Syd: Astronomy Domine and Scarecrow prog classics?
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Topic: Syd: Astronomy Domine and Scarecrow prog classics?
Posted By: erik neuteboom
Subject: Syd: Astronomy Domine and Scarecrow prog classics?
Date Posted: July 11 2006 at 18:19
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Hello.
Poor genius Syd passed away, now my question is what you think about his most stunning compositions like Arnold Layne, See Emily Play, Astronomy Domine, Scarecrow and Interstellar Overdrive (or others). Are these progrock classics like the 'symphonic rock dinosaur' compositions In The Court Of The Crimson King, Close To The Edge, Firth Of Fifth, Tarkus or ... ?
In my opinion these are because all sound innovative and compelling, I am very curious to your opinion?!
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Replies:
Posted By: Teaflax
Date Posted: July 11 2006 at 18:23
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To me they have some of the songwriting aspects that should be in good
Prog, like uncommon melodies and chord sequences, but they lack the
structure and other details to make them full-on Prog. -------------  
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Posted By: ____VdGG____
Date Posted: July 11 2006 at 18:35
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They lack the structure and complexity and scope to be prog classics, IMHO, but I think they are more raw and down to earth sounding, and in a sense that's a good thing. I'm happy you mentioned The Scarecrow because even though it is short and simple, It's my favorite on Piper (with Matilda Mother following) and one of the most personal sounding and beautiful songs EVER. They do bring something to the table and I like them just as much as the others, but Pink Floyd was too in their infancy to be compared to the others you stated. ------------- Iron throated monsters are forcing the screams; Mind and machinery box-press our dreams |
Posted By: erik neuteboom
Date Posted: July 11 2006 at 18:39
| Thanks for your reactions, I agree that these abovementioned compostions are more raw and perhaps less structured but especially Astronomy Domine and Scarecrow are splendid arranged songs that succeed to take you away as no band ever did before .. |
Posted By: Prog-man
Date Posted: July 11 2006 at 19:02
GENIUS... ------------- Arriving somewhere but not here |
Posted By: bhikkhu
Date Posted: July 11 2006 at 19:08
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It has always been hard for me to compare Pink Floyd (any era) with any other band. They are just too unique. Those songs are all calssics. Full on prog classics, I don't know. They rate very highly in my book, no matter what the classification. ------------- a.k.a. H.T. http://riekels.wordpress.com" rel="nofollow - http://riekels.wordpress.com |
Posted By: ProgFan
Date Posted: July 11 2006 at 19:19
I agree with that!
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erik neuteboom wrote:Posted By: Guests
Date Posted: July 11 2006 at 20:19
| They're psycadelic masterpieces (not the overrated Interstellar overdrive, though). |
Posted By: Rust
Date Posted: July 11 2006 at 20:46
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I love Piper for its shorter songs as a matter of fact. I think that's where you find the beauty and heart of the album.
Songs like, Flaming, The Scarecrow, The Gnome, Bike, and Ch. 24. These songs really send me away. And ofcourse there are the space rockers that get their deserved attention that I don't need to mention.
I think if you compare these songs to any of the other songs by the big prog acts of that time, then yes, they are genuine classics that should be ranked with the best of them.
 ------------- We got to pump the stuff to make us tough from the heart Its astart What we need is awareness we cant get careless Mental self defensive fitness Make everybody see in order to fight the powers that be |
Posted By: Viajero Astral
Date Posted: July 11 2006 at 22:14
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Interstellar Overdrive, Bike, Astronomy Domine, Scarecrow and A Saucefull of Secrets are my favourites of Syd era. The best of early prog. ------------- 
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Posted By: theblastocyst
Date Posted: July 11 2006 at 22:30
| I don't consider piper to be prog-rock. Yes they had some prog elements such, but I consider songs such as Astronomy Domine to be a classic in psychedelic rock. |
Posted By: theblastocyst
Date Posted: July 11 2006 at 22:31
| as a matter of fact, if there was the phrase psychedelic rock in an encyclopedia, I wouldn't be suprised one bit if at the top of the Examples list was Astronomy Domine. It's the quintessential psychedelic song |
Posted By: PinkFloyd
Date Posted: July 11 2006 at 22:38
While Syd was in the band at the time Saucerful of Secrets (the album) was recorded, he only really played a major part on opne song which was Jugband Blues, Syd's last song with the Floyd. A Saucerful (song) was played by David. |
Posted By: Viajero Astral
Date Posted: July 11 2006 at 22:45
Oh, right, I forgot that 
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Posted By: DarioIndjic
Date Posted: July 12 2006 at 01:52
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You cant compare Pink Floyd with other bands,they are apart.As you cant compare Syd Barett with other Prog Musicians outside of Pink Floyd. ------------- Ars longa , vita brevis |
Posted By: Legoman
Date Posted: July 12 2006 at 01:58
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Those peices are, in the very least, extremely innovative towards the psycedelic genre. It's hard to compare a sub-par (yet a much loved by myself) genre to such powerful albums like Selling England by the Pound. |
Posted By: Viajero Astral
Date Posted: July 12 2006 at 02:52
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But they're still prog, no matter how many masterpieces was created in the 70's, the 60's Pink Floyd was the first steep to create truly prog.
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Posted By: Australian
Date Posted: July 12 2006 at 02:57
 They are classic Pink Floyd songs.------------- 
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Posted By: Rocktopus
Date Posted: July 12 2006 at 04:20
Me too. But I still think the first real prog sounding classics are on ITCOTCK. In '67 you have Days of Future Passed, Seargent Pepper, Absolutely Free, Forever Changes, Surrealistic Pillow, Velvet & Nico, first two Jimi hendrix and Doors... None of these sound like prog. Nothing did yet. This and the next year is the peak of psychedelia, Piper... to me is the ultimate masterpiece in that genre, not in prog. The earliest Floyd singles and debut album are defenatly one of the most important infuences on all 70's prog. Especially the german krautrockers, all spacerock and Canterbury bands. But almost all progbands has a lot of psychedelia and whimsical parts (like King Crimson, Yes and even Gentle Giant). I'm sure they all had listened a lot to Barretts songs. ------------- Over land and under ashes In the sunlight, see - it flashes Find a fly and eat his eye But don't believe in me Don't believe in me Don't believe in me |
Posted By: erik neuteboom
Date Posted: July 12 2006 at 05:11
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Yesterday evening I had my Syd Barrett tribute at my balcony, with my portable dvd player and a nice beer I watched Syd Barrett Pink Floyd era footage. I won't be surprised if several King Crimson members will reveal that 67-69 Pink Floyd was an important source of inspiration. In my opinion, as other reactions pointed at, many adventurous and whimsical psychedelic bands were pivotal for the development of the progressive rock. |
Posted By: Rocktopus
Date Posted: July 12 2006 at 05:28
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I fully agree, Erik. Probably posted already, but here's Syd singing http://youtube.com/watch?v=SqkCrJD4g1U&mode=related&search=syd%20barrett - Jugband Blues , Astronomy Domine... among others. Warning, you might start weeping. I had to stop watching it myself. ------------- Over land and under ashes In the sunlight, see - it flashes Find a fly and eat his eye But don't believe in me Don't believe in me Don't believe in me |
Posted By: erik neuteboom
Date Posted: July 12 2006 at 05:36
I have to admit that I can't bear to listen/watch Jugband Blues and Syd's solo material, I feel his pain, confusion and the psychological decompensation too much, for me it's deep sorrow... ... Syd was no longer able to control his mind, his music became a direct reflection of his troubled mental state.... as I mentioned earlier, due to a schizophrenic process. But he will be remembered as a genieus, partly responsible for the birth of the progressive rock !
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Posted By: NutterAlert
Date Posted: July 12 2006 at 05:50
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I'm not a fan of piper at the gates but I love Astonomy Domine, one of my favourite tracks of all time.
There is footage of Floyd playing this live (on YouTube I think) with Syd howling the lyrics with arms aloft. Epic stuff. ------------- Proud to be an un-banned member since 2005 |
Posted By: erik neuteboom
Date Posted: July 12 2006 at 06:18
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It's from the BBC, after this show a very poshy and arrogant interviewer said "why it has to be so terribly loud", Syd smiled and responsed very cool "Well, it was not that loud ..", historical words |
!Posted By: salmacis
Date Posted: July 12 2006 at 08:12
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^Indeed. I have that bit of film on DVD and the interviewer is Hans Keller, moaning 'why does it have to be so loud? I can't bear it' to which Roger Waters and Syd gave somewhat iconic responses.
As for the early Barrett era work? It's not prog as many would recognise it here- certainly the early Floyd themselves I've seen many people disregard. I feel it was a huge stepping stone towards prog bands such as Yes, King Crimson et al. in that a touch of the lyrically surreal was added and also, highly advanced musicianship by throwing in some folk and jazz into the rock melting pot. What makes the Syd era floyd different is that most of this is done within a pop framework- few bands epitomise the 'pop psych' genre as well as the Syd era Floyd.
Not all of Syd's stuff is unbearably poignant. There's actually a lot of humour that's often neglected in gems like 'Here I Go', 'Arnold Layne', 'Gigolo Aunt', 'Bike' and 'Effervesecent Elephant'. Heck, even some romanticism emerges in songs like 'Golden Hair', 'Long Gone', 'Wined and Dined' and 'Late Night'. There has been too much focus on the 'mad' aspect of his career (and will sadly, probably be more now) whereas there are many different facets to his work.
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Posted By: erik neuteboom
Date Posted: July 12 2006 at 12:22
Good point about that 'pop-framework', the songs Arnold Layne and See Emily Play are an unique blend of pop with rock and psychedelia  !
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