The Pros & Cons of Hitch Hiking by Roger Waters (CD, Jun-1987, Columbia USA)

Ahhh, Americans always have to censor everything and yes, my copy has the censored cover. Oh well, at least the music is the same and the music is fantastic. The songs here remind me very much of The Wall and while most of my friends are fans of Roger's other solo albums more than this I tend to lean toward this as my favorite. Great concept and lyrics. Roger is a genus.

As with "The Wall", the single "Money", "Mother", "Shine On You Crazy Diamond", "Welcome to the Machine", and a host of others, Rodger uses his unmistakeable penchant for the bizarre and cynical to communicate messages relative to humanity, and many of the problems we've created for ourselves. Either directly or indirectly, we've all fallen victim to circumstances, either of our making, or someone else's making. If not having fallen victim ourselves, we've taken up the "cause" of victimizing some other individual or group of individuals that either threaten us in some way, or have something we want. Whether the threat is real or conjured on a pretense, Rodger uses his gift of wit and musicianship to great effect in order to persuade the "modern" man of this Industrial Age into returning to the usage of an ability that, for all of his technological wizardry, only man can do...reason. Right or wrong, good or bad. No machine or nifty gadget will ever be able to substitute moral decisions about how human beings are supposed to interact with each other.
Perhaps Rodger is trying to illustrate this idea with the "traveling/journeying" metaphor, in that we all "travel" through this life learning from a buffet of different experiences; even learning from our own responses. The "goodnes", or "badness" of which can depend on our decisions...about pretty much everything. For me,its a pretty scarey concept to think about, if the day comes when machines can decide. But I digresss...
Decisions, decisions...

I don't know why it took me so long to buy this album (CD). I bought the Wall as an album when it was first released and if the wall had a third album, this could easily be that record. Pros and Cons has real Pink Floyd feel but with a somewhat jazzy flavor on some songs. I think Roger Waters just didn't have the recognition he thought he had when he left the band. Then, as now, Waters does not get much airplay so it is easy to overlook him. He is getting plenty of "airtime" on my stereo these days. ~solomonswift

I like anything to do with pink floyd and roger waters solo albums. I bought it to add to may collectins.

This album is a story along the lines of "The Wall" a dark tale, a dream of Roger Waters. He uses the same melody through out the journey. The guitar work is excellant, a cross between Mark Knopfler(Dire Straits)and Jeff Baxter (Steely Dan). The saxophone (David Sanborn) an entrical part of this great album. If your a Pink Floyd fan, this is a must have cd, from begining to end, worth every penny

Roger Waters at his best! The music transports the listener into the inner depths of Mr. Waters mind, exposing the seamy as well as the noble side to his thought processes! The music carries the listener through on this journey with searing guitar work by Eric Clapton and poignant vocals by Waters. My only complaint was that the CD ended and I was not able to see how the rest of the day turned out!

This has some incredible writting and great musicians. Eric Clapton is Eric Clapton. David Sanborn adds some awsome sax. The story line is also very good. I recommend it highly.

GREAT CD Roger Waters should get back with the band Pink Floyd. If not he's damn good by hiself. All material submitted by Waters is worth listening to. He is a very good writer.