Where do you rank Division Bell in Pink Floyd's catalog?

brokentulsa wrote:

Division bell and momentary lapse of reason have a real 80s sound.

Another reason they are so far down my list.

a few thoughts:
I totally agree with SD about Meddle. I don't think there is any filler on it at all, and San Tropez and Pillow of Winds do rule. Seamus is pretty fun as well.

I agree with OCI that Live in Pompeii is a killer dvd, aside from the fact that some of the cameras' film was lost, meaning that there is more of a focus on Nick Mason's drumming than you'd expect. As far as dvds go, I've seen Pulse a couple times and that is pretty good too.

I don't think that Division Bell has an 80s sound. To me it's more classic. Memortary Lapse definitely sounds dated though, not unlike Gilmour's second solo-release.

Now as to ranking, I would put them all like so (one big difference in my list is the prominence I give to Saucerful of Secrets. I think it is really one of their best albums):

1. Meddle
2. Animals
3. Dark Side Of The Moon
4. A Saucerful Of Secrets
5. Wish You Were Here
6. Obscured By Clouds
7. The Division Bell
8. The Wall
9. The Piper At The Gates Of Dawn
10. The Final Cut
11. More
12. Atom Heart Mother
13. Ummagumma
14. A Momentary Lapse of Reason

It might be interesting to start a thread where we compare the band members' solo efforts. I don't have all of them, but I do have a handful. Not all are created equal, that's for sure.

Interesting news on A Momentary Lapse Of Reason immersion edition.

David Gilmour decided to have "the 1980's mixed out of the album", he particularly dislikes the horrible 80s gated drum sound and also the 80s synth patches.

Unfortunately the drums weren't recorded dry (the effect was added to the initial tracking) so Nick Mason has been re-recording all the drum parts, using vintage microphones and 70's style mic placement techniques. The goal was to recapture the classic Floyd drum sound. In addition Mason's contributions to the original album were limited with at least 5 other studio drummers contributing parts, that is being stripped down to just Mason plus the existing percussion tracks.

Since Rick Wright has passed it's impossible to re-record the keyboard tracks, however Pink Floyd recorded every concert on that tour and Rick had switched back to playing Hammond Organ and electric piano in concert (instead of synths). So they've been scouring the tapes and pulling Rick's live rig sound, those live performance keyboard tracks are now being mixed in to replace the dated 80s sounding synths.

No release date yet, but Gilmour said the album now has the classic Floyd sound and no longer sounds like a relic of bad production choices.

That late 80s production is one of the main reasons I never listen to this album, so I'm very excited to hear this new mix. The box set will also contain the original mix for the people nostalgic for that sound.

well, again, drum sound aside, I don't think a lot of that record sounds that wretchedly dated.. some of those synth sounds and things like that just contribute to the strangeness of the album. If you listen to it in objective terms, beyond the two singles, there are a lot of things going on, unique sounds when blended together. I'll definitely check out this new edition of course. I just love the spaciness/watery feel of the original.

S.D. wrote:

Interesting news on A Momentary Lapse Of Reason immersion edition.

David Gilmour decided to have "the 1980's mixed out of the album", he particularly dislikes the horrible 80s gated drum sound and also the 80s synth patches.

Unfortunately the drums weren't recorded dry (the effect was added to the initial tracking) so Nick Mason has been re-recording all the drum parts, using vintage microphones and 70's style mic placement techniques. The goal was to recapture the classic Floyd drum sound. In addition Mason's contributions to the original album were limited with at least 5 other studio drummers contributing parts, that is being stripped down to just Mason plus the existing percussion tracks.

Since Rick Wright has passed it's impossible to re-record the keyboard tracks, however Pink Floyd recorded every concert on that tour and Rick had switched back to playing Hammond Organ and electric piano in concert (instead of synths). So they've been scouring the tapes and pulling Rick's live rig sound, those live performance keyboard tracks are now being mixed in to replace the dated 80s sounding synths.

No release date yet, but Gilmour said the album now has the classic Floyd sound and no longer sounds like a relic of bad production choices.

That late 80s production is one of the main reasons I never listen to this album, so I'm very excited to hear this new mix. The box set will also contain the original mix for the people nostalgic for that sound.

Wow...that is amazing.

S.D. wrote:

Interesting news on A Momentary Lapse Of Reason immersion edition.

David Gilmour decided to have "the 1980's mixed out of the album", he particularly dislikes the horrible 80s gated drum sound and also the 80s synth patches.

Unfortunately the drums weren't recorded dry (the effect was added to the initial tracking) so Nick Mason has been re-recording all the drum parts, using vintage microphones and 70's style mic placement techniques. The goal was to recapture the classic Floyd drum sound. In addition Mason's contributions to the original album were limited with at least 5 other studio drummers contributing parts, that is being stripped down to just Mason plus the existing percussion tracks.

Since Rick Wright has passed it's impossible to re-record the keyboard tracks, however Pink Floyd recorded every concert on that tour and Rick had switched back to playing Hammond Organ and electric piano in concert (instead of synths). So they've been scouring the tapes and pulling Rick's live rig sound, those live performance keyboard tracks are now being mixed in to replace the dated 80s sounding synths.

No release date yet, but Gilmour said the album now has the classic Floyd sound and no longer sounds like a relic of bad production choices.

That late 80s production is one of the main reasons I never listen to this album, so I'm very excited to hear this new mix. The box set will also contain the original mix for the people nostalgic for that sound.

Wow that is really great news. I would love to hear what kind of difference these changes would make. But I also wonder if they'd really be enough to change where I rank the album. Something tells me, maybe not much. But it'd still be cool to hear.

I'll bet it makes it better, Gilmour is a stickler on these issues.

To discuss TDB a little more.. I know a lot of people are upset there was not really a reunion, and now can never be, but when I play 'High Hopes' from TDB I can't help but feel like the band was leaning much more towards just bowing out gracefully. It's such a bittersweet song and to me clearly addresses the feelings of the Floyd towards where they were and where they were going at that point in time. Overall I think it was probably the perfect record to go out on, and especially giving Richard Wright another lead vocal, and that song is a great song too.

S.D. wrote:

I never thought about ranking my favorite Floyd albums before...why not...

1. Meddle
2. Wish You Were Here
3. Animals
4. Dark Side Of The Moon
5. The Wall
6. Obscured By Clouds
7. The Piper At The Gates Of Dawn
8. Atom Heart Mother
9. Ummagumma
10. The Final Cut
11. More
12. A Saucerful Of Secrets
13. The Division Bell
14. A Momentary Lapse of Reason

Quit it......you're n my head again,,,sheeesh

Well, you weren't using it.

Dark Horseman wrote:

Well, you weren't using it.

I try, but it always sets off the smoke alarm

What a coincidence!?! I just found a copy sitting right front and center at the local used shop this afternoon. It was the first cd I saw when I went to the "classic rock" section. Must've been a sign for me to buy it.

Slide on up to the edge of your seats in anticipation of my thoughts on it after a few spins this weekend.

I listened to Momentary Lapse of Reason this afternoon at work, it's an enjoyable album, but I'm still excited to hear it without those horrible 80s drums.

Quote :

Slide on up to the edge of your seats in anticipation of my thoughts on it after a few spins this weekend.

Oh, ya, we're pissing in our anxiety.

Orion Crystal Ice wrote:

To discuss TDB a little more.. I know a lot of people are upset there was not really a reunion, and now can never be, but when I play 'High Hopes' from TDB I can't help but feel like the band was leaning much more towards just bowing out gracefully. It's such a bittersweet song and to me clearly addresses the feelings of the Floyd towards where they were and where they were going at that point in time. Overall I think it was probably the perfect record to go out on, and especially giving Richard Wright another lead vocal, and that song is a great song too.

I would have loved to see Pink Floyd live the closest I'll ever get is when I saw Roger Waters live and if I were to see David Gilmore live.

I enjoy The Division Bell. Bought it new when it was released. But of the post Waters stuff Delicate Sound is the best one. A very good live disc I love the version of Shine On from that album. I don't know what has happened to my Floyd collection. Dark Side, Animals, Relics, The Wall, Delicate Sound and DB are all I have left.

I remember one time about 1987 or so going to the beach on vacation with some friends and we'd listen to The Wall at the veeerrrryyyyy end of the album trying to figure out what he says at the end before it cuts off. Check it out sometime listen to the LAST words on The Wall. It took me years to figure out he says "Isn't this where?". Then listen to the start of the album and the very first words are "we came in". Meaning once the wall "falls" it starts all over again by saying "isn't this where we came in?"