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Is This the Life We Really Want?

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Is This the Life We Really Want? is the fourth solo album by the English rock musician Roger Waters, released on 2 June 2017 by Columbia Records. It was produced by Nigel Godrich, who urged Waters to make a more concise, less theatrical album. It was Waters' first solo album since Amused to Death (1992), and his first studio work since the opera Ça Ira (2005).

Is This the Life We Really Want?
Studio album by
Roger Waters
Released2 June 2017 (2017-06-02)
Recorded2010–2017
StudioElectric Lady Studios (New York City, NY)
Fivestar Studio (Los Angeles, California), United Recording Studios, Wack Formula Studio
Genre
Length54:06
LabelColumbia
ProducerNigel Godrich
Roger Waters chronology
Roger Waters: The Wall
(2015) 		Is This the Life We Really Want?
(2017) 		Igor Stravinsky's The Soldier's Tale
(2018)
Roger Waters studio chronology
Ça Ira
(2005) 		Is This the Life We Really Want?
(2017) 		Igor Stravinsky's The Soldier's Tale
(2018)
Singles from Is This the Life We Really Want?
  1. "Smell the Roses"
    Released: 20 April 2017
  2. "Déjà Vu"
    Released: 8 May 2017
  3. "The Last Refugee"
    Released: 19 May 2017

The album reached number three in the UK and number 11 in the United States. It produced four singles: "Smell the Roses", "Déjà Vu", "The Last Refugee" and "Wait for Her".

Recording

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Is This the Life We Really Want? was recorded in Los Angeles and London.[3] It was produced by the Radiohead producer Nigel Godrich, who met Waters when he produced the 2015 live album Roger Waters: The Wall.[3] Though Waters had not heard Godrich's work with Radiohead, they got on well and discussed working together.[3] Godrich, a fan of Waters' work with Pink Floyd, was frank with Waters, telling him he found some of his solo work "unlistenable". However, he was reassured that Waters "really still had it" after hearing his demo of "Déjà Vu".[4]

Godrich wanted to create a pared-back album to showcase Waters "the poet".[4] He felt Waters' creativity had been invigorated by the Wall Live tour, and that his role as producer was "to push him a little bit".[4] He encouraged Waters to make a concise record, reminding him that Pink Floyd's 1973 album The Dark Side of the Moon is only 43 minutes long.[3] Unlike most of Waters' work, Waters did not co-produce the record; he said: "[Godrich] did a brilliant job ... I sat on my hands with lips zipped. You've rented this dog, let it work."[5] Godrich used tape loops and found sounds extensively to create segues between tracks. He is also credited for arrangement, sound collages, keyboards, guitar, and mixing.[6]

Themes

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Waters initially planned to record a concept album;[7] he conceived a radio play about a man and his granddaughter investigating why children are being killed in other parts of the world.[7] He described the play as "part magic carpet ride, part political rant, part anguish", and said it featured about a dozen songs.[3] Godrich persuaded Waters to abandon the theatrical elements and create a "less linear" work.[7] Waters said he planned to produce the original idea in the future.[7]

Waters said of the album's themes:[7]

The concerns I have with that central question – "Why are we killing the children?" – are still there. I'm still deeply concerned that we're killing children all over the world with hardly a second thought because we've become so insensitive to the idea of every time the curtain falls on some forgotten life, it is because we stood by silent and indifferent – it's normal. I'm quoting from the record now. And unfortunately, it has become normal; we have normalized the death of the innocent.

Waters also said the album had been influenced by having fallen in love:[3]

The record is really about love – which is what all of my records have been about, in fact ... It's also the question of how do we take these moments of love – if we are granted any in our lives – and allow that love to shine on the rest of existence, on others.

The album also contains lyrics criticizing then-US President Donald Trump and his administration, as well as samples of Trump speaking.[8][9] Matilda Berke of Atwood Magazine noted that, "Upon closer inspection, however, it becomes clear that Waters has larger targets than a single orange-haired demagogue. [...] Apathy, it seems, is Roger Waters' primary foe."[9]

Release

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Is This the Life We Really Want? was released on 2 June 2017 by Columbia Records.[10] It was Waters' first solo album since Amused to Death (1992).[11] The album peaked at number 3 in the United Kingdom and number 11 in the United States before falling off the US charts in four weeks. It produced four singles: "Smell the Roses" released on 20 April, "Déjà Vu" released on 8 May, "The Last Refugee" released on 19 May and "Wait for Her" released on 19 July in 2017. The album was blocked from release in Italy after the artist Emilio Isgrò alleged that the cover art plagiarised his work.[12]

Critical reception

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Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic72/100[13]
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic     [14]
Consequence of SoundB[15]
Drowned in Sound8/10[16]
Exclaim!7/10[17]
The Independent     [18]
The Observer     [19]
Pitchfork6.9/10[20]
Rolling Stone     [21]
Sputnikmusic4.1/5[22]

At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from critics, the album received an average score of 72, based on 16 reviews, indicating "generally favorable reviews".[13] Rolling Stone said: "The music is quintessential post-Dark Side Of The Moon Floyd, but channeled by offspring: producer Nigel Godrich brings prog-rock grandeur, multi-instrumentalist Jonathan Wilson microdose psychedelia, Lucius alt-R&B backing vocals."[21] Drowned in Sound said the album is "a long, sprawling epic that stretches out for its slightly-padded running time, but one so full of ideas and intricacies that it's an easy album to get sucked into."[16]

Consequence of Sound said the album "is easily the most accessible of Waters' solo work—a distillation in many regards of the anti-fascist, anti-imperialist, anti-greed messages he's been broadcasting since Pink Floyd".[15] Pitchfork said the "myriad sonic references to his work with Pink Floyd suggest that Waters is comfortable with his past. The more you accept how much his past reflects in his present, the more receptive you'll be to this album's charms."[20]

Track listing

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All tracks are written by Roger Waters, except "Wait for Her", written by Waters & Mahmoud Darwish

No.TitleLength
1."When We Were Young"1:39
2."Déjà Vu"4:27
3."The Last Refugee"4:12
4."Picture That"6:47
5."Broken Bones"4:57
6."Is This the Life We Really Want?"5:55
7."Bird in a Gale"5:31
8."The Most Beautiful Girl"6:09
9."Smell the Roses"5:15
10."Wait for Her"4:56
11."Oceans Apart"1:07
12."Part of Me Died"3:14
Total length:54:06

Personnel

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Charts

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Certifications

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Region Certification Certified units/sales
Italy (FIMI)[58] Gold 25,000*
Poland (ZPAV)[59] Gold 10,000‡
Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland)[60] Gold 10,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI)[61] Silver 60,000‡

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

References

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  1. ^ "Is This the Life We Really Want?". metacritic.com. Metacritic. Archived from the original on 6 July 2017. Retrieved 7 September 2019.
  2. ^ "Review: Roger Waters Flays Modern Dystopia on First Rock LP in 24 Years". Rolling Stone. June 2017. Retrieved 21 March 2021.
  3. ^ a b c d e f "Roger Waters Talks New Album, Moving Past 'Spectacle' for Tour". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on 26 April 2018. Retrieved 25 April 2018.
  4. ^ a b c "How Pink Floyd's Roger Waters refound his fire at 72". The Nation. Archived from the original on 26 April 2018. Retrieved 25 April 2018.
  5. ^ Kot, Greg (19 July 2017). "Roger Waters is, for a change, happy to be on tour". Chicago Tribune. Archived from the original on 10 May 2019. Retrieved 10 May 2019.
  6. ^ "Roger Waters Details New Album Is This the Life We Really Want?, Produced by Nigel Godrich". Spin. 20 April 2017. Archived from the original on 26 April 2018. Retrieved 26 April 2018.
  7. ^ a b c d e Grow, Kory (23 February 2017). "How Roger Waters will fight Trump with upcoming tour, concept album". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on 13 June 2018. Retrieved 26 April 2018.
  8. ^ Wood, Mikael (2 June 2017). "Review: Roger Waters takes on President Trump with 'Is This the Life We Really Want?'". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 9 August 2022.
  9. ^ a b Berke, Matilda (14 August 2017). "Roger Waters Rages Against the Machine on 'Is This the Life We Really Want?'". Atwood Magazine. Retrieved 9 August 2022.
  10. ^ Grow, Kory (16 February 2017). "Hear Roger Waters Tease New 'Is This the Life We Really Want?' LP". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on 17 March 2017. Retrieved 22 March 2017.
  11. ^ "Roger Waters is working with Radiohead producer Nigel Godrich". FACT Magazine: Music News, New Music. 14 October 2016. Archived from the original on 26 April 2018. Retrieved 25 April 2018.
  12. ^ "Roger Waters' New Album Blocked in Italy Over Copyright Claim | Pitchfork". Pitchfork. 19 June 2017. Archived from the original on 9 May 2018. Retrieved 8 May 2018.
  13. ^ a b "Reviews and Tracks for Is This The Life We Really Want? by Roger Waters". Metacritic. Archived from the original on 3 June 2017. Retrieved 2 June 2017.
  14. ^ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Is This the Life We Really Want? – Roger Waters: Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Archived from the original on 5 June 2017. Retrieved 2 June 2017.
  15. ^ a b TJ Kliebhan. "Roger Waters – Is This The Life We Really Want?". Consequence of Sound. Archived from the original on 1 June 2017. Retrieved 2 June 2017.
  16. ^ a b "Album Review: Roger Waters – Is This the Life We Really Want?". Drowned in Sound. 2 June 2017. Archived from the original on 2 June 2017. Retrieved 2 June 2017.
  17. ^ "Roger Waters Is This the Life We Really Want?". Exclaim!. Archived from the original on 4 June 2017. Retrieved 2 June 2017.
  18. ^ "Album reviews: The Beatles – Sgt Pepper's 50th Anniversary, Alt J – Relaxer, Dan Auerbach – Waiting On A Song". The Independent. Archived from the original on 30 August 2017. Retrieved 1 September 2017.
  19. ^ "Roger Waters: Is This the Life We Really Want? review – protest prog". The Observer. Archived from the original on 8 June 2017. Retrieved 8 June 2017.
  20. ^ a b "Roger Waters: Is This the Life We Really Want? Album Review". Pitchfork. Archived from the original on 2 June 2017. Retrieved 2 June 2017.
  21. ^ a b "Review: Roger Waters' 'Is This The Life We Really Want?'". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on 1 September 2017. Retrieved 1 September 2017.
  22. ^ "Review: Roger Waters – Is This the Life We Want?". Sputnikmusic. Archived from the original on 19 June 2017. Retrieved 24 February 2018.
  23. ^ "Australiancharts.com – Roger Waters – Is This the Life We Really Want?". Hung Medien. Retrieved 10 June 2017.
  24. ^ "Austriancharts.at – Roger Waters – Is This the Life We Really Want?" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved 15 June 2017.
  25. ^ "Ultratop.be – Roger Waters – Is This the Life We Really Want?" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 9 June 2017.
  26. ^ "Ultratop.be – Roger Waters – Is This the Life We Really Want?" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved 9 June 2017.
  27. ^ "Roger Waters Chart History (Canadian Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved 13 June 2017.
  28. ^ "Czech Albums – Top 100". ČNS IFPI. Note: On the chart page, select 23.Týden 2017 on the field besides the words "CZ – ALBUMS – TOP 100" to retrieve the correct chart. Retrieved 13 June 2017.
  29. ^ "Danishcharts.dk – Roger Waters – Is This the Life We Really Want?". Hung Medien. Retrieved 14 June 2017.
  30. ^ "Dutchcharts.nl – Roger Waters – Is This the Life We Really Want?" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 9 June 2017.
  31. ^ "Roger Waters: Is This the Life We Really Want?" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland. Retrieved 11 June 2017.
  32. ^ "Lescharts.com – Roger Waters – Is This the Life We Really Want?". Hung Medien. Retrieved 13 June 2017.
  33. ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Roger Waters – Is This the Life We Really Want?" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 9 June 2017.
  34. ^ "Album Top 40 slágerlista – 2017. 24. hét" (in Hungarian). MAHASZ. Retrieved 22 June 2017.
  35. ^ "Irish Albums Chart: 9 June 2017". Irish Recorded Music Association. Retrieved 10 June 2017.
  36. ^ "Italiancharts.com – Roger Waters – Is This the Life We Really Want?". Hung Medien. Retrieved 10 June 2017.
  37. ^ "Top Album - Semanal (del 09 de Junio al 15 de Junio)" (in Spanish). Asociación Mexicana de Productores de Fonogramas y Videogramas. Archived from the original on 11 July 2017. Retrieved 11 July 2017.
  38. ^ "Charts.nz – Roger Waters – Is This the Life We Really Want?". Hung Medien. Retrieved 9 June 2017.
  39. ^ "Norwegiancharts.com – Roger Waters – Is This the Life We Really Want?". Hung Medien. Retrieved 10 June 2017.
  40. ^ "Oficjalna lista sprzedaży :: OLiS - Official Retail Sales Chart". OLiS. Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 16 June 2017.
  41. ^ "Portuguesecharts.com – Roger Waters – Is This the Life We Really Want?". Hung Medien. Retrieved 18 June 2017.
  42. ^ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 10 June 2017.
  43. ^ "2017년 22주차 Album Chart" (in Korean). Gaon. Archived from the original on 12 August 2017. Retrieved 12 August 2017.
  44. ^ "Spanishcharts.com – Roger Waters – Is This the Life We Really Want?". Hung Medien. Retrieved 14 June 2017.
  45. ^ "Swedishcharts.com – Roger Waters – Is This the Life We Really Want?". Hung Medien. Retrieved 9 June 2017.
  46. ^ "Swisscharts.com – Roger Waters – Is This the Life We Really Want?". Hung Medien. Retrieved 14 June 2017.
  47. ^ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 10 June 2017.
  48. ^ "Roger Waters Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved 13 June 2017.
  49. ^ "Roger Waters Chart History (Top Rock Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved 10 January 2021.
  50. ^ "Jaaroverzichten Albums 2017". Ultratop. Archived from the original on 22 December 2017. Retrieved 21 December 2017.
  51. ^ "Rapports Annuels Albums 2017". Ultratop. Archived from the original on 22 December 2017. Retrieved 21 December 2017.
  52. ^ "Jaaroverzichten – Album 2017". Hung Medien. Archived from the original on 23 December 2017. Retrieved 23 December 2017.
  53. ^ "Top de l'année Top Albums 2017" (in French). SNEP. Retrieved 10 January 2021.
  54. ^ "Top 100 Album-Jahrescharts". GfK Entertainment (in German). offiziellecharts.de. Archived from the original on 29 December 2017. Retrieved 29 December 2017.
  55. ^ "Classifiche annuali dei dischi più venduti e dei singoli più scaricati nel 2017" (in Italian). FIMI. Archived from the original (Click on "Scarica allegato" and open the "Classifica annuale 2017 Album combined" file) on 8 January 2018. Retrieved 9 January 2018.
  56. ^ "Schweizer Jahreshitparade 2017 – hitparade.ch". Hung Medien. Archived from the original on 8 February 2018. Retrieved 31 December 2017.
  57. ^ "Top Rock Albums – Year-End 2017". Billboard. Retrieved 10 January 2021.
  58. ^ "Italian album certifications – Roger Waters – Is This the Life We Really Want?" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Retrieved 3 April 2017. Select "2017" in the "Anno" drop-down menu. Type "Is This the Life We Really Want?" in the "Filtra" field. Select "Album e Compilation" under "Sezione".
  59. ^ "Wyróżnienia – Złote płyty CD - Archiwum - Przyznane w 2017 roku" (in Polish). Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 14 September 2017.
  60. ^ "The Official Swiss Charts and Music Community: Awards ('Is This the Life We Really Want?')". IFPI Switzerland. Hung Medien. Retrieved 18 December 2018.
  61. ^ "British album certifications – Roger Waters – Is This the Life We Really Want?". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 30 April 2022.
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