REVIEW: Roger Waters, “Us And Them” (Live)


I was really excited about this one, pre-ordered it months ago, received it yesterday. The recording is excellent, impeccable Sonics. Roger Waters has been doing these songs (he wrote most of them) since he left Pink Floyd in the 80’s. If you have any of his live concerts on CD or LP, or have been to any of his live shows, then this will be all too familiar.


He has pretty much milked to death the entire Pink Floyd Catalogue since the mid 80’s. If you have never heard Rogers spin on these songs, then you are in for a treat, if you have heard them, then do not waste the money. It is the same rehashed songs he has been playing for the last 35+ years. Personally, I am extremely disappointed. I already have his other live albums, “In The Flesh”, “Live In Berlin”, “The Wall Live”, and this is just more of the same. I was super excited to receive this album but I would have been better off spending my money elsewhere. Sorry guys and gals. YMMV.
128x128stereo5
@mikelavigne

It really wasn’t the money that bothered me, I bought the CD version @ only $14.95. I figured if I liked it, I would also buy the vinyl version. I’m glad I waited. My main irritation is the keyboards/synth seem to be further back on the mix. On "Welcone To The Machine", the keyboards/Synth should be up front and personal as that is really what MAKES the song.

I also did not care for the main vocalist, it seemed like he was trying too hard. The guitar solo on "Time" was quite lacking, and that is one of PF best guitar solo’s. The record "Roger Waters, The Wall" had much better keyboards, guitar riffs and vocals with Rogers band, what happened here?

Because I pre-ordered this, I got the concert DVD as well . All I will say is the song "Pigs" was quite amusing as the video in the background truly showed Roger Waters disdain for DT. The huge inflatable pig that was hovering above everyones head had DT’s face on it, Too funny and quite fitting. I enjoyed the DVD much more as the visuals added to the music and made the music more tolerable.

I will end this long windedness by saying, I have everything by Pink Floyd, Roger Waters, David Gilmour, Nick Mason and Richard Wright. I have many multiple copies of each as I have all the remasters, box sets and everything they have put out since 1967. I also have a first and original mono pressing of "The Piper At The Gates Of Dawn". After all, PF still is my absolute favorite group.
stereo5,
I'm curious...what were you expecting? They have rabid fans like the Grateful Dead, and those fans will buy whatever they or any of their former members put out, if only to own it.
@noromance

Here you go. It’s bleak but it’s magnificent on vinyl.

many thanks!!!

i did order that "When The Wind Blows" pressing from the link you provided and it arrived today.

side one was mostly forgettable; but the Roger Waters tunes on side 2 were awesome, really enjoyed it. it’s for Pink Floyd<->Roger Waters fans only, and bleak as you mentioned, but very well done and very happy to have added it to my library. ethereal low noise recording, and scaled and soared here and there. a few nice surprises.

Well, subjectivity being what it is, it's interesting how we approach an experience like this. I saw Roger Waters live on that Us+Them tour and it was easily one of my favorite live shows in the past 5 years.

So when I listen to it, I relive the show, and frankly it sounds really good to my ears.

But I definitely see the argument of "just another RW live". I might have reacted the same way if I hadn't seen it live.