THE DARK SIDE OF THE MOON

Dark Side Of The Moon really receives more hype than it should. Of the big 4 Floyd albums this is the weakest, now that shouldn't be perceived as an insult of any sort given the quality of Floyd's output.

The most striking aspect of the album, besides it's production, has to be the atmosphere. Perhaps more than any other album, Dark Side sucks you in with it's rich and dense atmosphere created mainly by Rick Wright. Even when the album reaches its weaker moments in "Money" and "Great Gig In The Sky" the atmosphere refuses to let you go. This album offers little in terms of technical showcasing; the depth really comes in the layers of symphonic sound present. As such, it offers a great springboard into prog for newer fans.

At times the clamor of cashier registers and other everyday sound effects tend to grow on my nerves, and Gilmour's vocals, while fitting the music very well, always carried a monotonous and emotionless sound to me, limiting my enjoyment of the album. This is the last Pink Floyd album that would really be a band collaboration. The sound of old Floyd was changing as, for better or worse, Roger Waters took more control of the band and geared it towards his ambitions.