Morty wrote:I have always been a Waters-fan, but I do agree his political stuff has gone to far. Just take a breath, Roger.
In these days I don't know what to sing
The more I know the less my tune can swing
That's something Joe Strummer realized in the early 80s, but sadly it appears that Waters hasn't been able to grasp that notion during the last 30 years. Too bad because as Strummer proved, you can be political and still manage to make the songs memorable and catchy. It just takes more effort and dedication, you have to find an economical way to say all the things you have to say, not just pour every thought that crosses your mind into the page. Ever since The Final Cut Roger has become lazy in that department, he just talks and talks and talks, adding pile over pile of information, with no filter at all, and that doesn't serve the song. He should have looked back at songs like Brain Damage and Us And Them, where he was already being political but without compromising the poetic/metric element of the lyrics.
It's been 23 years, and he's been talking about making an album for the past 15 years and still nothing but a few random songs every few years.
Although, it does seem as though videos of him performing If I Had Been God have been taken down off YouTube because of copyright. Could this mean he's actually going to finally release the album. I doubt it...
perhaps he has a few songs here and there (each smal, candle, flickering flame, to kill the child, etc), but they don't have a crazy underlying concept, and now he;s kind of the concept album guy? just a thought.
raisemyrent wrote:didn't he say it was going to be about love?
perhaps he has a few songs here and there (each smal, candle, flickering flame, to kill the child, etc), but they don't have a crazy underlying concept, and now he;s kind of the concept album guy? just a thought.
Surely he could rewrite the lyrics to fit a concept if he wanted to.
Well, he pulled out ATD without a clear underlying story and a few pretty different themes on it but it still feels like a concept album, so I don't think those would be a problem. Even 'The Wall' has some pretty diverse lyrical content.
Roger Waters is aiming to release his fourth solo record some time next year, followed by an arena tour.
The Pink Floyd man told Digital Spy that he is "in the middle of making it now" and that it's a concept album.
He went on to explain the story, which involves a granddad and his grandchild searching for certain answers. "Why are we killing the children? That's what it's about," he confirmed to Digital Spy.
He also revealed that some of the songs are brand new, while others are from as far back as 15 years ago, and that he will likely tour the album: "I'm toying with the idea of trying to make this thing into an arena show."
Last month Waters spoke out about the American elections, expressing his support for Bernie Sanders, whilst admitting he fears the actions of fellow democratic frontrunner Hillary Clinton.
Waters is known for being an outspoken political activist, particularly when it comes to his support of Palestine (he slammed Bon Jovi for their appearance in Tel Aviv), as well as in his backing of American whistleblower Chelsea Manning.
On November 20 Waters will release a live album from his time spent touring Pink Floyd's 'The Wall' as a solo artist and he also revealed to NME that he's working on a stage version of the record with one of the writers behind the film Billy Elliot.
"We've done workshops with it as a theatrical piece, and I suspect we'll see it sooner rather than later," Waters said. "I've been working with Lee Hall, who did Billy Elliot, writers and producers, and I think that team will put it on the stage first in London, then New York and then maybe it'll tour. People have been reduced to both laughter and tears in the workshops, which is a great sign."
So we've got a time frame. Some songs are 15 years old, some are brand new. But it adds up to a new Roger Waters studio album, so that's OK in my book!
I'm really looking forward to the album. The occasional songs here are there that he has been releasing have been Roger-lite. With the exception of Flickering Flame and Each Small Candle I dont think they amount to much. However, this is a man who makes albums, not songs. I look forward to whatever grand vision he comes up with - its guaranteed to be a journey at least.
HOWEVER - if that Irish accent he did in the recent BBC interview features on it, I'm out. Can someone please tell Roger to stop with the stage Paddy accents.... (i know he's done scottish school teachers and groovy picts before, but generally they were there for comic relief....)
'Woi are dey killin de childrun' - stop it Roger... please.... you're killing the adults with that sort of stuff....
I didn't buy it, but I flicked through this month's "Uncut" and there's a long interview with him. I didn't read it in full but it is discussing his plans and ideas beyond The Wall. He's even mentioned the song he played at the Newport Folk Festival.
](./images/smilies/eusa_wall.gif "Brick wall"){kind=small}
