Sunday, January 21, 2007

The Unknown Pink Floyd

Who isn't familiar with "Dark Side" or "The Wall"?
I'm sure everyone has but many haven't heard of my favorite Pink Floyd Era which took place from 1967-1972.
During this period they released some of their best work and much of it has never been heard by you average person.
As far as full realizes the started with "The Piper at the Gates of Dawn", this album was very different than anything else they ever did. It was fronted by their original lead singer and songwriter Syd (Roger) Barrett. It was a pschedelic space rock sound with imaginative and creative lyrics. After the release of this album Barrett was kicked out of the band (will go over in separate post) shortly after David Gilmore was asked to join.
The bands next album was "A Saucer Full of Secrets" which like Piper was a psychedelic album but this time more progressive and a bit more rock was incorporated. This album had such memerable songs as the rhythmical written "Set the controls for the heart of the sun" and the always enjoyable "Corp. Clegg".
Their next album "Ummagumma" was much mre of an experimental or avant-grade sound. The album also included a separate record of some live performances from the band.
The next album and my favorite was "Atom Heart Mother". This Album was a very relaxed sounding and their first that included instumentation outside the band members. The album included the epic "Atom Heart Mother suite" and the smoothly melodic "Summer 68" as well as the simple yet perfect "If".
"Meddle" was the bands next release and it followed the tradition of its predecessor and would make way for their next album. this album also included a slight country-ish twinge on certain tracks. this album contained the amazing track "Echoes".
"Obscured by Clouds" was the last album before "Dark Side of the Moon" and it was their first album to contain a song that made the charts in the U.S. That track was "Free Four" which contained genius lyrics with a enjoyable almost fon rhythm. It also contained the last track in which Gilmore contributed lyrics until they weren't (or at least shouldn't have been) "Pink Floyd" anymore and that song was "Childhoods End". The album album also contained such great tracks as "Mudmen" and "Wots uhh... The Deal".



If you are wondering why I didn't include "More" or "Relics" on this its because they weren't original studio albums.

5 comments:

Anonymous said...
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Anonymous said...

Nice post Noah! Very informative indeed.
Keep writing and good luck this semester!
LHI

Anonymous said...
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Lizzy said...

Good post. Personally. I like Dark Side, The Wall, and Wish You Were Here, the best.

PS. You got comment spammed. You might want to turn on word verification in your blog settings.

Snave said...

My all-time favorite is "Echoes" from "Meddle". Side One of that album is also classic post-Barrett Floyd, IMO. I think the early post-Syd stuff is my favorite, which I guess includes albums such as "Atom Heart Mother", "Meddle" and "Obscured By Clouds". They upped the ante quite a bit with "Dark Side of the Moon", which is great stuff. "Wish You Were Here" is another great one... and then I think they kind of began to lose things.

"Animals" had its moments, but I didn't care much for "The Wall", and especially "The Final Cut". It seemed like Waters was getting into a heavy catharsis, and subjecting his listening audience to all his woes and insecurities. As for the music that came after the departure of Waters, I like the Gilmour material much better, probably because I was so disappointed in the stuff the band out prior to Waters' departure... the Gilmour-led music is much more optimistic, as I see it.