THE PIPER AT THE GATES OF DAWN

The beginning of an era, the age of the Floyd. Syd Barret led the band through their first (and only) psychedelic excursion, and one of their more bizarre albums. Barret had an interesting writing style, mixing humor with strange melodies, best evidenced on Matilda Mother, Bike, the Gnome, and Take Up thy Stethoscope and Walk. Others are interesting rockers, like Lucifer Sam, Astronomy Domine (amazing guitar work), and of course, the extended jam Interstellar Overdrive. The title provides all the imagery needed to tell us what the song contains: amazing guitar work, moving from ear to ear, spacey keyboard textures, and some intense drumming. Other songs, like Flaming and Pow R Toc H, delve into other areas, with the latter having some great piano work by Rick Wright.

Overall, this album came into being before anyone knew what was really happening, and it paved the way for many other bands to begin experimenting, much like Sergeant Pepper did in its own right. An incredible Debut, but not a masterpiece. Those will come later.