Well that’s just cheating ;-)
I was going to offer this up for review at some point but then I reviewed it when I wrote about 1973. Here’s what i wrote in case you didn’t see it.
“March witnessed Pink Floyd releasing a genuine contender for the greatest album ever. Now DSOTM is not even my favourite Floyd album (we’ll get to that in another year) but was the first Prog album that I ever owned. Although it is progressive, it’s not Prog in the way that Yes or early Genesis are: to my mind it is an AOR (Adult Oriented Rock) album, which is why it sold in shed loads, actually more like Amazon warehouse loads, such was the number of copies shipped and the time spent on the charts. It is the fourth best-selling album of all time, selling over 45 million copies worldwide and spending 974 weeks on the Billboard 200, peaking at No. 1.
And it is very much an album and not a collection of hit singles. In fact, no singles were released in the UK, although two singles were released from the album in the US. Both those tracks, “Money” and “US and Them” along with “Time”, can still be heard daily on classic rock stations across the States.
Released during a period of musical experimentation, DSTOM transformed Pink Floyd from art-house innovators to international superstars.
Along with the music, the album cover is perhaps the most iconic of them all (Sgt Pepper clears his throat). Its simple elegance is magnificent. Designed by Storm Thorgerson, it features a prism and light spectrum, symbolising thought and ambition, aligning with Roger Waters' lyrical focus.
Recorded at the world’s most famous studios – Abbey Road – and engineered by Prog legend Alan Parsons, the album is beautifully produced with a pristine sound that is nigh on perfect.
The album has a unifying theme that contemplates different aspects of human life, especially things that can drive you mad.
The album opens with the experimental Speak to Me. Nick Mason's sonic assembly is a lyric-less collage of sounds (heartbeats, clocks, cash registers), featuring spoken interviews on madness, Mason's heartbeat bass drum and snippets from Money and The Great Gig in the Sky. It sets the stage for the album's exploration of the human psyche. The track credits drummer Nick Mason as the composer although this is disputed by Roger Waters. Speak to Me flows seamlessly into Breathe (In the Air), a mellow, introspective track sung by guitarist David Gilmour with lyrics about birth and the rat race. Richard Wright contributes jazzy keyboards, inspired by Miles Davis.
The instrumental On the Run uses an EMS Synthi AKS synthesizer and sound effects (airport noise, footsteps and sounds a plane crash) to transmit a sense of anxiety and fear of flying.
More sound effects herald the onset of Time. Featuring Rick Wright’s last lead vocal work, on the bridge, until 1994's The Division Bell its theme is the inevitability of aging and how you can’t hold back time. “Hanging on in quiet desperation is the English way”. The instrumentation is excellent with Mason's rototom work and Dave Gilmour's guitar solo the highlights of this band composition. A timeless classic that must be on our playlist.
Time slides into Great Gig in the Sky. This is the one track I have never got on that well with, it tends to give me a headache – pass the Nurofen – Clare Torry’s improvised wailing vocal is certainly disturbing, although whether it successfully evokes death, I’m not sure.
Money though is another solid gold classic. Rendered in 7/4 time with Waters bass prominent, its about greed and critiques consumerism and financial obsession. Dick Parry's saxophone solo is excellent. Gilmour contributes multiple memorable solos. Disturbingly, Mason's coin loop reminds me of the cash-register rhythm track of the theme tune from UK sitcom Are You Being Served?.
Us and Them begins with gentle jazzy sax, which is joined by Gilmour's echoed vocals before building in intensity as the song continues to rise and fall. The subject, as the title suggests, is human relationships and societal divides. Rick Wright’s keyboards are superb throughout and his synth leads into the instrumental interlude Any Colour You Like. Gilmour's harmonised solo provides further colour.
Brain Damage is Roger Waters' only lead vocal on the album. The song is inspired by Syd Barrett's mental illness and is his personal reflection on insanity; he’s described it as being about "inner space".
Eclipse brings the album to a climatic close tying the themes together but leaving the final words to Gerry O’Driscoll: "There is no dark side of the moon, really. Matter of fact, it's all dark."
The Dark Side of the Moon is a masterpiece of rock music. It has been widely praised, with reviews noting its textural richness and lasting impact. A landmark concept album known for its innovative sound and profound themes that create an almost cinematic experience. It is as relevant today as it was on first release.”
I mentioned it is a contender for greatest album ever and if pressed, I would say it is. That doesn’t make it my favourite so I am docking half a point for “Great Gig in the Sky”. 9.5/10