jingle.boy
Pink Floyd
First impression: I think I'm finally starting to "get" this band.
Final review: So, I have heard Pink Floyd’s music before. And contrary to jingle.boy’s humorous comment in his submission message, my mom did try to get me into them a couple years back with the albums Dark Side of the Moon and The Wall. But even though it felt like music that I’d love, none of it really interested me. But now, after really listening to these songs, I think I’m finally starting to like this band. “Welcome to the Machine” is a very interesting song. I’m sure it’s about the music industry or expectations from society or something like that, but when I hear “Welcome, my son… Welcome to the machine”, combined with the almost eerie atmosphere, it feels like there’s just something very tragic about the song. Not that the song sounds depressing, though, but I guess what I’m saying is that I really like the opening lyrics. But even though I really like this song, it does have something that I don’t find particularly enjoyable about this band; the sound effects. At the end, there’s just a bunch of people talking and laughing. I imagine it makes sense in the song’s context, but I don’t really care for its inclusion. Similarly, in “Time”, the song starts out with clocks ticking, and then loud alarm clocks go off with bells clanging. I know, it’s called “Time”, but I’d prefer it if they didn’t use such an annoying sound. But that doesn’t detract from my enjoyment of the song, though. It’s a bit odd, though, it has this quiet and somewhat tribal atmosphere, but as soon as the lyrics come in, it’s all fun and upbeat. And then there’s “Comfortably Numb”, which is my favorite. I’ve heard that people love the guitar solos in this song, and while they are quite good… Honestly, I like everything else about the song more. It has a rather sad atmosphere to it, which makes sense considering the lyrics are rather sad, as well. It is such a pleasure to listen to, though. I’ll have to get into Pink Floyd’s discography now (at least for the albums represented here) and see what I think of the other songs now.
Sorrow - 7.75/10
Welcome to the Machine - 8.25/10
Time - 8/10
Comfortably Numb - 8.5/10
Roulette score: 8.1
Hmmm... It's not my entry, and this sounds like excuses, but as someone who is a big Floyd fan, and who is actually in a Floyd mood right now (I listened to Live At Pompeii yesterday, as a matter of fact), I think that this is a hard band for a roulette.
I hear you about the sound effects, but when you listen to Dark Side, Side One, in it's entirety, it's got a flow to it. It BREATHES (pun intended), and part of it is that sound effect. You start the album with a heartbeat and "Speak To Me", and move into "Breathe", which gives you a sort of two-sides-of-the-coin look at life. And Roger, I think, opts for the cynical view (the second verse) where you're "digging holes" on your way to an early grave. The subsequent pieces - "On The Run", "Time", "Money" - snapshot those things that can drive you mad while you're busy "digging your holes". The "On The Run" instrumental is a repetitive, electronic sequence putting to music the fear of travel, so much a part of the modern "rat race". That ends abruptly with the clocks, and "Time" - the next level of stress takes over. The clocks are supposed to be jarring, and are supposed to break you from the repetition of the previous piece (almost like when a clock "breaks" you from your sleep).
Similarly, everything on Wish You Were Here - the album from which Welcome To The Machine comes - means something. The song is the second and last song on side one (the prior song is the first half of the "Shine On You Crazy Diamond" suite, about Syd Barrett, and my favorite Floyd song, period) and is meant to show how the music industry destroyed his friend, and, at that time, had started to fray the relationships of the other members of the band. The "door" is symbolic of that transition from "the Crazy Diamond", with his naive psychedelic hopes and dreams, to the "machine" that is the music business. I love love love how the entire song is a battle of sorts between Dave's organic acoustic guitar, and the electronic "washes" of Rick's synthesizers, which always seem to have the edge, don't they? On the album, that song ends side one, and side two starts with the equally critical (of the music business) "Have A Cigar?". For the rest of you; anyone see the influence of "Welcome To The Machine" on "Machine Messiah", by Yes?
Floyd is notoriously hard to present as a singles/greatest hits band (even though the labels have tried!) and the band even released a joke-y set called "A Collection Of Great Dance Songs" by request of the label that had only six songs on it (one entirely re-recorded because their previous record co. wouldn't license the track). I don't question your score - you have to score what you're given - but I think if you have any interest, I'm just saying you've only touched the tip of the iceberg.