A missed opportunity and pretty pointless even at the time. Possibly the reason why it was hastily deleted soon after release*.
* This may have also been because talk of a Volume 2 was not thought through properly.
Roger Waters - Flickering Flame - The Solo Years Vol 1
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Re: Roger Waters - Flickering Flame - The Solo Years Vol 1
I just acquired this album, and have thus just heard his Knockin' On Heaven's Door, Flickering Flame, and Towers of Faith for the first time. And Each Small Candle the first time in a long time.
I'm afraid to say that in evaluating this as an overview of his solo career, Roger has just lost it since Pros and Cons, which was at least about something I can relate to, namely sex. Not that I don't care about the state of the world, but the guy has become the most colossal bore harping on about how awful everything is constantly without the relief of a decent melody anywhere. Sorry, but that's how I see it. If he released another solo album with the same old stuff, I would be tremendously disappointed. Where did his tremendous talent go? Perhaps the same place John Lennon's went when he didn't have McCartney to keep him honest any more.
I'm afraid to say that in evaluating this as an overview of his solo career, Roger has just lost it since Pros and Cons, which was at least about something I can relate to, namely sex. Not that I don't care about the state of the world, but the guy has become the most colossal bore harping on about how awful everything is constantly without the relief of a decent melody anywhere. Sorry, but that's how I see it. If he released another solo album with the same old stuff, I would be tremendously disappointed. Where did his tremendous talent go? Perhaps the same place John Lennon's went when he didn't have McCartney to keep him honest any more.
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Re: Roger Waters - Flickering Flame - The Solo Years Vol 1
it is a very oddball compilation album for someone who's dealt solely in concept albums ever since Dark Side
did anybody ever buy this one first as a sampler of Rogers solo work then decide it was so good they needed to hear P&C and KAOS in full? I think the songs are less attractive when decontextualised, I dont know what a newbie would think
if its true this record was an excuse to get some new material out there, then maybe thats proof Roger no longer needs his songs to fit into some overarching concept and he should accept it and put out a full album of new, unrelated individual songs already
did anybody ever buy this one first as a sampler of Rogers solo work then decide it was so good they needed to hear P&C and KAOS in full? I think the songs are less attractive when decontextualised, I dont know what a newbie would think
if its true this record was an excuse to get some new material out there, then maybe thats proof Roger no longer needs his songs to fit into some overarching concept and he should accept it and put out a full album of new, unrelated individual songs already
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Re: Roger Waters - Flickering Flame - The Solo Years Vol 1
Yes, Roger should have realized by now that there's nothing wrong with full albums of unrelated individual songs, most of the times they are a lot better than concept albums held together by weak stories/concepts and tacky metaphores and allegories. I really would like to see Waters release a loose thematic album full of new songs with self-contained topics with no necessary relation to each other. Roger seems to think that since he is "Mr. Pink Floyd" he can't release a regular album with no overarching concept, that somekind it wouldn't be a legitimate Roger Waters album; f#ck that mentality man! An album full of new songs as good as Each Small Candle, Flickering Flame and the live Leaving Beirut would be great and it would still have the Waters signature all over it, no mattter if the songs are totally unrelated to each other, it would still be a coherent piece of art since is his persona and beleifs what is projected through the music and lyrics; and if he still feels the need for a concept to tie the whole thing then it could be something like "an insight into 65 years old Roger Waters' mind", and each song would deal with important issues for him, and he could just call it "The Roger Waters Album", period.
Last edited by danielcaux on Tue May 19, 2009 7:13 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Roger Waters - Flickering Flame - The Solo Years Vol 1
Do rather like the Flickering Flame demo a lot. Makes me think i'd love to hear more stripped down Waters songs like the stuff from Dylan and Young who he seems to admire a lot. Problem is that i know when the song eventually makes it to a record he'll overkill it with production by sticking in some female backing singers, a car crash or some over the top drumming
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Re: Roger Waters - Flickering Flame - The Solo Years Vol 1
I believe this album was released as something to get out there during his extended ITF tour part two...around the time there was a Roger interview where he said he would love to release some earlier stripped down demos...even some PF material...Perhaps The Pink Floyd Years Vol n.
EDIT: I still want some over blown production from Roger with concept!
EDIT: I still want some over blown production from Roger with concept!
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Re: Roger Waters - Flickering Flame - The Solo Years Vol 1
yeh sign me up for some overblown production too
people pick on Roger for not playing enough bass on his own album, but really we all know Rogers not that interested in the bass, he'd rather hire someone to do that
what Roger does do is all them sound effects and arrangements for different voices and cutting edge 3d recording imagery ... I'd be disappointed if I bought a Roger album and it didnt have all that stuff
people pick on Roger for not playing enough bass on his own album, but really we all know Rogers not that interested in the bass, he'd rather hire someone to do that
what Roger does do is all them sound effects and arrangements for different voices and cutting edge 3d recording imagery ... I'd be disappointed if I bought a Roger album and it didnt have all that stuff
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Re: Roger Waters - Flickering Flame - The Solo Years Vol 1
Yeah, likewise. I don't think I would really want an album full of Roger wailing to his acoustic guitar, although some of the stripped down demos would be interesting, assuming these are known songs. Surprising how little auxiliary material has actually leaked from one source or another. There are only the Wall demos, plus one or two other bits (Money demo, Learning to Fly, very low quality Final cut demos) l which I am aware of.
Bring on the overblown "New York taxi driver saves his sister being captured by a sewer underworld during a nucleur attack" concept, or whatever surprises Mr. Waters has thought up to tie his songs together. In fact, in opposition to many of the views here, let's stick in too many female backing singers, babies screaming, phones ringing and bells tolling whilst we are at it.
Bring on the overblown "New York taxi driver saves his sister being captured by a sewer underworld during a nucleur attack" concept, or whatever surprises Mr. Waters has thought up to tie his songs together. In fact, in opposition to many of the views here, let's stick in too many female backing singers, babies screaming, phones ringing and bells tolling whilst we are at it.
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Re: Roger Waters - Flickering Flame - The Solo Years Vol 1
Sorry fellow Floydians, but Roger's solo stuff is complete CRAP. I think deep down, we truly know it, but are in denial.
Very few albums (even parts of them) are readily listenable, although I still find myself listening to Amused To Death and Radio Kaos occasionally. And Roger stills believes he can't sing on his own (this has ALWAYS been true, unfortunately) so he still uses those bloody back up singers. I for one am SO very sick of hearing them (no offence to the ladies). This compilation is laughable at best.
Sad to say, but "Softy" Gilmour has gotten the same way musically, although there are a few gems here & there.
As much as it hurts, we now have to admit we snap up anything they put out simply because we're Floyd addicts. I know I am, or there's "No Way" (excuse the pun) I would own ANY of Dave's or Roger's solo stuff. Not really.
And with the passing of Rick, the Pink Floyd Sound is gone forever. It hurts - real bad - but the Floyd are well & truly over. All we have left is whatever scraps they throw our way. We've lost our critical thought process. We lap it all up like hungry dogs. Pathetic, isn't it
Very few albums (even parts of them) are readily listenable, although I still find myself listening to Amused To Death and Radio Kaos occasionally. And Roger stills believes he can't sing on his own (this has ALWAYS been true, unfortunately) so he still uses those bloody back up singers. I for one am SO very sick of hearing them (no offence to the ladies). This compilation is laughable at best.
Sad to say, but "Softy" Gilmour has gotten the same way musically, although there are a few gems here & there.
As much as it hurts, we now have to admit we snap up anything they put out simply because we're Floyd addicts. I know I am, or there's "No Way" (excuse the pun) I would own ANY of Dave's or Roger's solo stuff. Not really.
And with the passing of Rick, the Pink Floyd Sound is gone forever. It hurts - real bad - but the Floyd are well & truly over. All we have left is whatever scraps they throw our way. We've lost our critical thought process. We lap it all up like hungry dogs. Pathetic, isn't it
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Re: Roger Waters - Flickering Flame - The Solo Years Vol 1
3
I bought it for Knocking on Heavens Door and for that song it was worth it. Wish it had his cover of "Across the Universe" from the 1985 John Lennon tribute on the BBC (cheesy 80's quality and all).
I agree with the consensus that it should have been more B-sides and demo's. The recorded version of Molly's Song wouldn't have been bad. Get a little Run Like Hell (Potsdamer Mix) in there... shudder.
I bought it for Knocking on Heavens Door and for that song it was worth it. Wish it had his cover of "Across the Universe" from the 1985 John Lennon tribute on the BBC (cheesy 80's quality and all).
I agree with the consensus that it should have been more B-sides and demo's. The recorded version of Molly's Song wouldn't have been bad. Get a little Run Like Hell (Potsdamer Mix) in there... shudder.
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Re: Roger Waters - Flickering Flame - The Solo Years Vol 1
Lark's vomit. 1.
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Re: Roger Waters - Flickering Flame - The Solo Years Vol 1
the songs the choose to be on the album are great. I love the added songs like Knocking On Heaven's Door and Flickering Flame. The last song on was intersting I guess. It made me smile so I give it a weak five.
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Re: Roger Waters - Flickering Flame - The Solo Years Vol 1
some tracks are horrible
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Re: Roger Waters - Flickering Flame - The Solo Years Vol 1
This is not that great. Only got it for the new stuff, and that stuff was..well, meh. Boring. Rated it 3.