I've changed my mind twice about this album since I got it. It was a charity shop find on tape for 75 pence, so I had very little to lose. Back then, Pink Floyd were just a band I'd heard of once or twice.
So I get in, and stick this tape on. The A and B sides aren't labelled, but I know with hindsight that I started on side A. And I really liked what I heard. It was original; the guitaring really appealed to me, along with the general musicianship of the album.
So, I listened to a whole range of stuff, including a couple of my Dad's albums, and come back to this. First mind change: it now just felt like an uninspired greatest hits.
But, a few weeks on and I look at the track list again. They're all good songs- there's no need to skip any or anything- and although 'shine on...' has been strangely edited, and there's nothing new here. However, this made a great introduction into what Pink Floyd are all about. The songs are all fairly easy for most people to get into as well, making this album perfect for Floyd virgins.
My favourite songs on the album:
One of these days
From the delay-thick intro bassline pulsing along throughout, to the sliding rhythm guitar, to the harsh tremolo of the interlude, I find this song both well written and good to listen to. I also think its great how the song does not get boring, despite its repetitive nature.
Shine on You Crazy Diamond
This version skips out chunks, but its well put together non the less, and its cutting to 10 minutes or so makes it easier to listen to, especially to those not used to such long songs, and also means that not too much of the album is taken up by it.
The song itself is bittersweet: a tribute to Syd that is both sad, and at the same time in some ways positive, and subtly uplifting to the listener. I think that this song is genius, and that it leaves a mark on all who listen to it. The guitar solos have more ""emotion"" than you could ever expect to hear, and hat chiming, 4-note arpeggio leaves everyone with no doubt of which song they're listening to.
