THE DARK SIDE OF THE MOON

Here it is lads, the masterpiece, the bestselling british album of all time and the most difficult of pink floyds album to review (because i have reviewed all the ones before this). Dark Side of the Moon is the most memorable album by the band but it is NOT the best album as many floyd fans would agree. Still it is probably the most inspirationable and easiest to get into.

This album can also introduce people into prog rock and concept albums. The lyrics, although simplistic at times, are flawless and Roger has started to show that he can write about deep feelings and emotions and subjects that really matter rather than having lyrics about bikes, a dog named seamus and corporal clegg. The album shows ways of life, different emotions and fears, society and fame and lots more. These are most evident in songs like "Breathe", "Time", "Money" and "Us and Them". Another reason why many people including myself love this album is at sums up how boring and deppressing the british people("Hanging on in quiet desperation is the English way"), and the band can be. And i would know! The album represents the flaws we make as humans and the dark side of life, the dark side of the moon. This is evident musically and lyrically and shows off some of the best guitar skills, uses of synthesisers, progressions, concepts, you name it, this album has it. Now to look at each track individually.

"Speak to Me" is an introduction to the album that is an allusion to the rest of the album by combining snippets from each track (The heartbeat from eclipse, the clocks from time, the laugh from brain damage, the mad man from on the run, clare torry's voice from great gig in the sky and the cash register from money). If you loop the album over the heartbeat carries on perfectly in time. This explodes beautifully into some of Gilmours best guitar work which feels like heaven as the short but sweet "Breathe" comes into play (some versions have speak to me and breathe as one track whilst others have them separate). Breathe is similar to time but good enough not to be too alike to it.

The next track, "On the Run" is very trippy and appropriately titled as the rushing sped up sounds and explosions feel as if you are travelling at high speed and can be a challenging rush for your mind to take in, and great for the stoners. This is very futuristic and some could say it paved the way for techno a decade or two later. Never mind, it's still great stuff.

"Time" is the first progressive piece here (although it is technically just a progression from the previous tracks). The classic introduction can confuse and destroy your mind as the rush of "On the Run" leads into an explosion and an alarming array of chiming clocks. This is brilliant stuff. The "Breathe (Reprise) manages to blag on at the end of time and is pretty sweet to see the third verse of the song.

The end of side one see's one of the most powerful and moving instrumentals of the bands career, "The Great Gig in the Sky". Here Clare Torry's improvisated overblown vocals weave in an out of a stunning piano piece by Richard Wright. Pink Floyd have once again shown the best in experimental and emotional music.

Side two kicks off with the most famous floyd song (or is it another brick in the wall?) "Money", which has the classic bassline and the lyrics are a real treat from Roger. He did very well here. Dick Parry's saxophone solo is the real wonder here as it bridges between the brilliant basslines and Gilmour's guitar solo.

"Us and Them" delivers beautiful piano pieces and gilmours best vocals since Breathe earlier on. This is an epic on the album and another masterpiece that flows gently and progressess superbly. "Any Colour You Like" is just a filler guitar solo and perhaps the worst song on the album but then its not expected to be a masterpiece and it is a rather good (and colourful) guitar solo. "Brain Damage" uses acoustic guitars and refers to "loonies" which is always good to hear. This is a brilliant piece which leads into one of the best outros on any album ever made "Eclipse" which sums up the whole album and shows power in music, words and vocals.

So does Dark Side of the Moon deserve to be one of the bestselling albums, most influencial and one of the best albums ever made? in a word...yes! in two words, FUCK YEAH!