The Wall Review — beachboymusicreviews

The Wall is the eleventh album from British rock band Pink Floyd. While they haven’t released a new album since 2014, much of their catalogue is considered to be iconic and impactful in the world of rock music, and for good reason. The Dark Side of the Moon is one of the greatest records of all time, not just in rock but in all music. I haven’t listened to much of their catalog other than that album and a few other songs, and that changed today. Here are my thoughts.

This album was released 45 years ago as of this year, and the sound has aged very well overall. The lyrical themes are executed well, and I really like the concept of this album. It’s a rock opera that follows the story of a rockstar named Pink. His story of his life is incredibly rough, and was actually modeled after lead vocalist and bassist Roger Waters’ life, as well as the life of former guitarist and vocalist, Syd Barrett’s. Pink’s father was killed during “the Blitz” of World War II, and as a result, Pink creates a symbolic wall around himself, with factors such as an overprotective mom and traumatic memories of oppression causing him to do this. It’s very clear that Waters poured his heart and soul out onto this record, and his personal experiences, which in many respects, mirrors the story of Pink, provide an even darker context to the album. “The Thin Ice,” illustrates his mother’s protective nature, in the form of deceptively positive sounding lullaby. “Another Brick in the Wall, Pt. 1,” illustrates the “bricks in the wall,” like the death of Pink’s father, and the pain he continues to experience in his life. I really like how similar “Pt.1,” and “Pt. 2,” sound to each other when it comes to factors like the key the song is in, while also sounding slightly different, in respects to things such as topics, as well. Both tie in phenomenally to the concept of the album, and “Pt. 2,” is well-known now for being an anti-authority anthem. I heard “Another Brick in the Wall, Pt. 2,” when I was in elementary school, not really knowing the true message behind it, when I was a kid. Me and my dad would rock out to it in his car, and he’d sing along to it. It’s funny how the DVD cover of the film adaptation scared me as a child, whenever I saw it in the video store, but when I heard a song from said album/movie, I was unaware that it came from that. I love that “Pt.2,” incorporates a children choir. It makes the idea of the song hit home so much more. I really like how the song illustrates that schools can be stifling when it comes to freedom and self-expression, when in reality they’re supposed to be the opposite. It’s also a great track that speaks out against authoritarianism and dictatorships. Guitarist/vocalist David Gilmour’s solo is one of my favorites on the album, and the organs in the back create this ominous feeling. Some other tracks I loved were “Goodbye Blue Sky,” and “Comfortably Numb.” Gilmour’s solo on “Comfortably Numb,” makes me ascend.

I could go on forever talking about how much I love this album, and the whole story of it, but that would take me multiple pages, and I’ve been trying to make these reviews more brief and digestible. This is one of the band’s best albums and the story told by Pink is compelling and heartbreaking. It spoke to a generation of people who lived through events like the Vietnam War, and the unrest, racism, and division of the 1960s. While a lot of progress was made, people had to give their blood, sweat, and tears for that said progress to even happen. It also speaks to those who have experienced traumatic events like the loss of a parent, bullying, and isolation from others, like very few albums at the time did. I love the progressive rock sound of the record, as well as the production and overall composition of the album a lot. Therefore, in my view, it’s a perfect album.