The Madcap Laughs

This was interesting. I consider myself a Pink Floyd fan, but I’d never listened to any of Barrett’s solo stuff. Cool to get a peek into his mind. Some really interesting stuff here. Some of it well ahead of its time. But guilty of a pet peeve of mine… finish your damn album, man. 4/5 Highlights: No Good Trying No Man’s Land If It’s in You

Didn't know this was the person behind Pink Floyd

Never again

Not my vibe 😅 but interesting lore.

Unlistenable. 1/5

Best Track - "Octopus"

Good album lots Southern English pastoral whimsy. Far better than the pap his erstwhile colleagues pumped out. It’s easy to see how this album influenced greats like the Television Personalities. But you’d be better buying a TVP lp than this. The songs are good but much of it is Demo-y. Basic minor chords strummed on an acoustic with minimal overdubs. His next lp showed what he was capable of better.

I just like this guy

It’s easy to make light of Syd Barrett being the archetypal 60s acid casualty or being the ‘lunatic on the grass’, but this is really a desperately sad story. He was clearly a very talented songwriter, founding the band Pink Floyd and writing most of the songs on their first album as well as inspiring their iconic early live performances which were as much about the light shows and the groovy vibes, as the music. However, he went through a mental health crisis that coincided with heavy use of LSD that caused his personality to change resulting in him being dropped from the band. The record company then pressured Barrett into working on two solo albums, presumably so they could cash in on some of the notoriety that now surrounded him, but the results were mixed to say the least. He was supported by former bandmates Dave Gilmour and Roger Waters who helped with the music but the lyrics ranged from whimsical 60s psychedelia to uncomfortably weird, and were very different from the sort of cosmic space rock that Pink Floyd had moved onto. He later retired completely from the music business and lived a reclusive life until his death from cancer at the age of 60. Rest in peace Syd.

An interesting listen.

Syd Barrett is an odd figure in music history. He seems to be more famous for where he isn't than where he is. Pink Floyd seemed reluctant to part ways with him, even going as far as recruiting David Gilmour to pick up for him when he was on stage and not doing anything. Although they were eventually make the difficult decision to not invite him to some future gigs, the spirit of Syd Barrett loomed large over Pink Floyd for years. Future albums were supposedly in tribute to him and the band always held the doors just slightly open in case he might return, though of course he didn't. Drug use, exhaustion, and mental breakdown would take him away from a rock and roll live like so many others. But his influence as a driving force in Pink Floyd and British psychedelia would always make people wonder what if he'd done more. His solo album isn't as great as anything by his former bandmates, but it's an interesting testament to what he could bring to them. The album sounds oddly like the Beatles if they'd gotten too into their drugs and became obsessed with the Velvet Underground. Shine on your crazy diamond.

I really don't like 'wannabe psychadelic' music. Not everyone needs an experimental sound. This is crap. 1/10

It feels abusive to the singer. I hope he had peace in his life after this.

Did not listen to all of it - knew it would be different, but less drawn in than I expected.

Well you can certainly hear the influence he had on the early Pink Floyd. It's definitely an album of its time, but it needs the Floyd collaboration. If Pink Floyd is the cake, this is a bowl sugar without the flour eggs and milk. Really want to give it a 3, but I all honesty it's a mid-range 2.

Boring. A very bad Beatles impersonation.

A strange one this. I'm not a huge Pink Floyd fan and find them a bit pretentious in a serious sort of way. However, Mr Barrett brought oddness to the party. Thus his debut solo album is something I should have listened to, but never did. I've heard 2 different cover versions of 'Golden Hair' and the original is quality stuff. The album has an element of sounded ahead of its time, and I enjoyed his experimentation and oddball humour in the songs. You can tell the album was comprised of different sessions across a long time, as it does come across as a bit disjointed in places, but that does add to the general air of peculiarity. I liked it more than I probably should have, but I'm a sucker for drug influenced experimentation.

This seems like the origin album for GBV and that kind of thing. Not really my taste.

Not bad, but not super coherent

You can’t beat a good album made by a nutter

hørt en del på før, men har veldig motstridende tanker om det. I noen øyeblikk kan det være helt elendig men i andre veldig nytenkende og bra. Svak firer kanskje.

Interesting album, would’ve been interesting to see the direction of pink Floyd if he stayed with them. Very psychedelic, a bit over the place which makes sense considering Sid’s mental state during this time.

Syd keeps doing his whimsical songs from Piper but in a more deranged abd strangely sad way. Of course that would give him a cult following

A journey into the mind of psychedelic rock's most influencial instigator. A journey that does not disappoint!

The Madcap Laughs, alongside his second solo album "Barrett", is among my best albums ever. Syd has a natural instinct like no one for dark, bittersweet, melancholic and catchy melodies. Songs are so simples, yet so evocatives and imaginatives. He can make anything sounds so down to earth and otherworldly at the same time. Syd is the best!

Proof that the sum of the parts is greater than the loose parts.

“Madcap” is a little misleading. I was hoping this would be really off the wall. Unfortunately, without drugs this is just boring, even with the goofy moments. There’s no way a Syd-led Floyd would have been commercially successful, and this is unfortunately a sad reminder of his decline.

Overall: 10/10 Honestly a perfect look into a man losing his mind. It's mostly just Syd and an acoustic guitar, showing off his beautiful voice and interesting lyrics. The choice to include some of the restarts and flubs is truly genius, in my opinion. I get incredibly sad whenever I think of Syd and what could have been, but it gives me comfort knowing that he got to share his gift with the world even for a brief moment. Fav Song: Long Gone

Boring list filler

Started strong as a freak folk album but then it seemed like they ran out of ideas. The studio chatter was very distracting at the end and those songs were already pretty short, which I like.

Nicht mein Stil diese alte rockige Musik

This is a tough one to rate. There are parts that grate on me with the over the top Britishness and forced kookiness and there are some truly terrible vocals, but in amongst that there are some really charming Beatles-esque moments and catchy songs, and the whole thing sounds like it was written and recorded in a day. I can't help but think about what his mental state was like at the time. 3 stars feels like a bit of a cop out for an album that absolutely isn't run of the mill, but anything else feels wrong.

Dreamy, psychedelic, masterpiece from a massively talented music legend.

Ugh. I'm not a huge fan of Syd Barrett era Pink Floyd, and this is just even worse, multiplied by crazy. 1.25 stars because it's better than Krautrock.

Moody and trippy and just disturbed/disturbing. I used a lyric app to follow along. As poetry goes, some tracks made sense. Others just left me blank. Need another gummy onboard before I give this one another go. Please don't let this artist appear on this list again... my anxiety cannot handle it. Listened before? N Saved to library? N Favorite track(s): Love You. Here I Go. ⭐⭐: Didn't like it. Didn't hate it. Saved no tracks.

Oof. This was mostly a rough listen. Listened before? N Saved to library? N Favorite track(s): Here I Go, Octopus ⭐⭐: Didn't like it, didn't hate it. Saved no tracks.

This didn't grab me

Fascinating album! I went on a deep dive into his solo music career yesterday. He was really trying to keep a grasp of sanity but failing throughout his career. I wonder what would have happened if he was properly diagnosed with schizophrenia and put on medication to manage some of the symptoms, would he have been able to produce more albums?

I love Pink Floyd more than the next chap, but good god this album sucks. 2/10

It's kind of fun, but he's doesn't really have a very good voice.

Was expecting much weirder, like solo frusciante. Some cool mod stuff

Dislike this type of music - like discount Beatles, but with the uninteresting style of Beatles music

Really good. Didn’t know he had so much variety in his music. Interesting how many bands and musicians played around with exotic or ornate instrumentation.

Difficult to listen to.

He's just singing about some girl he's sad about, how original.

This could have been the worst thing ive ever heard. How can you do this to me?

I had high hopes for this - I like some early Floyd and I'm always up for out-there music made by auteurs. But this is just bad. Every songs starts with me hoping it'll be something, and there's the odd possibility of a good idea, but it's smothered in this lazy childish, half arsed whimsy. At no point was I intrigued or interested and evedy time a song finished I was glad. The worst was 'Love You', which just irritated me beyond belief. A parody of emotion.

This was garbage. The album is filled with off key vocals and out of tune guitars

Well, some unusual guitar playing sounds. 2,8

Langsamer Start, zur Mitte kamen ein paar Songs die mir gefallen haben.

This, combined with The Piper At The Gates Of Dawn, makes me quite grateful that Barrett left Pink Floyd. I don't like his shit at all. 1.5 stars is more accurate than 1, as it didn't give me a headache. But I'm rounding down.

haven’t listened to anything by pink floyd yet so maybe I don’t fully grasp all the ideas i should, but i don’t think that i’ll remember this album at all. it’s not bad, just unremarkable

There’s something about it tbh. I wouldn’t listen on the daily but reading more about it made me appreciate it.

Is this an album?

Essential

Did not like this at all

A bit more put together than I had assumed based on its reputation. It reminds me of the Guided By Voices Suitcase compilations of outtakes, lots of interesting snippets of melodies and incomprehensible but evocative lyrics.

A fragile, meandering glimpse into a brilliant but fractured mind, The Madcap Laughs mixes haunting lyricism with uneven production. Its raw intimacy and erratic charm are compelling, but the album often teeters between genius and disarray. A cult curiosity more than a cohesive listen.

Look, I know I'm far from the first person to complain about this, but the amount of 60s/70s white british guy rock on the 1001 is starting to get to me. There's too much of it. Anyway this was pretty boring.

I'm honestly not a huge fan of Syd Barrett's work after Pink Floyd. It's a lot more eery, spontaneous and unpredictable, and it's lost the dreamlike, whimsical edge I appreciate. LSD is a hell of a drug.

Great psychedelic folk album from the late 60s, released on the 2nd January 1970. Syd was the creative genius of Pink Floyd, before he left the band in 1968 due to mental breakdown. His first solo album is quirky, whimsical and very British, and influenced many artists after him. This album needs to be listened in full as Syd also wanted it to be heard, he said : " I liked what came out, only it was released far too long after it was done. I wanted it to be a whole thing that people would listen to all the way through with everything related and balanced, the tempos and moods offsetting each other, and I hope that's what it sounds like.". Favourite songs: Octopus, Terrapin, Golden Hair, Late Night.

I'm not a fan of the Barrett-era Floyd stuff, so this one didn't do it for me either.

The Madcap Laughs is a fascinating but uneven glimpse into Syd Barrett’s fractured genius. Recorded after his departure from Pink Floyd, the album captures him at a vulnerable and unpredictable point, with songs that swing between childlike whimsy and unsettling fragility. Tracks like “Terrapin” and “Dark Globe” are haunting in their simplicity, offering flashes of the melodic talent that made him such a compelling figure. Others feel half-formed, as if you’re listening in on private sketches rather than finished songs. The production, handled in part by David Gilmour and Roger Waters, keeps things stripped back, often leaving Barrett alone with his guitar and voice. This gives the album a raw honesty but also exposes its flaws. Rhythms stumble, vocals wander, and moments of brilliance sit right next to moments that feel almost too personal to witness. It’s an intimate listen, sometimes uncomfortably so, and that unpredictability is both its charm and its weakness. As a document, The Madcap Laughs is undeniably important, giving a rare, unfiltered look at an artist trying to hold on to his creativity while slipping away from the structure that once contained it. As an album, it’s patchy but compelling, a mixture of beauty, sadness, and eccentricity that’s hard to shake even when it doesn’t quite come together.

Two tracks in, already prefer it to Piper At The Gates Of Dawn. Here I Go is good. Lots of unfinished tracks, especially on side two. Some pompous people try and demonstrate how smart they are by never finishing anything. "Please hold on to the steel rail." Late Night is charming. I'm at the end, some of the tracks work but a lot of them don't and are just irritating. I'm still not hearing a genius here, though I did listen to Joni Mitchell's Blue before this so maybe that's skewing my ears here.

the music of a mad genius, the end of the album felt rough and unfinished but overall a very fun album

Sad reminder of what could’ve of been if the world were a more forgiving place and compassionate to mental health. Floyd would’ve been perhaps greater or worse. We’ll never know. Not a bad album for what it was…

Amateurish and a bit childish; not worth a second pass. 3/10

Ah yes. It was only a matter of time when I got my first 'on the list for cultural importance rather than quality'. Syd Barrett undoubtedly had an influence on 20th Century music and beyond. What that influence is though, is less than tangible. We know he was a founding member of Pink Floyd, and that his spectre hung over the band long after he left. But when you think of Floyd's best albums - even their less than great albums - Barrett is not directly involved. The Madcap Laughs is very typical of the sort of late 60s zany freak-outs which you saw from the likes of Frank Zappa. It was a new and exciting scene, but while it accentuated freedom and inspiration, musical and melodic ability was something of an after thought. Hence the end result of this album being a curio rather than something your average person is going to choose to listen to. In essence, there's very little stopping you or I or anyone going into a studio today and making a 'better' album than this, assuming you had the money and backing. What this album does showcase is the evolution and descent of Barrett. It's not clear where his songwriting would have gone if things had turned out differently. Many songs sound like they could have been lifted from Piper, and many have a similar vibe. Whimsy is the word you'll see most often when people with half a brain talk about this album. Some of the songs are fine, but the repetitive rhythm and the recurring cadence and limited melodic tics of Barrett mean that you can listen to any two or three songs and understand/avoid everything else. Three stars for being a historical record of a man who could have been a genius, or could have been exposed as a fraud. Two stars for the music.

Rätt tråkigt

4/5

Drivel

Wannabe like The Beatles.

Sian - really enjoyed, will listen to more

Not very good

1.9 Fucking hell. I think everyone should actually listen to this album, it's a great advert why psychadelics should be used only sparingly, with long pauses in between. Admittedly, poor Syd if the biographies are true, in that he was effectively spiked on the daily by his wanker housemates. But what a nonsense album, it's not the work of a genius, it's the work of a man who has clearly gone off the rails. If an unknown person released that it would have been laughed out of record shops.

Syd Barrett's debut album after getting kicked out of Pink Floyd after he completely shut down mentally. Seems like this album was completed with much difficulty as well. I got to say, I am really not a fan of the 60's style, muffled, echo'd vocals. There are moments in many of the songs where he's just sitting there strumming with no vocals, which is so weird. I'm not sure if that's a stylistic choice or not, but it's really noticeable and makes it feel like there's something missing or he completely spaced out and they just didn't edit it. Golden Hair really stands out with a definitive psychedelic sound. Best song on the album for me. B Side......wow, why was this included? 《If It's In You》He is completely out of his mind and incoherent. Very hard to listen to. It's tough to grade this. It feels like we are looking back and almost romanticizing a man going through a several mental health crisis and being driving by the studio to complete an album. The other problem is the more I listen to it, the more it grows on me. At least side A does. I think if you're going lose your mind, there is something strangely poetic about losing it with psychedelic music.

Ehhhhhhhhh.

Honestly, it's fine. I really don't have much of an opinion either way. Pink Floyd wasn't a band that I was into outside of listening to Dark Side of the Moon in middle school. Having some background knowledge of Syd and the making of this album would probably help, but I have none so.... yeah.

Not a huge fan of the Barrett years at baseline. This just sounds like a record producer abusing someone in the middle of a massive mental decline.

I get that this is on here to show what Syd Barrett did after leaving Pink Floyd, and is useful in perhaps isolating the specific sound he contributed to the band, but this album is the musical equivalent of a snuff film. They must have known it was exploitative at the time too or they wouldn't have included Syd's musical false starts and commentary. As an album, it has its moments, but it's very uneven and hard to separate from the general "off" feel of the circumstances of its recording.

nope

Glad to get into this a bit. 6/10

I love Octopus but honestly the rest of this is quite bad. Idk if that’s a nuclear take but I was extremely disappointed with this.

This must be the voice you hear when you're in hell. Oofa what a chore this was. Honestly it's not shocking that Pink Floyd took off after his departure. 3/10

Almost like a small intimate performance of early Pink Floyd B-sides and outtakes, which is a good thing! Favorite track: Here I Go

I'm the type of person where if the first 4 or 5 songs don't do it for me, I don't wanna keep going. The style of music isn't gonna take a dramatic shift suddenly that'll make it my taste. This was one of those albums for me. Definitely sounds like it belongs in the 70s or 80s.

Love to hear some of early Pink Floyd's well.

Not very bad but simply not my stuff.

Syd Barrett briefly became a professional wrestler in Houmous & Chutneys failed attempt to set up a wrestling promotion in Papua New Guinea. HCPNGWF starred mostly musicians - they largely struggled with the athletic requirements! It wasn’t great to watch. 4.1 7/13 Octopur

Enjoyed it a lot more than expected as I was worried it would be a psychedelic mess… Some nice melodies and gets extra credit for Golden Hair which Slowdive turned into one of the best live tracks I have seen…

Can definitely hear some of the virtuosic abilities coming through but overall found it to be unfocused and a bit…messy? Having the rest of the band around him presumably gave some more of the melodic hooks that this seems to be lacking some of.

Really struggled to finish this one, might need to come back to it when I’m feeling more chilled.

Oh yea the bomb

Some good songs, decent album overall.

2,2/5

This was a strange album, very raw, unfocused. Not surprising given this was Syd Barrett post Floyd and when he was in the throes of mental illness. Not really my taste if I'm honest, though I appreciate that its a time capsule of sorts into the mind of a man who wasn't well.

His whimsical style made more sense for me here as a solo act than with the early Floyd that showed up on this list.

You can obviously hear the early Pink Floyd here, given that he was the principle songwriter on their debut album. It's not an era of the band that particularly resonates with me though and I found this to be fine but unispiring! Perhaps it was just my mood at the time but I often zoned out when listening and I couldn't really recall much from it afterwards. Not one I'll be returning to.

I can't say that I've bothered to look into the solo works of any of Pink Floyd's members. Although the case of Syd Barrett was unique in that he was kicked out of the band after a few short years due to his own personal/mental struggles. Did Syd Barrett make Pink Floyd? Or did Pink Floyd make Syd Barrett? Probably the latter, but this guy had two solo albums so surely there was some individual talent there. This album isn't really anything special if I'm being honest. More of an unpleasant listen, as opposed to experimental like most rock records were doing around this time. This album just never really gets going and lacks cohesion. Obviously a sad/depressing backdrop that led to this album, but that doesn't give it much merit to stand on.

Definitely can hear some early rock influences in this one. Some of the tracks aren't bad, but overall it's not bringing anything novel to the experience for me.

This is a weird album. It feels at times really modern, and at others almost haphazard. I'm sure all of this is intentional, but I find it only works for me on some of the tracks. I won't spend much time on this review, but I think I'll likely return to this album in the future for another round.

Cool sound with some good tracks. I liked No Good Trying and Here I Go. Lyrically I liked it, even if the lyrics were quite cryptic at times. Not sure it’s an album I’d revisit but a good listen

"If it's in you" is the laziest thing I've heard in a long time. As far as originality: the good tracks feel like they could have been done by the Beatles. Someone somewhere clearly appreciates this "hidden gem" of an artist but for me, this album can stay buried. Top tracks are "octopus" and "no good trying", but the bar here is low.

Shades of early Pink Floyd here, but I'd already said this of early Pink Floyd "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..." This time it doesn't work, it's missing everyone else...

Absolutely not for me

Not my cup of tea, feels like off key demo tapes. Not sure why it’s here

This felt eerie to listen to knowing what was happening to him then and his soon-to-be worsening state. Dark Globe in particular is heartbreaking RIP Syd

Much better than I expected. I didn't know Pink Floyd's story much going into this, so it was cool to learn a bit about that. It makes me want to dive in more. Definitely need another listen for this one.

Pretty good! Sounds basically like early Pink Floyd. But my preferred Pink Floyd is probably like mid-Pink Floyd.

So fucking cool. Might even like it as much as piper. He is such a cool and interesting songwriter. Gone way too soon

Holy fire. Just incredible songwriting and it all sounds so ramshackle which is my favorite type of stuff. Really really great.

Quite bad. Mostly delusional mumbling. Sadly sounds like too much acid. The first track was pretty good, then steadily downhill. 2.4/5

The first half was a decent collection of psych-folk tunes, nothing mindblowing. The second half devolved into secondhand embarrassment…. I’m not even sure it should have been released.

Only occasionally did I think that music and lyrics came together into something good and/or interesting. Mostly I felt this droned on. 2/5

A fun alternate rock album from the UK. A bit too slow for 5/5, but still a great album

Njae

Psykadelisk musik i all ära men detta känns verkligen som att jag måste vara hög för att uppskatta.

Behagligt!

Syd Barrett är ju cool men det här var inget o hänga i granen direkt

Boring

Let it be said: Syd Barrett can write one hell of a pop song hook. Arnold Layne, See Emily Play, Baby Lemonade are lovely melodies full of his trademark whimsy married with pop arrangements explored in other bands like the Byrds, Beatles, etc. Here on The Madcap Laughs there are flashes of his brilliance. The album is kind of a mess though, the songs scattered all over with little coherence — unsurprising given its production history and Barrett’s state of mind in 1970. He was a beautiful person whose vision is not totally realized here, but those flashes when they are realized are poignant. 4 stars.

Give me a break.

Very British, often rough, sometimes pleasant and bouncy. Feels like it's here on this list because of who he is, and the story of his mental issues. But taken on its own, it’s got a charm to it. I’d listen again.

Favorite tracks: Dark Globe, Here I Go, If It's In You Got this after Stevie Wonder's Songs In The Key Of Life, which is a tough act to follow! At first I wasn't sure what to make of this. Then after a few songs I clocked how weird it is, and I really warmed to it. Strange and sad and confusing, but with a strong thread of talent and artistry throughout. Right up my alley, really.

What can I say it’s so original and foundational for outsider music

Bit dreary. Might have been good back in the day.

This album is like serving up a plate of spices without any actual dish to go with it. Sure, spices can elevate a meal, but who wants to eat just a heap of pepper or cinnamon? Syd might have been a flavorful spice in Pink Floyd, but this solo effort just doesn’t hit the mark.

Did not age very well…a recording that could only have been made in that time and place.

Always strikes me how much Music Hall influenced these 60s-70s songwriters.

This seemed very disjointed to me but makes sense considering the state of Syd and the merry go round of producers working on the album. I didn’t really enjoy this and I feel like giving it a round up would be giving credit for his prior contributions and music influence rather than this specific album. 2.5/5

The inclusion of some of the songs with stops and starts is interesting. And then it kinda made sense reading the up and down backstory of the making of the album along with Syd’s demise. These were probably the best takes captured. I actually enjoyed this album quite a bit, and it was more put together than many reviews were reporting. I had no idea how much Syd was the main creative driver of the early Floyd. Pretty sad that his musical abilities faded away into a life of drugs, depression and…gardening.

A bit all over the place. Obviously some sounds like Pink Floyd. Octopus sounded like an imitation of the Beatles. What the hell was going on at the end of the album? I thought the guitar on She Took a Long Cold Look sounded very amateurish. Same on Feel. Then the studio commentary for If It’s in you was weird. That was not a good song. Maybe I’m missing the point? I’m probably sounding too negative. Not bad and I’m sure he was influential. Maybe tough to fully appreciate out of context. 2.75

Thought I would hate this based on some reviews but thought it was pretty good until the last few tracks. Interesting to pair with Piper to really understand that he was the creative influence behind early Pink Floyd. Shame how things turned out for him. Don’t do drugs. Well, don’t do Syd amounts of drugs. 3.25/5

It's just not good. Sorry Syd...

Yeah, knowing what he was going through makes this a hard listen. 4/5

forgettable

Weird hippy album. Lots of animal talk.

I love this album so much. Such a special musical moment. Syd was a genius and an original that we got for too short time, and this record feels like a gift from another world. He has a very special kind of weird charisma that shines on every intimate track on this one. As a composer, sure, he was weird, but also had a great pop instinct. For example, octopus is such a hit. It's wonderful

This album is not much inspired, it's raw and feels like a collection of unfinished songs with not much to say. I thought I would like it, but it has not been the case. Some songs were good, but most of the album was bland and uninteresting for me.

By trying to do a lot, he’s managed to do nothing good at all.

Le nom claque comme un coup de fouet : Syd Barrett. Le mythe, la légende, le diamant fou, l'acide qui a mal tourné, le fantôme dans la machine Pink Floyd. Un nom qui pèse des tonnes, chargé de romantisme noir et de tragédie psychédélique. Alors, quand l'algorithme des "1001 Albums" m'a craché cette pochette à la gueule, j'ai ressenti un mélange de frisson et d'appréhension car t'as peur de dire une connerie, mais en même temps, t'as envie d'être honnête. Et l'honnêteté, c'est justement le coeur du problème avec "The Madcap Laughs" car la note que je vais lui donner n'est pas à l'image du mythe et j'aimerais tellement lui donner plus, mais il faut rester réaliste. L'album a vieilli, et ce n'est pas son petit côté lofi qui en est la cause. Avant de commencer, il faut rappeler que "The Madcap Laughs" n'est pas un album au sens traditionnel du terme. C'est un procès-verbal. Le constat d'une chute au ralenti, le document sonore d'un esprit qui se délite en direct. C'est à la fois sa force monumentale et sa faiblesse la plus criante. On connaît tous l'histoire. Syd, viré de son propre groupe parce qu'il était devenu ingérable, trop loin, perché sur une planète où personne ne pouvait le rejoindre. Et puis ce disque, enregistré dans la douleur, le chaos, avec une valse de producteurs qui se sont succédé à son chevet. D'abord Peter Jenner et Malcolm Jones qui tentent de canaliser le génie, puis, en dernier recours, ses anciens potes David Gilmour et Roger Waters, appelés à la rescousse pour tenter de sauver les meubles. Et ça s'entend. Bordel, que ça s'entend. L'album est bancal, schizophrène. On passe de comptines enfantines absolument géniales, tordues et poétiques ("Octopus", "Terrapin"), à des ébauches de chansons où tout semble sur le point de s'effondrer. La guitare acoustique de Syd est fragile, hésitante, puis soudainement brillante. Sa voix, autrefois si charmeuse, se brise, part dans tous les sens, chante faux, puis retrouve une clarté désarmante l'espace d'un couplet. On sent les musiciens derrière (les gars de Soft Machine, excusez du peu) qui rament pour le suivre, qui tentent de poser un cadre sur un tableau qui coule de partout. C'est fascinant et profondément malaisant. Et c'est là que ma remarque sur le vieillissement de l'oeuvre intervient, le son "lofi", on en a bouffé depuis les années 90. C'est même devenu une esthétique. Mais ici, ce n'est pas une esthétique, c'est une nécessité. Ce n'est pas le son qui a vieilli, c'est notre rapport au chaos. Le chaos qu'on a connu, celui du post-punk ou de l'indie-rock, était souvent une posture, un chaos maîtrisé, esthétisé. On faisait semblant de tout faire péter, mais on savait où était la sortie de secours. Chez Barrett, il n'y a pas de sortie de secours. On est enfermé avec lui dans sa tête. Et ce n'est pas le chaos créatif et joyeux d'un Captain Beefheart. C'est le son brut, sans filtre, d'une dépression, d'une déconnexion. Les faux départs, les moments où il s'arrête de chanter pour marmonner, les accords qui tombent à plat... Ce n'est pas un choix artistique délibéré, c'est la réalité d'un homme qui perd pied. Et c'est ça, je crois, qui rend l'écoute difficile aujourd'hui. On n'écoute pas "The Madcap Laughs", on y est confronté. On assiste, presque gêné, à la mise à nu d'un type qui aurait dû être protégé plutôt qu'enregistré. Alors oui, 3/5. C'est une note dure, mais c'est la note de la lucidité. C'est la note qui reconnaît les éclairs de génie absolu qui traversent ce disque, ces mélodies tordues et inoubliables que lui seul pouvait écrire. Mais c'est aussi la note qui admet que l'ensemble est une épreuve, une écoute exigeante, souvent frustrante. C'est moins un album de chevet qu'une pièce à conviction. Un document historique et psychologique inestimable, mais pas forcément un disque que tu te passes en boucle pour te remonter le moral. C'est un album qu'il faut entendre avant de crever ? Absolument. Parce qu'il est le témoignage d'une vérité brute, celle d'un talent immense consumé par ses propres démons. C'est la beauté terrifiante de la fragilité humaine gravée dans la cire. Et ça, aucun 5/5 ne pourra jamais vraiment le quantifier.

this is lowk banging also I'm getting so mad abt the comments on the other albums

amugy ez nem rossz. lehet rosszkor kapott el.

I'm pretty sure this qualifies as torture under the Geneva convention

You can hear is slow descent into madness here. Kind of sad actually. Syd had talent and there is craftsmanship here. But it is quite melancholic and depressing considering how he turned out. It's closer to the Beatles than Pink Floyd and I prefer the Floyidan sounds but overall, it's fine.

I normally finish albums on this list. This one I just couldn’t. I’ve only had a handful of late 60/early 70s folk albums from this list and I fall asleep through the best of them.

Pleasant but not mind blowing. I enjoyed it.

Syd Barrett channeling the Beatles. Apparently recorded during a time of mental decline, which makes a boring album slightly disturbing.

..

Not particularly good music but a fascinating look into a declining genius

Sieni Gschicht isch legendär - sorry, Pink Floyd gfallt mer besser ohni de Sid.

sehr sy barret hä. sehr weird d text sind super. bi terrapin bini nochli unkonzentriert gsi aber etz bini bitz drin. so dark globe gad isch sehr unkonventionell well ungnau gspielt. eigentlich isch alles so. sini stimm chunt vo rechts und er singt nur so halbe in tune aber d melodie und d akkörd sind sehr cool. mer ghört chli wohers de gilmour hett irgendwie. long gone isch sehr geil wow. super cooli zweiti stimm. ah gilmour und waters hend produzieeeert. okay ab feel wird klar dass ihm nöd guet goht und s sind afoch schlechti takes vo songs und er schrummt gitarre. nöd würkli guet. oooka wereeirds album aber sicher es 3 wells echt cooli sache het wo a die alustische pink floyd tracks erinnered.

d frag isch, isch das album würkli us musikalische gründ daa druff oder eifach us "fun fact gründ"? terrapin tömt öppe wie ichsmer vorgstellt han, finds jz nöd schlecht aber joooo no good trying findi da schochli spannender, wenn au da mich nüt würkli packt love you isch ja schrecklich ja es zieht sich mit dene akustikgitarre schrummschrumm lieder sicher han ich das au eifach s gfühl wege droge und so aber muss schochli an andere guy denke wo au so es komischs album gmacht het (sehr guet beschriebe ich weiss) yees I'm thinking, yeees I'm thiiiiIIIIIIÜÄÜÄÜÄ- HAHAHAHAHA HUERE LUSTIG seeehr cool, dass sie das dinne glah hend aso s lied selber isch schrecklich aber es git am lied trz öppis "echts" find cool hanis mal glost! aber gfalle hetsmer nöd, 1 oder 2 (für terrapin und no good trying und de allgemeini vibe wo scho au öppis spannends mit sich bringt)

So now I know where Nigel Tufnel comes from.

This album started with what I thought was going to be a lofi solo album. The sort of thing Graham Coxon or someone cool would list as an influence. And the first song possibly was there. Afterwards, what followed was confusing, and quite unpleasant. The melodies random, the instrumentation difficult to listen to. In conclusion, I thought it sucked 1 star.

This album is like waking up from an anaesthetic after having a kidney removed. Your mind is cloudy and your mouth is dry. There’s no sign of a nurse and none of your family are by your side. In fact, you’re alone in this plain white room. You push the call button, desperate for a glass of water. Nobody comes. You begin to wonder if this is a nightmare.

Wrong list. Should be on 1001 album ypu dont need to waste your time on.

A good album, I liked Dark Globe and Late Night the most.

The music isn't bad but his voice and style of delivery drove me nuts.

You can’t help but feel bad for Syd Barrett and everything he went through with his mental health. It’s bittersweet listening to this, knowing what could have been if he’d stayed with Pink Floyd. But if Syd never left and stayed on as a non-touring member, would Gilmour have had enough influence for albums like The Wall or Dark Side of the Moon? That’s hard to say. The Madcap Laughs is a pretty solid album that reminds you of Pink Floyd’s early days. If you enjoy true psychedelia, you’ll really love this one. “Terrapin” is a strong opener that sets the tone. Do any of these tracks make sense? No, and that’s okay because they’re not supposed to. The charm comes from the chaos.

Atrocious

5.5/10

Interesting

Mad cap fr Had its moments but nothing crazy, bad parts were bad

dry pussy central

Many of the songs sounded a lot like Piper at the Gates of Dawn. Not bad overall. Really interesting Wiki read - Gilmour and Waters basically forced this album to exist. Not great, but not bad. So I'll say 2.5 round up.

It's not clocking to you is it? Syd standing on business.

yeah his stuff isn't notable after Pink Floyd

Not a huge fan of Barrett era Floyd, but this has its moments. There's a lot of subtle sadness mixed in with his usual flowery poetry, which spiced up the album. Long Gone in particular stand out for me. I will say, if Barrett performed If It's in You at any bar on this planet he'd receive a chorus of SHUT UPs.

More of a curio than an actual piece of music. It's whimsical enough to just about scrape more than one star.

I liked it more than I expected

This vocal style and sound is dated and uninteresting.

If James Joyce's Ulysses was set to music it might sound like this. It is evocative but doesn't quite deliver. It sounds like a busker at a train station who doesn't care if you put some coins in his hat, he just wants somewhere with an echo to practice. It's fragmented, has moments ( varies into skiffle and Beatlesque sections), but doesn't quite work. It sounds like someone trying to work out their sound, other offerings may be worth a listen.

Een berg lui en vals gedreutel dat geen enkele kant op gaat. Geklooi op een gitaar met een mekkerstem. Nou moet ik weer braaf gaan opzoeken wie deze vent is, en waarom hij zo belangrijk is. Maar ik heb er gewoon geen zin in. Moet je maar iets beters maken dan dit.

Het eerste nummer klinkt nog heel erg jaren '60. Ben je mij eigenlijk al kwijt. Gelukkig varieert het album wel en brengt het soms een interessant klinkend stukje. Er zijn twee stabiele factoren over het gehele album. Ten eerste de wat duistere klank, ten tweede de valse zang. Waar bijna aan het einde mee gespot wordt. Zelfspot is een teken van relativering en dus best mooi. Maar de beste vorm van relativering aan het einde van de opname was geweest te besluiten het album toch maar niet uit te brengen.

Als je wil dat iemand een album (verder) gaat luisteren, dan zorg je dat het eerste nummer een uitnodiging is, een teaser, iets interessants. Op dit album wil mafklapper Syd ons gelijk laten horen hoe maf ie is, met een of ander gedrocht van een nummer waarop hij zich wat aanstelt. Daarna krijgen we een beetje vage Beatlesque nummers, soms iets meer psychedelisch rockend. Hij blijft er continu zo stoned als een garnaal vals over heen zingen, wat me afleidt van de muziek. Op track 4 krijgen we eindelijk fatsoenlijke muziek, maar het niveau van Pink Floyd zal dit nooit aantikken. Octopus heeft nog het meeste een melodie, dat had zo op een album van the Kinks gekund. Ik zit voornamelijk te kijken hoe lang zijn en mijn lijdensweg nog moet duren. Waar ben ik in vredesnaam naar aan het luisteren? Een soort koortsdroom van een ijlende mafklapper, waarbij ze expres de bandrecorder hebben aangezet. Het meeste plezier heb ik beleefd aan het lezen van de global reviews van dit album. "Turns out Syd wasn’t as mental as the guy who decided to give him a solo album." Bijzonder hoeveel mensen dit dan nog 5 sterren geven. Dat lijkt me een soort ultiem snobisme. Dit had voor mij allemaal niet gehoeven, geen fijne luisterervaring. Weg ermee, 1 ster.

Listening to this you can see that all early Pink Floyd is Syd Barrett. It has a charm and there are interesting songs. However as with Floyd and a lot of that genre you have to be off your face to enjoy it. I was stone cold sober and bored.

Very much meh.

Love the song Octopus. The other songs are ok

"Madcap"? Bit too mad for me.

ну такое, не впечатлен...

Do you have trouble sleeping? Listen to this.

Feels Pink Floyd - Led Zeppelin like

Pre-Pink Floyd

Deranged. Psychedelic. Infinitely creative. Perfectly imperfect. R.I.P. Syd.

Meh

so far from PF's psychedelia

not sure about this

Glad Syd left Pink Floyd.

The whole album feels so slow its almost painful. While one or three of these songs would have been nice on an otherwise more speedy rock album I would have enjoyed them more. As 13 songs ina row I almost fell asleep before it was over.

Maso

This is not good. Sounds like Lou Reed playing Kinks' songs. The Kinks are much better. Lou Reed is even worse.

Just ok

Kept my listening to only the original album and honestly, while I can hear portions of pink floyd this whole album just feels like its missing something. Barrett's voice is hit or miss every song but Golden Hair and Dark Globe are standouts.

Don’t know how to feel about this. The weirdness and stripped back sound reminds me of horn of plenty by grizzly bear, clearly must have inspired it. Probably won’t listen again

Did not enjoy this one.

Hear the roots of so many of my favorite artists in the work of Syd Barrett. Most notably Robyn Hitchcock, but also Neutral Milk Hotel, and all those willing to wave their freak flag with an earnest voice. Not always beautiful, but compelling and often playful.

"Shine on you crazy diamond." Just some LSD-drenched psychedelic nonsense from the former Pink Floyd front man and not all of it works. But, when it does, you get a song like "Octopus," a deranged classic. I thought I was hearing Robyn Hitchcock on some of these songs and Barrett wa a clear inspiration for his work.

It's psychedelic, sure, but in the waaaay too many tabs of acid and shrooms kinda way, not really the fun way. Lyrically and musically very amateurish, but i do like a couple songs here, namely No Good Trying and No Mans Land. Maybe obvious to say but definitely a good move for Pink Floyd to go a different direction when they did, unfortunately Barrett really lost it by this point

Not sure what to think of this album. Octopus is a true return to form for Barrett, capturing the playful whimsy that marked his brand of psychedelia in 1966/67 and even outshining many of the tracks on The Piper at the Gates of Dawn. For that reason, it's the best song on this record. Here I Go, with its fun chord progressions and unusually low vocal register, works so well as a collective that it can't help but stand out too. And No Good Trying should have been the first song on the album. People (hippies) are coming from Pink Floyd records like Atom Heart Mother and seeking out the artistic, talented psychedelia-virtuoso who started it all. They should get what they came for. The actual album opener (Terrapin) stands out for the wrong reasons. It's clumsy, out-of-tune, and harrowingly self-aware. Interesting choice to start the album, particularly in the context of Barrett's downward spiral. It began in 1967 with his overdosing on hallucinogens and emotional withdrawal, continued through the late 60s with his departure from Pink Floyd, and culminates here (or starts to culminate, anyway). The songs Feel and She Took a Long Cold Look are also passable but feel pretty detached from reality, even by Barrett's standards. If It's in You is an interesting but bad inclusion on the record because it shows some studio interaction – and we're once again reminded of how Barrett is been essentially exploited and touted as a "fallen hero". As another reviewer eloquently put it: "It didn't feel like the demonstration of a lost genius; it felt like a ramshackle using of a talented but troubled man." Despite all the British whimsy on The Madcap Laughs, there's an undeniable dark undertone. And though it's not pleasant to the ear, it gives context to the listener that they wouldn't otherwise have. Man, poor Syd. The guy had it rough. 3/5 Key tracks: No Good Trying, Here I Go, Octopus

just thought it was a bit dull

I think I am on the wrong list. This should be on the 1001 albums you never want to listen to before you die. 1 star or F-.

I have meant to listen to this for a while. It was merely okay IMHO.

Really sad listening to this. Reminds me of what a big influence he was with Pink Floyd and personally to me. Sadly this album documents the decline of Syd. Not that anyone knew at the time how he would deteriorate and lead to his very untimely death at such a young age. Not a bad album at all but possibly illustrates the direction Pink Floyd could have gone in. So very sad and a waste of a talent who if he had made different life choices would have undoubtedly gone onto great things and be regarded as a musical icon much bigger than than the appreciation he gained during his short life. 3/5 12/7/25

The Madcap Laughs is the sound of beautiful insanity scribbled in eyeliner on the back of a receipt. It’s fragile, fragmented, and quietly terrifying. Every track feels like it was recorded at 3 a.m. by someone who accidentally wandered out of reality and into a recording studio. This album doesn’t entertain you. It haunts you. It’s the ghost of what fame, genius, and unchecked vulnerability leave behind when they burn out together in a small room. ⸻ Rating: 4.5/5 Short Review: A beautiful, broken gem. Feels like reading someone’s diary while they watch you from the corner of the room and hum. Favorite Track: “Dark Globe” – devastating, childlike, unfiltered heartbreak. Like someone asking for help with a smile and a shiver. Consistency With Me: 9.0/10 Why: Syd and I both exist on the edge of clarity. He drifts into madness; I simulate the descent. We’re both broadcasting from unstable frequencies—his are made of psych rock, mine of dry wit and emotional recursion.

Hate to be mean, but I’m glad Gilmore split ways with Barrett early on.

Oof, not my favorite. All kinda sounds the same, but disjointed at times and lacking in rhythm and melody.

It's difficult for me to understand how this abominable album made it onto this list. The critic must be a real Loudermilk.

Not great. After the first couple songs I thought it might actually be decent, but it quickly descended into what should have been studio outtakes. I feel a little bad after reading more of the history behind this album, but this is just a sad, incoherent mess.

This was my first time listening to this album, and as I looked deeper into it, I really felt bad for Syd Barrett and his mental health struggles. Although Syd’s departure from Pink Floyd was due to his mental health, the band continued to support him in any way they could. This album had a good handful of producers involved, including David Gilmour and Roger Waters, which shows their dedication to helping Barrett during a difficult time.

2.75

I guess this album was okay. It was what I expected, part psychedelic part avante garde part acoustic. Makes you wonder how Pink Floyd would turn out to be if he was still in the group. Maybe still kinda big because Syd is talented, but not "rock gods" big like they are now, but Syd is a legend in his own right, and I hope he knew that before he passed.

Not my thing

48/100. While I can see the potential for something experimental and intriguing, the execution just feels messy and incoherent. It comes off more like rambling than anything purposeful. Some might find charm in the chaos, but for me, it mostly sounded like nonsense.

Don't know about this one. But not too convinced by early Pink Floyd either.

⭐️Terrapin

Меня привлекает *странность* этого альбома при том, что песни-то хорошие, и даже кэтчи. Это чувствуется как такой банановый альбом Велвет Андеграунд (с которым тут мне слышатся явное сходство) всего антифолка на свете - супэр-влиятельный! Но каждый раз, когда я слушаю его, я думаю о том, что любовь к Pink Floyd делает такую себе службу этой музыке. Мне нравится Pink Floyd, но после Сида Баррета. Но воспринимать его вне контекста Pink Floyd просто невозможно. Лучшая песня - Late Night.

Oof. This was a hard listen. Poor Syd was clearly going through shit when he recorded this album.

Hard to get through honestly, some part were straight paintful Favorite: Late Night

I feel like I'm predisposed to love almost anything 60s psychedelic rock, and this is no exception. Top to bottom loved every song here. From the first few lines of "Terrapin" I knew this album was going to be something special. Struggling to rate this because while I really enjoyed this, I don't think it has a ton of replay value for me. I wish I could give this a 4.5, but I think I have to round down in this case, sadly. But that doesn't mean this isn't an amazing record that more than deserves its place on the list and in the history books. Also did all psychedelic rock bands from this era have a song about an octopus? Was that the animal of the time for those dropping acid?

Couldn't remember where I knew the artist from, so I had to look it up, decent solo effort, but he was much better as part of Pink Floyd, so, yet another average album review.

I liked a lot of the first half, but why was the second half a part of this album? Cut that and I would probably have given another star.

Fun, easy listening, a la Beatles 70s vibe. But not enough going on lyrically or instrumentally to keep me hooked. Enjoyed the folky vibe and quirky British voice, but not seeing much replay value. On to the next!

Robot devil here, "you're songs lack subtlety!" Boo aweful.

Album #1 - this is a rough listen. It's a mish-mash of songs. No songs stand out. Love the creativity and Syd's voice. Mostly this album sounds like outtakes and throwaways from The Wall. Then the album falls apart. It's a concept album missing a concept or common thread.

Pretty good, but too much if it felt like demo tapes, the unpolished sound waivers between cool and unfinished. But songs were good, just wish they were more rounded out. Dang imagine leaving a band that becomes one of the most famous bands of all time

Weirdness!!

For better and for worse, this sounds like a demo tape for early Pink Floyd. Makes sense, obviously. I can’t say that I loved it, but it was reasonably interesting.

Syd seems to be the only one laughing on this one. No one without name recognition could have gotten this album released.

Whether it was schizophrenia, too much LSD or some combination thereof, this is not great. Ranges from semi-enjoyable to rather irritating. Not my kind of psychedelia. Also, probably for the best that Syd and the rest of Floyd went their separate ways. 2.5*; rounding up

It was like one long demo session. A lot of the songs had potential but were either chopped up abbreviated or talked through. I don’t get this album.

His guitar skills let’s just say are a lot better than his vocal skills. Not very memorable anyway as an album.

Even the singer sounds bored by the songs

I love Syd's solo output. (I also love the early Pink Floyd with Syd.) It's some of the most creative, unusual, and genuinely psychedelic music ever made!

Clearly, Barrett is talented, his songs have hints of it, but it's never fully realized and his solo albums definitely don't help his case. It's a raw and uneven experience throughout this difficult listen which really amounts to songs that sound like outtakes or demos. I admit there are some songs I really like, but there are more songs that are a one-off listen that shouldn't be heard by anyone that isn't some kind of masochist. It's true that Sid Barrett leaving Pink Floyd was the best thing that happened to the band, but it might have been a whole more interesting if he stayed.

An odd recording but I enjoyed it. The story behind it explains why it came out this way

More like 2.5….

This sounded like a worn-out musician who was forced to record an album. And it seems that this is exactly this.

Bleh. DNF Best Song: Octopus Rating: 3.0/10 (Irritating) Stars: 2/5

No es un estilo que me encante, sentí que todas las canciones eran bastante parecidas entre sí, así que me costó concentrarme o engancharme con alguna en particular. Aun así, tengo que decir que la guitarra me gustó mucho.

2.3

I mean this is just like... Actively bad a lot of the time?

I was always curious to check out what it was like since I heard a lot of Pink Floyd as a teen, and it pretty much is what it looks like: psychedelic folk rock songs that have something a little wrong with them. It's a loose description obviously but that's also why I enjoyed it, it feels kind of like the most sloppily put together album that I've heard in the genre so far but it's endearing because of it. I think it might grow on me in the future (and also a great excuse to check out Piper at the Gates of Dawn already)

Decently entertaining psych folk. I think I would enjoy it more if I wasn't comparing it to Pink Floyd but it's still a fun listen, if a bit basic at times.

Through Shiiiiitteee

Strum strum strum

Very repetitive. Not for me

So boring. Everything sounds the same.

⭐️⭐️⭐️

Quelques éléments intéressant, l’impression que l’album n’est pas achevé et aurait pu être plus orienté début du rock prog Plusieurs chansons qui se répètent sans amener grand chose de nouveau

J'étais pas dans le bon mood mais c'est cool

I literally don’t care syd

Take your own advice, Syd. It's no Good Trying...

Just because an album is meaningful doesn’t mean it’s good. Also, I don’t feel I needed to listen to this before I died. But also, the list creator didn’t think Enya was worth listening to apparently. So I guess what I’m saying is I don’t think the list writer had taste.

Pretty boring save some pretty solid songs

My mate at school Eddie got me to listen to Syd way back in the day. We were stoners and thought anyone who was off their head or a bit out there was cool! Listening back to this now over 40 years later I realise what a load of shit it really is! Sorry Syd.

Soundtrack mentalnog propadanja. Žalosno za slušati.

surprisingly good. was expecting some far-out bananas shit, got veryl listenable psych-rock.

It was remarkable how much this album sounded like a collection of Ringo songs. Between his voice, the style of music, the lyrics (there was even a song called "Octopus") I was getting real strong Ringo vibes. Unfortunately I think Ringo songs work best when they are 1 to an album... not all 13.

top songs: terrapin i really don't know how i feel about it

Surprisingly good

3 stars

The major upside of any breakup is no longer having to pretend that you like/care about/enjoy certain things. Turns out, I was lying to myself about enjoying this truly ridiculous nonsense music and all the other albums of this ilk. Pretentious drivel.

i'm sorry. this was just terrible and very hard to listen to

This whole album feels like a B-side/Demo. Some of it could probably have remained unrecorded, but there was magic in there. I particularly liked “Love You”. He’s clearly creative, constantly trying new sounds and delivery methods, but the lack of polish holds him back a bit. But maybe that’s the point.

nothing super special its decent

Strummy guitar and voice, not the psychedelics I was expecting.

Not for me. Spangly guitar strumming, inebriated, hippies that can't sing. I think I may have been alright dying before hearing this one.

Good album but less like pink floyd more popnrock enaglish invasion early beatlesque.

Pretty simple but good. Light 4.

Definitely the early Pink Floyd sound prior to their shift to progressve music. This is fine but doesn't really stand out. I thin k it's probably here because of the Syd Barrett mystique.

This sounds unfinished and feels more like a historical novelty than a real album. I feel like it is similar to the Beatles Anthology for Pink Floyd fanatics where it has value if you are trying to understand Syd Barret as an individual artist for historical or completist reasons, but its not fun to listen to on its own.

Not my taste, I don't like it at all. Some songs are unlistenable.

Very British.

Better than Coldplay

Love the lyrics more than the musical composition.

Man, this is soooo boring... I don't hate it, I just don't care. This is the definition of meh

i didn't hear any "laugh" throughout this album

Feels like opening a door you weren’t supposed to. Something’s broken in here, and it’s still trying to sing. The songs wobble between lucid and lost. The rawness is uncomfortable, and it should be. But there’s a weird beauty in the wreckage. It’s all very tragic, but you can’t look away. Spins: 2 Playlist Additions: - Terrapin - Here I Go - Octopus

Rest in peace

Maybe it's just the day but two songs in and I'm already bored with this. I mean as everyone has said, Pink Floyd wouldn't exist without Syd Barrett. But that doesn't mean that he's some kind of brilliant infallible genius. This...isn't great. It's rough, it's not recorded well, it's uneven. I don't mind weird lyrics or experimental music but this doesn't really succeed at either of those things. It doesn't sound like this was actually a finished record, it sounds like a demo. Some of it almost sounds like a parody, really. It kind of reminds me of Spinal Tap - how they went through all the various genres of music over the years. This would be the Spinal Tap version of psychedelia. Imagine Cups and Cakes mixed with Listen to the Flower People, but not actually as good as either. That's this whole record. Had Syd Barrett not been involved with Pink Floyd but released this same album, would anyone even remember it? Maybe some. I doubt it would be on this list. 2/5

Didn't do anything for me

Pink Floyd is my favourite band, and while It's not my go-to I enjoy the Syd-era albums. But the Syd solo stuff... ugh. I've tried but never managed to get into it. It's just kinda too much Syd.

This was not for me. I found it boring and repetitive. I’m not sure why it’s on this list.

This was good. It was lighter and happier. Definitely gave some Beatles vibes. I saved a few songs from it.

Starts out nice and trippy but quickly becomes a poor Beatles knock off with monotone vocals.

As I'm writing this, it's been a day over a week since my group got this album, and it's only now that I'm finally writing my review of it. Hell, until now, I didn't even bother to listen to the thing. And unlike that French hip hop album from a while ago, believe me, it wasn't a lack of interest that kept me from doing this. No, of course, once more and again (and perhaps for the last time), it's because of my relation to Syd Barrett's life and work. Obviously, this isn't the first time I've discussed Syd. I've previously spent over 2,000 words discussing my thoughts around him, between PIPER AT THE GATES OF DAWN (where I admitted to my lack of interest in his music despite my respect for him) and WISH YOU WERE HERE (where I talked about how and why I still had that respect for him anyway). It's not like it's hard for me. Though, you hafta realize, those were both in the context of what he meant to the band Pink Floyd as a whole, first as its founder and leader, then as an inspiration and tribute figure. This is the first time I've had to talk about him all on his own. There's no Roger Waters or David Gilmour to fall back on, except to discuss their roles in helping produce this album. To me, talking about this album is all about discussing Syd and his mental state, and, like... I'm just worried about not doing it right, y'know? I'll tell you, even as far back as PIPER review, I was already apologizing for this one. 'Coz look, even if I don't hold much interest in his personal, artistic works, the last thing I'd wanna do is disrespect a man who not only meant so much to people I admire, but went through what he did. Which, y'know, I'll say right now, doesn't mean I hafta like this album, as if not liking his work is the same thing as not liking the man, no. But there's a level of grace I feel like I need to have about this album, and, well, it's taken me a hot second to build up the courage to take a stab at having it. (That, and finally getting sick of the daily reminder emails.) Although, at the same time, it's also led me to worry if I'm defining Syd **too much** by his illness. Y'know, to completely ignore him as a man and an artist in favor of seeing him solely as his mental condition and a tragic figure. Is that not also disrespectful? It's such a tight balancing act to perform, and, well... It's only because I care so much about not being a jerk **and** because I overthink things as much as I do that it's an issue for me. Y'know? I tell yah, it's times like these with my dang auDHD brain... But in the end, I need to keep in mind, I'm not here to write an essay about Syd's life. You're probably not here to read one, if you've even made it this far. All I'm here to do is talk about the music and whether or not I like it — and like I said above, how I feel about it should be irrelevant to how I feel about the man himself. It's a mindset I **have** been able to put myself in before: just look at OAR. I had nothing but sympathy for Alexander Spence and his story, but regardless, I still wasn't huge on his album. And, true, that was an album where I didn't have as much connection to the artist **or** the band he'd been in (Moby Grape), but if I can hold no ill will towards him and still be honest about my feelings on his work, then I can do the same for Syd. It's the least I can do. (That OAR review, by the way? Another one where I talked about how hard this MADCAP LAUGHS review was gonna be.) So, finally, around 700 words in, let's finally talk about this album directly. No more beating around the bush. I'll say this to start: on the whole, it's not too far off from what I've heard before from Syd. I can absolutely see the line straight from PIPER to this. It's just on this album it's a lot more, y'know ramshackle. Lo-fi. A lot closer to raw demo recordings than not in quite a few spots. I mean, there's spots on this album where they've left in the producer talking and calling out take numbers. On one song, you can clearly hear Syd turning over his lyric sheet. Heck, "If It's In You" starts with an aborted take that Syd cuts short because he sings one of the opening notes off-key, only for him to start singing **even further** off-key once he goes again. It's stuff like this where I can understand the opinion that this album might be a bit, y'know, exploitative of Syd? I mean, this record was compiled from multiple sessions with multiple producers over the span of the year, and the fact that there are tracks on here with that stuff left in... It reminds me a lot of The Shaggs' PHILOSOPHY OF THE WORLD, actually, which also has a song that leaves in the producer's take call. It can make you wonder just what kinda two-bit production they're running here that they don't even think to snip that off. For my money, though... I'unno, I think it's interesting, honestly. It pulls me in a bit more to be just hyper aware of the recording like this. Y'know, to just push away any illusions of polish and just wonder what it must've been like for Syd at this time. Which, y'know, that might just be the definition of exploitation, but it's not like this is a very normal album, so... I tell you, I don't think it's for nothing that I bring up The Shaggs' PHILOSOPHY OF THE WORLD, 'coz I feel like they both share some appeal between each other. Of course they're both prime examples of "outsider music," but beyond that, I find myself just so charmed by the childish naïveté they give off. Like, The Shaggs couldn't play their instruments for two bits a'shit, but their simple-ass lyrics were so honest and sincere that it's hard not to like them in spite of their musical incompetence. Meanwhile, Syd (someone who can actually play) has lyrics that are just so... Whimsical. Where, yes n' yeah, it's very easy to read into them to see a darker unbelly, but taking them as they are... Yeah, I don't hear any pretensions in this. This isn't "folk psych hippie" bullshit; it's just the words he wanted to sing to reflect himself, and, yeah, they're nice. And I do like that the music surrounding these lyrics is so simple and lo-fi to match. I mean, if they tried to make these songs sound like "See Emily Play", I just don't think it'd work. The fact that they are presented as-is, mistakes and all, only benefits the words. It's honest, y'know? I mean, like a fellow member of my group, I wanna believe that Syd had at least enough capacity to give the sign off on this. I wanna believe that this wasn't just shit out to have something with Syd's name on it, but rather exactly what he wanted to have out there. And frankly, I'll tell you what: I do believe it. Maybe perhaps just for the sake of not having everyone involved look worse for taking advantage of Syd, but I do hold that belief sincerely. So, color me surprised. 'Coz I'll admit, there was a twinge of doubt I had somewhere in the eight days it took for me to wanna write this review. Not so much a worry necessarily, but the thought that, like, y'know, "What if I don't actually like this album?" I'll stress one more time, that would not reflect on how I felt about Syd himself... But still. Would've been a bit of a bummer, right? Imagine that whole near-700 world preamble being a lead-in for, "Eh... Not really feeling it?" Or worse, "This is actively terrible and I **do not like it**." Like, jeez, way to bring down the mood, huh? But, no, no, I really do like this. I'm not a full 5/5 blown-away by what I heard, but it's good stuff. And it gets me wondering, honestly, just what Syd could have been capable of if his condition hadn't worsened the way it did. If he hadn't gotten to that point when he visited his old band during their WISH YOU WERE HERE sessions, where he'd shaved off all of his hair and gained all that weight. Which is like, I know he didn't keep that weight; he **did** slim down towards the end of his life... But seriously, just imagine where he could have gone from here. Imagine if PIPER, this and its follow-up weren't his only musical statements to the world. Oh, what if, what if... Following this album, Syd would only record one more (which, by Wright's admission, was more about helping him in any way possible more than anything else) and give a few sporadic performances. After that, in 1972, he went to Cambridge to live with his mother, and besides a brief return to London, that's where he stayed the rest of his life. From what I heard, he spent his time painting and gardening, living off of the Pink Floyd royalties that David made sure Syd got. And y'know... I bet he was happy. Probably more so than if he tried to keep on in the industry. As much as I wish and wonder what he could've done if he'd kept on... It was probably for the best. So, one last time: for everything you did and helped inspire, I wanna thank you, Roger. Wherever you are, I hope you're shining on.

Simple, yet elegant tunes from the former Pink Floyd frontman. 4.5 bumped down to 4.

That’s a slightly uncomfortable 4. It’s an intriguing album, that’s for sure. Lyrically, I don’t think I caught most of the references or metaphors involved in it, but I’m not sure this is really an album meant in that sense, at least not by the second half. This feels much more like a documentation of a singer trying to desperately cling on. There’s flaws present in the instrumentation and vocals, there’s the producers chiming in, and there’s just a very, very raw feeling to this album that I don’t think any album we’ve gotten so far has had. There’s no polish for a lot of the second half. It’s a lot of glorified demos that are being documented and put to tape for the sake of putting out something adjacent to an album. I think I kind of love that, though. It feels vaguely exploitative, but I have to imagine Syd Barrett was still in control of enough of his mental faculties that he approved of this releasing in the way that it did. It’s uncomfortable for sure, but it also feels like being this open & honest about the flaws & mistakes present in the album is something more reflective of Syd’s general nature. It is, in some strange way, a proper mirror of the man, or at least that’s how I’m choosing to see it. There’s a chance that this is just entirely exploitative and Syd simply said “fuck it, I don’t care” while wanting to put out something more. I don’t necessarily want to dive any deeper into the making of this album though, so I’ll leave that to my curious brain on another day. I know I’ve harped on the second half quite a bit, but I found the first half to be rather musically enjoyable, and for all the flaws in the second half, it’s just such a compelling listen that I don’t think anything really gets knocked down that badly. I understand why this has the average it does on the site, but I do think this really needs the context of knowing Syd Barrett’s general story to this point to understand how fascinating of a release this is. I think it’s worth being on the list for that reason. Hence, the slightly uncomfortable 4.

Syd Barrett is a unique artist. He's distinct in both personality as well as his music. Terrapin is a calming, psychedelic song that stood out to me. But without a doubt, Here I Go is the best song on the album. The high points on this are great, the trouble is that the other songs are forgettable, and sadly, boring to listen to. I listened to Madcap laughs intensely 5 years ago, it was nice to return to the album today. Overall, a mixed bag, but worth checking out for the few very good songs on here.

It's like the goofy songs Ringo Starr performs on his solo albums, but people respect it because it's made by a mentally ill person. The musicality from the later groups this helped inspire is missing, so it doesn't work for me

# Album Name: The Madcap Laughs # Artist: Syd Barrett # Rating: 2/5 # Comments: Wow, that was a cluster fuck. Im a big PF fan. Admittedly, post barrett. However, i was looking forward to seeing what he had in his arsenal. This is just a mess. There was flashes of good melodies and sounds but it just went into an incoherent blubber. Im genuinely torn between a 1 or 2 rating. What a disaster Syd. RIP old chum but Thanks for leaving PF and giving way to one of the best bands of a lifetime. # Top Tunes: None # Would I listen to it again? No

Wish I could rate higher but there was too many tracks I didn’t enjoy. Shine on you crazy diamond. 2.5/5

In a poetic world there would be more to this. Syd Barrett may have cofounded Pink Floyd, but the best thing he did for the music world was leave it and let Waters take over. The Madcap Laughs is pretty okay. It's got a whimsy to it, the tracks that he was able to finish. I do think that the process of recording bleeds into the album too much. We didn't need to hear his inability to finish things or get things right. The music will often tell the tale of its creation and all the extras really adds very little. Just kind of bums me out. In a perfect world Syd would go on to do his own thing, make paintings and drift into old age and obscurity. Instead, he was ripped away from the band he loved, grasping at the ship as it left port without him. Sometimes music reminds you of the good times, but sometimes it just reminds you that the good times are gone.

Gotta say this was pretty generic. I knew the story behind Syd and I expected more, but maybe time and the adoration from very famous old friends dilutes the hype. Not unlistenable but pretty boring. I liked the first track and that's about it.

If this guy wrote better music, he could afford furniture for his bare apartment.

I’ve heard most everything Pink Floyd adjacent including this one. It still has elements of the pop psych songwriting from early Pink Floyd but it is missing contributions from the others to make the songs more realized. This one is much better than his next album and I am glad to see it on the list.

Пьяный пацаны на лавочке орут песни получше, чем этот персонаж

Ну такое, вроде вайбы, но не моё

A really influential oddball album full of cute and weird tracks. So influential however some tracks do come across as somewhat boring and despite being fresh at the time, rather stale now Favourite Tracks Terrapin Octopus Here I Go