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I just don't understand Pink Floyd
- Thread starter tjnkoo
- Start date
I've always enjoyed mid-period Floyd, from Darkside through Wish You Were Here to Animals. Despite having some classic songs The Wall is where they lost me, and I never got into the Syd Barrett period.
I think Floyd were the biggest precursors to Radiohead and British bands of their ilk. I think they were basically a blues band with a psychedelic/experimental component to it that was lyrically focused on feelings of powerlessness in the face things beyond our control (war, mothers, big business, madness). They weren't overly preoccupied with positivity...
I've never viewed them as a prog band. It's okay to disagree with that and/or dislike Pink Floyd. All good.
I think Floyd were the biggest precursors to Radiohead and British bands of their ilk. I think they were basically a blues band with a psychedelic/experimental component to it that was lyrically focused on feelings of powerlessness in the face things beyond our control (war, mothers, big business, madness). They weren't overly preoccupied with positivity...
I've never viewed them as a prog band. It's okay to disagree with that and/or dislike Pink Floyd. All good.
slobake
resident ... something
When Umma Gumma came out there was nothing else around like it, maybe E.L.&P and a few others but Floyd was the best. Now their music may sound tired to some because music has moved on , but at the time it was amazing. I still love "The Wall" I sometimes sing it at the top of my lungs in my car and yell at the abusive nuns I had in school. There are other factors that have been mentioned like being in a certian state of consciousness when you listen. I don't recommentd doing it the way way we did back then but there are other ways. Like meditation for instance. So, lite up some incense, turn on the lava lamp, light the candles and pretend like you have never heard any prog rock.
I'm prepping the internet bunker as we speak...
I was just wondering the insight as to why people enjoy this stuff. This might sound a little insulting, but I guess it just boils down to the fact that I prefer music that has life and energy to it no matter if it's a positive or negative 'energy'. Pink Floyd is not one of those bands. I'm also bored by most Radiohead stuff except 'The Bends.' Very similar with the textural layers and such. I respect Pink Floyd enough for being the force they are though, even if I just can't listen to it, so don't shoot!
Floyd has a LOT of energy, they just take their time in building it up. IMHO, they're the kind of band that tends to only be appreciated by a slightly more 'mature' musical ear. It's not that their music is complicated by any real means, but it is stuff that you have to 'actively' listen to. You can't just throw it on in the background and party to it.
Floyd is amazing IMO. I don't find them boring at all. I was giving Wish You Were Here a listen the other day, and could listen to the smooth sax in "Shine on You Crazy Diamond" on a loop. And DSOTM and Animals are just instant classics
this! my father has the entire discography on LP, I've got it on mp3, we both listen to a good part of it a lot - except for the wall for me, it's really one of my least favourite albums, so needless to say - I'm a major fan of pink floyd, and oddly enough alcohol is the only drug I consume. That being said though, I'm really not bothered with the idea that you don't like pink floyd - I'm a bit of a prog fan, but I'm not really fond of dream theatre, it's called subjective taste in music - as long as we can respect each other's differences I don't mind.
After this the one thing I must say I love about Pink Floyd is their fans, haha. It's been nice to be able to post a semi negative thread without having to dodge bullets with you guys. I see the point with the maturity think, but I've been doing music a long time now and am also a classical musician and very accustomed to slower building music, so I guess I would like to think I get a pass out of the 'immature audience' group. Either way, I see your guy's points, I guess it just doesn't register with me.
I will happily admit though that their album art nearly rivals a lot of the Roger Dean level stuff. Very cool indeed.
If anyone cares to know I would say Yes is my 'favorite' band and that most of my musical interests spawned off of them, so that probably gives some insight into why I think what I do.
I will happily admit though that their album art nearly rivals a lot of the Roger Dean level stuff. Very cool indeed.
If anyone cares to know I would say Yes is my 'favorite' band and that most of my musical interests spawned off of them, so that probably gives some insight into why I think what I do.
slobake
resident ... something
Yup, it's totally okay to not like certian things, that's what makes things interesting around here. We all have come from different places. As far as drugs go "Shine On You Crazy Diamond" is a song about Syd Barret. He was the founder of Pink Floyd untill the happ cart took up permanent residence in his cerrabellum. It is rumored that too much LSD pushed him over the edge. Ever hear of 13th Floor Elevator? I thought they were a great band. Listen to this:
Rocky Erickson the singer and main force behind the band also sailed of to happy land and never came back probably from taking too much LSD
Good point, no one's going to flame you for your honest opinion.
I think Radiohead is similar to Pink Floyd musically, texturally, although Floyd is a bit more blues-based, which many find appealing and comfortable.
But the reason I don't buy Radiohead music is, lyrically, what are they saying? Are they making any compelling statements lyrically to compliment the impressive sonic canvas? I've listened to a lot of Radiohead songs, and their lyrics have made no lasting or profound impression on me. They seem to be there merely as placeholders for the melodies. I can't tell you what a single Radiohead song represents lyrically.
I love Pink Floyd. I'm in a newborn Floyd tribute band, and it's a very fulfilling experience musically. The songs are for the most part simple technically, but musically, they are deep. Yes, they sometimes sit on one chord for 20 minutes. And yet, it breathes and sings. You need a good groove and a good sound, and you need to really understand the song structure to make it work. I'm learning much more than I thought I would.
I don't consider really Pink Floyd to be "Prog", which to me was always more of a technically-based, slightly raw rock fusion thang. I lovelvoelove love heavy technical stuff. But I also love the maturity/restraint I hear in Floyd's music. The solos are slow and languid, the chords are consonant, and the songs take their time. And (IMO) it manages to be compelling without resorting to gimmicks.
My introduction to rock music (circa 1974 or so) was Dark Side of the Moon, Sergeant Pepper's, and Larks' Tongues in Aspic. Throw in some Jethro Tull, Yes, UK, Mahavishnu Orchestra, Return to Forever, and Jeff Beck... Man, I miss the thrill of waiting for those albums (yes, albums!) to be released.
I also love The Mars Volta, but in smallish doses. They are a bit of an assault (not in a bad way, but still). One thing all the above bands have is a great deal of air, space, and dynamics. Old King Crimson alternately assaults you and lulls you to sleep. Pink Floyd in particular requires patience. It doesn't have flashy fast licks, difficult chord changes, or superheavydistortionsludge. I view it as minimalist or impressionist music, almost akin to Debussy in classical music. It's not bombastic like Tchaikovsky or immediate like Mozart, but beneath its quiet exterior it seethes with emotion.
But if you don't like it, that's cool. Music is just organized vibration. We don't all like the same organization. Much as I appreciate their skill and think they are great guys, I don't really care for Rush myself.
I don't consider really Pink Floyd to be "Prog", which to me was always more of a technically-based, slightly raw rock fusion thang. I lovelvoelove love heavy technical stuff. But I also love the maturity/restraint I hear in Floyd's music. The solos are slow and languid, the chords are consonant, and the songs take their time. And (IMO) it manages to be compelling without resorting to gimmicks.
My introduction to rock music (circa 1974 or so) was Dark Side of the Moon, Sergeant Pepper's, and Larks' Tongues in Aspic. Throw in some Jethro Tull, Yes, UK, Mahavishnu Orchestra, Return to Forever, and Jeff Beck... Man, I miss the thrill of waiting for those albums (yes, albums!) to be released.
I also love The Mars Volta, but in smallish doses. They are a bit of an assault (not in a bad way, but still). One thing all the above bands have is a great deal of air, space, and dynamics. Old King Crimson alternately assaults you and lulls you to sleep. Pink Floyd in particular requires patience. It doesn't have flashy fast licks, difficult chord changes, or superheavydistortionsludge. I view it as minimalist or impressionist music, almost akin to Debussy in classical music. It's not bombastic like Tchaikovsky or immediate like Mozart, but beneath its quiet exterior it seethes with emotion.
But if you don't like it, that's cool. Music is just organized vibration. We don't all like the same organization. Much as I appreciate their skill and think they are great guys, I don't really care for Rush myself.
I like Pink Floyd, I don't like all of it but I like enough, even without chemical enhancement.
I am a HUGE Radiohead fan. Lyrically they're out there. I think you can give up on deciphering meaning in their lyrics after "The Bends." I read somewhere that their song writing process occasionally involves writing phrases and other things on notecards, throwing the notecards on the floor and making the lyrics whatever they pick up off the floor.
Either way, I love Radiohead, even if their lyrics don't make much sense.
I had to look that one up, as I didn't remember it. Post-Waters Floyd is like a different band, IMO.
I'll be just fine if I never hear Dark Side of the Moon or The Wall again in my lifetime.
With that said, I think Animals is one of the greatest and most underrated albums in rock history.
With that said, I think Animals is one of the greatest and most underrated albums in rock history.
slobake
resident ... something
Personally I like ""Saucerful of Secrets" as well. I also like the really old Syd Barrett stuff. It's different musically and really out in left field lyrically.
Its been said before, its all preference. There are bands on your list that I would never listen to, but I love Floyd. I also understand what you're saying in that some of it is boring, but remember the context of the whole band. Drugs were encouraged and the entire point of their live show was to play their albums as accurately as possible while the audience was fascinated by the screens, not them.
Smoke a joint, throw on a copy of Ummagumma and try again. If you don't like it, stop listening to it and jam out to some Yes.
Smoke a joint, throw on a copy of Ummagumma and try again. If you don't like it, stop listening to it and jam out to some Yes.
Most bands have their music groove tempo set to a fairly quick pace. You get what they're about within a half dozen measures or so.
Not Pink Floyd. They tend to take their time, building the groove over dozens and dozens of measures. It might take 3 or 4 minutes and a couple of cycles through the main tune before the musical groove makes itself felt.
Not Pink Floyd. They tend to take their time, building the groove over dozens and dozens of measures. It might take 3 or 4 minutes and a couple of cycles through the main tune before the musical groove makes itself felt.
There are elements of Yes that have communalities with Pink Floyd. For example, the "I Get Up I Get Down" ambient section of Close to the Edge has a lot in common with Pink Floyd of similar vintage.
All mileage varies. There are certain mindsets for which Floyd works perfectly, others not so much. Much of it would resonate better with the depressed than with the attention-deficited.
