THE DARK SIDE OF THE MOON

Rating: 10/10

Dark Side of the Moon is one of those supremely esteemed albums that actually deserves every word of the praise it receives. This is undoubtedly one of the most important albums in music history; there are many elements here that are nothing short of revolutionary. First, the album structure: DSotM is a concept album, but not a lengthy rock-opera in the vein of Tommy or the band's future album The Wall. Rather, this is more of a philosophical meditation. The first side is a conceptual sequence of songs that illustrate the cycle of life, beginning with birth and ending with death. The second side, while not as carefully structured, is a reflection on the darker sides of humanity: greed, warfare, tribalism, insanity. The best thing about this album's concept is that it's played out not only lyrically, but also musically. The production of Dark Side of the Moon is also revolutionary: the layers upon layers of sound on every track are complex and fascinatingly multifarious. What really makes this album so important and so revolutionary, though, is obvious: the quality of the music. Every song here is infinitely creative, brilliantly composed, and flawlessly executed.

The slow and slightly melancholic-sounding opener "Speak to Me/Breathe" begins with heartbeat sounds and focuses on a rather simple main motif along with Gilmour's vocals. "On the Run" features an omnipresent fast-paced high-hat beat. Wright gets creative here, displaying all sorts of crazy multilayered synth sounds. "Time" may just be the greatest song Pink Floyd ever did. The lyrics are absolutely brilliant, and Gilmour's guitar work here is nothing short of incredible: his solo is easily one of my all-time favorites. The renowned "The Great Gig in the Sky" features one of the most emotional and stunningly beautiful vocal performances of all time from Clare Torry. This is pure emotive release. "Money" is probably the most well-known Pink Floyd song, so I don't need to say much about it. Gilmour is unbelievable yet again. "Us and Them" is yet another classic. One of the most fascinating things about this track is its ability to be both a cynically sober commendation and an emotional lament. "Any Colour You Like" is a terribly underrated song, and is my favorite Floyd instrumental. Wright and Gilmour are at their peaks of instrumental creativity here. "Brain Damage" and "Eclipse" conclude this legendary album. The chorus of "Brain Damage" is delivered powerfully by Waters, and "Eclipse" is a fantastic climax.

Calling this album a masterpiece isn't a particularly original or exciting sentiment; most people who appreciate music would tend to agree. Dark Side of the Moon truly showed Pink Floyd stepping into the realm of pure musical genius. It also catapulted them into the stratosphere in terms of commercial success; it's rare that an album manages to be both an immense artistic achievement and a commercial hit. I would try recommending this album, but you've already heard it, and you most likely have a high opinion of it. Dark Side of the Moon is an indispensable musical work and will forever remain an immortal classic within the annals of music.

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