DARK SIDE OF THE MOON

Dark Side of the Moon is the eigth full-length studio album by UK progressive rock act Pink Floyd. This was the release that lifted Pink Floyd from a successful act that mainly had a following in Europe to international stardom. Dark Side of the Moon remains to this day the best selling album in the group´s discography with an estimated sale of over 40 million copies. We´re talking an album in the top 10 of the all time best selling albums in the history of popular music. The album is a concept piece with the main theme: "Things that make people mad". The theme was suggested by bassist Roger Waters and the other members of the group found it a great idea.

The music on Dark Side of the Moon is very varied and incorporates several new elements that haven´t been heard on earlier releases by Pink Floyd. Lots of studio tricks, female backing and lead vocals and dominant sections with saxophone soloing are some of the new features on the album. We´re of course also treated with the trademark mellow vocals but also more rocking rough ditto which is great for the variation on the album. There are 10 tracks on the album ( some CD releases merge the first two tracks Speak To Me and Breathe into one track thus making the album a 9 track release). All songs seque into each other either by short sound effect interludes or they simply sound like parts of one longer song which for example is the case with Us And Them and Any Colour You Like. Songs like Breathe, Time and Brain Damage have always been favorites of mine but it´s songs like the experimental instrumental On the Run with its extensive use of studio tricks and the female led The Great Gig In the Sky that stand out from the rest as being vastly different from anything else Pink Floyd had released up until then. There is a notable increase in the use of synth on the album compared to earlier releases which gives the album a fresh sound. David Gilmour´s guitar soloes on the album also need a mention as they are fantastic. So full of emotion. Many guitarists could learn so much from David Gilmour. Putting equal amounts of great emotion into each note can sometimes be much harder that playing faster than the speed of lightning.

The production on the album is outstanding. The sound gives the album a timeless quality that doesn´t imidiately give away the fact that this album was made and released in 1972- 1973 ( the sessions for the album began in 1972). A great achivement.

Dark Side of the Moon is a classic progressive rock album and pr. definition deserves a 5 star rating. I´ll keep it on a 4.5 though as the album have never been one of my favorites. I´ve always had a hard time really enjoying the female soul style backing vocals and the saxophone playing. Even with a few flaws it´s still an excellent album though and certainly mandatory listening for anyone remotely interested in music.