The New Oldies: #5 2024 Album of the Year: David Gilmour – Luck and Strange

Something seems to be missing these days. It seems that record companies, radio stations, and streaming services are pushing some the great established musicians to the background. As a result these veteran artists are not getting the attention they deserve. Enter the Top 10 Album Countdown: The New Oldies. The main point is simple – to make this list you must have at least 20 years of producing established music. The album by the artist must have been released between November 1st, 2023 and October 31st, 2024

#5 David Gilmour: Luck and Strange

We all know David Gilmour. He was one of the creative forces behind the legendary band Pink Floyd. In 2024, he would release what would only be his fifth studio album, Luck and Strange. It was Gilmour’s first studio album in nine years. For a 78 year old musician to have nine years between albums, it’s tough to garner commercial success and critical acclaim, but that’s exactly what Gilmour does with Luck and Strange. The album would go #1 in the UK.

While Gilmour wrote the music, most of the lyrics for Luck and Strange were written by Gilmour’s wife Polly Samson. Many of the lyrics deal with aging as well as mortality. In addition, Gilmour’s children Romany and Gabriel contribute vocals. This family affair is not a surprise. During the COVID-19 lockdowns, Gilmour (and his family) performed music on livestreams. Gilmour said this inspired him to break with the past and explore new musical ideas. Co-producer Charlie Andrew also challenged Gilmour to explore these new ideas.

The album has absolutely no filler. We are treated to some of Gilmour’s epic guitar work on the opening track Black Cat. We get some great vocals with Gilmour’s daughter on Between Two Points (with some more epic guitar) and Yes I have Ghosts (a beautiful duet). While many of the tracks break with the past, Gilmour doesn’t entirely fill the whole album with that. The title track Luck and Strange features keyboards recorded by the Pink Floyd keyboardist, Richard Wright, during a jam in Gilmour’s barn in 2007.  Wright would die in 2008.

I always say every great artist always has one great album left in the twilight of their career. No doubt, Luck and Strange is that for David Gilmour.