WISH YOU WERE HERE

Yeah, I know the Progarchives thing warned me to use 0 and 5 stars sparingly, but truly, this album Deserves 5 stars. Because it really is a Masterpiece of the Progressive Rock genre. It's a perfect example of Progressive rock at it's height in the mid seventies.

The song Welcome to the Machine is quite haunting, and features machine sounds, synthesizers, and other cool things. It's unlike any other song ever heard before. Have a Cigar is a pretty average song, but still differs greatly from any other song you've heard before, just one example of how my favourite band can do that! Have a Cigar features Roy Harper on vocals. Wish you Were Here, while not SO progressive, still is a great song to listen to, especially when you feel like hearing a somewhat cheerful tune. It's not exactly cheerful, but it's very catchy, and can make you happy by the sound of the music, or perhaps sad if the lyrics apply to a certain experience in your life.

But for Prog fans, the big thing on the album is without a doubt, Shine on You crazy Diamond. It's an epic, nearly half hour song written for Syd Barrett. The song was too long to be on one side of a record, so they split it into two, but they're really one song, and I often listen to them back to back.

Progressive rock fans look for intricate sounds and stuff different from traditional rock. Well for Shine on You crazy Diamond, try surreal sounding organs, the use of water in wine glasses, quiet guitar solos, a memorable theme referred to as Syd's Theme and extended bluesy guitar jams until the lyrics begin around the 8 minute mark. Then add in a saxophone solo, and after that comes a harder rock part followed by a reprise of the lyrics. After that is an interesting sounding part with a good bass beat followed by a dramatic, slow outro. And at the very VERY end of the song, there is a nod to Syd's early song See Emily Play. if you listen close enough.

I cannot describe Shine on You crazy Diamond very well... but it's VERY AMAZING. This album is a landmark release in the Progressive Rock genre. Seriously. This album is so good, that anyone who is into Prog that hasn't heard it, I say Just go and buy it. Seriously, you won't even have to listen to it first, I can almost guarantee that you will like it if you like Prog. So just go out and buy it. :)

Yes, I DO think that it deserves all 5 stars for a rating, this album is simply amazing.