WISH YOU WERE HERE

Probably one of the best all-around albums of the 70s, Wish You Were Here is exceptional at every level. This is Floyd at their pinnacle of musicianship and composition, and before Waters turned the band into a cynical beast. Here, the band still has the optimal balance of influence that one sees in Dark Side of the Moon, but more sophistication and skill. This should be the centerpiece of any 70s progressive rock collection.

This album also contains Gilmour's best guitar work. He was probably at his best technically, but he was given the room to develop solos melodically and thematically. I've been playing bluesy guitar for 20 years, and I still can't duplicate the perfection of his vibrato. Of particular note are the intro solo to Shine on You Crazy Diamond, part I and one of the all time best slide solos on Shine on You Crazy Diamond, part V. There are plenty who play guitar faster, but not to create mood and climax like Gilmour. It's the attention to detail that's stunning: rather than playing more notes in less time, the direction rock guitar has generally gone, Gilmour crafts every note, and nowhere is it more evidence that WYWH.

Only the slightest criticism: Roger Waters was never the best vocalist, even though he was a stupendous lyricist. For the most part, Gilmour was a better vocalist, as was evident on DSotM. In my opinion, this is the only thing that keeps it from being the perfect record.