RATTLE THAT LOCK

Even with me being a big Pink Floyd fan, I never cared much for David Gilmour's solo material (or any solo albums from the other members for that matter) and this album here isn't changing my opinion. That is mainly because this album isn't really anything different from what we have seen from David. He seems to be comfortable with what he's doing and is not willing to change up his sound and shift it into different directions. We have the typical mellow rock music accompanied by atmospheric instrumentation cantered around Gilmour's bluesy guitar backed with a group of vocalists and Polly Samson's lyrics. As someone who isn't quite fond of this sort of style is particular, this album gets tiresome very quickly for me. I don't feel like I get the emotional impact the album is trying to impose. It doesn't really feel any different than On an Island. Although that one had Richard Wright on it so we had a bit of that Division Bell era Pink Floyd sound which I'm actually fond of in a way. I think On an Island is a mellower and a more laid-back album than this one. Rattle That Lock seems to be a bit darker, but still nothing darker than what we have seen from the Floyd.

Some of the standout moments on this album like the track Faces of Stone, which features one of the best guitar solos on this album. Speaking of guitar solos, this album has let me down with the solos. I mean where are my heart-piercing solos? The solos are there, but they are just not doing it for me. David has loads of better solos than these. Another nice track is the jazzy The Girl in the Yellow Dress which has Robert Wyatt playing the cornet. It felt like a pleasant surprise on the album, and it was a good change of pace. The track also features a certain Bob Klose which was the lead guitarist of the band that would later be Pink Floyd. The closing instrumental is not that bad too, much better than the other two instrumentals that landed on the album.

All in all, this album does not have much that hasn't been heard before. If you liked On an Island, there's a big chance you'd like this album too. If you don't like On an Island, however, don't even bother with this one.

Also, that album art is absolutely horrible. For Reals. We miss you Storm, we really do.