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Pink Floyd is:
Syd Barrett: Guitars and Vocals
David Gilmour: Guitars and Vocals
Roger Waters: Bass and Vocals
Richard Wright: Keyboards and Vocals
Nick Mason: Drums, Percussion and Vocals
Echoes is their quickly scavenged together greatest hits collection. It is made up of two discs with some of their best songs, all the way from their early singles and Piper, to the Division Bell. It’s a good collection because it hints at some of the best of The Wall and DSOTM. Some of the earlier Syd songs are sure to make you say "What the Hell?" But, all that aside it is a great album. (Yes, even with the acid inspired songs.)
Disc 1:
Astronomy Domine: This is a good opener to the album. This came from their album "The Piper at the Gates of Dawn" and is one of their better "psychedelic" pieces. If you listen to it on a walkman, during the guitar solo, all of the music shifts from one ear to the other quite often. Overall, a very cool song. 4/5.
See Emily Play: This is one of the early singles they released with Syd. This piece was originally created at the "Games for May" festival as an improv type thing and was eventually made into a record. The only other places you will find this song is on the Relics album, and from the Early Singles album from the Shine On gift set. 3/5.
The Happiest Days of Our Lives: Finally, the good stuff. This is one of the songs of the wall usually combined with the next song and is confused as "the wall". Gilmour (a much better guitarist) did the guitar on this. 5/5.
Another Brick in the Wall Pt. 2: Of course here is where the famous line "We don't need no education" comes into play. During the second verse, the children of Islington Green School start singing the song. "All in all you're just another brick in the wall" 5/5.
Echoes: A very good misunderstood song from the album Meddle. It has very deep lyrics that are sung by a combo of Gilmour and Wright. If you've ever seen Pink Floyd live in Pompeii, you already know that this song is cool. After the first two stanzas of lyrics, they have the super-cool bass part w/ the guitar solo. (Lots of tremolo) 5/5.
Hey You: One of the better acoustic parts in The Wall. The guitar solo is really cool. (You should hear it on their live CDs, Pulse and Is There Anybody Out There) 5/5.
Marooned: This is a mellower song with the wind blowing in the background, and it makes your sort of think of being trapped on an island (That is basically the definition of marooned) It has a great transition that slides right into the next song. 3/5.
The Great Gig In The Sky: One of the most beautiful song ever created by Pink Floyd off The Dark Side Of The Moon. (DSOTM) The vocals by Clare Torry are beautiful along with the opening and closing piano solos. 5/5.
Set The Controls For The Sun: If you imagine people listening this, you imagine them probably doing four drugs at a time while doing so. Its a very subtle song that is great live. It is off one of their transition from acid to rock albums, A Saucerful of Secrets. 4/5.
Money: One of the most complicated and heaviest songs off DSOTM. (Once again, you should listen to it live on both Pulse, and The Delicate Sound of Thunder.) 5/5.
Keep Talking: One of the better songs of The Division Bell. This one is also better live. (On Pulse) I still don’t like it all that much. 3/5.
Sheep: One of the better songs off Animals with a catchy keyboard solo at the beginning. The words are fast and fade out into a keyboard version of the same note at the end of each sentence, which is really cool. I give it a 5/5.
Sorrow: I personally think this is the best of PF’s ability after losing Waters. I believe Waters was a control freak who went a little bit crazy, but he had great creative ability and losing him was a sad day for Pink Floyd. I do like the bass part on this song, along with the guitar solo, and the lyrics. But, once again it is better live, on Pulse and Delicate Sound of Thunder. 4/5.
Disc 2:
Shine on You Crazy Diamond Parts 1-7: This song is quite simply about Syd. If you haven’t already heard the story, when they were making this song, Syd stumbled into the studio. Gilmour thought he was a fan, and asked him to get out of the studio. When they figured out who he was and saw what a wreck he was in, Waters started crying. This happened to be on the day of Gilmours wedding, so they left him there and he just left without saying goodbye. Sad, isn’t it? Well, anyway great song. Waters does the vocals even thought it doesn’t even remotely sound like him. 5/5.
Time: What can I say? It’s a fantasterrific song that is great sounding and has real meaning. Everything PF was in its prime. 5/5.
The Fletcher Memorial Song: One of Waters dictated songs, the band was basically gone by now, its an okay song, but not really what you would expect from the legendary makers of Dark Side. 3/5.
Comfortably Numb: I think this is perhaps the greatest song off The Wall. (there is no bad song on The Wall, but this is the best.) It’s a tad better on Pulse (about 4:00 minute guitar solo better)
When the Tigers Broke Free: As far as the Waters dictated pieces go, this one is the best one. I like the subtle orchestra solo at the beginning. 4/5.
One of These Days: The best song with three or four bass notes ever! I like the vocal track by Nick Mason “ONE OF THESE DAYS I’M GOING TO CUT YOU INTO LITTLE PIECES!!!” 4/5.
Us and Them: The best “slow” song in history, good for dancing to. (hint, hint, wink, wink, nudge, nudge) The saxophone solo is terrific, Dick Parry is one of the best saxophonists I have heard. 5/5
Learning to Fly: It’s okay but, once again, PF died after Waters left. 3/5.
Arnold Layne: In case you didn’t know, it’s about a cross-dresser…no comment. 3/5.
Wish You Were Here: I’ve been waiting for this. This is my most favoritest Floyd song of ALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL LLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL time. The lyrics are so meaningful and the steel string acoustic is great!!! 6,000/5. (5/5)
Jugband Blues: It’s a weird song, but a better transition Barrett piece. It’s a weird dancing song. 4/5.
High Hopes: The acoustic is off, and it isn’t in the live version, so I suggest it live. It’s a meaningful song and is probably the best one on Division Bell. 4/5.
Bike: “What the Hell?’ is probably what you’re saying out loud or in your head while you listen to this song. During the second half of the song, this guy gets soooooooooooooo off beat, it is hilarious. Another weird one from Piper. 3/5.
Any questions, comments, or misc. info., will be appreciated.
