Roger Waters - The Pros And Cons Of Hitch Hiking (Japan Press) (1984) LP

With Eric Clapton's valuable assistance, Waters takes the concept album to new heights on this 1984 masterpiece, his first LP after leaving Pink Floyd. Each of the 12 songs represents a scene of a surreal dream (nightmare?), and Waters brilliantly captures the pendulum of emotions. Periods of serenity and clarity accompany frenzied and distorted passages of chaos and moments of great irony and humor. Along the journey, Waters confronts murderous Arabs in Germany, a steamy sexual liaison, mundane family life, bikers, truckers, housewives, and strangers. He sucks you into his vision by blurring the lines between what's real and what's part of the dream. Meanwhile, his use of recurring themes gives the work cohesion. As the mood shifts, Clapton's guitar perfectly accents Waters's story, whether with fiery electric explosions or delicate acoustic touches. -- Marc Greilsamer