"Novices to the world of acclaimed rock music looking to cut their teeth wouldn't have to dig very deep to find evidence of The Dark Side of the Moon's legacy and societal imprint. After all, this is a record that is arguably the most universally celebrated and globally popular in modern history. ...""Novices to the world of acclaimed rock music looking to cut their teeth wouldn't have to dig very deep to find evidence of The Dark Side of the Moon's legacy and societal imprint. After all, this is a record that is arguably the most universally celebrated and globally popular in modern history. Unfortunately, nowadays it's characterized, more often than not, by hyperbole. This is a shame really because it's pinpoint nuance that makes The Dark Side of the Moon one of the finest albums to grace humanity's collective eardrums. The record radiates a sound of a group that knows exactly what it wants to achieve sonically and signals the completion of a maturation that has occurred over the course of a handful of prior outings. Take 1971's Meddle for example. It's one of Floyd's finest without reservation, boasting immense successes such as Fearless and San Tropez, but there is a rather hefty outlier laden within the tracklist. To be clear, I'm using the term outlier in its most complimentary form. The 23 minute behemoth, Echoes, ended the record and served as a roadmap for where the band would venture next. The destination was a cosmic, ethereal, metaphysical realm that they dubbed The Dark Side of the Moon.
The album commences with Speak to Me, a transport that can loosely be described as a track, however, its importance is critical to the LP's DNA. The track is fronted by a literal heartbeat and incorporates various samples (faintly heard) that coordinate with future expositions, elapsing to lay out the coming journey that remains ahead. They say that your life flashes before you on your deathbed, but here the band have presented those nanoseconds at birth. It's an intriguing concept put lightly. After a short (breath) of cognizance, third track, On the Run, epitomizes the frantic rigors that life will bestow upon its participants. Synths and a Hammond organ spark throughout the frenetic, instrumental piece that help craft one of Floyd's most satisfying short-burst affirmations. A cacophony of alarm bells greet you when fourth track Time, one of Floyd's most cherished works, emerges. The song, unsurprisingly, deals with the passage of its namesake and how it is futile to protest against the all-devouring pull of its black hole. The horology driven track is arguably the album's spaciest statement, as it glides wonderfully across an unblemished, unsullied terrain. David Gilmour's lead vocals are hoisted by the serene backing of a myriad of singers before he himself uncorks a guitar solo of unflinching allure. Gilmour warns, "Tired of lying in the sunshine staying home to watch the rain; you are young and life is long and there is time to kill today, and then one day you find ten years have got behind you; no one told you when to run, you missed the starting gun." The Dark Side of the Moon has just revealed its first treasure. The final track of the A side is a bit of a deviation, but not in quality. The stunning, non-lexical vocal stylings of Clare Torry caress The Great Gig in the Sky, which stands in as a figurative grim reaper. If only dying could be this inviting. Her yowls seep into every crevice and cranny of the instrumentation, fusing into an intense moment of catharsis as side one fades out.
The tranquility subsides with an exchange of currency but this particular quid is of the funky variety. Money benefits substantially from drummer Nick Mason and session saxophonist Dick Parry. Mason excels against a tricky 7/4 time signature which is later converted to 4/4 for Gilmour's punctual guitar solo. Parry's sax shepherds the track through that very transition with all the eccentricities of a free jazz maestro. Thematically, the track mocks the pursuit of monetary wealth in the grand scheme of life's expansive possibility. "Money, it's a gas; grab that cash with both hands and make a stash; New car, caviar, four-star daydream, think I'll buy me a football team," elicits Gilmour. Money is, without opposition, the wittiest voyage on the album. Seventh track, Us and Them, shreds any remaining inklings of snarky banter. The nearly eight-minute cut is an expedition through the nucleus of human interaction and conflict. It's also the highpoint for melodic elegance on the record. For instance, the vocal harmony shared between Gilmour and Richard Wright, supported by the returning vocal quintet from Time, dishes out multiple crescendos which never fail to produce goosebumps. Dick Parry also returns, once again armed with his tenor saxophone. He contributes healthy doses of chaos alongside the angelic climaxes. Gilmour and Wright cry, "Haven't you heard it's a battle of words, the poster bearer cried, listen, son, said the man with the gun, There's room for you inside." Incredible is too tame a word for Us and Them. Any Colour You Like bridges the gap between Us and Them and the final two tracks of the record. Brain Damage, previously known as "Lunatic", is an uncompromising examination of the deterioration of one's mental health. It's a notably subdued moment on the LP, treading lightly in the manner in which one would approach a loved one battling cognitive disarray. Roger Waters tries his hand here, chanting, "And if the dam breaks open many years too soon, and if there is no room upon the hill, and if your head explodes with dark forebodings too; I'll see you on the dark side of the moon." These lyrics seem to metaphorically chronicle the spiraling psychological state of former Floyd compatriot, Syd Barrett. More details on that in 1975. The album comes to a stirring, reflective ending on Eclipse. It unfurls almost as a warning to its audience to take life seriously and thoroughly taste every precious drop of elixir it grants. Waters bestows, "And all that is now and all that is gone, and all that's to come and everything under the sun is in tune, but the sun is eclipsed by the moon." The track departs with the heartbeat that introduced the record's arrival. It's the symbolic ending of a journey, or is it a rebirth?
The Dark Side of the Moon continues to induce innumerable headlines, but it's the subtext which serves as a finer asseveration of its invincibility. Its chart topping run isn't the catalyst for the album's cultural staying power, nor is it typified by its pieces. It was constructed with the intention to be consumed wholly in the same fashion in which humans cannot pick and choose select instances within a lifetime. Yes, the performances are marvelous, but it's the uncolored edges of ruminative headspace between the sonic apexes that truly hold the jewels. It's not Pink Floyd's most personal outing (Wish You Were Here) or even their most technically proficient (Animals), but it remains their most essential due to its kinship with the human condition. The truth is, yes, it really is that good. Look within life's tiniest moments for validation.
"Every year is getting shorter, never seem to find the time,
Plans that either come to naught or half a page of scribbled lines,
Hanging on in quiet desperation is the English way,
The time is gone, the song is over, thought I'd something more to say."
-Time
Standout Tracks:
1. Us and Them
2. Time
3. Brain Damage
93.6"[+]Reply
"What a great album this is! The music is so packed full of raw emotion that it makes it impossible to not fall in love with the passionate displays the group are putting into the music. The best demonstration of this is on Shine On You Crazy Diamond (both track 1 and 5) and the phenomenal Wish Yo...""What a great album this is! The music is so packed full of raw emotion that it makes it impossible to not fall in love with the passionate displays the group are putting into the music. The best demonstration of this is on Shine On You Crazy Diamond (both track 1 and 5) and the phenomenal Wish You Were Here. In terms of Pink Floyd songs it doesn't get much better than the title track with its emotive message and beautiful playing it is easy to see why it became one of their most popular songs. The instrumental work present across the whole release is exceptional as well with the guitar work on Shine On You Crazy Diamond being a personal highlight. It is the culmination of all the diverse instrumentation working together that creates what is greatest about this record and that is the atmosphere. The environment is established right from the first track and we are engrossed by it from this point on as well. It is just so powerful and brilliant that it makes this such an easy record to revisit as you just want to get lost in its atmosphere time and time again. Overall, this is an essential release in the history of music and in the career of Pink Floyd as this stands out as one of their greatest records. "[+]Reply
"Not often can an artist make an album so wonderfully masterful of the rock genre. But this is obviously the case with what is quite possibly the greatest rock album ever made. Despite it doing it doing things that have been done before, many by Led Zeppelin themselves, the ambitiousness of this a...""Not often can an artist make an album so wonderfully masterful of the rock genre. But this is obviously the case with what is quite possibly the greatest rock album ever made. Despite it doing it doing things that have been done before, many by Led Zeppelin themselves, the ambitiousness of this album transforms it into something bigger, into a truly timeless piece of art.
As for the actual tracks, not one is out of place, and all are wonderful to listen to and are among the best ever written. The music is so wonderful it gives me chills every time, although mostly at specific moments (every second of Starirway To Heaven, When The Levee Breaks, Going To California).
Also, despite the fact that these guys were all pretty much the best of the best at what they did, the one just about everyone can easily agree on altogether is the late John Bonham being the greatest drummer to have ever lived, and I simply can't disagree. And the icing on the cake for this album is the fact that it's basically like a tribute to the beloved drummer without anyone realizing it until Bonham's unfortunate death at age 32, making this not only cementing Led Zeppelin's legacy, but his as well.
I think I love this album."[+]Reply
"Fleetwood Mac's classic album, Rumours is one of the greatest pop albums of all time. It seamlessly weaves together popular genres of the time like folk music, rock, and even a touch of baroque to create a melodically immaculate string of songs. The music here brings out moments of sadness, sorro...""Fleetwood Mac's classic album, Rumours is one of the greatest pop albums of all time. It seamlessly weaves together popular genres of the time like folk music, rock, and even a touch of baroque to create a melodically immaculate string of songs. The music here brings out moments of sadness, sorrow, but yet at the same time, can be uplifting and reassuring. Rumours serves as a reminder that however low we feel, we are always in control of our lives and we can all choose to go our own ways, whatever that may be.
Best Tracks: The Chain, Dont Stop, You Can Go Your Own Way"[+]Reply
"This record is pretty much as close to perfect as I've personally heard. It just rolls. Every track has its own unique identity but at the same time adds to the completeness of the whole. The wild diversity of the songs and styles and sounds on this record never seem forced or half-baked. And has...""This record is pretty much as close to perfect as I've personally heard. It just rolls. Every track has its own unique identity but at the same time adds to the completeness of the whole. The wild diversity of the songs and styles and sounds on this record never seem forced or half-baked. And has been just about my all time favorite record since I was 13.
This album has a definite unharnessed energy. And it conveys that energy not through nihilistic, rabid punk but mostly through just the production. The horns on here sound so god damn good it hurts. The energy and creativity of the musicians just flows out of this record.
And this album actually probably changed my life more than any other album. This record introduced me to a whole new world. I never knew rock and roll could be so fucking great until I heard a tape of this from the library. This album influenced my attitudes in work, in life, in how I treat other people. This album sort of provided a template and an example on which to live. I am very very thankful for this album.
"Kick over the wall, cuz government's to fall. How can you refuse it? Let fury have the hour. Anger can be power. Did you know that you can use it?""[+]Reply
"A lot of people complain about its "pretentiousness", and its pompous nature, but quite frankly I don't see it working without these traits. All the emotions and the rage towards the world of one person packaged in an incredibly expressive piece of work. It ranges from melancholic to angry to apa...""A lot of people complain about its "pretentiousness", and its pompous nature, but quite frankly I don't see it working without these traits. All the emotions and the rage towards the world of one person packaged in an incredibly expressive piece of work. It ranges from melancholic to angry to apathetic, and the music always seems to fit the story perfectly.
"Don't look so frightened, this is just a passing phase, one of my bad days"
(I love this line)"[+]Reply
"It often gets overshadowed, being sandwiched in between WYWH and the Wall, but it's still as good as the rest of their 70's output. In fact, I rank it above the Wall by a good margin."Reply
"The album that forever changed the face of alternative rock. Still to this day the album sounds like nothing I've ever heard before. An uncompromising, dark and cold look at the ever changing world that we live in."Reply
"If you look up the definition of the words "Classic Rock" in a dictionary, you'll see three songs. Baba O'Riley, Behind Blue Eyes, and Won't Get Fooled Again."Reply
DriftingOrpheus | Helpful? (Log in to vote) | +14 votes (14 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
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Mercury | Helpful? (Log in to vote) | +19 votes (19 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
A maximum of 5 top-voted qualifying comments are selected for each album. To provide the best experience for visitors, comments are excluded if they refer to data corrections, contain excessive profanity, are written in all caps, are non-English, are too short, consist of conversations between users, or contain lists of best tracks etc.
