The Piper At The Gates Of Dawn

The Piper at the Gates of Dawn is the debut album from Pink Floyd. This first album was mostly composed by Syd Barrett, who left the band just prior to the album's release because of his deteriorating mental health and accelerating drug use. Barrett's psychedelic pop set the tone for the album; his quirky, silly songwriting became part of 60s psychedelia. Instrumental tracks on the album show clear hints of the direction Roger Waters would take the band after Barrett's departure.

Fun and silly psychedelic rock.

I think this is great, psychedelic and melodic. 4 for me!

Fun, experimental. Fresh. Great production throughout.

Psychedelic nonsense of the best kind…

A freaky classic - Lucifer Sam and Interstellar Overdrive still rock. And Gerald the Mouse ... nuff said

it's very weird, kind of sloppy in some places -- but also very good.

This was much better than I thought. Loved it waay better than The Wall. Maybe Animals and DSOTM are better, because they are more Pink Floyd, but this is still good. It also sounds insanely good for 67 woow.

trip (pun intended) down memory lane, en andere panoramische vergezichten... psychedelisch, spacy, kinderlijk... alles in 1 4.5 sterren

El Pink Floyd bajo la dirección de Syd Barrett es bastante menos conocido que el de la era Roger Waters, y (al menos hasta hoy) me incluyo entre aquellos que suelen ignorar este álbum para centrarse en los grandes clásicos que vendrían más adelante. Es cierto que a día de hoy este estilo de música no dice nada nuevo, pero eso es de esperar. Sin embargo, al haberlo escuchado con detenimiento me ha sorprendido muy gratamente. Un álbum no solo pionero del rock psicodélico (e incluso proto-prog a ratos), sino que sigue siendo interesante y toda una experiencia digna de ser disfrutada con atención. La producción es magnífica, con unas dinámicas muy cuidadas y un uso del estéreo súper creativo e influyente. Musicalmente, es menos melódico y más experimental que otros álbumes de su época, entre los que me atrevería a incluir a Revolver. Merece al menos tres estrellas por su calidad musical, y una más por su relevancia. Un álbum extraño a la vez que genial.

Can definitely hear the LSD influence. Was recorded in the same studio as Sgt pepper, at the same time which is interesting because the two albums are very far apart. The only pink Floyd album to prominently feature Syd Barret. My favourite anecdote being the fact he wrote a song called 'have you got it yet' which he then taught the band. The band couldn't seem to get the hang of it and eventually realised it was because he was subtly changing the arrangement each time, then laugh as he asked 'have you got it yet'. The title is a reference to the wind in the willows. Funky good vibes.

Great music. Definitely felt dated to the 60s, but not in a bad way. Not as good as other projects I've heard from them.

Always loved pink floyd, hasn't listened to this album more than once before

3rd time through. First, I hate the hard right/left mix. However, it seems after the 3rd listen I am starting to get it! The child like innocence of songs like The Gnome, Matilda Mother and Chapter 24 have now revealed their charms and the rhythmic drive of Interstellar Overdrive and Lucifer Sam shows their rocking side and demonstrates the talents of the rhythm section better than on any subsequent Pink Floyd album. A very listenable album that I didn't expect to enjoy as much as I did. 4 stars

Не такой хороший как другие их альбомы, но в целом это классика

127/1089 - Good start of the album. Pow R. Toc H. is cool bird imitations followed by the most dull piano solo. Overall pretty good but the guitarist is kinda sloppy.

Excellent psych rock album! 4/5

Ik kan hier weinig bij op- of aanmerken. Ik zet dit aan, doe ondertussen m'n werk, ik kom in een soort gat in de ruimtetijd terecht en voor ik het weet is het voorbij en heb ik niet heel veel van onthouden. Het soms wat experimentele gesoleer en gedoe geeft ook weinig houvast om mentale notities aan op te hangen. Er is op het grootste gedeelte van het album geen vaste structuur met coupletten, refreinen en bruggetjes waarbij je achteraf kunt zeggen van: Dat nummer had een geinig refreintje dat nog steeds in m'n hoofd zit. Het is allemaal meteen weg als je het maar één keer luistert. Met uitzondering van het Beatlesque 'The Gnome' of 'Scarecrow' misschien. De band loopt af en toe ook maar wat te kutten lijkt het. Het is wel prettig gekut, gelukkig. Een oerdegelijk psychedelisch album waarop de innerlijke snob wel even lichtjes aan slaat. Een dikke 4.

This album is a unique one. Floyd went on to become a world changing band but the lineup shift between this and their career was material. There is a lot of talent and creativity here but it's far less focused than they got with Gilmour and as they grew as a band. Still very interesting to listen to and a big album for the time.

Class of ‘67 - Voted “Mostly Likely to Grow Up and Make ‘Dark Side of the Moon.’” Or maybe not! This is an interesting specimen from the Summer of Love, released on the heels of Sgt Pepper and surrounded by so many giant releases from that year. It has a familiar psychedelic sound but also its own brand of whimsy. Plenty to enjoy, if not always thoroughly captivating for me

Even with their first album, you probably need a recreational drug to make sense of it all. At this point in their career, even OTC Benadryl might do the trick. All the signs and sounds of greatness are there. Yet, even without putting it all together, the album is strong. I would love to have tracked their progress linearly. They clearly have broken ground for a new wall!

rather psychedelic and different, good overall though

A slightly questionable introduction to one of the greatest bands of all time. It's generally not considered part of their "big four", normally replaced with Meddle or Animals from the next decade. But there's a lot of nifty stuff here. Astronomy Domine is a perfect snapshot of the Summer of Love, combining elements of deadpan psychedelia with space-race-era admiration of the great abyss. The recording of Piper started at roughly the same time as the debut of beloved TV show Star Trek and the influence is clear. Not just in the opening track, but in the ethereal, wandering Matilda Mother, the SFX-heavy Pow R. Toc. H... and, of course, the electro-charged jam session that is Interstellar Overdrive. Is it one of Pink Floyd's better "prog" tracks? Maybe not, but it certainly holds its own as an instrumental with a darn infectious riff. The remaining tracks are perhaps more radio-friendly, though only in a way that reeks (in the best possible way) of the mid-late 60s. Even the production is half-baked and weirdly mixed in that loveable 60s way, where the vocals are blasted up far too loud and the drum crashes frequently max out the volume. It's most obvious on Take Up Thy Stethoscope And Walk ("doctah doctah!") and The Gnome ("look at the sky, look at the river, isn't it goooooooddddd"), which are both notable for their inexplicable use of whispering in the lead vocal. Flaming is an odd choice of single, especially when the surf-rocker Lucifer Sam's sitting right there. That track's something I can't explain. Bike is also notable for its extremely odd decision to play the vocal twice, once in each ear, with a half-beat delay between them. It's disorienting, which is of course the point. A great closer. 4/5 Key tracks: Astronomy Domine, Lucifer Sam, Bike

We’re talking 1967 here and a while before the development of modern day digital devices and no synthesisers. When seen in that context it is a great album, albeit with a few aberrations along the way.

This was Pink Floyd’s first album, released at the height of the psychedelic era (1967). The music certainly fits the era, and the beginnings of other Pink Floyd concepts are evident here, like long tracks, use of weird noises and sounds, and echoes and reverb. It’s pretty creative for 1967, so I give it four stars.

Weird for workout music though

Ah, yes... So many memories of this album, so much to say... What an amazing debut album and what a bizarre career arc this band had (and continues to have!) I don't remember Pow R. Toc H. being this long, but it's possible I wasn't sober the last time I listened to it all the way through, lol. (Also, I could have sworn that Pow R. Toc H. was the song with "Tock! Tock! Tock!" over and over in it but that's actually the next track.) As much as I love this album and it brings back so many memories, I have to give it just 4 stars. I just don't find it as good as their best stuff.

I would not have been able to tell you want band this was if I didn’t already know. Wow. What a difference swapping out Syd Barret for David Gilmour made. This almost felt more like a sound collage than an album but it was cool to listen to.

There’s no denying that The Piper at the Gates of Dawn is one of the most important and influential psychedelic rock albums ever made. It captures a moment when Pink Floyd, led by the wildly imaginative Syd Barrett, were fully committed to exploring the outer edges of pop and sound itself. Tracks like Lucifer Sam, Astronomy Domine, and Interstellar Overdrive aren’t just songs—they’re experiences, filled with swirling textures, playful surrealism, and a true sense of musical freedom. The album feels like stepping into a technicolor dream, and it helped lay the foundation for the entire genre of spacey, exploratory rock that followed. That said, as much as I admire what this album achieved, I can’t help but prefer the more expansive, polished Floyd that came later—Meddle, Dark Side of the Moon, and beyond. Piper is brilliant and groundbreaking, but also a little uneven in places, with a few tracks that feel more like odd little detours than timeless classics. Still, its legacy is undeniable, and the energy and creativity here are infectious. It’s not my favourite Pink Floyd, but it’s an essential piece of their story—and of psychedelic music as a whole.

Album 712 of 1001 Pink Floyd - The Piper At The Gates Of Dawn (1967) Rating : 4 / 5 Good listen but certainly not the Pink Floyd we have all come to know and love. If not for the mental health issues of Syd Barrett, I don't know that they would have ever become the Pink Floyd we know. Maybe an odd stroke of luck.

One thing that always astonishes me about this debut is how upon initial listen, it sounds completely alien from the band's later releases, but the more you sit with it, the more you realize how many similarities they are. Barrett's contributions to the band's success are on full display here, even if you don't care for the left-field approach to the songwriting. And thank goodness Gilmour came in to steer the ship; I don't mean to undervalue him at all. I just love this debut so much because it does everything a good psych record does, and in some instances, it's doing them for the first time ever. This is a psychedelic album that removes itself almost entirely from the Blues roots the genre was born from, and in so doing, manages to push the genre forward in endless ways. That said, not all experimentation is good experimentation, and this album is no exception. Some tracks here meander for far too long without offering anything new. However, it's hard to knock off points because regardless of the sonic enjoyment that comes from the "trippier" songs here, their footprint on music history is massive.

Jazzy Pink Floyd. I liked it quite a bit.

Not what they will become but you can hear the Syd Barrett influence.

Het is geen Wall, maar ook zeker niet slecht. Wel heel rauw. Pink Floyd zonder Gilmour zegmaar

one of their best of the first-era

Famously recorded in the next door studio to where The Beatles were recording Sgt Pepper, this feels like Pink Floyd before they became the prog behemoth that they became known for. It's good, at times very good psychedelic pop, with a few hints of the grandeur that they'd find in the 70s. It's not always very coherent I think, partly deliberately probably. Still, it ends with Bike, a song that is both extremely stupid on the surface level (I've got a mouse and he doesn't have a house I don't know why I call him Gerald) and has some absolutely mesmerising psychedelic instrumentation across it. I enjoyed listening to this for the first time in a long time, even if it will be a while before I feel the need to do so again.

Some of these lyrics can get a bit pretentiously confusing, see “Chapter 24”, in trying to make things psychedelic or sophisticated. I can’t tell what their goal was for some of it, but it’s pretty fun the whole way through. I’ve always liked “Bike” even though it’s pretty silly. I guess they’re all fairly silly songs. First half is stronger than the second, especially those first three songs. Not a huge phan of “Interstellar Overdrive”. The experimentation on here is really well done for the most part. They do a good job of being weird without being unlistenable. In this area, they, in my opinion, got worse before they got better. Strong debut, though. I like it. 4/5

Listening to this for the second time I like it more than the first. But its still just not as good to me as their 70s work. The atmosphere is amazing, but the music not as special to me. Still, this would be a lot of artists best album.

Uneven, but that's what you'd expect from an uneven mind like Old Syd's. Some true classics on here and some that could simply wander off into the haze. But it's got Astronomy Domine and Interstellar Overdrive. The rest is gravy.

Super trippy. Lots of swirling sounds, weird voices, and melodies that feel like they’re floating. It’s loose, unpredictable, and totally its own thing. If The Beatles’ Sgt. Pepper had a weirder cousin, this would be it.

Very different from the pink floyd most people know. Still very good though

Had to listen to it twice! So cool... Very proto... Sprawling, wandering, and engaging. Classically influential riffs. Ty Segall definitely picked up where this left off. As did mothers of invention. Very cool would play well at an art school party.

First time listening to this. Like an acid trip set to music...in a good way. I liked this - the distinctly British lyrics, the weird organ sounds. Not my favorite Floyd album, but a solid 4/5.

Solid psychedelic rock

Instrumentally this is so good, absolutely groundbreaking psychedelic stuff. Lyrically it is a bit iffy, but what do expect from ideas drawn from a shed load of drugs? Its not an album I intentionally listen to a lot nowadays, or even when I was younger for that matter, but it is still a pleasure to listen to when the opportunity arises. The standout tracks are 'Astronomy Domine' and 'Interstellar Overdrive'. It is let down by 'The Gnome', I'm sure it seemed like a good idea at the time.

early acid/psychedelic rock. nice to hear what started it all

Very rarely do I think it is imperative to listen to the first album of an artists discography to see how far they've come - Pink Floyd is certainly one of these cases. A totally unique sound from the Beatles clones of the time (and much of the other crap on this list). They truly excelled with their instrumentals and the depth of production on this album. The vocals are nonsensical and often childish which much can be attributed to Syd Barrett. Comparing this to how he directly influenced multiple of the bands biggest records as a theme (DSOTM, WYWH, TW) is mind boggling. Not even close to the best album in the bands career, but a necessary piece of psychedelia history. 3.6/5 -> 4/5

Brilliant. Not at all what they became after Sid's fall, but this is a great album.

So so trippy. A lot of brilliance in this one.

Iako imam nekad love & hate odnos prema njima, ovaj album mi sjeda iznenađujuće dobro, više mi je nekako fluent i melodičniji nego neki drugi. 4/5, 8.5/10

kiva tääki

I really liked it even though it is very dated. Psychedelic music doesn’t really stand test of time.

This was a spacey trip, some really cool stuff here. It’s obvious they took themselves less seriously in the early going and that’s evidently Syd Barrett’s influence. I really do enjoy the weirdness they brought to the table on this release. POW R. Toc H was really interesting, Interstellar Overdrive was a fantastic psychedelic journey, Bike was pretty fun and made me realize just how much of Montreal was influenced by 60’s psych. It’s weird stuff and I really enjoyed it. 4 stars

So there's a three-track magical section, Lucifer Sam, Matilda Mother, and Flaming. The rest are either long and a bit boring, or long and interesting but I wouldn't listen again. After being subjected to the Pink Floyd power hour every Friday at the AJ, I grew to dislike Pink Floyd, but I think they were unfairly maligned by association with a bald lad in a biker jacket that regularly beat everyone at pool.

Never heard this album before. Very British sounding... Dare a say a bit kinksy (Jamie will be furious). Got the early shoots of what they were to become, but it's also much more bluesy and folky sounding. More generic. I did enjoy it though. Highlights: Astronomy domine Lucifer Sam Interstellar overdrive I'm going with 4 but maybe closer to 3.5

So foundational. Floyd gets (deserved) abundant credit in the prog/art rock world, but this is a hugely important moment in the world of fuzzy and avant psychedelic.

so wildly creative but the craziness is kind of scary it’s like being high in the middle of the day and wondering if everybody knows

3.8 2x catch up on 11/4/24 first time listening to the debut album

Syd Barret's Pink Floyd. Really good, but not quite the same as later Pink Floyd. Enjoyable nonetheless.

4.4

I like psychedelia. I think weird and unorthodox music like psych/prog rock is vastly more interesting than anything that's been on the pop charts for ages. I like nontraditional song structures, with strange chord progressions and time signatures. I really enjoy the 1967-1979 era when rock musicians were really pushing the boundaries of music, creating cohesive mind-expanding albums instead of cheap radio pop singles. Even though this album shows its age, it is much more inventive than anything produced in this century. I find it fascinating that music like this ever sold, back in the day. It's the opposite of radio-friendly. I will say that this album is not a great intro to Pink Floyd. Their later albums are more well known and definitely the reason they are considered one of the timeless classics of rock. Favorite Songs: Astronomy Domine, Lucifer Sam, Interstellar Overdrive, Bike Also, the album cover looks like a bunch of rejected actors for 1960s Doctor Who (which is a positive!). 4⭐️

**The Piper at the Gates of Dawn** is Pink Floyd's debut album, released in August 1967. The only Pink Floyd album made under the leadership of Syd Barrett, who was the primary songwriter and creative force, it is considered a cornerstone of psychedelic rock. The album blends whimsical lyrics with experimental sounds, effectively capturing the spirit of the late 1960s' counterculture. ### Lyrics The album's lyrics, penned mostly by Syd Barrett, reflect his unique and whimsical storytelling style. Barrett's songwriting exhibits a blend of childlike wonder, fantasy, and surrealism. Many songs feature a dreamlike quality, touching upon abstract imagery and imaginative scenarios, rather than focusing on typical rock themes like romance or rebellion. For instance, "Astronomy Domine" paints an otherworldly picture of space exploration, filled with celestial references and cosmic phenomena, conveying the feeling of drifting through the universe. In contrast, "The Gnome" tells a simple yet fantastical story about a character named Grimble Gromble, using nursery rhyme-like language to create an otherworldly atmosphere. This playful approach is seen throughout the album in tracks such as "Matilda Mother," where Barrett delves into themes of childhood tales and bedtime stories. The lyrics also exhibit a darker, more chaotic side, such as in "Interstellar Overdrive," which, though largely instrumental, contains Barrett's surrealist approach to constructing a musical journey, resembling a sonic equivalent of stream-of-consciousness writing. Another example is "Bike," where seemingly absurd and nonsensical lines create a sense of dislocation, highlighting Barrett's eccentricity. The lyrics blend humor with a melancholic undertone, foreshadowing the troubled aspects of Barrett's mind, which later surfaced in his life. ### Music Musically, **The Piper at the Gates of Dawn** is a bold experiment in blending rock music with avant-garde elements. The album is characterized by its diverse range of influences and instrumentation. It includes conventional rock instruments, but also employs effects, keyboards, and tape manipulation to create a soundscape that was groundbreaking for its time. The opening track, "Astronomy Domine," is a quintessential example of 1960s space rock, combining driving guitar riffs with organ swells and echoing vocals to produce a sense of cosmic wonder. Richard Wright's Farfisa organ plays a pivotal role throughout the album, adding a distinctive texture to tracks like "Pow R. Toc H." and "Take Up Thy Stethoscope and Walk." This use of the organ, combined with Barrett's jangly, angular guitar work and the unorthodox rhythmic structures provided by Nick Mason and Roger Waters, gives the album a distinct sound that sets it apart from the more blues-based rock of the time. Tracks like "Lucifer Sam," with its surf-inspired guitar riff, show Pink Floyd's ability to infuse their experimental approach with more traditional rock elements. The song's moody and mysterious tone fits well with the lyrical content about Barrett's cat. Meanwhile, "Interstellar Overdrive" stands as one of the album's most ambitious pieces, featuring an extended instrumental jam. The track epitomizes Pink Floyd's improvisational style, incorporating dissonance and a freeform structure to evoke a journey through space and time. This experimental approach to composition, focusing on atmosphere and texture rather than traditional song structures, would become a defining characteristic of Pink Floyd's later work. Songs like "Scarecrow" and "Chapter 24" demonstrate the band's softer, more melodic side. These tracks feature simpler arrangements but are still infused with a sense of the mystical. The folk-like quality of these songs adds diversity to the album, showcasing Barrett's versatility as a songwriter. "Bike," the closing track, is a playful, chaotic mix that ends the album with a sound collage, featuring laughter and various sound effects, encapsulating the spirit of playful experimentation that permeates the record. ### Production The production of **The Piper at the Gates of Dawn** was handled by Norman Smith, who had previously worked with The Beatles. Recorded at EMI Studios (now Abbey Road Studios), the album was produced during the same period The Beatles were working on *Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band.* While Pink Floyd did not have access to the same level of resources as The Beatles, Smith and the band still managed to push the boundaries of studio techniques. The production incorporates a wide array of sound effects, tape manipulation, and early stereo panning techniques to create a psychedelic experience. For example, "Interstellar Overdrive" uses stereo panning to disorient the listener and enhance the sensation of a chaotic journey. Smith’s engineering techniques allow for the placement of sounds in a three-dimensional space, which was innovative at the time and helped to give the album its ethereal quality. However, the album does show signs of limited resources and a lower production budget compared to later Pink Floyd albums. Some tracks, like "Take Up Thy Stethoscope and Walk," feel less polished and have a rawer quality, which some listeners may find adds to the album’s charm, while others may see it as a detriment. Despite these limitations, the production successfully captures the band's live energy and translates their experimental approach to the studio environment. ### Themes The album's themes revolve around exploration, both outwardly in the form of space travel ("Astronomy Domine," "Interstellar Overdrive") and inwardly through the psyche ("Pow R. Toc H.," "Bike"). There is a recurring motif of childhood, fantasy, and innocence, particularly in songs like "The Gnome," "Scarecrow," and "Matilda Mother." These tracks evoke a sense of nostalgia, yet are tinged with an unsettling quality that suggests a loss of innocence or the intrusion of darker forces. The title of the album itself is derived from a chapter in Kenneth Grahame's *The Wind in the Willows*, a children's book that celebrates the mystical beauty of nature. This reference aligns with the album's fascination with whimsical and surreal imagery, as well as its underlying darkness. The juxtaposition of light and dark, playfulness and foreboding, innocence and insanity, runs throughout the album, reflecting Barrett's own struggles with mental health. ### Influence **The Piper at the Gates of Dawn** had a significant impact on the development of psychedelic rock and progressive music. Its experimental nature, unconventional song structures, and blending of genres paved the way for the emergence of progressive rock in the 1970s. The album’s influence is evident in the works of later artists and bands who sought to push the boundaries of rock music beyond simple song formats. Syd Barrett's role in shaping the album's character cannot be understated, and his influence resonates in the music of later psychedelic and alternative rock bands such as The Flaming Lips and Tame Impala. His use of whimsical storytelling and eccentric arrangements became a blueprint for countless musicians seeking to blend pop sensibilities with avant-garde elements. Additionally, the album set the stage for Pink Floyd’s evolution into one of the most influential bands in rock history. While later albums like *The Dark Side of the Moon* and *Wish You Were Here* would move towards more polished production and thematic cohesion, the experimental spirit present in **The Piper at the Gates of Dawn** remained a fundamental aspect of the band's identity. ### Pros 1. **Innovative Sound**: The album was a groundbreaking work in the realm of psychedelic rock. It introduced many unconventional elements that became influential in shaping the genre. 2. **Whimsical and Poetic Lyrics**: Syd Barrett's lyrics offer a unique blend of fantasy, humor, and darkness, which was unusual for rock music at the time and provided a refreshing contrast to the straightforward themes of most contemporary songs. 3. **Variety in Music Styles**: The album includes a wide range of musical styles, from hard-hitting space rock ("Astronomy Domine") to softer, more melodic pieces ("Scarecrow"). 4. **Bold Experimentation**: The use of sound effects, tape manipulation, and stereo panning techniques gives the album a distinct character and showcases the band's willingness to experiment with the boundaries of conventional rock music. 5. **Captures a Moment in Time**: The album serves as a historical artifact, perfectly encapsulating the spirit of the late 1960s and the burgeoning counterculture. ### Cons 1. **Lack of Cohesion**: The album sometimes feels disjointed, with its eclectic mix of styles and Barrett's unpredictability resulting in a lack of thematic or musical unity. 2. **Raw Production Quality**: Compared to the band's later albums, the production on **The Piper at the Gates of Dawn** is less polished, which may be seen as a drawback for listeners accustomed to high-fidelity sound. 3. **Not Accessible for Everyone**: The album's eccentric nature and the avant-garde approach might not appeal to those who prefer more structured and traditional rock music. 4. **Some Filler Tracks**: Songs like "Take Up Thy Stethoscope and Walk" are often viewed as weaker efforts that do not match the quality of the album’s strongest tracks, contributing to an uneven listening experience. 5. **Barrett's Limited Involvement in Future Works**: While not a flaw of the album itself, Syd Barrett’s later struggles meant that this record remains the only true representation of Pink Floyd's original vision under his leadership. ### Conclusion **The Piper at the Gates of Dawn** is an album that remains essential for understanding the evolution of Pink Floyd and the broader psychedelic rock movement. It stands as a testament to Syd Barrett's creative genius and his ability to channel his imagination into music that resonates with a sense of wonder and madness. Despite its inconsistencies, the album's innovative spirit, whimsical lyrics, and bold production techniques make it a landmark of 1960s rock. The record's legacy endures not only because of what it achieved at the time of its release but also due to the groundwork it laid for the band's future endeavors. Its blend of fantasy, experimental soundscapes , and exploration of the inner and outer worlds continues to influence musicians across genres. While not without flaws, **The Piper at the Gates of Dawn** is a vivid snapshot of a band on the verge of greatness and a cultural period marked by a desire for exploration and transcendence.

Not their best but certainly good

The Dawn of Psych Rock and a peek inside Syds musical mind.

It's a Syd Barrett album and one can only imagine what PF would have been if he didn't sadly derail (but then we wouldn't have gotten Gilmour). It's psychedelic infused on another level and its disjointed throughout relative to their other work but some of the experimentation is way ahead of it's time and would inform their later works. You don't get Animals without Piper at the Gates of Dawn!! Favorite lyric by Syd: Change brings success, action brings good fortune

Really sounds "old" but also has some songs I'm familiar with. I like the songs Matilda Mother and Interstellar Overdrive

Wildly experimental album that feels somewhat disjointed at times ("Interstellar Overdrive" being on the same album as "Bike" is just crazy to me) but overall it was a really pleasant listen. As a drummer myself, J found Nick Mason's stylistic choices super interesting

Very different in many ways from the Pink Floyd that I know, which is Dark Side through the Wall. Hints of the creativity they possess is apparent, as is the willingness to be creative with instrument and sound choices. A good starting place if you want to delve into some early Pink Floyd.

This album is mysterious and impenetrable—a style I might call madcap psychedelia. It has Syd Barrett written all over it. It’s not a particularly likable album, and it’s certainly not radio friendly. Much of it isn’t so much about music as it is about sound—it uses the L-R stereo to great effect, as strange cacophonies zoom between the speakers. Some of it feels like noise (much of “Interstellar Overdrive”), and some feels like it has this charming, oddball fantasy bend (“The Gnome” and “Bike”). The ending was strange, with squeaking sounds like a broken bicycle horn or a wheezing rubber duck. It sort of made me want to listen to the whole thing again.

This wasn't what I was expecting. It was much further off the beaten path and more 'experimental' than I would've thought and also maybe a little more subdued. That said, I can't think of anything that would prevent me from finding joy in bicycling except the song 'Bike." That was truly horrible. But Interstellar Overdrive was great. All in all, I think I'd listen to this again but I'd probably be really high. Depending on the number of bong rips, I may / may not skip through a few tracks.

Fun, spacey, and at some points kind of accidentally hilarious thanks to Syd's warped lyrics. 4/5

Origineel, echt psychedelisch, en vooruitstrevend. Wel af en toe wat lastig luisterbaar.

OG Pink Floyd with Syd Barrett. Good album solid all the way through. Stand out tracks: - Lucifer Sam - Pow R. TocH. - Interstellar Overdrive - The Gnome

This album is just Syd and the gang throwing some weird shit at the wall and not even caring if it sticks. And I can't help but respect it for that, even if a lot of it definitely does not stick. Pink Floyd go on to make some of the greatest albums of all time after this, and they leave this wacky stuff behind them, but it's still interesting to look back and think about what a Syd Barrett led group would have looked like long-term. Fav songs: - Astronomy Domine - Lucifer Sam - Pow R. Toc. H - Interstellar Overdrive - Bike

4.0

Syd Barrett craziness you can hear the start of what they'd become but its also pretty weird

A great album from Pink Floyd and not one I've heard before. I liked so many songs on it but top four would be Astronomy Domine, Flaming, Interstellar Overdrive and The Gnome.

Nice that my first Floyd album is the first Floyd album. And really good it is too. Hadn’t listened to this for many years but there are great moments I remember, like Bike and Astronomy Domine and great moments I was more than happy to be reacquainted with, like Lucifer Sam and Interstellar Overdrive. A sign of things to come, albeit via some lineup changes, and a great listen in itself as well.

Pretty good. Some excellent riffs.

Now this is a fascinating album right here. Pink Floyd is a very iconic band that I've had good experiences with in regards to their prior albums that I have gotten. However, when I say "prior albums" I mean that in terms of albums I listened to before this one. However, in a chronological sense, there are no albums prior to The Piper at the Gates of Dawn because this was their first album they released. Because of that and various other traits, this album feels drastically different from albums like Wish You Were Here and The Dark Side of the Moon. The vibe is just completely different. It's more whimsical and the sound leans a lot closer to psychedelic rock rather than the progressive rock the band would become known for. On top of that, this is their only album to heavily involve Syd Barrett, as his mental health heavily deteriorated after this album's release, leading to him leaving the band. Enough with the facts, it's time for my opinion on the album. I like it. It's a very good psych rock album. The sound is nice, and so is the singing. While the album doesn't feel much like Pink Floyd, there is one song that kind of has those foundations. The instrumental song "Interstellar Overdrive" has the same ambitions that later songs like "Echoes" and "Comfortably Numb" would have. I also like the album's opener "Astronomy Domine." Overall, this is a fascinating album that managed to not only revolutionize psychedelic rock, but also kickstart the career of an amazing band. Light 4/5.

Normally, the level of whimsy would make me want to kick a hobgoblin on a unicorn in its face, but there's something so charming and well put together about Barrett era Floyd I can't resist, even when it throws you the Gnome, Scarecrow and Bike within four tracks... Plus actually good 10 minute wigouts like Interstellar Overdrive. Ace stuff.

Already listened to it, amazing 4 Some filler but still amazingg

Bueno, no está mal. Le voy a dar un 4 porque son Pink Floyd, aunque no he prestado mucha atención.

Okay fint. Det er et godt album😤

This version of the Pink Floyd are not my favorite version but a good version none the less

If you invited people by your house to listen to Pink Floyd and then only listened to this, you could ruin a lot of friendships. Piper is lacking a lot of what would later make Pink Floyd a household name; it’s just as exciting as most of their post Dark Side-releases. It’s a psychedelic trip through the weird wonders of early Floyd. It’s unclear if they knew what they were doing at all times, but it almost always works - even though the mixing will make you fear for the condition of your stereo.

Surprising sound… not the pink Floyd i know and love. 4/5

seen crazy shit girl crazy shit

This is a great rag-bag of folk, psychedelia and pop. Very different from the Waters Floyd, with Sid's whimsey well to the form - gnomes and bicycles etc.

This is my first time listening to Pink Floyd's debut album after hearing Dark Side of the Moon and The Wall (one of my all time favorite albums across all genres) countless times. Due to that bias I was expecting something more cohesive. But it's clear that they started out even more disjointed, dystopian, psychedelic. I had trouble getting into it at first. Maybe because I was looking into it too hard. When I first heard Interstellar Overdrive that's where I really got hooked. It's so spacey and it kind of just helped me zone out and enjoy the album. I listened to it one more time through and enjoyed it a lot more on the second listen. I feel like I can't give this album a true rating without listening to it while tripping but that's not going to happen any time soon. So for now, a 4 it is.

Trippy, so raw compared to later Pink Floyd. I dig it

El álbum de debut Pink Floyd es la culminación de la psicodelia británica. Canciones pegadizas y melódicas inspiradas en el acid pop fruto de la mente creativa de un Syd Barrett todavía centrado en la música y largas composiciones experimentales que evidencian la maestría interpretativa del grupo. El uso de la metáfora del viaje espacial como una experiencia alucinógena es evidente en temas como "Astronomy Domine" o "Interstellar Overdrive", primeras incursiones en lo que más tarde se denominará "space rock". En todo el disco contrastan las letras y melodías humorísticas y juguetonas de Barrett con las inquietantes disonancias y efectos sonoros que trasladan una sensación casi constante de caos. Para mi gusto uno de los mejores exponentes en este sentido, y gran tema, es "Pow R. Toc. H". En The Piper at the Gates of Dawn se vive la ampliación de los límites de la percepción frente a la amenaza del desorden mental y la locura como una premonición de la crisis posterior de Barrett. Se trata de uno de los mejores discos psicodélicos de todos los tiempos.

Another psychedelic groovy album. Would’ve loved to be an age in the sixties to appreciate it in real time. Would’ve been an amazing trip if Syd kept it together

I’m a sucker for people who write songs about their bicycles.

Not as familiar. Very psychedelic

I'm surprised I liked this so much. I don't care for later Pink Floyd albums, and this is so much less polished, but as a result far more interesting.

It’s like Love’s Forever Changes but they were in a silly mood. Like if gremlins made it. And if gremlins were the only thing keeping Jesus and a Moai statue from feuding.

I know some of the later Pink Floyd albums, which are mostly really good, but I'm glad to see they started pretty strong as well. Really nice psych rock, altho it feels a bit less inventive then some of their later albums.

I can’t listen to this and not think of poor Syd and what could have been. He never would have achieved the soaring chops of Gilmour so Pink Floyd would have been quite a different beast. But where would that experimental mind have gone? It doesn’t hold up as well as many touchstone recordings of that era, but it definitely shows the promise of what could have been.

Such a mystical meandering of mysterious music from the late 60s, from a band that would morph into something (equally splendid, btw) that would sound nothing like this. This is a conjuration of psychedelic musical spirits caught in the organ and the dreamy guitar. The drumming and the laughter--at times quite tribal in feel. Like a religious ceremony. And then they turn around and sing silly songs about gnomes, gingerbread men, and aging mice named Gerald. Splendid!

Favourite tracks: astronomy domine

750 songs into this project and I have never regretted it less than I do right now. The generator has been on an absolute tear for me lately. This isn't my favorite Pink Floyd, it isn't anyone's favorite Pink Floyd, but it is still an album I should listen to before I die and I'm happy I did.

Too bad Syd went down the rabbit hole…wonder what they could have done if he hadn’t lost himself

listened to again such a magical experience with so much stereo experimentation

This album is an icon of psych rock and one of my favorites. It gets weird and I love it.

Because it's a Pink Floyd.

Very good

The pinnacle of sixties British psychedelic rock. Sure the beatles had peaked (and remained peaked) but no one had done what Syd and the boys did here. USA had hendrix and the doors, while the stones remained a British r&B band and the kinks were at thier height, but Floyd started at a different level and were a new pace for rock experimentation.

Ah...the one that started it all driven by the leadership of Syd Barrett. There are some gems here. I've always favored Bike.

A pivotal release for the psychedelic movement and the debut of one of the best selling bands of all time. It's also interesting to hear Syd Barrett leading the band here. It's particularly bold for a debut album in the 60s and doubtless it turned more than a few heads. It holds up fine, both as an experimental record, but with enough pop elements to keep it listenable. It's obviously not as iconic as their later work, but it definitely deserves its place in music history.

Pleasant surprise. I don't like their newer music very much. Too perfect. Perfection is boring. This has the youthful energy their newer stuff lacks. It sounds more human. The lyrics are... let's say they're better at writing music. Favorite song: Lucifer Sam

I like the gnome a lot it is a fun song, I don't remember much of the rest of the album tbh, I don't think it counts as a 5 star album even though technically I will listen to the gnome again. Maybe my standards are getting too high

4/5. theres some mid in here, other than that is okay ig idk

Quite interesting songwriting. I personally really dislike the time where stereo became a thing and all the studios thought it was a great idea to pan the drums hard left or hard right... hahahah Good listen though :)

Cool album, didn't know about this one from Pink Floyd. Psychedelic and experimental. Not really at the same level as their Dark Side Of The Moon and The Wall, but still very nice. Can't go wrong with trippy spacey vibes with me. Will listen more 8/10

Good and good I finally listend

Syd Barrett era Pink Floyd, so super simple rhymes over psychedelic swirls and overdubs that makes it sound like the most transcendental shit ever laid down on tape. It shouldn't work, but it does...

Sometimes this listening project feels like a job. Other times I see the album and know I'm in for a treat. In this case, an album I know and love well. In the most absurd best-case possible scenario, I somehow got to it years and years after getting almost too familiar with The Wall, Wish You Were Here, and Dark Side of the Moon. So it came at me as a very fresh but familiar, strange yet cosy experience. That said I'm taking away one star for what is clearly an irresponsible use of stereo panning technology.

Super album, not 5, but good enough

Groovy. Not necessarily my sort of music but I liked it.

051223 16:51 3.5

Esse eu curto das antigas já, primórdios da banda já dava pra ter uma ideia que os loco eram diferente

I remember listening to this album a very long time ago since I wanted to explore Pink Floyd beyond the famous albums. It was a treat then and I have told people to check out the song "Bike". Syd Barrett was something wasn't he? Definitely a historical curiosity and something that's fun to listen to see the journey Pink Floyd made but it's not like I'm listening to it all that often. Except for Bike. That song slaps.

Not as good as some of the later works but just as great as I’d expect

Ein bedeutendes Album in der Geschichte von Pink Floyd! Jung & wild, teilweise gewöhnungsbedürftig, aber definitiv legendär! 7.9/10

pink floyd init

Para mim não é nota 5, pq não gosto do stereo. Me incomoda um bocado, dito isso, mto bom.

very fun very silly lil album. syd could write dark side of the moon, but roger waters could NOT WRITE BIKE. 7.6/10

Listening to this album is like walking through a psychedelic funhouse. You never know what’s around the corner and the music is constantly trying to surprise and disorient you. Like how the epic nine-minute experimental “Interstellar Overdrive” is followed by the playful, bedtime folk song “The Gnome.” There are a lot of great moments that make this worthwhile. Some highlights for me were the surf rock swagger of “Lucifer Sam,” the jazzy piano in the first half of “Pow R. Toc H.,” and the manic jamming on “Take Up Thy Stethoscope and Walk.” This is a perfect album to put on a list like this. It’s fascinating and entertaining but listening to it once before you die is probably enough. I think this is my second time listening. The first time was in high school. I was smoking weed in a parking lot while my friend played it for me in the car. Not sure if we got through the whole thing that time. And of course this album deserves recognition for being the first Pink Floyd album, though their sound here is pretty different from the band they eventually became. The story of Syd Barrett, who was the frontman for only this album, is an interesting one. I’m only vaguely familiar with his mental health struggles but I’ve always thought it was fascinating how he made this one album and then the band went on to become one of the all-time greats without him.

It starts as a pop album but then you can really hear the reverb and where pink floyd would eventually go.

Unique, very creative. Part alternative-universe Beatles, part free jazz/jam band/ambient exploration. Love the Syd Barrett Pink Floyd. (how on earth did they go from this to Comfortably Numb in ten years? Crazy.)

Good, wasn’t very Pinky Floyd-y but enjoyed it

A very different Pink Floyd than I ever knew. This early stuff was really difficult to get into at first. BUT, after I listened a few times, I started hearing little bits of the Pink Floyd that I did know...very subtlety. Standouts: Astronomy Domine, Interstellar Overdrive Others: Mathilda Mother, Lucifer Sam, Flaming, Take Up Thy Statoscope and Walk, The Gnome

I was very happy to have this music history lesson. I was really blown away at what the Pink Floyd sounded like at this point. My father used to keep asserting that he had been a fan of theirs in the ancient times, but I never really had a sense that there was anything before The Dark Side of the Moon. It seemed a little jarring, the mix of British pop songs with a psychedelic flavor, moving into long, long improvised instrumentals. It's not going to be something I go back to, but I really loved hearing this premier album.

I was definitely not prepared for what this album delivered today. Grading was probably not the best activity for this soundtrack...I think the combo made both experiences a little more challenging. Nonetheless, it was good to be introduced to this side of Pink Floyd.

Not the Pink Floyd I'm familiar with but interesting as a piece of musical history. Psychedelic, renaissance faire, British invasion-y stuff.

This is a really 60s album… in a way I didn’t really expect in a Pink Floyd album. It is fascinating to listen to their debut album. A bit wacky, and bit psychedelic, strange and very interesting.

brilliant innit

Great debut album, weird and raw. I can't imagine what it was like hearing this when it came out. But it's still great to hear it every once in a while.

I remember reading that, even though Syd only was only around for one album, his influence on Pink Floyd lasted a long time. Here, I think we can also hear the influence of Pink Floyd on Syd Barrett, especially in comparison to Syd’s solo efforts – the songs here are more electric, experimental and a glimpse at what we might hear on future releases. “Interstellar Overdrive” is a good example, though it’s quite raw and there’s a bit too much sound and not enough song for me. It’s nice to see that Richard Wright was an avid co-writer and contributed to some of the better songs, IMO, on the album. As far as psychedelic pieces go, “Flaming” and “The Gnome” are great. The one Roger Waters contribution, I’m not crazy about. It’s difficult to imagine the impact that its weirdness would have had on late sixties’ music lovers. It came out within months of the last studio LP by Jimi Hendrix and The Doors debut!

Great composition. Not my favorite Floyd album, but you can hear the brilliance that is to come.

DG gang gang Pd. Astronomy Domine es la mejor

Brilliant psych rock album. One of their best. 8-9/10

I'm on some medications that are messing with my brain right now. I don't know if this was a bad time to listen to this album, or the perfect time. I have actually listened to this album many times before though. Astronomy Domine is one of the best prog compositions of all time.

I'd never listened to early Pink Floyd before, only the super famous albums. It was interesting to hear them before they discovered the psychedelic prog sound I'm familiar with. I love that you can hear hints of their later sound in the making, especially on "Interstellar Overdrive."

So Pink Floyd has always been it weird, it seems. This album is very prog rock & good to be played in the background...and possibly under the influence of fungi. 3.5 stars

I love this album. It's so fun and inventive. It rocks when it wants to, and it lounges in a spacey, fantastic garden full of gnomes when it wants to do that. And then there's the epic adventure that is Interstellar Overdrive. I listened to this in a car full of people and one woman said the song made her want to gouge out her ears. I get that. To me, though, Interstellar Overdrive is pure bliss. Every band can't make a song like that sing. But Pink Floyd sure can. I'm only dinging this album a star because there are many three songs that are sub-par. The rest, though, are among my favorite Pink Floyd songs. And yeah, lots of people don't like the Syd Barrett era. But I really do.

Such a British album–pipers, barley, a gnome named Grimble Crumble, gates at dawn. I certainly enjoyed this and think I had a listen all those years ago when Pink Floyd ruled my high school years. While this is no Dark Side of the Moon, I do believe it's an important one to listen to hear the evolution of such a pivotal band.

Seeds of greatness, but this album is a mess. It bucks a lot of the pop trends of its day, and veers hard into psychedelia. There's a lot to love, and there's much to listen to as a curiosity.

Well that was...odd... Pink Floyd singing about gnomes, scarecrows, bikes with the great psychodelic guitar riffs in the middle. Odd, but when you think about it, what was not odd in 1960's music. It's the first album of PF and you can hear they literally experimented with sound. Breakthrough...

So I first listened to this album probably about two years ago and I was not a fan. I found it very boring and just too bland for me. But upon relistening to it I figured out just the charm this album has. A few tracks do carry this album hard but it's crazy to think that this is the band who made The Dark Side of the Moon.

9/11 + 4/9 (40th anniversary edition)

9.87/10

Syd! This is the Pink Floyd album I would recommend to people who don't like Pink Floyd. Under Syd's leadership, they made some fantastic psychedelic rock and pop, and this album sounds nothing like any of the albums that came after. Bookended by two of my absolute favourite Floyd Songs, this is a great album. "Interstellar Overdrive" is mood dependent for me - sometimes I can't get enough of it, and sometimes I very much can.

Muss man tatsächlich zur historischen Einordnung von Pink Floyd gehört haben.

It's pretty enjoyable but they got so much better without Syd.

vintage psychedelic rock. Songs about bikes and scarecrows, but also instrumental bangers like interstellar overdrive. Would say deserves a 5 but I leave it a 4 as it's not very accessible. Probably 5 on shrooms tho.

I like to equate psychedelic-rock with abstract art because it's hard to judge when it's good, but you know when it's bad. The sound of this art-rock debut from Pink Floyd, is a long way from the sound of their masterpiece, Dark Side Of The Moon released many years later and almost sounds like a different band. There are small glimpses of what was to come, but this is the only PF album with founding member, Syd Barrett. It's full of weird and strange psychedelic sounds that is sometimes painful and difficult to listen to, but there must be something to this, right? I've tried to listen to this record several times over the years and finally listened to it in it's entirety for this review. If you listen to it for what it is (a "art-rock-psych-concept" album), it's a rewarding experience, but it's definitely not for everyone and not suitable for dinner parties, unless everyone is on drugs.

I didn't know this album existed before, I like the cover and it reflects the sound pretty well. can hear some clear Beatles influence in here and it tracks that this is them at their youngest, figuring out their sound

Several good tracks but not their best album

The tracks "Astronomy Domine" and "Interstellar Overdrive" are portents of greatness to come. Other tracks, including "Flaming" and "Bike", are typical of the psychedelic music of that era.

bra shit

I don't get Pink Floyd, but I do get Syd Barrett era Pink Floyd, after which they should have stopped, or at least had the good grace to call themselves something else. Anyway, this is great, with Lucifer Sam the best song

Not what I expected - has the old mod sounds and in no way really mirrors the psychedelic Floyd sound you expect. Really great album.

their best

Pure kino, Syd was truly a genius

This was a real pleasure to go back to. I've not listened in a long time and it is fantastic. The genius of Syd writ large, Lucifer Sam, The Scarecrow and of course Bike, one of my all time favourites. A fascinating record and a real treat to go and explore. "I've got a bike..."

When I was a teenager, I really dug Syd Barrett, so I listened to this album and his solo LPs quite a bit. I enjoyed the mix of whimsical psychedelic pop songs and longer improvisations. The industrial band I was in during the 1990s used to play Interstellar Overdrive often when we needed to pad out sets (especially when played largely improvisational electronic sets for dance parties or similar Clan Analog events). I stopped listening to Syd a long time back. But this album showed me new musical possibilities when I was young, and I enjoyed revisiting this record. Astronomy Domine, Interstellar, Lucifer Sam and Bike are all standout tracks for me.

Was good but not something I could just casually listen to

i luhhhh pink floyd

ah, of course! back when pink floyd was good. they should have stayed psychedelic. Animals is a good album but other than that i just absolutely hate anything past DSOTM. i've listened to this album many times and i always love it more and more every time. i really don't have much else to say, honestly... only time i go in depth on the tracks and write what i think of them is when i've never heard the album before. so expect that a lot -- i reckon i've only listened to about 70 of the 1001 albums in the book.

Listened Before? N Spectacular! This is very crude for Floyd, and I've never gotten around to listening to it before but I'm glad I finally did. You can hear the raw ideas and structures of future songs and ideas coming together here in a stripped down form. I loved this, and I'll revisit in the future, but it's not cohesive and consistent enough for me to throw it in the library (yet). Added to Library? N Songs added to playlist: Astronomy Dominie

I love this album, despite its weirdness.

Not my favourite Pink Floyd album, though some great tracks on here. I'd say 3.5 rounded up.

Gran disco. Algún snob odiará, pero no es mi preferido de Pink Floyd.

mmmmm

The beginning of greatness

While this is a bit different from where they were headed, you can still see the shape of things to come. An essential album for anyone interested in PF.

Come for the gnome, stay for Gerald. I love this goofy little album but it’s a pretty deep cut vis a vis Pink Floyd. Weird that it’s on here tbh.

This was so nice to listen to through headphones! A lot of the production on this one was so neat! I love how they experimented with panning between the right and left channels. Highlights: Lucifer Sam The Gnome (I love the transition from Interstellar Overdrive) The Scarecrow

gnome and scarecrow have been staples in my halloween music for years now. like the sound of it very much, a little bit too on the nose, like they were just fucking around and accidently created a masterpiece, but actually, they are masterminds yk? you can just hear their talent and what they are gonna be one day through these tracks. you notice the difference between them and other musicians immediately. insane.

Floyd is always great

Exploding with exploration. It's almost better when it's barely making sense. RIP Syd.

Wonderful

Fantastically random and varied. I did notice a massive difference in listening on a proper hi-fi setup though, compared with more 'standard' listening via PC.

pink floyd’s discography is so cool

Nice way to debute. I love that you can notice Syd here, its the other side of the band, everyone is showing off. The album has themes where you are being sucked into some pink floyd's planet for almost 10 minutes and im okey with it. It is psychedelic even on its album cover

Fun!

A bit too quirky at times but undeniably a pretty impactful album, and deservedly so.

I was expecting something different from what I received listening to this album. This is not the Pink Floyd I know and like to listen to sometimes. It's something different but recognizable at the end. It's strange but also familiar somehow. It's not easy, but the 50 minutes are not annoying. For sure, this is an important thing that will remain with me for some weeks.

listened several years ago

Weird, worth more listens

very good as well! probably truly a 4.5. Could be a 5 with more listens. Definitely fits in the era.

this is a really good pink floyd album. syd barrett adds to the oddity, eccentricity. there is challenging pop music here. experimental noise music. inventive structures and ideas throughout. i tend to think pink floyd is a highly overrated band, but this album still finds a way to nuzzle up and ease in. good job. i likey this batch of bops. yeehaw!

Great album and it only gets better after this. Shame what happened with Syd.

The middle part is trippy, certainly unique, but it's not really for me, and then it all makes sense in the end to enjoy the nonsense medievalesque last tracks that are really beautiful

Syd tho

Essential psychedelic album and an interesting mix of Syd Barrett's pop song structures and the more traditional Pink Floyd improvisational pieces.

this is mid-tier floyd which is still pretty great

Hell of a debut album. When it first came out I wonder what it was like to hear this and wonder where they would go next. We would not be disappointed.

I haven't heard a lot of this album in a long time. Pretty classic psych-rock that somehow is pretty good, thankfully Syd has it still mostly together on this album. Interstellar Overdrive is probably my favorite track, it's pure jam-psych-sprawl. There are cutesy songs like The Gnome which are fun, which is the best of Syd's works... it all unfortunately goes from here for him. In terms of Pink Floyd, this is barely getting started and later when Waters comes onboard is when PF really become themselves.

Absolutely hell yeah

They would

Eka PF ohhoh! Siitä onkin aikaa kun olen tämän kuunnellut. Ja täähän oli aika väkevä progelevy! Ei liian pitkä mun makuun mutta viehettävä. Kyl vaan! 4/5

Vähemmän omassa kuuntelussa ollutta Floydia. Monipuolinen ja kiinnostava levy, 4/5.

Waters is a dick. But he’s a magnificent dick

First thing’s first: this album is The Piper At The Gates Of Dawn by Pink Floyd. It doesn’t actually say that anywhere on the cover. I know they are renowned as geniuses, but I think I’ve only ever heard Another Brick In The Wall, and that is only through my grandma singing it on karaoke when I was a kid. Songs I already knew: none Favourites after listening: Lucifer Sam, The Gnome This is definitely an album that should be listened to as an album, meaning it would be a shame to pick and choose different songs or to listen to it on shuffle. Lucifer Sam was my favourite, although it did seem significantly different to the other songs - it wouldn’t be out of place in a Scooby Doo chase scene. It feels like I might not be on enough substances to enjoy this album at its fullest as it is quite trippy. I don’t usually mind that in music, but it did outstay its welcome for me in Interstellar Overdrive. Overall this is a good, but not great, album. Recommended to anybody who is totally high right now.

I loved it! I especially enjoyed The Gnome, Lucifer Sam, The Scarecrow and bike. Definitely downloading and would buy a physical copy !!

👍Pink Floyd 👍

Mad Syd Barret. Roger Waters. What more do you need? Pink Floyd's first incarnation is arguably the best. Leaders of psychedelic rock and we all know how they went on write and produce other great things (likely also on here). Nothing quite like this though.

<3 syd barrett, also pre david gilmour pink floyd. They really were experimental back then, not bad at all.

Interesting and unique would be the best way to describe it. Loved some of the lyrics. Highlights: "Chapter 24" for the lyrics mostly & "Astronomy Domine" "Bike" is interesting, reminded me of "A day in the life by the Beatles

1er album de pink floyd, tres different avec syd barret que david gilmour. Ca se voit sur l lalbum mais le genie crwatif du band estlà et c'est un album d'anthologie. 4.90

The production is rough around the edges at times. I get the feeling that the production techniques couldn't quite keep up with the scope of the album. this in combination with the eccentricities that a lot of early psych has makes this album a more difficult listen than the later pink floyd albums. However if you can look past the rough production and try to imagine how the rougher moments were intended you'll find a lot of brilliant writing. Definitely not an album for everyone but i really enjoy it for what it is.

Great album. Sporadic and bizarre.

Very British 60's rock and I love it. Of course its not anywhere near as tight as Dark Side of the Moon or Wish You Were Here (my personal favorite), but it brings a full experience of psychadelic sounds and lyrics. This won't be for everyone, but it's definitely for me.

Album mi je inače bio super, međutim nakon knjige koja mi je bila poklonjena od strane prijatelja - koju sam pročit'o, još više mi se svidio, onak ta pozadinska priča, šta se sve izdešavalo da bi se napravio album, a i naravno Syd je ovdje <3. Jaka, čvrsta četvorka i mislim da bi ovaj album s lakoćom stavio u top 5 njihovih. Psychedelic Rock classic i šteta šta taj album neću nikad doživit čuti uživo.

Delightful psychedelia

Helt kova, mer phonky än annan pink floyd ja hört...

I wasn't totally convinced to start with but shit gets pretty psychedelic toward the back end of this thing.

It’s interesting to think about what Pink Floyd would’ve been like had Syd Barrett stayed in the band.

Never listened to the early pink Floyd albums in entirety. Love the psychedelic vibes

Pas mon préféré du band. Dire que seulement 6 ans après ça, ils ont enregisré Dark side of the Moon... Ils en ont fait du chemin. C’est très 60s comme album. Il y a quand même des trucs superbes comme Astronomy domine. Il y a aussi le jeu de basse de Roger Water qui est surprenament hip et technique à quelques endroits. On entrevoit ce qui allait devenir un des plus important band de l’histoire.

If you were going to put out an album in 1967 you had to have a song about a gnome.

Interstellar Overdrive -> The Gnome remains arguably the funniest song transition whiplashes ever.

Pink Floyd is one of my to 5 all-time favorite bands, but I have probably only listened to this early ablum one time before reviewing The Piper At The Gates Of Dawn for this list. Perhaps I have only listened to this album only once before because it is the early Syd Barrett authored sound. I enjoy many tracks from Barret ("See Emily Play", "Arnold Layne"), including tracks from this album ("Bike", "Astronomy Domine"), but the band's output was uneven during his time. "Pow R. Toc H." (with a string of somewhat grating introductory sounds that come back later in the track) is the low point for me on this album. This album is prime psychodelic rock, and further away from the more progressive leaning albums central to Pink Floyd's career. If my three star rating means that it's a single listen and I'm done, then I will have to admit that this album has earned rounding up to four stars. I may be back to hear the whole thing again.

Так вот с чего всё начиналось. Любопытно!

Oh man. What a fun and whimsical little piece of psychedelia. It's odd and silly but I really enjoyed it. And obviously the debut of an incredible band.

As someone who has a lot of experience listening to Pink Floyd, I've never heard this album or any of it's songs so this is going to be really interesting. This is waaaay different than what I'm used to from this band, their youth and inexperience really comes through but it does give a hint of the levels of experimentation and their ability to pave the way into new territory with music comes from. It definitely is something that I think would be very unappealing to a lot of people, and would be a hard listen. Regardless, to me this was pretty fun and a really interesting peek into the birth of what would become a massively influential band. I also learned that the "Real Eyes, Realize, Real Lies" super deep saying to teenagers came from this apparently?

This band seems like they have a promising future ahead

thought i was a cool teenager for listening to a pink floyd album that wasn't the dark side of the moon or the wall. piper was very important to my high school psych phase and i was infatuated with syd barrett and anything he touched. i had fun revisiting this. great groove. doesn't take itself too serious.

it’s a vibe

Embryonic but still enthralling.

Damn fine, lo fi poundshop psychedelica, before the technology kicked in and you to rely on good ol acid only. Really enjoyed this and spent the whole day listening to floyd. Only question is what is it with them 60s dudes and gnomes and pixies and shit.

Love a bit of Floyd!

Can't go wrong with Pink Floyd, physico rock will change your mind!

Pink Floyd is one of my most favorite bands of all time. That being said, I am less of a fan of the music they recorded in the Syd Barrett years. On the positive side, I can hear even in this debut album the vision and talents of the band, which became more and more apparent as they progressed away from the heavy psychedelic sound with which they began their performing and recording careers. Although most music in the psychedelic genre generally annoys me, Pink Floyd's take on it contains more art, melody, fun, and originality. Compared with most psychedelic rock, this album is a lot better. This album suffers a little through my listening ears for two main reasons: (1) my overall dislike of the psychedelic sound [so much of it sounds like people tripping playing music they think sounds cool while tripping but doesn't translate to sober ears, or worse, sober people making music they think tripping people would like] and (2) Pink Floyd's later music is just so darn amazing to me that these earlier efforts don't measure up by comparison (this is 100% forgivable, of course). The Syd Barrett story is fascinating, beautiful, and of course as we all know, ultimately heartbreaking and tragic. I cannot hear one of my most beloved Pink Floyd songs, "Shine On You Crazy Diamond," from Wish You Were Here, and not get a little choked up from the sheer beauty of the music, the poetic artistry of the lyrics, and the story behind the song. Back to this album, which has more good tracks on it than I've given it credit for -- picking up a lot more as I re-listen to it all the way through. For example, Pow R. Toc. H has some great keyboard work (descends a bit too much into trippy sound effects later on, though). Interstellar Overdrive is pretty wild. I can imagine how weird and disorientating it all would be live.

Funky! 8

8/10. Pipe 'er at the Gates of Dawn? I 'ardly know 'er! I really wish they didn't feel the need to give me a headache just because I decided to use headphones. Looking at you, Interstellar Overdrive. Otherwise, has some good songs, and I do kind of like just how extremely weird early Pink Floyd is.

It's a British psychedelic rock album. I like Bike and Interstellar Overdrive a lot and most of the other songs are decent. 8/10

3.5.....but have to give a 4....for invention...start and end of interstellar and others

Up its own ass in an incredibly compelling way

It is not as distinct as their later albums, but still really good.

Nice! An album I already knew! I prefer Pink Floyd's new stuff over this one, but it's still awesome.

I really like this. Not my fave album by them that belongs to another album that I hope is on this list

Interesting if a little bit too much whimsy in places

Актуальная работа до сих пор. Интересные фишки при сведении.

Rollicking, British, and fun. Highly enjoyed it.

never heard a pink floyd album all the way through before this was an interesting experience not amazing but pretty good 7.4/10 fav track: The Gnome least fav track: Pow R. Toc H.

This debut album of Pink Floyd contains psychedelic mostly written by Syd Barrett. It is a good album, but sounds a bit dated now. Also the legend of Syd Barrett (due to the very sad life story) has grown bigger than his contribution to music history.

This is the first record we've come across that I have listened to many times, and own. People love 70s Pink Floyd. And they should, it's really good. I especially like Atom Heart Mother and Animals. But there was a certain 60s pop sensibility that existed on Piper... that disappeared almost entirely after Syd Barrett left/was excused from the band. Arguably, this set the bad up for their great success. But I love Piper... and A Saucerful of Secrets (not to mention Barrett's solo releases). Highlights: I like it all, but "Lucifer Sam" and "Bike" are great. Another non-album single from this period ("See Emily Play") was great as well.

The album is a little weird - not sure I really "like" any of the songs, but it's so cool to hear Pink Floyd's roots - knowing how they would soon after change rock and roll. It's equal parts British Invasion of the 60s and Psychadelic Rock of the 70s. You can hear them inventing something new on this album - something they would eventually perfect.

Wild, "out there" space rock; proof that Pink Floyd have been pushing the boundaries since day one.

Big Pink Floyd fan. I got their first few albums years ago and ... they were different than Dark Side of the Moon, Animals, Meddle, Atom Heart Mother.... it really has taken me a long time to appreciate the earlier Pink Floyd. This was their first. The more I listen to it the more I like it. It is definitely an experience. This one is more enjoyable played LOUD with the headphones on. Stand out songs: Astronomy Domine. Matilda Mother Flaming Pow R. Toc H. Intersteller Overdrive. The Gnome Bike

Syd Barrett take es awayyyyyyy

As usual, I'm going to ignore how massively influential this album is in evaluating it. As I alluded to in my recent review of Dark Side of the Moon, I actually enjoy The Piper At The Gates Of Dawn more, which is not to say that it's a better album. Dark Side of the Moon is near perfect, but I prefer the boundless imagination of Piper. The structures of the songs are constantly surprising and yet tuneful and accessible. I can't think of another pop album this is more true of. Between guitarist Syd Barrett and keyboardist Richard Wright, the instrumental textures are kaleidoscopic, despite the primitive nature of the instruments and effects pedals and studio trickery available at the time. Drummer Nick Mason and bassist Roger Waters give some stability for Barrett's and Wright's flights of fancy. Not everything is successful. There are two outright duds right in the middle of the album, Pow R. Toc. H and Take Up Thy Stethoscope and Walk, which lack the grace and charm of the other tunes. Interstellar Overdrive squeaks by on the lengthy improvised middle section, despite the limited technical abilities and harmonic knowledge of the musicians, on sheer instinctive musicality. No such reservations need be applied to the album closer, Bike. The idiosyncratic tune gives way to a gorgeous psychedelic instrumental freakout, capped by an ingenious loop of what sounds like Canadian geese. How to rate? Although Barrett and Wright are able to bridge the gap between their technical abilities and their imaginations through sheer instinctive musicality and fearlessness, their limitations in regard to note choices sometimes grate. And two songs are basically a waste of vinyl. But the other songs are often breathtaking in their originality, the lyrics endlessly charming. Despite the technical shortcomings, the atmospherics conjured up by the group are by turns whimsical, ethereal and terrifying. The highs are so high, I'm inclined to cut Pink Floyd some slack.

Death grips samples

Incomprehensible? Often. Wandering and over-produced? Every other minute. A work of brilliance? Oh yeah. Listening to this album let's you listen as a music master goes insane. The twists and turns, the straight fire grooves, the bonkers sfx; it's no wonder Syd Barret remained the muse of Pink Floyd despite leaving after the first album. He's a madman, and I love it.

Absolute classic

Great sign of things to come from this legendary powerhouse

Discovered this album in college - dorm buddy had a copy. Pretty cool - I really like “Astronomy Domine” and the funkyish bass line on “Lucifer Sam”. Rest of he album has its moments , not all good. “Bike” still gets stuck in my head frequently, and I walk around mumbling it to myself at the park - that would probably stop if I was on a bike. Would have been interesting to see where Pink Floyd would have gone if Syd Barrett hadn’t melted his mind on LSD. 3.5 stars. Rounding up!

syd barret

One of best psychedelic records of all time. Great melodies, textures, oniric passages… Syd Barrett at his very best

De excelente qualidade, gostoso de ouvir mas não o suficiente pra eu ouvir de novo, não é meu tipo.

Bueno, no está mal. Le voy a dar un 4 porque son Pink Floyd, aunque no he prestado mucha atención.

I really like Pink Floyd but don’t know much about the early Syd Barrett days. I found myself liking his campy weird tunes like Bike and Gnome more than the others. I feel like this is. 3.5 and I’m torn between rounding down because I didn’t love the music or rounding up because of the weirdness and influence and allowing for more progressive music styles! Fuck it, have a four because I’m biased!

Early Pink Floyd at its psychedelic best. Guess fucking Roger Waters wasn't a stupid millionaire communist supporting third world, human rights violating dictators as he does today. I hate him with my guts. Pink Floyd is a great band, though.

Se ve que les faltaba un pelin aun

This sure was an experience.

First Pink Floyd album, the only one recorded with Syd Barrett. After this album, Barrett sort of went off the rails and was ousted. He tried a couple solo projects and then became pretty reclusive. Pink Floyd went on to write quite a few songs inspired by him - The Wall, Wish You Were Here, Shine On You Crazy Diamond.

I’d still rather listen to Sgt Pepper’s.

Solía escuchar mucho éste disco. Sigue siendo la onda

Great debut album. Pink Floyd amazed from the very beginning and I love it.

This was a lot better than the last pink floyd album

Amazing album, different than their later stuff. Definitely 60s psychedelic jam bad stuff. Cool sounds like. Definitely needs to be listened to in stereo. Only complaint really was some of the effects are over the top. 4.5

This just doesn't sound like the PF that I grew up with at all! It's very Brit rock, a la The Kinks and Beatles. Immediately after the album finished Dark Side of the Moon played - much more what I think of for PF.

Psicodélico, tem tocado, maluco, bom demais!

Experimental, trippy, and weird, but in a delightful sort of way.

Yeah, it was pretty good

Sounded a lot like a Beatles album at first but their sound became more distinct as the album went on. Standout Tracks: Astronomy Dominé, Pow R. Toc H., Interstellar Overdrive, Chapter 24

I wanna give it a 4 just cause it's PF but it's too early and rough around the edges

Some good parts and some really bad ones. The stereo mix was painful at times, but I still have a soft spot for psychedelia

I'm the weirdo who enjoys The Gnome and Bike. Interstellar Overdrive and Astronomy Domine also being highlights. There sure is a lot of fodder on this thing, though, despite being one of the better psychedelic records of it's day.

Liked parts of it. Standout songs: Matilda Mother Interstellar Overdrive

PF is back with another drug fueled adventure. Trippy, exciting and a bit strange.

Really classic Pink Floyd, but not outstanding Pink Floyd, you know?

Everyone knows Pink Floyd, but most people don’t know this Floyd. This is their most English album, which is fair considering they are English, and part of the later-phase British Invasion. I wouldn’t have picked this Floyd album but I get why it’s here: heavy psychedelic rock foundation; early pioneership in the genre; pretty listenable; and no David Gilmore…yet. Listening to this makes me realize how much I appreciate Gilmore’s contribution. Syd Barrett was a genius in his own right but PF would have never become the monolith it became with him alone. It’s still an interesting album. Interstellar Overdrive on headphones was a trip! And Lucifer Sam felt like surf rock gone stoner. My key track was the opener, Astronomy Domine as it set the tone for their career and album. Good listen but I don’t need this on vinyl.

Random thoughts: * Would this be considered a classic if it wasn’t Pink Floyd’s first album? * Seems this would be a possibly liked but maybe forgotten album if it wasn’t for the subsequent classics that are thankfully on this list. * I like that it features Syd on this one but overall it doesn’t have the timelessness of their later classics. * this is most definitely a 60s album and specifically late 60s in the sound and production. * I listened through a few times but I won’t be purchasing this one on vinyl.

No fav song

Q: What if the Beatles had been a little less talented but quite a bit more trippy? A: Now I know. Shouldn’t Pink Floyd have continued in this direction?

wasn’t expecting this from Pink Floyd bc it’s not what I’m used to. pretty chill.

It feels very of it's time, and the very beginnings of the band, how they sing, and how was the prog of its time. It was good.

Good amount of influence that Barrett used to have in the band. It's an okay psych rock album, but there are better, thankfully Floyd went on to better things. 2.5/5 Might listen again

3/5. I personally just vastly prefer prog Pink Floyd to psych Pink Floyd. that being said, Piper is still a fascinating album sound wise. A lot of 60’s psych is super bland but Syd Barrett as a frontman feels like he was built for this style and he gives it the flavor and texture that it often lacks. However in terms of the swings the album takes, it does have a few misses, I’m not the biggest fan of tracks like “gnome” or “Pow R. Toc H.” But when it works, it is very engrossing.

That was definitely an album made in 1967

i can tell this was the start of the career, nothing bad, but not the pink floyd i think of after

It’s a bit over the top but I like the weirdness of it. Never going to listen to it again but just about gets a 3

This is a seminal album. It absolutely deserves to be on this list. Yet it is not an album I can score particularly high because it just isn’t one I reach for with any regularity. It’s so tempting to award it an extra point purely because it’s the gateway to all that came next.

Pink Floyd’s body of work might be the most obvious example of musical evolution. This is such a raw form of the band that we all know. Still psychedelic to its core, but so much less focused. I can’t say there’s many songs on here that caught my ear, but it’s a good listen for sure.

Okay, if Pink Floyd were to be covered across a few records in the 1001 Albums books, it makes sense to include one from the Syd Barrett era of the band. For those not aware, Pink Floyd was more psychedelic rock than progressive rock in the beginning and was fronted by established singer-songwriter Syd Barrett. Of course, the other notable aspect of the band's early days was that Syd partook in a lot of LSD, and that drug is very much reflected in the writing for The Piper at the Gates of Dawn. This is a very trippy record, with a lot of twisting compositions, dissonant keyboard playing from Richard Wright, and heavy use of echo and reverb. It's weird because I can hear remnants of the sound that the band would transition to through the likes of the space rock voyage of "Astronomy Domine", the storytelling in the yearning for childhood on "Matilda Mother," and the sprawling, nine-minute instrumental improvisation of "Interstellar Overdrive." Yet at the same time, there's also some bizarre novelty tracks with very simple, whimsical topics like Syd talking about one of his Siamese cats, "Lucifer Sam", or the plodding tall tales about gnomes and scarecrows that have this ear-grating click-clacking percussion, or even Syd's admittedly cringeworthy attempts to pick up a girl on "Bike". I can't even say that Syd owned all the weird shit in the lyrical writing, as Roger Waters proved to be just as kooky on the rambling "Take Up Thy Stethoscope and Walk". It does seem that the band went for broke with all their experimenting, which is why there is such a wide range of tone throughout this album. That said, not every experiment landed well for me personally. I also can't help but feel that I've heard better, not just with respect to Pink Floyd's catalog, but even for psychedelic and experimental rock in 1967. The Velvet Underground & Nico's debut, The Doors' debut, The Electric Prunes' debut, Disraeli Gears from Cream, Safe as Milk from Captain Beefheart, and both Are You Experienced and Axis: Bold as Love from the Jimi Hendrix Experience were all structurally better than this. Hell, this album was recorded at Abbey Road Studios at the same time as the Beatles' Sgt. Pepper's, and while both albums can be considered influential in psychedelic music, I would argue Sgt. Pepper's made the bigger splash, with more consistent quality track by track. At the end of the day, this may not be close to what I consider the best that Pink Floyd had to offer. But I can recognize and appreciate the importance The Piper at the Gates of Dawn had on psychedelic rock music, and just how unique Syd Barrett was as a songwriter. At the very least, there are some good tracks found in this LSD trip of a record that I can cherry-pick from.