All this talk of The Final Cut made me sit down last night, turn out all of the lights and listen to it straight through. It's probably been about 9 months or so since I last listened to it. It's interesting to me to do that from time to time with certain records that made a huge impression on me when I was younger, mainly to see whether or not they hold up well. Some albums fail miserably. Others succeed not on their merits, but more on my sentimental affinity for the time and place with which I most associate them. I'm pleased to say that The Final Cut is just a remarkable piece of work. Some of the references are a bit dated, and some of the lyrics are a little heavy-handed (particularly for Waters), but overall it's still amazing. Waters is a master of the use of dynamics - the swings from his ragged, condescending croak-whisper to the agonized screams are terrific. All in all, it remains a must-have in my collection.
