Pink Floyd’s Wish You Were Here is my favorite rock album. Though it lacks the prestige of other Floyd releases like Dark Side of the Moon and The Wall, I see it as the band’s artistic zenith. The album’s concept is largely based on founding member Syd Barrett’s decline into drug-induced mental illness, as well as other themes of isolation and the shadiness of the music industry. It is surprising that a track listing of five songs sustains an album this incredible. There are few LPs that retain the cohesive, flowing consistency that Wish You Were Here achieves.
Roger Waters, who throughout Pink Floyd’s post-Barrett career asserted himself as the group’s leader, composed all of the lyrics. He had never before, and has not since been able to recreate the level of compositional poetry that went into the words of this album. I see them as some of the finest lyrics of classic rock. David Gilmour was most certainly on top of his guitar game, often using the instrument in a textural manner, but still lacing the tracks with intense solos. Nick Mason contributed his usual consistent, though unflashy drumming, while Richard Wright’s keyboard was conspicuously less prominent than on preceding Floyd projects. Another notable instrumental aspect of the album is the heavy use of synthesizers, pioneered by Pink Floyd in previous material, but brought to a high point onWish You Were Here.
The album opens with the soothing, trippy synths of “Shine On You Crazy Diamond (Parts I-V),” which also features wine glasses filled with varying amounts of fluid being played and layered to make chords. Gilmour then comes in, fingering punchy blues riffs that complement perfectly. Things are kicked up a notch when he introduces the four note theme of the song, making way for more soloing over the repeated motif. It isn’t until 8:48 into the track that Waters sings the first lyrics of the record. The complete “Shine On You Crazy Diamond” is the most obvious reference to Syd Barrett of any material on the album (Barrett’s nickname was Crazy Diamond). Waters laments the sad state of his former bandmate, singing, “Remember when you were young, you shown like the sun/ now there’s a look in your eyes like black holes in the sky.” A fast tempo sax solo segues into track two, “Welcome to the Machine.” It features the most flagrant use of synths on Wish You Were Here, leaving only an acoustic guitar to accompany them, along with lyrics detailing the plight of succumbing to the machine that is show business. Though also laden with lyrics that cynically discuss the music business, “Have A Cigar” is more upbeat than any other song on the album, at least in sound. More synths, Gilmour’s unrelenting guitar riffs, Wright’s backing keys, and Roy Harper’s superb guest vocals make this one a classic. Gilmour rides the end of the track out with a nearly two minute solo that serves as an example of his finest guitar work. The title track is a perfect model of classic rock and roll and should be instantly recognizable to any listener of rock music. It is characterized by Gilmour’s famous intro and chord progression, as well as Waters’ beautiful lyrics. The chorus lines of, “We’re just two lost souls swimming in a fish bowl, year after year/ running over the same old ground/ what have we found?/ the same old fears/ wish you were here,” seem to be another reference to Syd Barrett. The album closes with “Shine On You Crazy Diamond (Parts VI-IX).” It begins with howling winds, leading into menacing synths and riffage by Gilmour. The tortured intro abruptly morphs into the chorus melody of the song, after which Waters begins to sing again. Following a brief verse and chorus the album is ended with a six and a half minute outro, ranging from funky, to melancholy, to dramatically climactic, and finally finishing with redeeming triumph.
Wish You Were Here is the type of album that you can dim the lights, light an incense and/or spliff, lie down, close your eyes, and vibe out to. I promise this experience would be extremely therapeutic at the very least, and potentially spiritual. The material possesses an appeal that is accessible to listeners of any genre. Do yourself a favor by getting this album and following my instructions listed above.
R.I.P. Syd Barrett– a brilliant light extinguished at too young an age.
Reviewed By: Benny ELs
Favorite Track: Shine On You Crazy Diamond (Parts I–V)
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