A MOMENTARY LAPSE OF REASON

In 1985, Roger Waters claimed that Pink Floyd was "a spent force." While that may still hold true for most die hard fans, the remaining members of Pink Floyd proved they could still craft highly enjoyable music, even if inconsistently and not as complex. For all intents and purposes, this album may as well have been a David Gilmour solo album, though. Rick Wright was only a paid session musician, and Nick Mason was replaced on at least two of the tracks by a drum machine, and on many other tracks, credited only with "percussion," with someone else handling the "drums." Quite a bit of the music is a place to showcase Gilmour's talent as a guitarist, and sadly, at times this can get old.

"Signs of Life" As will be the case with both David Gilmour-led Pink Floyd releases, A Momentary Lapse of Reason opens with an atmospheric instrumental, this one full of synthesizer and subtle guitar passages.

"Learning to Fly" Perhaps the most well-known song from the album (nay, post-1970s Pink Floyd) , "Learning to Fly" is great blend of progressive rock and straightforward pop. The middle section features Nick Mason speaking, as though on a radio. The lyrics are not only about literal flight, but apparently reflect Gilmour's realization that he was stepping into his former band mate's shoes as front man of such a legendary and respected band.

"The Dogs of War" The problem with this song is that it tries too hard to be menacing. The splashes of keyboard, the marching strings, the growling vocals- it all sounds a trifle too ridiculous to be effective.

"One Slip" In spite of the prolonged introduction and the 1980s pop sounding music, this is a great song and one of the best on the album. The lyrics describe a spontaneous romantic rendezvous that results in a pregnancy, ultimately referencing how one seemingly frivolous act can have monumental consequences. After the guitar suddenly fades in, the vocals begin immediately. The music is catchy and upbeat (this is the fastest song on the album).

"On the Turning Away" Like "Learning to Fly," this beautiful anthem gained a respectable amount of radio airtime. The verses progress from a capella to an all-out choir, followed by a typical David Gilmour guitar solo, this one a bit reminiscent of the second one on "Comfortably Numb."

"Yet Another Movie" This is a long, atmospheric track with a 1980's pop-rock sound and not much going for it. The vocals are bland, and the music doesn't really move anywhere. It's more of the same for nearly seven-and-a-half minutes.

"A New Machine (Part One)" Not so much a song, as an introduction to the next track, this track has David Gilmour's distorted voice singing through a Vocoder.

"Terminal Frost" Beautifully bleak, this happens to be one of my favorite instrumentals. The piano and the saxophone can impart chills. For me, this song conjures up precisely what the title describes- something cold and deadly. Nick Mason doesn't actually play on this one- what you hear is a drum machine.

"A New Machine (Part Two)" This is essentially a reprise of part one.

"Sorrow" "Sorrow" begins with a heavily distorted, loud guitar, which was recorded in an arena through a sound system. For some of the lyrics, Gilmour borrows lines from John Steinbeck's The Grapes of Wrath. There are pleasant vocal harmonies and a smooth atmospheric part in the middle. Again, there are no real drums on the track, just a drum machine, and this gives the song a really stunted feel. Nearly the last three minutes consist of additional guitar soloing.