Popdose - Latest Comments in When Good Albums Happen to Bad People: Roger Waters, “Amused to Death”

Re: When Good Albums Happen to Bad People: Roger Waters, “Amused to Death”

Antonio Uchoa — Sat, 17 Oct 2015 09:04:56 -0000

So the morality of WWII winner's point is that it was fought against Hitler...Well, i"m latin-american, and let me state that read stuff like this is pretty disgusting. Have you read any serious and impartial biography of (in this way of seeing things) Churchill, presumably the "opposite" of Adolf Hitler? If you have, can you show me the real moral difference between them? Isn't the way Churchill deals with miners in his own country, and the people of british colonies all over the world pretty the same way that Adolf deals with jews, and the people of the countries Germany occupied during the war?
Wars are not moral on the account of who lead them, or whom against they are fought. They're all immoral because they start on the same principle, when I assume that, on the basis of brutal force, I'll surely beat you, which is all I need to impose my will over yours.

Re: When Good Albums Happen to Bad People: Roger Waters, “Amused to Death”

Kirke DeFoe — Thu, 30 Jul 2015 02:08:22 -0000

International
collaboration of YouTubers in 3 differnt countries who never met to
record this to help raise money for MSF/Doctors Without Borders.
https://youtu.be/dS3K0DWuLeU

Re: When Good Albums Happen to Bad People: Roger Waters, “Amused to Death”

CarbonaNotGlue — Mon, 12 Jan 2015 01:36:23 -0000

You mean the old rockabilly guitar player!?

Re: When Good Albums Happen to Bad People: Roger Waters, “Amused to Death”

bawoman — Sun, 03 Nov 2013 18:51:48 -0000

Um, it was Rick that asked if he could stay on to tour The Wall as a paid musician, and Roger agreed.And while its questionable if Gilmour and Mason were 100% behind the firing, they both have gone on record saying that Wright really was not contributing a thing to the band at that time, and were not happy at all with him.

And really.Roger may have been a bit smug, and controlling, but saying that makes him a bad person reeks of bullshit (and,dare I say it, some weird, misplaced resentment)

Re: When Good Albums Happen to Bad People: Roger Waters, “Amused to Death”

brew_it — Tue, 26 Mar 2013 01:41:55 -0000

I've noticed that Waters over the last 6 years has been going out of his way to be "liked". Like doing benefit concerts for war veterans. Maybe hes coming to the conclusion that he was an egomanical asshole. Hes 69 now. I enjoyed Amused to Death. I wish him peace.

Re: When Good Albums Happen to Bad People: Roger Waters, “Amused to Death”

Paul Beaulieu — Sat, 15 Sep 2012 08:48:02 -0000

In fact, listen to Plastic Ono Band and then imagine the criticism that could be made: "Lennon seemed to think he was the only person in history whose father left him when he was young and whose mother died in an accident, etc etc etc". B

Re: When Good Albums Happen to Bad People: Roger Waters, “Amused to Death”

Paul Beaulieu — Sat, 15 Sep 2012 08:45:07 -0000

If anything, Jeff Beck's presence on the album (and Eric Clapton's on an earlier Waters album) shows that Waters was well aware of the importance of a good lead guitarist. But then, Waters never deprecated Gilmour's musicianship. They just couldn't get along anymore. Also, reading this article, one could be forgiven for thinking that Waters is the only songwriter in rock history whose preoccupation with personal issues helped destroy the group he was in. What about John Lennon, for example?

Re: When Good Albums Happen to Bad People: Roger Waters, “Amused to Death”

Hbotis — Sun, 15 Aug 2010 22:52:12 -0000

thanks for your reading & background. Waters seems very much an artist with a huge ego that went of fashion many years ago. It doesn't matter how good he is if he's that pretentious and doesn't know how to shut up. Wouldn't he be one of the least admired music "greats" today? I think so.

Re: When Good Albums Happen to Bad People: Roger Waters, “Amused to Death”

dougyfresh71 — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 02:09:27 -0000

Here, here! Athough I find myself really diggin Waters' music, his actions make me puke!! He essentially professes himself to be the genius of the Pink Floyd. Althohgh, without the other band members, he's nothing short of a decent lyricist. I DO like his writing, but only when performed by "The Pink Floyd." Were it not for Wright, Mason, Waters and Gilmour, the Pink Floyd wouldn't have ever been was it has become!!!!

Re: When Good Albums Happen to Bad People: Roger Waters, “Amused to Death”

Tony S — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 03:05:59 -0000

"And, as I look back on the elements of what I love about the Floyd I will always be on the side of the music; Us and Them, Echos, Great Gig in The Sky, Wish You Were Here, Shine On, Dogs, Comfortably Numb etc."

Many of which were either written by members of the band other than Waters or co-written with Waters. He wasn't the whole show.

And as a slight correction to this review, I'll add that it was Rick Wright, not Waters, who first started picking up the writing slack after Barrett's departure. Two of the best songs on "Saucerful of Secrets" were Wright's. But more importantly, the first post-Barrett a-side, "It Would Be So Nice," was a Wright tune. When that single failed, Waters apparently lost confidence in Wright and tried to take over, but the next single failed too, and that was co-written by Waters and Gilmour ("Point Me at the Sky"). The band left both these failed a-sides off "Relics" and instead included the b-sides.

Re: When Good Albums Happen to Bad People: Roger Waters, “Amused to Death”

Craig — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 17:12:16 -0000

Great post! One of the best I have read about Pink Floyd. In simple terms I have thought that Pink Floyd was a fortunate combination of Roger's lyrics and David and Rick's music. That successful combination broke down by The Wall and the Final Cut. And, as I look back on the elements of what I love about the Floyd I will always be on the side of the music; Us and Them, Echos, Great Gig in The Sky, Wish You Were Here, Shine On, Dogs, Comfortably Numb etc.

Re: When Good Albums Happen to Bad People: Roger Waters, “Amused to Death”

Gilmourism — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 21:14:38 -0000

Long Live Gilmour.

Re: When Good Albums Happen to Bad People: Roger Waters, “Amused to Death”

Matt — Sun, 15 Feb 2009 03:12:40 -0000

It took 16 years to write a review of Amused to Death?

No matter though as I intend to have fun lampooning your arguments against Waters. Had you wrote that in... say, 1998... it might have held more water. Gilmour's troupe rolled across the landscape in '95 with the Division Bell tour and Waters was MIA since 1992, when ATD failed to justify a tour. However, the Roger Waters of 1999 and since is the one that you seem unwilling to accept. That is the one that made peace with Nick Mason, met up a few times with Rick Wright and played with the re-formed Floyd at Live 8.

In your attempts to label Roger an asshole, you've ignored the fact that he has opened the door to Gilmour to do SOMETHING else as Pink Floyd (album, tour, whatever) and it's David that refuses.

Rick Wright, sad as it is that he passed away, was fired by mutual decision by Gilmour. Wright wanted a production credit on the Wall, but was not earning it. When Waters, Ezrin and Gilmour chopped Wright's hopes off at the knees for a producers credit, Wright refused to work with Waters in the studio, and then just refused to work period. Waters demanded he be fired and Gilmour agreed (no matter what revisionist BS some believe). He was brought back for the tour as all agreed it would be better that way (the same way he was just for the MLOR tour, but not an official member of the band again until 1993).

Waters might be pompous on some level, but no more than most others. He's extended olive branches and been willing to accept that he has differences of opinions with Gilmour and Mason on their shared past.

Re: When Good Albums Happen to Bad People: Roger Waters, “Amused to Death”

Lucio — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 12:31:37 -0000

Talking about pomposity, this is the most indulgent critic I read in my life. The Final Cut, as Roger put it... he offered the other three to do it as a soloist work, but they known songs don´t fall from the trees... The next Floyd´s albums are crap. Sounds like Floyd but if you review the lyrics, are pathetic. So, I agree, for me, the last album of Floyd was The Wall and Final is a soloist work with the other members as hired musicians. This album is perfect. Perhaps too clever for an american mind. Regards

Re: When Good Albums Happen to Bad People: Roger Waters, “Amused to Death”

Elaine — Fri, 30 May 2008 11:26:32 -0000

Wow, I'm intrigued. I had no idea. He really was my first CD purchase. Now I wonder how much asshole behavior went into "Fallen Angel."

Re: When Good Albums Happen to Bad People: Roger Waters, “Amused to Death”

MatthewBolin — Fri, 30 May 2008 10:17:33 -0000

Bingo. Details to come, but let's just say for now that even many of his own fans (let alone people in the business) consider RR to be where ass meets hole.

Re: When Good Albums Happen to Bad People: Roger Waters, “Amused to Death”

David_E — Fri, 30 May 2008 10:14:44 -0000

Hmm. Is Robbie Robertson considered unpleasant?

Re: When Good Albums Happen to Bad People: Roger Waters, “Amused to Death”

MatthewBolin — Fri, 30 May 2008 09:56:23 -0000

Nope. Wrong on both counts.
Hint: he appears in one of my Rod Stewart posts.

Re: When Good Albums Happen to Bad People: Roger Waters, “Amused to Death”

MatthewBolin — Fri, 30 May 2008 09:54:49 -0000

Speaking to another part of my post, did you know that Robert Christgau loves loves loves DeBarge?
If you look at his book on 80s music, he gives their four records A-, B+, A+, and B+, which means he thinks even their worst material is as good as, and the best of their material better than, anything by Pink Floyd. How's that for something for Waters fans to chew on?

Re: When Good Albums Happen to Bad People: Roger Waters, “Amused to Death”

S. Victor Aaron — Fri, 30 May 2008 07:37:02 -0000

...or Alex. We must be getting warm as there's not too many Canadian asshole musicians.

Re: When Good Albums Happen to Bad People: Roger Waters, “Amused to Death”

PFAkron — Thu, 29 May 2008 23:46:32 -0000

Couldn't have said it better...the guys just weren't very good without each other.

I have to question, however, the words "pretty" and "good" being used to describe Amused.

Re: When Good Albums Happen to Bad People: Roger Waters, “Amused to Death”

Elaine — Thu, 29 May 2008 23:41:26 -0000

"Are you sure he's Canadian?"

As opposed to 'presumed American due to pomposity?' ahem ;)

At any rate, if it's not Neil it must be Geddy.

Re: When Good Albums Happen to Bad People: Roger Waters, “Amused to Death”

MatthewBolin — Thu, 29 May 2008 23:18:37 -0000

Nope. Not Neil.

Re: When Good Albums Happen to Bad People: Roger Waters, “Amused to Death”

S. Victor Aaron — Thu, 29 May 2008 21:53:34 -0000

"Join me next time (and hopefully next week), when I talk about a version of Waters from this side of the pond, someone that will make you say: “Are you sure he’s Canadian?” "

Looking forward to your piece on Neil Young ;-)

Re: When Good Albums Happen to Bad People: Roger Waters, “Amused to Death”

mojo — Thu, 29 May 2008 13:34:57 -0000

I love FLoyd discussions. As far as discussion topics go they reach right up there with God and Politics and you managed to fuse all toghether in an unholy comments stew. The first album review I wrote trashed the Delicate Sound of Thunder and the vitriol aimed toward my mother I got in the letters (yes, it was printed on paper) was quite disproportionate to the subject (Floyd), leading me to believe that all Floyd fans were nuts. Then I met a couple true Deadheads and realized that Floyd fans, in comparison, are normal...