Wasn't this Waters' originally intended Wall follow-up where Pink explores his Irish heritage through the nightmarish prism of barbiturate intoxication?
Part of their appeal, in comparison to other prog acts, is that harmonically they were very accessible. With the exception of a few tracks here and there, they kept it simple. So while their music was definitely complex structurally, lyrically and arrangement-wise, it wasn’t that difficult for the average listener to grasp.
Floyd do wear their political heart on their sleeve more obviously than most though and are clearly more socialist than capitalist in outlook. I was really making the link that most people start off more socialist and gradually become more capitalist as they grow older. My point really being that at the age most people discover Floyd (say aged 14-19) the band fit and complement the political leanings of the vast majority of student-aged people. If you're ever going to be a member of a left leaning political party or CND or Amnesty etc that's generally the age most people do it as you struggle to comprehend the ways of the world.
Hi Matt, My point was really just to say that the rate of musical development in the Beatles was faster than any other band I can think of, the Floyd did evolve but at a slower pace - as you say over 30 years. I must say that this thread has made me more inclined to go back and listen to those early albums again like Obscured by Clouds, Echoes and Ummagumma. The problem I have with Wish you were here and DSOTM is that brilliant though they are I've heard them so many times now I think I have become almost bored by them.
My favorite band ever (along with The Doors, but they "died" in 1971).. Music, lyrics, themes, great vocals, great production, and doing it on a high level throughout all of the 70s, whereas other favorites of mine seemed to have weaker albums in the mid and late 70s (I'm thinking of Led Zeppelin and The Who's last two albums)
Yes me too, i found a copy of the cow album and took it home and have really enjoyed it. So I’m enjoying those records before the band broke open. Then i put on DS and by the third song i took it off. I’ve heard it enough for this lifetime it seems.
Yup zep and who’s last two were their weakesr. I didn’t like the last two Floyd either. (I’m only considering floyd w roger)
Yes great song and solo but not worth listening to the whole album for. I like Van Morrison’s version.
It better be great songwriting, their most famous Waters era albums (other than The Wall) only really have like 5 actual songs on them. I see Pink Floyd as people's alternative to 3 minute pop rock. This is certainly not music for those who have a hard time slowing down and focusing. However, many people listen to their albums in a mental state when they could also simply lay on the floor for hours and stare at the ceiling, so it doesn't speak well to making a good judgement on the music IMO. If you have to be high, then your enjoyment holds no critical weight to me. And if you claim you used to get high and now you listen to it sober and enjoy it, well your Limbic area of your brain was tickled long ago and that association will always dictate your reaction on some level.
Agreed. No judgments from me on those who indulge (like myself), but I’d hate to be in a band where fans must get high to be moved by my work. I’ve always thought it’s kind of insulting to the people who produced that music. I realize this likely isn’t a popular view on this forum, but there ya go.
I'm not a drug user and aside from sharing a joint at university probably 5-10 times 30+ years ago drugs have never been something I wanted to do, however I do wonder if it's fair to dismiss folk for listening to Floyd or any other band under the influence of them. One thing I have observed is that alcohol can often enhance my appreciation and ability to enjoy music. There's no doubt that I quite regularly enjoy drinking wine or sipping a scotch in the evenings while playing music and that it quite often does seem to enhance the intensity with which I feel the emotions of the song. I guess I am not alone in that so it feels churclish to dismiss the fact that some people evidently enjoy PF with a spliff on the go. So how many of you find drinking for example makes you more 'receptive' to music?
While still valid points, this is rather secondary in foreign non-English-language markets (where PF is as huge as in English-speaking markets) - where people just love the songs without actually properly understanding the lyrics. I would rather attribute it to very memorable harmonies and the masterful, intricate performance of them.
Booze absolutely makes me more receptive to music. I've never found that spliffs make me enjoy music that I would otherwise not enjoy. Indeed, listening to music that I don't like whilst under the influence is not a particularly pleasant experience.
That's a good point. I'm absolutely the same. If there's something I don't like, I find it far, far worse if I'm high.
Other than a couple of early titles and one film score, I become engaged when spinning their works. And that's what the band is about for me....getting lost in the music.
I tend to think they’ll go down as the best band of all time. In the truest sense of the word “band”. Something special I don’t think anyone else has ever achieved. And there are a lot of great bands out there.
You were going to say.........."When did Pink Floyd stop being a live improv band and start playing live shows just like the records?"
