A Saucerful of Secrets has a big issue of feeling like a compilation, lacking its own identity. We get three Roger Waters tracks that suit his style, a giant band track that destroys any possible flow, two quaint Richard Wright numbers that don’t mesh with the Waters-domination, and more strangely a Syd Barrett song tacked on at the end. This is all after last album’s Syd-domination. It’s as if Waters, Wright, and Barrett all did solo albums and one-three of each were pulled for this. Considering the various quality outtakes, they could’ve made something more consistent. In terms of the songs ..read more

Pink Floyd in 1968 It seems that of the first two years of the Gilmour era of Pink Floyd, the main available material consists of… A Saucerful of Secrets, More, Ummagumma, The Early Years 1965–1972, live boots, and what will be discussed below. That’s not to say I’ve certainly discovered everything, but this is an attempt to. Some may notice that with my discussions of Syd Barrett stray tracks, I essentially scrape the bottom of the barrel, while this one is much lighter. The reason for that is because I don’t have the same affection and closeness with the Gilmour-era and wouldn’t be intereste ..read more

“In the Beechwoods (August 1967 + Mix Nick Mason interview)” The music interrupts Nick talking. Still, it’s a quality instrumental. There’s no reason to listen to this for the music, as it was released officially in better quality. “Vegetable Man (August 1967 Mix with ASoS)” This is basically the studio version, but once again in poor sound quality. The extended ending is quite nice. “Vegetable Man Jam (August 1967 with ASoS)” This jam is a lot of fun, feeling mostly distinct from the studio version. “Scream Thy Last Scream (Jenner 1974 Mix – August 7th, 1967)” The elements here feel really d ..read more

The album’s cover; I would’ve preferred the back cover’s art be instead the front or one of Syd’s paintings be the cover What is there to say about The Piper at the Gates of Dawn? Its wordy lyrics that directly are about nothing but resonate on an emotional level? Its instrumentals that match it with psychedelically simple acoustic guitars, temple blocks, and organs? Yet, sometimes you can get the opposite, with space rock jams of guitar effects and raucous drumming that still fits in perfectly due to striking contrast and consistency in feeling like something pulled from another world, someth ..read more

Syd’s mustache Syd Barrett sadly has yielded very few recordings. What he has done has been culled over for the benefit of his fans. The listed music below at worst is charming, but inessential and something a fan will still appreciate. At best it’s stylish and moving work that deserves more appreciation. As a Syd Floyd fan, these are worth at least one listen while some are worth and have gotten several. Tracks like “Arnold Layne (Acetate – January 28th, 1967)”, “See Emily Play (Acetate Record – Alternate Mix – May 23rd, 1967)”, and See Emily Play (Live on ‘Top Of The Pops’ – July 6th, 1967 ..read more

Gigi Ummagumma is either a dream or an acid trip, depending on how you look at it. Certainly not something coming from the unimpeded mind, at least as a whole. It’s certainly an oddity, starting with a full disc of old favorites done live, then a studio disc of essentially solo material. No one appears on anyone else’s track. This really hurts the album as Richard Wright and David Gilmour are just not as good of drummers as Nick Mason. Roger Waters is not as good of a guitar player as David. The live and studio sides also don’t blend together. Why weren’t they separate albums? They could’ve al ..read more

Pink Floyd in 1970 Pink Floyd took to 1970 with a shift in style. The space rock and music based on filling atmosphere has been significantly minimized. In its place is a style that’s decidedly more “down to Earth.” They’re better for it, as they were unable to blow you out with amazement, so instead will suck you in with intimacy. The two best examples of this are tracks featured live here and in studio form on the band’s 1970 album, Atom Heart Mother. Those two tracks are “Fat Old Sun” and “If”. Both take advantage of a light guitar sound and connect with a feeling of reflection. They speak ..read more

Roger Waters, Syd Barrett, Richard Wright, and Nick Mason, one of the all-time great rock bands Syd Barrett is Jesus Christ. At least, that’s the way it seems he’s taken by some. Despite releasing little more than three albums in his time, he’s left an impact that makes some starving for more. Fortunately, we’ve gotten a little more, though less than you’d hope. One is a rarity compilation covering his solo career, Opel, and later this one, 1965–1967: Cambridge St/ation. This is a priceless collection that gives us a further view into the eccentricities of this mentally ill, but no less brilli ..read more

Pink Floyd in 1969 Pink Floyd’s weakest two years have seemed to be 1968 and 1969. If you remove the 1967 tracks from the group’s second album, A Saucerful Of Secrets, then what’s left and the two 1969 albums are among the group’s most tedious. A lack of direction and reverse-engineering of their sound makes the once and later great band seem like a poorly thought out Rutles-styled parody that misses the mark. 1970 and 1971 both progressed out of this slump, with some truly great material present, though there were still misfires. Anyone just listening to the studio albums may think that they ..read more

Pink Floyd in 1968 Pink Floyd has one of the most interesting trajectories in terms of quality. Many bands start alright, get to great, then fall to bad. Pink Floyd started great, went to bad, great again, then finally bad again. Music that breaks the convention is sprinkled throughout. The first “bad” era started in 1968, Pink Floyd’s second year of significant recording. The reason is one of rock music’s great tragedies, the mental decline of the band’s leader Syd Barrett. While he was able to make good music in his far too brief solo career, the rechristened Pink Floyd needed time, despite ..read more