FLICKERING FLAME - THE SOLO YEARS 1

The legend in highlighted red typing at the top of the front cover reads as followed: "A collectors limited edition including two rare demo recordings". Why do we people distrust such warnings? To make reviews like this. That's why. If there ever was going to be a Roger WATERS prominent career compilation album, sure, I would've inserted the same songs from previous releases in that specific order as well, but... what's the deal with the mysterious "two rare demos recordings"? Of course they're rare... in an oddly, inexplicable way, but rare. Sure, Roger included all the hits, all the punchy themes and the live recordings as well, but was it really necessary to surprise the fans with the "rare demos"? I think not. I know I'm acting paranoid, but I just can't jump off my amazement the same day I eagerly purchased this album, just because it had "the two rare recordings", expecting nothing but a fine, polished work. Well, that ain't happening today.

There's pretty much nothing to say about the rest of the songs because we are all familiar with them, "Flickering Flame" and "Lost Boys Calling". well, those two need a concise explanation. The song named after the album or all the way around, however you wanna put it, was religiously Xeroxed from the pure style of "The Pros and Cons of Hitchhiking", very sloppy and with way too much country music dashed in it (so was "Towers of Faith", but with cool female backing vocals and the characteristic religious message from Roger). "Lost Boys Calling", well, I assume it was intended to be a ballad, but it turned out to be a slumbering, mellow song. A severe contrast of Roger WATERS, buy it only if it's imperative for you to snap out of your dream of high hopes set upon this album and to complete the collection... like I did. Do not expect your curiosity to be rewarded, because that ain't gonna happen either. By the way, that legend I was telling you about at the beginning of the review also reads "The Solo Years Volume I". call me naive, but, does that mean there's gonna be a Volume II? Right.