Pink Floyd

The Piper At The Gates Of Dawn

Intellectual Prog-Rockers

Review Score:

(10/10)
"Is this really Pink Floyd?" is the response you get 99% of the time when you present this album to a Pink Floyd listener who hasn't discovered this album yet. And, yes, I was one of those people.

I loved "Dark Side of the Moon." I listened to it constantly from beginning to end (honestly, how can you skip a song?). One day, as I checked out Pink Floyd's discography on the All Music Guide site, they had two album picks: "Dark Side of the Moon" and another album I never knew about... "The Piper at the Gates of Dawn." At the end of the review of that album, the critic called this album as being "one of the best psychedelic pop albums" with a perfect five stars out of five rating. My curiousity aroused, but still wasn't so sure about that album since Roger Waters wasn't the lead, but rather another person named Syd Barrett.

But my interest in the album would soon bloom when someone on the MTV site said that this album was "an essential" and Blender magazine calling "The Piper at the Gates of Dawn," quote: The greatest psychedelic pop record that isn't "Sgt. Pepper's."

So I decided to check out the album myself. I'm sorry to say that I didn't download it the "right" way. The entire album was downloaded as one big long track, but once completed I gave it a listen for the first time. "Astronomy Domine" was a haunting opener. Seemed to have the ingredients of later Floyd albums. So far, so good. Then "Lucifer Sam" comes on. My first thought was, "What the hell--?" Then later into the song, my second thought, "Is this really Pink Floyd?" Yeah... my first listen wasn't exactly what I was hoping for. But I didn't stop there. I kept listening. The sounds as each song progressed kinda reminded me of some Beatles work, just trippier and with lyrics that sound as if I'm listening to a children's story on acid. Witches, cats, kings, ducks, a mouse named Gerald, a scarecrow, some gnome named Grimble Crumble... oh my God, what am I listening to?? This isn't Pink Floyd! This is the Beatles on more drugs! [I'm telling it like it is.]

The funny thing was, after listening to my illegally downloaded album, I enjoyed it. I just had to listen again. Once over, I listened once more. There's no lyrics that have some sort of special message. There's no songs with complex rhythms or odd time signatures. There's nothing "deep" about this album. This is no "concept" album. This is purely a band that seemed to have fun making this album. You can just hear while listening to this album.

Syd's lyrics are purely enjoyable, creative, and humorous. Richard Wright's organ playing sounds like a happy and British version of Ray Manzarek (keyboardist of the band, the Doors). Roger's bass sounds something unlike anything I've heard from that era. Nick Mason is steady on the drums. Roger and Syd's singing is just absolutely brilliant. At times, they can be haunting, but melodic at the same time. The odd "outer space" effects add more to songs like "Interstellar Overdrive" and "Astronomy Domine." The band takes us on a journey to some place different. A place full of wonder and fantasy. Maybe the album can work as a concept album afterall.

I finally now know the little man known as Syd Barrett. This album was his true shining moment. Though he didn't write all the songs here ("Pow R. Toc H." and "Interstellar Overdrive" were created by all band members; "Take Up Thy Stethoscope and Walk" was written by Roger Waters), his lyrics were nonetheless more creative than any artist during his time. It's quite tragic that the piper had succumed to drugs and was kicked out of the band for being nuts. The remaining members (plus a new one) were able to succeed far more than they probably imagined. But they were able to pay tribute to their former frontman with their other excellent masterpiece "Wish You Were Here." Later, the piper himself showed up to Abbey Road studios when the band were recording "Wish You Were Here."

"Arnold Layne" and "See Emily Play" were originally on this album back in the day, but aren't featured on this release. You'll find them on the "Echoes: The Best of Pink Floyd" release. If the two songs were added to this album, it would certainly add more to Syd's credits, as well as brighten up the album's themes. Two more brilliant songs to seek out. They were also big singles in the UK.

That being said, "The Piper at the Gates of Dawn" is now my all-time favorite Pink Floyd album, as well as one of my all-time favorite albums. Playful, humorous, and creative makes this album an enjoyable listen. Though some of you may and will still favor Pink Floyd's later releases, this album cannot go unnoticed. At least a listen will do. This album is art. And to quote Blender magazine once again: The greatest psychedelic pop record that isn't "Sgt. Pepper's."

But as you listen, think about this: How would the band have been if Syd Barrett hadn't left? Would they have made it big? Would there have been a "Dark Side of the Moon"? That's what the album does: it makes us wonder.

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