Album Reviews |
Pink Floyd
According to an interview Pete Jenner, the first Pink Floyd manager, gave journalist Nick Kent Syd's influences included The Stones, Beatles, Byrds and Love. A song from the debut Love album went on to inspire the chord pattern for 'Interstellar Overdrive'. Syd wrote virtually the entire 'Piper At The Gates Of Dawn Album', but within 12 months he'd be out of Pink Floyd, and 'out of it' altogether, to all intents and purposes. Solo records would follow, but these will be discussed elsewhere on this site. Syd was the undisputed creative leader of Pink Floyd for their early clutch of singles, and this, the only full album he'd participate in for the group. Who knows what went on in the mind of Syd Barrett? What makes this one of the finest Psychedelic albums of all of time is that Syd had different thought patterns, he did things differently. The way he played guitar was different, the way he sang was different ( resolutely english ) and his lyrics were certainly not something heard before. Nursery rhyme lyrics almost, but very striking, not Rock n Roll lyrics as such. Syd took too many drugs, but the drugs wore him down, ripped him apart. He had a natural creativity, always did. He reportedly continues to paint to this day. Only one song from this set continued to be played live by Pink Floyd well into the Eighties and beyond, and that was the opening number 'Astronomy Domine' - "lime and limpid green, a second scene, a fight between the blue...." and the guitar doesn't even sound like guitar half the time, the production and mixing effects, the level of experimentation turn this into something far more that the basic structure and entity of the actual song, if stripped completely back, would suggest. But, there's all this groovy bass and pit-patter drum sounds here. It sounds like it's from outer-space, and it sounds pretty great, different for the time it was released, too. Still different to this day. And yeah, the guitar is truly fantastic, I don't even know what it's doing, but it doesn't seem to be doing anything 'usual'. The ending of the song is glorious, the layered vocals wonderful. 'Lucifer Sam' opens guitar heavy, the lyrics are stupendous other world poetry with a hint of nursery rhyme, making no sense, but sounding deep and heavy no doubt at all, provided you're out of your head! If you aren't out of your head, they sound great anyway, there is a natural poetry about the lyrics of Syd Barrett, not a structured learned poetry, rather a very natural way with language. Glorious guitar parts appear everywhere. I can even begin to imagine how the song came to be. 'Matilda Mother' has heavenly harmonies, more great lyrics, an exciting and mind-blowing mid instrumental section.
Syd contributed one full song, and contributed at least something in the way of instrumentation to the two Rick Wright numbers here, and possibly one of the Roger Waters songs as well. To compensate for a rapidly unpredictable and unreliable Syd Barrett, Pink Floyd hired Dave Gilmour, who'd been in a number of
professional groups around the same Cambridge area that Pink Floyd had sprung from. He was a friend of Syd's actually, a good guitar player with a mimics instinct which was a huge help in overcoming the lack of Syd, especially during live performances at the time. Given Syd's decline and eventual ejection from Pink Floyd, 'Saucerful' perhaps
necessarily comes across as an album that doesn't quite know which direction to take. Rick Wright contributes a couple of songs that are semi-syd, really. Roger Waters picks up and tries to carry on from the likes of 'Astronomy Domine' from 'Piper' and the title track is an experimental extended group composition along the lines of 'Interstellar Overdrive' but for the complete lack of structure. There are countless stories surrounding Syd Barrett of course, but one story that Roger Waters told has always amused me. Syd was playing a new song for the group to learn, titled 'Have You Got It Yet?'. The group were having difficulty working out the song, Syd kept changing it everytime he replayed the opening sequence, the group
genuinely unaware that Syd was having a great laugh at their expense. That's a light-hearted example, the real problem was Syd live, often just sitting in the middle of the stage playing nothing at all, other times playing a completely different melody to the rest of the group that bore no relation to the song they were meant to be performing. Following 'A Saucerful Of Secrets', Syd would play no further active part in Pink Floyd recordings or performances.
This isn't the first Pink Floyd album that springs to mind in the hearts of fans when discussing the groups greatest
achievements. I've an idea that Pink Floyd were lucky to be born in an era that allowed them to release an album like 'More', a low-profile soundtrack album, a way to find a direction, find themselves, without the pressure of having to make a heavy artistic statement, or anything like that. Imagine for a second Pink Floyd were born in the Nineties rather than the
Sixties. So, they lose their singer & songwriter after an album and a half. After 'More' they'd
probably have lost their record contract as well. Major record companies don't have the patience that they used to. Are
today's groups given the time to develop? Well, that's another discussion, and shall take place another time. But yeah, 'More' is a sound-track album, thus heavy on atmospheric instrumentals. It isn't a major work, yet it's a very enjoyable work that is unfairly overlooked. You see, 'More' has it's own character and atmosphere, which is the first sign something is happening here. You may or may not love what is happening, but there is something happening. 'More' is soft and mellow for the most part, a marked change already from either of the first two albums. There is little display of Pink Floyd the instrumentalists, even though this is an album with a large portion of instrumental music and vocal free sections. What I mean by that, is there are no lengthy guitar solo's, not that much in the way of production or mixing trickery. 'More' is very straight, and very straight-forward. The songs themselves are almost like little folk-songs, and very humble. Pink Floyd humble? Yeah, once they were. This is such a nice listen, very satisfying, even with a complete lack of innovative ambition, maybe because of that lack.
They should have just made a live album, goddamit! They should have made a double live album featuring a mix of old and new material. The first disc here, the live disc, is stupendous. Pink Floyd in excelsius! 'Astronomy Domine' remains a stellar composition ( in the first instance ) and actually gains in performance ( in the second instance ) - this is raw yet together, full of power and biting, aggressive guitars, a stunning performance. 'Careful With That Axe, Eugene' borders on an extended free-form jam rather than coming across as a studied composition, but it doesn't harm the piece. When it explodes around the three minute mark, Pink Floyd suddenly sound more aggressive and all-out ROCK than they ever had before. Lots of good rhythms and playing all over this. 'Set The Controls For The Heart Of The Sun' is now nine minutes long, and given the kind of performance that would have enriched 'Saucerful Of Secrets' no end. Speaking of which, the title track from that album runs for twelve minutes, still isn't a favourite of mine - but works well within a live setting, certainly. The studio portion of this allows each member of the group a showcase for their compositional ability and performance talents. 'Sysyphus' is showy yet so lacking in substance it may as well not exist, and would be no great loss to anyone if it didn't. 'Grantchester Meadows' reprises 'More' to an extent, even including the birdsong in the background, including the mellow feel of that album as well. It does ramble though, and never really does anything bar some interesting lyrical poetic patterns of voice. Roger Waters may not have been able to match the mind of Syd Barrett in terms of crazed madcap genius writing of a certain kind, but he could sure come up with a 'funny' song-title. 'Several Small Species' is pure experimentation, yet so truly ridiculous and off the cuff, so messing around in the studio, that I applaud it. And then laugh stupidly, then after listening to it for a third time, never want to hear it ever again.
There are a few things you might like to know about this album. The album and title suite were named after a newspaper headline about a woman who had a nuclear pacemaker installed. It seems to have no bearing on said title track, or the rest of the album. The cover art consists of a rather attractive cow called Lulubelle III, with her back slightly turned towards the camera. They wanted a cover that wasn't at all psychedelic. It's one of my favourites pieces of cover art for its sheer stupidity. Alan's Pyschedelic Breakfast was written for their cook, and partly because back in the Syd Barrett days, Syd would take a break during a song to cook eggs and bacon, or at least - so the stories go. The title suite which opens this album was composed with Ron Geesin, who is responsible for the orchestral elements. The piece is split into six sections which are all given silly titles such as 'Breast Milky', 'Mind your Throats Please' and 'Funky Dung' - something to do with the cow on the front of the record, I suppose. This twenty three and a half minute suite was considered to be little more than a demo - they wanted to go back in and re-record it, but it never happened that way. These twenty three minutes of music indeed aren't smooth, but do mark the arrival of Pink Floyd as we now know them. It's here, albeit in rather undeveloped form and albeit with orchestral elements over the top making up for the lack of a single cohesive concept. It sounds stitched together, and by all accounts it was. It works for me though, the orchestral opening sweeping into keyboard work, brass parts coming in. A really nice mellow mid section with a few holy-sounding wailing vocals, the only vocals in this otherwise entirely instrumental suite. You can fast forward three years and think 'Dark Side Of The Moon'. Of course, this isn't anything like 'Dark Side' really, but there are elements here of later Pink Floyd work. Around the seventeen minute mark a transition occurs with a little avant-garde dissonance thrown in before a violin rather attractively takes us towards the close and the piece swings back to reprise themes that have appeared earlier.
Pink Floyd edge slowly forwards. An album like 'Dark Side Of The Moon' didn't appear from nowhere, albums like this and 'Atom Heart Mother' laid the groundwork, especially for the groups instrumental progress. The opening 'One Of These Days' may sound like a jam, but it's a jam that's been highly developed and thought about, a jam with structure, if such a thing is possible at all. Dual bass guitar parts give this piece an interesting sound right from the start. Keyboard parts come through the bass guitar, snatches and pieces of keyboard and guitar. The guitar starts to prowl, sounding like a motorcycle. It takes a good few minutes for 'One Of These Days' to build up, but this build up is relentless and captivating. You don't want to turn away, it seems like anything is about to happen at any moment - you're kept on the edge. The guitars continue to create interesting sounds, and close to the four minute mark everything bursts outwards and everything is totally together and thrilling, creating easily the most impressive opening song on any Pink Floyd album since 'Piper' at the time. 'A Pillow Of Winds' is soft and folky, five minutes long and very beautiful. The guitar is absolutely gorgeous, the vocal delicate and the lyrics, well. There are lyrics and they sound nice, although they could be about anything. You can pick out sections of lyrics and say, 'yeah', so they do work. 'Pillow Of Winds' progresses delicately and works as a nice flip to the opening song. 'Fearless' is an indication of the newly 'mature' Pink Floyd that's on display throughout this album. No messing around, Pink Floyd seem to suddenly have an impetus and a purpose, however and whichever way they found themselves at this stage. Harmony vocals softly sweep through sections of third song 'Fearless', and it's nice and so very easy to listen to. The music is understated, though perfectly performed. This isn't any kind of skyscraping song reaching for the heavens or pretending to be Nirvana. It isn't very Rock & Roll, either. Which way do you like your Pink Floyd? And how come Dave Gilmour suddenly sounds better than he's ever done before? What happened to the guy, or was it just that he suddenly knew his place within the group as everyone had finally gotten over the loss of Syd, once and for all?
What kind of song title's are these? 'The Gold It's In The'. In the what? Oh, but this is a sound-track album, of course it is. Instrumental textures and patterns sound mature compared to even two years earlier but they also sound slow. 'Obscured By Clouds' isn't as together as 'Meddle', it isn't as ambitious as 'Meddle', bearing in mind the material here. There are very few stand-out tracks,
even if the whole amounts to a listenable whole. Instrumental tunes mix with
vocal tunes aka 'More' but with a few interesting things happening, granted. 'When You're In' has a riff worthy of Glam Rock - did Marc Bolan copy this for 'Children Of The Revolution'? It's possible! 'What's Uh The Deal' is a very pretty sounding piece of mellow guitars and vocals. "Heaven sent the promised land, looks alright from where I stand" go the lyrics, and everything is oh so sweet, but yeah, nicely sweet. The opening title track is the most striking piece on the entire record, and bear in mind how close the
follow-up album is now. Thinking about it, the title song doesn't obviously DO anything bar great sounding guitar over a rhythm section that sounds together. Does it mean anything? Can you get emotionally attached to this
- good and pretty as it sounds? I can't, although I
can admire it. The closing song is called 'Absolutely Curtains', oh the japes!
Spooky and quiet keyboards provide the backdrop for samples of ordinary folk
singing a solemn piece of solidarity, albeit waywardly, as a crowd of
people tend to do. I have no idea what the intention was, by the way. I don't
particularly care. The pressure was off, this is a sound-track album, low-key. Work had already
tentatively begun on 'Dark Side Of The Moon' - this is breathing space.
Cosy couples happy in their new homes rushed out to buy copies of 'Dark Side Of The Moon' to play on their newly installed state of the art Seventies hi-fi equipment, safe in the knowledge that here was the very best audio quality the world had to offer. If you happened to be living in Thailand you'd discover your copy of the 'Time' single came backed with two ELO tracks, and quite possibly be very confused in the process. No singles were taken from the album in the UK, although 'Money' became a breakthrough hit for the group in the US. Finally, something for the live audiences to boogie to! Concert attendances blossomed, the same cosy couples were broken from their usual respectful silence during Pink Floyd concerts and enticed to yell out a request for the catchy 'Money' in the middle of the set instead. But, all of that came a little later. An idea for a song about insanity came into Roger Waters head during the 'Meddle' sessions. A little later, the group found themselves in Nick Masons
kitchen discussing the idea of a suite of songs all linked together. The insanity idea was held - madness, death, ageing and tape splicing ( to create some of the albums sonic effects ) all added during the writing and recording process. Clocks tick and chime at the beginning of 'Time', cash registers are heard at the beginning of 'Money' - screaming and spooky voices are heard elsewhere in the album. In fact, the screaming that ends 'Speak To Me' ( composed by Nick Mason, no less! ) flows wonderfully into the beginning of 'Breathe'. A suite of songs all linked together? You bet! Occasionally, it's not the songs themselves but the joins and links between the songs that are the finest moments here. 'Dark Side Of The Moon' isn't ten of the greatest tracks ever written, and then committed to tape. It's ten tracks that work brilliantly in combination - a whole more than the sum of its parts.
You'd have to go back as far as 'Meddle' to find a Pink Floyd album structured like this, a long extended piece ( albeit split into two sections ) and then a few shorter songs to add variety and fill out the whole. 'Dark Side Of The Moon' had been such a massive success, that Pink Floyd were in something of a quandary as to how to produce a follow-up. Record company pressures added to the confusion, a subject touched upon in the lyrical matter of 'Welcome To The Machine' and 'Have A Cigar' in particular. Truth is, Pink Floyd didn't have very much material ready. 'Shine On You Crazy Diamond', a tribute to lost founder member Syd Barrett, arrived out of stretches of studio jamming. The three songs inbetween the two 'Shine On You Crazy Diamond' tracks were all Roger Waters songs, whereas in the past, you'd have got one Waters, one Gilmour and one Wright. Rick Wright has no song-writing credits here bar a co-write for the 'Shine On' suite. Gilmour gets co-write credits for the title song and 'Shine On'. It doesn't really matter, I guess, but one result of the massive success of 'DSOTM' was that Pink Floyd became a far less democratic venture. Having said that ( phew! ), Rick Wright plays good keyboards throughout and Dave Gilmour shines in places, particularly all through 'Shine On You Crazy Diamond'. The instrumental keyboard and guitar introduction lasts for nearly nine minutes. A couple of minutes of vocals, and then more instrumental music to close. The 'reprise' that finishes the album is similarly instrumental heavy, but when the instrumental music is as gorgeous as this, nobody is complaining, least of all me. This nine minute introduction to 'Shine On You Crazy Diamond' is slow, mournful and truly beautiful. Very touching, more so than the vocal section in a funny way. The guitar parts from Gilmour seem scientifically precise, but are no less impressive or touching for that.
You get to hear Roger Waters really moaning ( or 'having a go', whichever you prefer ) and you get three songs, with two brief one minute long pieces of nothing to bookend the album. Does this sound like value for money? I know many a Pink Floyd fan that will hold up 'Animals' as the groups absolute peak, or if not, then close to it. I can't understand why, I really can't. Gone are the sections of sweeping beauty that had been a feature of practically every single Pink Floyd album and it's replaced by an ugliness, an anger. 'Animals' rocks? Well, in places. Dave Gilmour impresses with his guitar parts all through the mid section of second song 'Dogs' in particular. Seventeen minutes long, 'Dogs'. It sounds even longer than that, but there are some genuinely great sections here. It doesn't flow smoothly - the keyboard section that comes in around the ten minute mark before moving into acoustic guitar with added Roger Waters bile for good measure - isn't smooth. That's probably not the point of 'Animals' though, is it? It's welcome that PF didn't release another 'Wish You Were Here' or 'DSOTM', they did need to change, but change to this? What the hell even is this? One thing, Pink Floyd prove they can play pretty damn well, even if they've forgotten how to write songs. Dave Gilmour comes in with more great guitar sections, genuinely freaky and wonderful sounds - but god! Fourteen minutes pass, the song swings back to kind of how it began, almost makes sense and almost seems to have a structure. Art rock? Progressive rock? There are far, far better extended pieces than this. Not that 'Dogs' is bad, you understand. But bar the sound of the guitar, certain keyboard parts and the quality ( not the tone ) of the lyrics - this isn't a song I love. At all. I can admire it, it has a certain quality, but this is a huge step down from peak Pink Floyd, as far as i'm concerned.
'The Wall' when it first appeared must have surprised many Pink Floyd fans, being a double album of an astonishingly large amount of songs, twenty six in all. 'Another Brick In The Wall Pt 2' was the first Pink Floyd single to be a hit in the UK since 'See Emily Play' way back in 1967. The concept for 'The Wall' ( there has to be a concept! ) revolves around a Rock star named 'Pink' ( ha, ha! ) who is basically a jerk. Write about what you know, and all that. Sorry Mr Waters. Pinks fathers life was taken in the name of duty, and Pink builds a mental wall between himself and the rest of the world, every emotional trouble and stress becoming another 'brick' in Pinks mental wall of pain, disillusioned with stardom and fame. Roger Waters father, Eric Fletcher Waters died in the line of duty, during World War II. Sorry again, Roger. Maybe you're not a jerk after all, although Rick Wright may have thought so. Out of twenty six songs, not a one of them was written by Rick, who was pretty much just a session guy here, and would leave the band altogether before the groups next album project. So, if 'Animals' had 'sort of' introduced a new sound to Pink Floyd, although a new sound sat on top of largely old, previously unused compostions in the throes of writers block, 'The Wall' really does see Roger Waters write his little heart out. 'The Wall' is beautiful and bleak, impressive in scope and production. There is genuine beauty in songs like 'Is There Anybody Out There?' with it's pretty guitar and the string assisted 'Nobody Home', for examples. There's the groovy bass lines and sing-a-long of 'Another Brick In The Wall Pt 2', which released in the Punk ( post-punk? ) era, as a single - was a tremendous and deserved success.
You wait four years for a new Pink Floyd album, then 'The Final Cut' arrives, 'all at once'. Always intended to be the final Pink Floyd album as far as Roger was concerned, although Dave had other ideas of his own. 'The Final Cut' is 'as good as' a Roger Waters solo album, although it does have the texture and feel of classic Pink Floyd, especially if you happen to be a fan of 'The Wall'. Roger writes an album in memory of his father, so the bleakness continues. There isn't the same level of musical delights here as 'The Wall', though. The lyrics are things to behold, desperately bleak, but things to behold all the same. 'The Final Cut' is a difficult album to enjoy, and its unremittingly slow pace may put off all but the most dedicated Roger Waters fans, but actually it's not bad. 'Your Possible Pasts' flowing from the atmospheric brief opener is good Pink Floyd music. A good Gilmour solo too, by the way. 'One Of The Few' is all atmosphere and aids the albums flow, 'The Hero's Return' is good, 'The Gunners Dream' impossibly sad sounding, but strangely beautiful if you give it a chance. Many listeners will have switched off before 'The Gunners Dream' even arrives, dismayed at the complete lack of 'funk', and if they make it as far as 'The Gunners Dream' then the brass parts might put them off, and be done. Damn Roger Waters to hell, they say! 'The Final Cut' sucks arse, only it doesn't. True 'Paranoid Eyes' is terribly slow and dreary, as is 'Get Your Filthy Hands Off My Desert', but 'Fletcher Memorial Home' is great, very heartfelt, quite beautiful.
In the courts we had Roger Waters vs Dave Gilmour and Nick Manson, fighting for the rights to the name 'Pink Floyd'. Roger didn't want to use the name, just wanted to stop the other guys using it. When Dave and Nick re-hired Rick Wright, and actually intended to USE the name Pink Floyd the verdict went in their favour. Thus, a new Pink Floyd was born, and Dave saw that it was good..... Shame few other people did, although predictably the album was a big seller and the accompanying tour a huge success. Dave was brought into the band to replace Syd, because he could sound a little like Syd, and Dave's mimic instincts come into play all across this album. Pink Floyd manage to sound just like Pink Floyd, but my, it had been a long time. Pink Floyd sound dated - a mix of 'Meddle' and late eighties production values doesn't quite go together for me. 'Signs Of Life' is the optimistically titled opening song - not a song at all really, just a four minute swathe of very classic Pink Floyd sounding keyboards and guitar sections. It's pretty, and then it's dull, and then it flows into 'Learning To Fly' - which works quite well. There go the Eighties drums! Hurray!! Ah, yes. 'The Dogs Of War' is a miserable thing, and no mistake. See, Roger could do that stuff, he'd been doing it for years and it came from him. Dave and friends set about sounding like Roger Waters with 'The Dogs Of War' and I really wish they hadn't - this is desperate stuff with hamfisted lyrics and very little melody. At least 'The Final Cut' had good lyrics and heartfelt passion!
Back into the breach, Dave Gilmour and The Pink Floyd organization march on with another world-wide bestseller that only loosely can be considered the work of the same group of individuals that made the likes of 'Dark Side' or 'Wish You Were Here'. This time around the Pink Floyd tribute band ( guest starring Dave Gilmour AND Pink Floyd! ) do a better job than last time, as someone remembered to actually write a couple of half decent songs along the way. Not enough of them, but this is better. 'Cluster One' is nice atmospherics, enough to raise the hopes of any Floyd fan, but of course atmospherics alone isn't enough. What is enough is the bluesy 'What Do You Want From Me' a song that seems to grow as it goes along, getting better and better. The production and sound isn't a particular problem with 'The Division Bell' by the way. A little bland, perhaps? Well yes. And 'Poles Apart' isn't a concise composition at seven minutes long, too much redundancy. The guitar is the only thing that reaches you, well, the vocals too. There's just this wash of keyboards with drums far off somewhere in the distance and bass guitar in 'may as well not be there' mode. Now, Dave can play guitar. On this album, he can sing damn well too. But, BUT! Too much of the same thing gets tiring. 'Marooned' adds nothing to the album, 'A Great Day For Freedom' is better, a four minute long song that works just fine, with some interesting lyrics to help the listener along the way.
Pink Floyd
Albums
Pink Floyd
Relations
Piper At The Gates Of Dawn 9½ ( 1967, UK pos 6 ) 
Astronomy Domine / Lucifer Sam / Matilda Mother / Flaming / Pow R Toc H / Take Up Thy Stethoscope And Walk / Interstellar Overdrive / The Gnome / Chapter 24 / Scarecrow / Bike
Roger Waters wrote a couple of songs here, people sometimes forget that. Well, he wrote 'Take Up They Stethoscope & Walk' and contributed to the band compositions, 'Intestellar Overdrive' and 'Pow R Toc H'. Before those 'Flaming' arrives, more Barrett lyric genius, more production and mixing experimentation - but it never obscures the melody of the song. 'Pow R Toc H' continues in this albums usage of strange effects and noises, but also continues with strong musical melodic content. 'Take Up Thy Stethoscope And Walk', the sole Waters solo composition owes obvious debts to Barrett, the lyrics are clumsy and basic compared to Syd, though. Roger would get better, and 'Take Up Thy Stethoscope' benefits from a demented musical assault, especially the way the organ solo is taken! 'Interstellar Overdrive' is nine minutes of loosely structured experimentation and jamming, although the basic pattern of the song holds it together, allowing the room for improvisation. Personally, 'Interstellar Overdrive' is just something to get off on, not a piece of writing genius, just these sequences of sound. Syd takes center stage for the closing sequence of songs. 'The Gnome' is a charming nursery rhyme song with strummed guitar and typically imaginative lyrics. 'Chapter 24' indulges in mixing experimentation, it sounds fantastic harmonically. 'Scarecrow' opens with lots of ticking and clock noises, a simple, very simple childs melody, more nursery rhyme type lyrics, but then, these lyrics? I mentioned the natural poetry about them. Let's mention the sheer imagination behind them, the worlds and pictures and places they place in your brain. Because they do. Who needs drugs? 'Bike' is almost a novelty song, but very very funny for it's lyrical content. And, that's 'Piper At The Gates Of Dawn' Syd and Pink Floyd together for the only time for a whole album project, an album project that's been massively influential through the years, and something that's never quite been done again.
Add A Comment? Readers Comments
agnesfrechette frechett@granite.mb.ca
Piper is a 10. Let's face it. The recording was done at Abbey Road and the Beatles used to pop in while they were recording Pepper and be completely blown away. The melody writing is unsurpassed, better than all future Pink Floyd. It took Pink Floyd 4 records to finally come close to this one. Pretty hard act to follow. And I have never done hallucinogens. I'm just a songwriter who really likes great melody.
Dave dave_goggin@hotmail.com
"Bike is just a novelty song" but for its lyrics its "very very funny". What planet
are you from? Bike is not only the best Barrett composition available to us but also
one of the most disturbingly chaotic songs ever recorded, it is literally like
peering into Syd's head and seeing whats going on. This is a 10 out of 10. And Bike
is NOT a novelty song.
Robert St. James robertstjames@yahoo.com
God, I'm fucking tired of hearing the Syd Barrett Floyd praised to the skies. This is the musical equivalent of miking up a toilet on St. Patrick's Day. Endless, endless puking mixed with nonsensical "lyrics." It's a good thing Barrett went off
his head, because Dark Side/Animals/Wish You Were Here/ era Floyd would never have
happened with this pretensious untalented twat in the band.
noiyzmaker noiyzmaker@thedextro.com
I totally disagree with some of your ratings. I don't see how anyone could possibly like Piper. Piper sucks shit. It sounds like shit. The songs are fucking stupid. The whole "syd was a genius" is a myth. Momentary lapse of reason and division bell are fine albulms. I don't know how any fucking tard can possibly think that Momentary deserves 3 out of 10. Oh, wait I do know how. It's fucking retarded fans who listen to myths instead of the music and can't use their own judgement. Sorry dude, but if you think that piper sounds good and momentary sounds bad, you have hearing problems.
Stuart O\'Neill his1sgo@leeds.ac.uk
The above comment is shit, This album is a masterpiece of wonderful melodys and witty, interesting lyrics. It may contain every 60's cliche you can think of but they invented these cliches. Matilda Mother, Chapter 24, Astronomy Domine and Interstellar Overdrive are my favourates. Listen to this album on magic mushrooms and it will change your life.
bass player edd eddie123zeppelin@hotmail.com
This a very good album but certainly isn't their best. The only great great songs are "astronomy domine", "lucifer sam", "take up thy stephiscope and walk", and "bike". Don't get me wrong all the other songs are good but i would rate darkside, wish you were here and meddle higher. Piper is my 4th favourite. I'd give it a 9 but 9.5 is fair for its musical significance
Joe jbaker4eva@aol.com
Noiyzmaker must be a complete nerd. Momentary and Division bell are better than this, and this is crap? I bet you feel Paul Mccartney's solo albums are better than The Beatles. I bet you you consider The Who's "It's Hard" as their definite work and "Tommy" or "Quadrophenia" suck. I could understand if you said you like Roger Water's Pink Floyd better (I would disagree with you although both are great), but for you to say that David Gilmour's (who is one of the best guitarists ever...still) 80's bullshit is better than Piper??? When I read that I just had to post a comment. To each his own, but when I first heard Piper at 14, I was looking for "Wish you were here" and of course was disapointed...Since then I have seen the light...This and his solo work is genius, you just need to let it set in. As far as someone's comment about them being glad he went mad, nice empathy. It's tragic and sad and you should be thankful that you never lost your mind.
runnie gengen@alltel.net
i guess i'm a rarity - i love the syd-floyd as well as the "classic" post-syd floyd. piper is one of my favorites but there's a little too much self-indulgence (plus a couple of just plain weak tracks) to put it on a level with 'dark side' or even 'wish you were here' (i won't include 'the wall' because it also suffers from a lot of filler). now if the best tracks from 'piper' were put together with their great singles from '67 (arnold, emily, candy..., etc.) then you would really have a great album, and i'd hate to have to choose between that and 'dark side', for instance. but why choose anyway, when you can listen to both. i made a cd-r of syd-era floyd with the above-mentioned tracks plus jugband blues (which is really sort of out of place anyway on 'saucerful') and it's awesome. i probably listen to it more than any of my other floyd cds. and for the syd-haters posted here, i think your comments and "mastery" of the english language speak for themselves.
Ben Fishes_Inc@hotmail.com
It took me awhile to appreciate this one, I was too used to the Pink Floyd of later years. Now I love it more than even Sgt Pepper's.
Nathan Schulz srpgmaker@hotmail.com
This album is simply a masterpiece. "Astronomy Domine" is probably my favorite Pink Floyd song, from its perfect dissonant riff to the mystifying lyrics and timely slide guitar work. Not all of these pieces are perfect but all are interesting, and the melodies are all memorable. Its diversity makes it slightly stronger than Dark Side for me. Oh, and I'm not on halucinogens. 9.5/10
otis otiscass@shaw.com
oh man come on now!...this is THE floyd album...rock star tragic myths aside this is a 60's masterpiece...and personally, (even though i grew up listening to the whole pink floyd catalogue), i find "Dark side" to be a complete bore ...might as well go out and buy some alan parsons...this is the real deal...this and the early singles are untouchable...and yes i do like post syd floyd..."More" especially sounds great to my ears and 'Meddle" is a good album.
But Syd Floyd will always be the reason for me still clinging to this band...and if "Piper", "Emily", "Arnold" and "Jugband" are self indulgent and "Dark Side", "Aniamls", "The Wall" and "Final Cut" aren't?? i don't know what is...again...if all you enjoy is indulgent prog rock then this is not your album so you're better off listening to "us and them" for the zillionth time....hey but why stop there...go ahead and thumb through your well worn "Yes" collection...i know you will..."Piper" is golden an absolute! classic!...the only thing i disagree with in your review is the rating...if any Floyd album deserves a solid "10" , it is this one...p.s. bike is no novelty song
Michael Zeigermann michael.z@dial.pipex.com
Another great review. Piper is my favourite Pink Floyd album, beating Dark Side Of The Moon by a whisker. It's been ten years since I first heard it and it has lost none of its novelty and charm, and there's only a handful of albums I can say that about. Plus Syd is easily one of the greatest lyricists in rock history -- the term "genius" has been liberally applied to rock stars left, right and centre, but Syd is one of the few cases where I would genuinely agree. Of course, whether his genius was entirely drug-induced or not is another question, but as we all know it came at a price for him. But can you imagine what music would sound like today had Syd retained his marbles? One of the biggest ifs in rock history if you ask me, right up there with "what if Ian Curtis hadn't died". Anyway, I'm rambling. Great review.
nazar nazariusrudius@yahoo.com
This album has some really good songs, like the first four, and Scarecrow. I also like Take Up Thy Stethoscope, although it took me a while to get used to it. However, Interstellar Overdrive is unbearably boring.
Tony AlienAntFarmer41@msn.com
I bought this album with a lot of doubt of whether I'd like it or not. Much to my surprise, the album sounded excellent. I agree with your review
paul paulwatts@optushome.com.au
Piper plays its absolute strongest trump card right up front. Astronomy Domine stands alongside any of Pink Floyd's work as one of their classics, and is in my view Syd Barrett's finest contribution to rock. To balance that initial glittering moment, Interstellar Overdrive, whilst representative of the band's live performances of the time, and also an indicator of the direction the majority of the band's members saw the Floyd progressing at the time, is basically an unlistenable mess these days, and a lengthy one at that. This was always my least favourite of the early Floyd's long (half a side of vinyl) tracks (until the schemozzle that was the studio half of Ummagumma which was even more dire). Astronomy Domine and to a lesser extent PowR TocH ultimately provided a much clearer blueprint for Pink Floyd's future. Of the remaining Syd compositions, Lucifer Sam is a reasonably accomplished pop song which sounds like it could have been a suitable follow up t! o the hit single See Emily Play, and the remainder of his songs more hint at an emerging songwriting talent than demonstrate a talent at its peak. It is now ancient history that this outing was in fact Syd Barrett at the peak of his powers as his acid burnout was imminent. The Waters composition Stethoscope seems to be a clumsy attempt to copy the Syd style (as Adrian suggests in his review) and was a very early effort of a band member who would in due course become a prodigious talent in his own right, but unfortunately it doesn't really show here. It's just not pleasant listening to my ears. The group composition PowRTocH strongly points to the Atom Heart Mother era Floyd, and as such is a somewhat important piece in the band's history, but it too is in parts rather grating to listen to (as indeed is the AHM suite). I think if Syd Barrett had gone on to fulfil the undoubted potential that he had, Piper would not be regarded as any kind of classic Floyd ! album. It contains but one four minute masterwork with the rem! ainder v arying between more or less decent, if often quirky and childlike 60's pop, and unlistenable screeching noise. I give the Piper 7.5/10.
badger badger@gregory1972.fsnet.co.uk
A BRILLIANT AND IMAGINATIVE PSYCHEDELIC MASTERPIECE! INTERSTELLAR OVERDRIVE IS FANTASTIC,A BRILLIANTLY DEPRESSING RIFF AND THE ULTIMATE IMPROVISATIONAL FREAK OUT (THE VERSION ON TONIGHT LET'S MAKE LOVE IN LONDON IS EVEN BETTER AND RAWER).BIKE IS PURE GENIUS-''I'D GIVE IT TO YOU IF I COULD........BUT I BORROWED IT''-BRILLIANT. 10/10
john, county kildare john.j.doyle@nuim.ie
astromy divine, how could it be best possibly described? it sounds like the intergalactic shipping forecast with musical backing by nice middle class blues wailing stoners. guess what? absolute magic. lucifer sam has the kind of riff that would give neil hefti a hard on. bike is the best i dont give a flying fuck song ever written. wont you excuse me now please, ive been asked to go to the shop and purchase a carton of milk. ta very much. 10/10.
crazydiamond sloppyfloppy@hotmail.com
piper has its moments of brilliance, but it also has its moments of lunacy. I love syd and the symplisity of his songs,but to say it's the floyd's best album is just crazy to me. astronomy is a great song, but in no way does it compare to songs like shine on or comfortably numb or time and i could prolly name about ten others.
Larry Smith and his Dog Blue_Meanie@shroom.com
Brilliant album, although I must admit it's something that grows on you. Some songs such as Bike and The Gnome seem strangely out of place on this album - they are good songs for what they are however.
Brad Smith AnalogImage@hotmail.com
Although I may not put it in the same way as noiyzmaker or Robert St. James (way to go, that post made me laugh out loud!) I do have to agree with their sentiments. Truthfully, not having grown up in that era, I find the songs from Piper to be at best adolescent and throwaway, with the sole exception being Astronomy Domine, which itself is even unremarkable in comparison to their later masterpieces. Perhaps maybe if I was in my teens dropping acid at the time the album came out, maybe I might have found something to like about it, cause afterall, the time an album is released can have a major effect on it's relevancy, and I can't help but think many of these reviewers sharing their opinions about how great this album is, either heard it at an important time in their lives, or are merely enamoured with the whole Syd story (which unquestionably does have a hauntingly intoxicating appeal for many, I admit, I find it interesting and somewhat spooky). Out of context however,! to even compare these songs to later floyd is just wrong. It's not even in the ballpark. The only thing I'd agree with is that it definitely is British sounding, just not the good kind. P.S. I've never came across any literature that stated the Beatles were wowed by Floyd at this time, I imagine if they were it was only because they were probably as high as Syd was at that time.
bassfreak msa@inorbit.com
Piper is an absolute masterpiece. Anyone dissin' piper deserves to have their head cut off. Astronomy domine is the best psychedelic song ever written. The musical significance of this album is comparable only to DSotM, Zoso, Led Zeppelin I, Sgt. Pepper's, and Are You Experiemced? These albums changed the way rock music is.
Daniel Jones dljone9@ibm.com
Jeez, some of the flames of Syd I read here are laughable and misguided. I think production and songwriting values evolved considerably by the late 60's and early 70's, so Floyd had more time to perfect songs in the studio and a good deal more experience behind them by that point. But...Syd was quite creative and deserves a good deal of recognition for his efforts, to be sure. In all honesty, I find the mid period and later day Floyd to be a bit tiresome...but that is simply a personal taste matter. Regardless of what I or anyone else thinks, his imaginative writing and playing proved to be the catalyst for many significant artists to follow. There are guitarists and vocalists and writers I prefer, but this ain't a contest...
Kier Smith amusedtodeath@hotmail.co.uk
It's mad, it's weird, its multi layered and technicoloured, Syd Barrett deserves all the praise he can possibly stand for this early floyd masterpiece. Of course they would go onto record better albums and of course had barrett not left the band we wouldnt have had dark side, the wall etc......but lets appreciate this for what it is, crazy, off the top of the head songwriting that matches the music perfectly in some strange detatched kind of way......it works and its brilliant. praise be...... 8/10 for sure..
IlikeGoodmusicandkillingProglovers stevenpinkgrease@hotmail.co.uk
Look you fools who try to put down us who like Syd's Floyd, your real sad and naive to me! I hate prog rock and I hate Pink Floyd for all the crap albums they did after this one(sorry I just hate music like that)and all the light shows and shit. I never liked them untill I heard this album.
Do you really think we are all sucked in by a myth or cos we all got this record in the sixties when we were teens?! You must be stupid and old too. I'm 27 years now and I heard it at 21 and I know the difference between over produced prog pomp and this punk rock gem. You nerds are to pussy to understand this album, you seem to think its just baby talk, so there is no point in explaining its apeal cos your brains are to small. We would not have Bowie with out Syd. He is the daddy of real english rock, I love his singing style. I don't give a shit about the myth I dig him as a bad guitar player as well as a great song writer. This is better than his solo albums and way better than an! y other boring Floyd albums. for me the real Pink Floyd ended with this record. Eat that haters! Ha Ha.
Gazza garyhess44@hotmail.com
Nothing like this was ever recorded in a british studio at the time and it deffo influenced SGT PEPPER (being recorded in the same studio at the same time)
Barretts childlike view resulted in some incredible songs here , i particularly like the second half of the album from "interstellar overdrive" to the end . "Lucifer sam" sounds like a theme from a tv cop show on acid . pow r toc h is jazzy and groovy ."bike" mixes humour with the whimsy and sports a great melody.
Barrett had a great pop instinct too as well as being a psychedelic warrior and it would have been a nice touch if EMI had included "arnold layne" "see emily play" and their rare b sides with the album . It has aged very well over the years and gets a 8/10 from me.
Killing Time retro_tull@yahoo.com
A good one! Great entertaining pop songs with great cromatic riffs BUT, if only those chaotic pseudo-instrumentals sections were a bit more concise I would be enjoying this album far more than I do.
kaczmar kaczmar_joe@hotmail.com
9 and a half is a superb rating, tho personally, I'd give it a 10. I say its a great rating because you find most Floyd reviewers put this to shame and praise DSOTM, WYWH and the later ones.
This is the greatest Floyd album that you will find. Syd Barrett was a much better composer (at the time), than Roger Waters was ever in his lifetime. "Flaming" is my personal favourite, with "Astronomy Domine" and "Matilda Mother" right behind. Definitely amazing!
Greg mccoy.gregory@yahoo.com
You can not compare this record with Dark Side, or any other post Barrett Floyd records. This was a different era.This was 1967, and music was never going to be the same. This was a daring record.(Yes I still call them records.) Those of you who think this record is a load of rubbish simply don't understand that if it had not been for this record, there would have been no Dark Side. Barrett's influence went beyond Piper. It influenced everything Floyd did after that. Wheather you like it or not, the fact that so many people have posted responses to this review proves the relavence of this record. I put it on and it transports me to a dimension that is all it's own. A wonderous record.
Logan AZ
A great and influential album but no way a ten. floyd is my favorite band but if this is a ten what does that make animals or darkside? Id go 8.5 or maybe 9 but no higher. flaming is badass but just cant compete with songs off their other albums. CONCLUSION- great album but cant be a ten for the fact that there ARE better Pink Floyd albums. RIP Syd
Gid Colarado
This album sucks. Period. Dark Side, WYWH, Animals, the Wall, even Meddle all blow this pre-mature piece of crap out of the water. I wouldn't give it any better than a 5, and that's probably too high. Hell, I'm listening to David Gilmour's "On an Island" right now and it's a much better listening than Piper. I can't stand Piper. The Waters/Gilmour Floyd produced masterpieces, from musical minds that corroborated on a level of pure genius. Syd Barrett doesn't even hold a candle to that, and he never did. I would have to agree with some of the commentators here that it's a damn good thing he got kicked out of the band. We would never have seen the beauty of Floyd expressed in majesties such as Time, Comfortably Numb, Shine On You Crazy Diamond (1 and 2), etc. This is one album that is way over-hyped and is better off forgotten. Dark Side is not over-hyped at all, it deserves every bit of praise it receives, although WYWH! is my personal favorite.
Graham Gram Canada
This is by far my favorite Floyd album of all , don't get me wrong pink floyds other albums are brilliant too but every song on here complements each other and offers something truly unique, to be honest the Beatles pscyhedelia attempts always came off as sad or depressing and reminded the listener how depressing it is to take acid john lennon was very thick to think he was a genius ,syd on the other hand was humble and sweet theres not 1 bad track on this whole record they should also release vegetable man 
A Saucerful Of Secrets 7½ ( 1968, UK pos 9 )
Let There Be More Light / Remember A Day / Set The Controls For The Heart Of The Sun / Corporal Clegg / A Saucerful Of Secrets / See-Saw / Jugband Blues
The Roger Waters song 'Let There Be More Light' opens this album, and whilst it's absolutely not as thrilling or impressive as 'Astronomy Domine' for example, the repeating bass line does become hypnotic, the keyboards over the top of the songs introduction slightly free-form, and the vocals and lyrics suitably psychedelic. It's a good song, and leads into another good song, the Rick Wright penned 'Remember A Day'. The drum pattern here is fun and enjoyable, the vocals and lyrics, the entire song in fact reminding you of Barrett, although never scaling the same heights as the finest songs from 'Piper'. I do love 'Remember A Day' though, love the feel of the song and the sound of the Piano and the effects. Roger writes another song around a simple bass riff, 'Set The Controls For The Heart Of The Sun', and so far, so good. A strong follow-up to 'Piper' if only they'd be able to maintain this quality throughout a ten track album, or so. But, 'Corporal Clegg' although containing some biting guitar has hideously cringe-inducing
lyrics. Roger tries to ape the style of Syd here, with mixed results at best. The Kazoo sections are entertaining though. The title track is very free-form avant-garde, perhaps a response at one of the very few critiscms levelled at the 'Piper At The Gates Of Dawn' record, that it didn't accurately represent the live Pink Floyd experience. What can work well in a live setting though doesn't always
necessarily work as well on record, and this title track although displaying admiral attempts at sound manipulation and experimentation, is absolutely no kind of song or composition. The closing section of the track is the best part, the mellow Church Organ sound that comes through, with harmonies, is quite beautiful. 'See-Saw' contains the lyric "marigolds are very much in love" - another obvious Syd styled song from the pen of Rick Wright. Syd actually encouraged both Roger and Rick to write songs in the first place, and the songs of Rick Wright especially would have complimented Syd's songs very well, with Roger contributing to the group compositions and adding a couple of spacey things like 'Set The Controls To The Heart Of The Sun'. 'See-Saw' is a beautiful song, although let down by the vocals, or the mixing - quite hard to put a finger on, but these Rick Wright vocals are really not very strong, working much better when in harmony with the rest of the group.
The final song here was a Syd Barrett inspired piece of either genius of lunacy, depending on which way you look at it. The lyric is a masterful self-diagnosis by Syd into his own escalating mental illness and declining state of health. The music is courtesy of a Salvation Army band who were invited into the studio by Syd and told to play whatever they felt like. Syd plays acoustic guitar, strums and sings very simply, whilst brass instruments, effects and insanity swirl around this lonely and lost figure. The track fades outs to leave just Syd alone, with acoustic, and it's beautiful, yet haunting and desolate. 'Jugband Blues' is the most striking track on the entire album. Two of the three Roger Waters compositions certainly have merit and are much improved from his efforts on 'Piper'. The title track is more worthy and admirable than it is enjoyable and 'Corporal Clegg' just isn't very good at all. So, 'A Saucerful Of Secrets'? It remains a strangely fascinating listen, even with several flaws. It's absolutely no kind of 'Piper At The Gates Of Dawn', but it was well enough received at the time to give Pink Floyd encouragement and something to build on, post Syd.
Add A Comment?Readers Comments
piggyinthemiddle poorroyschieder@hotmail.com
Corporal Clegg is awesome!!!!!!!!!!!!!. Quite possibly Rogers finest moment, and I mean that. I have caught myself singing Clegg a lot more than anything from The Wall
or Dark Side. The song is brilliant and most importantly, outright hilarious.
bassplayer edd eddie123zeppelin@hotmail.com
I think this is a bloody good album and deserves more. Not the best floyd album i'll
admit but still very good.It has to have the biggest contrast in an album ever. The
spooky eerie "set the controls for the heart of the sun" followed by the hilarious
and mad "corporal clegg". clegg is in the same style as some of the more random
beatles songs e.g "i am the walrus".
dawsdani dawsdani@ukonline.com
i think that this album should have been given a higher rating. its an acid trip to end all acid trips. just brilliant.
otis otiscass@shaw.com
next to the obvious "Jug Band Blues"..."corp. Clegg" is the best track on the album i.m.h.o....always the second track i skip to (i can't bare this entire album)....next to this omission ...i agree
Tony AlienAntFarmer1@msn.com
I thought this album was an excellent follow-up to Piper, and shows a lot of growth musically, especially with the addition of Gilmour. I'd say 9/10.
paul paulwatts@optushome.com.au
The title track appears to depict some great battle. It is in three parts. Firstly is the buildup of tension culminating in breaking point being reached. This is followed by a few seconds of ominous near-silence and then the battle itself. Finally, you have the aftermath, the mourning and reflection. For its time, and considering the band's situation at the time with having lost its main creative force, it is a stunning performance.
kaczmar kaczmar_joe@hotmail.com
Definitely a good follow up, definitely no Piper, but deserves a 9/10. Heres the thing, if you listen to "Remember a Day", "Corporal Clegg', the last two minutes of the title track (never really took a knack to the whole track, just the group sinign at the end), and most IMPORTANTLY, "Jugband Blues", you will like the album. I heard that last tune and was determined to buy it, its so awesome, and so sad at the same time.Go for it!!
More 8 ( 1969, UK pos 9 )
Cirrus Minor / The Nile Song / Crying Song / Up The Khyber / Green Is The Colour / Cymbaline / Party Sequence / Main Theme / Ibiza Bar / More Blues / Quicksilver / A Spanish Piece / Dramatic Theme
'Cirrus Minor' opens with a little bird-song, tweets and chirps and so forth. The vocals are very mellow and reminiscent of Syd in places. A little quiet guitar figure comes in, church-organ sounds - the song builds up and is very beautiful indeed. This beauty is contrasted with, 'thanks' to 'The Nile Song'. A little fuzzy distorted guitar,
god-awful lyrics and rhymes, yet it still remains entertaining because it's so bloody stupid! 'Crying Song' blatantly rips off Syd Barrett's solo composition 'Opel' for it's entire concept and feel, but seeing as nobody would even hear that Syd song for many years, nobody noticed or cared. Who does care, it's a little piece of prettiness and addictive, affecting listening. Tribal drums open the noisy 'Up The Khyber', more pretty and delicate guitar is a feature of the quite frankly gorgeous simplicity that is 'Green Is The Colour'. Here the folk thing comes in, it has that feel to it to me, at least. It's got a flute in there! 'Cymbaline' is another piece of atmospherics with a very understated chorus, a very beautiful chorus, a mellow piece of humble prettiness. Yes, sir. We move on to obvious pieces of soundtrack padding with the tribal percussion of 'Party Sequence', the so light it's hardly there 'Main Theme' and the more 'Saucerful' stylings of 'Ibiza Bar'. Pink Floyd it seems had one foot in the past and one foot in an as yet uncertain and undetermined future. The closing four songs are not essential, yet all share the atmosphere and character of 'More' even with 'More Blues' being just an excuse for Dave Gilmour to play a little blues, and nothing else. It still fits in, and i'm not sure why, but it does. 'Quicksilver' is seven minutes of mellow stretches of electronic and treated instrumentation, not a favourite of mine here it must be said. 'A Spanish Place' is indeed very Spanish sounding, but not unattractive. The closing 'Dramatic Theme' sounds like it fell right off the writing process for 'Saucerful' yet also shows a development from 'Saucerful' - the guitar is falling into place for a start, that Dave Gilmour guitar is becoming characteristic of him, rather than dealing with somebody else's style as of yore. It's an interesting, fascinating listen.
Add A Comment?Readers Comments
dave dave_wood81@hotmail.com
I believe this is one of Floyd's best albums. Though you may disagree, it is very
humble and soothing for the soul. A more bluesy album that Syd would have liked.
Dave Charlton charltond@charisps.com
I think this is one of pink floyds best albums also. Green is the color is my favorite song although I like all of Piper also. I agree with many that is is very erratic with the instumental tracks not fitting in and making it a solid album with commerical songs but that is to be expected from a sound track. This album is certainly more mainstream than Zabriskie Point soundtrack
Tony antonytsnorris@aol.com
I can't possibly go along with the whole 'It's so stupid' outlook about Nile Song, nor that the lyrics and rhymes are rubbish! The song is rich in texture, and story, if you care to actually use your ears for the intended purpose! Besides which, The Nile Song is quite possibly the finest piece of 'designed to make your ears bleed' hardrock ever produced! Listen to it on record- not the wishy washy CD version which cuts out all the highs and lows, and lacks the ultimate volume and texture of the original vinyl cut.
Ummagumma 6 ( 1969, UK pos 5 )
Astronomy Domine / Careful With That Axe, Eugene / Set The Controls For The Heart Of The Sun / A Saucerful Of Secrets / Sysyphus Part One / Sysyphus Part Two / Sysyphus Part Three / Sysyphus Part Four / Grantchester Meadows / Several Small Species Of Furry Animals Gathered In A Cave And Grooving With A Pict / The Narrow Way Part One / The Narrow Way Part Two / The Narrow Way Part Three / The Grand Viziers Garden Party Part One / The Grand Viziers Garden Party Part Two / The Grand Viziers Garden Party Part Three
'The Narrow Way' has some interesting musical guitar sections, the closing 'The Grand Vizier's Garden Party' pure throwaway nonsensical messing around with sound in the studio. There is nothing to see here, please move away. Even with the live disc being pretty decent, even great in places - the studio material here is so wretched it pulls the album down significantly, although the live disc still just about keeps this 'Ummagumma' project's head above water. If the record label of an imaginary Nineties Pink Floyd hadn't dropped them after 'More', they certainly would have done so now. And then where would we be!? <
Add A Comment?
matt rhamadan1@yahoo.com
I consider Ummagumma to be one of Pink Floyd's best albums. The Live album gives a good look at the early Floyd, and a great version of Careful with that Axe, Eugene. The Studio album gives a voice to each member of the band. By far the best of the Floyd's non-commercial albums 9/10
Matthew Pereduer@aol.com
I honestly feel that Ummagumma is the Floyd's best album. It is amazingly creative (the studio) and the live songs are of the perfect length and style. The version of Saucerful of Secrets is amazing but I feel that the vocals are not as strong as they are on the SoS Album or Live at Pompei.
Tony AlienAntFarmer41@msn.com
I felt this album was pretty well done. The live album was especially good. The studio album was alright, but a lot of it was just filler. However, there are a few moments that do shine on the studio album, so overall I'd give it an 8/10
nathan farland nfarland@hotmail.com
i'm sorry, the ummagumma studio album is floyd at its worst and most pretentious... every time you think it might be building up to something, it reverts back to unstructured experimental garbage. floyd took a real step backwards here from the more album. the live stuff is fantastic, though.
alex alex_rib19@hotmail.com
i seriously thought that ummaguma was terrible. like it may hav been a voice of the guys in it but still c'mon it wasnt even music it was sound effects and like i dont no how ANYONE cood listen to this and enjoy it
paul paulwatts@optushome.com.au
If Creedence Clearwater Revival's Mardi Gras was, as is widely stated, the worst ever LP recorded by an established act, the studio half of Ummagumma must run a very close second. Only Grantchester Meadows has any merit whatsoever, and even it is about four minutes too long. The live half is better, without being fantastic. Astronomy Domine pads out the original with a boring quiet mid-section but otherwise adds nothing, and sounds very tinny to boot. A Saucerful of Secrets adds the vocal at the end but loses much of the starkness of the original. This could not have been an easy piece to reproduce live. Set the Controls is quite a decent embellishment of the original, and Eugene presents an entertaining live version that loses the original single B side's wonderful sound textures and is thus slightly inferior (the original Eugene is perhaps Floyd's most underrated piece of work). Live album a 7, studio album a 2, overall score 5.
Atom Heart Mother 7½ ( 1970, UK pos 1 )
Atom Heart Mother / If / Summer 68 / Fat Old Sun / Alan's Psychedelic Breakfast
The real meat of this album is the three shorter songs that appear in the middle. Seemingly derivative, seemingly throwaway but there is much to enjoy. Beautiful Piano through the mellow attractiveness that is 'If'. More Piano to open 'Summer 68', a Rick Wright composition, and a mighty fine one too. Little elements of Syd still creep into the writing of Rick Wright here, but the way the harmonies break in and the way the rhythm develops with brass parts arriving..... it more than works for me, a great track. Dave Gilmour writes a fantastic Kinks sounding song that's so good it beggars belief. Where did this vocal come from? Mr Gilmour singing Ray Davies? It works, and when the guitar solo comes in everything is sent skywards. The closing 'Alan's Psychedelic Breakfast' is a sound collage lasting for thirteen minutes. It's quite amusing in places, and I like the instrumental sequence of Piano, drums and bass guitar that 'decorates' the close before the last minute is taken up with sound effects. 'Alan's Psychedelic Breakfast' invites dismissal as a pile of random rubbish and arseing around, and indeed that's what it appears to be. Parts of the title suite are far from perfect..... the middle three songs range from good to excellent. This album by rights shouldn't really work or hold itself together, yet it does. There are too many flaws for this to be a classic Pink Floyd album, and yet there is much to enjoy.
Add A Comment?Readers Comments
Simon Brigham slb23@shaw.ca
This is one of my favourite Pink Floyd albums. I bought it in the winter about three years ago, and since then, whenever I listen to it, it reminds me of summer. Probably all the summer-like themes in it: listen to "Fat Old Sun", for example. The title track is their first crack at a side-long composition. And they do a good job. (Although the sound quality - especially the drums - is a bit muddy at times).
"If" is one of Roger's 'list' songs. It's quite sparse in the arrangement compaired to the slightly overblown title track. "Summer 68" is just a plain good song. I didn't like it at first, but it grew on me. "Alan's Psychedelic Breakfast" is delightful. On the early U.K. pressings of the vinyl version, they would have a run-out groove with the tap dripping. So if your record player didn't have a return mechanism, the tap would just keep dripping forever. Pretty neat, eh? This album, for me, is one of my favourites, and is probably the most enduring.
Matt Marley vamp472@yahoo.com
i can see your gripes about this album, but it deserves at LEAST a 9. 'AHM Suite' features the best gilmour solo of all time, and is probably the best pink floyd song of all time--structured like classic cinema, no less,not just "sewn together"...(i'm writing a screenplay to it, in fact, long the lines of 'the wall') and 'if' and 'fat old sun' are great tunes. i didn't like 'alan's' at first but it has stellar guitar and piano parts, even if the 'conversation' parts go on too long. and 'summer 68' is an alright, chilled out song.
Tony AlienAntFarmer41@msn.com
The first time I heard the album, I was a little disappointed. However, by the 3rd listen-through I found my admiration for the album growing. Now I can't imagine my collection without it.
mike djmixmastermike@yahoo.ca
i think pink floyd had so much talent at this point but a lot of it was wasted. this album has way too much instrumentals. the songwriting is beautiful but it takes a lot of patience to sit through a 23 minute instrumental. with the same effort in songwritng imagine how much more popular this album could be if they scrapped the 23 minute long instrumental and replaced it with 3 or 4 shorter songs and with vocals? although i like this album it only apeals to the most diehard of fans.
Dan
justto_haveone@hotmail.com
Perhaps I'm one of those die-hard fanatics, but there is nothing wrong with Atom Heart Mother. Not cheesy at all, but that's Pink Floyd's specialty! It's better than The Move's "Shazam," though probably not better than Floyd's own Ummagumma or Animals. Maybe that lyric "ha ha, charade you are" of Animals's just appeals to me too much, but I like Animals a bit better. Not that that has anything to do with Atom Heart Mother, something worth just a bit of money. Not so much, though.
kaczmar kaczmar_joe@hotmail.com
Well, I have to say, I have every Floyd album, and this is one of my favourites, and its all because of the title track. To me, its just so interesting, like they were trying to go back to Interstellar Overdrive and Saucerful of Secrets, but obviously without AS much psychedelia, tho there still is loads. Would anyone agree this is better than the 24 minuet "Echoes" on Meddle?
Floydian San Diego
This album took some getting used to. I listened to it on a couple of road trips a few years ago, and it really grew on me. I was always fascinated with this album because I see it as a album coming from a period of great creativity from the band. They were getting their own sound without Syd, their own identity was beginning to emerge. Although it is a bit of a hodgepodge, I love the orchestra. This album has a huge sound to it, not seen in many other Floyd albums, save for Animals and the Wall. Summer of '68 is one of my all time favorite tracks. I agree that the title track is a bit long, but there are moments of pure brilliance. "If" shows the intraspective side of Waters that we get to see much more of later. I think the weakest part of the album is the last track, although I appreciate them being experimental, it comes off as filler to me. But to me, AHM is when this iteration of Floyd really started to gell.
Brian Gregory Ealing, London
I love the title track,it goes in and out of time and is so loose,love it! Plus it has some gorgeous melodies and subtle little pieces. 'Summer of '68' is a great song and 'Fat old sun' almost Beatles quality-a lovely summer album to skin up to
Peter Ottawa
I think I may have just 'got this' album upon 3rd listening. Not sure how I missed it the first couple of times, but I like the strange, dark atmosphere - and the title track finally does it for me. I was getting upset that this was a Floyd album that didn't fit, but I'll reserve that award for The Final Cut.
Meddle 8 ( 1971, UK pos 3 )
One Of These Days / A Pillow Of Winds / Fearless / San Tropez / Seamus / Echoes
'San Tropez' is slightly quirky in it's musical feel, a little Jazzy and a little easy listening, but the vocals cut through, just about. 'San Tropez' is the weakest of these opening four songs, but there is nothing you could describe as being 'bad' about it. Dull, perhaps, but not bad. It's a strange thing, but I really enjoy the Jazz Piano section that appears mid-way through the track. It's a good Jazz Piano section! 'Seamus' works as a supporting track with bluesy guitar, a bluesy feel and bluesy Piano. Filler? Quite possibly. Like 'San Tropez' this isn't essential Pink Floyd and I could live very happily having never heard it. I wouldn't really be missing very much. 'Seamus' is atmosphere and quirkiness, with a dog howling in the background, but there's just a little matter of the twenty three minute side long 'Echoes' to close this album. Just a little matter..... 'Echoes' is a clear step forwards for the group. The vocals suddenly sound like 'Dark Side Of The Moon' vocals. Well, in 1971 they didn't, because that album didn't exist. That's the trouble with reviewing stuff like this knowing what came after. You find yourself looking for the progress you know fully well the group made. At the time the album came out however, it was clear the group had progressed. Even with the slightly less than important 'San Tropez' and 'Seamus' - 'Meddle' is clearly a more serious and artistic album than anything the group had done since 'Piper'. It's more cohesive than anything they'd done since 'Piper'. There are sections of 'Echoes' that quite frankly are dull and boring, but it works just about. As a piece, as a twenty three minute long 'suite' it works. 'Meddle' works. Pink Floyd were working! Okay, ok. You get the idea.
Add A Comment?Readers Comments
agnesfrechette frechett@granite.mb.ca
If you listen closely to the dog, it is singing minor 2nds and 7ths all the way through! It is clearly a dog who was once a musician but was karmically annhilated and sent back to sing on a Pink Floyd album, mostly off key!
chris godemperorferenczy@yahoo.com
Sure Seamus and San Tropez are a bit cheesy, but Echoes is the greatest song ever written, and therefore the whole album gets a 10 in my book.
Shockey armedomlette@hotmail.com
I guess everyone has their opinion. But this is the single most meaningful album pink floyd has to offer. And the most beautifly crafted songs I have ever heard. Since this scale only goes to 10, I think it deserved an 11.
bassplayeredd eddie123zeppelin@hotmail.com
Meddle in my opinion is the first post Syd album where the band really came together. The earlier albums had some good stuff on but i think this is where all the hit and miss of earlier albums paid off. "One of these days" is a great opener combining a rock jam with sound effects and experimentation. "A pillow case of winds" has nice guitar work but i don't care much for the song. I love the vocal style on "Fearless" which is another high point on the album. "San Tropez" is cheesy but still enjoyable and "Seamus" is original and fun. "Echoes" is obviously the albums greatest asset, the lyrics aren't great but the music is, the wonderful descending and asscending chromatic chords with Nick's steady drumming and a great solo from Dave. The middle funky section is a great jam with Rick's organ particularly standing out. I don't care much for the nosie in the middle but it nicely connects the twohalves of the song. The end of the builds up nicely and i like the vocal effect on t! he final verse. The song finishes strongly with some nice piano and guitar. The album has its weak moments but the experimentation and great sound should earn it a 9.5.
Tony AlienAntFarmer41@msn.com
Okay, this is a wonderful album and deserves at least a 9. Granted San Tropez and Seamus are a little cheasy, but One of These Days is a concert classic, A Pillow of Wind is a great ballad, Fearless is just awesome, and Echoes is incredible.
john.j.doyle@nuim.ie frechett@granite.mb.ca
the production on echoes is out of the cosmos, on a par with norman whitfield and thomas jefferson kaye's finest experiments.the section that begins where dave's jingly jangly guitar jumps straight out of nowhere, and ends at the start of the final verse is perfect doctor who regeneration music. seamus and san tropez are conclusive evidence of pink floyd's variety and eclecticism. 8/10.
Teeters menialtaskguapo@yahoo.com
Alright, personally, I think you rated this album a wee bit too high. Atom Heart Mother should be rated higher, even if the first track of this album lacks the wider appeal most Floyd tracks provide. Song for song, Meddle does not deserve this rating. One of These Days is an attractive, different stroke for Floyd, yet strays from the great guitar licks found in Echoes. A Pillow of Winds is a weak attempt at mellow psychedelia acheived by Fearless, the better of the short tracks. San Tropez does not acheive the preferred Floyd sound as it sacrifices intrigue with bland near elevator music devoid of the psychedelia portrayed in earlier albums. Seamus is lame, sorry, no sympathy there. Finally, Echoes achieves the sound previously attempted in this album; the downside there is the twenty minute length of it with little diversity to the sound, aside from the sirens in the middle. Overall, Meddle is a last ditch effort to relive the psychedelia found in other albums which! fails aside from a few shining moments, namely in Echoes and Fearless. I would give it a 6.
Obscured By Clouds 6½ ( 1972, UK pos 6 )
Obscured By Clouds / When You're In / Burning Bridges / The Gold It's In The / Wot's Uh The Deal / Mudmen / Childhood's End / Free Four / Stay / Absolutely Curtains
'Free Four' reminds you
( as did 'When You're In' ) that Pink Floyd were existing in the throes of Glam Rock, Marc Bolan, and the rest. This sounds like Mungo Jerry! Okay, so it doesn't really, but this is bizarre stuff to hear coming from Pink Floyd. There is no glitter surrounding it,
it all sounds deadly serious, then this Hard Rock guitar solo comes in. What's going on? The rhythm is glam, it's folky, it's both things
- although everything is understated. 'Mudmen' features a Dave Gilmour guitar part that tries to soar, but everything is taken at such a slow tempo, you'll fall asleep before he's finished playing. It still sounds okay.
But is 'Obscured By Clouds' a major work? No. Did Pink Floyd learn anything through the recording process? Quite possibly. It sounds well recorded and with a
small selection of samples
used. That idea would continue. Ominous keyboard sounds replace slightly less ominous keyboards of old. The vocals are deadly serious
- straight for the most part.
But..... you could miss this album out entirely, really you could, although if you're a fan you'll want to get it. Pink Floyd didn't release that many
albums through the years that you'll want to live without something like 'Wot's Uh The Deal', which is my song of choice from this collection.
Add A Comment?Readers Comments
john Kedward keddy1980@hotmail.com
Having grown up with 'Dark side of the moon' Listening to Obscured by Clouds for the first time. It comes across as something lighter more etheral at times. However the instrumentals sound a bit dated bringing the listener back to Ford zodiacs and eight tracks. It also like 'more' sounds a bit half finished but I love some of the tracks on it. 'There's gold.' and 'Wots a deal'. However I what really is outstanding is the album cover. A truely wonderful piece of abstract imagery. It is somebody trying to break through into a different dimension? The play of bubble likelights, as if you were looking into bright morning sun is very catching!
Tony AlienAntFarmer41@msn.com
This albums suprised me, it sounded only vaguely like the Floyd mostp eople know, but I still love this album. I myself describe it as a little bit like The Eagles, Creame, and just a hint of Zepp. But there is some great stuff on this album, and it deserves a lot higher.
jordan jordansterling1@yahoo.com
I thought Obscured by clouds could be one of the better pink floyd albums that people miss. To me, it seemed that the songs on here were nearly 1 step away from becoming their dark side of the moon material. If you listen to Childhoods end, it sounds very similar to Time. Burning Bridges is similar to Us and Them. It seemed to me as if this album was visual of Pink Floyd's transition to their Dark Side of the Moon style. Even more so than Meddle showed.
Huw davidhuwthomas@hotmail.com
I bought this with low expectations as it was a film score and a lesser known Floyd album. I was pleasantly surprised to find a collection of accessible "proper" songs - some of which are pretty untypical of the band and some of which give a hint of what was to come. If you don't like the instrumentals try playing them at 45RPM!
Dark Side Of The Moon 9 ( 1973, UK pos 2 )
Speak To Me / Breathe / On The Run / Time / The Great Gig In The Sky / Money / Us And Them / Any Colour You Like / Brain Damage / Eclipse
The keyboards and effects heavy instrumental 'On The Run' is only here to join together 'Breathe' and 'Time'. That's all. But you see, as 'On The Run' fades out oh so quietly, the clocks and ringing of 'Time' literally leaps out and grabs your ears and tears them from the side of your head, leaving you bloody and in some level of pain! Yeah, it 'literally' does that! A great transition, you see! 'Time' has great vocals. 'Us And Them' has glorious vocals, a friend of 'Breathe', it's a song with a similar feel and atmosphere. Guest vocalist Clare Torry enriches the already beautiful Rick Wright composition 'The Great Gig In The Sky' with some terrific vocal wailing. 'The Great Gig In The Sky' is spooky, it's glorious perfect music. The music and production, even forgetting the superlative vocal sounds - is enough already, really. Combined together, yeah, we really have something. If the likes of 'Money', 'Breathe' and 'Great Gig In The Sky' are amongst the highlights here, the only real weak point is the instrumental 'Any Colour You Like'. Even then, this isn't a weak track as such, just weaker than everything else here. The purpose of the keyboard led 'Any Colour You Like' seems less certain within the whole than other pieces here. Still, it's a minor point, I guess. The closing two songs pick up the slack, "The lunatic is on the grass" opens 'Brain Damage', 'Eclipse' sounds like the end of a film, the end of an opera or stage show. It fades out to mirror the sound of a heart beat, the same kind of sound that opened the album. That's a nice touch.
I don't really know how to sum up 'Dark Side Of The Moon' in a couple of easy sentences. I made the point earlier than the whole is more than the sum of its parts, and it's true. There aren't really that many classic songs here, but 'Dark Side Of The Moon' isn't really about the songs. It's a marvellous piece of inventive production, the samples and effects really adding to the record. There are highlights here, and very few weak points. It's a cliche, but 'Dark Side Of The Moon' is a trip. Whether it lives up to its reputation is another matter, but it doesn't really disappoint either.
Add A Comment?Readers Comments
Nick nickspicer@talk21.com
clearly the best album and deserves a 10. Personally i find money the poorest and most irritating of all tracks on the album, with songs such as us and them and the great gig in the sky making it the masterpiece that it is.
spencer lowe spancy11@yahoo.com
you have obviously rated dark side of the moon too low, it deserves a 10. any floyd fan knows that album really made floyd and was on the charts for some 14 yrs.
bassplayeredd eddie123zeppelin@hotmail.com
10. Has been overplayed for 30 years and still sounds great. To the person who commented first Money is a class song, second only to Time. The only song i don't think is great is "on the run".
runnie gengen@alltel.net
a great album period. maybe not rock'n'roll (excluding "money") but great music and lyrics nonetheless. i'm certainly not going to downgrade it just because yuppies (and apparently everyone else) happen to own a copy (or two). and the fact that i'm not totally sick of it after hearing it, and about it, for so many years, says something. the music alone to "time", "the great gig...", and "us and them", is some of the most beautiful to be heard anywhere in any genre. but the previous comment is correct, the whole is greater than the parts - "on the run" for example is not a great track taken out of context, but sounds fine as part of this particular album.
Bryan Way Maxsisrus7@aol.com
For starters, no. No. There are plenty of classic songs here. Money, Us and Them, Time, Brain Damage and Eclipse. The fact that they are incorporated into the lavish production of the album itself is part of what makes it great, and something tells me that 'On the Run' and 'Any Colour You Like' are not simply filler. The album practically defines Pink Floyd, and its success is in a large way because of that. It should move up to an 11, or the other albums should drop below it.
neil upton uptonneil@hotmail.com
9? This should be the 10 on the scale by which you judge any album ever made. However, I agree with Nick's comment about money. I always skip it.
ben scotty leach cleach@columbus.rr.com
I am a 12 year old kid and i still know that dark side needs a 10.It is their best album(and trust me i have heared them all)and one the greatest rock n roll albums of all time.And 'Money' is not the best song on the album,'Time' is fallowed closely by 'Eclipse'.And if a album from the 70's gets a good review from a 12 year old kid it,needs a good review
Sara upton krazy_rockin_kid47@msn.com
Dark side of the moon is a brilliant album, and for those who think on the run isn't all that great you're wrong, on the run is very experimental and thats what pink floyd basically is!!!! As for the rest of the album, its bloody brilliant, no songs are a nuisance to me and I can never get sick and tired of any song on this album, not even money! Just to say, Im 15, and I know how to rate an album and this one deserves a 10 and a half! (if there is such a thing) I LOVE FLOYD!
Brian Dickson jed@dickson171.fsnet.co.uk
Oooh I liked Dark Side Of the Moon when I was 18. It was so slick and mysterious. You see at the time I was into bands like Queen that had poncey "melody" shudder and Iron Maiden who were just brainless Neanderthals. It was high time I listened to some REAL music. The Floyd. Yeah. Totally legendary. And Dark Side is their magnum opus. The pinnacle of intelligent rock. One of the defining moments in the history of popular music. The atmospheric hearbeats, the mellow, spacey guitar runs of Breathe. What a fantastic start. I'm truly listening to the sound of deepest space here. And the repeated electronic loop of On The Run, with it's mysterious spoken passages. What is it? It sounds like a woman speaking over a PA ystem about flights to Rome. I can see the sheer GENIUS of that! And The great Gig In the Sky with it's soulful wailings. Money too, the more mainstream track with Waters in fine vitriolic form about how corrupt the music business is! It's all about mak! ing money! Oh no! I'm with Roger in feeling outrage too! And it's so obvious that The "dark side of the moon" is a clever metaphor for madness. And even the cover fits pefectly. A prism. The prism means both madness and the dark side of the moon. It's all so obvious! Pink Floyd really know how to churn out some clever stuff!
That's all great. But that's what I thought when I was 18. Hearing it more dispassionately 16 years later I don't think there's much good music on The Dark Side Of The Moon. The guitar run on Breathe is so mundane. The electronic loop on On The Run? You could do better these days on a music making software program. The singing on Great Gig In the Sky has no form or melody to it. I can just imagine Waters saying to the session singer "Right make it loud and soulful, but none of this melody bullsht. That's for commercial bands" And Us And Them to me sounds like something you might hear on Sesame Street circa 1971. Us....us...us....and...them! ....them....them... .None of the members are exceptional at wh! at they do. Waters isn't the best singer, Gilmour isn't the best guitarist, Mason isn't the best drummer... you get the idea. In fact virtually nothing on Dark Side is MUSICALLY very good. For me Time and Brain Damage are stll quite good songs. So a band wrote some good songs, Whoopee. I could list a hundred bands who have written "good" songs. Dark Side Of The Moon ( and Pink Floyd in general) is mainly about EFFECT. The overall effect, the "sound landscape", is what makes it a noteworthy album. Some might find this reason to laud it. I don't particularly. And really, what's the dark side of the moon got to do with madness? The ideas which seem to obvious to impressionable 18 year olds don't really hold any water (no pun intended) to closer inspection. Dark Side To me is a clever album in that it can make you believe you're hearing a masterpiece, but really it's to pop music what Star Wars is to movies. Lots of cool efects to suspend disbelief, but not much else beyond that.
These days I don't take Pink Floyd seriously. I've outgrown Pink Floyd in the same way that I've outgrown watching The A Team. One entertained me at age 13, the other at age 18. In my opinion Pink Floyd appeal to a specific age group roughtly 16-25 or so. Their themes of mystery, madness and whining about how life sucks when you've got a mountain of cash no longer appeal to me now, and there isn't really much good music backing it up. Most Pink Floyd bores me to tears now. Trying to find the substance behind the aural chicanery (or less charitably, "wankery") of their albums is like chasing a rainbow. Some might find this a worhtwhile pursuit. I don't. These days I actually prefer Iron Maiden and Queen to pretentious Pink Floyd. Things have turned full circle indeed. But I don't hate Pink Floyd now either. And really, people like Beethoven, Wiliam Byrd and Bach have written stuff better than any pop/ rock group, and in much greater quantities than the most prolific ban! d. The best pop music is something to entertain you. Some rave! about " The greatest musical achievment in recored history" when speaking about Dark Side Of The Moon. I can listen to arty pop music and enjoy it, but I don't take it all that seriously, unlike most Floyd fans. If you're the type who thinks Picasso was a genius then Pink Floyd are for you. Because while Picasso's paintings can draw attention for being odd, at the end of the day his paintings are from a technical point of view absolute crap. I won't go so far in saying the same for Pink Foyd, but really the main appeal lies in the presentation, not the music itself. Similarly people like to eat caviar because it has such high brow and classy connotations. But really it's just fish eggs. Prententiousness is seemingly part of the human condition.
I can cautiously recommend Dark Side Of the Moon to the listener, because it does have some worth, even if nothing more than a museum piece of popular culture. But I don't think that it's because the MUSIC is great. Some- and I mea! n SOME- Pink Floyd is quite good music IMO, but I need a lot of patience to find it amongst the overgrown sonic weeds of their albums. When people apply genius status to Pink Floyd it just makes me smile.
guerillabedlam dogsflyhigh@hotmail.com
OK first i would like to say I think Dark Side of the Moon is a good album, I dont think as good as their next three efforts (Wish you were Here, Animals, or The Wall) but still a solid album. I think 9 is an appropriate rating. Also it is probably the best introduction to Pink Floyd.
OK, time for the ranting. I read a review about how this album and Pink Floyd in general is not really a talented band just uses a lot of cool effects and "trickery" to do the job and is basically just a young adult band. I have to say that's one of the dumbest things ive ever heard. Yes i think Pink Floyd probably does appeal more to young adult "pot smoking" age but that's not why theyre so great. In fact a poll said the reason that Dark Side of the Moon is most people's favorite album is because its people's favorite album to make love to. (although lyrically i think its a weird album to choose)
Anyways, the reason why Floyd is great is because theyre! basically everything that's good about rock music. In my opinion Dark Side of the Moon outside of Money is far from a pop album, almost half the album is insturmental On the Run, Great Gig in the Sky, Any Colour you like, and then even Time takes awhile to kick in. I dont know how you cant call them musically gifted either, Gilmour is defintely a very good guitarist and his style fits perfectly with the band, and then even though Money gets old after awhile there is still a great sax solo and another good solo by Gilmour, and just the little touches by Waters and Right such as the background voices and such add so much more to the album. So what Floyd did is they made an album not with a couple of hits, but an album sticks with a particular mood that we all as humans can relate to. This album doesnt really sound dated either compared to most of the other stuff in 73. Some people were saying that they could make ON the Run on their computer and how its simple and repetiti! ve, Well if you can make it on your computer and all today I g! uess you cant really say it sounds dated cause you would think that technology would be gone now if it sounded that dated. I think that's part of the mystery and genius of Floyd and while they have and will outlast the majority of other 70's rock bands. (Boston, Ted Nugent,Doobie Brothers) I think Floyd will outlast even Kiss and Zeppelin, (and i am a huge Zeppelin fan) because if rock "officially" dies which it looks like its in the process of those bands will die with it because there is no otherway to categorize them, and you categorize their 70's stuff as psychedelic either cause by this time almost all of the prominent psychedelic bands were part of the past (Beatles, Doors, Jimi Hendrix, i dont really consider Grateful Dead a psychedelic band and Jefferson Airplane became Jefferson Starship.) So basically what im saying is Floyd's style is one of a kind and if I were to try to label Dark Side of the Moon as any kind of album I would call it the first ever ambient concept album! because i know when i listen to it and my friends listen to it it basically just strikes the right chord evokes some basic human feelings.
John Smith johnsmith@omega-studios.cjb.net
Uhh, Brian Dickson just churned out the most crap I've ever heard. On the Run can be done better by some computer program today? That makes no sense. That's like me saying "haha, suckers, all you in the past who didn't have access to the internet because IT DIDN'T EXIST, well, I'm superior to you." I think you're mistaking poetry, art, and seriousness for pretentiousness. The Great Gig in the Sky has no melody? They were just trying to capture the spontaneousness. Obviously because this album doesnt cater to your every desire it must suck and be a piece of crap. And uh, do you have no life? This EXACT review of yours is on Amazon.com and reviewcentre.com. Do you have nothing better to do than try to be a rebel and piss on this album? Nice job raging against the machine, dumbass. Contrary to what Brian might say, this IS a great album. In atmosphere, I'd say it's the best Pink Floyd album, however, musically, I think Wish You Were Here is a bit ! better. I'd still give this album a 10/10 for providing a great listening experience.
Floydfanatic tboltED@aol.com
Anyone who thinks "Money" sucks needs to go to hell. It is the best song on the album. The sound fx and guitar solos are 100% flawless! In fact, every song is flawless. I give this album 10+.
bassplayeredd eddie123zeppelin@hotmail.com
sorry to post again but i must say i've changed my mind about "on the run". It is really quite breath taking to say when it was made. I suppose you also need to be wearing headphones to apprciate it because there are a lot sounds that go from one side to the other.
Stuart O\'Neill stuart.oneill6@btinternet.com
Awesome album, just wonderful. Bryan, if Gilmour isn't a great guitarist how come he's been one of the most in-demand session players for the past 30 years?
Ben (Jamin) Riddell ben_jamin401@hotmail.com
?Ok Brian, so what's the gag here? Did someone bribe you to start ripping apart Dark Side
Of The Moon, did someone blackmail you into hating Pink Floyd? because trust me Brian, you are likely one of the few that will challenge the greatness of DSOTM. So you say that you can do better things on a studio program now-a-days because we are so hi-tech? That's great, now anyone with moeny can write a song, no talent involved. Here are guys that were experimenting with new technology, breaking ground with their art-rock sound, using their actual combined talent to creat a masterpeice concept album, and what do you have to say? let's praise the rich kid with the computer program he's just as good. well ive heard a lot of tribute bands on floyd, its is not as easily replicated as u might think! i'd like to see you create an album on your little program that comes near to this! ok so you've gotten yourself all wrapped up in the purely lyrical! message being sent. how about the actual music? does that mean nothing, lyrics are an extension of pink floyd, how can you expect to understand them if you don't listen to the instrumental half? ok, and so your saying that bach and beethoven were better right? well thats great for them, no one said pink floyd was better, because they weren't trying to be them! its comparing apples and oranges. Here's my thoughts Brian "Benjamin Franklin was way better than Beethoven because he created electricity, and we all depend on it so hes much better!" apples and oranges that's what u were comparing Brian. You liked it when you were 18 eh? too bad you gave up your soul with your age, wow have you possibly become some of the things you vowed never to become? Some of the things people specifically listen to Pink Floyd for, the messages conveyed through their music huh huh??? I think you've lost your soul Brian, and frankly I'm dissapointed you wo! uld write something so terrible about This Album, or Pink ! Floyd at all. you have insulted many by your careless comments. now on to my thoughts on the album, for those of you who get tired of some
of the songs, i don't understand how you can just skip them? its a concept album it doesnt make sense if you skip sections! I never listen to an album and just flip to my favourite songs, thats not what they were made for. its a concept album and meant to be played from beginning to end! I'm just amazed evertime i listen to their stuff, is this all in their heads? is this what they hear during the day? how does one create something like Dark Side Of The Moon? it al flows into eachother so smoothly like it was all imagined together. the slow build up to the end couple songs, where you can just feel the energy pulsing through you, living the music! anyways if you have listened to this album you know what I mean, and if you have read Brian Dickenson's comments, then you will realize that Dickenson minus the "E! nson" is a good description for him.
Tony AlienAntFarmer41@msn.com
Deserves a 10 for its musical significance. Without, most of us would've never heard WYWH, The Wall, Animals, Piper, etc. I don't understand everyone's beef with Money, its a great song in concert, and is fun to play if you're in a band.
Josh Jshcprc@yahoo.com
Dark side of the Moon is one of the greatest concept albums of all time, However I feel that it's overwhelming popularity throughout time has taken away from the beauty of thier other concept albums that were just as good (AKA The Roger Waters era)
Simon odd_fellow@hotmail.co.uk
To be honest, i thought you summed the album up about right in your review, as usual. Musically it's not the best thing ever, but the production and sequencing is awesome. I really like this album, but what i really can't stand is people who think it is so fucking great, and by far the best album ever etc. Those wankers who say it deserves '11' can fuck off, because it doesn't. It is way above average, but not the best album ever by any means.
Steven skinny-snowman@hotmail.com
Just because something is popular doesnt mean its not good. Look at the symphony, its way popular and its still good.
No then....... Since i bought dark side of the moon, i am still finding out new things about it. Like when you hear, "There is no dark side of the moon, really, its all dark". I just dicover that yesterday (pathetic, i know). To me, dsotm is a great work of art and will never die. Rating:20
Kier Smith amusedtodeath@hotmail.co.uk
I think every man and his dog has said something about this album, but id just like to add this. 'Time' is the best song every written, in the world - ever! no question, i wondered if i could ever say this but im settled with it and im proud to say it. This song means the world to me and i just wanted everyone to know it. ' the build up, the tempo, the way it kicks in, the lyrics (unbelievable, just out of this world. The times ive recited the lyrics from this song, it just shakes me every time i run through them) - the greatest guitar solo ever, the final verse, the resigned attitude the end of the song brings. ah its perfection. i'll say no more. Go listen to it. Again! ha, ha.
matt mcolville1@yahoo.com
Lets not kid ourselves guys, just because somethings famous, popular or well known doesn't warrant the over analyzing and extremely critical grading of dark side, deep down. its a nine and a half at least, i know that you are more a fan of the kind of music that gives an atmospheric feel rather than bluesy rock or guitar heavy music, but this album blends those two types of music together perfectly, its an amazing accomplishment, 9.5 from me, btw Time is the best song on the album and one of the best in the whole pink floyd catalogue
matt Colville6969@yahoo.com
Dear Sweet Brian,
You seem to have taken your view on dark side of the moon a little bit too far. Yes, your right, Dark Side of the Moon probably isn't the best album of all time. It may or may not be Pink Floyd's best album. Point taken, and understood. But don't try to tell people that Pink Floyd is an average group,because few bands have ever been as unique and innovative as Pink Floyd over the years, they are unique. and don't very cautiously reccomend it to the listener, (everyone's already heard it anyway and knows that its a good album) Anyway i have to disagree with you "Money" lovers, Time my favorite on the album
Dan j4triv@lycos.com
An easy 10. Wonderfully evocative, hauntingly beautiful, etc., etc. Originally, "Us and Them" was my favorite, the repetitive beats like a slower, sadder version of the wars it rues. Then, of course, there was "Time", which plays on all of our fears of death, and more precisely, a wasted life ("And then one day you find/Ten years years have got behind you/No one told you when to run/You missed the starting gun").
But now I'm more drawn to "Brain Damage", contemplating how Roger must have felt writing it, projecting what can only be his version of "survivor's guilt" (no doubt his father's death at Anzio also plays into this) onto the Sid-figure narrator, and the subtext of resentment ("You raise the blade/You make the change/You rearrange me till I'm sane"), abandonment ("You lock the door/And throw away the key"), and horror ("There's someone in my head but it's not me") that Roger imagines "Sid" lashing out on him, culminating with wistful-yet-menacing promis! e that all of this will happen to Rog, too. ("I'll see you on the dark side of the moon.") And its musical beauty is unsurpassed, building and building until it cuts out, leaving only the stark beauty of "Eclipse" to follow. Pure excellence, IMO.
paul paulwatts@optushome.com.au
I think what this Brian fellow was trying to say, and not very well, is that DSOTM was of its time, but hasn't aged all that well. This is bound to happen when currently fashionable technologies and ideas are used in a recording. Like Sgt Pepper a few years before, DSOTM became flavour of the decade, but given the passing of time, somehow falls short of other works by the same artists.
GAZZA
As far away from the syd barret psychedelic whimsy as you can get "dark side of the moon" remains the most incredible concept album on life,madness,and mortality thats ever been made.
Musically it takes the ideas the beatles had circa 67 to their logical conclusion ,but unlike the beatles who excelled in bringing diverse material together floyd prefer to stretch their music out into peaks and troughs that fit together musically as well as conceptually . It gave birth to a lot of pretence and dodgy albums , but this one remains a classic.
Their are some majestic moments here, the mellow melancholy of "breathe" , the intricate funk of "money" , "the great gig in the skys" ominous beauty, the overlapping keyboards on "any colour you like" and of course the dreamy sax enhanced "us and them" . And you cant mention this album without commenting on david gilmours incredible guitar playing.
What an incredible journey this album takes you on and it has done for nearly 35 ! years now .
Will Petersfield
Adrian, you site is excellent and so it appears is your taste but how has Dark Side lost a whole mark. Not many classics? How about Time, Great Gig, Money, Us And Them? The whole thing is a magnum opus. 10/10, 11 if ratings were as flexible as Spinal Tap's amps.
maurizio roca New York
I think dark side works better without money. I find that more than half the people I know feel this way. It seems to alter the mood of the record for 6 minutes. Piper was my favorite as a teenager but as I've grown older I consider this and Wish You Were here as better accomplishments. I would rate both as 10s but I would never say either is the absolute best album ever. I consider some of the great krautrock bands like neu, can, kraftwerk, cluster, and harmonia took what pink floyd did to a more experimental forward thinking plateau. Regardless Pink Floyd is one of the greatest bands ever with 3 classic albums.
Wish You Were Here 8½ ( 1975, UK pos 1 )
Shine On You Crazy Diamond / Welcome To The Machine / Have A Cigar / Wish You Were Here / Shine On You Crazy Diamond
Of the three shorter songs, I really love both 'Welcome To The Machine' and 'Wish You Were Here'. 'Welcome To The Machine' is monotone, lacking in melody. But then, the idea was oppression and technological fear. 'Welcome To The Machine' I find to be very addictive listening, very cold and dark yet able to provoke an emotional response, certainly. The title song is beautiful, the lyrics if you read them as laid out on paper work as poetry. They sound great when sung, which is important as well, but this is a good set of lyrics, no question. There is a folky atmosphere, a weary vocal, a few touches of the blues about Gilmour's guitar work. The title song is better than the already decent 'Welcome To The Machine' and very nearly a match for the opening 'Shine On You Crazy Diamond' ( parts 1-5, if you really wanted to know ). 'Have A Cigar' is the clear weakpoint of the album. A dog of a song, seemingly an attempt at providing a little groovy funk aka 'Money', but it falls flat on its face. The funky aspect is clumsily executed - neither the guitar nor keyboard parts sound comfortable. The vocals are provided by Roy Harper, and don't sound great either. Roger Waters was apparently meant to sing the song, but never got a satisfactory vocal down. The closing 'Shine On You Crazy Diamond' ( parts 6-9, this time ) is less beautiful than the opening sequence, but still impressive and gorgeous all the same. It ties up the album very well.
Splitting 'Shine On You Crazy Diamond' was a great idea, actually. It gives the illusion that 'Wish You Were Here' is a more cohesive work than it really is! This is no 'Dark Side Of The Moon' conceptually or in terms of easy flow one track to the next. The transition from 'Have A Cigar' through to the title song is a case in point. 'Have A Cigar' fades out to the sound of a transistor radio, 'Wish You Were Here' opens with the sound of a transitor radio amid voices and crackles - but the songs don't naturally lend themselves to be joined in such fashion. Anyways! 'Wish You Were Here' on the strength of the title track and 'Shine On You Crazy Diamond' alone is more than impressive. Add in 'Welcome To The Machine' with its fear and paranoia, and you can forgive them 'Have A Cigar', really you can. A step down from 'Dark Side Of The Moon' this may be, but it's not that much of a step - this is still mighty stuff.
Add A Comment?Readers Comments
Simon Brigham slb23@shaw.ca
This was my first Floyd record. I found it in a box of records a friend of my parent's gave to me four years ago. I took one look at the cover and said "This one's a keeper!". So I set it aside, and listened to it later. I didn't like it at first, so I shelved it. But then I came back to it and it was quite good. That's how I got to like Pink Floyd.
This is really a sad album. You can immediately tell from the sad keyboards at the begining of "Shine on You Crazy Diamonds", and also from the mournful guitar. It's all very mechanical. It's like very creative machines are playing the instruments, instead of people. One of my favourite parts is when "Have a Cigar" gets 'sucked' into the radio that's go from station to station, finally resting on a station that's 'playing' "Wish You Were Here". If you turn up the begining part you can hear Dave cough a disgusting smoker's cough. Rumour has it that when he heard it on playback, he immediately quit. Good for you, Dave! The only part I don't like it "Shine on you Crazy Diamond Part VI".
A must for floyd fans.
bass player edd eddie123zeppelin@hotmail.com
except for welcome to machine it is an absolute gem.9.5/10
ben leach misszg@wideopenwest.com
I think this is a 100% tribute album to Syd Barret.I mean come on, (S)hine on (y)ou cray (D)imond. I feel that both Welcome to the machine and Have a cigar are songs about his life. "come in here dear boy have a cigar, your gonna go far" and Wish you were here, jeez if that isent a white flag of a tribute album then what is.
MattP cincy4912@aol.com
Couldn't agree more with your review, great album despite the uncoordinated sounding "have a cigar". "Shine On" (part1) and "Wish you were here" are in my opinion two of the best floyd songs ever. Both are gorgeous songs.
Philthy Phil philthyphil@ntlworld.com
I can't believe that you completely miss mentioning the whole point of this album. It's not a tribute to Syd (as one of your other contributers says) but a deeply heart-felt outpouring of sorrow over what became of the man.
Every lyric, every line, every word is about Syd (with the possible exception of have a cigar). The very title of the album is lamenting that Syd is NOT here, ie. with us, in the real world.
I thought every Floyd fan knew the meaning of this album. It is one of the Floyd's most personal albums. The four of them are coming to terms with the fact that Syd has gone (even if not physically) and is lost to them. He has traded his walk on part in the war for a leading role in a cage; there's a look in his eyes, like black holes in the sky; he's caught in the crossfire of childhood and stardom; he bought a guitar to punish his ma; he is threatened by shadows at night and exposed in the light; how they wish, how we all wish, that he was here.
Tri! bute to Syd? I think it's more of a requiem. An R.I.P. to the lost mind of a loved one.
For me, this is better than Dark Side - it has the same themes: madness, corporate manipulation, the unbearable difficulty of merely living from day to day - but in this album, those themes are not abstract, they stem instead from the bands experiences of watching a friend fall apart at the seams.
One could argue that the wall is the Floyd's most personal album. But that is dominated by Roger Waters personality, his concerns and experiences. Wish you were here is much more of a joint enterprise - they all share the feelings here - that for me is why it works better than the wall.
I know you don't like handing out 10/10's - but I think this deserves one more than any other Floyd album.
And BTW, I love Roy Harper's vocal on Cigar! The comic lyrics of this track contrast beautifully with the sinister nature of the song's story - 'we're so happy we can hardly count', 'by! the way, which one's pink?' - when all the time, this, ultima! tely is what led to Syd's demise - the pressures of stardom, sudden wealth and always someone with the drugs, whenever you want them - even when you don't! - especially when you don't!!
If I could own just 1 Floyd album, this would be it.
Tony AlienAntFarmer41@msn.com
Ah yes, my 2nd Pink Floyd album. I loved it my first listen-through, and I still love it. A must have for anyone who's ever even heard one song from Dark Side.
Josh Jshcprc@yahoo.com
I feel that WYWH is just as good of a concept album as DSOTM. It is a musical postcard to Syd. It starts off talking of Syd's mental state in scorn and disbelief (Shine on you crazy diamond 1-5). Then the album talks of various factors that one has to deal with when they are a musical celebrity covering every thing from Lying record lables to a blood hungry society(Welcome to the Machine & Have a cigar). Then the album changes pace as if the writer of the "Musical Postcard" had changed thier mind in regards to the scornful and disbelieving comments made during the first Shine Medley, and began longing for the time when they were ignorant to fame and showbiz(Wish You Were Here)and then finally comes to realize that they are on the same path as the one they scorned (Shine On You Crazy Diamond 6-9)
Ultimately I believe that this is just as well of a thought out concept album as Dark Side of the Moon.
Lily lili8530@hotmail.com
My only regret is discovering Pink Floyd only when I did. I think Roger Waters is a genius and A world without Floyd would suck. I will See Roger Waters live in September, he will be doing in full, Dark Side Of The Moon. I'll pop back and let yall know how that went. Talk about having your dreams come true at the tender age of 27. Have a cigar, great tune....
Skinny Snowman skinny-snowman@hotmail.com
First of all, its a brilliant album and "Shine on you crazy diomond is are great songs". So i disagree with that. But at least you gave it a good rating.
big matt m_rupoli@hotmail.com
"Welcome to the machine" is without doubt my favorite song on this album. I think it gives a good intake on syds life, and thats basically what floyd's trying to accomplish with this tribute album. the tone and style of the song flow perfectly with the lyrics. i dont think this cd has a bad song at all, but this one stands out the best for me. perfect 10.
Gavin Gleed gavin_gleed4@msn.com
i remember going out to buy this album. i had worked all week, ordered it in, and on the day it ws the best thing i had ever bought. 13 years after its release, i walk into a shop, and im amased that the sleeve is a black vaccum pack with post cards and stickers........i was lost!!!!! floyd made music history with this album. there are very few bands that are able to make an album with as much success as DSOTM...but to have the ordasity to follow it up with one of equal if not better qualities is the mark of prefection. most bands would have struggled to have come up with a seller after dark side, but this just showed everyone what a fine group floyd are.
GAZZA
In every way as strong a concept album as DSOTM, this one focuses on paying tribute and perhaps providing encouragement to syd barret their former bandleader and friend , as well as having a swipe at the mechanics of the record industry .
The lengthy "shine on" is beautiful and symphonic , layers of keyboards providing a bed for some more inspired soloing from gilmour but every player gets a chance to provide something special , its lengthy - especially when adding the second part at the end of the album but you can just float along with the harmony of the piece , it really shows you dont need lots of lyrics to make emotional music .
"welcome to machine" however is a doomy ballad and covered in great synthesised sounds , "have a cigar" attempts something more funky and robotic and fits well in the sequence . But the title track is one of the best things floyd have ever done and sends shivers up your spine with its beauty and sadness .
That 2 years after "dark si! de of the moon" floyd could create something as powerful as this is some achievement . Its not quite as accessible as DSOTM but its one hell of an artistic statement .
Animals 6½ ( 1977, UK pos 2 )
Pigs On The Wing 1 / Dogs / Pigs ( Three Different Ones ) / Sheep / Pigs On The Wing 2
'Pigs ( Three Different Ones )' is only eleven minutes long and opens with some angry guitar to match the Roger Waters lyrics. The song has a little funk around the bass lines, keyboards come through interesting guitar parts, and this is genuinely good stuff that I can dig. Not hugely, but yeah, a good track. 'Sheep' is up-tempo, it's got drums on it!! Rock n Roll! Yeah!! The keyboards sound dead nice, the slow weird mid section of the song doesn't sound nice, but it adds a little more 'spook' to the song that it already posesses. And yeah, cool guitar. I guess I like this 'Sheep' song. Mark it down as my fave from this album. Why? Because it is. In case you might miss it ( and you probably will, there is nothing overt here ) - 'Animals' is a concept album revolving loosely around the work of George Orwell and 'Animal Farm' in particular. Roger Waters rails against the government, divides people into three groups - 'Sheep', 'Pigs' and 'Dogs', and so forth. Just in case you really wanted to know that. I've described the concept behind this album are not being overt, but I've also heard other people describe the concept as overly obvious. What's going on? Maybe with the pigs flying over Battersea power station on the front cover, and the lyrics dissected with the aid of explanations from Roger Waters, the concept seems more obvious. Really, it just doesn't hold together and doesn't reveal its nuances from simple 'listening' - eg, not relying on other reference or source material. That's really what I meant. The concept doesn't leap into your ears via mere listening. Not unless you're the kind of person that really wants to catch and study every single word of Mr Waters lyrical content without enticing music or songs to help guide you through the process.
Add A Comment?Readers Comments
Dagoberto Reis dagoberto.reis@netvisao.pt
animals is the best Pink Floyd pos Syd era album 3 parts making a circle with the 2 folk pieces in the begining and end. A must for floyd fans.
Matt Poplawski poplawsm@sheridanc.on.ca
How could you rate Animals so low.... I have to call you crazy for doing so. Animals is in Pink Floyds top 4.... #1 - Dark Side #2 - Wish you were here #3 - The Wall #4 - Animals
Simon B slb23@shaw.ca
IMHO, I think a 6.5 is too low for ANIMALS. It's generally quite under-rated
(especially by the music magazines). Probably it doesn't have any radio-friendly
tracks. It just has two 1.5 minute songs ("Pigs on the Wing, Parts 1 & 2"), two
songs over 10 minutes ("Pigs: Three Different Ones", and "Sheep"), and one 17 minute
song ("Dogs"). It may be hard to get into at first, but when you do get into it,
ANIMALS is a great album. 8/10.
piggyinthemiddle poorroyschieder@hotmail.com
Animals is brilliant. Second only to Piper. Listen again man, ya missed something.
Henry Kerr henryker@hotmail.com
I do think that you have rated Animals way to low. this album should be at least a
8.. its bloody great!
Michael Baker guess_who@hotmail.com
I find this album quite enjoyable, but I think there is alot better Floyd. This
album is a little to pedestrian for my liking. But if your a Floyd nut like myself
its worth having.
Pamela Gomez pammi2003@yahoo.com
How can you call yourself a floyd fan when your dissin animals? C'mon, this is the best floyd album, it's pure art. Nontheless, I respect your opinion, even though I dont agree with it.
andrew matthews amatthews@bemrosebooth.com
I think you and the music press in general have underrated this album. Everyone I
know that knows this album well rates this as one of the best Pink Floyd offerings.
8.5/10 is nearer the mark.
Nathan Schulz isrpgmaker@hotmail.com
The first time I heard this album through, I was not impressed. But after the second time I listened, I came upon a revelation, it was even worse the second time. 6.5/10 sounds accurate. Good review, this album is overrated by far to many reviewers
marco mvanderwel@hotmail.com
Oke, Roger isn't Sinatra. Myself I like the sound of David better and his absence is too bad. Roger's voice comes out great anyway. Animals (maybe based on animal farm) is a prologue to the wall and has quite good sound effects. So, 1 point up would I say.
cop c087714martyn@yale-wrexham.ac.uk
Compared to the previous floyd albums, all of which I've got time for, Animals stands out as one to put on before a night out with its rockier sound. Plus it sent me mates dog wild with all the animal noises
ben leach misszg@wideopenwest.com
I love this album.This album is everything a Floyd fan needs. It has a massive guitar wail by Gilmour in 'Dogs', a slightly catchy funky part in 'Pigs(all three of them)' and a awsome keybored mix in 'sheep'. I do agree with you that 'Sheep' is the best on the album but 'Dogs' dose give some killer sections where me and my dad scream along too and air guitar. A great album. Listen agein.
Damon, pashathree@aol.com
I think Animals is a great album. I dont think its their best album, though. In my opinion it's a masterpiece. I'm glad you you put up the Animal Farm part. Few people know that. Just in case you read the book, it's about a group of farm animals who "overthrow" the "rule" of the farmer and take control of the farm and form a new society. At first, all animals are equal. But eventually power shifts to the pigs they are more intelligent and that's what they have convinced the animals. The pigs train dogs to be their underlings and do their dirty work. The sheep are the stupidest animals and follow whatever the pigs say. Eventually the pigs start acting like humans which goes against what the animals originally stated. That's how they got the idea for the three classes of society. Animal Farm had a different message but in ways the same. Animal Farm symbolizes Russia. Everything symbolizes someone in Russia. Not Russia today, because the book was written in like 1945. The head ! pig (Napoleon) represented Stalin, dogs are his body guards or police or the KGB, and sheeps were peasants. I'm not gonna get into all the symbolism now. Haha, I like to know as much as possible about Pink Floyd. I get a little bit more out of the music that way. Anyway, i think Animals deserves a higher rating, but you are entitled to your own opinion. Animals is definitely not a classic Pink Floyd album, but I like it none the less. 9/10. O yeah, in Pigs(three different ones), the third pig is Mary Whitehouse. British people should know her. She was pro-sensorship( see lines like: your trying to keep our feelings off the street and you gotta stem the evil tide). Waters obviously did not like this. Any one who hasn't heard Animals should listen to it sometime. You might like it, you might not.
Tony AlienAntFarmer41@msn.com
So far you're reviews are somewhat accurate, but most Flyd fans know Animals was one of their best concept albums. It just might me my favorate, but I love them all. It seems that Floyd can do no wrong for me, because their music is just so appealing no matter what the sound.
Kyle Wagner kdwkyle@aol.com
This is my favorite album of all time. This does not make it the greatest album ever, nor does it mean you have to feel the same way. I respect other views, but only from those intelligent enough to use correct grammar. "TOO many viewers overrate this album" versus "TO many viewers, this album is overrated." Simple grade school stuff there - that was directed at you there Schultz. In order for something to be OVERrated, it has to be something held in high esteem - eliminating this album from ever be characterized as such. What is not to like about this album? Incredible lyrics, great guitar solos, keyboard....drums etc. And for those of you too impatient to listen to longer songs, just shutup please, you aren't worth hearing. Just listen to the end of dogs and don't make a sound because it's simply put, a musical nirvana. It really doesn't get any better. Definately a ten - doesn't bother me that music "critics" don't appreciate it, but you really have no argument! against it other than that the songs are not radio-friendly. Any real Floyd fan could ever let such blasphemy be spoken about such a great alubm.
Josh Jshcprc@yahoo.com
Anyone Who had overanalyzed anything in thier life should love "Animals" All Pink Floyd Studio albums between the years of 1973 through 1983 Were very analytical. That is the beauty of Pink Floyd. Every Album during this era (Dark Side of the Moon, Wish You Were Here, Animals, The Wall and The Final Cut) were concept albums and if you are looking only for Mama's and Papa's oriented Material you probably will not enjoy Pink Floyd. It takes an intellectual to appreciate the musical references to George Orwell's "Animal Farm" The Album begins and ends with a song that Roger Waters wrote for his wife at the time. In between these love songs he categorizes all people into three types of people Sheep,Dogs and Pigs. Sheep being the blind majority who follow blindly and are massacred when ever conveinent. The dogs would be the forces that are used to "get rid" of whatever entities propose a threat to the Pigs. The Pigs would be the controlling force behind all decisions made. Pigs o! n the wing (Parts One and Two) are used as a contrast between Good and Evil and Mundane.
Steph stephe_tr@yahoo.fr
There are so many things to love in Pink Floyd music, their albums are so different one from each other that it can happen that some real pink floyd fans do not like this album. Animals is one of my favorite album ever. It makes me fly, like a flying pig! Absolutely gorgeous from beginning to the end.
walt kthup1@yahoo.com
The lyrics are depressing, no doubt. And perhaps this type of rock, as was suggested in the review, has been done better by others. But I love this album. Dark Side of the Moon, in my opinion, is their masterpiece, and I feel that with that record, they did what Michelangelo did with marble. They discovered something of beauty that was always there, just waiting to be uncovered. Animals is a great album that was created, not discovered. Not perfection, but very, very good. The obviousness or lack thereof of the concept can be argued, and whethere the songwriting falters at times can be argued, but whether the music itself reaches moments of greatness, I think, cannot be argued. It's my second favorite Floyd album.
bassfreak msa@inorbit.com
Animals. Not an influential album, due mainly to the abscence of (quote) "radio-friendly tracks". This cut down on it's popularity, however, it deserves a 10/10. In my opinion Animals and Piper share the title of best floyd album ever. I especially like the way Dogs focuses on Gilmour's guitar wails, Pigs on Waters' funky bass lines, and Sheep on Wright's eerie keyboard playing. They could of made a song for Nick too I guess, but then the record would have been too long, No matter, cause Animals includes some of the best playing and definitely the best lyrics ever: "And when you lose control, you'll reap the harvest you have sewn" ("You'll reap what you sow", sounds familiar doesn't it? Maybe Linkin Park of RATM?)
Anyway, I have no idea why you rated this album so low. Listen again.
Steven skinny-snowman@hotmail.com
Holy cow man.... I cannot belive you just said that. Animals is a great album. Espically the guitar solo in Dogs. Just because the songs are really long except 2 doesnt prove squat. I have no idea how you can be a true floyd fan and not like at least 2 songs on this album.
Kier Smith amusedtodeath@hotmail.co.uk
Animals is definately the sound of Roger Waters getting just a little bit pissed off with things, ha, ha,......he's not messing around with his lyrics here, theyre sharpe, direct and cut to the bone. its a fine album, i always think this is the one thats under-rated - probably because it only has the three real songs on it.........but belters they are, i like pigs (three different ones) it sort of goes in fits and starts until that unmistakeable screeching gilmour solo at the end - which of course is out of this world......he lyrics to dogs is great, And roger did a belting version of 'sheep' on his recent tour..... fine album 8.5/10
paul paulwatts@optushome.com.au
Leaving aside the inconsequential "Pigs On The Wing" that bookends this record, there are three long tracks. The Floyd look to have tried really hard to make a silk purse from a sow's ear with "Dogs", but I find myself in agreement with Adrian on this one. It's got some good bits, but is bloated and tedious.
Pigs (Three Different Ones) mnight have made a passable album track had it been half its eventual length. At eleven minutes it is just filler. Finally we have Sheep. Not only is this the best track on the album, it is easily the equal of anything on the much vaunted DSOTM and nothing on Wish You Were Here comes even close. Sheep is in my view the final true group performance of Pink Floyd, before the era of Waters domination. As a swansong to Pink Floyd as a group it is a fitting performance. The subject matter can be taken literally or at a higher, symbolic level (sheep being humans who blindly follow convention) with equal validity. I prefer it as a! song about the plight of sheep, it seems creepier that way. You can look at this two ways. One way is that Animals has just one worthwhile track on it, the other is that it contains 10 minutes of absolute inspired Pink Floyd brilliance. Very few recordings have 10 minutes this good on them, regardless of the other 30, and for this reason alone I give Animals a rating of 8.
James Lennon7_13@yahoo.com
Giving Animals a 6 1/2 is a joke. Value for your money? Hey retard, you just sucked WYWHs dick, and you only got 4 songs on that one, 3 of which are standard 4-6 minutes. So again, what the hell are you blabbing about? Shouldnt be reviewing Pink Floyd albums that youve only heard a few times. Wasting everyones time.
Stephen
Your rating for Animals is way too high at 6.5.This is the album that turned me off Floyd back in '77 when I already owned and loved the rest of their albums up to that point and I still see no redeeming features in it.I would struggle to even give it a rating.
greg mccoy.gregory@yahoo.com
Absolutely a great album. I agree with Kyle that people need to have patience and listen to the longer songs, but come on man, get off of your intelectual fucking high horse Kyle! This is Rock 'n' Roll. Yes, it is Rock 'n' Roll written and performed with a certain amount of intelligence. But to criticize someone on their grammar?!? I know I should stick to the album here, so yes a better rating would probably come with a little more patient listening. Yes Kyle I started a sentence with the word BUT and I'm not sure I spelled everything correctly either...or iether.
Randy Ottawa
Almost as good as The wall.Fantastic guitar licks and another stellar vocal
performance by Waters.If you are a Floyd fan,your collection cannot be complete
without this masterpiece.Anything less than a 9 is unwarrented.Any true Floyd
fan know that!!!C'mon
Tyler Plaza994@yahoo.com
6.5? Your joking? You must have no idea whats it's really about? From knowledge
I know its based on the book Animal Farm and the Russian Revolution. You say
people wouldnt care for the lyrics? What are you talking about? There great and
yes there very powerfull to me. To me this is more than a concept album its
reality. Every song on the album is great and making an album from topics like
the Russian Revolution and Animal Farm wouldn't be easy to do and make it
brillant, only a thing Pink Floyd could do. I know its only your opinion, but I
think its completely wrong to give a 6.5 / 10 to Animals, a truely classic
album. For me 9/10.
Mike Moss Seattle
I think Animals should have been rated higher, but what ever. I do agree with you other reviews, except I'm not sure I would have rated the last 2 albums so high. When these came out I was astonished at how popular this stuff was. Oh, and The Wall. I'm not sure this album has held up very well. I'm not a good judge of this because I way overplayed the thing when I was younger but some of the songs sound dated. Again, I really overplayed it. Too much pot at 17.
Peter Ottawa
I can't believe this only got a 6 1/2!!!? This is an easy 10 IMO, brilliant, crisp melodies, great guitar work as usual, bare-boned Floyd - and it's KILLER. Seriously, check this out again. Listen to it twice in a row, then reflect on the lyrics, then listen again. If you still think it's a 6 1/2, there's nothing more we can do I'm afraid!
The Wall 9½ ( 1979, UK pos 3 )
In the Flesh? / The Thin Ice / Another Brick in the Wall 1 / The Happiest Days of Our Lives / Another Brick in the Wall 2 / Mother / Goodbye Blue Sky / Empty Spaces / Young Lust / One of My Turns / Don't Leave Me Now / Another Brick in the Wall 3 / Goodbye Cruel World / Hey You / Is There Anybody Out There? / Nobody Home / Vera / Bring the Boys Back Home / Comfortably Numb / The Show Must Go On / In the Flesh / Run Like Hell / Waiting for the Worms / Stop / The Trial / Outside the Wall
'The Thin Ice' is as bleak as can be. Is the music here depressing? Possibly, although I prefer the word bleak, it describes the sound and feel more accurately. Gilmour gets to show off his guitar in some places ( the solo in 'Mother' for example ) but a lot of songs seem based around simple acoustic guitar, then blown up in the studio later on during the recording process. It works though, these are very real sounding songs, too real at times. There is variety here amongst the bleakness, a variation with guitar rock songs like 'Young Lust' and some string orchestrated material later on. The guitar rock of 'Young Lust' isn't a favourite of mine, but it's here, and it works, just about. Side three ( of the vinyl release ) is glorious, with 'Hey You', 'Is There Anybody Out There' and 'Nobody Home' all being stunning compositions and music of genuine beauty. 'Hey You' might just be my favourite song here. 'Vera'? Now's there's an old English name, World War II? You betcha! Roger sings of Vera Lynn in this case, with strings and bass and mentions of 'some sunny day' from her signature song. 'Bring The Boys Back Home' and 'Vera' combined are three minutes long, 'Comfortably Numb' switches us away so closely from World War II stories and for six minutes is atmosphere and stings, plus one - a total classic with Gilmour getting a chance to show off his guitar. He doesn't get that many chances to do that here on 'The Wall', an album that's very much the Roger Waters show, but it's a damn good show. Thought provoking? Yeah. Impressive in scope and scale? Yeah. 'Run Like Hell' is a little groove and up-tempo music at a time the album needs it, little moments like these keep you listening and add to the enjoyment of it all. Enjoyment? Yeah. Bleak? Yeah, you bet. I don't care for the theatre of 'The Trial' or the way the album ends amid ugliness before 'Outside The Wall' seems to be a little child-like story. It throws you. 'The Wall' throws the heart out of your chest, stamps on it, then chucks it against the ceiling before it falls to the ground, leaving a bloody mess on the carpet. 'The Wall' is that kind of an album, and a must-listen.
Add A Comment?Readers Comments
daniel dappadan27@hotmail.com
for once i agree with your rating of 9 1/2, this is one (possibly the best album i
have ever had the pleasure of listening to. `i understand now about the 'concept
album' idea as one song blends perfectly into another. this album is not a
collection of songs as you would normally find, rather one epic story, each track is
made for the the next number. If you don't already own this album, buy it, it beats
the hell out of now thats what i call music 195 or the ilk.
Michael Baker guess_who@hotmail.com
This is a fantastic album(and a great film.) I really like the distinctive Roger
Waters sound. The lyrics are poetry. Listen closely and you will realise how
disturbing they are.
Bruce georgebob44007@yahoo.com
This is the most awesome cd evvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvver how can a cd say we dont need no education (oh by the way is a double negative) be a bad cd it just cant.
Bryan Way Maxsisrus7@aol.com
Is The Wall a good album? Yes. Is it Pink Floyd? Not really. As you mention, Rick Wright is basically a studio musician here, and something tells me the same goes for Nick Mason. Hell, even a lot of Gilmour's guitar work is written by Waters. This does not deserve a 9.5, it's too much a solo effort and it lacks soul, as Gilmour himself so aptly put it. This is their most overrated album, largely because of their successful single 'Another Brick in the Wall Part 2'. There is a reason this album did not spend more than 700 weeks on the billboard top 100.
Shockey armedomlette@hotmail.com
Well, This is just what me and a few friends think. Pretty much I don't see how this album is rated so high after meddle, ddotm, and Piper. I just think the wall openes alot of people to pink floyd. And is in no doubt a good album, but in creativity, meaning and melody rates lower then most other albums in my book.
Ben Fishes.Inc@gmail.com
I always thought that it was sinister of Pink Floyd to do a massive depressing album and then end with the almost comical song "The Trial". Its like saying "hey I shot this girl and raped her" then just as the disgust sits in you say, "ha ha just kidding". Its creepy how it turns into a cartoon at the en.
Mikhail bamwo@ody.ca
Bleak? I'd say so! Overbearing? you bet! The thrust of pop music is to generate #'s, you know, $$$ green. To accomplish this, Pink needs alot of buyers...."out there in the mall with a recepit that's 3 ft. tall...can you help me?" The Wall SUCKS......self-indulgent BS!! "if they catch you in the backroom ring to pinch some stock, they're gonna' send you back to China in a Nike box!!...YOU BETTER SHOP!!"
ben leach misszg@wideopenwest.com
I do like this album, but i could be better. i feel they could have made this one great album insted of two good ones. I personally like the second album more. I think with the exeption of 'waiting for worms', this second disc could have stood on its own. But 'Another brick in the wall' is one of the great rock songs of all time. 8 or 9 at most.
Michael Zeigermann michael.z@dial.pipex.com
I agree with you there, The Wall is extremely underrated in my opinion. Overlook the fact that it's one big Roger Waters ego trip and it becomes an extremely enjoyable album. Side 1 especially is pure musical brilliance. The Wall was the first Pink Floyd album I heard (aged 10 or 11) and I recommend it to anyone unfamiliar with the Floyd as an excellent introduction to the greatest band this country has ever produced (...IMHO).
John jbacsa2@yahoo.ca
I disagree that Rick Wright was just a session musician here. He may have been treated as a session musician but his presence is felt (compare the sound of the Wall to the Final Cut!). I think that his contribution is undervalued.
bassplayeredd eddie123zeppelin@hotmail.com
to the previous reviewer, Rick Wright left the band half way through the album and didn't return till Waters left.
Tony AlienAntFarmer41@msn.com
The first time I heard the wall, I didn't know what to think. Now its a core part of my collection and is regularly in my Floyd play circulation. The greatest rock-opera ever made. Way better than The Who's Tommy.
fuck you all erasmos@hotmail.com
some of you are such elitist floyd fans that you seem to think anything without Syd Barret is bullshit. The Wall is the greatest album ever made, period. Yes, it beats WYWH and Dark Side. If you dont like this album, you dont know Floyd, and you dont deserve to listen to them. You are a cancer to the Pink Floyd fan base
nathan farland nfarland@hotmail.com
f this had been a single album with rtrue contributions from the whole band, it could have been great. but boy, does it drag. most of the songs are just plain bad - they are as over-produced as anything i have ever seen. waters' voice sounds uncharacteristically awful, and the two best songs on the album are the only ones he didn't write (comfortably numb and run like hell). clearly this is a solo effort by waters, and the wall suffers badly as a result.
Steven skinny-snowman@hotmail.com
All of the songs on the wall are good. some are better than others and some i can only listen to if i listen to the whole thing. But the sheer genius of the concept of the album makes it truly a work of art.
Kier Smith amusedtodeath@hotmail.co.uk
I just simply adore everything about this whole concept, it's absolutely mindblowing how its all pieced together, how every brick seems to fit perfectly, how the album turned out, the film too, the live shows, the berlin show, the re-issued live package on cd for the first time. It's like Dark side in the sense that the sum is greater than the individual parts. It's laced with at least 10 belters, i wanna single out 'is there anybody out there' in particular because that guitar and cello is absolute perfection, its really maudlin, and of course fits the record for this reason, its the type of record you put on and curl up into the foetal position to......it's an incredible acheivment and is possibly the greatest concept to be carried out and acheive the greatness it undoubtedly deserved. 'Comfortably numb', 'One of my turns', 'Nobody Home',' Hey You', 'Young Lust' 'Another brick in the wall', 'Waiting for the worms', Goodbye Blue Sky' - aah, incredible, i find it really diff! icult to put into words my adoration for this album. 10/10. You betcha.......'Run like Hell' - whjy wasnt that included on 'Echoes' the best of - !?!? can never understand that?
Stephen stephendfall@yahoo.co.uk
A stunning album, packed with ideas, memorable music and inspired lyrics. The often alternating low-key and epic moments are perfectly judged throughout. Yes, The Trial is ludicrously overblown but it's surely meant to be in the context of the story. The album pulls you into its own compelling world and demands to be listened to in one go. Like the wall it describes, it's a perfect architectural feat, with each piece beautifully interlocking with the next, often aided by the hugely imaginative choice of sound effects. One of the few doubles that could not be improved by trimming down to a single LP, it is a far better album than the more celebrated Dark Side Of The Moon, Wish You Were Here or Animals, all of which have weak or dull interludes. With The Wall, you are never far from an unforgettable tune or phrase, and this album's bleak beauty is never less than life-enriching.
kaczmar kaczmar_joe@hotmail.com
100% agree with "Shockey'. It seems like after Meddle, floyd started to really hit a different sound, and to me, The Wall makes a very interesting album, but it is one I could do without. I really find some of them quite irratating, and lacking of a group composion.,its purely Roger Waters. That being said, Roger wrote his story and movie extraordinarily well
Randy Ottawa
Can't decide on the wall or animals as Floyds best but the wall gets the slight
nod due to it being a double album.Waters voice is so unappreciated by fans
other than the hard core Floyd fans.And of course,Gilmour's guitar will always
be loved by all.Anything less then a 9.5 would be a shame.
Destin Alabama
I honestly think "The Wall" is a genius album. i am 15 and totally love this
album. it completely raises the craziness level that pink floyd puts into their
albums. i have the original vinyl albums of all pink floyd albums and when i
fists got them and listened to them i was 12 and to be honest i was a little
creeped out haha. but i then realized that the some of the songs reflect what a
child migu in through to lead to drugs and eventually insanity
Drake Michigan
I love The Wall because it's one of the last albums with Roger Waters. And also, that album broke up the band. That's wby everytime you see a Pink Floyd concert at least after 1983, you don't see Roger Waters appear with his amazing vocals. DARN!
Micah Garth Alabama
I have to be honest. I am 45 now but I bought this album when it first came out on vinyl. I took it to my room, closed the door, and listened to the whole thing. It was late afternoon when I began, it was dark when I finished. I left my dark room, depressed, sad, and feeling as if I was leaving a dark pit. It's the last time I listened to it in its entirety.
I think at times it is pure genius, at times it is over the top psycho-babble. I would have hated and loved at the same time to be in the studio with the boys as this was recorded. Can you imagine what that was like. I give it 10 even though parts of it still to this day leave a sour pit in my stomach. I told someone soon after I had listened to it, "It was some awesome music on it, but it will make you want to commit suicide."
Andrew P USA
the wall is the greatest Floyd album. anyone who says it doesn't have any feeling compared to dark side or piper is crazy. this album WILL change your life if you listen to it with an open mind, i do however agree that it is not really the typical pink Floyd sound but i can not imagine any other band being able to pull it off. if you do not own this album yet, get it right now it is a work of art.
Lee Auty Bolton
What can i say ? The most brutally honest and humanitarian album of all time. Do i listen to it a lot ? No is the answer because its a nightmare journey. Waters took control to awesome affect. All his weaknesses as a human being were laid before public exposure as were his compassionate side. This album far excedes anything that anyone has ever done despite having filler tracks. I love the irony of the opening of a neo nazi band with the "in the flesh" track. Then they invite you to share that mentality. Then at the end they reverse it all upon the listener with the show must go on track. Pink is ill and leaves a surrogate band to carry on evil diatribe. The trial song makes me cry.. especially when the charge is that pink is caught red handed showing human feelings.. his final punishment is to be cast before his peers who turn out to be careing and humanistic people. the album may be clumsy at times but beats bob dylan and john lennon in its entirety due to its brutal hone! sty
Hooga Booga Boogaland
The Wall was the beginning of the end for Pink Floyd. It's not the worst album ever made, but it's still not that good. There are a couple of great songs here (Another Brick, Comfortably Numb, a few others) but at least half of it is unlistenable. Overly ambitious and pompous, not to mention melodramatic and whiny.Go listen to the REAL Pink Floyd classics, such as "Dark side of the moon", "Wish you were here", "Meddle" or "Animals".
The Final Cut 7 ( 1983, UK pos 1 )
The Post War Dream / Your Possible Pasts / One of the Few / The Hero's Return / The Gunners Dream / Paranoid Eyes / Get Your Filthy Hands off My Desert / The Fletcher Memorial Home / Southampton Dock / The Final Cut / Not Now John / Two Suns In The Sunset
'The Final Cut' is something for someone out there to 'get into' if they have the mind and patience to do so, there is something here, but pinning it down is actually quite hard. A very lyrical album, with few musical hooks to be found anywhere at all, but Roger sounds so heartfelt and serious across the entire twelve songs, it's hard not to wonder about it all, wonder what he was trying to acheive. I love the brief 'Southampton Dock' by the way. The best material here is a match for parts of 'The Wall' album, even though 'The Final Cut' as a whole is inferior, especially in terms of things like melodies, which we all like to hear from time to time, don't we? Half of the album doesn't appear to feature any musician other than Roger Waters, but this is as much a Pink Floyd album as anything that followed, thinking about it. The title song is beautiful, I love the tone of the vocals initially and the feel of the song, although at other times the vocals sound desperate, but then, they probably had to. 'Not Now John' reminds you that you are in fact listening to Pink Floyd and not Roger Waters as Gilmour does a solo thing, the closing 'Two Suns In The Sunset' an acoustic guitar strumalong blown up by studio production and Roger Waters shouting rather than singing. Trumpet floats in, and I rather wish that it hadn't. Pink Floyds career seemingly splutters to a rather unmemorable finish, given their Seventies peaks - but as i've said, 'The Final Cut' isn't without merit. I don't actually know, bar the lyrics, what that merit IS but it's here, there's a feel to the album. A bleak and miserable feel, perhaps. A feel that doesn't vary at all across the albums twelve songs, maybe - but something. A seriousness that's hard to just dismiss, so i'm not going to. 'The Final Cut' is worth a listen or three, that's for sure. And that's as good a conclusion as you're getting from me.
Add A Comment?Readers Comments
jake jakewhite_83@hotmail.com
Why are you butchering Animals? Also what is this you say about the Final Cut being
heartfelt? That it may be but it is not even music!!! It is Roger Waters whining
about his daddy that died in the war. He never even knew his damn dad!!! How do
you give the final cut a better rating than animals, and the post waters floyd? It
blows my mind. The final cut is rubbish and seems to be a sequal to the damn
WALL!!! I'm glad Mr. Gilmour was only slightly affiliated with this album..
jnixon jnixon@yankas.sa.edu.au
I gotta say that I dont care about what other people or critics say about Pink Floyd. I am actually 17 years old! And while my fellow students are listening to 'EMINEM' or 'Dr Dre' all day- I listen to Pink Floyd and other rock bands- Because I like it! And not just to 'look cool infront of other people'. I for one like the final cut and the division bell. You listen to the music and rythem itself not what the critics and public say.
neil se5a@iprimus.com.au
After hearing this album, I've always felt it to be a superior, tighter, less thematically confused version of "The Wall". Whilst "The Wall" contained huge slabs of filler, "Final Cut" doesn't and presents Roger's feelings about his father, 'Thatcher's Britain', and his place in the world in a far tighter context. This is all good to my mind. I do think the parting of the Floydian ways was inevitable after this however. However I do wish they had finished with "The Final Cut" rather than labouring through the musically turgid and thematically empty Gilmour Floyd period. A score? I'd give it an 8 1/2.
Spike spyhunter6112@comcast.net
I think the Final Cut is a great album! The saxophone in the gunners dream is the best i've ever heard. There are also some songs on there that will make you want to just stand up and cry. I can't think of another album with that much emotion.
Bud badarling@yahoo.co.uk
I disagree entirely and cannot see what you have against the final cut. It may be true that it is a dump for all the songs that the band decided not to put it on the wall, which was a good decision as the wall is a well balnced album and the songs from final cut would stand out too much. That said the final cut is a fabuluos album in its own right and probably my favourite. Just because its 'a bit heartfelf or morbid' doesn't detract from the fact it has the usual mind blowing lyrics and also superb guitar rifts. The later stuff is good but it is a totally different chapter of PF's life, not very comparable at all.
Got it? Good.
otis otiscass@shaw.cawhile i am a staunch "syd era" and "immediate post syd era" guy...that being said...i quite like the final cut...i dare say more than the wall...you have to take it for what it is just as you had to with the wall...this time though it is more contemporary (for the times that is... Reagan/Thatcher post faulklands, cold war etc.) while at the same time very much tied in with his father's death and abscence...
some of the songs even taken on their own are tremendous... the first track (which i wish wasn't so short as it is amazing) , gunner's dream, and fletcher memorial...are all standouts.
if you like the wall you should definitely find something here...and if you just kinda liked the wall you may find this a hell of a lot better...
Tony AlienAntFarmer41@msn.com
I'm one of the few Floyd fans who is impartial to either Waters or Gilmour, as I see Waters as the lyricist, and Gilmour as the musician. I have loved everything Floyd has done, even the post-Waters stuff, and the Syd-Floyd short era. So I feel like The Final Cut is a very beautifully written album by Waters, and belongs in the plethora of Floyd albums. However, Waters did need to tone down his ego, and let some musical input in from his fellow members. And I would think his long-time friendship with Wright would have overcome any musical differences, but then again I wasn't there so I can only wonder.
Teeters menialtaskguapo@yahoo.com
I think that this is a very good album, even though it is basically a Roger Waters solo album. However, it took some time to grow on me; not as much time as Piper, but some time noneoftheless. The previously unknown feature that makes this album good is, I've found to be, the dramatics of that ballad majority of the album. Never before has so much emotion been put into a Pink Floyd album, and I personally think that that is what separates a good song from a great song. However, this album lacks the psychedelia and grooviness (if thats even a word) of previous Floyd album. I'd give it a 8.5. And would place it their fifth best album in my book, behind Wish You Were Here, DSofM, The Wall, and Saucerful.
Kier Smith amusedtodeath@hotmail.co.uk
shoot me down in flames, and from reading some people's comments about the albums they love most by the floyd, i reckon some people are gonna! but here goes - I always cite this as my favourite Floyd album. Why? - cos its absolutely magnificent - i was amazed to learn that these were 'leftovers from the wall' - every track on this album is so intense and really powerful, it has that same dark dense sound that makes up 'the wall' but again, the concept is out of this world - (for anyone who doesnt know or see the concept - look it up) but i loved it before that anyway.......'the hero's return', 'your possible pasts' (see another belting solo by gilmour), 'the gunners dream' 'the fletcher memorial home' (see another belting solo from gilmour) great lyrics run throughout the album, i dig the fact he uses 'in quiet desperation' again. 'the final cut' (see another belting.......ha, ha) 'if i show you my dark side, will you still hold me - tonight' - brilliant, everyone feels ins! ecure about themselves and wonders whether to let on to the people they like what theyre really all about, ive always loved the way roger puts his lyrics across in a really personal way that everyone can reach out and grab something of......'not now john' - first thing i thought when my nephew 'john' was born.....'oi! where's the fucing bar john - whoooaaa, now your talking!' just listen to it, start to finish, absorb the lyrical prowess that Roget showcases here, its a bit 'boom boom, bang bang' but its lyrically out of this world, musically beautiful, great guitars as always.......yeah,ive gotta say, its the best floyd album. 10!
Insecured insecured@hotmail.co.uk
I have a soft spot for this album - the first Pink Floyd album I listened to repeatedly when I was an impressionable young teenager. So I guess I'm biased towards it. This is definitely the album to listen to if you want to experience the intelligence, emotion and skill that made Pink Floyd so special and what they lost Roger quit and Gilmour and the others clung to the name for themselves. Like anything reasonably meaningful, it's certainly not an immediately friendly album and will take a few goes to get into. But once you've got familiar with it, you'll find the beauty, the pain, the sadness and the pleasure that Roger Waters was able to create by drawing on real events in his life.
No tricks, no lasers, no pointless guitar riffing (well maybe a little bit) just touching, often beautiful, simple music with some exellently crafted lyrics.
Takes time, but it's worth it.
gavin gleed gavin_gleed4@msn.com
the final cut is a roger waters masterpeice. it is true to say that not that many fans may consider this to be a good album, but for me this has some of the best lyrics ever written by floyd. Roger Water's is a very egotistical and self indulgent individual, but without him, the wall would never have been conceived. the final cut was infact made up of a lot of the off cuts which ended up on the floor when making the wall (i am suprised 'when the tigers broke free never made this album) but it is a true masterpeice of how someone with emense talent in expressing words can move the listener. the final cut is not about the music, its about the words. the loss that waters had as a child can only be felt by a small number of people today. we should embrase and applaude the frankness of this album, as let be fair, as a follow up to 'the wall', it isnt the musical extravaganza it should have been. Roger has gone on to a solo carear which hasnt blossomed as well as it could h! ave, but he hasnt lost the potencey in his song writting. 'the bravery of being out of range' is more true to words now than when it was written. for me, the final cut shares a joint top spot as my favourite album. it has a atmostphere that is untouchable, and the lyrics are a wonder to behold. i only thank god that these extremely talented group of individuals got together to make a band, as i couldnt have imagined my life without pink floyd.
alex
i think that this was a very well done album. The only thing i dont think anyone should do is listen to the hole thing at once cuz it gets very boring and sounds the same but if you listen to a song on it then something on the wall or DSOTM and then go back to it it doesnt get old or boring. The Final Cut and Not Now John are my favourite songs cuz they rock!
robbie robbie240@gmail.com
My first impression is that it was a Roger Waters solo. But after listening to this album several hundred times, I appreciated it more and more. I'm writing this as I listen to "Shine On You Crazy Diamond"
No, the Final Cut is excellent and is very very deep. It is not for a person who has no mind for lyrics. Thanks.
Dan j4triv@lycos.com
So "Animals" is indulgent, overblown, and doesn't give you value for your money, but THIS pile of endless Roger Waters whining (wait, that's unfair, you can have rhythm and urgency in whining…), er, noodling and navel-gazing, bereft of anything that might actually be called "music" (bar "Not Now John", of course), THIS you call "heartfelt"? This is the worst album I own. It's worse than "Union", worse than "It's Hard", worse than "A Rush of Blood to My Penis"…hell, it's worse than all those lame Jefferson Starship albums I got for my brother because his name is Jeff and we didn't have any musical taste at the time. Pathetic. Bring on the David Gilmour Orchestra version of Floyd…it may be soulless, but at least it's *trying* to be interesting! I think the worst part of this album is that it makes me think less of "The Wall"…Roger's whining about his alienation and psychological damage is a lot harder to take seriously once you've suffered through this pile of ! dung. 1.5, just because there's probably something worse out there, and nothing deserves a 0.
Tyler Plaza994@yahoo.com
I think this is a really great album. Sure its not as good as The Wall, but its
an extremely overlooked album. When The Tigers Broke Free, Paraniod Eyes, and
The Final Cut (One of my favorite Pink Floyd songs) are my favorite songs on the
album. I see alot of you people not liking how Roger is "whinning" about his
father? I don't think hes "whinning", more of mourning and tributing this
fathers death in the war. I think its apporiate and a good way to leave the
band, although I do think we had a big ego from after The Wall. I still thinks
hes a greatest lyricist and I think The Final Cut deservers more recognition.
For me 8/10.
Logan AZ
UNDERATED ALBUM. listen to it and youll see. the gunners dream is so good. The sax solo is addicting and the final cut is a nice throwback to the wall.
A Momentary Lapse Of Reason 3 ( 1987, UK pos 3 )
Signs Of Life / Learning To Fly / Dogs Of War / One Slip / On The Turning Away / Yet Another Movie / A New Machine I / Terminal Frost / A New Machine II / Sorrow
The first five songs have such a 'massive' range and varying displays of emotion and tone...... These songs range from mid-tempo right back down to mid-tempo! They range from four minutes twenty one seconds to six minutes four seconds!! I was impressed, I can tell you! Ah, but what's this? 'Yet Another Movie' is seven and a half minutes long! Yeah, great stuff, I love this stuff so much..... At least the album ends better. The two 'A New Machine' parts surround the warmly titled and goddamit not at all dull and plodding 'Terminal Frost'. Right. But, let's be serious for a moment... Along with the opening two songs 'Sorrow' is the finest thing here. Gilmour does well with the guitar, as you'd expect - sounds genuine and heartfelt, sounds involved in his own composition - a rare thing for 'A Momentary Lapse Of Reason'. Great artwork, great album title..... you get the idea.
Add A Comment?Readers Comments
Andrew Goldsmith goldy_97@hotmail.com
"Momentary Lapse of Talent". I am a very big fan of Pink Floyd, but the albums i own only range from 'piper at the gates' to 'the final cut' (appropiatly titled for me) as once Roger left i feel they just didnt sound the same. He was the force behind the band. I have always
refered to this album as A Momentary Lapse of Talent.
By the way, your reviews are great and its amazing to see someone these days with
such a great appriciation for great music, inlcuding the extremly underrated Beach
Boys, with such albums as Pet sounds and Sunflower which i was happy to see both got
a 10! keep up the good work
Pamela Gomez pammi2003@yahoo.com
After the departure of Waters, the floyd seemed to be doing poorly without him.
Waters provided the band with lyrics that initially made floyd stand out from other
bands during their time and our time. I do agree with the rating of Momentary lapse
of reason. But still think animals deserved better.
Tony AlienAntFarmer41@msn.com
okay, I know its a little 80's ish. But bands are supposed to change, and the Floyd managed to carry on with out Roger, and make a decent album. Certainly not their best effot, but not a bad album in any way. A 7 in my book, at least.
andy penteltwoOfive@hotmail.com
this album reminds me of 80's la cocaine
the thing thats missing from a lot of floyds later stuff is the vocal harmonies... if you're a floyd fan you buy it because you're a floyd fan, but it's a gilmour effort fisrt and fore most and shuold be listened to as such
Kier Smith amusedtodeath@hotmail.co.uk
3!? harsh man! yeah it aint all that great, but its got some great tracks and i think Gilmour was just testing the water with this and it turned out pretty well, i have to say that 'sorrow' is absolutely magnificent, great lyrics, great guitar, great solo, great track. I really dig 'one slip', and even though its a bit commercial, and way too commercial for the floyd, ive always liked 'learning to fly'. 7.5/10
Stephen stephendfall@yahoo.co.uk
Plodding' sums it up. The title is spot-on, too. Dave Gilmour shouldn't have bothered. Like the cover picture, it's superficially interesting and impressive but ultimately without significance. Side two of this album is so slow, featureless and dreary that you can literally feel yourself getting older as you listen to it. You yearn for something to 'happen', to break out of the soup and grab you, but it never does. It's as far from the spirit of The Piper At The Gates Of Dawn as it is possible to get. Even at its best it never comes close to The Final Cut. The lack of good songs cannot be disguised, and this makes even the weakest parts of the band's 1970s work sound brilliantly imaginative. The 'conceptual' stuff (A New Machine I & II) sounds incredibly tokenistic. The rest is all gloss and surface, lacking substance or purpose. On The Turning Away has a reasonable tune but is rendered as a power ballad: another major error of judgement. Plus, it's rather too similar to Ro! g's The Tide Is Turning (After Live Aid), which came out first. The album leaves you feeling numb and empty. I gave away my copy of this LP: life's too short to listen to dull and insipid music.
Stephen stephendfall@yahoo.co.uk
Hello again. Just re-read my comment above and realized that I unconsciously used the words 'numb' and 'empty' in the penultimate sentence. Oddly enough, both words feature in song titles on The Wall. Spooky, eh? If I had worded my comments more carefully I could have argued that the Comfortably Numb 1980s 'stadium rock' incarnation of Pink Floyd seemed to embrace the very same isolating blankness (Empty Spaces indeed) that The Wall so eloquently rages against. If you struggle though AMLOR, a photocopied fax of an approximation of a 'Pink Floyd' album, it's clear that there's Nobody Home...
The Division Bell 5½ ( 1994, UK pos 1 )
Cluster One / What Do You Want From Me / Poles Apart / Marooned / A Great Day For Freedom / Wearing The Inside Out / Take It Back / Coming Back To Life / Keep Talking / Lost For Words / High Hopes
'Tearing The Inside Out' is shit. How's that for criticism? Shit criticism? Well, Dave gets his guitar out, the 'song' lasts for nearly seven minutes and seems to have been designed purely to show everyone how competently Dave can do these mid-tempo guitar solo's. Where's the excitement?! I did say there was a few good songs here though, didn't I? Ah, yes! 'High Hopes' I like - good vocals, actual melody and the female backing vocals really add to it - also a feature of 'What Do You Want From Me', by the way. Daves voice alone across an entire albums length isn't pleasant listening for me, personally. The same keyboard sounds across an entire albums length and the same guitar sounds isn't too interesting either. Fast forward to the closing track then? Yeah, we'll do that. 'High Hopes' varies the instrumentation in places! Church bells, percussion, attention to detail in a rich musical track. Care and effort and a decent lyric. An eight and a half minute long piece that's certainly listenable at least. The Dave Gilmour led Pink Floyd can certainly function well if they want to, but I just wonder about everyone's motives. At least 'The Division Bell' isn't terrible though, and at least it's better than 'A Momentary Lapse Of Reason'.
Add A Comment?Readers Comments
Bryan Way Maxsisrus7@aol.com
You didn't even make mention of Keep Talking, which I feel is one of the strongest songs on the album. While High Hopes is a good song, I don't think it's very impressive lyrically, Gilmour lyrics don't hold the weight of Waters lyrics; the opening line alone is "Beyond the horizon of the place we knew when we were young, in a land of magnets and miracles..." Magnets and miracles? I think If I wrote that I would look back and shake my head at it. Even though you claim 'Marooned' adds nothing, it did win a Grammy for best instrumental, might I add Pink Floyd's only Grammy.
Dave G floyd_fan_113@yahoo.com
What i find most interesting about the floyd is how, firstly, they have changed so much, so significantly from piper to the division bell, and secondly, the fact that to me, they have managed to continue to be, in my opinion, the greatest band ever. it seems that other people seem to choose favourites, however, and i am constantly reading about how the early barret days were the only decent floyd, or how waters made them what they are, and hell, some people actually manage to realise how incredibly good gilmore is aswell. what i like best about piper it that it strikes me just because it was their first album, it was 21 years before my time, and it was written primarily by a looney, who 8 years later would walk into the middle of the recording of his own tribute album (WYWH). nonetheless, it still sounds great. Moving into the 'band working together' era, i believe dark side and meddle are certainly 2 of the best 3 floyd albumns (or even just albums) ever! . the others, of course, are all also great - obscured by clouds is greatly underrated, with tracks like childhoods end and free four. but the 2 aforementioned albums come after only 1 - animals. whether dogs is better than echoes i cant decide, but the whole concept is brilliant. and who cares if roger was in control, and who cares if he was having a whine. listen to the music, listen to the ideas. its brilliant,like all of floyds other work. and as for concept albums, the wall was the ultimate. concept that is. like dark side, i feel compelled to listen to the whole album and nothing less. thers no doubt waters can write, lyrically - amazing. even though the final cut is effectively a solo waters album, and may not sound as brilliant as the others, it still sounds good. but as for the lyrics - wow. just listen to two suns in the sunset. and next comes the big problem. gilmore in charge. and the problem isnt that it sounded bad. it didnt. the problem is that peop! le think it did. when i started listening to floyd, i had no i! dea who wrote what, or what album it was from. and i know the songs from the division bell and lapse were up there among the others. in fact, my favourite piece of music almost has to be the solo from "on the turning away". and when you really listen to the division bell, you can really recognise a concept there too. if WYWH was to barret, then this is to waters. poles apart, what do you want from me. these are tow great albums. people tend to get caught up in "who wrote what" or that pink floyd apparently "became a parody of themselves" or thatit wasnt always the whole band. what is often forgotten is that pink floyd are a legacy, who produced many great albums with much great music, and it was all amazing.
Ben Fishes.Inc@gmail.com
This album is definately twice what Momentary Lapse of Reason was. What I really miss is the depth, listening to the wall and DSotM and WYWH you can see the lyrical and musical elements interact. As with the final cut too, in a different sence. When listening to the classic albums there was a feeling of wonder, lines that would make you scratch you head and music that would take you away. Eh, the music here is pretty good though. Seems like alot of decorations without something to dress up though.
Tony AlienAntFarmer41@msn.com
I thought AMLOR was better, but this is still decent. My least favorate album or all, and I still enjoy it! A 6.5 in my book
Tony AlienAntFarmer1@msn.com
Okay, now I've listened to this thing about 20 times, and you can disregard my previous comment about AMLOR being better.
andy penteltwoOfive@hotmail.com
I was trying and succeding to get into division bell, I'd accepted that this was just another transformation in the history of one of the bands that mean so much to me as an indivdual, I was listening to it everyday and begining to really enjoy it... then someone walked and said "oh! Dire Straights... this their new one?" that sunk it for a while for me, only just starting to listen to it again, which has been my loss
Kier Smith amusedtodeath@hotmail.co.uk
5 & a fooking half?! - you on anti depressants my good man?
this album is an absolute revelation from start to finish. There is life after Roger - (I feel the need to add that Roger is irreplacable!) but this is a marvellous album. 'Cluster One' is truly beautiful, 'Marooned' (i always think of that as one of my funeral songs for some reason, ive got this image of people carrying my coffin to it.....- its just a sensational instrumental and breaks the album up nicely. I really dig the second half. ' coming back to life', 'keep talking' 'lost for words' and especially 'high hopes' i think them four alone are some of the best floyd tracks going.......great album 9/10
Cooper Stealyourface618@aol.com
Honestly i really Don't care if Good ole David was showing off his skills. He has them, Roger Waters diddnt seem to mind flaunting HIS about(Don't get me wrong Waters is my favorite Musical artist). Wearing the inside out is one of the Top Pink Floyd songs of all time, to me. Because after all Pink Floyd is different to everyone. But this song is so unique and one of a kind. I just can't understand why so many people have such a hard time accepting the post Waters efforts, they are still Pink Floyd. I mean after all Pink Floyd had been around Three Decades when they made this album, Of course the band made changes. And quite personaly, i think these changes are a wonderfull way to give closure to Pink Floyd. And speaking of Closure "High Hopes" is the only song i can think of to conclude the works of what i beleive to be the greatest band of all time. If youd like to argue with me id love to do so, just send an e-mail. Toodles
gavin gleed gavin_gleed4@msn.com
the one question that sprung to mind when i first finished listening to this was can this be the last album ever made by Pink Floyd. i have dedicated most of my life to this group and to think that this could be the final album would be a crime! its not that i disliked the album, some of it was very good, but it wasnt a 'floyd' album. although there have been a countless number of double album 'greatest hits' produced, the only way for me to have closure on this band would be for them to make a final and definative album, as a final farewell to all who have had the grace and pleasure to listen to the works these artists have produced over the years. lets face it.....u2 couldnt have produced such a diverse and rich sounding bunch of albums, come to think of it, there are very few groups who have managed to span the generations and attract new followers over the last 40 or so years. (well maybe Cilff Richard!!)
Pink Floyd is not Pink Floyd without roger AND dave. the ! lyrics are profoundly missing in all the post waters albums, and in the waters albums lack the music integrity brought by Gilmore. they are a smybiotic partnership, however much they may kick and scream, and through the toys out of the cot. they owe us a final farewell, and hopefully one which goes back and revisits the life of PINK FLOYD, the musical genius who must be well into his 50's, and chart his downfall and life since we met him in WISH YOU WERE HERE and left him in THE WALL.
nothing could be a more fitting end to such a glorious band. such a half hearted attmpt that this is should not be allowed to be the final certian call........we deserve more !!!!!!!!!1
Andrew unclegeorgebean@hotmail.com
5.5? I must say I almost puked when I saw that. Division Bell in my opinion is one hell of an album. Lost for Words. What an amazing song, I love the guitar in it. Comming back to life. I must say when I picked up that album, I listened to Comming back to life at least five times; the same thing with lost for words. Perhaps it's understandable that I would disagree totally about Division Bell getting a rating of 5.5 considering my two favourite albums are Final Cut and Division Bell. My rating for Division Bell is 10. My rating for Final Cut is 9
Eddie burghardt.akos@t-online.hu
I agree with Andrew completely! Coming back to Life and Lost for Words are the most phenomenal songs on the album. And yes, I also surprised when I saw the rating of the album! I can't say, that I'm the biggest fan of PF, I've just came across the Division Bell and some other albums, but I must say, for me this is the most amazing album from Pink Floyd!
this page last updated 23/08/15
Channel Youtube |
Contact Us |
Find New Music |
Features |
Music & Web Apps |
Ratings At A Glance
Singles Bar |
Top 100 Albums |
Top 100 Songs |
