WISH YOU WERE HERE

The hardcore Floyd-fan favorite: Wish You Were Here. And for good reason. The album really is a masterpiece. I've of the opinion that if you discount this album as not a masterpiece you'll be hard pressed to list any in that category.

And contained within the album in the hardcore Floyd-fan favorite track: "Shine On You Crazy Diamond". Again, for good reason. The composition on this song is superb. Waters wrote typically genious lyrics and I'd say that some of the greatest Gilmour soaring guitar took place in this song.

The album is also great because none of the songs sound alike. The compositions were dynamic to the point where it's incredible any band could write such disparate songs during the same writing period. That is, besides Shine On Parts I-V and then parts VI-IX. Apparently Waters planned to release all parts of the song on a single side but was dissauded during the production sessions. Which reminds me of the interesting stop-by visit of Barret during the recording in which none of the members identified him at first as he'd shaved his head.

Returning to topic, WYWH also has three important and wonderful middle tracks. Welcome to the machine set the tone for what would later become Animals. The eerie and unnerving drive of the song appears now premeditated by Waters as he prepared listeners for a less cheerful and peaceful sound.

Then biting the hand that feeds them they add 'Have a Cigar' to the album. The vocals were really good. I know that Waters wasn't comfortable singing them, although I reamin unsure of why Gilmour didn't sing them. Gilmour's voice can be powerful and rockish when it needs to be as evidenced later on 'Young Lust'. Nonetheless the choice was strong.

The title track is one of my favorite songs. It transcends musical boundaries not in the way that in infuses an incredible and almost suspect number of influences, but rather in the way that it attracts the ear of nearly all people who listen to it. The lyrics are also heartfelt and easy to understand. The sincerity on the track was probably so real because of the deep sentiments felt by the band for their long departed leader.

It listened to this album at a time when I had a relative lull in my musical expansion. I'd not found any bands I truly loved in a couple years and I then really discovered Pink Floyd (rather late - it was during university) in their entirety and it honestly made me a bit happier in everything I did, just knowing I'd reignited such a great passtime - listening to music.