The Madcap Laughs

Meh nothing special

2.5

I know this album came out before a lot of Pink Floyd's more successful albums. But it really feels like a bad Pink Floyd knock off. It's terribly boring.

BORING

Bowieasto

Æ þetta finnst mér ekki sérstaklega skemmtileg plata. Allt of mikið bull eitthvað, eins og eins manns band sé að reyna að gera C-hliðina á Sgt. Pepper. Svo fannst mér raddbeitingarnar hans og kassagítaraglamrið bara orðið pirrandi í lokin og sá þá að þetta er bara tæplega 40 mínútna plata. Leiðinleg en áhugaverð saga samt sem áður sagan hans Syd.

Frábær plata. Átti von á einhverri sýru, en þetta er bara mjög skemmtileg plata. Fínustu bítlalög og smá Scott Walker í þessu. Fyrri hlutinn þó betri en seinni. Syd greinilega mjög góður lagahöfundur sem við misstum því miður í sýru og geðsýki. Dark globe alveg nístandi lag. Ég á potttþétt eftir að hlusta oft á þessa plötu, svo ég held ég skelli bara 4 stjórnum á hana.

Hyvä veto että tokavika biisi ei ollut vika. Keskivaiheilla oli sama biisi useasti. En tiedä, äänimaailma on kyllä kumman kiehtova, ja jotenkin tästä on saatu oikea levy.

Vaikka en voisi enempää hyljeksiä varhaista Pink Floydia, tämä on omalla tavallaan vetovoimaista. OK, levy on osittain täysi kaaos, ja vain puoliksi itsetietoisesti sitä, mutta viimeistelemättömyys ja tietty löysyys tekevät artistille hyvää. Plussaa erikoisesta, mukaansatempaavasta alusta.

It is wonkily charming, and full of odd whimsy, but also real feeling, expressed in strange ways. At some points it feels a bit stuck, but if you want an album that sounds like little else ever, this is your one!

Okay. Det her album kunne beg overhovedet ikke lide og det var et mirakel at jeg var stædig nok til at lytte det hele igennem. Jeg kan forstå at det er skrevet af et tidligere medlem af pink Floyd. Jeg ved at man kan have forskellig smag og derved er der nogen der kan værdsætte dette album. Men det er ikke mig, og jeg ved ærlig talt ikke hvorfor man skulle kunne lide dette album.

Folk. Rock. Un poco inclasificable.

Fragmented moments of expression from an artist locked outside of time. An album almost couldn’t be more expressive of an artist’s mind-state P.S. I have been addicted to this album recently, I have no idea how this website gave me this

Oh my lord!!! There’s a lot to be said for English whimsy but this is just overkill. Do you remember those parties you went to in your late teens when there would be some guy strumming guitar very badly in the corner and girls would fawn over him? I felt like I was at one of those awful parties where my ideal would be to drink in the kitchen and then go home early and not have to listen to all that talentless pretentiousness. There’s only so much of the same songs played over and over and with tuneless vocals that I can bear. I know his pedigree but this is a man gone nuts and it ain’t pretty!

25 years ago I was part of a team that listened to hundreds of submissions from musician vying to be part of what was, ultimately, a large-scale battle of the bands. We'd go through rounds of listening sessions, ending up in the offices of Billboard magazine in NYC for a final session where we picked six acts from hundreds to perform in a showcase. I mention it because, as I listened to this album, I tried to imagine what the response of the room would have been, and I can't imagine it would have received a whole lot of attention. This is my way of saying, I can't hear what it is in Syd Barrett that excites people. It wanders. It's difficult. I don't think the lyrics are meant to make sense. No question, there's something intimate and unfiltered about Barrett's performances and music, but I fail to understand what it is that makes it "great" or even good. Whatever his genius, it's lost on me. Strangely, I liked the album well enough. I listened more than once trying to connect. Alas, I'm just confused. So maybe I get it after all.

A polarizing album, to be sure. I'm a Syd fan, and I don't know how I feel about it. To anyone who hates it or who dismisses it: I get it. These songs don't work the way "normal" songs do. And his performances often veer out past the bounds of what is considered "good" singing or guitar playing. And sometimes I find that thrilling, as in the case of Octopus and a few others, but it's just as often frustrating or even downright embarrassing. When he's at his best (especially during his tenure with Floyd), it's like he's finding new ways to be musical and to express ideas and emotions. And I love how quirky he is, the way I love The Shags and Daniel Johnston and other outsider artists. But when he's at his worst, which happens often in his two solo LPs, it comes across as either exploitative or inept. And sometimes, the very same song can hit me differently from one day to the next, depending on how I'm feeling. I get why people love him. I get why people dismiss him. I agree with both camps, and I find that interesting. A rating seems weird, so I'll just go down the middle with a 3. I do think it's worth hearing at least once, so I'm glad it's on here—because it could very well be something you connect with that you otherwise might not listen to—but it wouldn't surprise me if they left it out in future editions.

Started off my listening session really psyched about this. Unfamiliar with any solo Syd and I thought he went straight to the institution after Pink Floyd. Seeing the date of this album sent me down the Reddit rabbit hole about what really happened. And hence I learned about Mandrax. Anyway. The music. It's got the elements that really captured me from early Pink Floyd--spacey guitar, sweet English voice, psychedelic sound. Then the album started to drift into a mix of Monty Python and Spinal Tap. Shine on you Crazy Diamond, I still dig it...just not a whole lot.

Good for a pub

awful singing

Oh man. This was a tough one. At its musical best (songs like "octopus") are fairly decent psychadelic rock tunes. At other times, Barrett sounds like he's auditioning for a okay beetles cover band. At its worst ("if it's in you") it's hard to not feel bad for an artists who clearly had talent but got lost along the way duento mental illness and probably overuse go psychadelic drugs. It feels as if the album could have been decent had it happened earlier in his carrer, but alas.

I would lose interest in rock music, too, if my friends produced my album to sound like this.

3.5/5. I thought this was pretty good. Perhaps it was a bit weird, but I liked that about it. Definitely picked up on some elements of psych rock.

Joa nicht so meins

Not bad as such just not my thing. I am not into pink Floyd and I assume I'm not missing much

This record is the soundtrack to a cautionary tale of mental illness. It’s the Syd Barrett story laid out musically and it’s just as sad. His influence is obvious and important on tracks like Astronomy Domine and Interstellar Overdrive, but this is not that. So much so in fact, that it showcases how much he missed the rest of Floyd, not the other way around. I had to listen to Meddle to clean me ears. 1/5

Not a gel for me. I really don't remember anything about it and I listened yesterday. Probably means I should give it another go but nothing compelled me to. All felt pretty bare and basic for mine. Fave track: Late Night

I suppose influential to a pretty phenomenal degree, but I can't help but feel that Syd Barrett is a pretty overrated figure. This album feels a little too thrown together and incohesive to leave me convinced that it's all part of its charm. There were moments I did enjoy here, but really they were few and far between. Two and a half. Fave track: Octopus

Dross

Putting aside Barrett's contributions and influence, this simply doesn't come together as a body of work. The most obvious shortcoming is that of energy, not strictly necessary and partially compensated by the thread of desperation. Madcap does have peers in that, though, peers which are simply better: More layered, more affective, less (or more!) disorganized).

As he sings in Here I Go, “a big band is far better for you,” and I have to heartily agree. This album from the original front man for Pink Floyd is lacking: lacking musicianship/talent, lacking cohesion/, and lacking a editing/discerning ear. I found the whole thing undercooked, underwhelming, and in some parts downright irritating. Not my cup of tea for sure. I find it hard to believe that if Syd wasn’t connected to Floyd, any record producer would have allowed him anywhere near a studio.

Meh

Fine little album for the era.

OMGOMGOGMOMGIMGIGKNFJDJEJRJFJKTOGKG i love this one i love sydbarett I jump for joy and screamed when i seen this on my 10001 albums page

Not my thing

Pink Floyd regards Syd Barret very high and has mentioned how influential he was for their sound and how he was a cornerstone in the band, basically pulling the strings. That might be true, but it's a bit funny how they made their best stuff after he left the band. I can see many resemblences between this album and the first two Pink Floyd albums as well, but those albums at least had some songs that were pretty good, and they sounded like they were mixed by professional musicians. This has nothing of that. It sounds terrible, the songs are jibberish and incohesive. Maybe some songs reflect his mental wellbeing at the time, which would be both interesting and a bit sad, but it's still not anything I would put on or listen to.

Sorry Syd, I know you were instrumental to Pink Floyd and probably a great musician in your own right but I didn't like this. The album is all over the place and feels often like listening to the first demos of songs. It feels a bit anti-folk. Some songs have potential like "Golden Hair" and "Long Gone"(although just turning the volume up in the mixing instead of a crescendo is cheap)". All in all it will get a one but a strong one as I feel it has potential just the execution is not really worthy of an album.

Trying not to think about the Pink Floyd tie which would likely increase the stars I give. With that, I’m not impressed with this album. Nothing really grabbed my attention.

A couple of these sound like late Beatles outtakes. But mostly it sounds like “semi-polished ideas for a record” from a very talented guy. Who’s also kind of out there.

This is music for people who think doing drugs makes them more interesting, and that is why they do them. No one would care about this adequate but unmemorable album if this guy hadn’t been in Pink Floyd. You shouldn’t have to know the whole tortured artist acid casualty story to provide context for why this album merits revisiting 50 years after its release. Has a bit of the feel of being obliged to attend your friend’s band’s house show, Like this is fine or whatever I guess but I will never voluntarily listen to it again.

"The Madcap Laughs" by Syd Barrett is an album marked by its eccentricity and tumultuous recording process. Released in 1970, it was Barrett's debut solo effort following his departure from Pink Floyd. The album's tracks, like "Octopus" and "Terrapin," reflect Barrett's unique songwriting and whimsical lyricism. It's a far cry from his earlier work with Pink Floyd, characterized by a lo-fi and somewhat dissonant production style. However, the album's notoriety often stems from its haphazard production, with multiple takes and a generally unfinished quality. This can make "The Madcap Laughs" a challenging and uneven listen, even for fans of Barrett's idiosyncratic style. While the album has a cult following and is viewed as a window into Barrett's creative psyche, its haphazard nature and the challenging listening experience might not appeal to all. A 2/5 rating reflects its divisive nature and the difficulties some listeners may encounter while trying to connect with it.

This is where we discuss the true brilliance of Pink Floyd being Syd Barrett, but getting into it will deliver us to madness. Instead, we'll just enjoy the work.

idk who picked these albums but they had awful music taste

Definitely could live without hearing this

Not very memorable

Once again, not really my thing.

3/5

To me, it seemed like he was trying too hard to sound like The Beatles and The Doors.

Yep

3/5

not great

Love it from the bottom of my heart

not sure i've ever heard any of this album before. actually it's great and one of the reasons i started this project. 4 star for side one, but side 2 is more of a 2 star. average overall. Listened 3x

Pour le gars qui a fondé Pink Floyd, c’est assez moyen

4.0

A couple of the early songs are worthy of an audience but I don't think this album should have been released - it's painful to listen to someone who's mental state is clearly deteriorating. I don't

SYD ALBUM

Es un disco raro, a lo Barrett, de la onda del primero de Pink Floyd. No es lo que más me gusta, sin embargo rescato cosas.

I did not need to hear this before I died, sorry

It seems every album is more Bri*ish than the last. This was fine but I can see why I didn’t know about his solo work post-Floyd. Sidneote a post rock band called Post Floyd would be dope (2.5/5)

Hmm I've never been a fan of Syd Barret. The best thing that ever happened to Pink Floyd was his leaving. Whilst this album is slightly better than the early PF work, it's still weird and not to my taste at all. I would place it in the genre of "drug addled". Probably sounds better if you're as off your head as Syd must have been at the time.

Oh no..

a hard listen but it has some brightish moments.

Starts off okay, but just descends into madness, pretty sad considering the situation

2-

if you asked me if i thought the writer of this album had lost his mind by hammering LSD straight in to his third eye then my answer would be yes because no one who listens to this thinks its anything other than the ramblings of the weirdo at the back of the real ale pub that you desperately try to ignore.

Q. What does SHACK eat for breakfast? A. Lamb chops

A nice and quaint album with some fun moments and instrumentation but generally quite aimless and under-developed melodies

Right, this definitely drifts at times and can appear a bit messy, but overall I think it’s great. Find it more interesting than some of the Pink Floyd records thats for sure. And, dare I say it, more interesting than some of the Beatles’ records. It has that surreal, trippy sound without trying to hard to get there. Clear that it is from the 60s, and equally clear that he probably had a little bit of drugs when he wrote this, but it’s all to its credit. I’ll definitely be back

Weird in a good way. Very Beatles influenced but the chord progressions were very ahead of their time, most of the tunes went off in directions I wasn't expecting. Reckon Graham Coxon is a fan. You really get a sense that Syd is functioning very differently to most people, I imagine that's where a lot of the creativity comes from but it does lead to a lot of the songs barely holding together, particularly the later tracks. Really compelling listen but I'm unlikely to stick it on again, I'd say 3.5.

Really weird, messy, incoherent. I found this a hard listen but I am conflicted about the scoring. There's some stuff in it to like - Here I Go is easily the most "finished" song on the album. I enjoyed the songwriting. However Jesus Christ what a mess tracks like If It's in You are.

I know the story of Syd Barrett, not sure I was aware he actually released solo stuff though, not heard it anyway. The more coherent parts of this weren't bad, bit like the more drug fueled Beatles era. Towards the end of this album, it just doesn't sound finished. Some strange lyrics in here.... Too many psychedelics, or mental health issues? Why not both. Glad I've heard it, but don't think I'll be back I think dark globe was my favorite. Octopus was very beatlesy but good This reminded me that I still needed to rate Nick Drake.... Similarities here, but Syd is much less positive somehow, and not as good frankly

Best thing about this was hearing the rhythm of the pick against the strings of his guitar. Real odd album in a good way, sounds like Bowie and Syd influenced each other a lot maybe

Meh... I think that pretty much sums it up... Not even a glimpse of a Pink Floyd-ian music here.

He's a fucking terrible singer. The rest was ok

An interesting attempt to blend different styles, but it doesn't really work for me. Not structured enough for a mainstream rock album, a bit too complex for a singer-songwriter one, and as vibrant as a psychedelic record. Alternatively, it is possible that all 70s music was always a bit cringe, and I only like the songs I like because I listened to them many times.

A bit better than I was expecting, some typically whimsical offerings and can hear how this may have influenced some Britpop. But overall cannot hear anything on a par with Arnold Layne for example

Why is this here?

you can hear that syd was a part of pink floyd. if its in you doesnt need to exist if you ask me, at least those voicecracks

Not a great album

The essence of a list suggesting albums one "should listen to before you die" goes far beyond the mere statement: "This sounds good." The richness of music isn't merely about the melody, rhythm, or lyrics. It's about the history it carries, the influences it exudes, and the legacy it leaves behind. Take "The Velvet Underground & Nico," for instance. On a personal note, I'd rate it 4 stars. Yet, if look at its history, one could reasonably argue it's among the most influential albums ever. To genuinely appreciate music, one must embrace the journey of its creation, the roots of its inspiration, and its impact on subsequent generations. It's not just about the question, "How does this resonate with me?" but also, "How has it shaped the musical landscape?" Even if you don't care about musical history, you can't truly rate how good an album was when it came out if you don't understand what came before it. If, say, a Model T Ford was invented in 1800, that would be amazing! If it was invented in 2000 (long after modern cars were common), it would be a poor "invention". A creation depends on what came before it. But based solely on the sound I'd wouldn't give this more than 3 stars. But I know the role that Syd played in creating one of the greatest bands ever. No, this album didn't do that, but given that David Gilmour and Roger Waters helped complete it, it's certain that Syd continued to influence them after just the one Pink Floyd album that Syd was an active part of. Having said all that, even with the history and influence that this album had, I'd probably only give it 3.5, maybe 3.75 stars, but given that I believe some reviewers are just listening and asking "Do I like it?" w/o asking if there's more to why an album would be on the "1001 list", I'm rounding up. 4 stars.

I like PF but not a fan of this.

Strange: coming from an ex-Floyd member I was expecting a lot more. From the weird almost creepy album cover to the music itself feeing slow and uninspired it wasn’t smth to really love listening to. Was it god awful? No but I wasn’t having fun listening to it. Meh.

I had no expectations and loved every second of this. Where has this album been all my life? Whimsical and groovy and light and clever and fun. Go, Syd, go! Kinks / Beatles / Eno and Floyd vibes all at once.

A little out there for me. I might revisit someday.

I was never a fan of Pink Floyd's debut, so didn't have high expectations going into this. Was still left feeling pretty disappointed. I'll always struggle to see why Syd has been held up in such high regard in history, when all his musical contributions that I can see were pretty mediocre. Maybe it's the whole 'tortured artist' narrative. Does nothing for me though.

This is a 1 I don’t give lightly. I love Floyd, and the legend of Barrett is fascinating. But even by his own admission, this is not a representative artistic statement from him.

Nothing egregiously bad, but it's just basically more of the same Brit folk I've already heard without anything memorable or pushing the genre in any meaningful way

- first song was by far the worst, had me scared for the full thing - A couple songs were fun, but overall this wasn't my favorite

- I dislike this album - weird vocal style and poor lyrics - 1.5

Folk psicodélico. Ni fu ni fa.

psychedelic rock. Ex-componente de Pink Floyd. Sin pena ni gloria.

So you know how sometimes, band members get booted for having creative differences, and the person getting kicked out says "screw you guys, imma write the music I like and it's gonna be awesome!" And then they produce absolute swill? This feels exactly like that. They say Pink Floyd was never the same once he left, I can only assume that's true because they got better.

Genres: Psychedelic folk, folk rock, psychedelic rock Formed: 1968 Run time: 13 songs, 37 min, 47 sec The debut solo album by the English singer-songwriter Syd Barrett, after he left Pink Floyd. He was a founding member of Pink Floyd. Spotify: Least popular song: >723k Most popular song: >9.4M plays. His style is whimsical and playful with surreal elements laced with psychedelic imagery. The general theme is love; looking for it, finding it and losing it. No one song stood out above the rest. The album just had nothing to hook me in. Listen Again?: No My Rating: **

8/10. Huh, I didn't even know Syd Barrett made a solo album, but I guess he actually made two in one year and then stopped. Pretty good, though.

Really a tragic story for Syd but this album is still pretty dull. 4/10

It’s sad to listen to this album knowing Syd’s fate. That being said, not really a great album. Kinda all over the place

This is like being confronted with something very awkward and then trying your very best to not look at it. Look, I get it, co-founder of Pink Floyd and a figurehead of its psychedelic beginnings but this sounds downright uncomfortable and in hindsight shows his deteriorating grip on reality.

Thought this was going to be an absolute drag given the first track, but once the tempo picked up there was some enjoyable guitar work going on here. Not really an album that will stick with me, but a nice afternoon listen nonetheless

Good

Odd that I got Syd Barrett’s solo album before any by Pink Floyd, but unlike those albums, I haven’t heard this one before. It really captures his degrading mind and insanity at this point - really sad. The music is great anyway, somehow. I really liked the songs ‘Terrapin’ and ‘Here I Go’, especially the latter’s sort of twist in the middle. Great album from a legend who sadly lost his mind at a young age.

Sad. Beautiful. Majestic. Chaotic. The Van Gogh of music.

7th July 2023 Listened in the morning before heading off to Barnett’s wedding. Didn’t give it full attention so hard to judge but liked elements.

Portrait of an artist well on his way to insanity. Critics got this wrong. This would have rightly gotten zero attention without his tenure in Floyd. I am giving the extra star myself for this reason.

The first half had some pretty decent songs in it. I really liked the opener Terrapin, but after Octopus it went downhill really quickly with If It's in You being the worst offender.

Not for me.

4/5 There is something good about this one. It's old, never heard of him or any other music before but I dig it, baby...yeah... Standouts: Terrapin, No Good Trying, Others: Love You, No Man’s Land, Dark Globe, Here I Go, Golden Hair, Long Gone, She Took A Long Cold Look, Feel, If it’s in You

Folk psicodélico. Ni fu ni fa.

I’m really empathetic to the troubled genius that Syd was, but this album isn’t that great. It feels like a collection of unreleased demos that stayed as demos for a reason. It’s honestly getting a sympathy star to get it up to a 3

this was…. messy. i think it’s clear what the rest of floyd did, without them it just doesnt sound good

Album 83 of 1001 Syd Barrett - The Madcap Laughs Rating : 4 / 5 Favorite Track : Here I Go Timely, as he has been popping up lately in posts from various music pages I follow. I heard this for the first time a few weeks ago as I was listening through the playlist. Didn't stick with me all that much, though I don't often stop and put much time into thinking on an album as I'm doing the playlist. I save that for the album a day generator. Have seen many other reviews that just totally panned this album. After my first listen, I was prepared to come back and do the same, but I listened closer and gave it a bit more consideration. I feel that one has to listen to this while forgetting that Syd Barrett was once an integral part of Pink Floyd and the direction they took and how far they went after he was gone. Then again, you have to listen to this while not forgetting the same. Dude was in a bad place, mentally. Some say that this album is just the result of him being humored in his thought that he still had something to offer musically. I like it. I hear the man and his creativity. It may not have the polish of the Pink Floyd albums that many seem to compare it to (even if subconsciously) but it is what it is and I like it...as unorganized as it may seem...I like it.

Was a hard listen. Cautiously optimistic heading into it based on knowledge of the individual and genre, but mostly found it hard going. Some clear sparks of genius in there, but largely lost in the madness

We get it. You like LSD.

Lol @ “children’s songs for people on acid” 😂😂😂 I was actually kinda lukewarm to start and then the weird campy offness started to really grow on me. Enjoyed it. 3.5/5

Children’s songs for people on Acid. First half was great, second half was pretty bad to terrible

If you like a droning monotone singer you'll like this. I don't.

Trash.

Eh not bad, not my kind of “rock”. 7/10

All of the imaginative songwriting of his work with Pink Floyd but sadly lacking the interesting instrumentation that brought his songs to life.

Musician from famous band strikes out on his own and records a solo album that you must listen to before you die! Even though nothing about that album is particularly interesting

This is... Appalling. It's Beatles-esque late 60s psychadellic pop way past the pinnacle of Beatles-esque late 60s psychadellic pop. Syd sounds almost exactly like Neil from the Young Ones. From a musical history perspective, this may be an album to include. From an objective point of view, this album is terrible. It shouldn't have been made at all. It definitely shouldn't have been included in this list on the basis of any merit inherent in the work. Dear gods. "If it's in you" is atrocious in a way that actually, legitimately gives me a headache. This is a car-crash of an album and it feels ghoulish to be even listening to it.

It's not the worst thing I've ever heard. It's not good at all, either. I honestly couldn't wait til it was over so I think it has to be a 1. On a wider note I'm not sure I get this one's inclusion. I guess it's a historical interest thing to know what Syd Barrett was doing after he left Pink Floyd, but like, who is this for? This album feels more like a set of demos or 30 mins of noodling around in the studio than an album. Best song: Octopus? maybe?

Ok

Probably the most prog thing to ever happen - pretty good but very strange. I liked it, but preferred his work with his former band.

What a wonderful surprise of a record - reminiscent of the Beatles and Nick Drake but with a darker sound. At the core though Syd is writing earnest and heartfelt songs - and it feels real. The production also is subtly clever and it’s just the right length and the songs flow excellently into one another. It kind of tapers a bit on the last three songs which sound plasters on mindlessly - even though they’re not unwelcome.

Not very melodic or thematic in feeling. Felt more experimental. There wasn't much comfort or resolution, and it's not an easy listen. I'm sure it's musically complex and a masterpiece of it's time or whatever. But it's not too much fun I don't think. Not an album to pop out on Friday night.

Nope.

Interesting without being spectacular

Not a huge fan of this one.

Proto freak folk

One my first playthrough I wasn't really sure about this album, having no idea who Syd Barret even was but was thinking this was a 3. Second listen made me realise how much I enjoyed No Good Trying, and Love You (where it sounds like he is actually saying "Ice Cream" instead of "I scream") and instantly made this a 4. After reading more about Syd I am keen to hear more.

Nope, nuh-uh, didn't like this. "Love You" and "If It's In You" actively pissed me off. 😾 The best thing that ever happened to Pink Floyd was having this particular vein of twee foolishness excised. Fave track - "No Good Trying", let's say, but I'd cheerfully never listen to any of this again.

This sounds like a Ringo Starr album if Ringo didn't have the benefit of John, Paul, and George helping him write and perform any of it.

Yes it's whimsical psychical folk and has an endearingly unfinished air, but you know what? I'd rather listen to this than Nick Drake.

Little moments but degrades into self-indulgent, thoughtless guff which is too easy to dismiss. I expected more from this icon but, like many teenage cult figures, his death overshadows his life.

I knew that I recognised the name Syd Barrett, but couldn’t place where from until resorting to trusty Google. He is one of the founders of Pink Floyd - one of the most respected rock bands ever. This should be god then, right? Let’s listen! Songs I already knew: none Favourites: Love You, Octopus There are album by Pink Floyd that I’ve loved, and albums where I didn’t see the fuss. This falls somewhat into the latter category. The songs range from decent to terrible, with a fairly strong start at the front of the album, then abysmal at the end. The vocals feel very lazy a lot of the time, as if he’s reading turn for the first time and doesn’t care much about being there. Overall, I could recommend some songs on here to people who already like Pink Floyd, but beyond that I’d say not to waste your time with this one.

The instrumentals are experimental and psychedelic as expected but the vocals are the worst part. The overall production is also lackluster. Knowing the history of Syd Barrett I guess he wasn't quite alright when this was made which is a bit sad. I rather go back and listen to Pink Floyd.

I know Syd was trying to do his own, post-Pink thing and I respect that. But, more than anything, "The Madcap Laughs" comes across like some sort of alt-universe Beatles album. Like if they'd swapped Lennon for Barrett, this is what it would have sounded like. Which makes sense given the time and place. That was just... the sound, I guess. And I didn't hate it. I like Floyd and I like the Beatles so, overall, I found this alright. What I have issues with (and why it scores as low as it does) is that there's a lot of great talent being poured into these tracks... and the result is not great. It's just... meh. The sum is less than its parts and that's really disappointing. It's not surprising given the state of Syd's mental health at the time and I suppose allowances should be made for that but I'm here to judge the album, not the artist. And the album is just middling.

The album title kind of sums up, so you don't expect to hear Steps or Kylie & Jason. But the guy does have an undeniable knack of writing catchy pop melodies, even if his vocal is a bit iffy at times. The biggest problem to my mind is the album sounds cobbled together, as if Barrett was only half-hearted when recording it. It's quite telling he only made one further album before vanishing into obscurity.

Enjoyed this slightly of the wall musings didn't really say much or go anywhere but I didn't mind. Think he was addled on LSD at this point and the album defiently feels as though you are lost.

All a bit too half arsed, hard work without the right drugs

I feel thoroughly depressed now. Not technically accomplished or particularly sophisticated, but brutal in his honesty about the mental health struggles he had, which ultimately consumed him.

Jesus wept, this was hard work!

It's different from pink floyd, for sure. Still pretty decent. I'd listen to it again.

This is more of a novelty/curiosity than actually something that i would consider "good". Uneven vocals and pretty casual song structure... I do get the similar vibe to Piper and Saucerful, but those definitely have more attempts at pop/psychedelic songs.

Not a great album but interesting to see a number of the tracks produced by Dave Gilmour. You can hear early PF but this has regressed rather than progressed. But nonetheless part of rock history.

Mesmo cada vez mais identificado com as criações do Pink Floyd, não conhecida nada do Syd Barret. Ele pode ter deixado o Pink Floyd prematuramente, mas sua influência no som e estilo da banda é evidente. Este álbum solo é uma prova da sua genialidade musical e criativa. O álbum é uma jornada fascinante pela mente genial e, ao mesmo tempo, atormentada de Barrett, com letras profundas e instrumentais arrebatadores que criam uma atmosfera única.

Stylistically out of sorts and frequently incoherent, with the elephant in the room of Syd Barrett's mental state looming large. Some really creative songs here with moments of bright whimsy and a stripped down sound that has aged surprisingly well. But the hodgepodge musical style and frequently surreal lyrics reveal glimpses into Barrett's fractured perspective, which can be unsettling. I didn't particularly connect with this, but I can see why some people are drawn to him. Fave Songs: Feel, Octopus, Long Gone, Here I Go, Dark Globe, Terrapin

I respect syd’s creativity, but it’s not for me

Bleak (but sometimes whimsical) psychedelic folk rock. Reading the background of how this album came to exist is quite sad, and it’s easier to understand the album in that context of mental health issues. Some good melodies in here and the lyrics are almost humorous if not depressing. The vocals are very hit or miss for me - I It’s In You was notable in how much I disliked the vocals.

The unedited ramblings of a deeply unwell man. Unlistenable.

I think this might be what I sound like when I'm in the shower, singing, after having had a few too many. It isn't a very appealing thing to listen to. Most of this is incoherent. I wouldn't know that this was in any way someone attached to the formation of Pink Floyd. This was just not very good.

I know Syd Barrett's name from Pink Floyd, but I've never listened to any of his music before (not even Piper at the Gates of Dawn). I know the man was going through some pretty heavy stuff when he made this album, and I feel a tad guilty being critical of it, but woof, this was not my cup of tea. All of the songs just kind of blended together. Nothing really stood out to me, and there was nothing about this album that even separates it from other psychedelic music of the era. It honestly sounds like someone was making a movie about England in the late sixties, and just as they were wrapping production, they realized they forgot to have a soundtrack, but they only had $400 left in the budget to put towards the music, and this was the result. I listened to about 30 minutes of this on my drive to work, and when I got out of the car, I went to check how many more songs were left, and when I saw that I was only about halfway done with the album, I fell to my knees and cried out to God, demanding to know why he would make me suffer more than Job. I'm going to listen to Spoon's Hot Thoughts to cleanse my palette.

Sounded slowed down. Appreciate someone getting critically acclaimed and having my shower voice though.

Hearing “Dark Globe” reminds me how much Syd Barrett influenced Roger Waters’s style First impression is kinda mixed, I love The Piper but the slapdash whimsy here is not quite as enjoyable. HL: "Dark Globe", "Octopus", "Long Gone"

this album was a mess. I feel like there was some flashes of brilliance but it was mostly just rambling and jangly noise

Rock, folk, psyk, Singer/songwriter, stille og roligt, pink floyd-viben

Kinda nothing here which is wild since he’s a Pink Floyd guy

The psychedelic folk style was something that immediately sounded good to me. I've heard the name Syd Barrett but didn't know any of the songs. The first few songs on the album stand out more to me than some of the others. 3.5

Did Syd lose all interest in the album in the midst of his mental health crisis? Seems like it, and that's understandable. As it stands, the appropriately titled "Madcap Laughs" features some really stellar songs interspersed with seemingly-unfinished shit.

Je suis là pour ce genre d'album. Je connaissais de nom, je voyais un peu le personnage et le contexte. Mais de la à lalecouter, non. Et donc on se retrouve avec une collection bancale d'un poète maudit assez perturbé. En soit seules quelques chansons sont sympas, une ou deux sont risibles tellement elles sont imporbables, telle "if its you" qui je peut venir que d'un cerveau malade et d'un producteur véreux. Donc une écoute intéressante pour tout son contexte, pour le personnage, pour certains chansons, même si cela vire parfois à la caricature

The strange mix of Pink Floyd and The Beatles. Nice one!

Plusieurs bonnes chansons, un peu trop long.

Nothing standing out to me. Haven't listened to it all the way yet.

I really enjoyed this album a lot moreso than expected. I hear the seeds of Neutral Milk Hotel in the melodies and the singing. A hodgepdge of sounds and styles mostly acoustic guitar based mid tempo ballads generally enjoyable. 3.5 stars

A wandering tirade of musical randomness. Very disappointing.

Listened a couple times now and another album I have no idea how to score. First time through, I expected Pink Floyd sound and style, which this album is not. Really kinda folkish sounding to me with nothing really standing out. Dark Globe was the closest sounding Pink song, but I had to tell myself to get off the trying to make this guy into Pink and listen. Wasn't for me. Nothing I wanted to download. Nothing like I was expecting. Dark Globe and Here I Go were OK. My side Syd Barrett story. I was a 15 year old kid, living in Ann Arbor, working for Hardee's for $2.85 an hour. There's was an older guy who worked there, mid-20's who was obsessed with Syd. Would constantly tell me how great this guy was, he made Pink Floyd. The dude was a strange one an I would listen to his stories, but I never became a fan of Syd or this dude, but I let him ramble on. He wasn't there very long, but whenever I hear the name Syd Barret, I think of the strange guy working at Hardees who loved to talk stories of Syd. My rating is a 2. Not outright terrible. Just not my thing and happy I listened once, well twice, but you get the idea 2

Went from a Beatles rip off to a Donovan rip off. Barely even well executed. 2

3 So THIS is what Syd was up to after Floyd… getting really into the University of Maryland’s college sports program. Still not entirely sure how I feel about this one, but it definitely grew on me. I wasn’t too impressed with anything I had heard during my first listen, but upon listening again I thought the imperfect, raw nature of the album had a certain charm to it that seemed to offer a small taste of the mind of Syd Barrett (Lord only knows what was actually going on in there). Terrapins, No Good Trying, and Here I Go are all songs I can look back on now and say I enjoyed, though others like Love You and Octopus felt a bit Beatles-esque for my taste. The listening of this album sent me into a bit of a Syd Barrett deep dive, and the more I read about him, the more tragic I found his life - It really seems like the guy had some deep-rooted, crippling mental issues and that the LSD only exacerbated them. He was loved dearly by his bandmates, who never had any intention of ejecting him from the band, but at a certain point it became apparent the man was no longer capable of performing live (He played a single show after the release of this album and walked off after four songs). David Gilmour and Roger Waters even stepped in to help him finish/produce this album purely out of love for an old friend. That being said, I can’t help but wonder how listenable this would be without their influence… Anyway, I digress, I can walk away saying I appreciated and enjoyed, but I definitely didn’t find it amazing by any means - not sure if I’d give a full re-listen.

Ostin tän levyn aikoinaan siksi, että Syd Barrett mainittiin Television Personalities -yhtyeen biisissä ”I Know Where Syd Barrett Lives”. Onneksi ostin, en enää muista, millaista elämäni oli ilman tätä levyä.

Tää ei kyl oikein lähe! Jotenki tällänen ihme hyssyttelypaska. 2/5

Ei tää ihan toimi, vaikka Syd herättääkin paljon sympatiaa ja arvostusta.

Ei kyllä nyt noussut muun listan aikakauden brittirockin ohi. 3/5

Not to be cruel but was he shagging some music executive that had to blow budget money on crap they could write off? Otherwise there was no point to this drivel

I find it totally fine and 100% acceptable for artists to complete vanity albums. There is nothing wrong with that and there are times when they come out great. I say that to make it clear that I don't have a problem with this record existing. But despite it's historical context, it has no business on this list. It doesn't show the listener anything special about Syd and the songs themselves are not good. So I'm afraid this one is a dud.

The thing is, I've always been a huge fan of the Barrett-era Floyd. I adore the whimsical, childlike, and colorful nature of it. It's weird, but not weird for the sake of being weird. It's sad that Barrett is only seen as "that guy who went mad". While it does add a drama to the story, I think it tends to ignore the "genius" in his Pink Floyd works. This album did not help. Entitled "The Madcap Laughs", it capitalizes on Barrett's situation. It does not have the colors and the soul of his works in Pink Floyd. While it has interesting instrumental parts, it's overall a mess of noise. Did Barrett really devolved into that? A tragic story, I guess, but for some reason it made me angry.

Truly enveloping and weirdly comforting. Easy listening, but not as a slur.

It was something...not really for me. Not a fan of his voice, sounds whiny

Fuck off, Pink Floyd wanker.

first listen fascinating to see Barrett's mind captured at this time, not the strongest collection of work however

I feel like it's always a mixed bag with Syd, but its always got a little something for me to chew on at least. This is a time where I feel like the grand tragedy of his story overshadows the music a bit too much.

Good psychedelia that mostly makes me kind of sad. Sorry Syd.

This just feels like the exploitation of mental illness. There are fragments of good songs on here (No Good Trying, Late Night), but the majority of it has the feeling of watching something you’re not supposed to be privy to. If It’s In You is a horrifying listen.

4 stars, could be a 5 star album but I'd need to listen to it more to know.

What’s up with the bad vocals there syd

“Pink Floyd guitarist auditions to be part of the more irritating songs in the Beatles catalogue.”

This is honest, inventive, creative. I like it. I will have to listen a few more times to see how much I really like it but it has been an enjoyable listen so far.

It’s not bad considering how crazy it is

3.5

I actually like this. It's what we in the business call a vibe

So sloppy I kinda hoped this was a mental asylum recording like skip Henderson

An influential album I wouldn't choose to re-listen to.

Mostly random strumming. Some songs sounded like a dog giving birth. Just feels like someone real high threw shit at the wall to see what stuck.

This reminds me of going to your friend's cute older brother's performance at an open mic night or something. You know, the instance when your crush abruptly ends bc you realize his art kind of sucks ? :/

Surprisingly not my cup of tea. I just felt like the loose feel created a vibe of being at a drug dealers house, smoking joint and then having to suffer through him playing you his songs.

Heard it before?: No Enjoy it?: No, very dreary and monotonous Favourite song: Track 6 - Here I go

This was more interesting historically than anything, but I generally did enjoy it.

Des gratouilleries sans grand intérêt si vous voulez mon avis. Inutile de dire que je m'attendais à mieux pour le 666ème album du générateur.

Syd est un extrêmement mauvais artiste. Ce petit con se permet même de faire le malin en chantant faux sur la fin de l'album. Les 37 minutes promises m'ont semblées interminables, va te faire foutre Syd.

I think part of rating this a 3 over 4 is because I don't know much about Syd Barrett and it was interesting to learn a little more about the artist

weird album filled with weird, mostly bad songs. love you is a banger though, wish it had a vacuum solo.

Knowing Syd Barrett’s tragic life story inevitably colors any listen to The Madcap Laughs with sadness and regret over what might have been. Though there are undoubtedly moments of brilliance, the sound overall is unfinished and nervous.

Объективно жаль, что между Pink Floyd и ЛСД Сид Барретт выбрал последнее - ранние альбомы Pink Floyd с Барреттом мы любим/помним/ценим. Скажу честно, как поэт он гениален, подмечу в тон Феде что в Golden Hair еще и перекладывает на музыку Джеймса Джойса (того самого автора "Улисса" и "Поминок по Финнегану"). Короче, строчки в альбоме шикарные, однозначно лучше музыки, но в остальном Сид Барретт просто есть и все, даже если учесть что "пинкфлойдовцы" помогали ему с записью. Добрая троечка.

Ладно, погнали ловить грусть и тоску дальше тогда уж. Короче, заметно, что Сид Баррет был ебанным гением в лирике, но никак не в звучании. Он решил не сильно запариваться и просто сделал почти акустический альбом с прикольной лирикой. К сожалению, видно что наркотики (которые все еще плохо, пнтнко?) сильно убили его. Хотелось бы чего более эмоционально вовлекающего, а получил грустных битлов (шутка) Первые 6 песен можно послушать, а вот дальше хз

Думаю, чего ж имя знакомое такое... оказывается, это один из основателей Pink Floyd. Поэтому и настроил я себя изначально на что-то такое. Очень сильно напомнило Velvet Underground/Лу Рида; он причём так же в сольное плавание потом ушёл и сделал много крутых альбомов. Хорошая лирика, здесь она является вероятно центральным объектом в композициях. Оценка 3/5, поскольку альбом ни рыба, ни мясо. Вот какой-то такой альбом, который не вызвал особенных эмоций. Он и не сильно впечатлил какими-то новаторскими музыкальными идеями, это ранний Pink Floyd в акустике, что тут ещё скажешь. Тексты - ну, они хорошие, но не такие, от которых хотелось бы прям тащиться и искать метафоры в каждом предложении. Хороший середняк. Альбом Отмечу Octopus, Here I Go, Long Gone и Golden Hair. С последней песней есть какая-то мистика, потому что мне до жути знакома мелодия, вот это гитарное вступление. Но поиски ассоциаций оказались тщетны. А в Long Gone есть классное двухголосие, которое из вроде скромной акустической композиции делает что-то более монументальное.

Вроде неплохой альбом, но меня не зацепил :(

Nice sensitivity and fragility.

Really liked the first half, but it felt weird listening to all the extra takes at the end

Love a bit of Syd ❤️

A aquest disc se li té més afecte per la història que l'envolta que per la seva qualitat en si mateix. Tothom sentim pena per la vida malograda de Barrett i certament un cert misticisme envolta els temes del disc, però el material no té gaires nanses per on agafar-lo

Listened Before? N What an interesting album. I've never seen one listed as "psychedelic folk" before, but that seems to be exactly what it is. Syd was supposed to have gone over the rainbow by this point in his life, but it seems his music still held some lucidity. I actually really enjoyed it. I wouldn't listen very often, but it's not bad. Added to library? N Songs added to playlist: No Man's Land

The Octopus

listened on the list before. was better this time around fr fr

Song 1 (Terrapin) Miking the plectrum to replace percussion is always a terrible idea - see also Cat Stevens wild world.

Classic alert! I heard this one a few times growing up. The songwriting is so consistently creative and varied, it really shows good one of these older folky rock albums can be if its done right. It reminds me of the earlier pink floyd stuff also written by him, which is equally great. It's a shame he released so little music, and that pink floyd went down a less interesting route without him

Sounds exactly like something a guy who dropped too much acid during his life would make. Would not listen again.

A bizarre album, with some nice songs, though it feels a bit low production value, quite distorted in not a good way. Saved tracks: Terrapin, Love You, No Man's Land, Octopus

Nope.

Crosses the line from novel to morose once you realize that Syd Barrett had actual mental health struggles. Best track: Octopus

solo work from a pink floyd member. Wiki is pretty wild - guy went overboard with drugs. Can appreciate that the lyrics are pretty deep, but still just doesn't get me going.

Cute to hear once.

Not for me. I’m sure there are people who absolutely love this and can break down every chord and lyric but I just couldn’t get into it at all.

Some absolute shite on this album. Golden Hair was one of the ponyest

3.9/5

Ça sonne beaucoup comme du early Pink Floyd. Pas mauvais, une petite touche folk supplémentaire qui se prend bien

Fractured genius.

psicodelia escrachada, rimas bobinhas, gravado de maneira podre, incrivel. mas falando serio, o syd barrett é um dos meus compositores favoritos, um guitarrista fenomenal e unico tambem. o jeito que ele faz as coisas na musica é completamente fora da curva. por mais que nesse album a habilidade na guitarra dele não seja tão presente quanto nos tempos do pink floyd, o poder de composição dele aqui fica explicito. destaque em love you, no mans land, octopus

Is het een iconisch album? Ja. Is het daarom goede muziek? Nee.

Cannot fully remember

Cantautor con toques pop de muy principios de los 70. Cierto toque Beatle. Para tener de fondo

I can see where Pink Floyd started out from this album but it didn’t appeal I’m afraid. 2*

A bit disappointed to be honest. A bit dull....

Boring

This album is ok. Some songs I enjoy, some songs I really didn't enjoy, and the rest were meh. His voice I think is the main thing, in some songs his voice really works, but some songs his voice is really irritating. Overall, everything cancels out and we get an ok album. 2.5/5 Favorite song: Octopus Worst song: If It's in You

This album is a great example of his superior creativity to the rest of his former band mates. He has incredibly original chord changes and song structures that make it impossible to guess what is coming next, without ever letting you down. Very sad that we couldn't see him develop more as an artist. I think he was only scratching the surface of what he had to offer. 4/5

singing kinda sucked but the end carried at least for me

There's something very appealing about the ramshackle innocence conveyed here. But there are also moments when you just want him to get it together.

It's just boring. Just makes we want to listen to proper Pink Floyd

Well that was an exercise in trying to fit a square peg into a round hole, wasn't it? Maybe this is the curse of such high art: when it's almost kinda sorta borderline music, that's the only way our mere human minds can process it. In any case, my puny brain gives it a 1/5.

Seems that Syd was as bored singing this album as I was listening to it.

Best Song: Octopus. At least it has a sort of raw, silly quality that is kind of endearing. Worst Song: Terrapin. Good god if this wasn't the sleepiest introduction I've heard in a while. Overall: I hope it was influential because good god there is little of value here to a modern listener. It never exceeds what feels like the author's first attempt at each song given.

Favourite track(s): Long Gone A bit like a Prog Rock Album without the cool instrumentals. The strumming of the acoustic and squeeking of the electric guitar alone just don't do it for me. Having started this album several times, I have never felt the urge to finish it. Even if it is only a little longer than half an hour. The vocals, in part off rhythm, also don't do it for me. Some interesting parts, especially in Long Gone and If It's In You is kind of funny in the beginning. But that is about it. Not for me.

p220. 1970. 1 star. Drug addled half baked outtakes from an acidhead casualty do not make for interesting listening. WTF is this doing on this list? "I tattooed my brain all the way/Won't you miss me? Wouldn't you miss me at all?" Actually Syd, no we won't.

A worse version of the Beatles

The day would have to be particularly lazy for this album to feel an apropos listening choice. Thing is, there are few, if any, days lazy enough. This album wants to be something more than it is, and Syd Barrett seems to be trying to try so that he could try but somewhere along this line the man forgot his heart at the expense of this album's soul. The album is not suffering a deficit of music or talent, but it is very deficient of soul. The album is the shell of something else, perhaps someone else.

Yeah, there's a reason he wasn't in Pink Floyd anymore

Quiet and calm

Elsku Syd <3 Þetta er svo mikil kaotísk einlægni. Elska Syd. Elska tónlistina hans.

If it's you is wel tof

Laughable.

Interesting psychedelic adventure in Syd Barrett's skull. It was not prepared with meticulous care, It has mistakes, even wrong notes on guitar.

Crap

Nice sound.

Okay

A mental disintegration caught by recording speakers. For a long time I've been obsessed with Syd Barrett. He of Pink Floyd fame. He, the subject of Wish You Were Here. There's an interesting alternative history where Barrett never lost his mind and stayed in charge of PF. They would have probably continued to have middling success and then eventually broken up by the early 70s. We'd never have gotten Dark Side of the Moon, The Wall, or any of their other triumphs. But then again Barrett's story would have had a much happier ending, which is probably worth the trade-off. Ultimately, I like the idea of him more than his actual music. But this album captures his style really well. You can hear the early Floyd here, as well as some new directions he was trying to go in.

Syd Barrett’s Guitar Pick 🤝 John Bonham’s Kick Pedal Being annoyingly audible in their music In all seriousness though, I loved the first half but was really weirded out by the second. It wasn’t till I read up on Syd and the album that I found out why. :/

Boring, greatly dislike this style of music. The fact that it's pretty short is the only thing stopping it from being a 1.

I would like to like this, because of the sadness of the story and the lost genius turning mad is an interesting concept. The album consists of half finished songs with some good ideas and mediocre performance. Only "Golden Hair" (not on the original release) is a great song.

Pretty cool

This sounded like someone trying to be the Beatles

Meandering and dull. He sounds like he's making up the tune as he goes along.

Big "meh" from me. It was OK but nothing struck me as interesting

Foei, wat langdradig

Een soort van lekke opblaasboot, deze plaat! In het begin drijft ie nog wel en ben je nog vol goede moed dat je de overkant haalt, maar uiteindelijk zwem je in je natte box toch maar terug.

Hebben we net eerder deze week Pink Floyd gehad, moet uiteraard het solo-geneuzel van elk voormalig bandlid ook nog in de 1001 albums lijst voorbij komen. 'Onbegrepen genie' noemen ze Syd Barrett dan. Voor mij blijft het hangen bij 'onbegrepen'.

Best een zeikplaat eigenlijk.

A pleasant surprise. Don't love it but added 90% to the mega playlist

Sorry not it, mailed two books today though

Meh. Feels a bit thrown-together and sloppy. I can see the influence, from groups like Belle & Sebastian to something like Coconut Records.

I love Terrapin.

3.

Very unusual and unhinged, I suppose that's what some people find charming about it. It's like an album someone would do if they were brave enough to release the bad takes. It's unclear whether he's doing it on purpose or whether he's not well.

The thing that always struck me about Syd Barrett was his odd sense of timing. It's so wonky it makes you feel like you just stepped off a carnival ride and you don't quite have your bearings.

Oh boy, that was a trip. It almost seems like the label are exploiting the mental state of Syd Barrett by releasing this. It's only passable through the production of the album, but those b-side rough takes are very rough. A crazy diamond indeed.

Heard before: no Hard to get through, to be honest. To some extent that's personal preference - it just feels like whimsical 60s psychedelic pop, without enough edge on the psychedelia to get me through it. Is it on this list because it's interesting that Syd Barrett was a founding member of Pink Floyd, despite not being there for the band's actually good albums?

Oof

Another awful album

Basic.

Slow psychedelic folk rock

Dreary, meandering and dull.

Love it!!!

About as meandering as I expected.

I was excited to hear this one, as it went on and on, that excitement faded. I liked the Octopus song though.

Surprisingly good

Decent, but borderline gibberish. Interesting fun songs and it was cool that he put the failed recordings on the album

Not my favorite

Syd is just so damn beautiful! I’m intrigued by the title of this album. The madcap laughs. “Madcap” is often used an adjective, so is he describing the silly laughs of someone? Or is he using “madcap” in the noun place, as in “a clown”? The clown laughs? The clown is laughing? This album’s got an overall fragmented feel (which isn’t a criticism), but that’s to be expected what with the three different recording sessions as well as five different producers. Barrett was known for his unpredictable, erratic antics with the Floyd, so perhaps that’s the origin of the use of “madcap”. And what to do with a madcap person? Why, nothing but take him by the hand and lead him into the studio. Because he’s not going to go himself. He’d probably rather be gardening.

2/5 nope

In my high school stoner cohort the Pink Floyd discography started with Dark Side of the Moon and ended with The Wall. I got into Meddle in college (the first CD I purchased, as it happened, a really terrible digital transfer). But it was pretty far down the line that I listened to Piper at the Gates of Dawn and wonders where on earth that came from, and learns about Syd Barrett. Is it genius? The potential is surely there and shines ferociously through at some points, but much of it is too slack and sloppy to fully carry.

Wan and whimsical and extremely wearing. A disappointing, unfocused record.

Kids. Don't do drugs.

If this guy hadn't previously been a part of Pink Floyd, there is no way this album would have been made. I can appreciate a touched mind's deranged performances (RIP Wesley Willis), but this is just nonsense.

Can hear the psychedelic genius in there although makes for uncomfortable listening to know how about his tragic story. Not my cup of tea per se either.

I'm not really a huge fan of Pink Floyd but I know about Syd and his history. I was interested to hear this and I'm sure I could love it more on further listens but I'm not sure I'll revisit often.

I like Piper at the Gates of Dawn quite a bit, but this sounds like a Monty Python skit making fun of psychedelic folk. Barrett even sounds like Eric Idle on some songs.

Never listened to this solo material before. I enjoyed the album,

Mad jammer

I don’t even care about the Syd Barrett story man, this is just wacky, totally nutty, absolutely bonkers.

the whiteboy sangs

Syd Barrett’s talent is apparent. He has a talent for contracting whimsical unsettling songs with unusual melodies and chord changes. His lyrics are ruminating and surreal with a touch of childlike naïveté. Some of these songs are simply better constructed than others and makes me wonder how these recording sessions went. This album can be seen as a contraction of his work with Pink Floyd, but it often veers into darker territory where the psychedelic whimsical facade falls to reveal the extreme anguish and mental illness beneath. The music has tinges of proto punk and some musical elements would sound at home in modern indie rock.

I know of the tragic story of Syd Barrett so I had some trepidation listening to this album but honestly I didn't think it was too bad.