Finally got around to listening to The Endless River

Me too. I got it from the library and was so anxious to listen to it.
I gave it a serious listen all the way through.
It seems like it is trying to be "elevator music".
 
I had to listen to Ummagumma to recover. 

Try listening to some John Tesh first, then it will seem very alive and awesome in comparison! 

Hi,
 
It was poor and I think that DG should not have done what he did. Maybe just let the pieces out on their own, but adding a guitar and trying to make a song in some cases, was boring.
 
In most cases, there is something missing, and I think DG took them out.
 
Of all the albums, that RW plays on, including his solo albums (both of which I happen to like a LOT!), if you separate the keyboard sound, it is not aimless, and "empty". It seems to be there because it belongs there. And its design is very well done, and thought out and it is placed on the rest of the music, with a touch that is crazy ... that you and I can only dream about.
 
There were, way too many subtleties in the playing that suggested that this was not just rock'n'roll for RW, and it was a touch that most keyboard players do not have. It's not just a note here and there, its a feeling that continues and takes you away on its own, and in many places, like The Wall, these touches are actually against the grain of the lyrics and sound, but it helped make it special. 
 
I doubt, that PF would have been as successful without RW. It might have had a hit or two, but I don't think that it would have put together the history that it did, eventually.

Moshkito
Of all the albums, that RW plays on, including his solo albums (both of which I happen to like a LOT!), ...

"Both?"  He's got several, albeit some seem to be direct PF rip-offs... 
 
I've got Amused To Death and may listen to it later today while the snow falls. 

craigb

Moshkito
Of all the albums, that RW plays on, including his solo albums (both of which I happen to like a LOT!), ...

"Both?"  He's got several, albeit some seem to be direct PF rip-offs... 
 
I've got Amused To Death and may listen to it later today while the snow falls. 

The 'RW' that Pedro is talking about is Rick Wright, who only did 2 solo albums.
 
As for The Endless River, it's pretty average stuff. I have great admiration for Gilmour as a musician, but it seems he needed Roger Waters to bring out the best in him.

Looks like he was part of another album by Zee called Identity as well (with someone named Dave Harris).
 

I don't agree.  I did some listening and love it.  I have ordered it actually.  It is just an ambient album really featuring the type of work that Richard Wright did.  (He always knew how to manipulate synths rather well) It really just focuses on those types of textures and sounds that Floyd were renown for.  I believe it is much better than some of you perhaps think it might be.
 
On a hot summers day in the right state of mind there is nothing like it!
 
It is far nicer music than all that horrible rubbish that 'Spocks Beard' was playing in the Pearl drum video that is for sure. (opinion only of course) I loved the Folklore track in that video much more.
 
Music does not have to be busy, loud, complex to be good.  It can be right at the other end of the spectrum.  Like Eno for example. Sublime, textured, simpler, laid back.  Ambient.  The Floyd are really good at that. They always have been.  If you took those elements out of the music it would be completely different.  It was always those elements in their music that resonated with me.
 

craigb
Most of Bill Nelson's 2,342+ albums would probably qualify as "ambient" too. 

 
He just casually mentioned on FB that he's finished the music for 14 more albums....

I suppose it's easy to fall into the trap of expecting older musician to write stuff like they did in their glory days, it's just not going to happen.
 
Interesting that you rate Division Bell so highly Steve, I listened to it a lot when it came out, but it sounds dated to me now, more so than earlier material.
 
I think the opposite of what I said about Gilmour is true too; Waters without Gilmour and Wright can be a tedious listen, I've never managed to get into any of his solo stuff. I think I heard The Final Cut once, didn't like it at all.

PF is my favorite band. I personally think that Division Bell is one of the top three PF albums - I even got married to one of the songs on it! :)
 
I believe Endless River was a way to release a ton of old material that hadn't seen the light of day. I started to listen to it and it wasn't working for me. This seems like one of those albums I'll dust off in the future, at the right time and in the right mood, and will get a lot out of it. At least I hope so...

ampfixer
My understanding is that Endless River was essentially surplus material from the Division Bell sessions. It's mostly Rick Wright material that was resurrected and then over dubbed. I haven't bought it and likely won't.
 
Gilmour and Waters work together like Lennon/McCartny. Both very talented but at their best when using each other to temper their ideas and limit the self indulgence.

That sums it up for me.

Jeff Evans
Gee Bill Nelson has certainly done a lot of stuff.  Have never heard of him! 

 
Wow...you have some catching up to do Jeff. Be Bop Deluxe were a stand-out band for me in the '70's, they bridged the gaps between pop, rock and prog, and Bill hasn't let up since. One of my biggest influences in guitar playing and composition.

ampfixer
My understanding is that Endless River was essentially surplus material from the Division Bell sessions. It's mostly Rick Wright material that was resurrected and then over dubbed. I haven't bought it and likely won't.
 
Gilmour and Waters work together like Lennon/McCartny. Both very talented but at their best when using each other to temper their ideas and limit the self indulgence.

 
It's true sometimes, in the creative act composers get overly emotional and overly sensitive to criticism.  However,  as witnessed by the song forum, some people actually write better when they're mad at someone! :D:D

SteveStrummerUK
 
Amused To Death is pretty good, standout tracks are "What God Wants Pt1", "Pt2" & "Pt3".
 

 
 Nice bit of slide in there too.
 ...

And Jeff Beck ripping though there ... it is a very, very good album in my book