DARK SIDE OF THE MOON REDUX

I'll admit I was skeptical when I first heard about this but after the drastic revision of Comfortably Numb also very curious. When Money dropped I knew there was going to be poetry in it rather than guitar/sax solos (could be painful?). Either way, not being a great judge of serious poetry, I liked it a lot- it was evocative and the spare arrangement was great- a bit like the Last Refugee on my favour RW solo album. I've now been playing it and wanting to play it a lot in the last few days...I work remotely and I enjoy its atmos during the long tedious day in front a screen. It has some really interesting and poignant elements and strikes me as being very considered, deliberate and clear of purpose. That purpose ultimately takes it in a different direction to the original (although I feel like the last 2 tracks follow the spirit of the original a little more closely). Many fans/ casual listeners don't seem to like it and maybe would hate anything produced under a TDSOTM redux title. The original album is timeless and in tact though. Maybe Waters' motivation was to stake a claim that it was his all along (it wasn't of course) but what elevated it along with soaring solos, synths, vocals and chord progressions was his input and what he has done here is really interesting, both lyrically and sonically. The Great Gig in the Sky has particularly left an impression with me. I wondered if this album would be a bit of a novelty spin but I can safely say I will definitely keep returning to it. Great art often challenges and goes against the norm of the times, great art shouldn't be about the artist. I really wonder how great this album would have been without him? I don't think there would be an album without him. Equally, Pink Floyd the group were unbeatable for a few years in the 70s and it's such a thrill to be reintroduced to something I'd heard a million times and be taken on a new journey with it, with fresh ears, like I encountered the first time I heard the original. Thanks Roger.

I’m 58, so the original DSOTM was released when I turned 8! It’s been my favourite album ever since. I’m a big fan of Roger, followed his solo career ardently since the acrimonious split in ‘85. Always thought Floyd needed a Roger to guide them in the right direction, all excellent musicians with a common goal to succeed. Roger came up with the themes of Dark Side and wrote all the lyrics himself so why is it such a big deal that he readdresses his thoughts as a 29 year old with the wizened experienced mind from the intervening 50 years?We’re not being asked to compare the two, it’s not meant to be a replacement, just a reimagined version for today’s older ears! I can still listen to the original in all it’s glory and bask in the effortless beauty of the Floyd in their prime and still love it!Roger has stripped and slowed the original down and recorded it with an 80 year old’s perspective and added extra spoken parts to the instrumentals to get the point of the whole piece across to the listener. Yes he’s omitted the guitar solos but has added strings, Hammond organ and softly sung backing vocals to accompany his raspy Leonard Cohen style of delivery along with Joey Waronker’s drums and percussion.Ex member of The Black Keys Gus Seyffert plays a large role with the finished product playing bass, guitar, keyboards, synth, percussion and backing vocals and produced the album as well, so pretty much his baby!I can’t understand the outpouring of grief and anger that he has the effrontery to revisit a past work of his and readdress the themes prevalent at the time to bring it bang up to date 50 years later. Why not? Most of the naysayers are probably livid with his stance on various political issues and see it as a chance to have a dig at him! He doesn’t care, save your breath! The fact that Nick Mason has called it brilliant is good enough for me.I personally love what he’s done with it and found it quite emotional in places, where you can taste the bitterness of old age and feel the dying light of youthful exuberance from a life fully lived. I will enjoy both versions for the rest of my life! Cheers Rog! 👍😀

Bought for my dad as a bday gift as he loves Roger, he said the album was weird, it's different to his usual stuff. But it arrived on time and it was worth the money so no complaints.

They say that the line between genius and madness is a fine one...I don't know or really care much which side of the line Waters is on. The man has not only been entertaining me but has often made me take a good look at myself and the world around me for over 40 years now.I am writing this review after the first listen of this album and I can only say that if you enjoy Roger's unique style of music and thought provoking lyrics then you will enjoy this, although it is unlike anything I have heard from him on album it is more akin to what you would hear from him on YT during the lockdown and onwards.Do not expect this album to be like the original DSOTM but musically and lyrically there are some beautiful moments in this...definitely not Floyd but definitely Waters.