Born in 1965, Pink Floyd changed it all starting with their first album "The Piper At The Gates Of Dawn" all the way through to their final album "The Division Bell" in 1994. Although, things REALLY started heating up for them after their music altering album "Dark Side Of The Moon". Not enough could POSSIBLY be said about such a marvelous monster such as this. Its own cover is ultimately classic and easily recognizable. The entire record is almost one big song and each track relates to one another.
Along with the album comes theories related between it and a little movie called "The Wizard Of Oz". Theories state that if you play both the CD and the film at the same time, they match perfectly to how the music is changing and how the film is moving. Although the band denies that it was their intention and that it was pure coincidence, some people cannot help but believe that they did it on purpose.
At any rate, this album is grand and is difficult to describe and break down, but I will try my best! I have been listening to Pink Floyd for YEARS and I still have trouble taking it all in. They are not a band you can just listen to once and automatically get them or understand them. It takes a while to grasp what they are throwing at you.
Pink Floyd is David Gilmour: guitar/vocals, Nick Mason: drums, Richard Wright: keys, and Roger Waters: bass/vocals.
1) Speak To Me/Breathe: This song is separated into two parts, the first being "instrumental". It acts like a song, but is basically a compilation of sounds. All sounds heard on this piece are pulled from various songs throughout the album, each sound having a specific place in their own songs.
Part two, which is "Breathe", takes on another level of creativity. Its slow, beautiful, charismatic, and relaxing feel gives off psychedelic vibes. It just gives you a feeling like your flying in the clouds, especially with the soothing voices of Roger and David. This song will soothe anyone after a stressful/ hard day. "Run! Rabbit run!"
2) On The Run: Here is another another sound-varied track. The title best describes this song. It sounds like a chase, like something is hurried or in a quick movement. Sounds and noises ring and pass by to give off a strange illusion of the fast pace. The main musical piece that echoes throughout the song is a simple eight-note phrase recorded on a synthesizer, but sped up to 165 BPM and on a loop. The meaning behind the song dealt with the fear of death due to traveling.
3) Time: This is another piece that starts off as an instrumental. It begins with faint tick-tocking of clocks, then BAM!, the loud ringing of alarms and chimes going off buzzing in your ears and making your head spin. All this chaos is followed by Nick's neat little solo which creatively descends down a set of rototoms from high to low pitch. Meanwhile, Waters and Gilmour play simple sets of notes, preparing for the song to take off. At 2:30, the song takes flight with great lyrics opening up; "Ticking away, the moments that make up a dull day". With a sweet, blues-ish/classic guitar riff ringing away, complimentive bass lines, and a great groove locked in on the drums, you just get carried away with this song. You bob your head, tap away with your fingers, and stomp your feet to such a great tune! The solo is so...I'm not sure how to describe it, but I'm going to use "feels like flying high/makes you wanna scream along". Not really sure I could describe it another way.
This song also contains the reprise of "Breathe" at the very end which fits and ties right in with the feel of this song. A very "prog rock" move.
"Time" talks of how time can slip away from you without you knowing before it's too late.
4) The Great Gig In The Sky: Here, we get to my favorite track on the album. An instrumental song with vocalization from the absolutely amazing Clare Torry. The first time I heard this song, it just blew my mind at how fantastically amazing this song was. Clare just OWNS this track! Her vocals are just heart throbbing, deep, and beautiful; enough to make a grown man cry. I would like this song playing right next to my deathbed right after croak.
A few covers have been made, not as amazing, of course, but are pretty good. The London Philharmonic Orchestra, The Squirrels, The Flaming Lips, and even Dream Theater have done their own versions as a solute to Pink Floyd and Clare Torry.
5) Money: Now we get to this grandly famous song. "Money" is a classic song that shows off the great talent of each band member. The bass line is one of the most memorable, and this song also includes the great Dick Parry on the saxophone, and what a sax solo it is! This track was the only one off the album that cracked the top 20 on the Billboard Hot 100, #13 to be exact in 1973. It also hit #37 in 81' on the US Mainstream Rock Tracks. Also, in 2008, the magazine "Guitar World"'s readers awarded David's solo as #62 in "The Greatest 100 Guitar Solo's", and hit #69 on "Rolling Stones" "The 100 Greatist Solo's Of All Time".
A cover version of this song can be heard on the 2003 film "The Italian Job".
6) Us And Them: Another soothing, slow song to relax you to sleep. Its slow tempo mix with another amazing display of talent by Dick Parry might just rock you to sleep (no pun intended). This track just barely missed hiting a spot on the Billboard Hot 100 in 74', stricking in at #101. This song is very bluesy/jazzy in tone and dynamics. The guitar solo is quite trippy and glides over the song, and the keys solo nicely fits right in and carries this song through.
A few covers of this song have been made. Some of the artists are Between The Buried And Me, Dream Theater, The Flaming Lips, Nena, Christopher O' Riley, and also The London Philharmonic Orchestra.
7) Any Colour You Like: This is another instrumental that spans about 3:25. It's very neat in construction, because it's basically a synth solo with a very smooth guitar solo. One strange thing about this song is the title, no one really (except the band) knows the origin if it...
8) Brain Damage: Another great song that is very big in tone. You can see this song being played live in your head with all the lights shining and pointing up to the sky's. It also contains some very talented backing vocals singing their talent right out of the album explosively. The album title is mentioned in the lyrics in this song as well. "I'll see you on the dark side of the moon". That's one part you cannot help but yell out.
9) Eclipse: This song ties right in with "Brain Damage" musically, as it transitions right into this song. Its big and loud feel along with its repetitive lyrics are just a perfect album closer and let you know that this grand album has (sadly) come to its conclusion. What an ending! It exits just as this album started, with faint noises, thumping, and talking. A perfect close.
As sad as it is, Pink Floyd do not play music together anymore. Apart from Richard not being with us anymore (rest in peace), the band seem to have called it quits for good. Sad indeed, but I thank Pink Floyd for all of the incredible music that will live on forever and for the inspiration to do what I do today. On behalf of The Scientist and I, THANK YOU.
-Cerpin Taxt