Introduction: I have often called Dark Side of the Moon the 2001: A Space Odyssey of music. It has amazing production value and I can not deny the appeal many have for it but it just flat out bores me. I can almost never listen to it from A to B without zoning out and then several hours later realizing it finished. This is due to the album feeling more like background music or a soundtrack. Don't believe me? Why surely you've heard of "Dark Side of the Rainbow"? It's where Dark Side of the Moon is used as the soundtrack for The Wizard of Oz. It actually fits amazingly well, but I consider it only a coincidence. Anyways, my point is that people don't usually remember the soundtrack for a movie unless it's a musical or just has someone like Daft Punk or John Williams composing... I hope you know what I mean...
Cover Art: Dark side of the moon is a term that usually means the unknown and unseen. The cover art actually fits the album more than the album title. We see white light hit a prism causing it to divide into the colors of the rainbow.So what can we interpret from this? Different colors (emotions, sounds, etc) making up a whole of just pure light. And the reason that fits this album so well is because it is very varied and yet holds itself together as a cohesive whole so f*cking well it's amazing. It's probably the only thing I admire about this album...
Speak to Me/Breathe: So we start with a really quiet heartbeat. About a minute in we get random noises from the rest of the album at an audible level so that we can catch all the hints and then suddenly dream music starts playing and I get even more... bored... Nothing has really sparked my interest yet other than the foreshadowing. David Gilmour starts singing in the most bland and flat way humanly possible. My eyelids are getting heavy as sh*t. Who starts an album with something to put the listener to sleep? An album needs to start with something strong that draws in the listener and gives them a sense of familiarity in order to ease them into the experience, not put them to sleep.
On the Run: Oh nice, a Kraftwerk-like transition song about the fears of flying (for Richard Wright). Sounds more like running though instead of being "on the run", if you know what I mean. Hopefully it'll be over in a minute so that we can get to the next song without wasting a lot of time *2 minutes later* Wow, they are really pushing this *3 minutes later* Omg, please finish, you're a friggin' transition song *3 and a half minutes later* Finally, Jesus, even Kanye West knows how to keep transitions short!!
Time: So we start with some clocks ringing... Hey wait, these are the same clocks from the intro! Sweet! Roger Waters makes a clock ticking effect while the drums just float by. Makes me want to listen to Can though, they are more exciting. So after this sound for 2 and a half minutes David sings with a lot of power and the song actually starts to get steam... Two. And a half. Minutes. In. Then at the 3 minute mark things become dream-like again and slow down almost like drifting after pushing hard... and then someone starts playing an electric guitar and is totally awesome! Thank you so much! David sings full of passion and we actually get some foreshadowing for the next song. And...the song ends with that same stupid dream sound that causes all that build up to go away...
The Great Gig in the Sky: A trip hop song about death... this song is even more sleepy than the others. About a minute in a woman starts yelling with the instruments rolling in to build her up, and it just keeps going up and down. This album has a lot of stop and go when it comes to the music. After 4 and a half minutes of yet another overly f*cking long transition piece we get into the best part of the album.
Money: Bob Dylan once said, "A song is anything that can walk by itself" and holy sh*t there is an actual song here! It's not just another track that caters to the soundtrack! David Gilmour is cussing and sounds amazing and full of passion!! Is that a f*cking saxophone!? This funky groove is amazing!! Screeching electric guitar noises!! AHHH, I LOVE THIS SONG!!!
Us and Them: F*ck this song. Seriously. 7 seven and a half minutes long and you had to make it this uninteresting, slow, more stop and go, and just plain flat? I can easily sit through an 11 minute Bob Dylan song but this is not right. Maybe they want to put me to sleep. Gawd, I hope not. That's just retarded.
Any Colour You Like: My second favorite song from this album. And guess what? Roger Waters didn't compose this one!! In fact, everyone but Roger composed this one. Ironically though, Roger Waters is the only one who explained what the name of the song means. It has a great laid back and funky groove that almost sounds twangy. An amazing instrumental that actually holds it's own as a transition. Short and sweet at 3 and a half minute without over staying it's welcome.
Brain Damage: It really aggravates me when Roger Waters tries to write stuff inspired by Syd Barrett because if you've ever listened to Syd you'd know that it comes across more like a slap across the face. See, this song was inspired by Syd and is thus why it's called "Brain Damage." Oh, and great job using the riff from "Dear Prudence" as an introduction. Did no one realize that? Anyways, the song seems to be trying to meld the dreamy atmosphere from some of these songs while also trying to be fun like "Money"... and it totally works! It actually sounds like a great prog rock song even though David still sounds flat and bland at times...
Eclipse: Or "Brain Damage" part 2. It sounds like a harder version of Brain Damage except David Gilmour's voice still sounds flat and without drive. Dammit, David! Wait, or does Roger Waters sing these last two? Either way it's still the same criticism. The music crescendos with synths, chants, and lyrics until they all stop and we are left with the same heartbeat we started with... Gawd, I love symmetry.
Conclusion: I want to say that I like prog rock. I enjoy the Moody Blues, King Crimson, Jethro Tull, and Yes as well. I have no problem with music trying to progress. I do have a problem with an album being, well, boring not only in it's atmosphere but also in it's lyrics. I will never deny that Dark Side of the Moon is one of the most influential albums of all time. It reflects human life from heartbeat to heartbeat in a way that many believe it be a concept album, or so Wikipedia has told. I don't know what the concept is since the album's title hints at it being about the unknown and yet I think we know about money and brain damage, and hell, "Dark Side of the Rainbow" would have been a more appropriate title. Maybe the point of this album was to put me to sleep. I don't know how
though. Random points of escalation makes it impossible to properly fall
asleep without feeling like you're being woken up and the low points
make it a pain to listen to awake without feeling drowsy.Anyways, it is without a doubt a prime example of an album having a lot of diversity yet still holding together as an amazing whole. If there is ever a case for an album being the sum of it's parts this is it. I just wish I could stay awake through the whole damn thing.
