Good evening! Your pal the Meista here getting introspective tonight with "The Endless River" from Pink Floyd (Deluxe CD\ Blu-ray Casebook Edition) and a Winter Solstice Seasonal Ale from Anderson Valley Brewing Company!
There's been a bit of negativity going around about this album, "The Endless River" by legendary psychedelic/prog rockers Pink Floyd. I think a lot of people were hoping for something radio-friendly and more mainstream. Instead, David Gilmore and Nick Mason (the only remaining band members - Roger Waters left the band many years ago and Rick Wright sadly died in 2008) have delivered a primarily non-vocal, ambient soundscape album. Only one track, the last track on the album ("Louder Than Words") includes lyrics. Of the album, Gilmore states, "The Endless River has as its starting point the music that came from the 1993 Division Bell sessions. We listened to over 20 hours of the three of us playing together and selected the music we wanted to work on for the new album. Over the last year we've added new parts, re-recorded others and generally harnessed studio technology to make a 21st century Pink Floyd album. With Rick gone, and with him the chance of ever doing it again, it feels right that these revisited and reworked tracks should be made available as part of our repertoire." What I love about this album is what it isn't (a bunch of old guys rehashing their "classic" glory day sound) and what it is (an artistic approach in the spirit of early Pink Floyd, but with a modern and fresh sound). Oh, there definitely are "classic" elements you will find within, but completely fresh and new. There are points where you almost hear touches of "Meddle", "Echoes", "Wish You Were Here", and "Dark Side Of The Moon" and even a bit of "The Wall"... specifically on "Allons-Y(1)". And then again, this is something new. The guitar work is ethereal, emotional, and passionate. The drumming is somewhat jazzy and soulful. And the keyboards are drenched in tones and riffs of jazz, funk, soul, and prog. I don't just like "The Endless River", I love it! But, this isn't for everyone... it most definitely is an ambient album in the fashion of Brian Eno... but you be the judge!
The Winter Solstice Seasonal Ale from Anderson Valley Brewing Company is in the style of a traditional English Winter Warmer. With the current cold front hitting my neck of the woods, I thought a Winter Warmer would be fitting and I think it goes really well with the mellow genius that is "The Endless River". With its 6.9% ABV, the Winter Solstice Seasonal Ale has a little booziness too it (thus the warming), but it is rich, slightly sweet, and very smooth. It pours a very murky copper-brown/burnt toffee hue with a thin tan head that dissipates quickly leaving a slight ring. The nose of the Winter Solstice Seasonal Ale smells like the holidays. There are big aromas of cinnamon, allspice, plum, sweet malts, and doughy bread. Medium-bodied, the mouthfeel is silky smooth, slightly syrupy, and rather creamy. The taste is complex, but also laid back. There is a lot going on with the flavor, but it is all pleasantly mellow. There are sweet notes of caramel and malt, spicy and zesty notes of clove, black pepper, anise, and toasty and bready notes. The finish is very malty and clean with just a hint of lingering spices... a fitting brew for the brilliance that is Pink Floyd!
Cheers!!
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