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Rating:
I will write this "praise" to Roger Waters forgetting the fact that he was the author of Ummagumma, Atom, Dark Side, Wish, A Saucerful, The Wall, Animals, and many other things.
It's difficult to talk about "Radio Kaos." It's impossible to "contextualize" it within the Floydian work and the same solo work of the English bassist.
But, if we try to forget the things I mentioned before, perhaps we will be able to understand the greatness of the album.
It's 1987. Waters signs the release form so that David Gilmour can use the name Pink Floyd. In reality, it was an imposition by Columbia. If he hadn't signed, the record company would not have released the soundtrack "When the Wind Blows" from 1986. Now Gilmour and Mason have a free hand to release their "momentary lapse of reason." From this point on, the battle between the parties would no longer be in the courts.
We all know how detrimental the eighties were to a certain type of music. But "Radio Kaos" is, in my opinion, one of the most beautiful, perfect, and rich albums of the whole decade.
Waters shuffles the cards, shocking everyone by delivering an album that's "light" and very digestible (unlike The Pros and Cons).
The album opens with the single "Radio Waves," where keyboards and synths dominate. The electronic drums invade every second of the track, light-years away from anything done before. A track with a huge radio impact. Very powerful.
The album continues with "Who Needs Information." Great atmosphere. The third track is the masterpiece of the album (Me or Him). It's the song where you fully understand that despite the desire to make an album that was up to date, aimed at selling tons of copies, there is behind all this an immense author. Unique. The track recalls the sounds (without becoming heavy) of The Final Cut, If, Brain Damage.
The next "The Powers That Be" once again attempts to throw smoke in the eyes, steering the album towards an overtly commercial and pompous sound. But of quality. "Sunset Strip" is the "missing single." A very fine pop track where, personally, I find the best of the eighties in their entirety. Great chorus, which picks up the tones of the more "classic" Waters but seen from a completely new and different angle.
The album closes with the choral "The Tide is Turning." A track that, if it had been published under the name "Pink Floyd," would have sold millions of copies. An absolute masterpiece in its simplicity and greatness.
So.
We are faced with an album that would divide anyone, so I don't expect favorable consensus. But I invite everyone to re-evaluate it in light of the decade in which it was created. Move away for about forty minutes from the Floyd discography and listen to it without preconceptions. You'll discover a very pleasant, focused, and balanced album.
Little closing note.
The album opens with a sound entirely similar to that of "The Piper at the Gates of Dawn." In the exact same way. But then it heads towards entirely different universes.
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
01 Radio Waves (04:58)
[Jim:] "This is K.A.O.S.
You and I are listening to KAOS in Los Angeles.
Let's go to the telephones now and take a request."
[Billy:] "Hello, I'm Billy."
[Jim:] "Yes?"
[Billy:] "I hear radio waves in my head."
[Jim:] "You hear radio waves in your head?
Ah! Is there a request that
you have tonight for KAOS?"
Radio waves
Radio waves
Radio waves
He hears radio waves
Radio waves
The atmosphere is thin and cold
The yellow sun is getting old
The ozone overflows with radio waves
AM, FM, weather and news
Our leaders had a frank exchange of views
Are you confused, radio waves
Radio waves
Radio waves
AM radio waves
FM radio waves
Radio waves
Mind-numbing radio waves
Fish-stunning radio waves
Radio waves
Magic Billy in his wheel chair
Is picking up all this stuff in the air
Billy is face to face with outer space
Messages from distant stars
The local police calling all cars
Radio waves
Hear them radio waves
Radio waves
Jesus saves radio
Radio waves
Radio waves
AM radio waves
FM radio waves
All them radio waves
Radio waves
Radio waves
He hears radio waves
Radio waves
Radio waves
Hopeful radio waves
Dopeful radio waves
Radio waves
Russian radio waves
Prussian radio waves
Eastern radio waves
Western radio waves
Testing radio waves
One two
One two
Radio waves
Getting through to you
More code radio waves
Tobacco road radio waves
South to Paloma radio waves
Oklahoma City radio waves
Sitting pretty radio waves
Nitty-gritty radio waves
Radio waves
[Jim:] "Alright, that's a song called Radio Waves.
You are listening to KAOS
In Los Angeles and we've got Billy on the line."
[Billy:] "I'm from the valleys."
04 The Powers That Be (04:36)
The powers that be
They like a tough game
No rules
Some you win
Some you lose
Competition's good for you
They're dying to be free
They're the powers that be
They like a bomb proof cadillac
Air conditioned
Gold taps
Back seat gun rack
Platinum hub caps
They pick horses for courses
They're the market forces
(background : Nice car Jack)
They like order
Make-up
Lime light power
Game shows
Rodeos
Star wars
TV
They're the powers that be
If you see them come
You better run
Run
You better run on home
Sisters of mercy better join your brothers
Put a stop to the soap opera right now
They say the toothless get ruthless
You better run on home
You better run
Run
You better run on home
The powers that be
They like treats
Tricks
Carrots
And sticks
They like fear and loathing
They like sheep's clothing
And blacked-out vans
Blacked-out vans
Contingency plans
They like death or glory
They love a good story
They love a good story
Sisters of mercy better join with your brothers
Put a stop to the soap opera state
They say the toothless get ruthless
Run home before its too late
You better run
Run
You better run on home
You better run
[Billy:] "Goodnight, Jim."
[Jim:] "Goodnight, Billy."
[Uncle David's Great Dane:] "Woof, woof, woof!"
[Paraquat Kelly:] "Bull heads, three red snapper, one pink snapper
And your Pacific coastal trench hosemonster fish."
[Cynthia Fox:] "Ohhh!
At Sky David's juke joint of joy reports
Forty under the console giggle stick ling cod
Twenty-three purple perches
Four sledgehammerhead sharks
And what a surprise
Eightyfour crabs, and no red snappers."
[Paraquat Kelly:] "Hey, and that'll do for the triumphant return
Of the fish report with a beat."
[Jim:] "We think of it as mainstreet
But to the rest of the country
It's Sunset Strip
You're listening to KAOS in Los Angeles."
05 Sunset Strip (04:45)
I like staying with my Uncle Dave
And I like playing with his great dane
But I don't fit
I feel alien and strange
Kinda outa range
I like riding in my Uncle's car
Down to the beach where the pretty girls all parade
And movie stars and paparazzi play
The Charles Atlas kicking sand in the face game
And I sit in the canyon with my back to the sea
There's a blood red dragon on a field of green
Calling me back
Back to the Black Hills again
Ooh, ooh
Billy come home
Billy is searching for his native land
Flicking through the stations with the dial in his head
Picking up (background: static)
And a male voice choir on the short wave band
Billy taps out Jim's number on the phone
Sits shaking as he waits for Jim's answering tone
Come on my friend
Speak to me please
The land of my fathers is calling to me
And I sit in the canyon with my back to the sea
There's a blood red dragon on a field of green
Calling me back
Back to the Black Hills again
Ooh, ooh
Billy come home
Come on home
He sits in the canyon with his back to the sea
Sees a blood red dragon on a field of green
He hears a male voice choir singing
Billy come home
Billy, Billy, come home
Come on home
[Californian Weirdo:] "I don't like fish."
[Jim:] "You are listening to KAOS here in Los Angeles."
[Californian Weirdo:] "I don't like fish."
[Jim:] "Yes, we've established that.
Ah! Do you have a request?"
[Californian Weirdo:] "Shell fish
Guppy
Salmon
Shrimp
And crab
And lobster
Flounder
I hate fish
But I think most of all
I hate fresh fish
Like trout
I hate fresh trout
My least-hated, favourite fish would be sole
That way you don't have to see the eyes
Sole has no eyes."
[Jim:] "Oh no!"
[Woman:] "I'd like to be home with my monkey and my dog."
[Jim:] "Thankyou."
[Woman:] "I'd like to be home with my monkey and my dog
I'd like to be home with my monkey and my dog
I'd like to be home with my monkey and my dog
I'd like to be home with my monkey..."
[Jim:] "I don't care
Shut up
Play the record."
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Other reviews
By FLOYDMAN
"Radio K.A.O.S. is a perfect Watersian concept, obviously less mature than The Wall but nevertheless unique and in some parts unsettling."
"'The Tide Is Turning', as the last song is titled, wonderfully reflects that innocence, described earlier, of Billy. This is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful songs I have ever heard, ever."
By Shine
Radio Kaos represents a musical turning point, yet isolated, in Waters' career.
The album oscillates between decent and interesting outcomes, reaching Pink Floyd-like heights only a couple of times.
By valeriozappa
I made a crappy album.
In the end, a track like 'The Tide Is Turning' compensates for the other seven previous pieces.
