HiRez Poll Waters, Roger - AMUSED TO DEATH [BluRay/SACD]

[MrSmithers]

Just listened to this album properly for the first time. I have to say I hadn't heard of this album before I got it and 'parked' it for a bit... I should also say I went to see Warhorse (the stage show) last night so maybe was a bit more 'tuned in' to the meaning before deciding to put this on?!

I have to say I really like it! There is real intelligence and irony behind the music which really grabbed my attention... I like it when albums make me think, but not too hard! The surround mix is really good! The fidelity on the whole is great, although I did notice that the RW vocal is kinda bright in parts?! I just had a brief look through the thread - and I think it's been noticed before so at least it's not just me!

If I'm going to break my vote down I'd say - Music 9, Fidelity 8 (those slightly out of sync vocals take it down a notch), surround mix 10. So I'm giving this a 9...

I did very briefly scan through the thread - and it looked a bit heated and at first I thought I might take my vote down to 8 because of those bright vocals, but I think I have to stick to my guns. I recommend anyone to do this > watch Warhorse, then listen to this album in 5.1

 

[Matt Wilson]

I'm giving it a nine. I've been listening to a lot of Floyd in surround sound lately, so I thought I'd give this album (which I had never heard) a try. Apparently, the remix both adds new sounds to the original CD mix and takes others out or something according to reviews and what's on wiki. I skimmed the reviews on this thread and am somewhat puzzled by some of the negative comments. It sounds great, I'm not sure what some people want. The soundscape is very wide, there's nice usage of most of the speakers. You can certainly hear everything in crystal-clear clarity. Roger has his usual issues with memorable songs which don't rely on sound effects and found dialogue/sounds, and his voice is more ragged than it was in previous years, but overall I'd say it's a most interesting exploration of his war concerns. The misanthropy/cynicism is always present, but that's Roger for you. No surprise, in other words.

 

[JohnG]

I had this on yesterday and while I love the album, the 5.1 presentation didn’t blow me away like I thought it would. I actually prefer the original CD mix.
it just seemed a little bright to me and hence uncrankable. The mix is spacious enough but the changes to songs threw me off.
Right after this disc I put on Roger Waters The Wall and now that is a fun listen and presentation. Much more powerful.
Amused To Death for some reason lacks that power.

 

[timothyemerson]

I listened to half of this (I can only take so much of what I consider whiney lyrics) for the first time in years last night and enjoyed the mix, fidelity and music quite a bit.

There are some room-rattling lows that my old REL wasn't handling but that are freed courtesy of the SVS sub.

Be good if the centre channel was actually used and had Rog in it. Then I could mute him and enjoy an instrumental album.

 

[Beefalo]

Be good if the centre channel was actually used and had Rog in it. Then I could mute him and enjoy an instrumental album.

 

[hafquark]

Amused To Death is a moving anti-war statement (the WWI vet's book-end story of being forced to leave a comrade on the battlefield is heart-breaking), and a jaundiced view of media entertainment that works more often than not. A "9" for the music/lyrics and overall sound fidelity, and an "8" for the surround mix which is nothing spectacular but still decent. I like it well enough to round up to "9."

 

[privateuniverse]

Steven Wilson and Tim Bowness share their views on the album:

 

[Blockdog]

I notice a lot of reviews are based on opinions of the music/ lyrics.
I've always loved Roger's cinematic approach.
My question is this, it's likely a set up issue but...
Bill Hubbard and Marv Alpert are too low in the mix on my system.
Thoughts, suggestions ?
I have the gatefold blu-ray edition.
Thinking about getting the SACD for comparison sake.

 

[ngv99]

Full disclosure - This is one of my favorite albums of all time (that doesn't have the words "Pink Floyd" on the spine). The message on this album is painfully just as, if not more, relevant today than it was in 1992. I think it's a great surround mix, only dinged because Rog's vocals are mixed a bit too high. Great use of the rears on most tracks. The stereo mix is very good as well. I'm giving it a 9......even though I want to give it a 10 because I love this album so much.

 

[Tribby2001]

Jeff Beck!? Then it's good enough for me - 9

 

[Fourplay]

I can't believe I have not voted on this to date. I vote a 9.

Roger is opinionated, and his opinions have gotten more explicit and more controversial. Personally I value his perspectives as thoughtful and insightful, even if I do not always agree with what he says. What I think Roger has lost over the years is someone to edit his work. It is hard to dispute that much of his work is lyrically excellent. It seems to me that in the Floyd years he was somehow less verbose up until Animals, and as a result his earlier lyrics are forced to be more... efficient maybe? They were beautiful in their poetic expression of often universal ideas, presented in concise and insightful ways. As his confidence grew following DSOTM & WYWH, the lyrics became more explicit, and I feel like something was lost there. Perhaps the listener had less room to insert their own experiences into the narratives.

All this is to say that on this album, as on most of his solo work, some editing and reduction could have resulted in a stronger overall work.

That said, I find MANY of the passages of this album to be beautiful, and insightful, and I do believe this is his best work since The Final Cut even up to this day. In particular, the last three tracks really deliver for me both musically and lyrically. If you are having a hard time getting through this album, "skip a bit brother." Start at track 12 - Three Wishes and let it play through.

There is some wonderful playing by Jeff Beck throughout this album. Why hasn't Roger tapped Jimmy Page for the guitar hero hat trick?

Some people do not like the Marv Albert section of Perfect Sense. I think it is genius to have a sports commentator calling a war as staged in a "Memorial Stadium." What a great metaphor! I also think The Bravery of Being Out Of Range is a great song.

The surround? At times it is more akin to big stereo, filling the room, but there are plenty of discrete elements and dramatic surround moments. It's not the most aggressive use of surround, but far from the least such. Plenty worthy of a 9 vote. If this album were trimmed back to the strongest material I believe it would easily justify a perfect 10 vote.