El lado oscuro de la luna Redux

How do you improve on an existing masterpiece? If you're Roger Waters you don't...you simply create a new one. As someone who's enjoyed the music of Roger Waters and Pink Floyd over the years, I pre-ordered the album confident that I would get past any initial reservations I might have had with the first few songs I heard. And that's exactly what happened. Hearing Roger speak words over what were once guitar solos and musical bridges takes a bit of getting used to but after multiple listens it's completely transformative and you begin to appreciate the subtle nuances and the juggernaut of Roger's powerful words. Despite the minimal arrangements this is not an easy album to make. It's just as powerful, unique and original. Full credit to Roger for taking his musical ideas and lyrics to a different level. This album could have easily been recorded using the same style used on the lockdown sessions (which incidentally I loved!!) but Roger, being the musical pioneer and craftsman that he is, took it to a new direction. Initially the "spoken word" passages and mid-song interludes may seem out of place, but they eventually hit their mark, especially the incorporation of the lyrical passage from Free Four into the Intro. With excellent production values and songs that transition seamlessly, it's a truly satisfying musical experience listening to this album on CD. A work of a true genius! While I love this album, I respect and appreciate that others might not; we all have our own tastes. At the same time, I'd much rather be in a position to enjoy it than to use words like: "I'm a true Pink Floyd fan, BUT..." or "I like Roger's this and that, BUT..." Without straying too far from this review, I get that Roger can be a polarizing figure to some; however, he's incredibly smart and knows things and sees things that many might not. I applaud him for taking a bold stance in whatever cause he chooses to engage in. I truly respect artists who tell it like it is and are not afraid to speak up for something they believe in. And with Roger, artists such as The Chicks, Bruce Springsteen, John Mellencamp, U2 and Bruce Cockburn come to mind. Speaking of Bruce Cockburn, if you're not familiar with his music, check out "Call it Democracy". The most powerful political song I've ever heard, if a Pulitzer Prize could be awarded for a song's lyrics this would be it. Anyhow, I will say that I'm just as much a fan of Roger as I am of Dave, Richard and Nick and appreciate their collective and individual efforts. And for me, Roger's Redux is an effort fully deserving of five stars!