Pink Floyd!!

[sgt.null]

Stevie - I was 7.4 you were 6.8 so pretty close. Our on real disagreement was Long Gone. And there is just something about that song that I have disliked since the first time I heard it back as a teen. If It's In You got the same 2 rating.

We both agree that David and Roger are the weak links. Their production sabotaging songs. I get they were frustrated but that was their friend.

This album started out so strong. Take out the weakest numbers and it works so much better.

I'm glad you liked as much as you did.

[StevieG]

I’m a Syd fan, but I’m less familiar with all his work.

[StevieG]

I don’t mind if an artist chooses to put a take or some interesting rehearsal stuff in a song. But in this case, I don’t feel that Syd would have chosen that - I think it was done by Waters and Gilmour for a different reason. And I don’t like that.

[sgt.null]

Syd Barrett - Barrett

Syd Barrett – lead and backing vocals, electric and acoustic guitars, painting
David Gilmour – bass, 12-string guitar, slide guitar (9), additional organ (4, 7), drums (3), production
Richard Wright – Hammond organ, piano, harmonium, Wurlitzer electric piano, tack piano, production
Vic Saywell – tuba (11)
Jerry Shirley – drums, percussion
John "Willie" Wilson – drums, percussion

Barrett is the second and final studio album of new material released by former Pink Floyd frontman Syd Barrett. Recording began at Abbey Road Studios on 26 February 1970, and lasted for 15 sessions until 21 July. The album was produced by Pink Floyd's David Gilmour and Richard Wright, who also contributed on bass and keyboards respectively, along with previous Madcap contributor Jerry Shirley on drums.

[sgt.null]

01) Baby Lemonade - the guitar intro is Syd warming up that Dave happened to record and tacked on to the beginning og the song. A happy accident that works. I like that the song starts then with vocals, organ, guitar and bass. And the drums don't start until Syd sing "Please..." The instrumentation is on point.

Syd's solo is minimalist. I'm sure not by choice, but it works in context. I also like the instrumental run out at the end. Syd's lyrics are strong. Sad towns, clowns, rain falling, cages. All very evocative. I've no idea what Baby Lemonade means but it is memorable. And "cold iron hand clap..." is brilliant.
Null Rating : 10 out of 10

02) Love Song - well its a pleasant diversion. But there just isn't much there. It just shuffles along. Some nice piano work by Rick. The lyrics are sweet. Null Rating : 7 out of 10.

03) Dominoes - the shuffle and backwards guitar on this plus Syd's almost ethereal vocal delivery make this whole song feel like a dream. Syd draws out the end of the lines as well to add to that. The drums have a slight military cadence at times. And we have an almost two minute instrumental coda. I love that!

The lyrics speak of dreams. And wasting time playing time playing time playing dominoes. Feeding in to music showing we are in no rush. Meanwhile Syd's mind is astray. Null Rating : 10 out of 10

04) It Is Obvious - The title seems a challenge because the song is not obvious at all. Syd at his most esoteric. But there seems to be an internal logic at work in the lyrics. He seems to moving to a destination. In my thinking anyway. Rick is doing a lot of the heavy lifting here. I really like the organ flourish Rick adds at the end. This is what a sympathetic producer adds to the mix, unlike what Roger did the last album. Null Rating : 8 out of 10.

05) Rats - Brilliant. I'll start there. Then explain why. It's a song about rats and it starts a bit slow and builds speed getting more and more manic as it builds up steam. I'm posting the lyrics in the next post. Not all the lyrics seem to be actual words and not all the words that exist are used correctly. Tying into the manic build up. And you can in the lyrics and the music and Syd's vocals delivery feel the rats squirming and wriggling and pressing against each other. And the most important line? The one that breaks my heart. "and if you think you're un-loved then we know about that...." amid the madness Syd shows that he identifies with the loneliness and isolation. Damn. Null Rating : 10 out of 10