Criticism,+Reviews

Pink Floyd - Dark Side of the Moon

So, the lyrics. This is maybe the main innovation to the music of Pink Floyd. All of them are written by Waters, and thus the album initiates a period of Waters domination over the band: musically the other members are still there and active, but the lyrical genius is one and only one. Even more important is the fact that these lyrics have nothing to do with typical 'prog lyrics'. They all have their special kind of meaning. Roger is presenting his philosophy of life, trying to express his opinions on all of its uncomfortable sides: schizophrenia and paranoia, time and aging, money and corruption and suchlike. In fact, the album could just as well be called **Dark Side Of The Earth**, but I guess one more metaphor couldn't hurt. The lyrics are good, and I can't deny the fact. But there's also a very serious flaw about them, a flaw that prohibits me from regarding them as real poetry. Truth is, they resemble a philosophical treatise much more than the outlook of an emotion-full poet. This is not Sir Roger Waters spilling beautiful imagery on us. Rather this is Doctor R. Waters, Ph.D., who has just finished adding rhymes to his latest thesis. Unfortunately, he's no Bob Dylan and often ends up sounding rather banal ('Time'; 'Eclipse') or preachy ('Breathe'). Maybe this was the kind of poetry the world was expecting in 1973: to demonstrate that art rock could be really clever and not just irreasonably pompous. In retrospect, though, I don't see why we should rate this poetry higher than the much more fascinating contemporary lyrics of Pete Townshend or Keith Reid. //These// dudes managed to be philosophical and poetic at once, although I can see where some people would be slow to appreciate their lyrics as opposed to those of Roger.

- George Starostin

Austin: Pink Floyd's lyrics tend to be very strange, but they often relate to politics of the era. They talk about paranoia and life, often using fake characters to give an accurate summary of real situations. They are philosophical, and give the views of the artist through music. Floyd likes to focus on war, and the effects of World War II. Dark side of the moon specifically talks about paranoia, and the different struggles that occur in a person's mind.

Kyle: Pink Floyd does really have some of the most interesting lyrics out there, but I find it a nice change of pace compared to some of the frankly shallow and meaninglessness of most of the music that's been coming out ever since. I particularly like the song "Brain Damage". It's pretty creepy song and it's even creepier when the realization occurs that it's about the news paper and modern day news. On the album overall, it's nicely done, definitely one of my favorites musically and lyrically.

Rolling Stones- Exile on Mainstreet by: Universal Music Enterprises

“Exile on Main St.” is a rock opera, like “Tommy” or “Jesus Christ Superstar.” Betcha didn’t know that. It’s all there in the lyrics. It’s the story of a junkie whose “coat is torn and frayed.” He “always took candy from strangers,” until he “can’t even feel the pain no more.” It’s a “beautiful buzz,” but he’s “no good, can’t speak, wound up, no sleep.” Eventually, he realizes he “needs a love” to keep him happy. He falls for a fellow imbiber, and asks her to give him “a little drink” from her “loving cup,” and to be his “little baby for a while.” She turns out to be his “partner in crime.” Concerned friends ask, “Who’s that woman on your arm, all dressed up to do you harm?” He admits that “some things, well,” he “can’t refuse,” and that he “bit off more” than he “can chew,” even though he “knew what it was leading to.” One night, he finds her “stretched out in Room 10-09.” It seems her “late-night friends” left her “in the cold, gray dawn.” Well, that’s one interpretation. The beauty of the Rolling Stones’ 1972 double album “Exile on Main St.” has to do with its density. Mick Jagger, Keith Richards and cohorts packed a lot of material — musically and lyrically— into 18 songs, so that every listener hears them differently.

Trey: While this album may be the description of one man's life as he rises from being a "junkie" to "seeking love" and "biting off more than her can chew", I think the album describes their generation as a whole. People in the 70's were so care-free that they let their desires get the best of them. This album, along with the other albums we analyzed, focused on love and friendship. The desire to be loved can lead to hardships is a message that each album shows in its own way.

Rileigh: When listening to the album, the story didn't come through so clearly but it can be interpreted as such, a rock opera. It does tell a story and it's very clever. I think we would agree with this assessment though none of us originally found this on our own.

Led Zeppelin - Untitled 4th album

Don't stay away from 'Stairway To Heaven', though. I mean, maybe it would've been better if it were an instrumental (just like Spirit's 'Taurus' which it was obviously ripped off from - well, maybe that's why they actually did add on the lyrics), 'cause Plant's biblical allusions tend to evade me, but at least he isn't obnoxious. Don't get me wrong: the song is gruesomely, terribly, incredibly overrated. I could easily name tons of songs that aren't any worse or are even better. The Who, for one thing, seem to hit the same mark with 'Pure And Easy', and do it in a much more effective way (although I'm not a great fan of its overbloated lyrics, either). The general fuss and craze are certainly hyped up, carried along with that long-haired, pot-smokin' Seventies spirit. But despite all this, the song is absolutely amazing, if only for the fact that it features Page's first (if not the last) successful creative fiddling around with the acoustic guitar: the melody is certainly his finest hour with the band. I still don't know whether the 'heavy' part of the song fits in right, though, although the solo is really really good. Unfortunately, this was the start of all generic heavy metal ballads; talkin' about bad influences again!

- George Starostin

Caleb: As this song may be a little over rated, I still think it's one of the most revolutionary songs for the time. If anyone wants to point a finger at a song that is the base of and era, this song is definitely in the conversation. I do agree when he says that the solo is "really really good". The comparison to The Who, as the bands are fairly similar, this song compared to The Who is not. Overall, I love this song, no matter what a guy with his own blog says.