The Final Cut [2011 - Original Recording Remastered]

Originally planned as a kind of soundtrack from The Wall, The Final Cut was to have featured versions of tracks recorded for the film and rejected material from the album sessions. Instead, it effectively turned into the first Roger Waters solo project and is sub-titled "A Requiem For The Post-War Dream, by Roger Waters, performed by Pink Floyd". In fact, David Gilmore and Nick Mason only made small contributions to the album, and it is reputed that Gilmore and Waters, for some time not the best of friends, never spent time simultaneously in the studio. Keyboardist Rick Wright had already been dismissed by Waters shortly after the recording of The Wall and much of the album was put together using session musicians and under Waters's sole direction. As a concept album, it is in fact much more coherent than The Wall, focusing its rage and bitterness upon the destruction of the post-war consensus on peace, the welfare state and international co-operation by short-sighted and self-serving world leaders. Additionally, it explores the havoc wrought upon individuals by war and how scarring experiences, if unacknowledged through pride and fear, can cut a person off from the rest of humanity. The Final Cut is an altogether underrated release. Although necessarily gloomy, it is extremely powerful, has good songs, biting lyrics and excellent production, with trademark sound effects used very effectively. On "Not Now John" in particular, it appears as if every one of the 64 recording tracks was being used for a different sound. However, like any album that deals with political events, certain references now sound somewhat dated. --James Swift

1. The Post War Dream
2. Your Possible Pasts
3. One of the Few
4. When the Tigers Broke Free
5. The Hero's Return
6. The Gunners Dream
7. Paranoid Eyes
8. Get Your Filthy Hands Off My Desert
9. The Fletcher Memorial Home
10. Southampton Dock
11. The Final Cut
12. Not Now John
13. Two Suns in the Sunset