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Joined: September 20 2010
Location: Serbia
Status: Offline
Points: 10213
Posted: July 27 2015 at 01:27
dr wu23 wrote:
The Dark Elf wrote:
SteveG wrote:
Gilmour's second solo album is awesome at times. I love the song Murder. What's your opinion of About Face?
"Murder" is the best post-Wall song of Floyd or any member of Floyd. I appreciate Gilmour not sticking with a formulaic regurgitation of the Floyd shtick, and presenting himself as an individual performer, which I think he did admirably on this album.
Joined: June 14 2007
Location: Sea of Peas
Status: Offline
Points: 51247
Posted: July 27 2015 at 07:35
I used to dismiss About Face many years ago. It had some good stuff, but I felt that some of the more radio-friendly brought the album down.
Nowadays I have found that this album has grown on me and I think my earlier dismissal was shortsighted. I actually like it better than his debut. And further, to put it into the context of what else was released at that time, the album is really one of very few shining lights amidst a sea of mediocrity.
---------- i'm shopping for a new oil-cured sinus bag that's a happy bag of lettuce this car smells like cartilage nothing beats a good video about fractions
I used to dismiss About Face many years ago. It had some good stuff, but I felt that some of the more radio-friendly brought the album down.
Nowadays I have found that this album has grown on me and I think my earlier dismissal was shortsighted. I actually like it better than his debut. And further, to put it into the context of what else was released at that time, the album is really one of very few shining lights amidst a sea of mediocrity.
I fully agree with this. 1984 was one of the poorest years.
1984 isn't exactly my favourite year when it comes to prog releases, but there were some absolute gems released that year (albums I'd pop on the ol stereo long before About Face).
Jean-Paul Prat - Masal
Marillion - Fugazi
Univers Zero - Uzed
Solaris - Marsbéli Krónikák
Los Jaivas - Obras de Violeta Parra
Cardiacs - The Seaside
News From Babel - Work Resumed On The Tower
Etron Fou Lebloulan - Les Sillons de la Terre
Yog Sothoth - s/t
Uppsala - s/t
“The Guide says there is an art to flying or rather a knack. The knack lies in learning how to throw yourself at the ground and miss.”
Joined: April 29 2004
Location: Heart of Europe
Status: Offline
Points: 20273
Posted: July 27 2015 at 08:50
someone_else wrote:
progaardvark wrote:
I used to dismiss About Face many years ago. It had some good stuff, but I felt that some of the more radio-friendly brought the album down.
Nowadays I have found that this album has grown on me and I think my earlier dismissal was shortsighted. I actually like it better than his debut. And further, to put it into the context of what else was released at that time, the album is really one of very few shining lights amidst a sea of mediocrity.
I fully agree with this. 1984 was one of the poorest years.
Actually things got worse from 86 to 89 (and the 80's sounds as well)...
early in the decade, there were still some bands that resisted "going 80's" for a while
unfortunately Gilmour didn't (but Waters did IMHO, despite a weaker KAOS)... Not only for About Face, but especially for AMLOR. >> AMLOR is (sadly) the next Gilmour solo album!!
Guldbamsen wrote:
Sean Trane wrote:
Chris S wrote:
Sean Trane wrote:
SteveG wrote:
Gilmour's second solo album is awesome at times. I love the song Murder. What's your opinion of About Face?
Gilmour ran out of ideas with his first solo album, an the leftovers were used in The Wall)
AF is about the worst Floyd-alumni album ever recorded, riddled with awful 80's productions and idiotic Collins/EW&F brass)
Saw Gilmour on that tour (with Ralphs on guitar), but the concert was very average.
Come on Hughes...idiotic EW&F brass/Collins.....that stuff was brillianthas that 80's feel for sure.
Joined: February 01 2011
Location: Michigan
Status: Offline
Points: 13090
Posted: July 27 2015 at 10:12
The thing about bands playing in the 80s, nearly everyone sounded like they were playing in the 80s, even the most important prog folk: Peter Gabriel (So, anyone?), Yes (Owner of a Wicked Fart), King Crimson (Discipline, their ode to Talking Heads), Marillion, Genesis, Tull, etc. Whether you appreciate 1980s sound/studio values is another question, but the conventional wisdom then was no one was going to sell an album in the 80s reduplicating exact 1960s psych or 1970s prog.
We look back in hindsight and denigrate the artists but I recall the pressure back then was immense to compete with the musical crap being spawned at the time. I am sure today we would have appreciated Ian Anderson having the balls to make another 45 minute-long album-stretching song in 1984 or Yes making a double album consisting of four 18 to 20 minute-long songs in 1987, but it would have been suicidal from a Billboard standpoint. The chance to gamble on such albums was a peculiar and wonderful aspect of the early 70s.
As I mentioned previously, Gilmour's About Face was an obvious and intended shift away from Pink Floyd (and I think Gilmour's collaboration with Pete Townshend, Love on the Air, was brilliant), whereas albums like A Momentary Lapse of Reason was a Pink Floyd knock-off and Roger Waters 80s releases following up the dreary Final Cut with more dreariness. I appreciate Gilmour's attempt.
Edited by The Dark Elf - July 27 2015 at 10:13
...a vigorous circular motion hitherto unknown to the people of this area, but destined to take the place of the mud shark in your mythology...
Joined: June 09 2004
Location: Front Range
Status: Offline
Points: 7028
Posted: July 27 2015 at 23:30
^^ I am not sure artists deliberately tried to steer away from prog. I think the 80's was just more ' dateable' than other decades because of some cheesy synths and drum machines. Radio Kaos does have a slither of 80's 'date' to it but overall manages superbly as an album with great production as always by Roger Waters.
If you look at About Face and even SO by Peter Gabriel it was a fashion trend running through the music at the time. Just look at the artist pics on the album covers or even Kate Bush and PG singing the now cringeworthy " Don't Give Up'. We all wore the 80's man in one form or another we just didnt realize it at the time...LOL
Again some of the best music from the 80's does not date. Talk Talk Spirit Of Eden, or Talking Heads - Remain In Light or even The Final Cut....incredible.
<font color=Brown>Music - The Sound Librarian
...As I venture through the slipstream, between the viaducts in your dreams...[/COLOR]
Joined: September 03 2005
Location: Olympus Mons
Status: Offline
Points: 15926
Posted: August 11 2015 at 06:52
I actually thought this : regarding the 80's sound - if I can recall accurately, when I was in High School and started digging Prog (and music in general) I always thought the production of songs by Yes, Gabriel, Genesis, Floyd, even Chicago etc. were state-of-the-art and sounded pristine and fresh. Sure, these sounds are stuck in the 80's, they haven't aged well at all, so we do tend to cringe a bit these days, but it doesn't mean such things as About Face are bad. About Face was about Gilmour, and he did fairly well, all things considered.
Joined: October 12 2011
Location: Melb, Australia
Status: Offline
Points: 7951
Posted: August 11 2015 at 07:47
Tom Ozric wrote:
I actually thought this : regarding the 80's sound - if I can recall accurately, when I was in High School and started digging Prog (and music in general) I always thought the production of songs by Yes, Gabriel, Genesis, Floyd, even Chicago etc. were state-of-the-art and sounded pristine and fresh. Sure, these sounds are stuck in the 80's, they haven't aged well at all, so we do tend to cringe a bit these days, but it doesn't mean such things as About Face are bad. About Face was about Gilmour, and he did fairly well, all things considered.
Tom, remember when we came across this vinyl (dirty, filthy, dusty, smelly, grotty vinyl) at that Hippy Haven place in Belgrave?! How much did the guy want for it, wasn't it something like $50?! Pretty sure he must have been...dammit, where's the emoticon gone for the guy smoking the big fat spliff?!
Edited by Aussie-Byrd-Brother - August 11 2015 at 07:47
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About Face: David Gilmour
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Sean Trane wrote:
has that 80's feel for sure.
>> AMLOR is (sadly) the next Gilmour solo album!! 
exactly what I meant!!! 
