This is where I think it went downhill. Starting with the Final Cut and then with A Momentary Lapse of reason.
One of my absolute favorite albums...
Posted on 07/11/2006 7:07:40 AM PDT by ByDesign
Syd Barrett dies aged 60
Audrey Gillan Tuesday July 11, 2006 Guardian Unlimited
Syd Barrett, the former lead singer of Pink Floyd and one of the key figures of the 60s, has died at the Cambridgeshire home to which he retreated as a recluse more than 30 years ago. The Guardian has learned that the singer, 60, who suffered from a psychedelic-drug induced breakdown while at the peak of his career, died last Friday from complications related to diabetes.
(Excerpt) Read more at arts.guardian.co.uk ...
Uhh...Roger Waters had quite a bit to do with what made Pink Floyd great.
Careful with that axe, Eugene.........
Hey,hey...Lucifer Sam is a cool song!
The Syd era Floyd never really grabbed me, either, but in the context of the history of the band, and the era it came out, it's very interesting how it set up the rest of their career, and the talent was there, it just was'nt blues based like the Gilmour influence. I agree, David is a genius and should be given most of the credit for their fame in the later years, but he picked up where Syd left off - and they had already made a lot of headway with Syd's contribution.
Like him or hate him, he was one of the big names in music in the 60's, and I just want to mark his passing with a little respect - we have plenty of time to argue his merit, or lack of, later on.
Syd Barrett was the walrus.
"Don't eat that leaf, Syd.
"Don't fall off that cliff, Syd."
"Put your jacket back on, Syd."
"Don't eat those poisonous mushrooms, Syd."
"Let's go home now, Syd."
Gilmour's musicianship made Floyd more palatable to mainstream audiences. Left to Barrett and Waters, no one would be listening to shrill psychodramas.
I think Gilmour and Waters are so different from each other, and yet that's what made it work. They both need each other, whether they like it or not, because neither has done nearly as well on their own.
"horrible horrible incoherent abstract crap"
I agree!
Full disclosure - have never been a Pink Floyd fan. As a musician I respect what they have achieved, some of their tunes/production techniques, etc. Waters & Gilmour definitely have talent. Except in rare instances I want music to be a positive, uplifting experience (even a 'sad' song) and I never got anything from Floyd except hopelessness, negativity and of course drug references. Being happily drug-free all my life I'm afraid I can't relate.
As for Syd Barrett, he made his choices and was physically/mentally unprepared for the drugs or their aftermath. All around him did their best to coddle this 'genius' but even they had to pack it in when they realized he was a casualty. They do their best to be patient, but these poor guys are asked about Barrett in every single interview! Enough!
'Interstellar Overdrive'? More like 'Earthbound stuck-in-neutral half-arsed noodling in a desperate attempt to conceal a lack of ability on the guitar.'
Gilmour's solo albums are very enjoyable; Waters' are unlistenable. Even back in the 70's Gilmour's self-titled solo album was a terrific listen; "There's No Way Out of Here" is an amazing song about some of the same subject matter Waters goes on and on about, but Gilmour's encapsulates the sense of dread and entrapment in a listenable song. Water's solo stuff tends to hector, lecture and grind along.
We became acquainted with PF during the Ummagumma / Atom Heart / Meddle stage, and Syd was already gone by then. But his influence was definitely there.
When we went to the Dark Side Of The Moon concert, it was "What's this?! PF doing rock 'n roll??" IIRC they did the entire album, start to finish.
A unique PF innovation: this was an outdoor concert, and there were huge speaker banks L/R at the stage, L/R at about mid-audience, and one at the very back of the audience. PF had a great deal of fun "spinning" the music around those speaker banks in different directions and at different speeds, something like a Dolby 5.1 trick but this was in 1973 (??).
Unfortunately it made a certain out-of-control segment of the audience even more out-of-control. It was just too much for them.
Home, home again
I like to be there when I can...
Home, home again
I like to be there when I can...
R.I.P. Syd Barrett
This is where I think it went downhill. Starting with the Final Cut and then with A Momentary Lapse of reason.
One of my absolute favorite albums...
When Waters took off, his solo albums showed that he's one of those musicians who needs someone to reign him in, a partner or producer.
Gilmour's Floyd showed how easy it is to fake "dark" lyrics--the lyrics stink--but even though Floyd's songwriting wasn't as strong, it still SOUNDED like Floyd. But the magic combination was gone, so it's been just a fake Floyd since The Wall (I hated The Final Cut--all gloom).
"fake Floyd since The Wall"
I despise that album. It isn't Pink Floyd.
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