Pink Floyd - The Final Cut [Remastered] (CD 2004)

A lot of people brush this aside as a Waters solo album or show little interest due to Gilmour not taking an active role in the vocals. I think they are wrong to as the album is extremely emotional and I believe Waters gives his best vocal performances on a Floyd record. The recent inclusion of 'The Wall's' film track 'When the Tigers broke free' to the album for me makes this a classic Floyd album now, but aren't they all? The Album has a bit of a meddle feel to it in a way that it seems to build to the song 'the final cut' a truly wonderful track that really shows the differing styles of Waters vocal. On most albums in general I'm lucky to like 50% of songs on them but on this one I think there is only the upbeat 'Not now John' I can't abide. The album has several short Gilmour solo's on it too which are very emotional at times, and I'm all for Floyd using session players and classical instrumentation in which they do in abundance on the album. Some say the album has a demo feel but I honestly believe it sounds quite polished with a lot of compulsary Floyd sound effects and smart little touches.
A very interesting listen that may take 4-5 listens to appreciate.

Bought this on vinyl years ago. Its still just as fantastic now as it was when I first heard it. It tells the story of war, Thatcher and futility bound together with eloquence and musical genius it flows from beginning to end. Volume needs to be as loud as you can get away with to get the full benefit of the effects. A must for Floyd and non Floyd fans alike.

Always intended to be the final Pink Floyd album as far as Roger was concerned, although Dave had other ideas of his own. 'The Final Cut' is 'as good as' a Roger Waters solo album, although it does have the texture and feel of classic Pink Floyd, especially if you happen to be a fan of 'The Wall'. Roger writes an album in memory of his father, so the bleakness continues. There isn't the same level of musical delights here as 'The Wall', though. The lyrics are things to behold, desperately bleak, but things to behold all the same. 'The Final Cut' is a difficult album to enjoy, and its unremittingly slow pace may put off all but the most dedicated Roger Waters fans, but actually it's not bad. 'Your Possible Pasts' flowing from the atmospheric brief opener is good Pink Floyd music. A good Gilmour solo too, by the way. 'One Of The Few' is all atmosphere and aids the albums flow, 'The Hero's Return' is good, 'The Gunners Dream' impossibly sad sounding, but strangely beautiful if you give it a chance. Many listeners will have switched off before 'The Gunners Dream' even arrives, dismayed at the complete lack of 'funk', and if they make it as far as 'The Gunners Dream' then the brass parts might put them off, and be done. Damn Roger Waters to hell, they say! 'The Final Cut' sucks arse, only it doesn't. True 'Paranoid Eyes' is terribly slow and dreary, as is 'Get Your Filthy Hands Off My Desert', but 'Fletcher Memorial Home' is great, very heartfelt, quite beautiful.

Overall not one of the great pink floyd releases, but not the worst by far.

C

For me Roger Waters was 75% of Pink floyd, so for me this was the last true Pink Floyd LP.
I certainly never bought any of the following rubbish.
Lawyers do what they do and the rest of them continued as Pink Floyd, churning it out.
If you want a proper follow up to this try The Pros and Cons of Hitchhiking. By Roger 5*. Radio Chaos - not quire so good. Pros and Cons still gets regular play by me.

Still - they are all loaded so the answer to 'which one's Pink?' does not really matter.