WISH YOU WERE HERE

Sure, Dark Side of the Moon is their monumental best-selling iconic classic, but for me, this is their overall best album, primarily due to the presence of the wonderful epic Shine On You Crazy Diamond and Wish You Were Here. Just sensational and so inspiring. Shine On... is split into two halves that bookend the rest of the album and provide the overriding moody presence throughout. Its slowly building mood and atmosphere (its a full 8 minutes into the album before the melody and vocals of the song kick in) eventually erupting into the cathartic release of the full chorus is magical and magnificent. Then Welcome to the Machine and Have a Cigar are darkly comic and engaging musical commentaries on the band's recent commercial success. But the acoustic masterpiece title track remains my favorite Pink Floyd song with its beautiful and moving melody and refrain. Then closing with another extended dose of Shine On.., a truly masterful album.