Amused to Death

Roger Waters | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (September 1, 1992)
• Original Release Date: September 1, 1992
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Sony
• ASIN: B0000027I6
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  Vinyl  |  MiniDisc  |  MP3 Music
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (277 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #102,912 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Amused to Death is perfectly titled; it conveys its maker's mordant humor and underlying pessimism. Roger Waters's third solo album allowed a faint but perceptible return to the sound of his estranged former band, Pink Floyd. There are moments here ("What God Wants," "Three Wishes") that recall nothing so much as the densely textured sound of Animals and The Wall. And like those works, this is a concept album--the concept (as ever with Waters) being the crappy nature of modern life. Fair enough, but as usual, his satire is blunt and the targets of his scorn obvious. Former Eagle Don Henley duets on "Watching TV," while Jeff Beck contributes taut, lyrical solos to a number of tracks, notably "It's a Miracle." Waters's voice, however, remains the same: a weary whisper, positively dripping with contempt. --Andrew McGuire

Product Description

This CD is an out of print collectible! It is the original 1992 release.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

49 of 53 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars The Best Post 'Wall' Floyd Related Album To Date! March 12, 2006

By Matthew A. Shine

Format:Audio CD

While one can certainly claim the Wall, 'Momentary Lapse' and 'Division Bell' were more commercially viable, no one who listens to 'Amused to Death' with an open mind can refute that the quality of Waters 1992 attempt beats them all hands down. In some ways, it even gives 'The Wall' a run for it's money.

Loosely based on a book by Neil Postman (Amusing Ourselves to Death), Waters album centers on his perception of humanity during the tumultuous transition from the 1980's era of flash through the Gulf War and ending firmly entrenched in the dismal depression that was the early 1990's.

I personally find it most unfortunate that people feel the need to rate this album based on their perception of Roger Waters and his battles with David Gilmour. A true rating on any record should only be based on the music, lyrics, and contents therein, not commentary of how they judge someone's actions outside of the piece they are rating.

'Amused to Death', like most of Waters work, is not something for the casual listener. If you get this simply to have some background music in your car or ipod while working out, you will never really 'get' what this is all about and you may well not like it. While it has catchy songs that CAN be listened to independently, 'Amused' is not a typical rock album. Unlike most pop albums, 'ATD' does not spoon feed the listener one hit after another, rather it requires someone to sit back and allow themselves to become immersed in the experience.

I myself did not like 'Amused to Death' for a number of years because I kept trying to treat it like a normal record. One day I bought the cd put it in the player, turned off the lights and tried to go to sleep. Q-Sound is astonishing and the first thing I noticed was that sounds from the album were actually tricking my brain into thinking they were happening in real life. I had never noticed it before and I got more interested so kept listening. Song after song and finally at the end I was wide-awake and completely converted.

By the end of the title track I finally understood that 'Amused to Death' is like an essay. It does not make sense to pull the staples out of a multi page essay and read whatever in any order, nor does ATD work well if only one or two songs are listened to at a time.

Some don't get it. Some like the 12 or 13 pop tunes all jumbled together in no real order, so long as the guitar style and vocals are pleasing. Some like it when songs have no real meaning. Before ATD I would have been one of them.

It requires a bit of effort. It requires one to allow themselves the time to listen to it, but also I can honestly say that if anybody who can appreciate Pink Floyd tried ATD in that way, they'd never look back!

82 of 95 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Pink Floyd? Waters best solo? May 14, 2000

By dsrussell VINE™ VOICE

Format:Audio CD

I'm not unique in that I like Roger Waters and old Pink Floyd (Waters & Co. from DSOTM). But I seemed to be on a limb with many listeners concerning the new (1994 is new? -- David Gilmour and Co.) Pink Floyd. There is obviously strong camps for one or the other, and the customer reviews of any Pink Floyd CD brings this out rather vehemently. Me? I love them all, past, present, and future(?). All I have to do is listen to the first few guitar strings of ANY Pink Floyd cut, and I sit back in anticipation, knowing I'm listenening to one of my favorite groups. It doesn't matter to me if it's Roger or David. It doesn't matter to me if it's a cut from "The Wall" or from "Division Bell". It's Pink Floyd, whether it's the group or an individual.

As far as "Amused to Death"? The very first moment the sound began drifting from my speakers, I smiled. From the battle-weary old man mumbling remembrances through the satirical "What God Wants" and "It's a Miracle", I find Roger at his cynical best, and I begin waxing nostalgic. Here is the anger and the bite that I have missed for so many years. Here is the cynicism, both modern and old...and weary, so clearly resonating from Roger's anguished voice. Ahhhh, I wish...I wish....

The rumor mill continues, but if wishes were...heck, you know the old saying as well as I. The truly sad thing is, I don't know if I'll ever hear anything coming from either camp ever again. Roger has been silent since 1992, and David Gilmour since 1994. All I can do now is sit back and listen and remember a talented group of individuals who have given me hundreds of hours of pleasure. Between 1 and 10, I give "Amused to Death", perhaps Waters' best solo work, a solid 8. Thank you, Roger. And thank you, David. I miss all of you.

19 of 20 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Arguably the "BEST ROCK LYRICIST EVER" does it again! July 22, 1999

By [e-mail]

Format:Audio CD

I decided to buy the CD after reading several excellent reviews and especially when a Junior High School History teacher highly recommended it (he uses the CD in his classroom to critique American culture).

I was not disappointed! A beautiful album conceptually, lyrically, and musically. The use of duets and background vocals may be the best I have ever heard. Several of the songs brought me to tears with their poignant message and riveting melodies. "The Bravery of Being Out of Range" and the title track are stunning vocally and in terms of their scathing messages.

Warning: This is definitely not a CD for the mainstream. However, any Pink Floyd fan should enjoy it immensely. I had to listen and read along with the song sheet four or five times before I started to "get it". The lyrics and vocal harmonies will haunt you until you continue to listen and discover that Roger Waters may have a weak and whiny singing style, but he is arguably "The Finest Rock Lyricist of Our Time".