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Crazy people. They're everywhere. Chances are, if you can't figure out who the crazy person is in the room, its you. As eccentric as they can be, crazy people have contributed to society. Van Gogh certainly had his issues. He also created some of the most moving art in history before finally submitting to his agony and ending his life. Mozart seems to have had a few marbles rolling around his brain. Again, he departed too early but left an amazing catalog of music for the world to cherish.
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Like Mozart and van Gogh, Syd Barrett helped to create some of the most memorable art of his time. The only difference with Barrett, is that others were creating it for him. By the time Pink Floyd was working on their 1975 album "Wish You Were Here," Syd Barrett was just a memory to the members. Once the prolific front man and primary songwriter of the band, Barrett's mental stability declined over the years until in 1968 he agreed to leave the band. After that, he would spend most of his mysterious life as a recluse only occasionally releasing music. Pink Floyd would go on as a band, but the not so subtle clues continued to show up in their music, they really missed Syd. "Wish You Were Here" has a little of that theme loaded into it, as well as a few other interesting observations on the recording industry. PLAY>
The albums starts with a synthesizer slowly fading in on "Shine On You Crazy Diamond Part I-V." Its the kind of sound you'd probably hear in some futuristic space ship's elevator perhaps. But its Pink Floyd, so it is still cool. Next, David Gilmour comes in on the guitar. His Stratocaster tone is locked in very clean for the start of the song, but almost with a jazzy softer tone. To this point, the song is just kind of setting the table. Then, you get that eery chord, with one accidental note. Apparently created by misplacing his fingers on the frets, the sound of the four notes repeated is very creepy. It certainly sounsd like something that just isn't 'all there.' The drums kick into a nice 6/4 beat and now the song has truly begun. Using the same four note pattern in the background, Gilmour dubs over a beautiful solo which climaxes using a nice turnaround to the main theme of the song. After settling back down, Richard Wright, the keyboardist gives us a nice minimoog solo. But hey, this is Gilmour's show, so lets get back to the guitar solos. This second solo is similar to the first and rolls on until finally, after almost nine minutes, we get vocals. If it were possible, and legal, I'd probably just type out all the lyrics for the song, because you need to pay attention. The lyrics discuss someone who has been lost over time, someone who is not their self these days, someone who has a 'look in their eyes like black holes in the sky.' Or in short, someone like Syd. Apparently while recording, Syd Barrett actually showed up in the studio many pounds heavier and completely shaved on his head and eyebrows. It took about 45 minutes for anyone in the band to even recognize him. Even stranger, Wright says Barrett showed up while they were recording "Shine On You Crazy Diamond," a song written about him. Anyway, after the lyrics are done the song goes back to instrumental mode and features a nice arpeggio on the guitar while a saxophone plays out the final solo. Yes, this is a 13 minute song in five parts, but this is Pink Floyd, they're allowed to do this. Since the Floyd is an artistic and creative band they can't just obssess on one thing, no, that would be boring. They like to diversify their lyrical content so next, instead of crazy, we get ranting about the corporate world of main stream rock and roll. "Welcome to the Machine" is written about the suits at the record company bringing in the next big band, giving them the world, then taking over every creative aspect of their life in order to squeeze every last drop of money out of their souls. Hey, its a new theme, I didn't say it was a happy one. Musically the song is a jump through several time signatures and some amazing sweeping sounds courtesy of the VS3 synthesizer. Backing up the sound is what I suspect is a 12 string acoustic guitar ringing out chords slowly strummed up and down. The song kind of repeats this basic pattern over and over, but ultimately, that's the point. This is what the record company wants, repetition. If you write an album that sells a million copies, then replicate it over and over and over. Cruel for the musicians, but hey, as the listener you can feast on the fact that the record company is passing the result of that cruelty onto you at the low low price of 99 cents per MP3. SCORE! Well, two songs into it, and we've already finished up side one.
Side two begins with "Have a Cigar" which continues the theme of the last song. Again those soulless bastards at the record company are trying to kill your favorite band. This song, however, uses a different musical approach and creates a far more rock and roll result. Oh sweet merciful crap! That's exactly what the record company wants! It's a trap! The song starts with Gilmour's guitar sounding better than ever. Some kind of flanger/chorus/phaser thing makes it sound very slick and high class. Lyrically, the song offers the same. High class rock and roll lifestyle. The vocals are done by...Roger? David? Wait...who the hell is singing this? That would be Roy Harper, an English folk musician who just happened to be in the studio next door when Floyd was recording. After David and Roger decided their own takes weren't right for the song, they invited Harper and he nailed it. The guitar solo that follows the verse and chorus is another fantastic performance by Gilmour. With the synthesizers holding it all together the guitar soars high and low and slowly seduces you into the evil corporate tower to sign your musical life away. Or I could be making all that up...its a guitar solo, sometimes they don't mean anything, they just sound cool. Next up comes the title track of the album "Wish You Were Here." The intro is one that everyone with an acoustic guitar thinks they know. Please, if you're going to play this song, just learn it the right way. After a few months working in a crappy guitar store I almost reached the point of Syd Barrett crazy hearing people totally destroy this classic song. That was also the summer of "Seven Nation Army" which also contributed to my musical sensibilities being pushed to the ragged edge. Now, where was I? Oh yes, after a nice 12-string rhythm, 6-string lead intro we get to the verse. Lyrically the song is pretty brief. Its back to the Syd theme, but also a little bit of alienation and feeling like mentally, you're not all there. The chorus brings together the whole band in a very minor tone. Piano, acoustic guitar, drums and the bass are all there as the lyrics reach their conclusion. The outro features the same riffs used throughout, but this time with a sound effect of swirling wind slowly building up during the final fade. The album concludes with Parts VI-IX of "Shine On You Crazy Diamonds." The first five minutes of the track focus on interplay between several instruments. You get lots of guitars, lots of basses, lots of synthesizers and the standard drums and rhythm. Just when you thought they were out of new tricks, here comes a lap steel guitar played by Gilmour and used just perfectly in the context of the song. At the conclusion of the lap steel solo, a familiar theme returns. Its back to square one as the song revisits part III...or IV...or something is coming back. Signaling the change is a great transition that slows the whole song down and reigns in the chaos of solos. The lyrics from part IV are back and we get one last reminder of what's happened to Syd. After the reprise of part IV, the song finally fades out slowly with a very casual sounding almost jazzy jam session that eventually descends into more synth driven spacey sound effects. It also marks the point where I'm kind of tired of typing about this. Its five songs...what do you want?
So...why crazy people? Well everyone knows what happened last week in Colorado. Crazy people I guess were just on my mind. Some crazy people kill....others make amazing art and music. So how do you tell them apart? Let me know if you figure that one out.
Strongest Song: Shine on You Crazy Diamond Parts I-V
Weakest Song: Welcome to the Machine, as a single its boring, but in the context of the album its great.
Song You Know: Wish You Were Here
Why You Might Hate It: You're Syd Barrett
Buy It? YES...easy to find on vinyl and it sounds even better.
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