Is This the Life We Really Want? - Roger Waters

After nearly 25 years I’d sort of given up on seeing a new solo record from Roger Waters. Then, surprisingly, here comes “Is This the Life We Really Want?”

He’s still angry and writing about the same basic things he has for the last 40 years or so. Fine with me, that’s what I’ve always liked about him. For example, this bit from “Broken Bones”:

When World War II was over
Though the slate was never wiped clean
We could have picked over them broken bones
We could have been free

But we chose to adhere to abundance
We chose the American Dream
And ooo, Mistress Liberty -
How we abandoned thee

And then there’s this more current note, from “Picture This”:

Picture a courthouse with no fucking laws
Picture a cathouse with no fucking whores
Picture a shithouse with no fucking drains
Picture a leader with no fucking brains

I really like this record. Some of it is very Floydian, and that’s never a bad thing.

• Metacritic
• Spotify