Top 5 - Pink Floyd Albums
My incredibly original idea for my blogs is that I will write them in a "Top 5" format. I don't really know how often I'll write these, how sober I'll be when I write them, or how angry I will be at the time of publishing, but I'm just attempting to utilize this space and fill the growing free time that I'm finding myself having.
My first installment will be my attempt to list my favorite Pink Floyd Albums. This is the one band that I have loved from my earliest days and continue to listen to over and over again. A good debate to have over a pint, I've found, is what songwriter from the Floyd that one prefers or even what voice one prefers. Surprisingly, there are plenty of Gilmour fans regarding the former while an astonishing amount of Waters supporters in the latter. The defining question though, which encompasses both of the previous questions, is which album do you prefer? This won't be easy for me. Here I go.
5--MEDDLE--1971
This, to me, is easily the best pre-DSOTM album. It was tough to leave Atom Heart Mother out, but Meddle takes the cake simply because it is AHM 2.0. Each and every member contributes in a very effective way highlighted by Rick's fantastic performance in "San Tropez." It's considered the album that "established the hallmark of PF's mature style" and truer words could not be spoken. It's the post-Syd era and it's not difficult to see that the gems of 1970's would soon follow.
4--WISH YOU WERE HERE--1975
I can't believe I'm putting WYWH at #4 but I couldn't help myself. I love this album simply because this first marks where Roger Waters begins to lose it. His negative takes on the music business comes through clearly, especially on "Welcome to the Machine" and "Have a Cigar." I love Roy Harper's performance on HAC but his inclusion is the reason this is ranked #4 as it takes away from a strictly PF recording. Gilmour's vocals on "Machine" and "WYWH" are purely priceless.
3--ANIMALS--1977
This blog was written with the intention of putting this #1. The more I thought about it, the more I couldn't do it. I love this album from beginning to end and I think it's one of the most ingenious and sometimes most overlooked album of the 70's. The music is intense, especially in "Pigs (Three Different Ones)" and "Dogs". The Waters' bookmarks are simple but fantastic as it's not everyday you hear him signing in a heartfelt way to his wife. Gilmour's guitar is great as always, and this could be Nicky Mason's finest work as well.
2--DARK SIDE OF THE MOON--1973
To me, this is till Roger Water's 2nd best piece of work, despite what sales may say. One reason why this could be #1 to me is that playing it satisfies all moods. It's soothing from start to finish. Like in "Echoes" off "Meddle," Gilmour and Wright show the uncanny ability to harmonize with one another to create the perfect vocal sound. This is seen most effectively in "Us and Them." "On the Run" is way before it's time and "Time" and "Money" are deserved big hits or singles. It's clear why almost everybody that has ever existed around and after this time has once owned this album.
1--THE WALL--1979
It's tough to exclude an album that clocks in at 81 minutes and that absolutely challenges the way people think about songwriting from being #1 on any list. The loose idea of "The Wall" focuses in on a person's struggle with life from an early age and their attempt to build a wall to isolate themselves completely from human interaction. Unlike DSOTM, this album is hard to listen to at times and downright depressing. However, it features some of PF's best in your face rock melodies underlined by the most venom that Waters has ever had. It's angry but it's honest enough to come across as genuine and original. It may even be music's first audio book. It also features music's best ever guitar solo, but that's another "Top 5" list.
I have to make two things clear. I love everything this band released. I even love the Obscured by Clouds and More stuff. This was impossible to do but I think their is a clear divide between the masterful stuff that they've done and the great stuff. It's one thing to say in a barroom conversation what your favorite album is but it's another to have it in print and on record. Also, I realize that I didn't really go out on a limb with this list. Sorry to all the Syd fans.
My first installment will be my attempt to list my favorite Pink Floyd Albums. This is the one band that I have loved from my earliest days and continue to listen to over and over again. A good debate to have over a pint, I've found, is what songwriter from the Floyd that one prefers or even what voice one prefers. Surprisingly, there are plenty of Gilmour fans regarding the former while an astonishing amount of Waters supporters in the latter. The defining question though, which encompasses both of the previous questions, is which album do you prefer? This won't be easy for me. Here I go.
5--MEDDLE--1971
This, to me, is easily the best pre-DSOTM album. It was tough to leave Atom Heart Mother out, but Meddle takes the cake simply because it is AHM 2.0. Each and every member contributes in a very effective way highlighted by Rick's fantastic performance in "San Tropez." It's considered the album that "established the hallmark of PF's mature style" and truer words could not be spoken. It's the post-Syd era and it's not difficult to see that the gems of 1970's would soon follow.
4--WISH YOU WERE HERE--1975
I can't believe I'm putting WYWH at #4 but I couldn't help myself. I love this album simply because this first marks where Roger Waters begins to lose it. His negative takes on the music business comes through clearly, especially on "Welcome to the Machine" and "Have a Cigar." I love Roy Harper's performance on HAC but his inclusion is the reason this is ranked #4 as it takes away from a strictly PF recording. Gilmour's vocals on "Machine" and "WYWH" are purely priceless.
3--ANIMALS--1977
This blog was written with the intention of putting this #1. The more I thought about it, the more I couldn't do it. I love this album from beginning to end and I think it's one of the most ingenious and sometimes most overlooked album of the 70's. The music is intense, especially in "Pigs (Three Different Ones)" and "Dogs". The Waters' bookmarks are simple but fantastic as it's not everyday you hear him signing in a heartfelt way to his wife. Gilmour's guitar is great as always, and this could be Nicky Mason's finest work as well.
2--DARK SIDE OF THE MOON--1973
To me, this is till Roger Water's 2nd best piece of work, despite what sales may say. One reason why this could be #1 to me is that playing it satisfies all moods. It's soothing from start to finish. Like in "Echoes" off "Meddle," Gilmour and Wright show the uncanny ability to harmonize with one another to create the perfect vocal sound. This is seen most effectively in "Us and Them." "On the Run" is way before it's time and "Time" and "Money" are deserved big hits or singles. It's clear why almost everybody that has ever existed around and after this time has once owned this album.
1--THE WALL--1979
It's tough to exclude an album that clocks in at 81 minutes and that absolutely challenges the way people think about songwriting from being #1 on any list. The loose idea of "The Wall" focuses in on a person's struggle with life from an early age and their attempt to build a wall to isolate themselves completely from human interaction. Unlike DSOTM, this album is hard to listen to at times and downright depressing. However, it features some of PF's best in your face rock melodies underlined by the most venom that Waters has ever had. It's angry but it's honest enough to come across as genuine and original. It may even be music's first audio book. It also features music's best ever guitar solo, but that's another "Top 5" list.
I have to make two things clear. I love everything this band released. I even love the Obscured by Clouds and More stuff. This was impossible to do but I think their is a clear divide between the masterful stuff that they've done and the great stuff. It's one thing to say in a barroom conversation what your favorite album is but it's another to have it in print and on record. Also, I realize that I didn't really go out on a limb with this list. Sorry to all the Syd fans.
Total Comments 3
Comments
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Nice work, although you should have stuck with you original thought and put Animals #1. I've loved that album since the first time I heard it. Too me, the solo at the end of Pigs(Three Different Ones) is even better and cooler than the Comfortably Numb solo.Posted 05-24-2009 at 11:59 AM by NUTS
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Nice call NUTS. I let go of my original instinct and it would be an interesting thesis on a research paper (one great university to attend too) arguing for Animals. It could easily be done. Again, the complexity and length of the Wall won me over. Still, Animals is in my CD player much more frequently. I couldn't agree more with the Pigs solo. Just fantastic stuff.Posted 05-24-2009 at 12:49 PM by jonjd
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Animals is a great album, but I think picking The Wall is the better choice. Granted, I think there are some throwaway songs on The Wall, but it also has many more songs. The thing to me about The Wall, though, is the best songs are better than the best songs off Animals.
My personal favorite of the Floyd albums is DSOTM for the reasons you mention. It's a soothing album and well played, and the vocal harmonies are definitely the best on this album. "Us and Them" is probably my favorite of all the Floyd songs.Posted 06-07-2009 at 02:23 PM by jj04
