The Dark Side Of The Moon
Pink Floyd
1973
Album Summary
The Dark Side of the Moon is the eighth studio album by the English rock band Pink Floyd, released on 1 March 1973 by Harvest Records. Primarily developed during live performances, the band premiered an early version of the suite several months before recording began. The record was conceived as an album that focused on the pressures faced by the band during their arduous lifestyle, and dealing with the apparent mental health problems suffered by former band member Syd Barrett, who departed the group in 1968. New material was recorded in two sessions in 1972 and 1973 at EMI Studios (now Abbey Road Studios) in London. The record builds on ideas explored in Pink Floyd's earlier recordings and performances, while omitting the extended instrumentals that characterised their earlier work. The group employed multitrack recording, tape loops, and analogue synthesisers, including experimentation with the EMS VCS 3 and a Synthi A. Engineer Alan Parsons was responsible for many sonic aspects and the recruitment of singer Clare Torry, who appears on "The Great Gig in the Sky". A concept album, The Dark Side of the Moon explores themes such as conflict, greed, time, death and mental illness. Snippets from interviews with the band's road crew are featured alongside philosophical quotations. The sleeve, which depicts a prism spectrum, was designed by Storm Thorgerson in response to keyboardist Richard Wright's request for a "simple and bold" design, representing the band's lighting and the album's themes. The album was promoted with two singles: "Money" and "Us and Them". The Dark Side of the Moon is among the most critically acclaimed records in history, often featured on professional listings of the greatest albums of all time. The record helped propel Pink Floyd to international fame, bringing wealth and plaudits to all four of its members. A blockbuster release of the album era, it also propelled record sales throughout the music industry during the 1970s. It has been certified 14× platinum in the United Kingdom, and topped the US Billboard Top LPs & Tape chart, where it has charted for 962 weeks in total. With estimated sales of over 45 million copies, it is Pink Floyd's most commercially successful album, and one of the best-selling albums worldwide. In 2012, it was selected for preservation in the United States National Recording Registry by the Library of Congress for being deemed "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant".
WikipediaI saw the cover and I went "okay, easy 5 stars", but then I decided that that wasn't fair. Does one of the go-to greatest rock albums of all time deserve a pass? Absolutely not. I decided to listen to it with a critical ear, as if I had never heard it before. ...easy 5 stars. Every single song is an absolute classic. Sure, it's boomer music, but this album is proof positive that boomers aren't all bad.
Day 34 of Albums You Must Hear Before You Die. In 1973, Pink Floyd released their eighth studio album, The Dark Side of the Moon, an album that would put Pink Floyd over the top musically, and would become their most successful album in their long and storied careers. Dark Side is a concept album that takes the listener from their first breath of life, to their last. Topics covered include, but aren’t limited to, greed, mental illness, time, and fame. When I reviewed Pink Floyd’s debut album, The Piper at the Gates of Dawn, I complained about the instrumentation going on for far too long on much of the album. Pink Floyd mostly ditched this idea on Dark Side, and more often got to the point of the story, much to my satisfaction. On vinyl, the track listing of ten songs is split into side A and side B. The five songs on side A blend together seamlessly, almost into one song. The same goes for side B. David Gilmour’s vocals are very pleasing on Dark Side and I didn’t learn until just now that he replaced original frontman, Syd Barrett amid issues with Barrett’s alleged mental illness. Now I know why their debut album seemed less familiar to me. The song Breathe (In the air) starts slow and inconspicuous, then builds into a frenzy that cued me up for a wild ride. On the Run, one of my favorites, is melodic and urgent. Time, my favorite song, is funky and has tempo changes that hit right in the feels. The Great Gig in the Sky shines bright with the vocal power of Clare Torry, and almost sounds like a funeral procession. Money is a bass driven rock song that is all about greed. Funnily enough, after this album, the band would become very rich. Us and Them is one of the most dynamic pieces on this record, especially due to its falls and builds and jazz roots. It’s spooky and comforting at the same time, like much of the album. Brain Damage and Eclipse are the final nails in the coffin and even though this album is just under 45 minutes, it feels like a lifetime has passed since Speak to Me, the opening track, began. The album closes with a weakening and fading heartbeat. Chills. Now THIS is how you make a concept album! I didn’t want to skip any songs on this album, it was a great journey that was executed precisely. This is an album you MUST hear if you’re passionate about music of any genre. The Dark Side of the Rainbow: When I was a kid, long before I had heard much of Dark Side of the Moon, I had heard the rumors that you could sync this album up with The Wizard of Oz, and it would play perfectly along and match up with the scenes of the film. I always thought that was cool, so I tried it. I rolled a nice joint and cued this up as soon as the MGM lion began to roar. My mind was blown! The two match up so well that it seems it just HAD to be intentional. The band denies this, but you have to give it a try sometime, if you haven’t already that is. I love this album and it’s re-playability value. You will find many things on your second or tenth listen that you probably missed before, and I’m all for it!! Please share your thoughts, memories and opinions on Dark Side of the Moon!!
Bitch please! What is there to say? A fucking masterpiece of musical expression.
Classic. Beyond classic and over loved often but still tight. Also forever connected to Paul Blart now
Masterpiece. Sublime guitar solos, evergreen subject matter, subtle arrangements. This 50 year old album is still used to calibrate high end stereos. Wonderful.
Now this is exactly the kind of album I want from this list. An undisputed classic that I haven't yet heard. Given that this is my first listen, I don't feel a strong personal connection to it yet, but I can easily see why it's heralded as one of the all-time greats. I love this prog music style, where each track just bleeds one into the next. It's psychedelic in nature, but the musical style is much less distorted and more refined. A really cool effect, to make psychedelic music without so much distortion. It seems to open and close with a heartbeat, I liked that touch too. I'm trying to imagine being like a 19 year old stoner the year this came out, this would've been biblical. I saved seven of the ten tracks on here (which is really 7/9 if you exclude the intro). I really can't say anything bad about this. I'm glad I got to hear this removed from any aggressive fanboy hype and just as another album on a list. I'm giving it five stars today because I know it could only become more impressive on additional listens, and I'm already quite blown away. The Floyd was certainly pink on this one. Favorite tracks: Hard to do but Breathe, On the Run, Us and Them, Eclipse. Album art: Iconic. One of the all time greats, without question. Strong, intimidating cover. I've loved this cover for years without even knowing what the music was like. 5/5
A classic. Exceptional song writing and production. Takes you on a real journey.
More interesting than good? Does it’s reputation destroy any chance to listen and enjoy objectively? This isn’t a 5. It’s not as good as Wish You Were Here.
One can debate however much they like over how "Wish You Were Here" or "Animals" are arguably better albums that lack the self-indulgent filler-ness of tracks like 'Any Colour You Like' or 'On The Run', and yet, you just can't deny that Pink Floyd tapped into something other-worldly with this album, lyrically, musically, and even conceptually. The guitar solo in 'Time' remains, for my money, the most striking, visceral, and all-around greatest guitar solo I've ever heard, and few songs hit as hard as 'The Great Gig in the Sky', 'Us or Them', or 'Eclipse'. People like to give "Money" flack, but you have to admit the cleverness of putting a track called "Money" at the centre of an album that's arguably about life and the various facets of human existence.
"The record was conceived as an album that focused on the pressures faced by the band during their arduous lifestyle, and dealing with the apparent mental health problems suffered by former band member Syd Barrett, who departed the group in 1968." "Breathe" is a really great song. "On the run" is freaking weird. I would be so scared if I listened to this song high. "Time" is also strange for the first 2:30, but in the best way. Then it turns into a mostly normal Pink Floyd song. Really cool. "Money" is great. "The Great Gig in the Sky" is very cool, I like the vocals throughout. Brain Damage and Eclipse are a great finish. Very little I didn't like in this album. Crazy, spacy production.
Let's set aside the fact that this album was massively innovative in terms of using the studio as an instrument and for integrating non-musical material into pop music. Also immaterial is how well it's done commercially. What matters now is, does it still work? Do the musical collages hold up? Are they tasteful? How are the performances? Does the music still draw you in? How about lyrically? Does the album as a whole cast a spell? Does the sequencing still work? The answer to all the above is, "Fuck, yeah!" This probably isn't even my favorite Pink Floyd album. The songs themselves are a little straightforward for me. I prefer Meddle, Ummagumma, and even The Piper At The Gates of Dawn, which were more experimental in terms of songcraft. But you can't argue with the execution, which remains flawless. The collages which drive the album are impeccably put together and produced. The playing is stunning, especially David Gilmore's guitar playing. It's easy to underestimate what he's doing here--he doesn't seem to break a sweat. But his taste, feel and note choices are sublime. Again, it's easy to underappreciate the subtlety of Roger Water's vocals, but the nuance is quite artful. And every element, every solo, every vocal performance, every production choice, works together to produce a seamless work of art.
Where on Earth (Moon?) do I start with this record. Listening to it with a more (or less?) conscious mind makes the pure unadulterated musical genius way more apparent. The beautiful sax lines layered throughout, the spoken word, the soulful/choral backing vocals, the ability to start a track deep in the psychedelic underworld and bring it out bursting forth into the clear light of a mid June afternoon in the middle of a botanical garden. Hair stands on end and my heart rate noticeably increases at the thought. Beautiful and intensely layered arrangements that never suffocate, always give you space to explore. A perfect soundtrack to the immense theatrics that only a cloudscape against a crisp winter sky can provide (The Great Gig In the Sky?). Enough allusions to experiences on the astral plain thinly veiled as questionable poetry, what a fkn incredible album.
Easiest 5 I'll ever give. A truly stellar album. The last four tracks on it are pure ecstasy for me. Definitely more than the sum of its parts, this album must be appreciated as a whole. Flawless production, the instruments and vocals blend tremendously throughout. Thought-provoking existential lyrics, from before it was popular to do so. Stunning dynamics, with loud and quiet sections perfectly juxtaposed. The explosion of sound in the chorus of Us and Them gives me chills. Amazing solo guitar tone. I didn't know about this album until i found it on my own 2 years ago as a 20 yr old. Went into it blind, had never even heard of the band. I never had a parent or friend who raved about it beforehand; i experienced it without any preconceptions of its greatness. And yet, it made quite an impression on me. Anyone who dismisses it as "dad rock" is tragically misguided. It is a soaring masterpiece. This album holds a special place in my heart: it was my gateway into progressive rock, a genre that has captured my heart and my imagination. This album helped show me the artistic heights music can reach when it is in the right hands.
The one album from this list that I can talk about with my friends. It's just about perfect in every way. Accessible to all audiences, highly innovative, tons of diversity, introspective lyrics, smooth vocals that aren't afraid to shout or whisper... Concept of life ties the tracks together and gives greater significance and attention. Tracks seamlessly flow from one to the next so well that it's frustrating you can't glue tracks together in Spotify playlists like what radios do. I like how there's a good mix of instrumental tracks and those with lyrics. It gives you space to process what's happening. Nothing repetitive, each track is constantly evolving, allowing the audience to enjoy every minute of the album. There's much to be said about every song, but "Time" and "Money" are two of my favorite songs of the decade. Love everything from the story to solos to vocals. "Money" in particular is one of the 'richest' and most impressive songs I've ever heard. It shocks me how anyone could come up with something as amazing and beautifully complex as this, especially without modern software.
Well, what can I say about this album that hasn't been said before....? If you haven't heard it before (which is implausible at this point), do so now. And, when you do, I'll see you on the dark side of the moon.
De la musique pour pseudo intellectuels, il semblerait qu'il y ait une grande coalition de tous les hispters du monde pour erriger cet album sur un piedestal. Pendant 45mn il ne se passe absolument rien, à part 3 solos il est vrai brillants. Ma conclusion: je vous pisse tous au cul.
Pink Floyd are a dilemma for me, kind of like the Beatles. One of those bands you should like given my general taste in music. Don’t get me wrong, I do like them…but I think I’m a “greatest hits” type fan. They have some really good songs, and some of them are even on this album but I find a lot of the weird (quite possibly on drugs when recorded) music doesn’t do it for me. I remember when I bought the album (“because everyone should own DSOTM”) and listened to it for the first time. My general thought was there are a few good songs but the rest I either needed to be high or watching the wizard of oz (or both) to get through. Nothing has changed. This is the “Bladerunner of Albums”. So so but still good enough for a 3.5 rounded down.
There's not much to be said that hasn't already been said, this is one of the best albums of all time, a perfectly packaged concept album that never feels boring or dull and that was groundbreaking back then and still is almost 50 years onwards
I don't think there's anything I can say that hasn't been said before. An absolute masterpiece of songwriting, performance, and production.
Was actually able to pull out an LP to listen to this one. What more could be said about it at this point?
this album deserves the hype, the songs match the theme/energy of the album so well
An incredible album with greater relevance and musical influence than I had originally thought. More than just an iconic cover
I have massive nostalgia for this from my uni days which gets it 5 stars. I thiiiink I might still give it 5 stars even hearing it for the first time? It's just a fantastic example of prog. Songs going off in unexpected directions and blending into each other. Sound effects and samples amplifying the ambient qualities. Clare Torry's outstanding vocal performance. I love it all. Fave track - it doesn't really make sense to pick one fave track as a lot of the appeal of the album is how things flow into each other? "Speak to Me" -> "Breathe" -> "On the Run" is great. "Time" -> "The Great Gig In The Sky" is magnificent - I guess this is my fave track pick... "Brain Damage" -> "Eclipse" gives me triumphant chills every time!
Nothing really to be said that hasn't been said before. Great record, and tight. Unlike some of their others.
You know. I probably listened to this album close to 500 times when I was in high school. It's hard to divorce those feelings from my mind. The soundscape boiling away my resentment. Transporting my addled mind to a faraway place where I can't hear what's in-between the headphones. I can't give this anything less than perfection
This album really is an incredible work of art. The flow of the album is great, there is wonderful use of non-instrument elements (the alarm clocks are brilliant even if they startle me every time), and it is one of those albums that just feels good to listen all the way through. Favorite tracks: the only ones I would exclude from this are the ones like “Speak To Me” where they really aren’t tracks that would ever get played in their own. Thoroughly enjoy this whole album.
A classic, not much to say that you need to listen to it at least once regardless if you think you won't like it.
One of the most great albums ever produced. Revolutionized the whole psychedelic rock scene.
From the transition from the intro into the second song, I was hooked. Stunned that I’ve never listened to this before. Glad that I have now.
What's the point of re-listening right now? I already know this one's a goat.
Unlike "Wish You Were Here", this one has more content to listen to, and it's really good.
I really enjoyed the opportunity to listen to this for the first time, and it won’t be the last I don’t think. Also the experiences of them experimenting with sound I liked.
Epic album. Individual songs tied together with the themes and flow between them. Musicianship, lyrics, it has it all (except On The Run which I hope David Gilmour regrets).
A proper album. Not just a collection of songs. Us & Them onwards was the 5* kicker.
One of, if not the best record of all time. Great Gig in the Sky is a little bit overrated as a single but Money & Time make up for it. Incredible album.
Really experiential record to listen to. The lyrics seem timeless, as David Gilmour and Roger Waters guide you through life. From the second track "Breathe", a track that deals with birth and the lessons we teach children, to the final few tracks when the album comes full circle, as "Any Colour You Like", "Brain Damage" and "Eclipse" work as a study on death. Hard to argue with an album that still sounds as sonically fresh as Dark Side of the Moon. Fav Tracks: "Breathe", "Brain Damage", "Eclipse", and "The Great Gig In the Sky" Rating 4.5/5
This is one of the best albums of all time. It flows seamlessly from song to song, and is immaculately produced. It's hard to Beat this. Favorite Song: Time, Any Color You Want
El principio del álbum me hace bajarle la calificación. Fuera de ello, es simplemente magnífico y aqui se encuentran otras obras cúspide de la banda.
Блять, да пускай этот альбом будет первым во всех возможных топах. Он даже на 81-м месте в топе Metal Hummer был. И там пускай будет. И вот кто хочет начать музыкальное просвещение - пущай слушают. И выкупают за эту призму с радугой. И похуй, что мне Wish You Were Here нравится, возможно, больше. Я и ему 5 ёбну и остальным, если попадутся. Ну разве что не первому, ладно, там душилово ебаное. Охуенный альбом, для своего времени вообще кровь-кишки-распидорасило, ныне не слушается старпёрским калом от слова совсем. Разнообразный, умный, мелодичный, яркий, запоминающийся, эмоциональный... внятный. Ясен хуй, что не могу уже так залипать, как лет 7 назад, когда на плеер впервые загнал. Но я спустя столько времени, собсна, ни во что залипать не могу. Да и чё это за хуйня, что если восторг настоящий - он должен тянуться всю жизнь? Не, всё, раз словил, ставится печать "10 из 10, боже мой, 10 из 10". Кроме там отдельных случаев, когда себя уличаешь в явной незрелости пиздюческой. И пускай призма с радугой остаётся "символом настоящей музыки". И пускай до сих пор дифирамбы поют. Потому что альбом охуенный. Комплексный и доступный. Альбом - феномен. А занижать за оверхайпнутость - значит опускать до просто отличных, крепких альбомов. А это вообще низость какая-то. Думаю, в этом случае даже можно привести цитату Стива Бушеми: "Опуская альбом, ты опускаешь себя...".
Tror dette var første gang jeg hørte på albumet på løpetur, og "On the Run" fikk passende nok en helt ny dimensjon når stegene mine var helt synkronisert med rytmen og synthen pulserte gjennom finstadskogen i skumringen. Ellers er det fortsatt et sykt bra album, er ikke så mye mer å si om det
Flott album! Aldri hørt om Pink Floyd, men tror han kan ta av om et par år as. Beste sanger: Time, Great Gig In The Sky, Brain Damage / Eclipse