WISH YOU WERE HERE

Seriously I think it might be. Every time someone ask me what is your favorite album/s this one is always a first choice. As we all know it's always a hard call to deside which album is your favorite as it always depends on your mood etc.

Where to start... lets start with the structure of this album. This album flows really well. It's like this album was meant for one day to be on a audio format that could play the album in it's entirety because it works so well. Just like Animals (just flipping the short and long songs around) I really like this way of putting an album together. It keeps one interested and the fact that all the tracks are so musically different, but still keep a deep connection with each other is totally awesome.

The fact that this is album followed DSOTM is a pretty big plus in my book as well, especially if you look at what it turned out to be. It is very different to the monster hit they made before it and huge amount of respect for that. They could easily have skimmed the cream, but they chose not to... that is truly artistic integrity.

Well let's go on with the production side of this amazing album. It might also be one of the best produced and mixed albums in the history of music. The different levels of this album is breathtaking at points. The very low mixing (as they also did and succeed on The Wall) is just superb. Examples of this: When the drums for the first time enters SOYCD, the keyboard solos in WTTM and the ending of HAC. The production fits the songwriting very well and the structure of the whole album. From the beginning sounds of the almost goofy like keyboard whale thing and the wet-finger class tones to the last fade out keyboard line.

And the whole Syd Barrett aspect of this album is also very interesting. This had a huge impact on the Floyd guys and you can clearly hear it in the mood of this album. And the fact that Roger was writing these lyrics about/for Syd it must have been a pretty scarry experience to suddenly meet him again after all these years. You can clearly hear the extra amount of feeling in Roger's vocals on this album and I really believe that we can thank Syd and his visit at the studio for that. And I really think that this Syd factor or what ever I call it, is the main reason for this album being so special over all and it being in the top of my all time favorite albums... it has something that no other albums have.

Shine On You Crazy Diamond Pt. 1 ... has the best opening of any song ever. This is just pure magic and it is one of rock guitar's finest moments. Also some nice keyboard melodies/soloes by Rick. The vocal line is so beatiful and heartfelt by Roger it really can make one cry. The lyrics are perfect for the mood and they are really well writting. Well I guess it is one of the more famous lyrics of rock music and I think that is fair. A great saxophone solo and some more great guitar & keyboard melody/soloing going on.

Welcome To The Machine One of Gilmour's best vocal performances ever. The use of mechanic sounds on this song is really frightening. Some really organic guitar playing combined with those sounds and Gilmour's vocals make those verses so unique and I have never heard anything like that before or since. Also great lyrics... very childlike at times and you might wonder, but they fit perfectly in the concept of the album. And then there is the keyboard solo = Holy something - it really works thanks to the great production and mixing skills otherwise it would not have been so effectfull.

Have A Cigar The album rocker. Well writting, well played exspecially Gilmour and Mason are slaying on this track. Nice lyrics again and I always get a smile on my face hearing those lyrics... brilliant. And Roy Harper does a great job on the vocals. Great keyboard work and a great guitar solo. One of Floyds more rocking songs and it fits perfectly in the structure of the album.

Wish You Were Here The ballad of the album. Truly beautiful guitar work, melody line and lyrics. This song is perfect if you really wanna cry your heart out if someone you knew died or something. This song also features Gilmour on lead vocals and he is doing a fantastic job. I think this song beside all of Gilmour's famous soloes is his trademark in the music world. He could do so many other great things, but this emotional playing and singing he was/is in a class higher above most other artist.

Shine On You Crazy Diamond Pt. 2 I do prefer part 1 over this one, but that is alone because of the intro. Otherwise this part continues where the other left. Only one verse, but there are some more experimentation going on in this part and that is nice to hear. Really nothing more to say beside it being a great piece of work and it all ends on a very nice way.

So all in all this album is absolutely flawless in my book. The songwriting, the mood, the playing, the production/mixing it is all perfect. The artwork is also amazing. Perhaps not as famous as the prism, the wall or the pig (due to them being more simple I guess), but still up there as one of the more famous album covers in rock history. This album is Gilmour and Writh's favorite Floyd album and I totally agree :-D

Share this PINK FLOYD review

Social review comments () BETA

---

---

Review related links

• Send comments to Devnoy
• Report this review (#170140)
• Buy PINK FLOYD music online with PA partners
• Show all PINK FLOYD MP3/Stream
• Go to PINK FLOYD page for videos, full discography with ratings, reviews and much more
• Go to Wish You Were Here page for more details, where to buy and ratings/reviews
• Search the Forum for PINK FLOYD related discussions