Every post-Waters Pink Floyd album, (along with Gilmour's latest solo album) taps into this supposed idea of what Pink Floyd "should sound like" -- which is evidently "blissful washes of sound, pseudo-poetic, sometimes obscure lyrics, and the guitar solo from 'Comfortably Numb.'
They sound roughly like "Dark Side Of The Moon", which is fine enough for me because I like the way "Dark Side Of The Moon" sounds. "The Final Cut" sounds like the tracks from "The Wall" that I don't like (that is, not "Comfortably Numb", which is by far the best thing on that double)
― Geir Hongro, Thursday, 3 January 2008 22:46 (sixteen years ago) link
I've always loved the Final Cut. But I seem to like it for the same reasons I DON'T like the Pros and Cons of Hitch-hiking. There's a tuneless monotony to both, but for some reason TFC resonates and I remember every song, whereas TPACOH-H I can't recall anything other than the title cut. For the record, I do like Animals, Meddle, Wish You Were Here, Gilmour's first solo album, parts of The Wall, and the Syd-era...but Division Bell is something I can't even contemplate. Though maybe like the Stones' Undercover, I will one day find joy in the perversity.
If this should happen, I will probably also be found raving about the new Chad Kroeger solo album and talking to buildings. Do NOT try and help me at that point. Let me stay at rock bottom and learn my lesson.
― smurfherder, Thursday, 3 January 2008 22:59 (sixteen years ago) link
Is there a pink floyd albums poll?
― Herman G. Neuname, Thursday, 3 January 2008 23:02 (sixteen years ago) link
this isn't really terrible
― omar little, Thursday, 3 January 2008 23:05 (sixteen years ago) link
If you sync up The Division Bell to the Tom Hanks-Meg Ryan movie "You've Got Mail," the many coincidences that arise are amazing.
-- blonry
^^^^^
i haven't listened to pink floyd in years but i remember "high hopes" off this album being decent.
― Jordan, Thursday, 3 January 2008 23:07 (sixteen years ago) link
that song is good, the rest of the album is terrible. the new gilmore album is much better.
― akm, Thursday, 3 January 2008 23:31 (sixteen years ago) link
"High Hopes" stands among Pink Floyd's best, in my opinion-- though it doesn't really sound like much else in their catalog. Or anyone else's for that matter (as far as I know).
― res, Thursday, 10 July 2008 22:51 (fifteen years ago) link
huh
― Surmounter, Thursday, 10 July 2008 22:56 (fifteen years ago) link
Next time you're found with your chin on the ground There's a lot to be learned so look around Just what makes that little ol' ant Think he'll move that rubber tree plant Anyone knows an ant can't Move a rubber tree plant
But he's got high hopes... he's got high hopes He's got high apple pie in the sky hopes So any time you're getting low 'Stead of letting go, Just remember that ant. Oops there goes another rubber tree plant. Oops there goes another rubber tree plant. Oops there goes another rubber tree plant.
When troubles call and your back's to the wall There's a lot to be learned, that wall could fall. Once there was a silly ol' ram, Thought he'd punch a hole in a dam; No one could make that ram scram, He kept buttin' that dam
But he's got high hopes... he's got high hopes He's got high apple pie in the sky hopes So any time you're feeling bad 'Stead of feeling sad Just remember that ram. Oops there goes a billion kilowatt Oops there goes a billion kilowatt Oops there goes a billion kilowatt dam!
So keep your high hopes, keep your high hopes. Keep your high apple pie in the sky hopes. A problem's just a toy balloon They'll be bursting soon They're just bound to go POP! Oops there goes another problem kerplop. Oops there goes another problem kerplop. Oops there goes another problem kerplop. Kerplop!
― thirdalternative, Friday, 11 July 2008 02:08 (fifteen years ago) link
is that the song that the flanders kids sing?
― res, Friday, 11 July 2008 02:16 (fifteen years ago) link
*kerplop*
― haitch, Friday, 11 July 2008 02:36 (fifteen years ago) link
listening to this because of true detective
goddamn this is the most boring record ever made
― sXe & the banshees (upper mississippi sh@kedown), Monday, 17 February 2014 23:20 (ten years ago) link
but publius enigma!!
― joe perry has been dead for years (underrated aerosmith bootlegs I have owned), Monday, 17 February 2014 23:21 (ten years ago) link
"High Hopes" is very good!
― Poliopolice, Monday, 17 February 2014 23:22 (ten years ago) link
maybe even more epic than "Bohemian Rhapsody"!
― Poliopolice, Monday, 17 February 2014 23:23 (ten years ago) link
full disclosure: i am only at Take It Back because this album's running time is THE REST OF MY FUCKING SAD PATHETIC LIFE
― sXe & the banshees (upper mississippi sh@kedown), Monday, 17 February 2014 23:27 (ten years ago) link
coming up on the 20th anniversary of the time me and my friends saw the floyd at the rose bowl during the division bell tour. DSOTM laser show at griffith park was more fun tbh.
― tylerw, Monday, 17 February 2014 23:29 (ten years ago) link
I remember Take It Back sounding dangerously like U2. Maybe I should go back and listen to reconfirm that.
― Poliopolice, Monday, 17 February 2014 23:30 (ten years ago) link
here's some audio from that show! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1p-ewakMup0this might've been the best part iirc.
― tylerw, Monday, 17 February 2014 23:30 (ten years ago) link
ok holy shjt i didn't know about publius enigma
― sXe & the banshees (upper mississippi sh@kedown), Monday, 17 February 2014 23:32 (ten years ago) link
i had forgotten about "keep talking" that was kind of a minor-ish hit
― sXe & the banshees (upper mississippi sh@kedown), Monday, 17 February 2014 23:42 (ten years ago) link
why did this have to come out at the ignorant-ass age (of me) where you don't know any better and you just listen to everything by bands that you like, c'est la vie
― j., Monday, 17 February 2014 23:44 (ten years ago) link
yeah i really think division bell was a turning point for me in that regard. it took a little while, but at some point (probably about halfway through that rose bowl show) i was like wait this sucks!
― tylerw, Monday, 17 February 2014 23:46 (ten years ago) link
[i typed that while totally rocking out to that "comfortably numb" btw]
― tylerw, Monday, 17 February 2014 23:49 (ten years ago) link
yeah i really think division bell was a turning point for me in that regard. it took a little while, but at some point (probably about halfway through that rose bowl show) i was like wait this sucks doesn't rule!― tylerw, Monday, February 17, 2014 5:46 PM (1 minute ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink
― tylerw, Monday, February 17, 2014 5:46 PM (1 minute ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink
Fixed
― ...out of that weakness, out of that envy, out of that fear.. (C. Grisso/McCain), Monday, 17 February 2014 23:50 (ten years ago) link
even when they suck pink floyd rules
― sXe & the banshees (upper mississippi sh@kedown), Monday, 17 February 2014 23:51 (ten years ago) link
oh the show ruled it just also sucked. i mean, i was 15 and probably bought the tickets like six months in advance and tastes change fast at that age, i think. the other shows i remember seeing that spring were the breeders and pavement....
― tylerw, Monday, 17 February 2014 23:55 (ten years ago) link
i saw my teenaged pink floyd show from outside the stadium, sitting on the curb across the street, since the stadium was down in a depression we could even see inside
but the lasers shot out into the sky
also the ticket was free
but division bell was still zzzzzzzzzz
― j., Monday, 17 February 2014 23:59 (ten years ago) link
the thing about that was word of it was spreading mainly via usenet/mailing lists and it was before everybody had broadband so word was traveling largely via descriptions of shows or a few pictures from e.g. the new jersey show iirc? and I hadn't given a fuck about post-Piper Floyd since God knows when but that whole thing felt exciting and weird. I gather that the explanation is kinda mundane (like, a combo of some guy posing and a tech dude backstage who thought it was a joke worth taking a little further) but it felt so neat and mysterious in a way that was only possible for a brief moment in time
― joe perry has been dead for years (underrated aerosmith bootlegs I have owned), Tuesday, 18 February 2014 00:32 (ten years ago) link
was ths referenced in true detective or something played from it?
I hate this album, but High Hopes is really really good, one of the greats. Too bad the whole album wasn't just that song.
― akm, Tuesday, 18 February 2014 08:26 (ten years ago) link
Yea that Kit Williams/Publius shit was the most interesting thing about The Division Bell.
I think one big problem with this era of Floyd are those lazy, middle-aged tempos, every song drags like crazy.
― MaresNest, Tuesday, 18 February 2014 09:21 (ten years ago) link
Hah - I was at that show too!
― Elvis Telecom, Tuesday, 18 February 2014 09:55 (ten years ago) link
http://pbs.twimg.com/media/BgLsAWSCMAEVYZ-.jpg
― Elvis Telecom, Tuesday, 18 February 2014 09:56 (ten years ago) link
I would bet that's woody's shirt in real life
― calstars, Tuesday, 18 February 2014 12:15 (ten years ago) link
Hah - I was at that show too!i think they actually opened with "astronomy domine" which would've been cool if we weren't still in the parking lot...
― tylerw, Tuesday, 18 February 2014 18:25 (ten years ago) link
I was lucky enough to see two shows in London, one with all of DSOTM and the other straighter set with Astronomy, they were great, yeah..
― MaresNest, Tuesday, 18 February 2014 19:13 (ten years ago) link
Yah, "Astronomy Domine" was first. Possibly the best moment of the show as it was just the three of them recreating the UFO club as best they could. As much as I love how Gilmour constructs his guitar bits, he needs to free-form freakout more.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0siszbObCcw
― Elvis Telecom, Wednesday, 19 February 2014 03:02 (ten years ago) link
One great obscure track from this era is "Soundscape" - a 22 minute long ambient piece that was played as the opening of all the Division Bell shows. It later turned up on the PULSE cassette tape.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KwNYq-c0lBw
― Elvis Telecom, Wednesday, 19 February 2014 03:07 (ten years ago) link
my drummer that smokes mad weed but is in great physical shape loves this album
― charleston charge (chaki), Saturday, 16 April 2005 01:04 (8 years ago) Permalink
^^haunts my thoughts
also I was wrong, maybe it is terrible. I thought a defense could be mounted, like it sounds like a surprisingly decent album by a generic '80s band that you'd be happy to find in a $1 vinyl bin. but as a mid-1990s Floyd record yeah it's just a bit of a slog to put it mildly.
― christmas candy bar (al leong), Tuesday, 18 March 2014 13:58 (ten years ago) link
i'm trying to understand what insights I am supposed to derive from this comment.
― Poliopolice, Tuesday, 18 March 2014 14:23 (ten years ago) link
I haven't really bothered with post-Animals Pink Floyd albums (I think this is largely justified), but something about the the Division Bell, really catches my interest... probably the mysterious album art has something to do with it. I've only heard two songs off the album. The last track, "High Hopes," is very haunting, and I like it quite a bit. How's the rest of the album?― Vestigial Appendages, Esq. (King Kobra), Thursday, April 14, 2005 5:40 PM (8 years ago) Bookmark Flag Post PermalinkPink Fraud.― shookout (shookout), Thursday, April 14, 2005 5:45 PM (8 years ago) Bookmark Flag Post PermalinkStink Floyd.― Gear! (can Jung shill it, Mu?) (Gear!), Thursday, April 14, 2005 5:46 PM (8 years ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink
Pink Fraud.― shookout (shookout), Thursday, April 14, 2005 5:45 PM (8 years ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink
Stink Floyd.― Gear! (can Jung shill it, Mu?) (Gear!), Thursday, April 14, 2005 5:46 PM (8 years ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink
so much ownage
― (or if you must, "data") (underrated aerosmith bootlegs I have owned), Tuesday, 18 March 2014 14:41 (ten years ago) link
http://data.motor-talk.de/data/galleries/299768/20535/bild-37910.JPGI drove a 2nd hand VW Gold Pink Floyd for a couple of years (a red one). It did survive my first accident, but the second crash totalled the car...
― Tim Heckler (willem), Tuesday, 18 March 2014 15:54 (ten years ago) link
The soundscape referenced upthread was cool as hell in the live setting--it probably was the best and perhaps only good use of a giant arena- 360 degree sound at a moment when people were still filing in and no one was really paying close attention, so you could really hear it clearly. I remember the show being pretty damn cool overall, having come around at probably my Peak Floyd period.
― lauded at conferences of deluded psychopaths (Sparkle Motion), Tuesday, 18 March 2014 16:08 (ten years ago) link
I love The Final Cut.overall I prefer A Momentary Lapse to Division Bell, but from the latter I really dig three songs: Cluster One, Poles Apart, and High Hopes. also, I like Rick Wright's track.I thought Take It Back sounded more like Simple Minds circa Street Fighting Years (another album I love) than U2.
― Max Florian, Tuesday, 18 March 2014 17:48 (ten years ago) link
http://www.divisionbell20.com/
― goth colouring book (anagram), Wednesday, 21 May 2014 09:22 (nine years ago) link
Publius Enigma
― Neanderthal, Thursday, 23 June 2016 03:14 (seven years ago) link
still have never come around on this record
― akm, Thursday, 23 June 2016 03:46 (seven years ago) link
just gave it another listen though and enjoyed it for what it is.
― akm, Thursday, 23 June 2016 04:59 (seven years ago) link
Can't remember who said it, but one of the funniest things I've ever heard was that review/tweet/whatever that said of that stupid James Franco Wizard of Oz prequel, "This movie sucks so bad it probably syncs up with The Division Bell."
― rhymes with "blondie blast" (cryptosicko), Thursday, 23 June 2016 05:37 (seven years ago) link
Piper one can only say -- what an unparalleled collection of tunes, very hard to overrate
hard agree there
― The 25 Best Songs Ever Ranked In Order (Deflatormouse), Friday, 24 December 2021 05:42 (two years ago) link
PUBLIUS
― hopefully this review helped someone (Neanderthal), Friday, 24 December 2021 05:48 (two years ago) link
With Syd's songs, where the music is set to borrowed words instead of his own lyrics, like 'Chapter 24' or 'Golden Hair', the songwriting doesn't have that same sprightly feel.
― The 25 Best Songs Ever Ranked In Order (Deflatormouse), Friday, 24 December 2021 05:59 (two years ago) link
I think for some, you might be able to dig this one more if you forget about the pedigree of the brand name and just think of it as a Gilmour record. Really even including the Wall - I kinda think Floyd as a working band ended sometime after the tour for Animals.
I do think they got a bit more of the Floyd feel on this one compared to any of the other post Animals records, probably helping that they pretty much jammed it out together as a trio.
"Wearing the Inside Out" I think has a twinkle of ye' old 60s twee in that 90s production myself.
― earlnash, Friday, 24 December 2021 13:17 (two years ago) link
I have to revisit the Syd era, I think. I haven’t listened to Saucerful since I was a teenager. It was when I was a teenager too that I realized that the songs on The Wall I liked (loved, even) were the two Gilmour singles.
Meddle is my favourite album by these guys and Echoes my favourite song— “San Tropez” is a rare instant of their novelty songs working for me
It’s interesting that Deflatormouse feels this band had a template… I can’t think of any other band that I view more as “five different bands” depending on what era and what songwriter was at work. Gilmour records are to me like Peter Gabriel records. I need to check out the most recent one too I think
― flamboyant goon tie included, Friday, 24 December 2021 14:26 (two years ago) link
Right, the only way the view of "five different Floyds" makes sense to me is through a lens of songwriting, which is possibly the wrong approach (at least in my view).
Maybe the 2nd album is the template, rather than the first. For one thing, Saucerful is the first time there's some underlying question of 'how are we going to fill a whole album?' at the core of a Pink Floyd LP, and that continues through everything up to Atom Heart Mother at the very least, probably later- Wish You Were Here for example still has a sense of that. Songwriting doesn't seem to have come easily or naturally to any of them except Barrett and *maybe* Wright (to whom it doesn't seem to have come frequently).
I agree with everything earlnash says pretty much, and again i think it's largely the lyrics by Polly Samson that give it the feel of a Gilmour album to the extent that it feels like a Gilmour album.
― The 25 Best Songs Ever Ranked In Order (Deflatormouse), Friday, 24 December 2021 21:34 (two years ago) link