maybe the least worst RW album!
Roger Waters is not prog. Without the members of Pink Floyd he sucks.
Too many ad's, had to turn off. Sorry.
Not intentional. My bad
She's gotta make that paper somehow.
You can always rewind to the very end of the video and press "replay" and then watch it from the very beginning without the annoying adverts, man 😉.
@@Zholobov1 that's what I do all the time lol.