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Roger Waters Amused To Death

I realize I might be in the minority on this one, but after recently purchasing this Analogue Productions pressing and listening to it a few times, I can honestly say I am not impressed.  
First of all, the content is less than compelling.  I enjoyed Roger Waters' work with Pink Floyd and even some of his other solo works, but this record feels like pretentious drivel.  
Second, and more importantly, the sound quality is so artificial sounding that it's annoying.  The overly holographic sound stage is hard to listen to.  To me, this kind of production is too glossy and lacks musicality and warmth.  It sounds more like a movie played in surround than it does a two channel stereo recording.  
I found the title a bit ironic, in that the style of recording and all the sound effects he used are nothing more than amusement, adding little if anything to the message.  
I just put my copy back on the shelf and I do not expect to ever play it again.  
128x128snackeyp
coldears
76 posts
 
Pink Floyd was successful due to the sum of its parts. This part left and is now amusing.
twoch
429 posts
 
It was the way it was recorded Only  Not a big deal.    Its recorded rock music.     Never ever listen to 3 jazz song then go to rock
 93 % of People who make rock records  Must be All high
 Lets get that Right 
parasite68
3 posts
 
I can absolutely relate to the opinion made by Snackeyp. As a huge fan of Pink Floyd/Gilmour/Waters I bought this album almost the same time it was released in 1992. My reference at that time was ”Pros and cons...” and after the so-so album ”Radio KAOS”, my expectations were quite high... I listened to it a few times...and I was so disappointed!!! I had to put it back in my CD-shelf and my immediate thought was I would probably never play it again...

However!!!
After a few years I explained my frustration over the album to another Pink Floyd-fan. He just looked at me, begging me to give it another shot! 
But you should start from the back, with the titletrack, and work your way through the album backwards and then try it again from the start, he said. 

OK, that’s what I did and now I discovered a whole new album! The songs ”Amused to death”, ”It’s a miracle” and ”Three wishes” really caught my attention...now!! I started to listen to the album over and over again, and today (25 years later) it is one of my absolute favourite-albums. Period! A masterpiece in the genre of progressive rock!

As for the q-sound, it is something I really enjoy when I sit down in front of my stereo system. Almost surround sound from a two-channel system...isn’t that cool??

Over and out!
Happy listening!

mg16's avatar
mg16
117 posts
 
I second The Final Cut, as my favorite. Its an emotionally moving, anti-war themed, well recorded , album. OP makes some valid points about Amused to Death.
crazyeddy's avatar
crazyeddy
381 posts
 
I have had this album for less than a year, and only purchased it because of all the positive things posted about the material, and the recording. I kinda lost interest in any post Final Cut material from the Floyd camp, but wanted to check this one out. I'll say that it does sound quite good, sonically, on my system, but I just can't get into the content. I have tried coming back to it time and again, but just have a real hard time listening to Waters angst ridden lyrical content .  Just my two cents folks.
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