Amused to Death (CD - 1992)

Personnel includes: Roger Waters (vocals, guitar, keyboards, bass); Charles Fleischer, Alf Razzell, P.P. Arnold (vocals); Andy Fairweather Low (guitar, background vocals); Rick DiFonso, Bruce Gaitsch, Tim Pierce, Geoff Whitehorn (guitar); B.J. Cole (pedal steel); Steve Sidwell (cornet); Patrick Leonard (keyboards, vocals); John "Rabbit" Bundrick, James Johnson, John Pierce, Randy Jackson, John Patitucci (bass); Graham Broad, Jeff Porcaro, Denny Fongheiser (drums); Luis Conte, Brian MacLeod (percussion); Katie Kissoon, Doreen Chanter, N'Dea Davenport, Natalie Jackson, Lynn Fiddmont-Linsey, Jessica Leonard, Jordan Leonard, Jon Joyce, Stan Laurel, Jim Haas, London Welsh Chorale (background vocals).

Engineers: Hayden Bendall, Jerry Jordan, Steve Mclaughlan.

Personnel: Roger Waters (vocals, guitar, keyboards, bass); Charlie Fleischer, Alf Razzell, P.P. Arnold (vocals); Andy Fairweather-Low (guitar, background vocals); Rick DiFonso, Bruce Gaitsch, Tim Pierce, Geoff Whitehorn (guitar); B.J. Cole (pedal steel); Steve Sidwell (cornet); Patrick Leonard (keyboards, vocals); John "Rabbit" Brundrick, James Johnson, John Pierce, Randy Jackson, John Patitucci (bass); Graham Broad, Jeff Porcaro, Denny Fongheiser (drums), Luis Conte, Brian MacLeod (percussion); Katie Kissoon, Doreen Chanter, N'Dea Davenport, Natalie Jackson, Lynn Fiddmont-Linsey, Jessica Leonard, Jordan Leonard, Jon Joyce, Stan Laurel, Jim Haas, London Welsh Chorale (background vocals); The National Philharmonic Orchestra, Guo Li & The Peking Brothers.

Engineers: Hayden Bendall, Jerry Jordan, Steve Mclaughlan.

Digitally remastered by Doug Sax and Ron Lewter (1992, The Mastering Lab).

Amused to Death is a solid album both conceptually and musically, showcasing Waters as an artist who, like his work with Pink Floyd, conveys his thoughts and ideals with pinpoint accuracy so that they are engraved within his audience's mind. With this album, Waters touches heavily on the dangers of capitalism, the insensitivity of the human race, the ridiculousness of war, and the onslaught of mindless entertainment that encroaches on mankind on a day-to-day basis. Fitting all these aspects into 14 songs is a task in itself, but accomplishing this task alongside music that is forceful and appealing is extremely difficult, and still Waters succeeds in doing this throughout the duration of the album. "The Ballad of Bill Hubbard" is a moving spoken intro from Alf Razzell, a former member of Britain's Royal Fusiliers. A stab at the false sense of security that lies within religion is dealt with on the powerful "What God Wants, Pt. 1," and the cowardice of the world's leaders is addressed in "The Bravery of Being Out of Range," one of the albums most blatant tracks. Guest guitarist Jeff Beck rises to the occasion on a number of songs here, and both Rita Coolidge and Don Henley fill in behind and beside Waters on a couple of the longer tunes. Ending with the title track, a song that sums up the whole of the album with it's subtle yet hard-hitting demeanor, Waters proves that he can still reveal his conceptual ideas with pristine clarity, only on Amused to Death, the music is as equally entertaining and effective. ~ Mike DeGagne minimize