THE ENDLESS RIVER

What is wrong with albums made of leftover tracks? If I remember correctly, Sir David asked Roger Waters about The Final Cut "If they weren't good enough for The Wall, why should they be good now?" But The Final Cut ended to be one of my favorite PF albums, and surely the best Waters solo work up to now.

The Endless River is not that different: a number of tracks and session recordings which didn't find room on The Division Bell. Is it wrong?

First of all, let's say that should they have made The Division Bell a double CD, adding so many instrumentals it would have been a masterpiece and no PF fan would have had budget issue in spending for a double CD instead of a single one.

Secondly, this is the last possibility to listen to Rick Wright's previously unreleased stuff. It's really a pity that he has written so few music to fill only 2 albums and a collaboration out of PF (plus the appearance on the Chimera's lost album).

So, if you don't think it's pure Pink FLoyd, let's look at this album as a complement to the Division Bell, a sort of Bonus disc.

In my opinion, even if this is clearly second hand material, please consider that when the hands are those of David Gilmour, first or second makes no difference. I don't see it as just a commercial release, done just to fundraise the two survivor's pensions. It looks more like a tribute to Rick, to make him live again through the material left behind.

Musically speaking it's good enough. There are obvious reminders to some famous goodies, but I hear the same on the last Waters solo. The only thing that I would have changed is "Louder Than Words". This was designed to be the very last Pink Floyd song, and even if it's a nice song I would have expected a true masterpiece as swansong. High Hopes was the right one for this role. Personally I don't consider the Ukrainian (good) song as a true Pink Floyd one.

I know that I haven't said more about the music inside. I assume that PF addicted already know everything about it and non PF fans may have a little interest in it. Anyway even if not essential, it still witnesses the last phase of Pink Floyd (and Rick Wright) and is good enough if you have some spare money. I