The Final Cut [Remaster] - Pink Floyd (CD 2004)

This can either be considered the last album Roger Waters made with Pink Floyd, or the first album of his solo career. The albums name is prophetic, since this album ended up cutting Roger Water s ties with Pink Floyd. My understanding is that the title of the album is an
indication that these tracks were cut from The Wall. (I am not 100% on this, but I did read it at a Roger Waters web site at one time.) Also remember that in the early 1990's when the remaining members of Pink Floyd put out a greatest hits album, they left out The Final Cut. This
was Water s album, as is evidenced by his command over almost the entire album. The remaining members of Pink Floyd are really playing back up here.

Anyhow, this album is in some ways a typical Floyd album, and other ways a stark contrast to anything else Floyd ever put out. Simply put, the music is not as accessible as The Wall, Animals, Dark Side of the Moon, or Wish You Were Here. However, what remains in is a deep cynical look into the despair of War and Water s mind. I know that there is a great deal of cynicism in a lot of Floyd s earlier work, but the dark messages are often blended to mix with a pleasant psychedelic beat. The listener often does not realize the hidden message behind some
of the albums and songs, because of the music s ability to overshadow the lyrics. (I know this is an over simplification of all of Pink Floyd s work.) In the Final Cut, Waters sings straight down into the listener s eyes. There is no mask hiding Water s obvious pain and disgust.

The album mixes memories of World War II, contradictory feelings of hope and despair, and Water s view of living in a modern capitalist society. The music on the album changes from soft and melodic, to crazed screaming often and usually on a dime. Amazingly, in a way few musicians are capable of, it all blends brilliantly. In typical Floyd/Water s fashion the album is really more like one long track, than several separate songs. There is the ever-present background music/noise that can add layers upon layers of meaning to the album. From cars racing, too bombs exploding, too soft barely audible screams, everything adds a different perspective each listen.

Additionally, the album is very political. The track, the fletcher memorial, tells of Waters fantasy of taking all of the overgrown leaders (the memories of Nixon and Margaret Thatcher are a few of the mentioned tyrants ) of the world, and building them a home, a little home of their own where they can all appear to each other over closed circuit TV. This dream seems to be in part so that the world can be shielded from people who have little remorse for the destruction of life. It is also interesting to remember that the name of the track, the fletcher memorial, is significant, since Water s father was named Fletcher and died fighting in World War I.

It is impossible to write a review of this album, without commenting on its shrewd,cunning, brilliant lyrics. The lyrics to the track, the hero s return, show the hidden pain of war that is even felt by the winners. The hero is speaking to his sleeping wife/girlfriend and is remembering the bombing of Dresden. The hero states Sweetheart, sweetheart are you fast asleep, good/ cos that s the only time that I can really talk to you/and there is something that I ve locked away/ a memory that is too painful to withstand that light of day. For those of you who
are unaware of the reference to Dresden, Waters is referring to the German town that was fire bombed during World War II. The city was at one time a beautiful artistic town, but was completely demolished during the fire bombing. Even though the hero won the war, he can t seem to get over the horror of what he witnessed.

In another passage Water sings of the coming capitalistic free for all society. On the track, not know John an unnamed Character does not have enough time in his day to be interrupted by his friend John for any real/significant/meaningful conversation. (this maybe a reference to John Lennon?). The character frantically states, not nah John/we ve got to get on with the film show/ Hollywood waits at the end of the rainbow/ who cares what it s about/ as long as the kids go/ not know John/ got to get on with the show. The crazy, fast pace of today s world seems to bother Waters, because it appears we lose track of what we are doing.

The frantic pace of this song is maintained until the last track on the album, two suns in the sunset slows the whole thing down and brings the album to a close. I don t know if the album ends with a positive hope, or just a feeling of exhaustion. The last verse of two suns in
the sunset ends by saying, and as the windshield melts/ my tears evaporate/ leaving only charcoal to defend/ finally I understand/ the feelings of the few/ ashes and diamonds/ foe and friend/ we were all equal in the end. Listen and try to figure it out for yourself.

My overall feeling of this album is that it is enchanting, deep, and daring. The album s lyrics and music are blended perfectly allowing equal weight in taking the listener into Water s mind. The more the listener understands about WWII and other political events, the more the
listener will be able to understand the story line. Not everyone is going to like this album, but I am convinced that if anyone plays this piece of music enough they will see its unmistakable passion and vision.