ATOM HEART MOTHER

The beginning of Pink Floyd as most of us knew them? Of course it is. Let me explain. This album was the very first time that they started to embrace their talents for spacey sounds and more serene musical landscapes, and this is also where they ditched the hopped-up psychedelics and the made for cinema albums. This is probably as far back in time as any Dark Side of The Moon fan will go, to put it bluntly. On another topic, like many before me have stated, there is absolutely no in between on this album. Either you absolutely love it or you just despise it. Honestly, this album doesn't get the credit it deserves. A lot of rock n' rollers are excited by the hectic A-side and turned off by the atmospheric B-side.

The "Atom Heart Mother" suite gets this progressive show on the road in a fine fashion. The first part, "Father's Shout", is a complete barrage or orchestral arrangements, whereas "Breast Milky" is a more serene and harmonious piece. This flows right into "Mother Fore" which has an almost spooky vocal arrangement, and is closed pretty hard with some intense drumming by Mason. The organ pops back in with some odd time signature changes and "Funky Dung" beings. An excellent guitar showcase for David Gilmour, it slowly starts to change shape and then eventually becomes an organ driven-chant session. Kind of creepy, but you can find yourself laughing at it eventually. "Mind Your Throats Please" is one of the weirdest things Pink Floyd has ever done, musically. A big tip for prog fans, look out for the mellotron here! It makes a rare Pink Floyd sponsored appearance, so don't pass this track up. The cheesy Pink Floyd P.A. announcement is present here as well, making it rather cliché. "Remergence" ends the massive suite with a jam that is very reminiscent of the opening, what with all of the violin chords and such. The full crowd is back for a majestic ending including the band and orchestra. It really does go out with quite a bang!

The second half of the album is geared more towards the individual works pf Gilmour, Waters & Wright. The Waters ballad, "If", is a really beautiful song, even if the lyrics are sometimes of absolutely no sense what so ever. If you pay more attention to the beautiful melodies, then I'm sure you will love this song as well. Wright's piece is next, if you couldn't already tell by the huge organ intro. "Summer '68" is another beautifully atmospheric piece that is enjoyable by anyone and everyone, and even it has it's occasional flare-ups on the keys. Gilmour is the last batter with "Fat Old Sun", and this is once again beautiful in the beginning, but his changes near the end as he manages to sneak in a slashing guitar solo. Now that is beautiful! The band combines forces once again for the album closer named "Alan's Psychedelic Breakfast". Most everybody I know thinks that this is a pile of rubbish, and that's exactly what I thought on first listen, but there is a ton of subtle musicianship that not many people know about. I'm sure everyone knows it was named after roadie Alan Styles, but that's a different story. What Pink Floyd was doing was replicating a traditional English breakfast scene, complete with the striking of matches, the sizzling of bacon, and the dripping of water taps. Although the song is far from a favorite of mine, I give it 5 stars just for concept and effort.

One of the greatest concept albums to ever grace my ears pretty much sums it all up here. Excellent ideas, musicianship, and production top off this amazing musical achievement. 5 stars, complete perfection.