This came out in 2000 — or at least that’s when I got it. Here’s what I said about it back then (with some minor editing):
Tommy and Quadrophenia may have had better tunes that hit harder — but for sheer rock-opera bombast and spectacle, you can’t top Pink Floyd’s The Wall.
A tortured metaphor for leader Roger Waters’ desent into isolation and alienation from his audience — inspired by an incident in Montreal where he spat on an overzealous fan — The Wall spawned arena-rock’s most elaborate concert production to date: Roadies slowly built a giant brick edifice between the band and crowd during the performance, then toppled it at the set’s climax. Floyd only mounted the production about 30 times during its initial run. It must have been something to see. But it isn’t quite as much to hear.
This two-CD set, assembled from several shows during the tour, is, much like the show itself, a triumph of style over substance — gorgeous sound, beautiful packaging, two 28-page booklets, colour artwork, lotsa photos, behind-the-scenes info, essays from the band and key artists, yadda yadda yadda. But the bottom line is, you still have to wade through rambling psychedelic jams and second-tier filler lke Vera and Bring the Boys Back Home to hear classics like Comfortably Numb, Hey You and, yes, Is There Anybody Out There? This would probably make a killer DVD, but all in all it’s just another so-so live album.
