Post by The Lunatic on Jun 27, 2016 20:53:00 GMT
This odd and rather underloved album is usually scorned by its creators, but I've always rather liked it. On one hand, I tend to agree with Dave's assessment of it: 'We were at a real down point ... I think we were scraping the barrel a bit at that period'. On the other hand, I seem to like every song on it with the exception of the title track... which Roger said he wouldn't play if you gave him a million pounds.
So:
'Atom Heart Mother Suite' - mostly rubbish. I love 20-minute-long instrumentals, but they have to have some structure to them, and the occasional lyric does help (I tend to think of 'Echoes' and 'SOYCD' as mostly instrumentals with lyrics, if that makes any sense). It sounds to me like they were trying to do something but didn't quite achieve it because they just weren't at that point yet. They finally sort of got it with 'Echoes', and 'SOYCD' is the pinnacle of their achievements in the side-long-suite vein. This is one of the very few Pink Floyd songs I will actually skip most days-- if you only play side 2 it's a very pleasant piece of noise.
'If' - A very nice little ballad (my other favourite? see below), not as solid as Roger's later work but you can hear the genius emerging. One of his first introspections on madness-as-inspired-by-Syd/empathy, a prerequisite to 'Brain Damage' particularly, and it could almost be a love song... if, only if... My mum is very fond of it.
'Summer '68' - An odd, slightly gloomy, somewhat pointless song-- about a disappointing night with a groupie?-- which I would probably nominate as my second-least-favourite; nevertheless, the piano is very nice, and the complete texture change in the chorus is interesting. Besides, I have a soft spot for Rick.
'Fat Old Sun' - My favourite, most days. I love pastoral ballads with blended vocals in case you hadn't noticed, and this one is very well-produced. It's very atmospheric; I like to play it as the sun is setting. And Dave plays all the instruments on it except keyboards-- this frankly blows my mind, that a guitarist could be that good at drums (sorry Paul).
'Alan's Psychedelic Breakfast' - This is probably my other other favourite (I did warn you I liked all the songs). I like to listen to it in the morning, to get my appetite all juiced up and ready to go-- I generally wind up desperately cravingRick Rice Krispies. UMMM RICE KRISPIEEEEES It's so bright and sunshiny and early-morning-y-- those Floyds sure could do musical imagery, man.
Overall, it is rather rubbish, but kind of endearing anyhow-- I like it quite a lot.
So:
'Atom Heart Mother Suite' - mostly rubbish. I love 20-minute-long instrumentals, but they have to have some structure to them, and the occasional lyric does help (I tend to think of 'Echoes' and 'SOYCD' as mostly instrumentals with lyrics, if that makes any sense). It sounds to me like they were trying to do something but didn't quite achieve it because they just weren't at that point yet. They finally sort of got it with 'Echoes', and 'SOYCD' is the pinnacle of their achievements in the side-long-suite vein. This is one of the very few Pink Floyd songs I will actually skip most days-- if you only play side 2 it's a very pleasant piece of noise.
'If' - A very nice little ballad (my other favourite? see below), not as solid as Roger's later work but you can hear the genius emerging. One of his first introspections on madness-as-inspired-by-Syd/empathy, a prerequisite to 'Brain Damage' particularly, and it could almost be a love song... if, only if... My mum is very fond of it.
'Summer '68' - An odd, slightly gloomy, somewhat pointless song-- about a disappointing night with a groupie?-- which I would probably nominate as my second-least-favourite; nevertheless, the piano is very nice, and the complete texture change in the chorus is interesting. Besides, I have a soft spot for Rick.
'Fat Old Sun' - My favourite, most days. I love pastoral ballads with blended vocals in case you hadn't noticed, and this one is very well-produced. It's very atmospheric; I like to play it as the sun is setting. And Dave plays all the instruments on it except keyboards-- this frankly blows my mind, that a guitarist could be that good at drums (sorry Paul).
'Alan's Psychedelic Breakfast' - This is probably my other other favourite (I did warn you I liked all the songs). I like to listen to it in the morning, to get my appetite all juiced up and ready to go-- I generally wind up desperately craving
Overall, it is rather rubbish, but kind of endearing anyhow-- I like it quite a lot.