Commercial flourishes like sequenced drums and programmed keyboards all but sunk Roger Waters’ Radio K.A.O.S., which today comes off as a plasticine bid for MTV acceptance. There there was the concept, a tangled mess of separated siblings, computer games and cold war scenarios, very loosely stitched together with a free-form radio theme in the person of legendary L.A. disc jockey Jim Ladd.
Radio K.A.O.S. was so overblown that it seemed, from the first, like the height of pretension, a huge mess defined by twinned disappointments in both narrative and approach.
But leave aside the larger storyline — and those aural missteps, of course — and you find a few items worth salvaging in the wreckage of Roger Waters’ second solo album, released on June 15, 1987. In miniature, there is something still to take away.
For instance, “The Powers That Be” offers a modern version of Waters’ patented call to arms against bloated bureaucracy and war-mongers — “they like fear and loathing; they like sheep’s clothing” — set amid a memorable, driving horn signature. It may be his funkiest aside ever. “The Tide is Turning,” meanwhile, remains Roger Waters’ most open-hearted moment in song. “Who Needs Information” still boldly resonates in the smart-phone era.
Then there was “Home,” which showcased Waters’ flair for biting commentary, despite the dated production. Here, he challenges us all to stand up to the creeping indignities that eventually coalesce into true injustice. Roger Waters then hits a riff, talking about any number of unexpected personalities who might one day provide the greatest danger to our every day lives — neatly presupposing the sweeping fear that eventually gripped this nation in the wake of September 11, 2001.
- Nick DeRiso’s Best of 2015 (Rock + Pop): Death Cab for Cutie, Joe Jackson, Toto + Others - January 18, 2016
- Nick DeRiso’s Best of 2015 (Blues, Jazz + R&B): Boz Scaggs, Gavin Harrison, Alabama Shakes - January 10, 2016
- Nick DeRiso’s Best of 2015 (Reissues + Live): John Oates, Led Zeppelin, Yes, Faces + others - January 7, 2016
“Radio Kaos” is a creative and inner reaching album.
My message to all the detractors:
listen carefully again, and you will enable yourselves to pull your heads out from your arses.
I concur!! Listen without preconceptions! I waited in line for this to come out, took the day off classes from college. Turned off the lights, turned it to max and closed my eyes. Give it a try!
This album is like a science fiction movie in your mind with candy for your ears!
Some of the best songs weren’t even used on the album! Get Back To Radio wasn’t even released, and Towers Of Faith was (mis)used elsewhere. The Pete-Townsehend-On-A-Bad-Day like cover story is such a weird departure for Waters. The songs are brilliant (exactly the ones cited). The only bad ones are story movers and the try at pop to start the album, which isn’t necessarily terrible. Overall, the end result is quite listenable. Roger himself said that he and the producer messed up that album, which is still very true. I see no reason not to re-release it in a form which matches earlier intentions Waters may have had for it. If they have the master tapes, they can do anything. Waters also had superior live versions, for instance he usually played Powers That Be more aggressively.
Torrent search Project: KAOS. It’s what I can only assume was the original concept for this album, and really the only was to listen to it.
Nope. Still a bloated mess of an album. Sadly, Roger isn’t nearly as smart as he thinks he is.