ON AN ISLAND...literally and figuratively...

It's pretty lonely when you're sick and you have to keep everyone away because you don't want it to spread through the household. The last thing you need is your 2 year old and 6 month old to get sick. That just leads to long nights and days.

So, I'm cooped up in this room but I need some music on or I'm going to go stir crazy. Friday afternoon TV is pretty desolate. Hey, look, it's the new David Gilmour record, "ON AN ISLAND". It's one of the perks of the business, I hear things before they're in stores (p.s....it's in stores on March 7th).

So a quick review.....

The album opens up with a nice instrumental a la the opening of the Momentary Lapse of Reason album. Dave still has that perfect sound to his guitar.

We segue into "On an Island" a song we've been playing for about a month now. Dave throws down a solo halfway through that stands up there with the Comfortably Numb solo. And yes, that's David Crosby and Grahm Nash singing background vocal.

Now onto "The Blue". Very mellow..but not in a bad way. It almost sounds like it could come off the "MEDDLE" album. So far, so good for this album.

OHHHHHH....I spoke to soon!!!

"Take a Breath" is Gilmour shot at a hard rock tune. Just doesn't work. Stick with what got you to the game Dave...keep us floating on a sea of clouds.

Next up is "RED SKY AT NIGHT". According to the credits that's David playing the saxophone here. Not bad. Insrumental. Sound like one of those black and white potboiler movies."the dame walked into my office and I knew her name must be trouble...."

"This Heaven".......far from it....acoustic shuffle....Yeah, no.

"Then I close my Eyes".....We start off with the ocean and a banjo. I like it so far...There we go know we're back in "floating on air" land. This one works.

"Smile"...Mellow acoustic...sounds like Dave is sitting on a front porch just him, a guitar, and a microphone......and then they overdubbed electric guitar, strings, etc. Still good.

"A Pocketful of Stones"...Sounds like an outtake from the Division Bell album. Kind of long...not good but not bad. Nice solo toward the end.

"Where we start"...another 6 min+ tune. "where we start/is where we end"...drop some acid and that's pretty deep. Not a terrible song to end the album. More of a climax would have worked for me.

So there you have it 7 out of 10. I guess that means thumbs up.

I'm going to go back to my "island" now. Theraflu and music what a way to spend a Friday.

Talk to ya soon!!

TBONE