what's so special about...

This is my favourite Pink Floyd album... and perhaps my favourite album of all (though Animals is getting close). Greatly on the strength of Shine On you Crazy Diamond... also perhaps my favourite song of all. Of course, Welcome to the Machine and the title track are stellar too... though Have a Cigar gets somewhat behind.

Good album. Definitely has a lot to offer and can reach a wide variety of listeners. I'd be hard-pressed to find anyone who wholeheartedly dislikes it. I don't listen to it too often anymore, myself. My tastes have gravitated away from PF over the past year, but I still acknowledge that this is a fantastic example of emotional and deep songwriting.

richardh wrote: ^ I think that word 'emotion' is the key. So much prog is 'cold' but this has warmth and feeling. Technically its not that amazing but it just glows.

That works for me....it's easy to listen to.

I think everything I'd say has already been said - it is probably the most emotional Pink Floyd album and just has this fantastic, unique, minimalist atmosphere which I've grown to love. I think these 2 factors almost click into place because you have room to explore the more sort of spiritual side of it. Also, if you look at the actual music of the album, you'd expect to get bored very quickly (e.g. the 8 or so minute intro on Shine On before the vocals, most of which contains just 4 repeated notes). But the whole thing just rolls over you, and it feels so much quicker than 40-something minutes (apart from Have A Cigar maybe). I sort of agree with Roger Waters, saying that Have A Cigar's lively vocals weren't great for the album. It does sort of upset the mood of the album, but I couldn't imagine it not being there. Also, the album needed something different and more lively to offer to make a more accessible to the public, which certainly worked with the monumental sales. I couldn't see a lot of people buying it if it was all like Shine On. Also, the title track is my absolute favourite Pink Floyd track. Every can relate to it because the lyrics are so ambigious and open to interpretation. It could ultimately be about almost anything! Anyway, I suppose I've said enough now so overall:

Wish You Were Here is an album so much different from any other prog rock album. With all sorts of powerful and subtle emotions spanning across it, laid on various wispy soundscapes. There's always something to discover when listening to it the next time. With that being said, I suppose it's quite difficult to criticise when there isn't much substance, and most of the things you hear and find are what you want to. For example, you can gather all of these sorts of emotions from various places of the album, so you're not looking for what it doesn't offer if that makes sense?

Anyway, great album. I appear to have written way too much now so I'll stop...

Edited by Xonty - April 10 2014 at 12:36

VOTOMS wrote: Overrated. Is my least favorite from my Pink Floyd favorites,

Your least favourite favourite?   

AlexDOM wrote: Dellinger wrote: though Have a Cigar gets somewhat behind. Not when you when you're enjoying a fat stogie ha ha!

 

Are suggestions about specific albums to discuss allowed?  I don't know if theyr'e within the parameters for this forum.  If that's the case, what about Steely Dan's 2 masterpieces, Aja and Pretzel Logic?

In the Court of the Crimson King...

I love the first half, don't care much for the second half, especially the title track.  I used to love it all, but it just hasn't aged well for me.  I prefer Poseidon and Lizard greatly.

But what's special about it?  Everything.  It's a groundbreaking album, and my little gripes can't change that.  It deserves its classic status.

thwok wrote: Are suggestions about specific albums to discuss allowed?  I don't know if theyr'e within the parameters for this forum.  If that's the case, what about Steely Dan's 2 masterpieces, Aja and Pretzel Logic?

zravkapt wrote:  ITCHCOCK